"Oh? I'm curious to hear your insights, Mr. Zhongli." Shajin looked at Zhongli with interest.
"At the time, Liyue occupied fertile lands in the Central Plains, drawing the covetous eyes of rival Archons. After the Archon War, what allowed Liyue to recover so swiftly was the Qixing system."
"The nation's leadership was able to steer the economic direction based on the political climate, maintaining prosperity throughout Liyue."
Zhongli spoke calmly and evenly, like a seasoned sage sharing the wisdom of ages.
Shajin shook his head. "Mr. Zhongli, with all due respect, that system may have been ideal for the Liyue of old. But today's Qixing are, at their core, the greatest consortium of merchants in the nation."
He set down his teacup and continued seriously, "Pardon my bluntness, but were the Geo Archon still present, the Qixing might be restrained. Yet gods rise and fall with time—who's to say the Qixing will remain so well-behaved forever?"
He downed the rest of his tea and went on, "Merchants, by nature, pursue profit. When they hold not just wealth, but power and military might… well…"
He shrugged, letting the implications speak for themselves.
Zhongli fell silent, his gaze deep and tranquil as if it could pierce the boundaries of time and space to glimpse truth.
After a long moment, he finally said, "Let us set that aside for now, young one. Earlier you mentioned that border villages have suffered repeated harassment—what's the cause?"
Shajin spread his hands in exasperation. "Mr. Zhongli, perhaps a visit would help. Liyue's grain supply comes almost entirely from those surrounding villages, yet the farmers can barely feed themselves."
He frowned slightly. "Liyue's entire focus is centered on the harbor. If you want to make a living, you go into business. And if you want to go into business without backing, there's no way you'll ever get a slice of the pie from the Qixing and the Eight Trades."
He gave a bitter smile, as If bemoaning the injustice of fate.
"And so, the rich grow richer, the poor poorer. Without Millelith protection, the Fatui may be too proud to bother the common folk—but the Treasure Hoarders? They raid and pillage like clockwork."
Zhongli's brows furrowed, a flicker of discontent crossing his features, but before he could speak, Shajin interrupted him.
"Young one, you…"
Zhongli looked at him, pausing.
Shajin took a deep breath. A trace of pain flickered in his eyes, as if the weight of the world had come crashing down upon him.
"I was once one of those raiders. And now… I'm the sole surviving member of the Eweijin clan."
Zhongli remained quiet for a moment before murmuring softly:
"…My condolences."
Shajin shook his head, indicating it was all right. Then, tossing a Mora coin lightly in his palm, he rose to his feet, ready to leave.
"What do you think, young one? What future should Liyue pursue?"
Zhongli's voice rang out behind him.
"Rule by the people. A future for the people, by the people."
Shajin didn't look back.
He spoke as he walked away, disappearing at the end of the street.
Zhongli sat at the table, his eyes lingering on the path Shajin had taken.
Sunlight filtered through the windows, casting warm light on the tea and pastries.
He sipped his tea slowly, as if savoring more than just its flavor.
…
Time flew by. In the blink of an eye, over two years had passed.
And for Shajin, these had been the most carefree, peaceful days of his life.
He spent time playing with Hu Tao, occasionally pulling a prank or two on her.
Sometimes he'd enjoy afternoon tea and Golden Shrimp Balls with Keqing.
Other times, he and Zhongli would watch Yun Jin's operas grow ever more spectacular.
Life was good.
Along the way, he noticed Wang Defa making a few sneaky moves.
After a little "friendly exchange," Wang Defa eventually became Shajin's willing employee.
To be fair, he was quite capable.
But one thing puzzled Shajin—ever since he obtained his Vision, he kept dreaming of "Qlipoth" building walls every few days.
What was Qlipoth trying to keep out?
Stranger still, every time he awoke from one of those dreams, his power had grown significantly.
It wasn't a bad thing, but the sensation was… uncanny.
…
"Big sister, I've been protecting myself well."
Shajin spoke softly before a grave.
Today was the anniversary of his sister's death. He had come early to the Eweijin village to pay respects to her and the other fallen villagers.
By the time he finished, the sun was already dipping toward the horizon.
As he prepared to leave, he noticed a girl lying asleep on a patch of grass by the road—horns curled gently atop her head.
"…Huh?"
He stepped closer and was stunned to recognize her—Ganyu, the Qixing's secretary!
Ganyu was practically a legend in Liyue. A half-adeptus, and a notorious workaholic.
It was said she had diligently served the Qixing for over a thousand years. Shajin admired that kind of perseverance—it was something he knew he couldn't match.
At the moment, Ganyu was fast asleep, biting her finger like a child, a faint smile on her face.
The sight made Shajin chuckle quietly, covering his mouth.
Who would've thought the normally serious and composed Ganyu had such an adorable side?
He carefully took off his coat and draped it over her, then sat on a nearby stone, resting his chin on his hand as he watched the sunset.
Time slipped by. Night fell. Stars dotted the sky like jewels embedded in a velvet canvas, lending a quiet mystery to the scene.
Ganyu stirred, letting out a soft, sleepy sound. "Mmm~"
Shajin's lips curled into a faint, amused smile.
Ganyu blinked groggily and sat up, her gemstone eyes meeting Shajin's dreamy gaze.
"Good evening, Miss Ganyu," he said gently, his voice as warm as a spring breeze brushing her cheek.
"Good evening~" she replied, her tone soft and drowsy, like a kitten stretching awake.
"…Eh?"
She rubbed her eyes suddenly, blinking hard.
"Mr. Shajin?!"
Her startled voice rang out, shrill and sharp as a bell.
They were no strangers—Shajin had crossed paths with Ganyu many times. Thanks to his uncanny winning streak at the gambling tables, many had accused him of cheating.
And Ganyu, in her role with the Ministry of Civil Affairs, had been involved in more than a few of those cases.
The people of Liyue Harbor had a nickname for him: Saint of Gambling.
Challengers came in waves.
Whether it was a setup or cheating, no one ever beat him.
"Sorry you had to see me like this," Ganyu said, quickly straightening her messy clothes—only to notice the coat wrapped around her.
"Th-thank you… for the coat."
"No need to thank me." Shajin smiled. "Looks like you were exhausted."
Ganyu nodded shyly. "Work's been a little overwhelming lately…"
"No matter how busy you are, you've got to rest too. If something happened to you, it'd be a loss for all of Liyue."
Shajin took off his hat and set it beside him, his movements smooth and elegant.
"By the way, what brings you all the way out here, Ganyu?"
"I was heading to Qingce Village on an assignment. Passed through here and thought I'd rest just for a moment… I didn't expect to fall asleep."
_
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