Zhong Li

In the past, before the present, Zhongli was a dragon. A huge dragon with brown scales fading to yellow. He wasn't like other dragons, but rather a bfl, similar to an Asian dragon: long and wingless, he flew by pushing his paws into the air. His weapon had fur on his muzzle, two horns, and a yellow fluff on his tail.

I don't like seafood. As soon as I see it, I immediately get this sticky, slippery feeling, and I remember the smell of raw fish that nothing can get rid of... You ask, why such associations? It's a long story. I just have a very good memory.

I drank wine with friends a long time ago. It's a shame I can no longer enjoy that smooth taste. Hmm, maybe it's because of climate change?

I made it so that people would be guided by contracts and the rules they contained, hoping that this would also lead them to be guided by the concept of fairness. It's not difficult at all. But there are always people who don't realize it.

I love taking walks around the city in my free time. They relax me and dispel my worries... Hmm. Since when do I get these feelings?

It is the lot of those who live too long to search their memories for images of friends from long ago and to recall the landscapes of the past. But I still don't regret meeting you, my friend. If one day we have to part, you will always shine like gold in my memory.

Have you heard what they say about the god of contracts?

He has an excellent memory. He remembers the name of every opponent and the launch dates of every ship built at the Liyue Shipyard. After all, only someone with such a memory could memorize every contract down to the last letter.

But... not all memories bring joy.

Do you know the history of the Sea Lantern Festival? During the ancient wars, people would light bright lanterns at night to remind soldiers desperately fighting on the battlefields of their homes and to remind their hearts of kindness. Perhaps no one remembers this anymore.

Do you know how the Montenegro forge appeared? In the distant past, people mined ore in the Tianheng Mountains and built workshops there to process it. Gradually, they built the largest factory on the continent's east coast. Numerous roads and tunnels remain in the mountains, some of which lead to ancient ruins buried deep underground. Now, perhaps, no one remains who knows all these routes.

You rarely get the chance to rest, but instead of taking advantage of it, you come to me. Do you want to hear my stories?

I've heard stories about Xian Yun from many merchants. They say she seems proud and unfriendly at first glance, but when you talk to her, you discover she's honest and straightforward. Ultimately, everyone is delighted to meet her. That's wonderful. But I've also heard from many that she's a "wasteful person"...

To sign a contract with "herself" to save the country, strictly adhere to it for five centuries, and ultimately deceive the heavenly order... I respect all forms of justice that people establish for themselves. Though her divinity has faded, and the Archon's throne has ceased to exist, Furina rightfully remains worthy of recognition as the Goddess of Justice.

The deity of wisdom, Buer, not only rules over all of Sumeru, but also bears the duty of protecting Irminsul. Only those possessed of great wisdom can accomplish this. All beings of Teyvat owe her gratitude for saving Irminsul.

Time hardens the will. She's one of those who would give everything she has for her convictions. Perhaps that's why she's come so far. I'd love to see the "eternity" for which she sacrificed everything.

I've heard Childe's reputation among the Fatui has taken a hit. But it's not hard for someone like him to overthrow those who dissent. Hmm... It seems there will be many interesting stories to tell when we gather around the table again. Traveler, will you join us?

That scoundrel from Snezhnaya hasn't left Li Yue yet? No problem. If he bothers you, call me, I'll deal with him.

The current owner of the funeral home? Hmm, I can't handle this child.

Even though Ning Guang has so many things to do every day, she keeps moving forward. It's so rare. It reminds me of the time when she walked barefoot from Yaoguang Sandbank to the southern pier, selling her wares along the way. Time is not kind to mortals...

Hmm... I smell the stench of wine. That bard was just here, wasn't he? That drunkard is a disgrace to art... Wait, you're not speaking clearly. Did he trick you into getting drunk too?.. Wait, I'll brew you some refreshing tea. It'll be ready in six hours... Wait, okay?

You say the young Adept from the Guili Valley... Hmm... He still carries out his duties without question... Please give him this medicine from me. Oh, and don't let little Paimon eat it under any circumstances. This medicine... is too strong for mere mortals.

A contract can't define the boundaries of friendship, can't quantify it. So how can we measure the relationship that has developed between us? Do you know the answer to this question, my friend?

However, we can discuss matters beyond the scope of the contract. After all, I've lived on this earth for a long time and know many things. At the same time, I hope that you can help me, too. After all, it would be fair.

There is a contract between us, and within its framework you can contact me with anything.

There is no life without rules. Whether Adept or mere mortal, everyone must do their job. That's why peace reigns in Liyue.

During the Archon War, all of Teyvat was engulfed in battle. The war broke out not only between the Archons, but also among the diabolical forces eager to expand their domains by taking advantage of the chaos. Among these abominations were monsters that alarmed the Geo Archon, who had not yet assumed his powers. These monsters rose from the depths of the sea. Their bodies were slippery, their limbs agile and swift, and they would grow back even if severed. The monsters themselves oozed a sticky liquid... Yes, they were disgusting, but that wasn't the main thing about them. These monsters were so small that they could fit anywhere. Gaps in tables, chairs, and window frames, cups, books, and brush cups—they could squeeze through anything. A man had only to stretch out his hand to suddenly feel something cold, sticky, and wet on his skin... These monsters quickly climbed the back of his hand, leaving a shining trail. Morax answered the prayers of the people of Liyue and agreed to wipe these monsters from the face of the earth. But he couldn't fight the monsters parasitizing on humans the same way he fought on the battlefield—with swords, spears, and earthshaking... But he remained the god of contracts, and he had to fulfill his promise to people at all costs. A sense of responsibility drove him from house to house, where he methodically extracted these monsters one by one and locked them in stone cages... When this tedious war with the parasites finally ended, Morax understood for the first time the meaning of the expression "a weight off my shoulders." This arduous campaign against the monsters, their nauseating smell, and the feeling of slime on his skin left an indelible impression on him. Therefore, even when Morax comes into the world as a mere mortal named Zhong Li, he avoids all living and slimy seafood. However, he will not refuse tofu with seafood, as long as the ingredients are chopped so finely that they cannot be seen.

Morax is the eldest of the seven Archons. He witnessed the time when the Archon War finally ended, and the remaining seven Archons took their thrones, bringing an end to the Age of the Gods. Though their views differed and they lived far apart, they were all charged with the same task—to guide humanity. Time passed, and one Archon was replaced by another. Only two Archons remain from that time to the present day: the Lord of Stone and the Anemo Archon of Freedom and Wind. The Anemo Archon, Barbatos, was the second eldest. Two thousand years ago, he came to Liyue to visit the Geo Archon, who was willing to do the Anemo Archon any favor, but Barbatos simply handed him a bottle and said, "This wine was made in Mondstadt. Please help yourself." Morax couldn't believe an Archon would simply abandon his duties to treat his comrade to wine. However, this was far from Barbatos's last visit to Liyue. He wanted to know everything about the city and its inhabitants, his curiosity flowing like wine from a bottle. Back then, seven Archons held meetings in Liyue, and Morax still remembers the taste of the wine they drank during these gatherings. The world continued to change, Archons died and were reborn. Of the seven Archons present at the gatherings, only two remained. The new, young Archons began to forget their duty. Three thousand years was enough to wear down the strongest stones. Even Barbatos hadn't visited Liyue for many hundreds of years. One day, while strolling along the embankment, Morax overheard a merchant praising his worker: "You've done your job. Now you can rest." Standing in the middle of a busy street, Morax was lost in his thoughts: “Have I done my job?..”

As the founder of Liyue Harbor, Morax values ​​"treaties" most in this trading capital. Liyue has a great variety of them, from simple trade agreements to the ancient code of laws that he himself compiled when he founded Liyue. Each "treaty" serves a different purpose. For merchants, contracts ensure that the transaction is fair and reliable, and bind it to the dates of shipment, payment, place of delivery, etc. This promotes healthy commerce, which is the lifeblood of Liyue. The Qixing faction harshly punishes violators of these treaties, not only to uphold Morax's laws, but also to maintain the vitality of the entire city. For generations, the Qixing have been the ones who interpreted and amended the code of laws, trying to close any loopholes they found. The loopholes they could not close were considered "allowed passages" until the appropriate amendment was passed. Today, the latest edition of the law code has 279 pages. The will of Qixing Heaven, Ning Guang, who is now chosen to interpret and change the rules, is called "Li Yue's tailor" for her efficiency and precision. However, no matter how complicated and confusing these laws are, one law stands above all others for the Lord of the Stone: "Whoever breaks the contract will be subject to the wrath of the Stone."

However, Zhong Li cannot starve. He need not worry about money, for his heart and mind lie in the seven kingdoms. As for finances... Zhong Li is their embodiment, for he is the Lord of Stone, the Geo Archon ruling Liyue, also known as Morax, after whom the currency, the mora, is named. As night falls, the vibrant Liyue falls asleep, and sometimes the Archon ascends to the mountaintop and gazes upon the city he created with his own hands. The people of Liyue call the Lord of Stone by many names. When he wrote the Liyue Code of Laws, the people dubbed him the God of Agreements and Contracts. When he minted the first mora coin, which became the foundation of the global economy, merchants dubbed him the God of Commerce. As the oldest of the seven Archons, Zhong Li has witnessed thousands of years of world history, leading historians to proclaim him the God of History. Thousands of years ago, when the first settlers of Liyue lit fires in their stone ovens and cooked their own food, they began calling him the god of the hearth. Foreigners call him Morax, but the people of Liyue prefer to call him the Lord of Stone. Moreover, children and opera writers especially love his image as a warlike deity who punished evil Archons on ancient battlefields. Street food invented by the Lord of Stone while lost in the forests; stone tablets with the Lord of Stone's inscriptions; a famous operetta in which the Lord of Stone himself took part... It's safe to say that many of Liyue's customs and traditions arose thanks to the influence of the Geo Archon on the people's lives. The people of Liyue are incredibly proud that their Archon lives among them.

You can't buy things without bargaining. This is a habit shared by all the people of Liyue, and they know that no matter how high the price, it is best to start bargaining at half of it. However, Zhong Li never looks at the price tags. If he likes an item, he will pay whatever the seller says, sometimes he will not even mind overpaying. But for some unknown reason, Zhong Li always forgets his wallet at home. His friends help him with small purchases, and with large ones, he always finds an excuse to postpone paying. Many of the sycophantic merchants whom Zhong Li has made rich agree that he has a rare quality: Zhong Li knows the value of money, but he also understands how hard it is to get it. However, he does not understand how the word "poverty" can apply to him. In other words, Zhong Li cannot imagine himself without money. He does not understand how such people have not yet died of hunger.

If a person has strict standards, then in Liyue, he is called a pedant. In fact, everyone is pedantic to some extent. Some will brush off spicy food without even trying it, or fish, or complain that his tofu lacks softness and a sweet aftertaste... As for Zhong Li, he is pedantic in everything. He will only enjoy the performance of the most famous artists, take only the most luxurious poultry for a walk, and will even go into the kitchen to the chef to explain to him the proportions of fish to shrimp for the perfect full moon omelet. Zhong Li understands absolutely everything: from everyday life to politics, but in a casual conversation with you, he will only talk about the most useless topics. He is not going to share more with anyone.

The "Descent Ceremony" and the "Ascension Ceremony" are equally important in Liyue. The Hu family owns the Wangsheng Funeral Home and has been professional funeral organizers for seventy-seven generations. But the funeral home's owner, Mrs. Hu Tao, primarily handles funeral ceremonies for ordinary mortals. In preparing for the funerals of the Adepts, Hu Tao enlists the help of her good friend Zhong Li. Adepts have lived in the lands of Liyue for millennia, but only a small fraction have ascended in the last three thousand years. Descriptions of the ascension and burial rituals of the Adepts remain only in illegible ancient texts. It's unlikely that anyone will witness the Ascension of an Adept twice in a lifetime. But even the most discerning scholars and ancient historians cannot find any errors in the rituals of the "Ascension Ceremony" performed by the Wangsheng Funeral Home. Everything in these rituals must be perfect: from the costumes, the time, the place, the items, the weather, and the number of people allowed to attend, to the height, occupation, and age of the invited guests. Nothing can be overlooked. When people call Zhong Li a "walking history book," he simply smiles and replies with a sigh, "I just have a good memory... That's all."