of the oldest being in Teyvat

After several intense, exhausting rounds with every girl currently at his disposal — Ganyu, Rosaria, a very eager Cloud Retainer, and even a surprisingly enthusiastic Shenhe — Aether finally stepped out onto the large private balcony for some fresh air.

The night air of Liyue Harbor was cool and refreshing. Lanterns glowed softly across the city below. He leaned against the railing, breathing deeply, letting his body recover.

That’s when a calm, deep voice spoke from behind him.

“You have been quite busy, Traveler.”

Aether turned to see a tall, distinguished man in dark clothing with striking amber eyes standing on the balcony — Rex Lapis, the Geo Archon himself, in his human form as Zhongli.

Zhongli stepped forward, hands clasped behind his back, looking at Aether with clear, genuine respect.

“I must admit… I am impressed. Especially with what you have done to Ningguang. The Tianquan has always been one of the sharpest minds in Teyvat. To reduce her to such a state in such a short time…” He gave a small, approving nod. “Truly remarkable.”

He paused, then continued in his usual calm, measured tone.

“I will not waste your time with pleasantries. I have a proposal for you.”

Zhongli’s amber eyes met Aether’s directly.

“I know the current location of your sister. I can give you that information — precise and reliable.”

He let the offer hang for a moment before delivering the condition:

“In exchange… I want you to mind-break the Raiden Shogun herself. Personally.”

The Geo Archon’s expression remained composed, but there was a glint of something deeper in his eyes — perhaps long-standing tension with Inazuma, or simply curiosity about what Aether was truly capable of.

“She has become… difficult. Even for an Archon. I believe you are the only one who can accomplish such a feat.”

Zhongli stood patiently, waiting for Aether’s response.

The weight of the offer — information about his sister in exchange for breaking one of the strongest Archons in Teyvat — hung heavy in the night air.

Aether was alone with one of the oldest Archons in existence… and a very tempting deal on the table.

Aether stared at the Geo Archon for a long moment, the cool night breeze brushing past them on the balcony.

He knew how seriously this type of being took contracts and deals. There would be no deception here — only truth.

So he asked directly:

“Why? What’s your real purpose in wanting me to break the Raiden Shogun?”

Zhongli was silent for a few seconds, amber eyes reflecting the distant lights of Liyue Harbor. When he finally spoke, his voice was calm, but carried the weight of millennia.

“…Inazuma has suffered long enough under the Eternity the Shogun pursues.”

He turned slightly, looking out over the sea toward the distant nation.

“Beelzebul — the Raiden Shogun — was once a protector of her people. A guardian who sought to shield them from the erosion of time and loss. But she has strayed. Her pursuit of Eternity has become a cage. The Vision Hunt Decree. The Sakoku Decree. The people of Inazuma are suffocating under the weight of her rigid ideals. She no longer protects them… she imprisons them in her vision of a perfect, unchanging nation.”

Zhongli’s expression remained composed, but there was quiet sorrow in his tone.

“I wish to see Inazuma’s people freed from these shackles. The Shogun must be set straight — broken of her current path and remade into something that can truly serve her nation once again. Not as a cold, mechanical ruler… but as a living Archon who understands what her people truly need.”

He turned back to Aether.

“That is my purpose. Not conquest. Not revenge. Simply… balance. And I believe you are the only one capable of achieving what is necessary.”

Zhongli gave a small, respectful bow of his head.

“The choice is yours, Traveler. Information about your sister in exchange for this task. A fair contract, I believe.”

The Geo Archon waited patiently, the weight of his words settling between them.

Aether thought about it for only a few seconds before nodding.

“Deal. I probably would’ve ended up doing it anyway once I reached Inazuma. Might as well make it official.”

Zhongli’s lips curved into a small, satisfied smile. He extended his hand, and a golden geo sigil briefly glowed between them — sealing the contract.

“Then it is done. When the time comes, you will have the information you seek.”

Just as they finished, the door to the balcony slid open.

Ganyu stepped out, still wearing nothing but her new permanent “uniform” — the shiny cowbell choker around her neck. Her heavy breasts were fully exposed, nipples hard in the cool night air. Her pussy was completely bare, still slightly puffy and leaking from earlier use. The bell jingled softly with every step.

She had come to bring Aether some tea.

The moment she saw Rex Lapis standing there, Ganyu froze.

Her face went deathly pale, then flushed crimson in an instant. The cowbell jingled loudly as she trembled.

“M-M-Morax—?!”

She nearly dropped the tray. Her hands flew up to cover her breasts and pussy, but it was far too late. The Geo Archon had already seen everything.

Ganyu looked like she wanted the mountain to swallow her whole.

“I— I— This is— I can explain—!!” she squeaked, voice cracking with pure shame. The bell jingled wildly as she panicked. “I’m… I’m Master’s cow now and— oh Archons, please kill me—!!”

Zhongli, to his credit, remained perfectly composed. He simply raised an eyebrow slightly, taking in the sight of the usually prim and proper half-qilin secretary reduced to wearing nothing but a cowbell.

“…I see you have been quite busy indeed, Traveler,” he said dryly, though there was clear amusement in his tone.

Ganyu made a mortified squeaking sound and tried to hide behind Aether, the cowbell ringing embarrassingly with every movement.

Rosaria, who had followed Ganyu out, was barely holding back laughter.