Douluo; Zhongli Adventures in Mortal World with Paimon

Under normal circumstances, a reunion after a hundred years would undoubtedly be extraordinary, especially when considering the expression on young Wang Chen's face.

The white-haired Wang Chen gazed at Zhongli and Paimon, who hadn't changed at all, a faint, bitter smile playing on his lips.

His eyes were filled with confusion and doubt.

A hundred years ago, Lord Zhongli and Paimon looked just like this. A hundred years later, Lord Zhongli and Paimon still looked exactly the same…

They were no different from how he remembered them, as if time had graciously touched everyone else, yet somehow overlooked these two entirely.

At this thought, Paimon glanced sideways at Zhongli.

Perhaps this was the reason Zhongli often changed his identity while walking the lands of Liyue during his time in Teyvat? The cost of immortality—or eternal life—had begun from the moment he gained consciousness.

Zhongli had lived for so many years, bearing witness to countless farewells and separations.

Even he himself had endured such things.

"Is that why he was reluctant to form bonds with others when he first arrived?"

For once, Paimon's rare moment of perceptiveness surfaced. Though questions flooded her heart, she chose not to voice them aloud.

"Speaking of which, Zhongli is a god. In the absence of erosion, he can practically live forever."

"Then what about me? What kind of existence am I?"

From the moment she gained her memories, all she knew was that she was the best guide in Teyvat. Where she came from and where she would go—these questions had never crossed her mind.

All these years had passed, and she was still herself—the same old Paimon.

"Am I a long-lived being?"

"Otherwise, when Wang Chen saw me, wouldn't he have seen a gray-haired… Wait? My hair is already white…"

As her thoughts reached this point, Paimon fell into contemplation once again.

Zhongli and Wang Chen, however, had no idea what was on Paimon's mind. Even if they did, they'd likely assume it was something about food, wouldn't they?

"Lord Zhongli."

Wang Chen's eyes were filled with a fervent light as he looked at Zhongli.

Without this great lord, Wang Chen would not have achieved what he had today.

Without this great lord, their village might have long been destroyed by wolf thieves.

Those terrifying beasts weren't something ordinary people could resist.

"Oh?"

Seeing Wang Chen's lips parting as if he wanted to speak but hesitated, Zhongli set down his teacup and said calmly, "Wang Chen, my young friend, speak freely."

The two years had not made Wang Chen forget his original intentions nor worn away his resolve. Instead, they had made him more steadfast, with the faint bearing of a strong individual.

This greatly pleased Zhongli, proving once again that his judgment was exceptionally sound.

Upon hearing Zhongli's words, Wang Chen stood up from his chair, preparing to kneel before him as an expression of gratitude.

But his knees seemed restrained by an invisible, powerful force, rendering him unable to bend them.

"Young friend Wang Chen, there is no need for such courtesy."

With a wave of his hand, Zhongli gently guided Wang Chen back to his seat.

"Lord Zhongli…"

Wang Chen looked at him with confusion, a hint of bewilderment in his heart.

He couldn't understand why Zhongli wouldn't let him express his gratitude in such a manner.

As someone who had received little education, Wang Chen's gratitude was the purest and most sincere.

At the same time, he realized something—this great lord was terrifyingly powerful!

Even with his current strength, he was utterly powerless in Zhongli's presence.

Truly, Zhongli was unmatched!

Seeing this, Zhongli simply waved his hand and said, "The accomplishments you've achieved today, my young friend, are due to your own faith and perseverance. The Vision merely serves as a finishing touch."

"Speaking of the Vision, I've already accepted your gratitude for it back then. There's no need to offer it again."

Hearing these words, Wang Chen was momentarily stunned. Zhongli's reasoning was sound, yet he couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss.

Faith and perseverance?

A finishing touch?

Without the Vision, what use would strong faith and perseverance have been?

Lord Zhongli simply did not wish to claim undue credit, nor did he want to use the Vision as a pretext to turn Wang Chen into one of his subordinates.

Realizing this, Wang Chen's gratitude toward Zhongli deepened. His already fervent admiration became even more intense.

"I understand now. Thank you, Lord Zhongli," Wang Chen said earnestly, cupping his hands in a respectful gesture.

Paimon glanced at Wang Chen, then at Zhongli, shaking her small head like a rattle-drum.

She was confused and had no idea what kind of subtle exchange was taking place between the two.

Suddenly, something seemed to occur to her. Paimon instinctively turned to Wang Chen and asked, "Hey, Little Wang Chen, your village is pretty far from Tiandou City, right?"

"If you've come all the way to Tiandou City, what about your grandfather…?"

Wang Chen's grandfather, Wang Mazi, was quite elderly and frail—something both Zhongli and Paimon had seen for themselves over two years ago.

With Wang Chen being his only grandson, how could Wang Mazi manage to live alone after Wang Chen left?

Hearing this, Wang Chen's expression changed, a wave of sorrow washing over him. Lowering his head, his lips quivered as if trying to speak but hesitating.

Seeing this, Zhongli immediately understood.

When he first met Wang Mazi, he had already known the old man's time was short. He likely didn't have long to live.

Birth, aging, illness, and death—such is the human condition. For Wang Mazi, to witness his grandson's success before passing away was, in its own way, a blessing.

"My grandfather… passed away a year and a half ago."

After a long silence, Wang Chen finally spoke, his voice tinged with grief.

Wang Mazi had been his only blood relative. Now that he was gone, Wang Chen had no family left in the entirety of Douluo Continent.

This loss only solidified Wang Chen's resolve to seek out Zhongli.

Before setting out on this path, Wang Chen had been utterly lost, with no idea where to find Zhongli.

He had crossed countless mountains and rivers, wandered through countless forests. Of course, most of these forests had no soul beasts—they were just ordinary woods.

He had even ventured into the Star Dou Forest, as it wasn't too far from his home—merely dozens of miles away.

The first time he entered the Star Dou Forest, it was a brush with death. He knew nothing about soul beasts and had narrowly escaped with his life.

"Passed away…?"

Paimon's eyes widened in shock. She hadn't expected the kind and cheerful old man to have already passed.

After a brief moment of thought, Paimon flew to Wang Chen's side, gently patting his shoulder. "Little Wang Chen, don't be sad. That kind old grandpa is definitely proud of you!"

"Yeah… Grandpa left with a smile," Wang Chen said without hesitation. His grandfather, Wang Mazi, had indeed passed away smiling.

Their family had been peasants for generations, but with Wang Chen's achievements, their fate had been rewritten. How could his grandfather not smile?

In the next world, Wang Mazi would surely be able to face his ancestors and proclaim proudly: Our family has produced a true dragon!

"So, Little Wang Chen, what are your plans now?" Paimon asked.

"I don't know," Wang Chen replied honestly.

His previous goal had been to find Zhongli and dedicate all his efforts to aiding him.

Unfortunately, he now realized just how naive his idea had been.