Akivili was stunned.
The scene in front of Them was like a dramatic play full of twists and turns.
Just a moment ago They heard Their friend say "kill me" to Lan, and the next moment They saw a Xianzhou citizen very out of place asking for outside help.
This completely ordinary passerby forcibly turned a scene of close friends turning against each other into an absurd comedy that made people laugh and cry at the same time.
Groups of Cloud Knights entered the teahouse.
Akivili subconsciously looked at Their friend.
What would happen next? Reveal their true identities? Make everyone present gasp in amazement? Then leave proudly and create a great story?
Akivili waited.
When the Cloud Knights asked about the relationship between Their friend and Lan, they only got one sentence in return.
Zero said expressionlessly, "I don't know him."
Akivili, "..."
The Cloud Knights then looked toward Akivili.
Earlier, the Aeon had spoken up for Lan in front of everyone, so They could not copy Zero's answer. They could only smile awkwardly.
Just as things became tense, Zero took the initiative to hand over the identity documents for himself and Akivili.
One of the Cloud Knights looked at the documents and then handed them back.
Zero put them away and asked if they could leave.
The Cloud Knight decisively let them go.
Zero said sincerely, "You've worked hard."
The man froze for a moment.
"This is what we're supposed to do."
He recalled the name on the document of the person in front of him. For some reason, his tone subconsciously softened, and he even offered a blessing.
"Mr. Eric, I hope you have a pleasant time in Xuling."
Zero nodded slightly and pulled Akivili out of the teahouse.
One human and one god walked back the way they came.
Akivili had many questions in Their mind.
'What about Lan? Would he really be arrested by the Cloud Knights?'
And where did Their friend get those identity documents? Why was there even one for Themself?
Finally, why were the Xianzhou people's attitudes so extreme? If the Reignbow Arbiter himself came to the Xianzhou, would he still get scolded?
Even though Akivili had countless things to say, They could not casually speak them out loud.
After all, the street was not a place for free conversation.
They said stiffly, "I thought you were going to laugh out loud."
Zero said, "…I almost did."
But if he had really laughed… he definitely would not have been able to leave. He would have been forced to stay on the Xianzhou.
He took the initiative to explain to Akivili.
"This is normal."
"Before, when I spoke on the star network, I was also scolded terribly."
Akivili opened Their mouth wide.
The Aeon could not help asking, "Eric, did you say something controversial?"
Zero seemed to recall for a moment and shook his head.
"Not really. It's just that their thinking is too active."
"Even a very normal policy… once it gets to the star network, some people start saying that the Xianzhou is playing some huge strategic game…"
"In short, some… very unique interpretations."
"Even the company sent people to ask for my opinion."
"I casually registered an account and argued a few times, and then I got scolded."
Akivili was deeply shocked.
But after thinking about it again, it was Their friend's orders after all. That seemed normal.
Zero continued, "Things are much better now. Anyone who comes to the Xianzhou only needs to call Him 'Reignbow Arbiter.' Otherwise…"
"They'll suspect someone of being a follower of the 'Plagues Author.'"
"They'll question whether the person is worth fifty thousand patrol tokens."
He chuckled softly, "Looks like the textbook writing team put in a lot of effort."
"I'm very satisfied."
Akivili was filled with admiration.
'Friend! As expected of you! You actually thought so far ahead for the Xianzhou and for Lan!'
But when They thought about Lan again, Akivili immediately became depressed.
They could understand Their friend. They understood that his mood was bad and he spoke without thinking.
But with the relationship between Their friend and Lan… as long as they sat down and talked properly, they should be able to resolve the conflict and make up, right?
The Aeon suddenly stopped walking and forcibly dragged Their friend into a tavern by the street.
It happened to be a workday, so there were not many people inside. One god and one human entered a private room.
Akivili hurriedly ordered several bottles of wine, then casually made up an excuse and left the room.
When They came back again, another Aeon stood beside Them, Lan.
Zero glanced at them and said coldly, "Did you two plan this?"
Both Aeons knew that in front of Zero, it was best not to lie.
So Akivili hurriedly nodded.
Lan slowly shook his head.
Zero closed his eyes briefly.
"You two should discuss it first before answering."
The two Aeons looked at each other.
Akivili quickly shook His head.
Lan nodded slightly.
Zero suppressed the anger in his heart, lowered his eyes, and continued drinking.
Lan paused, then said, "You and I once had a contract..."
Akivili laughed awkwardly and handed the menu to Lan.
"See what you want to eat."
'Lan, what are you doing? Are you adding fuel to the fire?'
Even if He was not a Xianzhou god, He still knew the unspoken social rules of the Xianzhou. Xianzhou people always discuss things during meals! Who talks so directly like you?
Akivili reacted quickly. Seeing that Zero's cup was empty, He immediately grabbed it and handed it to Lan, then placed the wine bottle beside Lan.
He was trying so hard! He had already given Lan a chance to smooth things over with Their friend! Surely they could reconcile now.
Akivili stared at them without blinking, watching Lan pour the wine, then watching Lan hand the wine to Their friend.
Zero sighed inwardly. In the end he did not waste his friend's kindness and took a quick sip.
"How many days did you wait?"
His tone did not reveal anger or joy. Lan fell into thought and began considering his words.
When Lan sensed through their contract that the other party was seriously injured, He separated a portion of His divine power and created an avatar to come to Xuling.
Among the eight Xianzhou ships, only Xuling was the most special.
The Marshal would definitely come to Xuling.
After hesitating for a long time, Lan said, "I didn't wait long."
For an Aeon, what did time even mean?
But for some reason, both the Marshal and Akivili fell silent.
They soon skipped this topic and started talking about things they had seen during their travels.
From time to time Akivili also threw a few questions at Lan. Thanks to His overly social personality, the atmosphere was not awkward.
The two gods and one human drank quite a lot of wine. As they talked, the conversation turned to their hometowns.
Akivili was drunk, nodding repeatedly like a chicken pecking rice as He stammered, "Friend, your hometown, oh, the ever-victorious Yaoqing..."
Zero said nothing and turned his head to look out the window.
Back then, in order to provide the Xianzhou people with the most comfortable living environment, he had spent a lot of effort.
There were sunrises and sunsets here, the changing of the four seasons, and birds, beasts, fish, and insects.
Zero carefully recalled Zandar's words, trying to piece together an image of himself and his hometown from those fragments.
Zandar said that at the time he was only fifteen or sixteen.
He grew up surrounded by love and never lacked it.
He lived in a peaceful era. He did not experience the Mechanical Emperor's War, nor did he get caught up in the Emperor's War or the Swarm Disaster.
Zero looked at the moon hanging high in the sky. His voice was almost impossible to hear.
"My hometown?"
"It doesn't need someone like me."