Genshin Impact: Transmigrated as Furina's Second Personality

Zhongli fell silent after Felina finished speaking.

Children inevitably seek independence when they grow up. Zhongli had foreseen this long ago.

During last year's Rite of Descension, Keqing, one of the Qixing of Liyue, asked him a poignant question while presiding over the ceremony:

"You have safeguarded Liyue for millennia. Can you truly continue to protect Liyue for another thousand years?"

The question struck a deep chord in his heart, forcing him to confront whether he truly possessed the ability to protect Liyue for another millennium.

He had lived for over six thousand years, and the relentless grind of time had left him weary.

When he earnestly posed this question to himself, the answer he arrived at left him deeply unsettled.

The longer one lives, the more profound the erosion of one's spirit.

To protect Liyue, Zhongli had been compelled to sacrifice far too much.

It was akin to a love story: in the beginning, one is utterly enamored, but as time passes, flaws in the other become increasingly apparent. Over time, one also realizes how much one has sacrificed—time, hobbies, freedom, energy, and money—all for the sake of the relationship.

Each new disappointment, each realization of loss, was a form of erosion.

Accumulated grievances and regrets would eventually breed contempt, leading to bitterness and estrangement.

The process of eroding love into resentment and hatred mirrored the process of erosion over time.

Azhdaha had succumbed to such erosion. Zhongli feared he might one day follow the same path.

Initially, he had deeply loved Liyue and humanity.

But from his lofty position, thousands of years exposed him to humanity's darkest aspects.

Friends, disciples, confidants, comrades—all had been lost in his quest to protect Liyue.

These losses, too, eroded him.

What troubled him most was the possibility of a future thought arising in his heart:

"It's humanity's fault. Were it not for humanity, were it not for my duty to protect Liyue, I wouldn't have lost so much. I wouldn't be this lonely."

He feared that one day, he might succumb to erosion as Azhdaha had and turn his blade against the land he loved most.

The encounter with Azhdaha, who had begged him for death, had only heightened his awareness of this erosion.

Thus, Felina's words pierced directly into the depths of his greatest worry.

Between nations, there is always room for negotiation and maneuvering where benefits are at stake. No matter how venerable a ruler Zhongli might be, Felina had zeroed in on his greatest concern, giving her leverage even over the ancient emperor of Liyue.

"It seems you've done your homework before coming to Liyue," Zhongli remarked. "Permit me to once again commend Fontaine's intelligence-gathering capabilities."

Zhongli's expression did not change as Felina exposed his thoughts, but her display of insight left him impressed.

As the Geo Archon, his excursions among mortals were conducted in secrecy, and few knew of the name "Zhongli."

Yet Felina not only knew it but could also discern the state of Liyue and his innermost concerns with uncanny accuracy.

His praise was genuine, but it also served as a subtle probe. He wanted to determine whether Fontaine's intelligence network was as formidable as it appeared. If so, having such a neighbor could be a cause for unease.

Felina, of course, saw through his probing but chose not to address it.

After all, she couldn't exactly say, "I know all this because I'm a time traveler familiar with the plot and your character."

Sometimes, leaving an opponent guessing was advantageous.

Smiling faintly, Felina offered no response to Zhongli's implied question.

In this silent exchange, the two leaders tested one another, their words laden with unspoken meaning.

Zhongli, realizing he wouldn't glean any information, shifted the topic.

"Let's assume I am as weary as you claim. You still haven't answered my question: What does Liyue stand to gain?"

Felina smiled.

"A parent may know they can't protect their child forever, and that one day their child must venture out alone. Yet when the time comes, the parent still worries—will the child be safe?"

"You may be contemplating stepping down from the divine seat and letting Liyue forge its own path. But Liyue's current situation cannot help but give you pause."

"For instance, if another calamity akin to the Cataclysm were to occur, would they be prepared?"

"Or, let us take Osial, the Vortex God, sealed at Guyun Stone Forest. Time erodes all things, including seals."

"If you were no longer here, and Osial broke free, could Liyue handle it?"

"Perhaps you've even considered preemptively killing Osial to remove this latent threat before you retire."

"But you know as well as I do that the shockwaves from such a battle would be catastrophic. And Osial's death would leave behind the remains of a god, contaminating the seas around Liyue Harbor and rendering the port unusable."

"Liyue, the Nation of Contracts, thrives as a hub of commerce. If its port were crippled, its economy would rapidly decline."

"So you've been hesitant, caught between these concerns. Am I wrong?"

Zhongli looked at her, his silence confirming her accuracy.

Felina seized the moment to present her offer.

"You likely noticed this store as you arrived—the bright lighting, so different from Liyue's traditional lamps and candles."

"This is the product of Mysterious Ore, refined to extract the raw energy of Arkhe, generating what we call electricity. This energy not only provides light but powers machinery that can multiply production efficiency many times over."

"Electricity has countless applications. The possibilities are endless."

"As for Osial, all I require is your cooperation in staging a performance. I can ensure Osial willingly departs with me and submits to my authority."

Felina met Zhongli's gaze with unflinching confidence.

"So, if you agree to my terms, I can construct Arcanite(Arkhe)-powered plants to supply Liyue with electricity and elevate its productivity. Moreover, I can resolve the threat posed by Osial in the most favorable way possible.

"What say you?"

Zhongli fell into contemplation.

To be honest, he wasn't particularly inclined to see Liyue's civilization develop too rapidly, as such growth inevitably invited disaster.

When a civilization's progress reached a certain threshold, calamities would inevitably follow. Five hundred years ago, Khaenri'ah was a prime example of this.

Similarly, Inazuma's Raiden Shogun, after witnessing Khaenri'ah's destruction as a result of its unyielding pursuit of progress, had implemented a policy of national isolation, hoping to halt Inazuma's advancement.

However, Zhongli saw things far more clearly than the Raiden Shogun.

Having governed the mortal realm for so long, he had long understood humanity's inherent nature: greed. Humanity's insatiable desire to improve meant that no matter how one attempted to curb the development of civilization, it would ultimately prove futile.

Moreover, Teyvat was interconnected. Even if Liyue were to limit its own progress, technologically advanced nations like Snezhnaya and Fontaine would not stop developing. Inevitably, disasters would still arise.

Thus, rather than suppressing development, it was better to let it proceed freely. At the very least, when disaster struck, his people would have more strength to protect themselves.

With this thought in mind, Zhongli spoke, giving his response to Felina.

"I understand your proposal," Zhongli said.

"In that case, I require Fontaine to construct a reactor-powered power station for Liyue. The station must be built within Liyue's borders."

"Additionally, you must assist me in resolving the threat posed by Osial."

"As for the payment you suggested—both the Geo Archon's Gnosis and the Skyfrost Nail—I must refuse."

"The internal environment of the Chasm remains complex, and the polluted mud still flows freely within. For now, the Nail's power may still be necessary."

"Thus, the only payment I can offer is the Geo Archon's Gnosis. If you agree, we can finalize the contract."

"What?"

Now it was Felina's turn to be surprised.

Negotiation, after all, was like haggling in a marketplace. The initial offers were always inflated; after all, who knew if the other party might not bargain at all?

Both her conditions and the payment she had requested from Zhongli were deliberately inflated, leaving ample room for negotiation.

She had asked for both the Nail and the Gnosis as payment but never truly believed Zhongli would give her both.

Securing just the Gnosis would already have exceeded her expectations.

And yet, something felt off.

On the surface, the deal seemed to involve her helping Liyue construct a power station and resolving the Osial threat.

But in truth, Felina stood to gain significantly. Once her plan succeeded, Osial would become her subordinate.

She was helping Liyue resolve its hidden danger while gaining Osial as an ally—an already fair trade.

By this logic, the power station alone should have been insufficient to warrant payment in the form of a Gnosis.

She had fully expected Zhongli to haggle, advocating for more benefits for Liyue.

But to her surprise, Zhongli had agreed outright.

Something wasn't right.

Given what she knew of Zhongli, he was not one to suffer losses. Especially when it came to matters of national interest, he was immovable.

Zhongli could have used this opportunity to secure far more for Liyue.

Yet now, he had allowed her to gain the upper hand.

The saying goes, "The cheaper the price, the higher the cost." This was especially true in international dealings.

This unusual behavior put Felina on high alert.

Zhongli, ever the seasoned negotiator, noticed her hesitation. He could see the wariness in her eyes.

Thus, he added, "Of course, there is one more thing I would ask of you."

"You are surely aware of Chenyu Valley, which lies on the border between Liyue and Fontaine."

"Chenyu Valley is renowned for its tea, which enjoys a stellar reputation across all nations. However, in recent years, the valley has experienced significant soil and water imbalance. If left unchecked, the quality of its tea will inevitably decline."

"At this rate, the valley's soil will lose all vitality within a decade, and the people of Chenyu Valley will lose their livelihood."

"That would be a great pity. As the god who governs water, I ask that you visit Chenyu Valley and resolve its soil and water imbalance. In doing so, you will provide protection for the people there."

"This is my third and final request. What do you say?"

Felina considered this for a moment.

With the addition of this third condition, the trade appeared far more balanced, easing her previous concerns.

After all, exchanging a power station and the resolution of Chenyu Valley's issues for a Gnosis still left her with significant gains.

With her doubts dispelled, the negotiations concluded, and the two deities drafted and signed a contract based on the terms they had agreed upon.

Once the contract was signed, Zhongli informed Felina that she could visit Yujing Terrace the next day to formally discuss the power station's construction with the Liyue Qixing.

With everything settled, Zhongli departed.

Felina, however, remained in the restaurant, alternating control of her body with Furina to enjoy fried chicken, fries, and soft drinks.

As for this restaurant's origins?

Yes, Felina herself was its true owner.

Following her opera performance at the Fontaine Opera House, a KFC craze had swept Fontaine.

Driven by the idea of saving money for Furina's future retirement, Felina had brainstormed recipes for KFC-style dishes. She then collaborated with the Fontaine Science Academy to secure exclusive rights to the "Fonta" beverage.

Afterward, she sent her agents to Liyue Harbor to open this KFC branch.

The restaurant also featured projection equipment, playing her performance of the classical-style "KFC Song" every Thursday while offering heavily discounted "Crazy Thursday" deals.

Why let others ride the wave of her fame when she could profit from it herself?

The citizens of Liyue, unaccustomed to such modern establishments, were immediately captivated.

This restaurant quickly became one of Liyue Harbor's most popular eateries, with business booming.

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