The chat in Xuehua's livestream instantly exploded.
The screen filled with question marks and comments asking what exactly Qiuqian had discovered.
"Qiuqian, what exactly did you learn?"
At that moment, a voice that sounded like heavenly music to both Xuehua and the viewers rang out.
Watching Paimon spread her little hands behind Qiuqian with a face full of curiosity, Xuehua looked like she had just seen a savior.
[Paimon, you really are my plot-mouthpiece (teary-eyed)]
[Yes Paimon, that's it! When it comes to Qiuqian, your curiosity needs to stay strong! (crying)]
[Little Paimon, never suppress your curiosity. If you want to ask, then ask! (wiping tears)]
[I seriously wish Paimon had been this curious back on Dragonspine too (covering face)]
"Hmm…"
Hearing her question, Qiuqian stood with his back facing the adorable Paimon, seemingly hesitating over something.
But this time—
He chose to speak.
[I'm begging you, son-in-law, stop speaking in riddles already! Just say it directly! (crying)]
"In the era I lived in, Visions did not yet exist within the mortal world."
"That is why, previously, I asked Kazuha to let me examine his friend's Vision."
"However, I had never observed what kind of state a person enters after losing a Vision."
"So out of curiosity, that led to what happened just now."
"If Kazuha's case helped me understand the essence of a Vision…"
"Then this time, I came to understand what it represents."
Qiuqian turned around and calmly explained to Paimon.
"Hey…"
"So what exactly did Mr. Domon look like in your eyes?"
Paimon crossed her arms and looked at Qiuqian with a displeased expression.
"You talked for so long without actually explaining what you learned!"
"Little Paimon can think of it as him breaking free from a certain restraint."
"But sometimes, restraints can be good for a person… and sometimes they can be bad."
"That pure desire born from a single instant…"
"Can make people willing to offer up a price…"
"In exchange for the power to realize their wishes."
Qiuqian slowly explained.
"A price…"
"That sounds kind of scary."
Paimon felt uneasy hearing such coldly realistic words.
Even Yae Miko, after hearing this, subconsciously glanced sideways at the Vision hanging beside her fox ears—
Though naturally, she herself couldn't actually see it.
Meanwhile, Inagi Hotomi, who had been quietly listening from the side for a long time, revealed a strange expression.
"Morax was right. Visions are also a form of contract."
"And within a contractual relationship, both parties are equal."
"Both sides bear shared responsibility for ensuring the transaction proceeds smoothly."
"Neither side may enjoy rights without also bearing obligations."
Qiuqian did not directly answer Paimon's question. Instead, he continued speaking.
"Paimon, remember this."
"In a contract, both sides are equal."
"Neither party may enjoy rights without fulfilling obligations."
As he spoke those words, a strange smile appeared on Qiuqian's face.
Then—
He stopped speaking.
Paimon's expression turned complicated, seemingly lost in thought.
Yae Miko also rested a hand against her chin, pondering the meaning hidden within Qiuqian's words.
Even Lumine's brows gradually furrowed as she listened.
Qiuqian's explanation…
Really was brutally realistic.
It practically shattered many of the beautiful ideas she once held regarding what Visions symbolized.
But somehow—
That also made it feel more real.
Just as Zhongli once said:
"All power comes at a price."
And if that price was ultimately equal in value…
Then perhaps there wasn't really anything frightening about it.
After all, for most people who obtained Visions—
They never believed they had sacrificed anything at all.
Even Xuehua, watching the livestream, didn't start freaking out like usual.
Instead, she simply hugged a plush doll and stared blankly at the screen.
"I never expected the son-in-law who always spoke in riddles before…"
"To actually tell us directly this time."
As she spoke, Xuehua smiled.
Because her curiosity had finally been deeply satisfied.
[Yeah… this time my curiosity actually got satisfied]
[It feels like son-in-law said nothing, but also somehow explained everything]
[So this is the price of a Vision…]
[Price? I don't think that's quite it]
[Maybe what son-in-law means is: don't think you lost something. In reality, you simply traded equally for what you desired]
[There's no way son-in-law's thoughts are that shallow though (covering face)]
[Hiss… now we know the rights and obligations fulfilled by Vision holders. But what about the other side of the contract—the gods watching over them? What rights and obligations are THEY fulfilling?]
[Issuing the Vision Hunt Decree and taking away people's Visions?]
[I have a feeling the "god" being referred to here isn't one of the Seven (covering face)]
[Yeah. If it were the Seven, too many things wouldn't make sense]
[People who receive Visions are all extraordinary individuals. They're "Allogenes" qualified to ascend to Celestia and become gods]
[Right, wasn't Vanessa said to have ascended to Celestia?]
[I think she's the only explicitly recorded Allogene in Genshin lore to have actually ascended]
[Vision holders only have the qualification to ascend. It doesn't mean they definitely will]
[As for the god who grants Visions… what kind of scheme are they placing on the other side of the scales? That will be revealed in your future journey~ (smirk)]
[The guy above sounds exactly like Morax (covering face)]
"No wonder son-in-law hesitated over whether or not to tell Paimon…"
"Because the truth is often cold."
Thinking this, Xuehua suddenly felt that Qiuqian was incredibly gentle.
[Hearing Xuehua say that suddenly makes me feel like son-in-law is so gentle (holding back tears)]
[If son-in-law really kept speaking in riddles all those times because of this, then does that mean the truths behind those previous riddles were even colder and crueler than this one?]
[I can't take it anymore. Thinking about it this way makes son-in-law way too gentle (covering face)]
[Madame Ping: He was clearly such a gentle and powerful god…]
[But that STILL doesn't justify you speaking in riddles this many times! (furious)]
[Exactly! Tell me everything already, son-in-law! I can handle it! (teary-eyed)]
[Who says son-in-law didn't speak in riddles this time? He explained what Visions represent, but he never actually told us what the ESSENCE of a Vision is! (covering face)]
"The moment that viewer pointed it out, I realized it too!"
"Qiuqian said Kazuha's friend's Vision helped him understand the essence of Visions…"
"But he never actually explained what that essence was!"
Xuehua widened her eyes in sudden realization.
[Paimon, hurry and ask son-in-law what the essence of a Vision is already! Stop being sentimental over there and ASK! (covering face)]
[It's over. That sly old man son-in-law tricked us again (covering face)]
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