Two drunkards met, and before long they were chatting away. After sharing a round of drinks, they had become fast drinking companions.
Koji twitched at the corner of his mouth. Out of a whole jar of Dandelion Wine, Venti had downed two-thirds while Himeko had finished the remaining third. It was clear that Venti intended to reclaim his own wine.
Hic. "Himeko, you really can hold your liquor. You should come to Mond sometime. There's all kinds of drinks there. Diona can mix the most delicious cocktails—but there are a few too many cats." Venti extended an invitation.
The drinks Diona mixed were excellent, but since Venti was allergic to cat fur, he was pretty much destined never to taste them.
"Alright, then I'll look forward to it. You also hold your drink well, Venti."
…
"Koji, why does the elemental power here in Teyvat feel weaker than Honkai energy?" Himeko asked, puzzled.
Not worthless, but its strength couldn't compare to Honkai energy.
"There's a saying: Honkai energy can do anything, elemental power can do nothing," Koji said with a smile.
That had even been field-tested by Keqing—guaranteed authentic.
Compared to Honkai energy, elemental power really was lower-tier, like something you'd find at the roadside…
"Interesting way of putting it. But elemental power doesn't have the corrosive quality of Honkai energy," Himeko said with a laugh.
She had experienced the erosion of Honkai energy herself. It was a torment worse than death, unbearable pain, only numbed by alcohol.
People with natural Stigmata were extremely rare, and artificial ones came with devastating side effects.
"Koji, how about dating onee-san?" Himeko smiled faintly.
Having once died without regrets, she had since decided never again. When a big sister like her made a move, she went straight for it.
"Hold it right there—I was here first. Auntie, ever heard of first come, first served?"
At first Lumine hadn't paid it much attention, but listening on, she realized something was wrong. Stealing a march on her? No way!
"Who are you calling auntie?" Veins bulged on Himeko's forehead.
That word brought to mind a certain white-haired idiot student of hers, and her blood pressure spiked.
She was already in her thirties, but she didn't look old in the slightest—instead she radiated mature charm.
This yellow-haired girl wasn't even fully developed yet.
Himeko folded her arms across her chest and glanced at Lumine's chest, giving a mocking little laugh.
Lumine's slime-sized chest was perfectly balanced, but it could never compare to Himeko's. Not even on the same scale.
"!"
Lumine glared at Himeko. So what if hers was big—it was all fat. Mine is the true perfection, a size that fits perfectly in one hand.
Koji left the Serenitea Pot. Let those two argue at their own pace.
At Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, Hu Tao stared at the latest accounts, frowning like a little girl weighed down by troubles.
"Zhongli and Venti aren't around?"
"No. Don't know where they've wandered off to. If you're looking for them, try a tavern or a storyteller's hall," Hu Tao replied with a resentful glance at Koji.
So what if they were erudite? They never worked, and when it came to spending, they were reckless.
"You're the Hall Master Hu Tao, right? Want to take on a huge commission?" Koji's eyes gleamed.
Didn't Morax intend to fake his death?
In Liyue—or anywhere in Teyvat—there was no authority greater than Wangsheng Funeral Parlor in funerary matters.
If Wangsheng handled the arrangements, even the Qixing couldn't find fault. It was their specialty, after all.
"Hm?"
"Go on, what's this big commission?" Hu Tao perked up.
She knew Zhongli was unusual. After so many years, his appearance hadn't changed one bit.
So she suspected he was most likely an adeptus.
But she had never asked and never intended to exploit that identity.
"You'll find out when the time comes. I'll make sure you get it. A commission no Hall Master has ever handled before," Koji declared proudly.
Of course none had. After all, an assassination of the Geo Archon was unprecedented.
"Fine. If you land me such a commission, I'll give you half off Wangsheng's Supreme Package." Hu Tao chuckled.
"No need. I'll live for a very, very long time," Koji quickly waved his hands.
"The life of an adeptus… what a pity I'll never get the chance to conduct a funeral for one."
Hu Tao instantly understood. Compared to the few decades of mortals, the millennia or even tens of millennia of immortals were but a drop in the ocean.
"Well then, farewell, cute Hall Master Hu Tao."
Koji left. Don't feel sorry. You'll soon have the chance to bury an immortal—the leader of them all, the Geo Archon Morax.
"Cute, huh… I am pretty cute." Hu Tao's cheeks flushed. Such blunt words would naturally make her shy.
A big commission… she couldn't help but wonder what it might be.
Oh, she hadn't even asked his name. She'd just have to wait for Zhongli to come back.
By dusk, Zhongli and Venti returned to Wangsheng after a day of wandering about.
"Old Zhong, your friend came today. He was wearing an orange coat, a young man. What's his name?" Hu Tao asked.
Orange coat?
Zhongli immediately knew who she meant. "You're talking about Koji. He is indeed my friend."
"Did he say why he came?"
Hu Tao recounted everything Koji had said.
"…"
Zhongli twitched at the mouth. This "big commission"… surely it referred to his own fake death?
Venti struggled not to burst out laughing. If he laughed now, he'd be sent flying.
Still, the thought of seeing Zhongli presiding over his own funeral was priceless. Since Zhongli was Wangsheng's guest consultant, he'd have no choice but to attend.
Zhongli: The one who died was the Geo Archon. What does that have to do with me, Zhongli?
"Old Zhong, do you think Koji is making fun of our Wangsheng Parlor?" Hu Tao asked curiously.
"Probably not," Zhongli said calmly—but his grip on the teacup tightened sharply.
Didn't the Hall Master want Wangsheng to reach new heights?
Conducting the send-off of the Geo Archon… who could even dream of such a thing?
Zhongli felt torn. Should he still go through with it? Burying himself—no matter how he thought about it, it felt absurd.
Venti read his thoughts, unable to suppress a grin. This trip to Liyue had definitely been worth it.
He knew Zhongli was already riding the tiger. Having prepared for so long, it was impossible to stop now.
After all, there would never be another chance like this.
Since the Tsaritsa wanted his Gnosis, Zhongli hadn't refused. Borrowing the Fatui's power would give Liyue a fitting trial.
If they could weather it on their own, the future of Liyue would be human rule. He would not intervene, unless they truly faced annihilation.
"Drunkard, come to think of it—your Mondstadt's Anemo Archon hasn't shown himself for years," Zhongli remarked idly.
"The Knights of Favonius have done well. Lord Barbatos is satisfied, so naturally there's no need for guidance," Venti said with a smile.
Zhongli was speechless. Clearly you just shirked your duties.
(End of Chapter)
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