At dusk, Su Yuan and Zhongli smoothly arrived at the Wangshu Inn, located in Dihua Marsh.
The innkeeper, Huai'an, warmly welcomed the two of them.
"Oh, it's Consultant Zhongli," Huai'an said with a smile.
"It's been quite some time since your last visit to Wangshu Inn."
"These past days, I've been hoping for the chance to chat with you again about Liyue's history and culture, and to learn a thing or two about how to conduct oneself in the world—and in business!"
Su Yuan looked at Zhongli and Huai'an, thinking to himself, So Zhongli has stayed at Wangshu Inn before? And it seems he's on pretty good terms with Huai'an?
Well, that makes sense.
In the game, during the Chasm storyline, when Xiao reported to Zhongli before heading out, Zhongli seemed to be standing right on the top balcony of Wangshu Inn, looking out over Dihua Marsh.
"Innkeeper Huai'an, my young friend Su Yuan and I will be staying at Wangshu Inn for the night. Sorry to trouble you," Zhongli also responded with a gentle smile.
"It's nothing at all, not a problem," Huai'an replied cheerfully.
"It just so happens that it's about dinner time. I'll have Yanxiao whip up a few good dishes to properly welcome Consultant Zhongli and Brother Su Yuan!"
After enjoying a hearty meal carefully prepared by Yanxiao, Su Yuan turned to ask him:
"Chef Yanxiao, do you happen to know where Jiangxue is? We didn't see him when we were eating together just now."
"Jiangxue? That guy's always been the solitary type—he never eats with us in crowded places,"
Yanxiao said thoughtfully.
"Now that you mention it, I was so focused on serving you and Mr. Zhongli tonight that I completely forgot to bring Jiangxue his dinner!"
"Perfect timing. If you're heading out to find Jiangxue, Su Yuan, could you take this meal to him for me?"
"Jiangxue is probably fishing on that little tidal island to the east of Wangshu Inn right now!"
Su Yuan didn't quite know what to say.
It was already getting dark—yet Jiangxue was still out there fishing?
And he even needed someone to bring him dinner?
"Alright then, leave it to me," Su Yuan said as he took the meal Yanxiao had packed for Jiangxue.
"I actually need to talk to him anyway, so I'll take it to him while I'm at it."
"I'll come with you, Su Yuan."
Zhongli spoke up, and together, they made their way to the small island east of Wangshu Inn.
Just as expected, they found Jiangxue there, fishing.
"Hey, Jiangxue! Yanxiao asked me to bring you your dinner!"
Su Yuan waved and called out to Jiangxue, but he didn't respond at all.
"Wait, Su Yuan… something feels off about Jiangxue," Zhongli suddenly reached out and stopped Su Yuan, his expression extremely serious.
"What's wrong? Don't tell me… has Jiangxue already been corrupted by the Eerie force?"
Su Yuan also looked toward Jiangxue in confusion.
Admittedly, Jiangxue did seem strange—completely unresponsive—but Su Yuan couldn't sense even the slightest trace of Eerie power on him.
"Jiangxue is already dead…"
Zhongli's words gave Su Yuan a tremendous shock!
Both he and Zhongli rushed forward, only to find Jiangxue sitting there with his eyes closed, silently, still gripping his fishing rod tightly in his hands—yet there was no sign of breathing or a heartbeat…
Su Yuan gently poked Jiangxue's body with his hand—and Jiangxue's body immediately toppled to the ground…
Even so, he was still tightly gripping the fishing rod in his hand…
Su Yuan couldn't make sense of the situation.
What exactly had happened?
Jiangxue had just been peacefully fishing—how could he have suddenly died like this?
At that moment, Zhongli also crouched down and began examining Jiangxue's body…
Not long after, Zhongli came to a preliminary conclusion and said:
"Jiangxue has no visible external injuries, nor any signs of poisoning…"
"His expression shows no pain either, which suggests that death occurred in an instant…"
Su Yuan looked puzzled and asked, "Zhongli, are you saying that Jiangxue died from sudden cardiac arrest?"
"But from what I know, Jiangxue's physical and mental condition should be top-tier among ordinary humans. How could such a low-probability event like sudden death happen to him?"
"Su Yuan, you should understand that a low-probability event doesn't mean it won't happen," Zhongli replied as he lifted Jiangxue's body.
"Let's bring Jiangxue's body back to the inn first."
..............
"How is this possible?"
Yanxiao stared at Jiangxue's corpse, unable to believe what he was seeing.
"I clearly brought him lunch this afternoon, and he was totally fine!"
"How is it that just a few hours later, you're telling me he's dead?!"
Seeing the pain in Yanxiao's expression, Su Yuan could understand how he must be feeling at this moment.
Even though Yanxiao and Jiangxue always seemed to be bickering on the surface, their relationship must have actually been quite close.
Now that Jiangxue was dead, Yanxiao must be deeply grieving inside…
Afterward, Su Yuan followed Zhongli to the top floor of Wangshu Inn.
"Xiao."
With a gentle call from Zhongli, Xiao's figure appeared beside him.
"Lord Arc—Zhongli, sir." Xiao glanced at Su Yuan, as if he had something to say but held back.
"No need to be reserved, Xiao."
Zhongli spoke calmly:
"Su Yuan is a trusted friend—one of our own. There's no need for secrecy between us."
Xiao looked at Zhongli, then at Su Yuan, and gave a slight nod. "Understood."
"Xiao, has anything strange or noteworthy happened near Wangshu Inn today?" Zhongli asked.
"Reporting to the Lord of Geo, there have been no anomalies."
Xiao responded as though he were reporting to a superior:
"There have been no signs of monsters or demons, and no indication that anyone has been corrupted or controlled by the Eerie power."
Zhongli nodded and said, "If that's the case, then… was Jiang Xue's death truly just an accident?"
He then turned to Xiao and added, "Xiao, from now on, when Su Yuan calls your name, you must respond promptly and offer him your assistance."
"Yes, my Lord," Xiao nodded.
"Su Yuan, it's getting late. You should head back and get some rest," Zhongli said to him.
"I hope that by tomorrow morning, you'll be able to bring us some useful information."
"If all goes well, we'll set out early to the depths beneath the Dragon-Queller Tree to see what state Azhdaha is currently in."
"As for me, there are a few things I'd like to discuss with Xiao in private."
"Alright, I'll head back to my room to rest, then," Su Yuan replied.
Su Yuan spoke and then left the rooftop terrace, returning to the guest room that Huai'an had arranged for him.
After a simple wash-up, Su Yuan lay down on the bed and suddenly thought of a question:
Besides the innkeeper Huai'an, wasn't there also a "boss lady" named Verr Goldet at the Wangshu Inn?
Why hadn't he seen her at all since arriving at the inn?
Could it be that she was off duty today?
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