Liyue Harbor. Early morning. A light rain fell.
A man strolled leisurely along the port.
Ships of all sizes were docked along the harbor, and many workers were already bustling about at the break of day.
The man seemed to enjoy the peace and calm, walking slowly and stopping now and then as he pleased.
That was, until he overheard a merchant praising a subordinate:
"You've fulfilled your duty. Now go rest."
The man paused at those words, stunned. He stood in place for a long time.
By the time he came back to his senses, the once-quiet harbor had become crowded and lively.
And the ship the merchant had boarded had already set sail.
All the while, a question echoed in his mind.
"Have I... fulfilled my duty?"
Just then, a white-haired man wearing a six-cornered hat approached.
"Good morning, Emperor," he said with a soft smile.
Startled, the man turned around—and there stood Hu Elliot, the Master of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
"Hello, my name is Zhongli. The 'Emperor' you mentioned...?"
"Emperor of the Geo. Morax."
Elliot spoke with calm clarity, directly revealing his identity.
Zhongli was indeed shocked. In this mortal form, no one should know who he truly was.
Confusion filled his eyes. He had no idea how this man could possibly know.
"I can guess what you're thinking..."
"You want to step away from divinity. You're ready for a break, aren't you?"
Elliot came to the harbor every morning for one reason—to find Zhongli.
He knew the turning point had been that one day when Zhongli heard a merchant praise his subordinate. It sparked the idea of abdication in his heart.
Elliot had come to entrust his final wishes.
Hu Tao was ten now—old enough to understand everything she needed to.
"You…"
"Let's talk somewhere more private."
Still reeling, Zhongli was about to speak when Elliot cut in. After scanning the growing crowd, Zhongli nodded solemnly.
They found a quiet tavern nearby. The two sat down and quickly fell into easy conversation, as if they'd known each other for years.
Elliot didn't say much about himself. He focused on persuading Zhongli to step down.
"Liyue needs to grow. But with you here, it grows too comfortable—losing its sense of urgency."
"You've endured millennia. It's time you let yourself rest."
"Stepping down doesn't mean vanishing. I hope you'll watch over Liyue, your 'child,' from the shadows. Help when needed. That's all."
"Even the hardest stone will crack beneath the river of time."
Every word hit home. Zhongli fell silent in deep thought.
The more he considered it, the more he realized Elliot made sense.
His continued presence did limit Liyue. The peace it brought wasn't sustainable forever.
"You make a good case... but how do you know all this?"
Zhongli knew almost everything about Liyue, yet he had never noticed how mysterious the Master of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor truly was.
Until now, his impression of Elliot had been gentle, wise, open, and cheerful.
Now, another word came to mind—mysterious.
This man seemed to know everything. He even spoke directly to Zhongli's unspoken thoughts. He was like a mind reader.
"I'm sorry—I can't tell you. Let's just say I have a contract with something beyond even the archons."
Of course, Elliot couldn't reveal the truth—that this world was a game on Earth.
Even Zhongli would think he was insane.
"You didn't come just to chat. There's a reason behind all this, isn't there?"
"Of course," Elliot admitted without hesitation.
"What is it?"
"To take care of someone."
"Who?"
"My granddaughter—Hu Tao."
Zhongli blinked, clearly puzzled. "But you're still here."
"Because of that contract, I won't be around much longer. When the time comes, I'll have to leave. When that happens, I want you to serve as a guest advisor at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. Be there for Hu Tao, guide her in my place."
Elliot said it plainly, his voice steady—as if he had long come to terms with it.
Still, Zhongli saw something familiar in his eyes.
Weariness.
The kind that comes from enduring too much for too long.
It seemed... he wasn't lying.
Zhongli thought for a moment, then asked, "What do you want me to do?"
"Hu Tao loves poetry and ancient texts. You, of course, know all things past and present. Just talk to her—she'll be drawn to your brilliance."
Elliot already had a plan but didn't say it outright. Zhongli, being sharp, understood anyway.
"Alright. If that's the case, I'll give it a try," Zhongli agreed. He rarely met anyone who intrigued him as much as this.
"This is my token of thanks. I hope you like it."
Elliot pulled out a beautifully crafted square box. Made of fine wood and etched with cherry blossom patterns, it was elegant and delicate.
He had originally bought it for himself—he liked such little trinkets—but suddenly thought Zhongli might too. So he offered it as a gift.
"This is exquisite."
Zhongli was instantly taken by it, carefully examining the craftsmanship.
"Take it, and our contract is sealed. Archons don't break contracts... right?" Elliot smiled.
At those words, Zhongli paused, eyes shifting to him.
"Hu Tao, huh...? I remember her doggerel. It was amusing."
"You taught her, didn't you?" he asked with a light smile, sipping warm wine.
He seemed to enjoy talking to Elliot. It was the first time he'd met someone so unusual.
"Yes. She loves poetry—but all her poems end up strange and quirky."
Elliot also took a sip.
"Strange, isn't it? We've only just met, but it feels like we've known each other for ages."
Zhongli stared into Elliot's eyes, as if trying to see something deeper.
"Is that so? Maybe we share similar tastes," Elliot replied, eyes now on the wooden box.
"You like these things too?"
"I've always liked elegant little items like this."
"You remind me of someone I used to know."
"Well then, what a coincidence."
"It's getting late. I'll head back for now. I'll come find you another time."
Zhongli stood and left quietly.
As Elliot watched him go, his eyes lingered on the wooden box in Zhongli's hand.
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
"Contract... sealed."