Mt. Aocang.
Cloud Retainer was utterly furious.
When Gu Chen and his companions had visited the other Adepti, they'd at least pretended to behave like normal people.
It was understandable that the Vigilant Yaksha race disliked meeting others—he was a loner, so unconventional methods were excusable.
But this?
Were they here to seek divine aid to clear their names—
or to pick a fight with an Adeptus?!
[Cloud Retainer]:@[Gu Chen] You dare come to Mt. Aocang? You're not leaving in one piece! (Nahida·pointing finger)
[Gu Chen]:[Cloud Retainer's Exclusive Red Packet] What was that, True Lord? I didn't quite catch it. (confused)
[Cloud Retainer withdrew a message]
[Cloud Retainer]:Ahem! This immortal means… Welcome to Mt. Aocang, honored guest! (Ganyu·smiling)
[Paimon]:What kind of shady transaction was that just now? (Aether·alert)
[Lumine]:A secret deal, obviously. (mischievous)
[Cloud Retainer]:Young man, you have good manners indeed. This immortal has… matters to attend to. Going offline for now!
Back on Mt. Aocang, Cloud Retainer examined the small gift before her with satisfaction.
It was a small, intricate cube with twenty-two levels of turning sections.
"This 'Magic Cube,' as the mortal calls it, is exquisitely crafted. Though it serves no divine purpose, it is quite amusing for leisure. That youth truly understands how to respect an immortal!"
Cloud Retainer's satisfaction was palpable.
[Kaeya]:Wait, the group chat can send red packets now?
[Gu Chen]:Of course! Didn't you know? (Keqing·questioning)
[Kaeya]:I've been too busy chatting and watching the videos! Who'd notice new features?!
[Kokomi]:Actually… I've used it before. I sent some supplies to Gorou—it deducts a handling fee depending on quantity and value, but it's extremely useful in emergencies.
[Gorou]:With this, logistics on the battlefield just got a lot easier! (Paimon·small matter)
[Sara]:Thank you for the intel.
[Gorou]:…
[Klee sent a red packet.]
[Gu Chen received two Jumping Bombs.]
[Kaeya received one Jumping Bomb.]
[Jean]:Klee!!! What are you doing?!
[Klee]:Wuwu… Klee just wanted to try it out… (Klee·sad)
[Kaeya]:Good thing they didn't explode. Otherwise the tavern would be gone.
[Diluc]:It's fine. You can pay for it.
[Zhongli]:So, even bombs can be placed inside? Then what about spell attacks?
[Venti]:What are you planning, exactly?
[Keqing]:Mr. Zhongli, that idea sounds extremely dangerous!
[Yanfei]:Yeah, Zhongli, unless you want a death sentence, I'd shelve that thought.
[Venti]:Exactly! You sound like a villain just suggesting that!
Venti was appalled.
What if that old fossil sent him a "Mora" red packet, and when he opened it—boom, Celestia-level explosion?
[Zhongli]:Misunderstanding! Merely academic curiosity, nothing more.
[Gu Chen]:I already tested it—it doesn't work.
[Zhongli]:Ah. That's… good. Good to know.
[Kaeya]:You sound oddly disappointed, old man. (lol)
[Ningguang]:Gu Chen and his companions have returned to Liyue Harbor. I wonder if the truth behind all this will finally be revealed. (Ningguang·raises glass)
[Paimon]:Miss Ningguang doesn't sound worried at all! (confused)
[Ningguang]:We've lost contact with the Geo Archon. Until we know his fate, all we can do is watch these videos and prepare accordingly—no matter what the truth turns out to be.
In the video.
Gu Chen's group had returned to Liyue and found Tartaglia once again.
"Congratulations, you're still breathing," Gu Chen said, glancing over the Harbinger's half-healed injuries with a faint smirk.
"Let's skip the sarcasm. How did your trip to Jueyun Karst go?" Tartaglia waved a hand dismissively.
After Gu Chen explained, Tartaglia frowned in thought. Then he shared what he knew of the Qixing's latest moves.
[Paimon]:They're telling the public no culprit was found, and forbidding anyone from viewing the Geo Archon's remains? What's the Qixing thinking—have they already seen through the Abyss plot? (Kokomi·deep thought)
[Ningguang]:As an outsider now, I can see far more clearly… yet I can't tell what my past self's intentions were.
[Keqing]:Judging by the video, Qixing's reaction is… suspicious. Almost as if they're rushing to seize power.
[Moon Carver]:Could it be… the Qixing themselves?!
[Mountain Shaper]:Impossible. The Qixing lack the power to assassinate the Geo Archon!
"The Geo Archon is dead, yet they won't allow anyone to view his remains… truly a stalemate," Tartaglia said with a grin.
"Fortunately, I know someone who might break this deadlock."
"Oh?" Gu Chen raised an eyebrow.
"Tomorrow, noon, Liuli Pavilion. I'll arrange a little banquet—you'll meet this person there," Tartaglia said.
Gu Chen exchanged a glance with Lumine.
Meeting new allies could only help their journey.
He agreed.
[Hu Tao]:Who could possibly break this deadlock? @[Zhongli]Guest Consultant, do you know anyone like that in Liyue Harbor?
[Zhongli]:…I do not.
[Tartaglia]:I think I know who it is… but I won't spoil it. The video's moving to tomorrow anyway—answers incoming!
In the video, the next day at noon.
Gu Chen, Lumine, and Paimon followed Tartaglia into a private room at Liuli Pavilion.
At the table sat a calm, dignified young man.
[Hu Tao]:?
"Allow me to introduce him," Tartaglia said cheerfully.
"This gentleman is a figure from the underworld of commerce—guest consultant of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, Mr. Zhongli."
Gu Chen smiled faintly.
"'Underworld,' huh? Which line of business are you in, Mr. Zhongli?"
"Haha, nothing so dramatic," Zhongli replied, shaking his head.
"Just a humble consultant for the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. Hardly worth mentioning."
After a few minutes of polite conversation, Gu Chen's group understood what the Funeral Parlor did.
"The Send-Off Ceremony is our only chance to see the Geo Archon's divine remains," Gu Chen said. "I'll take it."
[Furina]:@[Hu Tao]@[Zhongli] How's business at the Funeral Parlor these days?
[Hu Tao]:Pretty normal! But I, the Hall Master, am working hard to make it thrive again!
[Zhongli]:Hall Master, that's… quite unnecessary.
[Furina]:Everyone, I have a theory!
[Heizou]:Oh? Lady Furina has an idea? (curious)
[Furina]:Friends, consider this: what if the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor killed the Geo Archon—then took charge of his funeral to boost its reputation? Business would boom!
[Neuvillette]:Absurd.
[Raiden Ei]:Scandalous! (eating popcorn)
[Nahida]:…An angle I hadn't considered.
[Heizou]:Actually, it does make sense! Given their struggling business, the timing fits perfectly. Everyone here's got powers—nothing's impossible!
[Venti]:Yeah! Zhongli was literally asking earlier if spells could be put into red packets! Clearly plotting murder! (lol)
[Yanfei]:Conspiring to assassinate a god? By Liyue law, that's a capital offense!
[Zhongli]:???
[Hu Tao]:WHAT?! This is the biggest misunderstanding of the century! (Klee·tearful)
[Furina]:Even more evidence! Zhongli—death penalty! (Venti·throwing confetti)
[Zhongli]:Wait! You can't judge this life by crimes from the past! (Zhongli·exasperated)
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