Seeing the puzzled looks on Paimon and Lumine's faces, Lora felt a headache coming on.
She improvised, "Maybe… possibly… I might've accidentally run into some drunken green-clad poet while flying over Mondstadt. I fell from the sky and hit my head, and that's how I lost my memory."
Zhongli nodded at just the right moment and added, "From a standpoint of common sense, that possibility is indeed quite high."
"This explanation…" Paimon blinked at Lora. "That's so perfunctory."
Could an Adeptus really lose their memory from a fall? It felt like she was being fooled. And who exactly was this "drunken green-clad poet"? Could it be that bard who sang on the streets?
"Paimon, don't ask anymore."
Lumine called out from behind her, signaling for Paimon to come back first. Then she looked at Lora and said seriously, "Lora, I know everyone has their secrets, but I'm willing to believe you."
Though their journey together hadn't been long, Lumine could tell that Lora wasn't an enemy.
"Thank you, Lumine!"
Lora looked at her, deeply moved. "You're way better than that guy who only knows how to drink tea, admire antiques, and buy rocks! He's a completely black-hearted fellow!"
Lumine and Paimon didn't react much to that, but Tartaglia instinctively glanced in Zhongli's direction. Zhongli was still calmly holding his teacup, sipping without the slightest sign of anger.
It seemed his relationship with Lora was anything but ordinary. Tartaglia immediately reached that conclusion.
Zhongli noticed Tartaglia's gaze but remained composed. He continued, "Since everyone is here, please take your seats. The food at Xinyue Kiosk is exquisite—it's the most representative restaurant of Liyue. Travelers who have come all the way from Mondstadt should take this opportunity to savor Liyue's flavors."
"Thank you."
Lumine thanked him, then turned to Tartaglia and asked quietly, "Tartaglia, who is this?"
Hearing that, Tartaglia laughed. He had Lumine and Paimon sit down first before taking his own seat.
"Allow me to introduce him. This friend is a figure from the underworld, a Guest Consultant of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor—Mr. Zhongli."
"Un-underworld?"
Paimon covered her mouth in shock. She whispered, "You don't mean that kind of underworld, do you? The kind that robs and kills, breaks into homes and plunders?"
Hearing Paimon's outrageous guess, Zhongli set down his teacup and spoke clearly, "The Wangsheng Funeral Parlor is an organization that oversees funeral rites, dedicated to ensuring the peaceful passing of the deceased. Please do not misunderstand.
The 'underworld' I refer to is not the 'robbery and murder' this young friend is talking about."
"Ah… um…"
Paimon scratched her head awkwardly.
"Besides," Tartaglia added with a grin, glancing at Lora, "even if it really were about robbery and murder, with the Adeptus of Purifying Water and Judgment as your friend, you wouldn't need to be afraid, right?"
Lora, who had been eating, froze for a moment and looked up blankly. Weren't they talking about Zhongli? Why was she being dragged into this again?
"Mm, that's true."
Paimon nodded, then looked at Lora.
"Lora, you're an Adeptus of Liyue, so you must be really strong in a fight, right? When we went to look for the Adepti before, there was this big bird called Cloud Retainer. When she heard that Rex Lapis had been assassinated, she immediately started shouting about suppressing all of Liyue Harbor. It was incredible!"
"Thanks for the invitation. I'm eating. Don't disturb me."
Lora waved her hand. After swallowing her last bite, she put down her chopsticks, spread her hands, and said to Paimon, "Paimon, even though I really don't want to crush your enthusiasm, I still have to say it—I actually… can't beat Mr. Guest Consultant."
"Huh? Really?"
Paimon stared at Lora in disbelief, then looked at Zhongli.
"Even an Adeptus can't beat Mr. Zhongli? Is he really that amazing?"
Lora nodded earnestly.
"Don't underestimate the Guest Consultant. The Wangsheng Funeral Parlor handles funerary affairs, so it inevitably runs into unclean things. Those are usually dealt with by the Guest Consultant. Sea monsters, little spirits underground—Guest Consultant takes them down one by one."
Paimon immediately clasped her hands together.
"Mr. Zhongli is incredible! Paimon bows in admiration!"
"The Adeptus is far too generous with her words," Zhongli replied calmly. "I am but a mere mortal. To make the acquaintance of an Adeptus is already a great fortune in my life. As for the sea monsters and underground spirits the Adeptus mentioned, how could such things be within my ability to resolve?"
"The Guest Consultant is being modest," Lora said with a smile.
"Exactly!"
Paimon nodded vigorously beside her. "Lora is a Liyue Adeptus, and even she says that. Mr. Zhongli must be extraordinary! Besides, if Mr. Zhongli were really just an ordinary mortal, why would Tartaglia bring us to visit you so seriously?"
Zhongli looked at Lumine and Paimon.
"Because I can allow you to see the divine body of Rex Lapis."
"What?"
Even though they had been somewhat prepared, Lumine and Paimon still stared at him in disbelief.
Tartaglia laughed.
"No need to be so surprised. Although the divine body of Rex Lapis was hidden by Ningguang, the Tianquan of the Liyue Qixing, after the incident… well, in any case, you should hear Mr. Zhongli out first."
Zhongli inclined his head slightly and continued, "Though Rex Lapis is the progenitor of the Adepti, in the end he is still one of them. Looking across Liyue's three thousand seven hundred years of history, the departure of the Adepti has been an irreversible trend. The times have already changed. Traveler, having returned from Jueyun Karst, you should be able to sense this shift as well."
"Yes… the Adepti are indeed moving away from Liyue."
Lumine nodded in agreement.
"As you have seen, the era of the Adepti is fading, while the era of mortals is gradually becoming reality. In the past, whenever an Adeptus departed, a grand commemorative ceremony would be held. This is a Liyue tradition. Yet this time, even the Qixing could not spare the attention for it… truly disgraceful."
Zhongli sat upright at the table, his voice unhurried.
As Zhongli spoke, the natural air of authority he exuded made Lumine and Paimon unconsciously grow more reserved.
"Indeed. If Rex Lapis knew that he died without even a grave, he probably wouldn't be able to enjoy his tea," Lora said, nodding.
Her remark instantly dispelled the stiffness in the air.
"Lora, how could Rex Lapis drink tea after he's dead? And aren't you an Adeptus? How could you say something like that? Rex Lapis should be the one you revere the most, shouldn't he?"