Su Ming led Shenhe through the portal, stepping onto the tiles of the Jade Chamber.
The Millelith guard on duty finally snapped out of his shock. He hurriedly saluted Su Ming and greeted him with a stutter.
"Sword... Sword Immortal!"
"You... how did you suddenly arrive? And with such a method..."
Su Ming smiled. "No matter. There's no need for such formality before me. Haven't we met? You know I'm no immortal, just a wandering idle man. That 'Sword Immortal' title is just a hollow name the people gave me. It's useless, and it's made it so I can't even go buy street snacks anymore."
Su Ming continued, "Alright, I won't disrupt your work. Shenhe, let's go."
After grumbling a few complaints to the guard, Su Ming led Shenhe toward the offices of the Liyue Qixing.
...
"Lady Ningguang! The Sword Immortal has arrived!"
Ningguang smiled at the news. "What a coincidence. An invitation just arrived from Fontaine, and here he is."
She turned to Keqing beside her. "Do you think Mr. Su Ming truly possesses the art of foresight?"
Keqing shook her head. "I wouldn't know. But if even the talkative Cloud Retainer hasn't mentioned it, I doubt he has such powers. After all, the Adeptus already revealed that he actually comes from outside this world. If he really could see the future, I imagine she would have chatted about that long ago."
Ningguang chuckled. "True enough. Please invite him in. I have important matters to discuss."
"Yes, Lady Ningguang!"
Before long, Su Ming walked in.
"I heard the Tianquan was looking for me? Don't tell me you want me to help melt the frozen sea? Let me be clearI can make ice, but I can't melt it. At most, I can shatter the sheets of ice into chunks, but you'll still have to fish them out yourselves."
Ningguang shook her head quickly. "You misunderstand. That is not it. It's like this: the Palais Mermonia in Fontaine has sent an invitation addressed to you."
"Me? Fontaine?" Su Ming was baffled. Why would Fontaine invite him?
"Who sent it?"
Ningguang spoke slowly. "The Hydro Archon of Fontaine, Focalors. She has extended an invitation, hoping you can find the time to visit Fontaine for a gathering. Of course... in my personal opinion, this move isn't surprising. Since historical records began, you are the first recorded human to have slain a Demon God. Given how Focalors usually acts, she is likely just interested in you and simply wants to meet."
"Fontaine has beautiful scenery. If you have the leisure, it wouldn't hurt to accept."
Su Ming took the invitation and read it. It was filled with official, diplomatic jargon; it clearly wasn't written by the Archon herself. Most likely, it was a draft revised by the civil servants at the Palais Mermonia.
However, the content matched what Ningguang said: the Hydro Archon wanted to invite him for a visit and a chat. Furthermore, sending it through official diplomatic channels was a gesture of goodwill from Fontaine toward Liyue.
"I understand. I'll go, but not right now. I have a short travel plan before Fontaine. I'll head there once that's finished. Please relay this to Fontaine, Tianquan."
Ningguang smiled. "No problem. I will inform the Palais Mermonia accordingly."
"Thanks for the trouble." Su Ming returned the smile, then asked, "By the way, is there anything I can help with here?"
"Not for the time being. You may go to the guest room to rest; I've already had food and tea prepared."
"No need for that. Let me ask insteadwhere are my master, Zhongli, and the others? What are they doing?"
Keqing spoke up. "The Lord... Zhongli, several of the Adepti, and the Yaksha, Conqueror of Demons seem to be at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor discussing the Rite of Parting. I'm not sure of the details. When it comes to the Rite of Parting, no one in Liyue is more professional than the Adepti and Zhongli. Thus, the Liyue Qixing did not send anyone to participate in those discussions."
Su Ming nodded. "Thanks. Then I'll be going now."
Su Ming left the room, took Shenhe's hand, and opened another portal, leaving the Jade Chamber for the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
"Phew! This thing really is convenient. Much easier than flying with the Sky Dancing Technique!"
Shenhe, however, looked a bit unhappy. She had thought that since the distance was short, Su Ming might choose to carry her. In the end, he just chose the easy way out...
"Eh? What's that?"
Su Ming spotted a familiar figure crouching in the open space before the funeral parlor entrance.
Wasn't that Hu Tao?
Su Ming approached quietly and realized that Hu Tao was looking quite dejected, aimlessly drawing on the ground with a twig, trying to break up a line of passing ants.
"Director, what are you doing?"
Hu Tao turned her head. Seeing it was Su Ming, her eyes brightened for a split second before returning to their previous gloom.
"Nothing. Just playing with ants," she replied listlessly.
Su Ming was genuinely shocked by her lack of energy. Good heavens, what happened that could make even Hu Tao this unhappy?
"What's wrong? This doesn't seem like you."
Hu Tao was silent for a moment, then whispered, "My professional level has been doubted!"
Su Ming blinked. "Huh?"
"My professional level was actually doubted!!!" Hu Tao grew angrier as she spoke, eventually using her fire to burn the twig in her hand to ash. "By what right! By what right is the duty passed down through generations of our Directors being set aside for such a major event like the Rite of Parting?"
"Just because we haven't had an Adeptus die in so many years doesn't mean the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor has forgotten the procedures for the Rite of Parting!"
Su Ming broke into a cold sweat as he listened. Ah, so that's it.
He could actually guess Zhongli's intentions. Most likely, Zhongli was afraid Hu Tao would say something to ruin his dignified image in the eyes of the other Adepti. After all, if Hu Tao started talking about Zhongli's daily spending habits,
there was no telling what the Adepti would think. Whether they became members of the "the Lord must have a deep meaning for doing this" faction or the "the Lord must be out of his mind" faction, neither was particularly good for him.
Or perhaps he was afraid Cloud Retainer would say something that might accidentally blow his cover. Once his mask was broken, it wouldn't be easy to switch identities again. He had used this "smurf account" for years!
As for saying Hu Tao's professional skills weren't up to par... that was likely just Hu Tao's own interpretation. Zhongli would never say such a thing. Still, Hu Tao was indeed not practiced in the Rite of Parting.
Rather than risk his reputation by letting her stay inside, it was better to play the villain and send her out to stabilize the situation. It also removed the risk of Cloud Retainer letting something slip. It was a win-win.
Whether it was because she had someone to talk to or a sudden new spark of inspiration, Hu Tao clenched her fist and said, "I'm going to go back and study up on the Rite of Parting like crazy today!"
"I'll make sure to live long enough to send off another Adeptus in the future!"
"I want that fellow Zhongli to know that I, Hu Tao, have a professional ability in funeral rites that cannot be questioned!"
"Aaaaah, just thinking about it makes me mad!"
"No, I have to go back and organize the bills. I'm not reimbursing Zhongli anymore!"
"I'll deduct it all from his salary!"
"Hmph! Let's see if this Director can't handle him!"
đšÂ Note: Consider supporting this story on Patreon.com/Flokixy to access 400+ advance chapters and 2 new chapters daily! (Full story bundles also available without a subscription).