If the preview event made netizens cry,
Then watching Hilichurls and Abyss Mages dance gave them psychological scars.
It was truly deranged.
Many players deeply suspected whether Ken was even carbon-based. He refuses to do anything involving normal people; anything normal—he won't touch it. Everything he makes is cursed chaos.
We asked for edits, not for you to kill the audience!
But ranting aside… they couldn't suffer alone.
Netizens frantically forwarded it to groups, letting everyone share the eye-bleach pain.
As Ken watched the barrage, a comment caught his eye.
[Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's Hu Tao: What were you thinking? Making something this deranged? Even this Director wants to punch you.]
Ken: "???"
If he remembered right, that newbie account belonged to Hu Tao.
He left the study and went to the next room.
Before he entered, he saw Hu Tao sticking her butt out, furiously typing; on the screen was the Hilichurl edit.
"Smack—"
Under Xinyan's startled gaze, Ken slapped Hu Tao's upturned rear.
She jumped, saw him, and hurried to block the screen with a guilty grin: "Ahaha… this is… a misunderstanding. I wasn't being a keyboard warrior, misunderstanding."
"I'll deal with you later." Arms crossed, Ken watched her flail, then looked at Xinyan: "How's the study going? How's Blue Star's rock?"
Xinyan's eyes lit up. "Blue Star's rock is great—very diverse… I've learned a ton, especially the rock in this video."
She clumsily moved the mouse and opened a clip.
Seeing it, Ken was speechless: "…"
On-screen was a live "Electric Six" clip.
With a rocking beat, the scene was comical.
But due to different customs, he didn't laugh—just asked, "So you're planning to do this?"
"Yup." Hu Tao said proudly, "We'll have Meng and the others paint their faces black, carry the 'coffin' representing the Geo Archon, and Xinyan will rock out up front. Zhongli will definitely be pleased."
Ken: "…"
Imagining Zhongli attending his own funeral with pallbearers and funeral rock nearly broke him.
Xinyan hesitated: "But that's the Archon. Even if we don't use his real body, the coffin representing him is still him… isn't this disrespectful?"
Though Xinyan's fiery ideas aim to break Liyue's "traditional prejudices," it doesn't mean she disrespects the Archon.
Hearing Hu Tao's plan, she wavered.
The Rite of Parting is solemn—would it be okay to do this privately?
Hu Tao waved it off, for once serious: "We came into the world crying, we should leave it laughing. This isn't disrespect—it's honoring him with a different custom. Liyue is vast—we respect all customs."
It wasn't that Hu Tao wanted to go overboard—Zhongli himself wanted "grave-dancing," and she couldn't resist.
Since that's his wish, she'd do it properly.
And fulfill Zhongli's desire to have people dance on his grave.
"You're right…" Xinyan nodded. "I've memorized the flow. Next is training the Wangsheng staff. Time is tight; let's set up the venue and train the staff now?"
"Don't worry—my staff are all clever. They'll learn fast." Hu Tao said proudly.
With Ken's help, she copied the video to her phone to play offline, then took Xinyan back to Liyue Harbor to passionately rehearse funeral rock with pallbearers.
…
Noon.
Seeing the little loli guest, Ken specially prepared Qingce Household Dish and Black-Back Perch Stew—authentic Liyue cuisine.
It was Yaoyao's first visit to Blue Star; proper hospitality was due.
Of course—
He also made Klee's favorite grilled fish and Eula's preferred dishes.
"Mmm… smells so good…"
Catching the scent of Qingce Household Dish, Yaoyao's big eyes lit up while playing outside with Klee.
Mushrooms, lotus heads, cabbage, Liyue's signature Jueyun Chili—stir-fried over high heat, the pleasing spice stoked the appetite, begging for extra bowls of rice.
Ken added some fowl to this dish.
It looked, smelled, and tasted wonderful.
"Wash up—time to eat," Ken said with a smile.
"Thank you, Uncle Ken—Yaoyao loves these dishes!" she chirped.
Since she's friends with little Klee, shouldn't she call him uncle?
Though she felt Klee was innocent and simple compared to her own "maturity," Klee could do no less than her—
So young, yet making powerful bombs.
The Spark Knight of the Knights of Favonius was not to be underestimated.
"If you like it, eat up—no need to be shy." Ken found Yaoyao pleasing to the eye.
Little lolis are truly the world's greatest treasures.
When he meets Nahida later, a few little lolis together would be perfection.
Most importantly—
Nahida's age should be legally loli among ordinary folk, right?
Ahem.
"Your cooking is excellent."
Even Eula, usually indifferent to food, sincerely praised the dishes.
Klee chimed in excitedly: "Of course! Daddy's food is the best—Klee loves it!"
"Did you have fun with Yaoyao?" Ken patted Klee's head.
"Klee had fun! With Yaoyao big-sis! When Daddy and Mommy give Klee a little sister, Klee will be even happier!"
Uh…
She brought up the "little sister" topic again.
Far away, Alice suddenly sneezed.
Right in front of him, Eula paused mid-bite.
She glanced at Ken—his profile handsome, eyes like an abyss, deep and mysterious.
Eula drifted into daydreams.
If she were with Ken, having a daughter didn't sound bad.
That would be Klee's little sister, right?
Eula smiled involuntarily; realizing her thoughts, her smile froze. She quickly lowered her head and shoveled rice to hide her embarrassment.
She must be crazy—thinking like that in front of Ken.
"What's wrong?"
Sensing something off, Ken asked.
Eula shook her head. "Nothing, it's just too delicious."
If it's "too delicious," why are you blushing? Ken eyed her red cheeks, puzzled. She'd grown tolerant to spice—it shouldn't be the chili.
Just as he was about to ask more, a slight tremor rippled through his mind.
A vortex gate appeared silently.
"Zhongli?"
From the vortex stepped a tall figure—Zhongli.
His amber eyes were steady and reserved. "The Adepti have arrived… hm? Let's talk after we eat. There's still time—may I have an extra set of chopsticks?"
Ken: "???"
Seriously… is it okay to stop mid-sentence just to eat?
"In general rationality, stopping mid-sentence is poor form. But this matter isn't urgent, while your cooking is rare—given the chance, why wouldn't I eat?" Zhongli said unhurriedly.
Yaoyao, scooping rice, tilted her head—this new uncle talked weird.
Like an old antique.
"If you want to eat, serve yourself," Ken said.
Zhongli: "…"
…
Liyue Harbor.
Because the Adepti had arrived, the Qixing led the Millelith to greet them.
This was prime time to fish in troubled waters, and Tartaglia seized the moment to head to the Golden House.
Dodging mechanisms and the Millelith, he succeeded.
Due to the Geo Archon's passing, the continent's only mint had halted operations.
Even so, the Mora inside was beyond imagination.
Tartaglia wasn't interested in Mora.
His sole goal today was the Gnosis from the god-carcass.
It was also why he came to Liyue.
Bypassing the minting floor, he followed the warm drafts until he sensed a chill in them.
The god-carcass wouldn't be placed somewhere hot, so—
Eyes narrowing, he shot like an arrow toward the Golden House's lowest level and saw the god-carcass in the center.
Even in death, a faint pressure around Morax left him awed.
He took a deep breath and approached—only to be furious.
"Where's the Gnosis?!"
There was no Gnosis in the carcass.
His face changed. Everything he'd planned was for this moment, and now at the critical time, the carcass lacked the Gnosis—devastating.
"You are here, as expected!"
As his anger flared, a familiar voice arrived.
He turned to see Lumine and Paimon.
He narrowed his eyes, danger rising. "You… did you take the Gnosis?!"
Blinded by anger, he didn't think straight.
Seeing them arrive slowly and confidently, he assumed they'd taken it.
"Gnosis? We didn't," Paimon snorted. "Only you Fatui would covet it—we're not interested."
Tartaglia sneered. "Really? Beat you first and you'll talk."
He lunged, Hydro surging.
Though Lumine had trained hard, she didn't dare be careless.
Holding the flute-sword Ken had given her, she met him head-on.
Rapidly switching Anemo and Geo, she gained the upper hand easily.
But she knew this was without Childe going all-out.
If he did, even she'd need effort.
Bang!
Blown back, Tartaglia stood, wiped blood from his lip, eyes cold.
"Fine… looks like I'll need my final power. Traveler, you're stronger than La Signora said—your progress is fast!"
As he spoke, Electro power surged.
Terrifying Electro and Hydro wrapped him.
Arms spread, he reveled in it.
This was the final stage after unleashing his Delusion—Foul Legacy.
But it taxed his body greatly; every use had a price.
For the Gnosis, it was worth it.
Just then, he glimpsed a golden talisman in Lumine's hand.
"Mm?"
At the critical moment, the golden talisman flew over his head.
In an instant—
The roiling Electro and Hydro vanished.
He thudded to the ground.
"???"
…