The man at the stall lifted his cup of tea with an easy, practiced grace and took a quiet sip.
His expression was calm and unruffled, as if the noise of Liyue Harbor couldn't so much as ripple the still water of his composure.
His posture was perfectly straight.
The way he held the cup, fingers poised like an orchid—every movement carried a quiet, unspoken elegance.
He sat at an utterly ordinary breakfast stall, surrounded by customers who were either wolfing their food down or chatting casually over steamed buns…
Yet his presence felt oddly out of place among all that, as if reality itself had miscast him.
Even in such a street-side setting, he remained composed and unhurried,
like a nobleman seated in a jade tower overlooking the city.
Even simply sipping tea and eating cakes, he exuded a faint, otherworldly refinement.
On the table, his breakfast was arranged in neat order.
A small pot of gently steaming tea.
A few delicate pieces of pastry.
The cups were spotless, the cakes cut into perfect shapes, every edge and corner symmetrical to a fault.
The next moment, he pinched up a small piece of osmanthus cake between two fingers and brought it to his lips.
The motion was smooth and gentle, as if he weren't eating breakfast at a roadside stall at all,
but tasting some carefully prepared imperial offering.
Lumine had only glanced over absently at first—
but the longer she looked, the more she found herself pausing in quiet surprise.
"…That's… a lot of effort for breakfast."
To be able to eat with that level of elegance… at this kind of stall?
She'd just been following Kairo's line of sight, casually sweeping her gaze across.
But after seeing Zhongli's fluid motions, his cultured calm, the way serenity seemed to cling to him—
she couldn't help feeling… oddly impressed.
Paimon, on the other hand, was still completely immersed in the smell of food and hadn't noticed him at all.
After finishing her order, she clapped her hands together in satisfaction.
"Hehe! Okay, next step is to pick the best table!"
"You can sit here."
A low, warm voice drifted over just then, smooth and steady,
like a spring running past stones—soft, but with a quiet rhythm.
Paimon blinked and turned toward the sound, finally noticing Zhongli seated just to the side, quietly drinking his tea.
"Eh?"
She stared at him, wide-eyed, clearly surprised.
"You are…?"
Lumine's eyes widened a little as well.
She hadn't expected the man—so composed and elegant even at a breakfast stall—to be the first to invite them to sit.
Kairo, meanwhile, raised a brow.
Because right in front of him, a translucent system panel flickered into view.
[After spending a night at Wangshu Inn, you decide to spend the following day strolling around the Luofu, using the chance to scout out the current situation and prepare for what comes next.]
[However, just as you step outside, you run into the Luofu's Divine Foresight General, Jing Yuan, waiting by the roadside.]
[You know that though Jing Yuan looks lazy on the surface, his mind is anything but. If he's here in person, he must be here for you.]
[Sure enough, the moment you meet, Jing Yuan personally extends you an invitation. Faced with his offer, you choose to…]
[Option 1: Gladly Accept. Since Jing Yuan has come in person and extended an invitation, why not go along with it and see what he really has in mind? Rather than passively waiting for the Luofu's higher-ups to act, you'd rather proactively gather intel. You might even use this to learn more about their internal situation. (Reward: Odd-Colored Magnetite – a strangely hued piece of magnetite from who-knows-where. Life tip: it can move metal tools on the other side of a sheet of cardboard.)]
[Option 2: Refuse Flatly. Jing Yuan's invitation looks like nothing but a test, and you have no intention of stepping casually into the whirlpool that is the Luofu's current affairs. Besides, you already have your schedule lined up—how could you just change everything because one friendly-looking general asked nicely? (Reward: Jade Oracle Unit – the most basic Jade Oracle component, usually used in the final stage of installation. "Pick one, they're all obsolete models. But once you install it, your machine will feel like it's grown a soul.")]
[Option 3: Get Straight to the Point. You accept the invitation, but choose to cut right to the chase, leaving Jing Yuan no room to circle around you. By placing yourself openly as a collaborator, you can bargain for your own interests more effectively. Note: this choice may change Jing Yuan's assessment of you—your candour may earn his respect, but it may also make him more guarded. (Reward: Snow-Lion Mimi – the stone lion that stands before the Divination Commission. After obtaining it, you can freely switch its form between lifelike lion and stone statue at will.)]
Kairo's expression turned faintly strange.
Zhongli… Jing Yuan?
Seriously, what was this idiotic system using as its comparison metric?
Of the three rewards, the second wasn't bad, though it sounded like some sort of mechanical part.
The third looked like a pet:
a snow lion that could switch freely between stone statue and living creature.
That actually sounded pretty good.
As for the first option—Kairo mentally tossed it straight in the bin.
Total trash. Just seeing it felt like a waste of time.
And the style of Option 3 matched what he'd been planning anyway: direct and to the point.
A thousand thoughts flashed through his mind in the span of a heartbeat.
Then he nodded lightly and spoke aloud.
"Since it's the guest consultant of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor inviting us," Kairo said with an easy smile, "it would be rude to refuse."
As he spoke, he sat down opposite Zhongli.
"Ah—so that's the guest consultant from Wangsheng?"
Paimon's eyes flew wide as she stared at Zhongli.
"So you're the guy we were looking for?!"
Lumine, beside her, looked just as taken aback.
That fast?
They hadn't even finished breakfast, and they'd already run into the one person they'd planned to search out today.
Looking at Zhongli up close, Lumine could tell at a glance that he was definitely not as simple as he appeared.
With that bearing, she was ninety percent sure already.
This man had to be Liyue's Archon.
"Oh? Looking for me?"
Zhongli let out a soft chuckle.
"And what business might you have with me?"
He honestly hadn't expected the traveler to come straight for him the moment they arrived.
As far as he knew, they'd only reached Liyue yesterday.
They shouldn't even have had time to hear about his reputation—so why seek out a mere "guest consultant" of Wangsheng?
Morning sunlight slanted across the street.
Steam from the stall rose into the air, mingling with the fragrance of soy milk, the wheat scent of buns, and the sweetness of pastries, painting a warm, quiet picture of daily life.
Zhongli set his cup down with a soft clink and let his gaze travel calmly over Kairo and Lumine, the corners of his lips lifting minutely in a subtle smile.
"Mm."
Paimon scratched her head, suddenly at a loss for words.
Almost reflexively, she glanced toward Kairo, waiting for him to explain.
Instead, Lumine spoke first.
"You're the Geo Archon, aren't you?"
Zhongli: "…"
The words landed, and his usually placid expression stalled for the first time.
The hand that had been lifting his cup froze mid-air.
The scent of hot tea hung between them.
Around them, the morning market buzzed on—vendors calling out, customers chatting and laughing—
yet at that moment, Zhongli's world seemed to fall briefly silent.
He didn't respond right away.
Instead, he sank into a short, thoughtful quiet.
His amber eyes narrowed just a fraction.
He'd heard many people speculate and wonder over the centuries, even probe and test him with more or less subtlety.
But this kind of blunt, straight-into-the-heart question…
That was a first.
Still, his face remained as composed as ever, as if nothing could truly shake him.
A moment later, he set his cup down again, voice as smooth and steady as polished jade.
"And why," he asked mildly, "do you think I would be?"
His tone was tranquil, almost casual, but in the depths of those eyes there was a faint glimmer of curiosity.
Lumine didn't answer.
Instead, she found herself glancing instinctively toward Kairo.
That tiny movement didn't escape Zhongli's notice.
He followed her line of sight to Kairo, a trace of consideration flickering in his gaze.
So it's him who knows my name, he thought.
Kairo spoke up slowly.
"There's only one guest consultant at Wangsheng," he said.
His tone was unhurried, as if he were stating something completely ordinary.
"In Liyue, there are many people who know the rules and proper rites, who understand the ceremonies used for all things under heaven."
"But if we're talking about someone whose knowledge surpasses even that of the oldest scholars—someone even the Liyue Qixing can't match… how many such people do you think there are?"
At that, Zhongli's fingers tapped lightly against the rim of his cup.
He nodded, just faintly.
That much was true.
"And that's only the first problem."
Kairo's voice stayed level as he went on.
"You don't just know Liyue's traditions—you know even the smallest details, every obscure rule and nuance."
"That's not just scholarship."
"That's… being inside the story."
"What you know doesn't come from books. It comes from your own lived experience."
Zhongli didn't reply.
He simply raised his cup and took another sip of tea,
face as calm as ever.
But his silence, in itself, said plenty.
Paimon and Lumine watched with bright, shining eyes.
To them, Zhongli's silence was as good as a confession—as long as he didn't deny it…
And the Geo Archon, for once, had no retort.
Kairo continued.
"Second, your position."
"Wangsheng deals in funerals. As a guest consultant, you should be just that—an advisor at most."
"But in practice, every major and minor matter at Wangsheng is decided according to your word. Without you, nothing moves."
"If you were truly just a normal consultant, how could you wield that kind of influence?"
"After all, Wangsheng has more than one learned consultant."
He looked at Zhongli, his eyes deep as he smiled faintly.
"Liyue is a nation of contracts, built on fair trade."
"But you alone… walk around with not a single Mora on you."
"You listen to the hottest plays, buy the brightest songbirds, and insist on the finest in food, clothing, and daily life."
"The only thing you never concern yourself with… is paying."
"No one has ever chased you down for debts; no one has tried to drag you out by the collar."
"Yes, Wangsheng settles your bills behind the scenes—but across all of Liyue, you're the only one who enjoys that kind of treatment with such calm."
"Tell me that doesn't look like a deity who's set down his burdens and decided to enjoy a quiet retirement."
"Liyue's people don't consider that you, the Wangsheng consultant, might be the Geo Archon," Kairo added softly.
"Not because it's impossible—but because the thought never even occurs to them. In their hearts, the Geo Archon is above reproach, above reach."
At that, Zhongli's hand finally went still.
The cup stopped halfway to his lips.
A slight ripple touched the amber of his eyes.
His fingers traced slowly along the porcelain, as if weighing Kairo's words—tasting them as he would a rare tea.
A long moment later, he set the cup down and spoke quietly.
"You are correct," he said.
"People of Liyue do not think this way."
"In their hearts, the Geo Archon is an object of faith."
"No matter how mysterious he may be, they would never believe he'd appear as a consultant of Wangsheng."
With that single line, Paimon and Lumine turned to stare at each other.
The God of Geo had… acknowledged it.
"For real… when you put it like that, this 'guest consultant' really is suspicious," Paimon muttered under her breath.
"But then why doesn't anyone in Liyue question it?"
"Faith."
Kairo smiled.
"Liyue's people believe in the Geo Archon. They believe in his authority and might, in his unshakable strength."
"So they are willing to believe that he resides in some immortal domain, gazing down and seeing all things."
"But they are not willing to believe he'd lower himself to drink tea, listen to opera, and stroll through the markets at their side."
"Faith has a way of turning gods into ideals," he went on.
"They want to believe the Geo Archon still overlooks Liyue from on high, sheltering his people—"
"Not that he's sitting at the next table over, sharing a cup of tea."
Lumine fell silent, mulling over his words.
Paimon opened her mouth, then closed it again, unable to refute him.
Zhongli listened quietly.
After a long moment, he sighed, looking out toward the vast city in front of him.
At the bustling streets.
At the rivers of people.
At the harbour and the stone piers and the city he had watched over for so many centuries.
At last, he gave a faint smile.
"You make a compelling argument," he said.
"However, you still haven't said what you seek from me."
He lifted his cup once more, amber eyes glinting faintly as his tone relaxed again.
"Helping a certain traveler look for family," Kairo replied with a mild smile, tilting his head toward Lumine.
Lumine didn't hesitate.
She briefly recounted her story—her brother, the separation, the long chase across worlds.
"I see."
When she finished, Zhongli's fingertips traced the rim of his cup once more.
"I do not know," he said quietly.
"Eh? You don't know either?"
Paimon's eyes bulged.
"The bard didn't know, and now you don't know…"
"Though I don't know," Zhongli added, "I do notice that our friend here does not seem at all surprised by that."
He smiled slightly and turned his gaze to Kairo.
"I would say he knows the answer. You've been traveling with him for some time—have you truly never asked?"
When he'd said he didn't know, he'd glanced at Kairo.
Kairo's reaction had been utterly calm.
Zhongli knew that look very well.
That was the look of someone who already understood.
"Wait, Kairo knows?"
Paimon and Lumine both stared at him, stunned.
So the person they'd been looking to ask all this time… was standing right next to them?
"I only know a little," Kairo said.
"And even I can't track him down directly."
"Even if I told you what I know, it wouldn't stop you from asking the gods yourselves again later."
"Just like in Mondstadt."
He shook his head lightly.
"Remember the Abyss Order you heard about back there?"
"Your brother is with the Abyss. In Mondstadt, the Order only showed their hand once, then vanished again."
"That's why you never had another chance to see him."
"In Liyue, though, the Abyss has been much more active."
"The Abyss Order gained a new 'prince'… and that prince is your brother."
"So that's how it is…"
Lumine's eyes widened.
"So I'm not just looking for gods anymore… I have to hunt down the Abyss Order too?"
"Exactly."
Kairo nodded.
"We can go back to Mondstadt any time we like."
"But here in Liyue, we actually have leads on the Abyss Order's movements."
He knew very well: in the original timeline, Lumine's first proper reunion with Aether was in a ruin in Liyue—
and that ruin had been connected to an Adventurers' Guild investigation.
"The Abyss Order, huh…"
Lumine's brows knit together.
She remembered the Abyss Mage she'd encountered back in Mondstadt clearly enough.
And she hadn't asked Kairo back then—that part was on her.
But if Liyue really did have Abyss activity, that was indeed a solid place to start.
All she had to do next… was sink her teeth in and keep chasing.
"Hehehe…"
Paimon suddenly brightened.
"As long as we keep getting leads on the Abyss Order, we can move fast."
After all, they'd flown on the starskiff just last night.
That thing could race across the skies without relying on leylines at all.
"Right!"
Lumine nodded emphatically.
"When it comes to keeping tabs on the Abyss Order, no one in Liyue will be more up to date than the Qixing."
"Exactly," Zhongli said quietly.
"If you can earn the friendship of the Qixing, they can share their intelligence with you."
"In the meantime, you can stay in Liyue and wait for the Rite of Descension."
"If the Rite proceeds smoothly, you'll have plenty of chances to build a good relationship with them."
"Eh? The Rite of Descension?"
Paimon scratched her head again.
"But the Qixing don't know who you really are, right? What's the point of holding the Rite now?"
They'd already met the Geo Archon.
They'd already asked him their most important question.
They'd gotten their lead on Lumine's brother.
So did they really still need to attend the Rite of Descension?
Couldn't they just skip straight to hunting down the Abyss Order?
Except… when it came to Abyss intel, the Qixing were still the ones who knew the most.
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