Half a month passed in the blink of an eye.
According to Liyue's calendar, today was the Rite of Descension.
"This year's Rite of Descension is being presided over by the Tianquan, Ningguang, right?" Gu Chen asked as he took a sip of tea.
Zhongli nodded slightly. "Yes. This year, it's her."
Having gotten his answer, Gu Chen smiled faintly and said nothing more.
Zhongli glanced at the sky. It was already late morning. After estimating the time, he said, "I've suddenly remembered a few things I need to take care of. Please excuse me for now."
Gu Chen inclined his head. "Go ahead."
Not long after Zhongli left, noon arrived.
Golden light appeared in the sky above Yujing Terrace, followed by red lightning flashing within the clouds.
Gu Chen watched calmly, his heart unmoved.
Only when he saw the half-dragon, half-qilin creature fall from the heavens—causing an uproar at Yujing Terrace—did Gu Chen let out a soft chuckle.
"To have the Geo Archon suddenly fall during the Rite of Descension… it really does feel like a storm is coming."
Shaking his head with a smile, Gu Chen felt no particular worry. He even had the leisure to pick up the ancient book Zhongli had set aside and begin reading.
After noon was also when Hu Tao usually woke up.
Perhaps because of her Pyro Vision—or perhaps it was simply her nature—Hu Tao always seemed brimming with energy.
After waking and eating a little to fill her stomach, she checked her schedule for the day.
Nothing planned.
The weather was fine.
"Mmm… mm! Perfect for going out to play!"
After a moment's thought, Hu Tao ran over to Gu Chen and stared at him with her plum-blossom eyes wide open.
Gu Chen said nothing.
Hu Tao also said nothing—she simply looked at him with expectation shining in her eyes.
Usually, even if she didn't say a word, Gu Chen would take her out.
But today was different.
"Don't run around today," Gu Chen shook his head. "Something's happened."
"Huh? What happened?" Hu Tao asked in surprise. "What does something happening have to do with this hall master going out to gather inspiration?"
"It's best not to wander around these days," Gu Chen repeated, shaking his head.
"Alright, alright…"
Hu Tao's mood visibly sank.
With a dejected sigh, she clasped her hands behind her back and paced back and forth.
Gu Chen's attention remained on his book. After failing to draw his attention for a long while, Hu Tao sighed again, then sprawled listlessly against the table. Her right hand rested on the tabletop, and two slender fingers walked forward and backward like tiny people.
[Paimon]: The Geo Archon is about to get assassinated again. (slippery grin)
[Ningguang]: The Geo Archon has been assassinated—seal off the entire area!
[Keqing]: Rare sight. You're actually joking about yourself. (Paimon · shocked)
[Ningguang]: What's so strange about that? Though this episode's perspective is different from the first one. I wonder what we'll be able to see. (thinking)
[Furina]: One thing's clear—Wangsheng Funeral Parlor knows everything, understands everything, and planned everything! (Furina · amused)
[Azhdaha]: That… actually makes some sense. After all, the old man is a consultant of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor—part of it himself. (slippery grin)
[Tartaglia]: Looking at it this way, I'm the only sucker in the whole eventه thing, aren't I?! (angry)
[Gu Chen]: No—Pantalone is the real sucker. After all, your funding at the Northland Bank comes from him. (slippery grin)
[Tartaglia]: (sudden realization) Ohhh—when you put it that way, yeah, that's true!
[Pantalone]: ...
The back door of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor opened.
Hu Tao immediately looked up. Zhongli strode in quickly. His expression was calm, but his tone was noticeably faster.
"Something's happened. The Geo Archon has been assassinated."
"Such a thing actually happened?"
Gu Chen raised his brow, then frowned. "Those who dared harm the Geo Archon truly deserve to die."
Zhongli paused, then nodded. "…Indeed."
Hu Tao sprang to her feet. "Who has the guts to assassinate the Lord of Geo?!"
"I don't know," Zhongli shook his head.
"No wonder the Second Retainer said it wasn't good to go out today," Hu Tao suddenly realized. Then she added, "Second Retainer, it wasn't you who assassinated the Geo Archon, was it?"
Gu Chen froze for a moment, then replied, "Hall Master, it'd be a waste if you didn't write novels."
"Did you hear that, First Retainer?!"
Hu Tao planted her hands on her hips proudly, then patted her chest as if proving how impressive she was.
"What the Second Retainer means is that this hall master has a talent for writing novels!"
Zhongli: "..."
That line of thinking was… a little hard for him to follow.
"I wonder how the Geo Archon is doing. After all, he's protected Liyue for so long…" Hu Tao muttered, counting on her fingers. "If he's really fallen, do we need to hold a funeral or something? He is a god—so the scale must be huge, and there'll definitely be all sorts of rituals and rules…"
"That's simple!"
Gu Chen pointed at Zhongli. "Isn't there a living encyclopedia right here? Leave everything to Mr. Zhongli."
Hu Tao thought about it and nodded repeatedly. "That makes sense! First Retainer, I'll leave this to you. Be sure to find out what's going on. If the Geo Archon has really fallen… though it's a pity, since the old gentleman's gone, the funeral rites must follow, right?"
Zhongli was silent for a long moment before helplessly nodding. "I'll keep an eye on it."
Just then, an undertaker came to report.
"Mr. Zhongli, the friend you mentioned at the Northland Bank has sent word. He's inviting you to dinner tomorrow and said he'd like to introduce you to some new friends," the undertaker said.
Without hesitation, Zhongli replied, "Understood. I'll attend tomorrow."
"Yes, sir!"
After the undertaker left, Hu Tao clicked her tongue in amazement.
"Impressive. The First Retainer's got an even stronger wallet now."
Teased by Hu Tao, Zhongli merely smiled and said, "Hall Master, I'll head out and ask around for information."
"Go on, go on," Hu Tao waved him off.
Watching Zhongli leave, Hu Tao sat beside Gu Chen and asked, "Second Retainer, do you know what's really going on?"
Gu Chen poured tea and handed her a cup, shaking his head. "I don't."
"Really?"
Hu Tao looked highly suspicious.
"Truly don't know," Gu Chen said with firm certainty.
The suspicion on Hu Tao's face only deepened—but after thinking of something, she broke into a smile.
"Forget it, forget it. It's normal for our two retainers not to know everything!"
[Kirara]: Everyone at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor feels so mysterious. Like, everyone either knows exactly what's going on or has a rough guess, but on the surface they all act like normal people with no hidden identities. (Paimon · shocked)
[Paimon]: That's probably what you call riddlers. But the most miserable ones are still Hu Tao and Axiu, right? Axiu knows the two retainers aren't ordinary, but since they both have Visions, she probably just thinks they're knowledgeable Vision holders. She'd never imagine Zhongli is the Geo Archon—or that Gu Chen can trade blows with the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles. (Paimon · shocked)
[Tartaglia]: At this point, we have to bring up one person.
[Osial]: Who?
[Tartaglia]: Obviously me! I tried to seize Morax's Gnosis, and Morax was right beside me the whole time—and I didn't even know! (angry)
[Signora]: That's just what being stupid looks like.
[Pantalone]: Indeed.
[Tartaglia]: Past is past—stop barking. Let's analyze this. The Traveler's storyline has reached Morax's fake death. Mr. Zhongli should be preparing the Rite of Parting, and Osial breaking free should be in about half a month.
[Osial]: First you get scolded by your colleagues, then you analyze the plot, and now you're making me mad too? I admit your plan succeeded—now I just feel miserable. (angry)
Just imagining how arrogant he'd be upon breaking free, and how suffocating it would be to be sealed again, made Osial furious.
It would've been better not to break free at all!
...
The news of the Geo Archon's death at the Rite of Descension spread quickly.
All of Liyue Harbor fell into panic.
No one had expected the Geo Archon to fall so abruptly.
"So the Geo Archon really has fallen," Hu Tao said in shock.
"It is indeed unexpected," Gu Chen nodded.
"Is it?"
Hu Tao looked at Gu Chen.
She couldn't find even a trace of surprise in his eyes—only calm.
"Second Retainer, did you already foresee this?" Hu Tao asked.
Gu Chen shook his head. "Not as the Hall Master imagines. I simply believe that even gods will one day fall. I just didn't expect that day to come so suddenly… so abruptly."
"Is that so?"
Hu Tao believed him—but not entirely. Still, she didn't press further.
Her two retainers were very mysterious. She had many guesses, but she didn't intend to dig to the bottom of it.
Let them be.
Aside from Zhongli, Wangsheng Funeral Parlor didn't involve itself much in the upheaval caused by the Geo Archon's fall.
Though sorrowful, life had to go on.
Days passed.
Suddenly—
"Aiya!"
"What is this feeling?!"
Hu Tao, who had been sprawled on the table out of boredom, suddenly sat up and looked toward Guyun Stone Forest.
"Such a ferocious, baleful aura!"
"If my guess is right, it's the demon god sealed beneath Guyun Stone Forest," Gu Chen said.
In the sky, the Jade Chamber was already flying toward the battlefield.
"This is going to be big. This hall master doesn't want to take that kind of job!" Hu Tao turned to Gu Chen. "Come on, let's go take a look!"
"As the Hall Master wishes," Gu Chen nodded.
At the harbor, the area was already sealed off by the Millelith. Only Vision holders were allowed to approach, for the sake of ordinary citizens' lives.
The Jade Chamber had already gone far ahead. The battlefield was distant—far too far for them to offer any real help.
In the direction of Guyun Stone Forest, the body of the Overlord of the Vortex, Osial, had emerged. The great battle erupted.
[Kaeya]: Why does the Cult Leader feel like just a spectator this episode?
[Zhongli]: By common rationality, that's normal. The Cult Leader has known glory, known frustration, and naturally also known quiet days. In this episode, there are many matters he clearly doesn't wish to involve himself in. Perhaps long before the beginning of this video, he had already participated in countless events. By the time he wanted to leave, he was stopped—and then cursed. In this episode, his heart is likely weary. (thinking)
[Azhdaha]: And now you understand him?
[Zhongli]: Then tell me—what do you think his mindset is?
[Azhdaha]: Has it occurred to you that the Cult Leader might simply be… lazy? (slippery grin)
[Paimon]: Geo Archon protect us, Gu Chen protect us—please let Lumine and me be safe in this episode. (praying)
[Venti]: Morax is dead. At times like this, it's more reliable to pray to the Anemo Archon. (slippery grin)
The battle with Osial did not last long.
The adepti unleashed their divine arts, yet still struggled to subdue him. In the end, Tianquan Ningguang chose to sacrifice the Jade Chamber.
The destruction of the Jade Chamber successfully sealed the briefly freed Osial back beneath the sea.
He had only escaped due to a temporary force—being sealed again was well within Gu Chen's expectations.
"Sigh… we didn't help at all," Hu Tao said dejectedly.
"Isn't that a good thing?" Gu Chen patted her shoulder in comfort.
Hu Tao froze, thought it over, then nodded seriously.
"That's true. If we'd been needed, who knows how many people would've died… Still, they actually defeated a demon god—amazing, amazing!"
"Let's go. Time to head back," Gu Chen smiled.
"Okay!"
In high spirits, Hu Tao hopped along beside him.
After a while, a hint of confusion flashed through her eyes.
"Where's the First Retainer?"
"Seems he went visiting friends," Gu Chen replied.
"Then later you go check on him, see if he's alright. I'll head home and make sure the undertakers are safe," Hu Tao said.
"Alright."
They parted ways.
Hu Tao returned to Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
Gu Chen paused briefly, then headed straight for Yujing Terrace.
The Rite of Parting was being prepared there, though it hadn't officially begun.
After waiting for some time, footsteps sounded beside him. Zhongli walked over at an unhurried pace.
"All taken care of?" Gu Chen raised a brow.
Zhongli nodded slightly. "With the burden set down, I feel much lighter."
They stood in silence.
Soon, two figures approached.
"Zhongli!"
A small, white-haired flying creature waved enthusiastically—beside her was a blonde girl.
Paimon was about to speak, but upon noticing Gu Chen, she paused.
"Who's this?"
Zhongli introduced him, "This one, like me, is a consultant of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor… Mm, there's no need to hide anything. He already knows."
"He already knows?!"
Paimon's eyes went wide as she stared at Gu Chen. "Then—then that means he's not an ordinary person either?!"
"Everyone in Wangsheng Funeral Parlor is an ordinary person," Gu Chen said with a chuckle.
Zhongli thought of something and laughed softly, then nodded. "Indeed. There's no difference between us."
Paimon spread her hands in confusion. "I don't understand anything you're saying."
"You two talk. I only came to confirm your safety on the Hall Master's behalf," Gu Chen said with a nod before turning to leave.
Lumine watched his retreating figure for a long moment before asking, "What is his identity?"
Zhongli replied softly, "Someone who can contend with the heavens—only slightly inferior."
Only slightly inferior?!
Both Lumine and Paimon stared in disbelief.
"By that logic, your Wangsheng Funeral Parlor really is full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers!" Paimon exclaimed.
Lumine nodded in agreement.
Zhongli rubbed his chin, thought for a moment, then nodded.
"By common rationality, Wangsheng Funeral Parlor is quiet and serene—indeed quite suitable for seclusion."
[Hu Tao]: How on earth does my Wangsheng Funeral Parlor deserve this? (Hu Tao · shocked)
[Azhdaha]: @[Gu Chen] Cult Leader, hurry and come live at Wangsheng! The old man, me, and that drunkard are all here already! (slippery grin)
[Paimon]: Good grief—retired Geo Archon, reclusive Azhdaha, and the Anemo Archon next door all living at Wangsheng. Is Hu Tao under a lot of pressure? (Paimon · shocked)
[Shikanoin Heizou]: With so many big shots, won't Hall Master Hu get sidelined as a boss? (slippery grin)
[Hu Tao]: Pressure? Sidelined? Everyone still has to work for this hall master—what pressure could there be? Sending Azhdaha to dig graves is super convenient! (Hu Tao · wicked grin)
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