"A murder of a god… such matters do not concern the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor."
"What concerns us is this: the Rite of Descension was conducted with such grandeur, yet now that the god has fallen, no one seems willing to oversee the Rite of Parting."
"Traveler, I have heard about you from Childe."
"Since you seem to have some connection with the Anemo Archon…"
"…would you consider assisting me in preparing a farewell ceremony for the Geo Archon?"
Zhongli turned toward Lumine and asked calmly.
"…Accepting your invitation isn't impossible."
Lumine hesitated slightly, but eventually nodded.
"And what about you, Mr. Qiu Nian?"
"You have lived near Jueyun Karst for such a long time, and the moment you came to Liyue Harbor, you encountered the news of Rex Lapis' assassination."
"Moreover, you are friends with this Traveler."
"Would you consider joining as well?"
Zhongli turned to look at Qiu Nian.
Qiu Nian smiled faintly.
"I see no reason to refuse."
"Very good."
Zhongli nodded.
"A wise choice."
Tartaglia chuckled.
If Mr. Qiu Nian suddenly disappeared halfway through and went somewhere even he couldn't track down…
That would mean missing a chance to test himself against a powerful opponent.
"The Tianquan, Ningguang, is currently preventing anyone from viewing the Geo Archon's body."
"So if you still wish to continue your journey of visiting the Seven Archons…"
"This is your only path forward."
Tartaglia explained to Lumine.
"Precisely."
"Only by participating in the Rite of Parting will you be able to see the body of the Geo Archon again."
Zhongli agreed.
"It seems we don't have any other choice."
Lumine nodded.
"Very well. If you have agreed, follow me."
"We can discuss the details on the way."
With that, Zhongli stood and walked toward the door.
"Wait, already?"
"But none of the food on the table has even been touched!"
Paimon looked back and forth between Zhongli and the delicious dishes on the table, clearly distressed.
"Haha…"
"That's what a banquet is like."
"The purpose of a banquet is not to eat, but to reach an agreement."
Qiu Nian explained with a smile.
"So that's what a banquet means."
"Using food as an excuse to negotiate cooperation…"
Tartaglia looked at the untouched dishes thoughtfully, feeling like he had just learned something new.
"If you truly want to understand the customs of this nation…"
"You still have much to learn."
Qiu Nian said.
"Haha, that's true."
"Well then, my role as mediator is complete."
"So? Not a bad result, right?"
Tartaglia looked at Lumine and Paimon.
"If you wish to leave, go ahead. Don't worry about me."
"I might stay here and have a few more drinks…"
"And practice using chopsticks."
He stared at the neatly arranged chopsticks on the table.
Lumine stood up and began walking out with Paimon.
"Wait."
"Qiu Nian, didn't you agree to help Zhongli?"
"Are you not going?"
Paimon suddenly asked.
"No hurry."
"I've heard a little about the Rite of Parting."
"And I haven't eaten yet this morning."
"So I might as well finish this meal first."
"It would be a waste to leave such good food untouched."
Qiu Nian replied.
"Ugh…"
"Paimon wants to eat too…"
Paimon stared at the table of dishes with tears in her eyes.
"Then we'll head out first."
Lumine nodded before leaving with Paimon.
"Haha. Looks like I'll have someone to keep me company."
"Mr. Qiu Nian, care for a few drinks?"
Tartaglia asked.
"If Mr. Tartaglia is in the mood, I naturally cannot refuse."
Qiu Nian smiled and nodded.
Tartaglia stepped outside the room and ordered several bottles of the restaurant's finest wine.
Before long, he returned with two bottles.
For the next while, Tartaglia clumsily used chopsticks to pick up food.
From time to time, he clinked cups with Qiu Nian as they drank.
After several rounds of wine and dishes, the meal passed pleasantly.
Neither of them mentioned what had happened the previous night.
Still, throughout the meal, Tartaglia subtly tried to probe Qiu Nian for information.
But Qiu Nian had lived for far too many years.
No matter how much Tartaglia tried, he couldn't extract a single useful detail.
Afterward, the two parted ways.
Qiu Nian wandered around Liyue Harbor for a while longer.
Meanwhile, Lumine and Paimon followed Zhongli and witnessed his peculiar sense of finances—
As well as his endless knowledge of high society customs.
This man named Zhongli seemed to know everything.
His speech was elegant and refined.
After preparing the perfume with Ying'er, the famous "perfume expert" of Liyue Harbor, they headed toward the Statue of the Seven outside the city.
At that moment, however—
Zhongli and Qiu Nian were already standing near the statue, speaking quietly.
"I see… so at that time, you truly traveled to another world."
"A real world beyond this one?"
"How remarkable…"
"I never expected we would meet again, and in such a way."
Zhongli sighed with emotion.
"Time passes, seas turn to fields…"
"Two thousand years is enough to change everything."
Qiu Nian looked at the Statue of the Seven—a structure that had not existed two thousand years ago.
His voice carried a trace of nostalgia.
"After that war ended, you disappeared from this world."
"If there is time…"
"I would like to hear about the sights you witnessed in that true world beyond ours."
Zhongli smiled faintly.
"Of course."
Qiu Nian returned the smile.
"My old friend, after the war you fought against the Sky ended…"
"What exactly happened?"
"And how did you leave this world and travel to another?"
Zhongli asked.
"…Hmm."
Qiu Nian's brows furrowed slightly.
It was as if he had fallen into distant memories.
A darkness deep enough to devour countless stars…
A universal law that declared all living things must perish…
And then—
The scene shifted to a strange starry sky.
"…That…"
"…is a very long story."
Qiu Nian murmured quietly.