"Two of you?"
Alright, alright, so you didn't count the biggest eater as a person, huh?
At least they hadn't given the white flying pet another nickname.
The three of them entered a private room at Liuli Pavilion.
A handsome man was brewing tea.
His features were sharply defined, as exquisitely sculpted as a statue.
His gaze was deep, as though it held endless wisdom and authority.
His every movement was exceptionally elegant.
Even the simple act of tasting tea revealed his refined taste.
Guinaifen saw Zhongli.
She was shocked. "Holy crap, so many handsome guys, everyone."
"I'm done for. I'm surrounded by handsome guys."
"Too bad I only love Mu Yang. You can have this one."
Who knew Xiao Guizi was so devoted?
You don't like grown men? Then I'll take him.
Is miHoYo trying to take all my salary?
Every gesture radiated elegance.
Elegance never went out of style.
You could tell at a glance that he was a man of refinement.
Why isn't he showing his waist? If I can't lick his waist, I'll die.
What kind of fetish was that above?
So handsome, so handsome, so handsome.
Slurp, slurp, slurp.
"They gave him a huge close-up on purpose. I think an important character is about to appear."
"Yo."
Childe came in and greeted them.
Zhongli, seated at the head of the table, gestured for them to take their seats.
"Let me introduce him. This friend is a man of the underworld."
"Mr. Zhongli is a consultant for the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor."
Ying frowned at that. "A man of the underworld?"
Childe nodded and explained with a smile.
"Yes. In Liyue, businesses like the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor inevitably have to deal with certain underworld dealings."
"And we Fatui have always enjoyed dealing with friends who walk... in the shadows."
Isn't he in the mafia?
Give him a cat too, and he'd be the perfect Liyue Godfather. That temperament was spot-on.
Was the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor some kind of assassin organization?
After hearing Childe's introduction, Paimon fell into deep thought.
"Walking... in the shadows..."
"A man of the underworld... shadows... sending people to the afterlife..."
"Wow! Could it be that the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor is..."
Zhongli nodded. "Just as you guessed."
Paimon recoiled in fright.
Then, as if recalling something, she leaned close to Ying's ear.
"Could Mu Yang be from the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor too?"
Ying was full of question marks. "Huh?"
Paimon began to analyze the situation.
"Look, didn't Amber say so when we were in Mondstadt?"
"Mu Yang might be from some Liyue mercenary organization, and all the commissions he takes are..."
Paimon made a throat-slitting gesture.
"Crack. Solved with a sword."
The moment Guinaifen heard news about Mu Yang, she got excited.
"Don't say it, you really shouldn't say it."
"That really does sound like the underworld."
A top-tier assassin—was he connected to the plot again?
Taking money to solve people's troubles, holy crap.
Another reversal?
Who's lying here? I'm so confused.
Ying frowned.
She felt that Paimon had gotten the wrong idea.
Wasn't Mu Yang an adeptus?
Why would he need to do this kind of dirty work?
If Mu Yang could hear Ying's thoughts right then, he would definitely tell her—
I really do have to do it.
That's just how the world corrects itself. Otherwise, where would I get money?
Meanwhile, Zhongli's expression shifted slightly upon hearing Mu Yang's name.
"You know Mu Yang as well?"
Paimon tugged desperately at Ying's collar.
"See... they really are assassins!"
Zhongli signaled for Paimon to calm down.
"Little friend, you misunderstand. The Wangsheng Funeral Parlor is an organization that oversees funerals, dedicated to sending people peacefully into the afterlife."
Now Paimon was at a loss. "Huh?"
Childe clutched his stomach and burst into laughter.
"Hahaha, you actually mistook Mr. Zhongli for an assassin."
"There are indeed many assassins among the Fatui's associates, but the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor isn't in that line of work. At least, not openly."
A fierce glint flashed through Childe's eyes.
"As for that person named Mu Yang, I couldn't say..."
Ying retorted, "You were clearly the one deliberately using wordplay to lead us into thinking that, weren't you?"
Childe shrugged. "Was I?"
Paimon patted her chest. "You scared Paimon to death..."
"Speaking of which, Zhongli knows Mu Yang too?"
Zhongli gave a quiet hum.
"We happened to meet on the road to Qiaoying Village some years ago."
"His understanding of tea and the Sword Dao was profound, so we spoke a little longer."
Guinaifen opened the HoYoLAB world map on her phone.
She searched through the map for a while.
"Where is Qiaoying Village?"
I know—Chenyu Vale.
"Then where is Chenyu Vale?"
In Liyue.
Are we really doing this forever?
Just say whether I'm right or not.
It's probably an area that hasn't been unlocked yet.
"Open the new map already! I want to see my husband's hometown."
Whenever Mu Yang was mentioned, Ying wanted to learn more about him.
Before she could ask, Childe interrupted her.
"Mr. Zhongli, let's discuss business first. The food will get cold soon."
Ying could hear a hint of hostility in Childe's tone.
Is it because of Mu Yang?
Since the person treating them had said so, Zhongli redirected the conversation.
He brought up the Rite of Descension.
Only through that ceremony could Ying possibly see the Remains of the Primordial One.
The group discussed the plan inside.
Mu Yang was bored out of his mind.
He was lying atop the roof, watching Guinaifen's livestream.
With the system concealing his presence, even Zhongli could not detect him nearby.
Childe could not pull any tricks in front of Zhongli.
He could just let Ying handle things herself.
Still, that old guy could really make things up.
He even came up with running into each other on the road.
Why not say I was the guy who sold you sesame oil?
After quite a while, they finally reached an agreement.
Ying agreed to help Zhongli prepare the Rite of Descension.
Once they reached the street,
Zhongli asked Ying what she thought of Liyue.
Ying answered, "Mondstadt is very free, but Liyue is still better."
High emotional intelligence.
She had studied Emotional Intelligence thoroughly.
She'd used up all the high emotional intelligence herself.
After that, the two chatted as they walked.
They discussed the Rite of Descension.
Mu Yang followed them from the shadows.
Until Ying had gathered Noctilucous Jade, perfume, and the Cleansing Bell.
To be honest, he really wanted to go see Madame Ping.
But he held himself back.
Otherwise, he might get sentimental and hurt someone again.
They would meet sooner or later anyway.
Afterward, Ying continued making preparations for kites.
Following a round of friendly discussion,
Ying and the players gained a certain understanding of the personalities of the various gods.
Once everything had been settled,
"Then, Granny Shan, I'll take these reserved goods first. As for the remaining payment..."
Ying and Paimon had been making preparations all along the way.
The moment they heard that, they got scared.
Hahaha, Ying had been scared into PTSD.
Oh no, they had to pay again.
Young friend, did you bring any Mora?
Childe suddenly darted out from the side.
"As for the remaining amount... I'll pay it."
"Oh, it's Childe."
Guinaifen wanted to laugh every time she saw Childe now.
She felt like he was being treated as a sucker.
"Hahaha, everyone, the sucker's here to deliver money again."
Hello, your wallet has arrived. Please check and accept it.
Ah! It's the wallet!
A walking wallet. He really... I'm crying.
ATM!
He really was so willful with his money.
Rich Guy, can you keep me? I can be your dog.
What do you mean, the person above? You want the money and to be a dog too? You're taking all the benefits for yourself, aren't you?
Guinaifen cried out,
"Six. You guys really are the best at losing your minds."
Ying stood with her hands on her hips, looking at the suddenly appearing Childe.
"Were you lying in wait for us?"
Of course Childe couldn't admit it.
"Haha, how could that be? I was just passing by."
Mu Yang smiled.
What a coincidence, just passing by.
That little Fatui girl.
The moment she saw Ying and the others return to Liyue Harbor, she ran off to report it.
You chased us all the way here, didn't you?
Of course Mu Yang wouldn't stop the Fatui from doing these things.
He wouldn't do anything right now.
His next appearance
had to be at Bubu Pharmacy.
It had to be in front of Changheng.
Before you continue