A Con Artist?

Because he had gained two more companions, Lin Yiyi checked out of the inn and had no choice but to rent a larger, more luxurious hotel.

He still had over nine thousand left in his balance, enough to stay at a hotel for several days.

The three quickly reached the street. Upon hearing a shout, Lin Yiyi finally remembered what he had overlooked earlier.

"Lord Zhongli!! Director Hu!! Can I get a photo with you?"

Near dismissal time, a high school girl ran over, making Lin Yiyi's expression change slightly.

Oh no. Aside from the protagonist, the Fatui, and those adepti, no one in Liyue Harbor knew that Zhongli was Rex Lapis.

And right now, Hu Tao of Liyue Harbor was standing right in front of them.

Zhongli also sensed that something was wrong, just like Lin Yiyi did. Earlier, the young man had explained terms from anime culture, such as getting photos together, and had also told them about the world of Genshin Impact.

He had only said that they were fictional characters who were immensely popular and well-known in this world. He had not told Hu Tao that Zhongli was Rex Lapis.

Fortunately, Hu Tao was the first to be pulled aside for a photo. Meanwhile, Zhongli realized that since they were so famous in this world, anyone who had finished the game's story would surely know that he was Rex Lapis.

Lin Yiyi pulled Zhongli aside. "When people come over for photos later, I'll take Hu Tao to buy something." He pointed at the dessert shop beside them. "Once you're done taking pictures, wait here. I'm worried someone in the dessert shop might recognize you too. We can't let her hear about your identity."

Zhongli could not think of a better solution either. "There is no other way. Then I shall trouble you, young friend Lin."

Not far away, Hu Tao made a spooky expression. After the schoolgirl pressed the front camera's shutter button, the director of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor left behind her first photograph in this world. After thanking her, the girl immediately headed toward Zhongli.

Lin Yiyi hurried past the girl and lured Hu Tao into the dessert shop, so the young woman naturally did not hear the words, "Your Excellency Rex Lapis, can I get a photo with you?"

The young man looked back at Zhongli. The latter gave him a slight smile before taking a photo with the girl. Lin Yiyi sighed, then asked Hu Tao, "Pick whatever you want to eat."

"Get one for Zhongli too."

Sure enough, quite a few people in the dessert shop recognized Hu Tao as well. Lin Yiyi was glad he had not brought Zhongli along.

The girl looked left and right. Faced with the dazzling array of desserts, she could not decide what to choose for a while.

Lin Yiyi checked the time. School would be out soon, and once more students came out, Zhongli's identity would be even more likely to be exposed.

After browsing for a long while, Hu Tao set her sights on a brown cake. "Oho! This cake looks quite like this director. It shall be this one!"

"Mm... Get one for Zhongli too!"

Thus, Hu Tao carried two desserts. After waiting in line for a while, Lin Yiyi paid for them.

The two then headed toward Zhongli.

Lin Yiyi suddenly remembered something. He exchanged money with the owner for one hundred yuan in cash, then took out his backpack and wrote something on a piece of paper.

For once, the two of them did not run into anyone asking for photos in the dessert shop. After all, everyone was socially anxious and did not really dare approach them.

Those who dared ask for a photo had actually worked up a great deal of courage.

After leaving the dessert shop, Hu Tao asked, "Fellow traveler, what did you write on that paper?"

Lin Yiyi explained, "It's a list of offerings I want to ask Zhongli to help buy later."

Since they were about to pay respects to the souls of the deceased, they naturally had to bring some gifts. Besides, once more students came out, those young people might come over to take pictures. Zhongli's identity could easily be exposed then, so it would be best to send him away and keep him from being recognized by the students.

At that moment, waves of bells rang out from the school.

After meeting up with Zhongli, Lin Yiyi asked him to help buy some fruit from a fruit shop not far away.

As Rex Lapis, who was over six thousand years old, Zhongli only needed to think for a moment to quickly deduce Lin Yiyi's purpose.

With a faint smile on his face, he took the money Lin Yiyi had just given him, noticed a piece of yellow paper tucked inside, and left.

Not long after he walked away, the gates of the high school slowly opened, and students poured out like a tide.

Lin Yiyi and Hu Tao stood at the entrance, quietly waiting for the people involved.

"Holy shit, it's Hu Tao!"

"Hey, hey, look! Someone's cosplaying Hu Tao!"

"Director, hurry up and bury me! I don't want to attend school for even one more day!"

Just as Lin Yiyi had expected, many people soon recognized Hu Tao. Genshin Impact's popularity was no joke.

"Director, can I get a photo with you?"

"Oh? Of course you can. Are you interested in ordering a coffin from the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor?"

"Wow, even the voice sounds exactly the same! Ahhh, Director, kiss kiss!!"

Lin Yiyi: "6."

Gradually, fewer students remained. At last, Lin Yiyi saw the people he had been waiting for.

However, unlike before, only three girls came this time. Two of them were the ones he had seen that afternoon, while the other was accompanied by three boys.

Lin Yiyi did not pay much attention to it. "It was you, right?"

But he received no answer.

Just as Lin Yiyi was about to ask again, one of the tall boys spoke up.

"So you're the one going around spouting nonsense?"

Lin Yiyi could not help frowning. "What are you talking about?"

At that moment, another boy, who looked somewhat more muscular, also spoke.

"You were saying something about ghosts and evil spirits? Looks to me like you're just talking bullshit."

"Instead of standing here scamming people and luring girls in, why don't you piss in a mirror and see whether you're worthy?"

The confused look on Lin Yiyi's face became even more confused.

Hu Tao, beside him, rarely showed an unhappy expression. "Hey, isn't that a bit too much?"

"He was trying to help you out of kindness, yet you're turning around and slandering him?"

"Slandering? It's already 2024. Do ghosts really still cause trouble?"

"You keep talking about running into ghosts. Why don't you run into one yourself?"

None of these people played Genshin Impact, so they did not recognize Hu Tao. The tall boy who had spoken first looked furious, as though he were just short of insulting Lin Yiyi's entire family line.

For a moment, Hu Tao also found the people before her utterly unreasonable, and she turned to look at Lin Yiyi.

Yet the young man remained calm. "Tsk. Do people nowadays not even have a sense of reverence?"

"Fine. Arguing with frogs at the bottom of a well like you would only waste my breath."

"I only offered to help because I saw that we were fated to meet. Since you refuse to appreciate it, whether you live or die has nothing to do with me."

With that, Lin Yiyi took Hu Tao's hand and left.

The muscular boy immediately flew into a rage. "Fuck you!"

He then launched a kick at the young man.

Hearing the sound, Lin Yiyi turned around. In an instant, he gently pushed Hu Tao aside and stepped to the side, easily dodging the kick. Then the man threw a swinging punch at him.

Lin Yiyi remained calm. He merely spread out his right hand and easily blocked the attack.

Then, with a twist of his outstretched right wrist, he seized the boy's incoming fist and pulled him toward himself.

The boy staggered and was forced to stumble forward.

Without hesitation, Lin Yiyi drove a kick straight into his abdomen!

The boy was instantly sent flying backward and crashed to the ground.

Lowering his center of gravity, drawing his knees inward, and aligning his waist and stance, Lin Yiyi held both hands open before him.

When the boy struggled back to his feet, everyone before him stared wide-eyed.

"Holy shit, Wing Chun!"