Childe's Dinner Invitation

Qiu Bai and Zhongli exchanged a glance, each understanding what the other meant.

"What?!"

"Lady Ningguang actually invited Mr. Qiu Bai and Mr. Zhongli to the Jade Chamber!"

The Liyue citizens around them all looked shocked.

Even a scrap of paper bearing information from Ningguang's Jade Chamber, should it fall from above,

would be enough to make Liyue Harbor's business community pay a fortune for it!

The fact that Lady Ningguang had personally invited these two consultants from the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor spoke volumes about their worth.

"Lady Yuheng, I've grown accustomed to a leisurely life."

"I usually spend my time admiring flowers and walking birds. I have no intention of taking an official post."

"Why not ask my old friend here instead?"

Zhongli calmly began to explain.

If he went to the Jade Chamber to help Ningguang, wouldn't that put him right back in his old line of work? How would he enjoy his retirement then?

This consultant Zhongli from the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor looks young and is clearly well learned.

Yet he wastes his time like this, unlike the Lord of Geo and the Immortal Lord, who worked for Liyue for thousands of years.

I will certainly follow in the footsteps of the Lord of Geo and the Immortal Lord.

Those were Keqing's thoughts.

Then, without any change in her expression, she smiled at Zhongli and said,

"You certainly lead a leisurely life, Mr. Zhongli."

The corner of Zhongli's mouth twitched at her words. He then turned to Qiu Bai, who was snickering beside him.

"Heh, I've grown used to taking things easy. Still, I'm grateful that Lady Tianquan thinks so highly of me."

Keqing then turned to Qiu Bai.

"What do you think, Mr. Qiu Bai?"

Keqing asked him softly.

"Once we've finished our business, I'll certainly pay the Jade Chamber a visit."

Qiu Bai smiled as he answered Keqing.

Keqing smiled faintly at his reply. Unlike Mr. Zhongli, this Mr. Qiu Bai at least had proper business to attend to.

"Whenever you wish to visit, Mr. Qiu Bai, you can find Baishi and Baiwen at Yujing Terrace."

"They will take you up to the Jade Chamber."

Keqing smiled as she spoke to Qiu Bai.

"I won't disturb you two any longer, then. Goodbye."

With that, Keqing headed toward the other end of the street. She still had urban construction plans to work on.

Once the nearby vendors saw Keqing leave, they all began thinking about making Qiu Bai's acquaintance.

But Qiu Bai had already seen through their intentions.

He then hurried toward Liuli Pavilion with Zhongli.

As soon as they reached Liuli Pavilion, two employees stood before them.

They respectfully addressed Qiu Bai and Zhongli. "Gentlemen, Lord Childe has been waiting for some time. Please come in."

The two employees smiled and pushed the doors open.

Qiu Bai and Zhongli then walked inside.

Upon entering, Qiu Bai looked up and saw a man seated at the table.

His eyes seemed devoid of light, and his attire resembled that of a young nobleman.

A faint smile hung on the man's lips as he watched Qiu Bai and Zhongli.

Well, if it isn't Tartaglia the duck?

Qiu Bai thought that, among the Fatui Harbingers, Childe was the only one he had a favorable impression of.

"Mr. Qiu Bai, Mr. Zhongli, please sit."

Tartaglia rose and addressed Qiu Bai and Zhongli with a smile.

The two visitors had rather exceeded his expectations today, since he hadn't expected Qiu Bai to come as well.

The Fatui's intelligence network had also gathered information about this Mr. Qiu Bai.

He suddenly appeared at some point?

And he's friends with Zhongli. How interesting. I'd love to spar with him!

Childe, too, was intrigued by this mysterious Mr. Qiu Bai.

At Childe's invitation, Qiu Bai and Zhongli dispensed with formalities and sat down in the nearby seats.

"Please wait a moment. One guest hasn't arrived yet."

"I'll go find her."

Childe smiled as he spoke to Qiu Bai and Zhongli.

He then left the room, while Qiu Bai and Zhongli drank tea, in no particular hurry.

After all, in Liyue, starting a meal before everyone arrived was considered somewhat disrespectful.

After a short wait, Childe returned with a blonde girl dressed in unusual yet elegant clothes.

Beside the blonde girl floated a round, rather adorable little sprite.

The newcomers were none other than Lumine and Paimon.

"Qiu Bai, what are you doing here?!"

Paimon quickly flew up to Qiu Bai and asked in surprise.

Lumine was also somewhat surprised to see Qiu Bai here.

"Qiu Bai, I didn't expect to find you here too."

Although a little surprised, Lumine still greeted Qiu Bai with a smile.

"Hey, if it isn't the Traveler and Paimon! Long time no see!"

Qiu Bai waved and greeted Lumine and Paimon with a smile.

"So Mr. Qiu Bai and the Traveler already know each other."

"All the better. It's easier to get things done among friends, after all."

Childe smiled as he addressed both sides.

Then he turned toward Zhongli beside him. "Allow me to introduce him."

"This is Mr. Zhongli, a consultant at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. Like their other consultant, Mr. Qiu Bai, he's a man of the underworld."

"The underworld?"

Lumine sounded uncertain as she asked, "Do you mean the kind of underworld I'm thinking of?"

"Exactly the kind you're thinking of."

Qiu Bai slowly spoke up from the side, suppressing a laugh.

At Qiu Bai's confirmation, Lumine and Paimon were startled. They had never imagined that Qiu Bai was involved in that sort of thing!

"Yes! In Liyue, businesses like the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor inevitably have dealings with the underworld."

Childe said this to Lumine, who sat primly beside him.

"And we Fatui, er..."

"Have always enjoyed dealing with these... friends who walk in the shadows."

After hearing Childe's explanation, Paimon said fearfully, "W-walk in the shadows..."

"A pleasure to meet you both. I've heard stories of your exploits in Mondstadt."

Zhongli calmly addressed Lumine and Paimon.

"The underworld, shadows, sending people to the next life... whoa!"

"Could the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor be an organization that..."

They had forgotten to ask Qiu Bai what the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor did before. Now that they knew, they could practically feel their hair standing on end.

"Indeed, just as you suspected."

Zhongli calmly replied.

"Eek!"

Paimon covered her mouth with both hands, looking thoroughly frightened.

"The Wangsheng Funeral Parlor is an organization that oversees funeral rites, dedicated to helping people pass on peacefully."

"Hahahaha!"

"That's too funny!"

Qiu Bai finally couldn't hold it in anymore and burst out laughing.

Paimon and Lumine looked at Qiu Bai, a little annoyed.

"You were just trying to mess with us for a laugh, weren't you?"

Lumine pouted at Qiu Bai, while Paimon folded her arms and gave him a disdainful look.

"All right, all right, I'll stop teasing you."

"My mistake."

Qiu Bai smiled and waved his hands. Paimon's expression just now had simply been too funny.

"Haha, did you mistake Mr. Zhongli and Mr. Qiu Bai for assassins?"

Childe chuckled softly beside them.

"The Fatui do have plenty of assassins among our friends, but the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor isn't in that line of work. At least, not openly."