Liyue Harbor, Liuli Pavilion.
"Well, they do work in that line of business, after all. I can't really go into detail."
"Anyway, the reason I brought you to meet Zhongli-and Mr. Qiu Bai, of course-is..."
As he spoke, Childe cast a seemingly casual glance at Zhongli.
"It is because I have a way for you to see Rex Lapis's divine remains."
Zhongli looked at Lumine and Paimon and spoke calmly.
"What?!"
Paimon exclaimed in surprise.
Lumine looked at Zhongli with equal astonishment.
"There's no need to be surprised. Although the Geo Archon's divine remains have already been hidden away on the orders of Ningguang, the Tianquan..."
"Let's hear what Zhongli has to say first."
Childe smiled in response to Paimon's surprise, then turned to Zhongli.
You're a big part of the reason Ningguang hid the Geo Archon's body, Tartaglia.
Qiu Bai thought in exasperation. No wonder Zhongli and La Signora could run circles around Childe.
Zhongli continued, "Though Rex Lapis is the Prime of Adepti, he is ultimately still one of the adepti."
"Throughout Liyue's thousands of years of history, the adepti have departed one after another. This is an irreversible trend."
"Times have changed. Surely you already sensed that change in Jueyun Karst?"
After speaking, Zhongli looked at Lumine and Paimon, quietly waiting for Lumine's answer.
"The adepti are distancing themselves from Liyue?"
Lumine looked at Zhongli and asked in confusion.
"As you have seen, the age of the adepti is fading, and the age of humanity is gradually becoming a reality."
"In years past, whenever an adeptus departed, a grand memorial ceremony would be held."
Zhongli frowned slightly and continued.
"This is Liyue's tradition. Yet this time, even the Liyue Qixing have no time to attend to it. It is truly unbecoming."
Good grief, what an actor. Watching from the side, Qiu Bai could only marvel at Zhongli's performance.
Thinking about it, he and Morax were essentially the masterminds behind this game of chess. Now it was time to stir up the board.
"It is an unprecedented case of a god's murder, after all."
Lumine said this as she looked at Zhongli.
"Yeah... they haven't even caught the real killer yet."
Floating in the air, Paimon nodded in agreement.
"The Wangsheng Funeral Parlor does not concern itself with such a case."
"What concerns the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor is this: if the ceremony to welcome an adeptus is so grand, is no one going to attend to the ceremony to bid him farewell?"
Beside him, Qiu Bai's mouth twitched. So you're sending yourself off, huh?
"Traveler, I heard about you from Childe."
"Since you are acquainted with the Anemo Archon, would you consider joining me in preparing a ceremony to bid farewell to the Geo Archon?"
Zhongli spoke steadily as he watched Lumine ponder.
"Uh..."
"Traveler, when you think about it, there doesn't seem to be any other way."
Paimon held her head. Thinking it over, she really could not see any other way.
"Exactly. No matter how much you think it over, the result will be the same."
"Ningguang, the Tianquan, is preventing anyone from viewing Rex Lapis's divine remains."
"So if you want to fulfill your goal of seeking out the Seven Archons, this is currently your only option."
Childe quickly chimed in from the side.
He believed Lumine would be a great help in obtaining the Gnosis, so he could not let her give up just like that.
"Besides, Liyue's other deity, the Adeptus of Yin-Yang and the Two Principles, has mysteriously disappeared as well."
"Precisely. Only by participating in the Rite of Parting will you be able to see the Geo Archon's body again."
Zhongli picked up where Childe left off, addressing Lumine in his steady voice.
Thinking about it, Qiu Bai felt sorry for Lumine. The two deities she was seeking, the Immortal Lord and the Geo Archon, were right in front of her.
And they were explaining how to send themselves off as though nothing were amiss.
"It looks like there really is no other way."
Lumine murmured.
Her goal was to find the Seven Archons and see whether any of them was the unknown god from back then, then rescue her brother. Even if they were not among the Seven Archons, any god would do.
"Mm. If you agree, come find me after you finish eating. We can discuss the details along the way."
Zhongli spoke calmly, then left the room.
Lumine glanced at Zhongli as he left, then at Qiu Bai, who was still seated.
"Qiu Bai, I really didn't expect this. So this is the kind of work you do!"
Before Lumine could speak, Paimon flew over and addressed Qiu Bai.
After all, Qiu Bai was the only person here they could consider a somewhat familiar friend.
"Didn't I tell you I was a consultant for the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor?"
"Let's eat before we go. There's no rush, and the food here certainly isn't cheap. Afterward, I'll take you to see Zhongli."
Qiu Bai looked at Lumine and Paimon with a smile.
"Wonderful. I was thinking of having a few more drinks myself."
"And practicing with chopsticks while I'm at it. Mr. Qiu Bai can keep me company for a few drinks."
Childe smiled and sat down in the chair beside Qiu Bai as he spoke.
"Heh, of course."
Qiu Bai answered leisurely.
Lumine and Paimon did not stand on ceremony either and began eating.
Qiu Bai ordered a few more glasses of juice for Lumine and Paimon, while he and Childe drank fine wine and chatted about everyday matters.
Qiu Bai also taught Childe how to use chopsticks.
Childe sincerely felt that, if not for their different allegiances and nations, he would love to become friends with Qiu Bai.
Compared to Mr. Zhongli, this Mr. Qiu Bai was much more approachable.
Time ticked by.
"I'm full!"
Paimon rubbed her belly happily.
"Thank you for the meal," Lumine said to Childe and Qiu Bai with a smile.
Hearing this, Qiu Bai stood.
"Then let's get going. I'll take you to find Zhongli."
"Childe, we'll excuse ourselves for now."
Qiu Bai smiled at Tartaglia, who was practicing with his chopsticks.
"Chopsticks... are so hard to use."
Tartaglia muttered.
Seeing Childe like this, Qiu Bai's mouth twitched.
He then led Lumine and Paimon out of the room and headed toward Zhongli.
After walking for a short while, they finally spotted Zhongli. He was standing beneath a tree, gazing at the distant mountains.
"Zhongli, I've brought them."
Qiu Bai spoke unhurriedly.
"Sorry for the trouble, old friend."
Zhongli turned and looked at Qiu Bai, then at Lumine and Paimon beside him.
"Old friend?"
"That makes it sound like you've known each other for a really, really long time."
Paimon addressed the two of them in surprise.
After all, Zhongli and Qiu Bai both looked so young. Even if they had grown up together, surely that did not warrant calling each other old friends?
"Heh, Qiu Bai and I have known each other for a very long time."
"There is nothing wrong with calling him an old friend."
Zhongli chuckled, then calmly explained to Paimon and Lumine.
Qiu Bai smiled and nodded at that. They really had known each other for quite a few years.
"The way you two talk really does make you seem old."
"And those strange magical arts of yours, Qiu Bai... very suspicious."
Paimon looked at Qiu Bai and Zhongli with a detective's expression.
Lumine nodded too. She kept feeling that their composure was the result of having lived through a great deal.
It did not seem like an act. Qiu Bai was not so bad, but this Mr. Zhongli gave her the impression that he had lived for a very long time. His manner of speaking was so seasoned.
Before you continue