Gathering

"I only need a bottle of wine."

"Wine?" Zhongli and Shenhe were both clearly very surprised by this answer, but Zhongli soon regained his composure. He had already thought of why Yucheng had chosen wine.

"Not ordinary wine, of course. Ideally, a fine aged wine from Mr. Zhongli's private collection."

"Fine wine? What fine wine? Consultant, have you been secretly buying wine again?" Just then, Hu Tao returned to the group carrying a freshly boiled kettle.

"Director Hu, here's the situation. I'll be visiting an elder soon. He doesn't have many interests, but he has a particular fondness for fine wine. I heard that Mr. Zhongli of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor knows a great deal about wine and knows where to find the best wine in all of Liyue, so I came specifically to ask his advice."

"I see. Since he's showing respect for an elder, why don't you help him out, Consultant? Oh, right, drinking too much isn't good for the elderly. It can easily cause illnesses. Since you've happened to come to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, why not book our services for your elder in advance? He's sure to need them."

Yucheng nearly failed to hold back his laughter at Hu Tao's words. Complicated expressions appeared on Shenhe's and Zhongli's faces as well. Booking the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's services for Barbatos, the Anemo Archon-only Hu Tao's little head could make such leaps of thought.

Hu Tao's ability to seize every opening truly was not to be underestimated. No matter the occasion, she never forgot to pitch the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's services to customers.

Unfortunately, her optimistic attitude toward death really was a little too far ahead of its time in Liyue. Had she chosen to sell in any other industry, she would definitely have been a top salesperson. Sadly, once someone chose the wrong industry, even the best salesperson could do nothing.

"There is naturally no reason to refuse your request. I once made a little humble wine myself and can spare you a portion."

"Homemade wine? Consultant, how can you give a customer wine you made yourself? Do you even know how to make wine? Would it taste any good?"

Just as Hu Tao was about to say more, Yucheng hurriedly replied, "Then thank you very much, Mr. Zhongli."

What a joke. Could wine personally brewed by Rex Lapis possibly be ordinary? Even if it were ordinary, who would dare say it tasted bad? Even if it really did taste bad, the fault would surely lie with one's own sense of taste for failing to understand the true essence of wine.

With the most important matter settled, Yucheng and Shenhe barely managed to leave amid Hu Tao's relentless sales pitches. After they left, Zhongli remained where he was, deliberating at length. When Hu Tao next went looking for her consultant, he was nowhere to be found. She stamped her feet in anger, then left the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor herself and headed straight for Bubu Pharmacy.

I'm in a bad mood today. I have to bury a Qiqi to blow off some steam.

That night, three streaks of light shot out from the peaks of Jueyun Karst, flying side by side toward Mt. Tianheng at great speed.

"Cloud Retainer, do you know beforehand why Rex Lapis has summoned the three of us this time?"

"I do not. It has been some time since I last met with Rex Lapis. Moon Carver, are you not well versed in divination? Have you cast a reading?"

"Why cast a reading over something like this? Be patient. We will know soon enough."

The three adepti flew extremely quickly. In the time it took an incense stick to burn, they reached the vicinity of Mt. Tianheng and the Adeptal Abode of Sea of Clouds, Sea of Moonlight Adeptus. This was where Rex Lapis had arranged to meet them.

Yet outside the Adeptal Abode, they unexpectedly found an old friend already waiting.

"Conqueror of Demons? Why are you here as well?"

"Rex Lapis instructed me to await the three of you here. Please come in." With that, he entered the Adeptal Abode on his own.

The two birds and the deer exchanged glances. Although they found it somewhat strange, they still entered the Adeptal Abode one after another.

Sea of Clouds, Sea of Moonlight Adeptus had been their good friend. Although he had long since passed away, they were naturally very familiar with his abode. Even without the Conqueror of Demons leading the way, they could have found their way with their eyes closed.

When they reached an open area, they saw three people already waiting there. One of them had Zhongli's appearance. The adepti were naturally very familiar with Rex Lapis's human form; it was only the name Zhongli that was unfamiliar to them.

Yet among the two people sitting beside Rex Lapis, there was another familiar figure.

"Shenhe? Why are you here too?" Cloud Retainer was very surprised. Did I not tell you to go experience the mortal world? How did that experience bring you to Rex Lapis's side?

Shenhe did not answer. She merely greeted her three masters in turn, then stood silently behind Rex Lapis.

The Conqueror of Demons's attention was not on Shenhe, but on the other person. He knew this person. Over the past few days, he had been trying to find an opportunity to tell Rex Lapis that he wanted to go to Mondstadt and seek treatment from the Anemo Archon, but no good opportunity had presented itself.

Yet only a few days later, Rex Lapis had come to him himself. More importantly, how had this kid managed to get acquainted with Rex Lapis?

"Greetings, Rex Lapis!" Cloud Retainer, Moon Carver, Mountain Shaper, and Xiao bowed to Zhongli in perfect unison.

"No need for formalities. Cloud Retainer, Moon Carver, Mountain Shaper, and Xiao, it has been a long time. Have you been well?"

"Thanks to your blessings, Rex Lapis, we have been well lately. May I ask what instructions you have for us, summoning us here today? And why is my disciple Shenhe here as well?"

"Do not be impatient, Cloud Retainer. After all these years of cultivation, how has that hasty temperament of yours still not changed? Before we discuss the matter, let me introduce a young friend to all my old friends. Yucheng, you were the one who discovered this. You should explain it."

"Greetings, seniors. My name is Uchiha Yucheng. You may simply call me Yucheng."

Yucheng then explained his findings once again to the various adepti. At first, they all wore expressions of disbelief upon hearing his account.

But when Shenhe once again undid some of her red cords, the overwhelming baleful aura was exactly like the one on Xiao, except that Xiao's was more complex and terrifying.

Seeing the baleful aura spilling from Shenhe, the three adepti involuntarily glanced at the Conqueror of Demons beside them. With Xiao, someone who had suffered greatly from the resentment of Archon Residue, there for comparison, they immediately knew that what Yucheng had said was true.

Shenhe had no innate fate of solitary calamity. She was merely a pitiful person contaminated by Archon Residue. At this thought, the three adepti and the other adeptus all unconsciously lowered their previously proud heads, a measure of apology and guilt showing in their gazes as they looked at Shenhe.

For the three adepti, it was because of their own misjudgment. Although they had inadvertently saved Shenhe's life with the Red Cord Soul-Binding Method, as her masters, they had indeed caused her indescribable harm through this matter. Moreover, being contaminated by Archon Residue was no different from suffering a terminal illness. Even Rex Lapis could not remove it.

The reason for Xiao's guilt was actually very simple. Rex Lapis had tasked him with clearing away Archon Residue and protecting the people of Liyue. Yet after a thousand years of scouring the land, some had still slipped through the net and harmed the people. More importantly, Rex Lapis had even found out. Was that not the equivalent of being caught slacking off at work by one's superior?

When Yucheng told the three adepti that Barbatos, the Anemo Archon, could purify Archon Residue, a light seemed to suddenly shine in their eyes. Especially after learning that the Anemo Archon liked fine wine, they all volunteered the fine wines in their own Adeptal Abodes, even beginning to argue over whose wine tasted better.

Zhongli interrupted their argument, then pointed at the two jars of wine on the stone table and said, "Enough, there is no need to argue. This is Osmanthus Wine I personally brewed to celebrate Liyue's founding. Let us use this. Shenhe and Xiao make two patients, so two jars of wine should be enough for the consultation fee."