Ningguang's brows furrowed slightly as she fixed her gaze on Ye Xuan. "'Teyvat doesn't have many years left to live either'-what does that mean?"
Ye Xuan shrugged. "Exactly what it sounds like. There's no need to dig into it. If the sky falls, the tall ones will hold it up. Knowing would only give you more to worry about."
Ningguang's mouth twitched slightly.
If you weren't going to tell me, why did you bring it up in the first place? People who only tell half a story really ought to be strung up and beaten.
"If there's nothing else, you can leave." Ye Xuan yawned. "It's late, and we're getting ready to rest."
And just like that, Ningguang and her companions were promptly shown out the doors of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
After the courtyard gate closed, Ye Xuan turned to look at the heavy chests. "It wouldn't be convenient for us to keep this Mora. Director, you should take it-consider it my betrothal gift."
Hu Tao looked him over, then said, "At the rate you spend money, I'm afraid this ten million wouldn't last two months, would it?"
Ye Xuan's thick-skinned old face reddened, and for once, he was at a loss for words.
The corners of Ronava's mouth rose slightly. "Master, I thought nothing bad you did could make you blush."
Ye Xuan's expression turned stern. "Ronava, put the director down, then go back to your room and kneel."
Ronava immediately lowered her head. "Yes."
Ye Xuan turned back to Hu Tao. "Before long, I'll have Wangsheng Funeral Parlor take charge of the funeral business in Mondstadt too. That should be enough to cover our expenses."
"Having Wangsheng Funeral Parlor open branches across the Seven Nations-that's enough for a betrothal gift, isn't it?"
With that, he reached out and pinched Hu Tao's tender cheek lightly between his fingertips, then turned and went back to his room.
The young undertaker and Old Meng stood to the side, wearing identical doting auntie smiles.
Hu Tao noticed their expressions and immediately put on a stern face. "What are you looking at? You're not getting paid this month; your wages will be paid next month instead. How dare you gossip about the director-not a word about anything that happened today is to get out."
The young undertaker's face fell. "You can't do that, Director! I just set my eyes on a new perfume balm. How am I supposed to buy it without my wages..."
"That's your problem." Hu Tao swept her sleeve and set off with a light step. "I'm leaving. Carry everything into the inner storeroom."
Before she had finished speaking, she was already skipping off in the direction of Wuwang Hill.
Yujing Terrace was brightly lit at that moment. The seats of the Liyue Qixing were arranged in a row, and Ningguang sat upright in the main seat, slowly rubbing a piece of jade between her fingertips.
Uncle Tian had been dragged out of bed by his daughter Huixin to attend the meeting. The old man sat among the others, weariness and resignation written all over his face.
He rubbed his bleary old eyes and was the first to speak. "Tianquan, you've summoned all of us here so late. Has something serious happened?"
The other members of the Liyue Qixing also looked at her inquiringly.
Ningguang stopped playing with the jade and looked around the room, her tone solemn. "I have called you all here today to discuss three matters."
"First, two more gods have appeared in Liyue, one named Ye Xuan and the other Ronava. They are currently staying at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. Their status is extremely high, and I cannot disclose their precise identities. Secretary Ganyu has gone to seek out the Rex Lapis and verify this."
"Second, this also concerns Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. Those two gods have close ties to its director, Hu Tao. From now on, whatever Director Hu does within Liyue, none of the departments are to interfere."
"Third, I received a piece of information from one of the gods-Teyvat will face a world-ending calamity within a few years. Secretary Ganyu has also gone to confirm this with the Rex Lapis."
When she finished, silence fell over the room.
Keqing was the first to break it. She tapped her fingertips lightly against the table, a thoughtful look between her brows:
"So, when all is said and done, the thing that actually affects us is that Liyue's laws can no longer govern Hu Tao from now on, right?"
"That is indeed the case. Liyue Harbor cannot afford to incur the wrath of two gods."
Keqing frowned. "Are gods truly omnipotent? Did the one who foretold the world's destruction offer any solution?"
Ningguang shook her head. "No. He only said that if Teyvat were no more, he would take those he cherished and leave this place."
Keqing slammed her hand on the table, her almond-shaped eyes wide. "What kind of god is he? How irresponsible!"
"Rather than a god, he seems more like a person with the power of a god. I've never been able to understand why gods descended upon Liyue, only for it to turn out that they wanted Director Hu Tao to support the two of them."
Keqing froze for a moment, then suddenly sensed something amiss. She narrowed her eyes and studied Ningguang:
"Why do you sound so sour? You aren't thinking-why didn't the god come to you instead, are you?"
Ningguang set down her teacup, the corners of her lips curling slightly, though the smile did not reach her eyes. "The Yuheng is as perceptive as ever. That god described Director Hu Tao as 'young, yet rich enough to possess the four seas.'"
She paused, a note of self-mockery entering her voice. "Perhaps, when it comes to wealth, I truly cannot compare to her."
At that moment, a tall, upright member of the Liyue Qixing who looked like a soldier spoke up. "Could it be... that 'young' was the important part? What he really meant was-Tianquan, you're a little old."
Huh?!
All the members of the Liyue Qixing who had been silent turned in unison to look at the Kaiyang Star, their gazes filled with shock and admiration.
Brother, you've got some nerve.
The Tianxuan Star hurriedly stepped in to smooth things over, his face wreathed in smiles:
"How could the Tianquan be old? She's clearly in the prime of her life. Before the Yuheng came along, the Tianquan was the youngest member of the Liyue Qixing in history. She rose to the position of Tianquan in her early twenties-we were quite envious back then."
The other members of the Liyue Qixing hurried to chime in. "Exactly, exactly." "Tianxuan is quite right."
Uncle Tian waved a hand and sighed. "All right, all right. Let's go back and rein in the younger members of our clans. I'm afraid we won't reach any conclusions discussing tonight's matter. A few years... Heh, this old man doesn't even know how many years he has left."
Keqing stood up. "I'll go to Wangsheng Funeral Parlor myself tomorrow and visit those two gods. I'll see if I can find out anything new."
Ningguang looked up at her and reminded her, "Remember to bring plenty of Mora."
"How much should I bring?"
"I brought ten million and only got the answer to one question."
So expensive. Everyone present felt their hearts skip a beat.
The Tianquan really was willing to spend.
Keqing took a deep breath and nodded. "All right, I'll go tomorrow morning."
As the young lady of a great family, she could still afford ten million Mora.
As long as it was for Liyue, it was all worth it.
The members of the Liyue Qixing gradually dispersed, and the lights grew fewer.
Baishi followed behind Ningguang and asked quietly, "Lady Ningguang, can the Yuheng really bring back any useful information from this visit...?"
Ningguang gazed at Yuehai Pavilion in the distant night and said calmly, "Perhaps not. But we have to try. I'm old, but isn't the Yuheng still young?"
Baishi hesitated. "Lady Ningguang, what the Kaiyang Star said just now-"
Ningguang raised a hand to cut her off. "Do not speak carelessly about the Liyue Qixing."
She added, "Go and keep watch at Yuehai Pavilion. Report to me as soon as Ganyu returns."
That night, not a single light went out in the residences of the Liyue Qixing.
Ye Xuan's casually spoken words hung over everyone's heads like a sword of Damocles.
And the culprit himself-Ye Xuan-was lying under the warm covers at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, sleeping soundly and peacefully.
What traveled back through time was the soul, not the body. So that night, he had been a bridegroom once again.
As for Ronava...
One could only say that even a god, strong as she was, found it a bit much to bear.
The god who controlled death felt a little like dying again tonight.