"...There is still room to turn this matter around," Zhongli said, awkwardly changing the subject. "However, Tang Wang, have you heard anything about your own situation?"
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"As I understand it, you should possess a few secrets unknown to others."
"I do have something like that." Without any attempt at concealment, Tang Wang pulled the weapon he currently used, the White Tassel, from the Shadow Domain Authority he carried.
"Then don't you think this function itself... is far too incomplete?" Zhongli did not elaborate, offering him only a suggestive hint.
"Huh, you mean this thing's just an accessory that goes with something else?" Tang Wang seemed to understand all at once. "Come to think of it, this Shadow Domain Authority really does seem to be just for storing things. I cobbled together all its other functions myself, using that as a base."
"Precisely." Seeing that Tang Wang understood him, Zhongli nodded in relief. "However, the thing that truly belongs to you is not currently within Liyue."
"It may not even be on the surface of Teyvat..."
"Huh. The Chasm, Enkanomiya, the Sea of Bygone Eras, the Temple of the Sky, or even Frostmoon?"
"Any of them are possible," Zhongli said with a quiet nod. "Except for The Chasm."
"Then what does this ability of mine, uh, generally do? Even if I ask the Adventurers' Guild to look for it, I'll have to give them something to go on, right?"
"Have you heard the term 'Epitome Invocation'?" This time, Zhongli, in a rare departure, did not dodge the question and actually gave him a concrete lead.
"Epitome Invocation?" Unexpectedly, the one who reacted most strongly was Ronava, who had been dejected just moments ago. "If I remember correctly, it should mean... giving concrete form to legends or stories."
"Precisely." Seeing that he did not need to explain further, Zhongli nodded repeatedly in agreement. "That is why, recently, many divine weapons that should have been treasured have suddenly appeared on the black market and among the major secret organizations."
"If you wish to investigate it through your own channels, you may start there."
"Isn't that just pulling on the weapon banner?" Tang Wang once again said something the other two could not understand.
"In short, most beings in the mortal world can offer you little help in recovering this object." Zhongli brought the conversation back on track.
"However, if it were one of the former Four Shades of the Heavenly Principles..." He stopped abruptly, leaving his meaning clear.
"True, that's very possible." Tang Wang agreed. "So, Ronava, I really do have a favor to ask of you now."
"Say no more. Once you find that thing, I will do everything I can to help." She gave a soft snort, but this time, much of her desolation vanished at once.
"Even so, I won't neglect the other compensation I owe you." Ronava turned her gaze to Zhongli. "Don't lump me in with that bunch of ungrateful wretches."
"Very good." Zhongli inclined his head slightly. "I'm sure Director Hu will be delighted by your arrival."
Just as the other two thought they had discussed everything they needed to, Tang Wang suddenly spoke again:
"Wait, you two, I've noticed a problem." His expression was grave. "Since Ronava has appeared here, doesn't that mean Heimarmene (the Sacred Plan) has already lost some of its effectiveness here?"
All three people present understood the word Heimarmene, but the other two hardly dared believe what Tang Wang meant.
Of course, Ronava simply had "only a vague impression left," while Zhongli was bound by a contract.
"So, you two, since that's the case, I'm going to try changing some people's endings."
"Leaving others aside, take La Signora, for example. In my view, her actions were reprehensible, but if not for that mess with the Delusion factory, she probably wouldn't have deserved death."
"As long as I can stop her from opening the Delusion factory, I'll have a reason to save her."
"Besides her, there's another person..." His gaze abruptly turned cold. "The one who currently occupies the position of Ruler of Life: Gold, Rhinedottir."
At the mention of that name, Ronava, who had been tricked into losing her Authority over Death, was furious too. But to her surprise, the anger burning in Tang Wang seemed far greater than her own.
"Most of the monster tides in Teyvat are thanks to her. How many people have died because of her? Yet she can stay out of it and watch from the sidelines! I just want to ask: why should she get to?"
"Besides her, I'll punish the other sinners responsible for the Khaenri'ah incident one by one."
"That's assuming... I can gain the power to kill them. Don't worry, you two. I won't be foolish enough to go looking for death."
"Human, this anger of yours... is interesting." After a while, Ronava spoke with great interest. "The last time I felt similar anger was from that Jester."
"But I think your anger seems far more intense than his, and... justified?"
"Because I truly know the weight of life." As he sighed, Tang Wang drew back and suppressed all the emotions that had been surging within him.
"Anyway, Old Zhong, hurry and tell Hu Tao about this."
"God of Contracts, is this Hu Tao he speaks of your subordinate?" Ronava asked again.
"...While in Liyue Harbor, please call me Zhongli." Having had his identity exposed repeatedly, Zhongli coughed lightly again. "Given my current position, I should be considered her subordinate."
"Oh?" Now it was Ronava's turn to be shocked.
"Ah, let me explain. The Geo Archon doesn't want humans to see through his disguise, so he needs an identity to walk among them." Tang Wang spoke with some schadenfreude.
"So, right now, he's a consultant at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. How should I put it? The kind whose boss tells him to offer a toast when he meets other adepti."
"Pfft." Ronava burst out laughing. "God of Contracts, is mingling among humans really so interesting to you?"
"Naturally," Zhongli said without concern. "Humans possess wisdom and strength unique to them. With their own hands, they create everything the world and they themselves need. Therefore, I have pledged my own flesh and blood as a guarantee for their future."
"Speaking of which, since all the currency humans use comes from your flesh and blood..." Ronava suddenly gave him a strange look. "You must be very rich, then?"
"...Ahem, I'll go speak to Director Hu about your employment right away." With that, Zhongli dispelled the Serenitea Pot, and the three returned to a corner of Liyue Harbor.
"Tang Wang should know where the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor is. Have him bring you there in half a day."
With that, Zhongli hurried away as though fleeing.