Liyue Harbor Truly Is Teyvat's Foremost Fortress

(Two chapters combined)

"Hmm... I finally have some free time, but in this huge Liyue, I'm a little unsure what to do."

Xingsu stood at the entrance of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, her gaze sweeping across the bustling streets, and murmured to herself, "Perhaps I should buy some souvenirs for the children... Hmm?"

He looked up and saw Hu Tao walking back to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor with a dejected look on her face.

"Hello, Director Hu, what happened?"

"Sigh... I just put Qiqi in a sack, planning to dig a hole and bury her, but then I ran into Baizhu, and I failed again."

"...?"

Seriously, aren't we even trying to cover up the crime without anyone knowing?

Seeing Xingsu's slightly frightened look, Hu Tao quickly explained, "Oh dear, I forgot, you probably don't know Qiqi."

Qiqi is the little girl who gathers herbs at Bubu Pharmacy, and she is a zombie. According to the teachings of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, birth, aging, sickness, and death are the natural cycle of life and death, but she is trapped between life and death, unable to return to dust. This long-term imprisonment is torture for her.

When I saw it, I exclaimed, "Oh dear, this won't do!"

So I was thinking of giving her a proper burial, so she could rest in peace. But that Baizhu keeps stopping me. Every time I finally manage to put Qiqi in a sack and haven't even found a suitable grave, Baizhu smells the scent and comes over to take her away. Sigh, I failed again today."Hu Tao shrugged and said helplessly.

"Speaking of which, young man, I don't know your name yet. Although you're not a client of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, anyone whom our Elder Zhongli calls a friend must be extraordinary."

"Director Hu is too kind. I'm just an ordinary person looking after children." Xingsu suddenly remembered something and asked, "I'm new to Liyue and would like to buy some souvenirs to take back to my children. Do you have any recommendations, Director Hu?"

"Tsk tsk, really, you're so young, yet you speak as old-fashioned as Zhongli."

"Um... I thought this was just Liyue people's etiquette..."

"Just speak up, no need for so much formality. But you've come to the right person! I know everything about Liyue's food and toys. I happen to have nothing to do today, come, come, I'll show you around."

Hu Tao clapped her hands and walked briskly towards the bustling street next to her.

"Let's go, let me show you some of Liyue's specialties first."

As dusk settles, Liyue is filled with the vibrant energy of everyday life. Shipwrights returning from the harbor stride briskly home, their steps quickened as they see the smoke rising from their chimneys in the distance.

One by one, the lanterns along the street lit up, their warm yellow glow spreading out and bathing the entire street in a gentle light.

In front of Wanyou Boutique, old men set up chessboards and played a few games by lamplight. The onlookers were even more impatient than the players, pointing and commenting. The tea got cold and was refilled repeatedly. Next to them, a vendor selling grilled tigerfish grilled the skin until it was crispy, brushed with a secret sauce, and the rising smoke blurred their features.

Wanmin Restaurant was still bustling with activity. The sounds of Xiangling tossing the wok and the sizzling oil in the pan added to the lively atmosphere of the diners. Master Mao was preparing ingredients at the entrance, muttering about how much the price of fish had risen today, but his hands never stopped moving.

Granny Shan, who sells toys, displayed her newly arrived lanterns on her stall and casually noted in her ledger. "The Moonchase Festival is approaching, so I'll stock up on more goods."

The lives of the people of Liyue are like sealed amber, slowly simmering the mundane into a serene and unhurried existence. Those ordinary mornings and evenings, bit by bit, transform into years worth cherishing and protecting.

Xingsu walked alongside Hu Tao through the long street, feeling the hustle and bustle of the city around them. The shouts of vendors, the laughter of pedestrians, and the whistles of ships coming from the dock intertwined to create a warm and human soundscape.

The days of travel and rushing around were gradually soothed by the warm glow of the fireworks, bringing a sense of peace and comfort.

As she walked, Hu Tao suddenly stopped in front of two majestic stone lions at the intersection and reached out to carefully touch their hands.

Xingsu at the two enormous stone sculptures before him, he paused slightly, then asked somewhat blankly, "Um... is this... a specialty of Liyue?"

"Of course not! This is Liyue real estate. I just happened to be passing by to see Big Mimi and Little Mimi. These two legendary beasts work so hard! They come and go every day, rain or shine, standing guard here without fail. Seeing how hard they work, I often come to give them a bath."

"..."

Xingsu looked at the two stone lions. Although there were too many things to complain about, and she didn't know where to begin, well... it's just a child's wild imagination, so it's understandable.

"So, which of these two big cats is Big Mimi, and which is Little Mimi?"

"This is the Big Mimi on the left, and the Little Mimi on the right. How are my cats? Aren't they impressive?" Hu Tao tilted her head back, her eyes sparkling, eagerly awaiting praise.

"Of course!" Xingsu gave Hu Tao two thumbs up.

"Hmph." Hu Tao shook her head smugly, turned around with a smile, and continued to lead Xingsu deeper into the alley.

"We're here, Scent of Spring. Seeing that you already have a child, you must have a very good relationship with your partner. Why don't you get your loved one a Liyue specialty perfume balm first?"

"Oh my, isn't this Director Hu? It's rare to see you bring such a handsome Childe with you today. Did you come here specifically to introduce him to me?"

Hu Tao quickly waved her hand and said, "Oh dear, don't talk nonsense! This is my friend, he's here to buy something for his lover, not for you to flirt with!"

Ying'er straightened up, slowly walked around the desk, and gently approached Xingsu. Her gaze swept lightly over Xingsu's composed and handsome appearance from top to bottom, and she said softly:

"Oh, so you just came to buy something... I was being presumptuous."

As she spoke, she picked up a perfume box with her slender fingers, her fingertips gently stroking the delicate porcelain surface:

"Since you're here, Childe, why not smell it for yourself? My family's perfume balm is infused with the fragrances of Silk Flower and Qingxin, both of which are most flattering. Some people look aloof and distant when they wear it; others look gentle and tender... I'm quite curious, what fragrance suits Childe best?"

Xingsu smelled them one by one, but was not very satisfied with any of them.

"Oh my, Childe, you've taken such good care of choosing this person yourself. Your lover must be very well pampered."

Xingsu felt a little uncomfortable under her direct gaze, her ear tips turning slightly red. "She has a rather cold personality, so I want to choose a fragrance that suits her."

"Oh? A beauty with a cool and aloof personality?" Ying'er raised an eyebrow, her interest piqued. She leaned in slightly, her voice soft and suggestive, "Then I understand. The more aloof a person is, the more suitable they are for a fragrance that penetrates to the bone."

She took out a box of perfumed balm in a neon-colored hue, her fingertips delicately caressing the porcelain surface, a mischievous smile in her eyes:

"This is a limited edition that I personally blended. The outer fragrance is elegant and understated, with a dignified and refined inner scent, but the base notes reveal a touch of soft warmth. It's perfect for a cool and aloof woman—she appears distant, but only those close to her can sense her gentle warmth."

At this point, she looked directly at Xingsu and teased him softly:

"Childe must also want to... add a unique scent of your own to your lover, right?"

Xingsu's throat tightened slightly, her ears turned even redder, and she looked away, replying softly, "Ahem, I bought it!"

Hu Tao, who was standing to the side, looked around and caught a glimpse of Xingsu's reddened ears. She covered her mouth and secretly smiled, but didn't tease her much. She reached out and pulled Xingsu out of Scent of Spring.

A melodious, smiling voice drifted from Ying'er: "Are you leaving already? Little brother, come visit often~ Hehe."

Stepping out of the shop, the bustling atmosphere of the streets and alleys rushed towards him, and Xingsu calmed down a little before asking a question in a low voice.

"Director Hu, is this Scent of Spring... truly just a place that makes perfume?"

Hu Tao waved her hand and laughed lightly, "Oh dear, Ying'er's perfumery skills are top-notch in Liyue. So many people want to ask her to blend a fragrance but can't find a way to do so. Don't think about it too much, let's go! Since we still need to pick out souvenirs for the children, we should go pick out some fun little trinkets."

After saying that, she pulled Xingsu through the bustling crowd and went straight to Granny Shan's stall.

The stall was filled with a dazzling array of interesting little trinkets.

Paper lanterns shimmered with light, Luban locks displayed exquisite mortise and tenon joints, bamboo dragonflies, and paper kites painted with Liyue landscape patterns were all neatly arranged on the stall.

Xingsu bent down and carefully selected items, thinking of the faces of the children at the House of the Hearth, so she picked out a little of each item to take back. Granny Shan carefully gathered the small items, wrapped them carefully in coarse cotton paper, and stacked them into a small pile.

"The children will be so happy when we get back," Hu Tao said cheerfully, standing to the side.

It's worth mentioning that after bringing these toys back, Xingsu held a competition at the House of the Hearth to see the fastest Luban lock disassembly.

Freminet, on the other hand, was very familiar with mechanical structures. His fingers flew, his fingertips darting between the wooden components with swift and decisive movements. In no time, he skillfully disassembled the entire Luban lock, and unsurprisingly, he won second place.

Hmm? You're asking if someone as mechanically skilled as Freminet only got second place, then who came in first?

Lynette stepped forward and gently touched the surface of the Luban lock with her fingertips. A series of soft, crisp "click-clack" sounds rang out, and the entire Luban lock seemed to be triggered by an invisible force, disintegrating directly on the table.

Freminet was still a little frustrated about this for a while. Then he discovered that the first place prize was a complete set of test papers and workbooks prepared by Xingsu, while the second place prize was a set of excellent repair tools, and his smile returned to his face.

Xingsu wasn't really trying to spoil the mood; he just wanted to use the opportunity to prepare a birthday gift for Freminet. Unfortunately, he underestimated Lynette's qualities.

Mechanical structures are also machines.

In addition, as some children grow up, that curious little kitten always likes to peek at things that her age shouldn't see late at night. Therefore, Xingsu used this as an excuse to give her a little punishment.

This is a transition.

"Big Qiuqiu is sick, Second Qiuqiu is here to check on her."

Three hills for gathering herbs, four hills...

"Director Hu!"

The wicked Xingsu prevented Hu Tao from letting out that scream.

Xingsu called out to Hu Tao, who was skipping and hopping ahead alone. Hu Tao was carrying bags in both hands and a large backpack on his shoulder; the heavy load made his shoulders ache.

Obviously, even the strongest man would be exhausted after walking around the streets all night.

Xingsu, panting, looked helplessly at the still energetic Hu Tao: "Director Hu, that's enough. There's no need to buy all of Liyue's specialties at once. If fate allows, I might return to Liyue in the future; there's really no need to gather them all at once..."

"Hmm? You can't even get it?"

Hu Tao turned around and slowly circled Xingsu twice, her bright eyes blinking as she looked him up and down at his disheveled appearance, which was covered with bags and packages. Suddenly, her eyes lit up. "Hey! I'll go back to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor and get you a big coffin. You can carry the coffin on your back and stuff all the things you bought into it. It can hold anything, no matter how big it is. Wouldn't that solve the problem easily?"

Xingsu thought for a moment, then followed behind the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, carrying a large coffin on his back, as they walked along the bustling streets of Liyue.

His lips twitched slightly. He wanted to wave his hand to refuse, but found he didn't have a free hand. "Um... never mind, people who don't know better might think..."

"Brother Xingsu!"

A small figure came running quickly. Teucer, with a smile on his face, ran up to Xingsu in a flash, his eyes sparkling with joy.

Immediately afterward, a familiar voice reached Xingsu's ears. "Hey, isn't this Xingsu?"

Xingsu looked back and saw that Tartaglia looked almost exactly like herself at that moment.

His long, slender hands were also full of shopping bags of all sizes, with colorful packaging bags stacked in layers, and a huge backpack bulging on his back.

"What?" Childe Tartaglia has also taken to shopping? He's dressed just like me.

"Haha..." The Childe laughed awkwardly, "I promised Teucer I'd take him shopping in Liyue. Besides, I've been in Liyue for quite a while now and haven't brought anything back home, so I just bought a lot. Aren't you the same?"

"Haha..." The two men looked at each other and laughed, accepting the situation in a second.

"Oh my, it seems Brother Xingsu has run into someone he knows. It's getting late, so I'll be going now."

Goodbye, Director Hu.

"Goodbye! If you need any business, remember to contact Wangsheng Funeral Parlor! I'll give you a 20% discount, and you can buy one tombstone and get one free."

"Ha... ha..." Xingsu chuckled dryly, "I'll remember..."

Hu Tao skipped away, and Tartaglia looked at Xingsu, her eyes gleaming with eager anticipation. "That little girl from the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor? So, you've met Mr. Zhongli?"

Xingsu nodded. "That's right."

Upon hearing this, Tartaglia's eyes shone even brighter. "So, how strong is he? Can I have a good fight with him?"

Xingsu stood still, pretending to think about it seriously for a moment, and then gave his answer, "One to nine."

Upon hearing this, Tartaglia's face instantly lit up with a confident and excited smile, "So you still have a 10% chance of winning?"

Xingsu shook his head. "No, you'd get killed by him nine times a minute."

"What if I use the power of the Delusion and the Foul Legacy?" Tartaglia still refused to give up.

Xingsu then seriously (or rather, pretended to) weighed the combat power of the fully-powered Tartaglia and Zhongli.

"That means he killed you 27 times in one minute."