"You're as sharp as ever, Mr. Adventurine."
Zhongli smiled faintly, a glint of approval flashing in his eyes.
Shajin replied humbly, "You're too kind~"
He gently blew across the rim of his teacup, dispersing the rising steam. That soft breath seemed to carry a detachment from the world, like a wisp of smoke—elusive and ephemeral.
Zhongli turned to face Lumine, his voice calm and resolute.
"I have a way for you to see the immortal body of the Geo Archon."
There was a quiet confidence in his words—undeniable and certain.
"Pfft!"
Shajin couldn't hold it in and let out a sudden laugh.
He quickly covered his mouth with his hand, but it was too late to hide.
Noticing Zhongli's gaze shift toward him, he sat up straight, coughed awkwardly, and explained, "Ahem—sorry, I've had professional training. I don't usually laugh… unless I can't help it."
Unlike Shajin, Lumine and Paimon gasped in shock.
"Eh?!"
Their eyes widened, filled with disbelief as they stared at Zhongli, trying to grasp what he had just said.
Their hearts surged with confusion and astonishment, like waves whipped up by a sudden gale.
They both knew the "remains" of the Geo Archon had already been taken by the Liyue Qixing. Seeing them now was practically impossible.
And yet, Zhongli had said it so calmly and assuredly, catching them completely off guard.
His demeanor and tone radiated a sense of complete control and understanding—
Almost as if…
A master tactician, quietly overseeing the entire game board?
Zhongli lifted his teacup and took a slow sip before continuing.
"Though revered as the ancestor of all Adepti, the Geo Archon was, in truth, merely one of many immortals."
His voice was steady and firm, like an ancient mountain carrying the weight of countless years.
There was a deep understanding of history and a clear grasp of reality in his words—like aged wine, rich and alluring.
The others fell Into quiet contemplation, their minds drifting across Liyue's millennia of history, as though an ancient scroll were slowly unfolding before their eyes.
Zhongli went on.
"If we look back across the ages, we see a clear trend—one after another, the immortals have departed. It's an irreversible flow, like autumn leaves falling from the trees."
His gaze grew distant, as If peering through time to witness the past.
The wheels of history rolled forward, relentlessly carrying all things toward the unknown.
"The times have changed…"
His voice dropped, filled with reflection.
"I've heard that you went to Jueyun Karst in search of the Adepti. You must have sensed the change for yourselves."
Zhongli's eyes met Lumine and Paimon's, a tinge of wistfulness in his gaze—as if he had witnessed time slip away and the world shift beneath his feet.
He understood that In the face of such change, one must adapt and search for a new path—like finding light in darkness, or an oasis in the desert.
And for those who seek the truth, they must brave reality head-on, like finding direction in fog, or shelter in a storm.
Lumine nodded. Every Adeptus she had met so far had distanced themselves from the mortal realm, living in seclusion like snow lotuses on a distant mountain—unblemished, noble, and far removed.
"As you've seen, the era of the immortals is fading… and the age of mortals is rising."
Zhongli spoke with quiet solemnity, his tone filled with insight into the changing tides of time.
It was as though he could see the great wheels of history turning forward, carrying the promise of what's to come.
"As the years pass, immortals fade from sight, and the strength of humankind begins to ascend."
"In past times, whenever an immortal passed, there would be a grand ceremony in their honor."
Zhongli's voice carried a touch of nostalgia, and deep reverence for tradition.
These ceremonies weren't just farewells—they were part of Liyue's cultural heritage, like pearls strung into a necklace, gleaming with the light of history.
"This is the tradition of Liyue."
"But—"
"This time, even the Liyue Qixing have no time to spare for it."
"..."
After a brief pause, Zhongli continued, his tone tinged with helplessness and regret.
"It's disgraceful."
There was dissatisfaction in his voice—a deep disappointment with how things had turned out.
Once-proud traditions and immortal legacies were now being forgotten and neglected. It wasn't what he had hoped to see.
Lumine thought for a moment and said, "Well… this was an assassination of a god."
Zhongli waved a hand, offering his own perspective.
"The Wangsheng Funeral Parlor doesn't concern itself with that. What we care about is: if the ceremony to invite a god is held with such grandeur, then why is no one organizing a proper farewell?"
Then he turned to Lumine.
"Traveler, I've heard a bit about you from Adventurine."
His gaze met Lumine's.
"Since you've had dealings with the Anemo Archon… would you consider working with me to prepare a farewell ceremony for the Geo Archon?"
There was genuine respect in Zhongli's invitation.
Lumine lowered her head in thought.
After a while, she glanced at Shajin, seemingly seeking his opinion.
Shajin: "..."
Mimicking Zhongli, Shajin blew over his tea to cool it, his expression perfectly composed.
"My advice? Say yes. If you want to leave behind something lasting, intersections with the gods are essential."
Lumine nodded—his words made a lot of sense.
"I'll do it."
Tartaglia clapped lightly and said with a grin, "A wise choice."
"The Liyue Qixing are actively preventing anyone from viewing the Geo Archon's remains."
"So if you're determined to pursue your goal of seeking all seven gods—this is your only path forward."
Zhongli nodded in agreement.
"Exactly. Only by participating in the Rite of Parting will you be able to see the body of the Geo Archon once more."
"Traveler, Adventurine and the others have… special identities. I'll need you and Paimon to help me purchase the items required for the Rite of Parting."
Paimon began counting on her fingers.
"A funeral for the Geo Archon… that's gotta cost a ton of Mora, right?!"
Zhongli calmly finished his tea and set the cup down.
"No worries. This young master has already provided us with a generous sum of Mora. And should we run short, he's kindly offered to let us bill the Northland Bank~"
Both Shajin and Rosalyne turned toward where Tartaglia was sitting.
"Ha… haha…"
Tartaglia scratched his head, clearly flustered.
The two exchanged a knowing eye-roll but said nothing more—after all, it wasn't their money.
Pantalone: Achoo!!! Am I catching a cold? Why do I keep sneezing lately?
_
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