"So, Traveler, there's one more thing I'd like to ask of you…"
Paimon rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. "I knew it!"
Lumine gave a helpless smile. "Alright, what is it this time?"
Zhongli responded with his usual gentle smile. "Heh, don't worry, it's nothing too troublesome. I'd like the two of you to borrow the Cleansing Bell on my behalf."
"The Cleansing Bell?" Lumine ilted her head in confusion.
Zhongli explained patiently, "It's a special kind of bell capable of purging evil and filth."
"Right now, it's being kept by an old friend of mine—Madame Ping. You'll find her near Yujing Terrace. Just ask for her; she'll know."
Lumine nodded in understanding.
With that, they set off toward Yujing Terrace in search of Madame Ping.
...
Along the way, both Lumine and Paimon kept wondering—just who was this Madame Ping? How could she possibly be an old friend of Zhongli's?
Zhongli didn't look that old, after all.
Eventually, Lumine and Paimon arrived at Yujing Terrace.
There, an elderly woman was gazing intently at a Glaze Lily blooming at her feet, mumbling softly to herself.
She had a kind and gentle demeanor. When she noticed Lumine and Paimon, she greeted them with a warm smile.
"Excuse me, are you Madame Ping?" Lumine asked politely.
Madame Ping nodded with a smile. "Yes, child. What brings you here?"
Lumine explained their purpose and mentioned Zhongli by name.
At the mention of Zhongli, a flicker of surprise flashed across Madame Ping's face, but she quickly returned to calm.
"I see. Very well, I can lend you the Cleansing Bell…"
"But, I do have a tiny condition~"
...
"Why is it that such a tiny teapot can have so much space inside?!"
Paimon's eyes were wide with disbelief as she looked around the interior of the small teapot.
It was like stepping into a fantastical world. The space inside was far larger than the exterior suggested.
"Yeah… it took us forever to clean this place up." Lumine sighed wearily as she wiped sweat from her brow.
She and Paimon had worked hard to tidy up the rooms inside the teapot, but the amount of work was far beyond what they had expected.
"Hehehe… Thank you, my dear children."
Madame Ping smiled kindly, gently patting both Lumine and Paimon on the head with eyes full of affection.
Then, she reached into her robes and took out a small, exquisite bell, handing it to the Traveler.
"This is the Cleansing Bell?"
Paimon asked curiously, her gaze fixed on the object.
"Thank you, Madame Ping. We'll be sure to take good care of it," Lumine said gratefully, carefully taking the bell and examining it in her hands.
It was a pale blue bell covered in mysterious runes, and when shaken lightly, it emitted a crisp and pleasant chime.
With a smile, Madame Ping bid farewell to Lumine and Paimon before turning and walking away.
...
After saying goodbye, Lumine and Paimon returned to Zhongli with the Cleansing Bell in hand.
Zhongli gently held the bell up, a trace of nostalgia flickering in his eyes.
"Now that everything is prepared, it's time to begin the Rite of Parting."
Everything was arranged neatly on the altar. After a series of rituals, the Rite of Parting reached its conclusion.
"Whew… it's finally over." Lumine let out a breath of relief.
Zhongli nodded slowly.
"Yes, it's finally over…"
Before he could finish his sentence, hurried footsteps interrupted him.
"There! That's Zhongli from the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor!"
Zhongli turned toward the voice and saw the steward of the Ministry of Civil Affairs approaching.
"Mr. Zhongli, the Ministry would like to invite you over for some tea. I hope you won't refuse—otherwise, things might get… complicated."
The surrounding Millelith began to close in, gradually surrounding Zhongli.
Paimon scratched her head furiously.
"What the heck is going on?!"
...
Half an hour earlier, elsewhere in Liyue Harbor, Yelan was holding up a photo and questioning Ningguang.
"Ningguang, do we need to investigate this 'consultant' Zhongli from Wangsheng Funeral Parlor and the traveler from Mondstadt?"
Ningguang took the photo, glanced at it, then closed her eyes and tapped her finger rhythmically against her desk, falling deep into thought.
'He's supposedly just a normal person… but how did he end up dining with three Fatui Harbingers?'
'And his knowledge of Liyue's history and culture—even some of the senior scholars can't compare… Is he really just a funeral consultant? Or is there something more?'
After a long pause, Ningguang opened her eyes and looked at Yelan. "Give me a moment to think."
Yelan nodded slightly and returned to her work, seemingly unaffected by the conversation.
But Ningguang's mind continued to churn.
Was this a deception by the Fatui? Or…
Was Zhongli truly hiding a deeper connection to them?
After much deliberation, Ningguang came to a firm conclusion—this matter could not be taken lightly.
"Don't act against the Traveler just yet," she said. "A Millelith captain reported some connection between her and the Adepti of Jueyun Karst."
"Right now, Liyue cannot afford to antagonize the Adepti. We need their support. If one had been present earlier…"
"Then Shajin… no, The Gambler… wouldn't have gotten so bold."
Ningguang opened her eyes and nodded slightly to Yelan, giving silent approval to proceed with the investigation into Zhongli.
Yelan caught the signal immediately. Her Hydro Vision glowed faintly as her form blurred and vanished like a breeze through the night.
Ningguang quietly watched Yelan disappear, her mind still weighed with thoughts of Zhongli.
She felt a strange unease, as if something crucial was on the verge of happening.
Then she called out, "Baiwen, come in."
The door opened quietly, and in stepped a woman in uniform—Baiwen, Ningguang's trusted aide.
Standing respectfully before her, Baiwen awaited orders.
Ningguang looked at her and spoke with quiet resolve.
"Send word in my name. Have the steward from the Ministry of Civil Affairs go to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor and 'invite' Consultant Zhongli to the Ministry's parlor for some tea. He's not to leave until I say so."
Baiwen was momentarily startled, her expression twitching with tension, but she quickly regained composure—calm and unreadable.
She knew that Ningguang never acted without purpose. Without hesitation, she bowed and answered, "As you command."
Then she turned and left to carry out the order.
Ningguang remained seated, her eyes filled with thought and concern, as though searching for light in the darkness.
She knew this investigation into Zhongli might trigger a chain of unpredictable events—like a sudden storm sweeping across Liyue Harbor.
But for the safety of Liyue, she had no choice.
_
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