Gu Sanqiu gave his fishing rod a sharp tug, pulling the line from the vortex.
"Yoo-hoo, let's see what I'll get this time..."
As soon as he saw the familiar blue glow from the vortex, his excited expression immediately crumbled.
Hmm, maybe I really should send the bill to Wangsheng Funeral Parlor tomorrow.
The familiar resistance from the rod didn't surprise him. Gu Sanqiu expertly reeled in, and before long, he fished out the glowing blue object from the vortex.
Item: Forged Black Iron with Water Marks
Origin: Northern Sea
Description: A mineral vein buried deep underwater, repeatedly forged under the pressure of water and the flow control of great monsters, making it an excellent material for crafting sharp weapons.
"Ugh, it's this stuff again."
Gu Sanqiu looked at the item with disdain, "I've gotten so tired of blacksmithing lately."
"Is this what growing up feels like? You just can't do things as freely anymore."
If Fangpan had heard this, he probably would have berated Gu Sanqiu, This has nothing to do with growing up!
The night passed without incident. After waking up and bathing, Gu Sanqiu, carrying a light scent of incense, left his house.
Along the way, he exchanged some formal greetings. If it weren't for the Gu family's prestigious reputation in Feiyun Slope, the smell on him might have made people believe he was up to something bad the night before.
"Morning, Master Mao. I'll have the same as usual."
"Hahaha, Gu boy, it's not morning anymore. You're probably the last young person in Liyue Harbor to get up today."
Inside Wanmin Restaurant, Master Mao laughed heartily as he packed two servings of Mora Meat and a steamed bun for Gu Sanqiu.
"The young people coming to Liyue Harbor these days, they're all thinking about waking up early to make big money, so they can brag when they go home. But you, you're the exact opposite."
"Ah, well, I'm just one person, and I'm already full, so there's no urgent need to make money."
Gu Sanqiu took a big bite of the Mora Meat, the warm scent of the bread and the juicy meat filling temporarily making him forget about work for the day.
"Alright then, see you, Master Mao. May your business prosper."
Gu Sanqiu left without paying, something he'd been allowed to do ever since Wanmin Restaurant became his regular spot. Master Mao generously let him pay his tab monthly, which was quite convenient for someone used to mobile payments.
Of course, Master Mao wasn't a fool; he only allowed this because of Gu Sanqiu's status as an incense burner lineage member. Respect is mutual, after all, and Gu Sanqiu wasn't someone lacking in social awareness. He always made sure to pay his monthly bill on time—unless he was locked up in the confinement room.
"Phew—"
Gu Sanqiu lightly blew on a gold-edged piece of paper that appeared in his left hand, then handed it to the attendant standing outside Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
"Here, give this to your Hall Master, or any guest minister will do. They'll understand what it means."
"Understood, Mr. Gu."
The male attendant smiled as he took the piece of paper, then tossed it into the nearby burning brazier right in front of Gu Sanqiu.
"..."
"Sorry, Mr. Gu. Before the Hall Master left for Wuwang Hill today, she specifically said that any piece of paper you give should be burned right in front of you. Please don't make it difficult for me."
What? She actually ran off to Wuwang Hill to avoid her debts?
Gu Sanqiu's mouth twitched. Wangsheng Funeral Parlor might not look like it had much business, but that was just on the surface. After all, there were still plenty of graves in Wuwang Hill waiting for Hu Tao to manage.
Though, some things shouldn't be exposed to the public eye.
"Alright, she's got guts."
Gu Sanqiu shook his head. "When she gets back, tell her that the thing she asked me to handle is nearly done. Ask your Hall Master to find some time to come over."
"Got it, Mr. Gu."
...
At Yujing Terrace, an old woman with a hunched back smiled as she watched people pass by. After a while, she frowned slightly and gave a flick of her wrist, sending a small porcelain cup flying toward the stone railing on her right.
Ding—
Instead of shattering, the cup traced a perfect arc in the air and landed back on the table in front of the old woman.
Not even a minute later, a sneaky figure peeked out from behind the railing. His previously smooth hair was now a bit messy from climbing.
"Little Gu, can't you walk in properly when you come to drink tea? It's not like Yujing Terrace doesn't have a perfectly fine road."
"Heh heh, Granny Ping, I just stopped by Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. Besides, climbing up here is faster than taking the road."
Gu Sanqiu dusted off his clothes. "Looks like Yujing Terrace wasn't cleaned thoroughly today. Poor me and my outfit."
"Watch your words. Cleaning Yujing Terrace is no easy task, and besides, the place you climbed up isn't part of the usual cleaning area."
Granny Ping poured him a cup of tea. "I've met incense burners from your lineage before, but you're the most laid-back one I've ever seen."
"Ah, it's not about appearances. What matters is the inside, the inside."
Gu Sanqiu patted his chest. "Without a doubt, I'm doing just fine."
"Haha, including the several times you've been detained by the Millelith?"
"Uh, so that's common knowledge now?"
"Whether it's common knowledge or not, you should know best."
Granny Ping refilled Gu Sanqiu's cup. "By the way, it seems someone has been asking around about you recently."
"Huh?"
Gu Sanqiu raised an eyebrow, a subtle sharpness flashing in his eyes.
"How do you know about that, Granny?"
Granny Ping—one of the powerful beings who revealed her strength during the battle against Osial, and is believed to have control over some spatial powers—now seemed to just be an old woman basking in the sun at Yujing Terrace.
Just like how he hadn't told Hu Tao that her guest minister was the Geo Lord himself, Gu Sanqiu wasn't one to expose secrets unnecessarily.
So why would Granny Ping tell him about this?
As the last heir of the incense burner lineage, it wasn't impossible that some obscure information had been passed down in his family. But why would Granny Ping, posing as a "normal old lady," tell him this?
"The little one asking about you has a bit of a connection with me. She's not a bad person, just giving you a heads-up."
...
Connected to Granny Ping?
Being an adeptus, Granny Ping's long life meant she had many connections, making it hard for Gu Sanqiu to guess who this person might be.
Granny Ping chuckled as she took back Gu Sanqiu's teacup. "Go to work, young man. You should be striving while you're still young."
"Heh heh, Master Mao told me the same thing today."
Gu Sanqiu smiled wryly. "Since both of you said so, I guess skipping work wouldn't look too good, would it?"
---
If you spot any mistakes let me know so I can fix them.
Read up to Chapter 30! [P@treon.com/WiseTL]