"Mmm, the entrance is smooth, like it was brewed with high-quality water, and there's even a subtle hint of candy-like sweetness flowing and spreading in the throat, without any of the sharpness that comes with high-alcohol spirits," Zhongli remarked after drinking half of the glass, closing his eyes as he carefully evaluated. "The combination of the richness and sweetness of the alcohol blends perfectly, without any off-putting taste. The sweetness at the end even hints at a sense of bittersweetness, a hidden meaning of 'after hardship comes sweetness.'"
"A fine wine indeed," he concluded.
"As long as you enjoy it, sir," Gu Sanqiu chuckled. Compared to Mona's succinct "energy supplement" remark, Zhongli's elaborate and poetic description was indeed at a master's level of interpretation.
While Zhongli and Gu Sanqiu were immersed in their tasting, Hu Tao and Keqing were fiercely battling it out over the food. Their chopsticks were flying back and forth, especially when it came to the last golden shrimp ball. Gu Sanqiu could practically see the sparks in their eyes.
"Hey, hey, you two aren't trainers from some story who battle just by making eye contact. Calm down," Gu Sanqiu tried to mediate. "Where's your ladylike poise?"
Hearing this, both Hu Tao and Keqing reluctantly backed off and redirected their chopsticks toward other dishes. After all, this wasn't some girls-only slumber party. With two men present, fighting over a shrimp ball did seem a bit undignified.
Then, without warning, a poised and elegant hand picked up a pair of chopsticks, calmly reaching for the final golden shrimp ball and placing it into its owner's mouth.
"Mmm, the shrimp remains juicy and tender, while the potato crust, despite being fried, retains a soft texture under the crisp surface," Zhongli began to evaluate again. "When biting into the shrimp, the potato, initially just salty, absorbs the flavor of the shrimp, dispersing the slight greasiness from the frying and creating a more layered and robust taste."
"From a rational perspective, this is indeed a delicious dish."
(￣□￣;)
Gu Sanqiu was stunned. He had planned to secretly take that shrimp ball himself to avoid any conflict, but the Geo Archon had acted first!
Who would've thought you'd do something like this, Old Man!
Hu Tao's cheeks puffed up with frustration, and she silently vowed that the next task she gave Zhongli would be impossibly difficult.
"Uh… as long as you enjoyed it, sir," Gu Sanqiu said, now resigned. If the esteemed guest liked it, who was he to argue?
"Mr. Gu, regarding that blue brick you sent through the Hall Master a while ago, I've made some progress with my investigation," Zhongli remarked, shifting the conversation.
Gu Sanqiu raised an eyebrow. He had almost forgotten about the blue brick from the dragon because he was subconsciously trying to avoid thinking about the "foot odor of a dragoness."
"As a descendant of the Fengxiang Clan and a friend of the Hall Master, you're certainly no evildoer," Zhongli continued as he picked up a piece of soft-boiled beef. "I'm willing to share the truth with you."
"That brick carries the aura of a dragon, but not from Liyue."
Gu Sanqiu's heart skipped a beat—he knew it!
"Miss Keqing, as the Yuheng of the Qixing, I would also like you to take note of this matter," Zhongli added.
Upon hearing "not from Liyue," Keqing's expression grew more serious, certainly more focused than Gu Sanqiu, who was preoccupied with eating potato and carrot cakes.
"It's well known that dragons, as a species, exhibit diverse characteristics across the world," Zhongli explained. "There's Mondstadt's east wind dragon, Dvalin, Liyue's ancient dragon lord, and even the Geovishaps, which still trouble our people today."
"These creatures are well-documented in our texts, and remnants of their auras can still be found in some locations," Zhongli continued. "Though my academic background is modest, I've encountered these auras. However, none of them match the one on this brick."
Modest academic background?
Gu Sanqiu twitched. He wanted to make a snarky remark, but he didn't dare. This was the most understated and humble thing he'd heard since arriving in Teyvat.
"For now, the only direction we can consider is the existence of another world."
Gu Sanqiu nodded silently. The Old Man was indeed experienced, even dropping subtle hints to maintain his guise as a regular consultant. If he had confidently declared, "This is from another world," sharp minds like Hu Tao and Keqing would have immediately grown suspicious.
As for what Gu Sanqiu thought—well, that wasn't as important.
At this point, Zhongli's careful wording, whether as the Geo Archon or as the learned consultant of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, had likely raised enough questions about Gu Sanqiu's involvement with this mysterious brick.
In another time, Gu Sanqiu might have been apprehended for questioning. Given the stature of the Fengxiang Clan, they might have left him barely breathing as a courtesy.
"Does another world truly exist?" Keqing asked, whether out of personal curiosity or concern for Liyue's security.
"It's impossible to confirm, but this brick could very well be a key piece of evidence," Zhongli pondered for a moment before turning back to Gu Sanqiu. "Mr. Gu, is this brick of particular importance to you?"
"You really need it?" Gu Sanqiu asked bluntly.
Zhongli nodded. "From an academic standpoint, this brick's significance is immeasurable. Would you consider parting with it?"
"Sure, name your price," Gu Sanqiu replied without hesitation. "I have no idea if it's really from another world, nor do I know its academic value, although the Fengxiang Clan isn't short on money. I'm not giving it away for free, but if you offer a reasonable price, the deal is done."
"I see. I understand," Zhongli mused, rubbing the intricate patterns on his wine cup. "Logically, that does seem like a sensible solution."
"High-quality Noctilucous Jade or Cor Lapis typically sells in the six- to seven-figure range. Using that as a baseline, it may even undervalue this brick."
Pfft—
Hu Tao swiftly turned her head and spat out her cola onto the floor, carefully avoiding the dishes.
"Whoa, whoa, six or seven figures? You're seriously thinking about buying it?" Keqing was equally shocked, realizing just how wealthy Gu Sanqiu must be. If he could casually ask a dining companion to set the price on something that valuable, he truly ranked among Liyue's top elites.
Fuming, Hu Tao glared at the two men. "Zhongli, my dear consultant, did you forget that you're flat broke?"
Zhongli suddenly remembered. "Ah, that does present a minor issue. I overlooked it."
"And you, Sanqiu! We came here for a meal, not for you two to start doing business! If the item's that expensive, what do you want me to do—mortgage the entire Wangsheng Funeral Parlor?" Hu Tao barked in frustration.
"Hmmm, ordinarily, the entire parlor would be worth significantly more than the brick…" Gu Sanqiu and Zhongli said in perfect unison.
Hu Tao felt like a volcano was erupting inside her as she struggled to keep her composure.
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