"Ah~ Mmm!"
Klee happily stuffed a piece of food into her mouth, chewing with joy. Her cheeks puffed out like a little squirrel storing up food.
Beside her, Qiqi was holding a large coconut that Hiroshi had just obtained from Wunin, sipping through a straw. She sat quietly next to Hiroshi, watching the three adults conversing.
"So, in short, Zhongli from the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor wants to host a farewell ceremony for the Geo Archon, and this Fatui Harbinger—Tartaglia—wants to provide financial support for it, correct?" Hiroshi looked at Zhongli, then glanced at Tartaglia, who was struggling to figure out how to use chopsticks properly. "And since I know the Anemo Archon and am a friend of Keqing, you've dragged me here as a companion or helper?"
"That's correct." Zhongli nodded slightly, placing his teacup down. He said slowly, "Though Rex Lapis is the leader of all the adepti, he is ultimately an adeptus like the rest."
"Looking back at Liyue's history of thousands of years, the departure of adepti is an irreversible trend." He looked at Hiroshi and said calmly, "Because times have changed."
"I believe that, after your visit to Jueyun Karst, you must have deeply understood this." Zhongli sighed gently. "The era of the adepti is fading, while the age of mortals is dawning."
He shook his head slightly. "In previous years, whenever an adeptus left, Liyue would hold a grand ceremony. This is our tradition. However, this time, even the Qixing are too preoccupied to uphold such traditions. It truly is... not how it used to be."
"Mhm, mhm." Hiroshi nodded while making a strange noise, his mouth still full of food. "So, the Liyue Qixing forgot to hold a funeral for the Geo Archon, which made you—the expert in funerals—unhappy. As a result, you accepted financial support from the Fatui to organize one yourself, right?"
Turning to Tartaglia, who was holding his chopsticks in an X-shape, Hiroshi asked, "What's in it for the Fatui? Are you trying to get the Gnosis of Morax after taking Venti's?"
Tartaglia paused, putting his chopsticks down slowly as he stared at Hiroshi.
"Haha, what are you talking about, sir?" Tartaglia smiled brightly, though his eyes held a hint of sharpness. "This is Liyue, guarded by both adepti and the Qixing, filled with countless warriors."
"Even though the Geo Archon has fallen, we Fatui would not dare to covet his Gnosis here—we wouldn't even make it out of Liyue Harbor's gates."
He raised his teacup and toasted Hiroshi, drinking it in one gulp. "This is a personal matter for me. I hope you can lend me your aid."
"Afterward, I'll offer three million Mora."
"Deal!" Hiroshi slapped his palm on the table, his face beaming. "I'll take it!"
"If you'd said that earlier... ahem," Hiroshi coughed, regaining composure. "I believe in Tartaglia's honor. From the first time we met, I knew you were a pure warrior, someone I admire deeply."
"No more small talk. Let's finish this meal and get to work!" Hiroshi picked up two drumsticks with his chopsticks, happily placing them in Klee's and Qiqi's bowls.
"Here, eat this. It smells good. Next time I have money, I'll get the ingredients and make some for you two."
"Thank you, Brother Hiroshi, hehe."
"Thank you... Brother Hiroshi."
Hearing both Klee and Qiqi call him "Brother," Hiroshi's smile grew even wider. He looked up at Tartaglia, who was finally relaxing and picking up his chopsticks again. "By the way, how much funding are you planning for this event? If we run out of money, can we issue invoices to the merchants and have the Fatui reimburse them?"
"That won't be a problem," Tartaglia said cheerfully. "As long as it's for the Rite of Parting, the Fatui will cover it. Tell the merchants to come to the Northland Bank for reimbursement. I'll give orders to ensure it."
"Great!" Hiroshi gave Tartaglia a big thumbs-up. "Straightforward! I like working with someone like you."
"Don't worry, everything I'll claim will be for the ceremony. By tonight, I'll have everything settled!"
After lunch, Hiroshi patted his full stomach as he walked out of Liuli Pavilion, with Klee and Qiqi holding hands and following behind. He glanced at Zhongli, who was observing Tartaglia as he paid the bill, and smiled.
"So, you're planning your own funeral?"
"Why not?" Zhongli smiled slightly, watching the Millelith patrolling the streets and the growing crowd of people. "After all, the age of mortals has arrived, so the Geo Archon must be sent off."
"Let's go prepare everything needed for the Rite of Parting."
Watching Zhongli stride forward confidently, Hiroshi shrugged with a smile.
"Well, I'm getting a huge amount of Mora for free—sounds like a good deal to me."
"With the remaining time, I'll help you prepare for your own send-off." Hiroshi took Klee and Qiqi's hands and followed after Zhongli.
"What are we getting first?"
"Noctilucous Jade—the finest quality fit for a deity."
At the plaza near Chihu Rock, various shops clustered together. Following Zhongli, Hiroshi, Klee, and Qiqi entered a stone store. Inside, a rotund man crouched on the ground. Hearing footsteps behind him, he quickly stood up, bowing his head.
"I'm sorry, dear guests, but we're temporarily closed today. If you need anything, please come back another time."
"We need Noctilucous Jade—at least of the Luminous grade."
"Luminous-grade Noctilucous Jade!" The man's head shot up, his slightly reddened eyes locking onto the guests.
"Zhongli from the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor! And Hiroshi, the new chef from Wanmin Restaurant! And Qiqi from Bubu Pharmacy?!"
The man wiped his eyes with his sleeve and looked at Zhongli, speaking quickly, "I may not know Hiroshi or why Qiqi and the young girl are here, but as a guest consultant of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, if you need Luminous-grade Noctilucous Jade, then it means there's another Rite of Parting to be held."
His voice grew heavy, tears welling up in his eyes again. He looked at Zhongli and asked, "Is it for Rex Lapis? Is his Rite of Parting being prepared?"
"Yes." Zhongli nodded, speaking plainly.
"Alright!" The man turned and rushed into the back of the shop, retrieving a wooden box from a secret compartment. He shuffled back, placing the box before Zhongli. His voice choked with emotion. "This is the finest Noctilucous Jade I have. Please, take it."
He lowered his head, his voice trembling. "The Geo Archon protected Liyue for 3,700 years. Even my humble Jietui Shop received praise from Rex Lapis himself. But how could such a benevolent deity suddenly leave us..."
"Even gods are worn down eventually." Zhongli spoke solemnly, looking at the man who was silently crying. "It is the duty of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor to guide them to the afterlife."
"So don't cry—the world is a cycle, and he is merely entering it again."
"Haha, your words are always so difficult to understand, Zhongli." The man wiped his tears, smiling faintly. "But I understand that Rex Lapis has protected us long enough, and now it's time for him to rest."
"Though it's sad, life goes on. Rex Lapis will live on in the hearts of the people of Liyue, giving us the strength to keep moving forward."
"Indeed." Zhongli nodded, smiling slightly. "This Noctilucous Jade is excellent. How much is it?"
"Huh?!" The man looked at Zhongli in surprise. "But you haven't even opened the box to look. How can you be so sure?"
Zhongli chuckled and bent down, picking up the box. "Because you've shown me something brighter than Noctilucous Jade."
Turning to leave the shop, Zhongli looked up at the bright sky. "Hiroshi, pay him."
"Yes, yes." Hiroshi turned to the man, who seemed at a loss. "Tell me the price!"
"I'm in a good mood today, so I'm loaded and ready to spend! Double the price!"