Hu Tao looked at Takumi speechlessly.
Klee and the others' eyes lit up.
Without saying a word, they ran up and shouted at Hu Tao:
"Happy New Year, Sister Hu Tao!"
"Whee!"
Hearing this, Hu Tao felt a little helpless.
"Yeah, Happy New Year."
"Here, have a red envelope."
After saying that, Hu Tao took out the red envelopes she had already prepared from her pocket.
She did not give the red envelopes Takumi had given her to Klee and the others.
These red envelopes were prepared by herself, specifically for others.
And now, they came in handy.
Klee and the others were extremely happy to receive red envelopes from Hu Tao.
"Thank you, Sister Hu Tao!"
"Thank you!"
"Thanks…"
Klee, Yaoyao, and Qiqi all expressed their gratitude.
"Hee hee!"
Hu Tao was equally happy.
She liked these little ones very much.
After chatting with them for a while,
Hu Tao did not forget what she needed to do next.
She immediately called Takumi over to begin the preparations.
Next came the ritual to pay homage to the Geo Archon.
She instructed her subordinates at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor to get busy.
They placed everything that needed to be arranged onto the altar.
Then they began preparing the series of ceremonial procedures.
People who came to pay homage to the Geo Archon also arranged their offerings one after another.
When the time was almost right, Hu Tao solemnly announced:
"The auspicious time has arrived!"
"It is time to begin."
After calling this out, a strange chant came from her mouth.
She continuously recited words that no one present could understand.
These were texts she had personally written.
Recitations meant for the deceased.
Seeing this solemn scene, everyone present became serious.
It had to be said that in these matters, Hu Tao was extremely professional.
No one could find fault with her performance.
However, Zhongli on the other side found it quite unbearable.
As Hu Tao began chanting, the sound echoed clearly in Zhongli's ears.
Others might not understand it, but he certainly could.
The meaning was obvious.
She was scolding Zhongli.
Where did you go?
Why can't I find you?
Believe it or not, I won't deduct your wages and still pay you Mora?
Don't think that just because you're the Geo Archon I'm afraid of you.
Come back for dinner tonight, or don't come back at all.
And so on.
That was roughly the meaning.
Hu Tao knew very well that Zhongli could hear everything she said before the Archon's altar.
After all, these special chants were meant to transmit messages to the dead.
Zhongli was not dead, but he could still hear them clearly.
At this moment, Zhongli was standing on a mountain in Liyue, admiring the scenery with Makoto.
Very few people came to this place.
From here, they could also see what was happening elsewhere.
Some mountains were continuously setting off firecrackers.
Both Zhongli and Makoto could see it all.
Makoto could not help laughing after watching Zhongli's expression.
Because nothing could be hidden from her.
"Ha ha!"
"This is really interesting."
"You pretended to be dead, didn't you?"
"Now look what happened."
"Coming once a year just to see how you're being treated."
Makoto smiled brightly.
This was truly entertaining.
Hu Tao was practically sent by fate to torment Zhongli.
Hearing this, Zhongli sighed deeply.
"I regret it now."
He truly regretted it.
If he had known things would turn out this way, he would never have pretended to be dead.
And buried himself.
Everything happening now was the result of his own choices.
It was rather depressing.
Shaking his head,
Zhongli raised his hand and formed a seal, blocking out the nonstop chanting in his ears.
Enough.
Enough, Director Hu, please stop talking.
I'll just go back for dinner tonight.
From the first day of the New Year onward, there was an endless stream of people coming to pay homage to the Geo Archon.
Some people visited the shrine on the first day.
Others came on the second or third day.
In any case, they rarely missed it.
Especially the people from Qingce Village.
The first deity they paid homage to was always the Geo Archon, followed by the adepti.
Others lived farther away.
Some might not come in person, but they would still light incense for the Geo Archon at home.
After all, everything in Liyue had been brought by Morax.
Even if the Geo Archon was dead, people still respected him deeply.
Some people even began to doubt whether the Geo Archon was truly dead.
Especially after Mondstadt replaced its Anemo Archon.
Then the first Electro Archon of Inazuma returned.
Within just a few years, several divine thrones in Liyue had changed.
Not to mention the Geo Archon.
The current Takumi was acting as the Geo Archon.
Although he denied it, many people still regarded him as the successor.
Then there was Mondstadt.
The Anemo Archon abdicated,
allowing Mondstadt's acting leader to become the new Anemo Archon.
Then came Inazuma.
The first Electro Archon was resurrected,
and the second Electro Archon returned the position.
Then came Sumeru.
The Greater Lord Rukkhadevata returned,
and the Lesser Lord Kusanali relinquished her authority.
In just a few years, the divine thrones of four nations changed.
Because of this, many people began to suspect that Morax was not truly dead.
That he had faked his death just to let Takumi take over.
There were many perceptive people.
But more people still believed the Geo Archon was dead.
After all, his body had been buried.
Mr. Zhongli had buried it himself.
Because of this, many still firmly believed Morax was gone.
After paying homage to the Geo Archon, Takumi returned to the manor with Ningguang and the others.
This alone took another half day.
In the afternoon, Takumi, Ningguang, and the others went to other mountains to pay homage to the adepti.
They also received blessings and guidance.
This made many people in Liyue who witnessed everything extremely excited.
The adepti truly existed and could bestow blessings.
How could that not be exciting?
This proved that the adepti everyone worshipped were real.
Not mere legends.
Because of this, everyone became even more enthusiastic.
It took Takumi an entire day to handle everything.
In the evening, Kamisato Ayaka, who had returned to Inazuma, also came over.
She directly stayed with Ganyu,
at the manor where Makoto currently resided.
After all, many people were staying at Takumi's place.
There were no spare rooms left.
During the Chinese New Year, apart from Klee and the others running around,
Takumi and the others mostly stayed home quietly.
Groups like the Thirteen Flame-Chasers often went out to play.
Especially Fu Hua.
She greatly enjoyed the current atmosphere.
Was this truly the New Year?
For someone nostalgic like Fu Hua, it was a delightful surprise.
She thoroughly enjoyed Liyue's holiday atmosphere.
The Chinese New Year holiday was quite long.
Many people gained weight because of the abundant food.
If you met someone you knew on the street,
you would notice they seemed noticeably rounder.
This was the result of feasting every day during the New Year.
But few people cared.
If you gained weight, you could always lose it later.
There was nothing more to say.