Liyue—your king is back!
Koji returned to Liyue. After traveling so many places, the atmosphere here felt the most familiar to him.
"Chi, long time no see. Still hoeing the land with that fish fork?"
"This is Primordial Jade Winged-Spear, not a fish fork."
The three-foot-five-inch Adeptus Chi said helplessly. The Primordial Jade Winged-Spear was a spear formed from the Demon God's emerald jade, carrying the weight and sharpness needed to assassinate ancient sea beasts.
"Hahahaha, Koji, you're not wrong! This Primordial Jade Winged-Spear has stabbed sea beasts in the ocean—sea brats count as fish too!" The big yaksha-bro Fanan burst out laughing. The other yaksha laughed as well—after all, Chi was the youngest little runt among them.
Chi: "..."
Brother Fanan, why are you saying it too? How am I supposed to look at the Primordial Jade Winged-Spear with a straight face ever again?
"Koji, do you know when Rex Lapis is coming back?" Chi suddenly asked.
Zhongli had been away from Liyue for a while now. During this period, he hadn't contacted them at all.
"No idea. Once he's wandered around enough, he'll probably come back. Why—do you need him for something?"
Koji shook his head. Zhongli was currently roaming around Natlan in the mortal world. And since Liyue didn't have anything that required him right now, of course he was going to take his time, walk around properly, and experience Natlan's local customs.
"It's nothing. It's just that Rex Lapis hasn't been away for this long before." Chi shook his head.
"It's not the Archon War era anymore, so there's no need to worry this much. Or what—Chi, are you trying to find your parents?" Koji teased.
Chi instantly turned bright red with embarrassment. How old was he? How could he possibly be looking for his parents?
"Chi, you're an adult already—don't go looking for your parents and bothering Rex Lapis," Bosacius teased with a smirk.
"I'm not!" Chi argued, craning his neck stubbornly.
When had he ever gone looking for Rex Lapis? He'd been independent for ages, okay?
"Zhongli really does take care of Chi like a kid. If Chi went adventuring and there was real danger to his life, Zhongli wouldn't say anything out loud, but he'd definitely follow along in secret. If Chi couldn't handle it, Zhongli would absolutely step in." Koji said.
Like that time in the game when Chi went to The Chasm looking for Fanan's traces—only to nearly end up stuck there. Zhongli had stepped in and saved him.
Just a single glimpse of a sleeve, and it already radiated the sheer cool factor and presence of Morax, the Geo Archon.
"Uh... it probably wouldn't come to the point of troubling Rex Lapis, right?" Chi's tone weakened.
"How would it not? The yaksha clan—every last one of them, loyal to the bone. You're the only one left, the lone seedling. How could Zhongli possibly let you go do something that might get you killed?" Koji laughed and shook his head.
You still don't really understand Zhongli. Out of the five yaksha, only Chi remains. Of course he has to be protected.
If Chi got into trouble too, Zhongli would blame himself for being useless—unable to save even one person.
"Rex Lapis really would do that." Fanan thought about it, then said with a smile.
This wasn't the Archon War era anymore, so Rex Lapis wouldn't be blocked by other demon gods. If he wanted to rescue someone, he definitely wouldn't be late.
Whether he'd deliberately cut it close, though—that was another question.
"That's too much trouble for Rex Lapis." Chi scratched his head. Thinking about needing to be saved by Rex Lapis again made him feel pretty embarrassed.
He should be solving problems for Rex Lapis—not becoming one.
"Zhongli wouldn't think it's trouble. Besides, he's so free these days. If he's got nothing to do, he just wanders around everywhere, doing nothing." Koji said.
Yaksha: "..."
As the Geo Archon's retainers, they weren't about to casually comment on Rex Lapis's daily life.
Even though they'd all seen Zhongli strolling along Liyue's streets with a birdcage in hand, the only thing they could say was: Rex Lapis must have his reasons.
"What was Morax like during the Archon War?" Koji asked with interest.
Hearing that, the yaksha sank into their memories.
"Very different from Rex Lapis now. Back then, Rex Lapis was extremely serious. Because he fought demon gods so often, he was always wrapped in an aura of slaughter. Even people like us could feel a powerful sense of pressure."
"As for Rex Lapis now... the feeling he gives us is very gentle, like an elder."
That was how the yaksha felt. Rex Lapis really had changed a lot.
"By the way, there shouldn't be any demon god remnants out in Liyue's wilderness now. Why are you still outside?"
"Free either way, might as well."
At that question, several yaksha all made expressions that were half amused, half helpless.
"Rex Lapis's Director... she has way too many tricks up her sleeve." Fanan said with a sigh.
Maybe it was because they were old fossils, but they just couldn't keep up with Hu Tao's way of thinking.
They even suspected Zhongli hadn't returned to Liyue for so long precisely because of Hu Tao.
"Mm... Rex Lapis cares for the Director so much... after a hundred years, would Rex Lapis be sad?" Yingda murmured to herself.
Hu Tao had a Vision, but she was still mortal in the end.
Demon gods weren't emotionless. If Hu Tao died of old age, how could that not be his sorrow?
"...Rex Lapis will definitely have a way when the time comes," Fanan said.
"Zhongli might have a way, but have you ever considered whether Hu Tao would be willing to accept a method that extends her lifespan?" Koji suddenly said.
"True..."
They hadn't known her for long, but they did understand Hu Tao a little. Even though she was young, she saw life and death with unusual clarity.
As the Director of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, what she pursued was balance in the order of yin and yang. And if she were to lead by example, she would be even less likely to choose something that would affect that balance.
"Yin and yang have their order. Fate is unpredictable. Death is hard to foresee, but it still has its rules. No matter when, no matter where, no matter the reason, people shouldn't lightly provoke the matter of death..."
Hu Tao came hopping over. Behind her were several flickering butterfly-like silhouettes of light.
"So yeah—when it's my time, there's no need to extend my life or anything."
Even if she would feel reluctant to leave this world, when death arrived, it was time to go.
"Director Hu Tao, on the subject of death, you really see it clearly," Fanan cut in.
If the chance at long life were placed right in front of someone, who would actually want to die?
But Hu Tao didn't see it that way. She wouldn't run away from death because of it. That mindset surpassed far, far too many people.
"Heh. Of course. This Director is the Director of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor."
Hu Tao smiled faintly. As the Director, she had to lead by example.
Smack.
Koji patted Hu Tao on the shoulder and said with a grin, "Alright then. Now you won't die of old age anymore."
[Blessing of Longevity]
As the name implied, it could turn someone into a long-lived race.
Hu Tao: "Huh?"
(End of Chapter)
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