As for Hu Tao's idea, Paimon's evaluation was simple:
"Great idea! He'll definitely be very willing!"
Paimon had memories from her travels—she knew all too well that Zhongli, this freeloading, eat-for-free, drink-for-free, good-for-nothing member of society, loved Mora the most.
Everything else aside, after retirement, Zhongli truly did love Mora.
Before retiring, Mora was something he could take or leave. After all, he was the Geo Archon—why would he ever need to worry about making money?
But after retirement, Zhongli awakened to reality.
So this is how important Mora is—it directly affects one's quality of life.
Now that Hu Tao brought it up, Paimon couldn't help but sigh in admiration.
"As expected of the Director of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. You really understand your own consultant, huh?"
"Heh heh."
Hu Tao put her hands on her hips, shot Gu Chen a sidelong glance, and said, "What kind of personalities our chief consultant and second consultant have—I've known that for a long time. Mora deals with the chief consultant, and I deal with the second consultant. Easy win!"
Gu Chen was drinking milk and nearly choked when he heard that. But she wasn't wrong, so he said at once, "I'll contact Zhongli then?"
"Of course you will. When the Sect Master steps in personally, even Zhongli has to give you some face!" Paimon nodded vigorously.
"Alright."
Gu Chen agreed and immediately opened a private chat with Zhongli.
[Gu Chen]: What are you busy with?
Zhongli replied quickly.
[Zhongli]: On my way to listen to an opera. Does the Sect Master need something?
Gu Chen immediately understood.
[Gu Chen]: This afternoon, our whole family is going on a picnic. Recently, because of the Lantern Rite, Ganyu has been quite busy—but a family outing can't very well be missing her, right? So we were thinking, if only someone could help cover her work.
[Zhongli]: ?
On the street.
"Old man, let's go?"
Seeing Zhongli suddenly stop, Azhdaha asked in confusion.
Venti leaned over, looked at the light screen in front of Zhongli, and immediately said, "Looks like the old man's about to be dragged back to work."
"What's going on?"
Azhdaha leaned in too. After quickly scanning the chat log, he looked at Zhongli with sympathy. "That's rough."
[Zhongli]: Sect Master, telling me this doesn't help—I can't think of a solution either.
[Gu Chen]: One hundred thousand Mora. Just consider it a business trip.
[Zhongli]: Sect Master, this isn't a Mora issue. This would be like a retired person getting pulled back to work. It's hard to explain. What if people think my retirement was just an act, and I'm secretly trying to control Liyue? That wouldn't be good.
[Gu Chen]: Two hundred thousand Mora. You don't need to explain—let them guess.
[Zhongli]: Sect Master, this really isn't about Mora!
[Gu Chen]: Five hundred thousand!
[Zhongli]: As the Noble Gold Enforcement Heavenly Venerable of the Grand Profound Sect, it is only right for me to relieve the Sect Master of his worries!
Azhdaha smacked his lips. "Five hundred thousand is enough? No ambition at all!"
Venti quickly did the math. "Five hundred thousand Mora—that's enough for a normal family of three to live on for two or three years… For the old man here, it's probably just one meal. Still, not a small amount."
"If it were me, I'd bait the Sect Master for a while longer and wait until he raised it to five million!" Azhdaha chuckled.
Zhongli shot him a sideways glance. "Which is exactly why the Sect Master contacted me and not you."
Azhdaha laughed loudly. "Fair enough! We're going to have fun anyway. You go help the Sect Master's wife with work."
"It's just one day. Strictly speaking, only half a day." Zhongli chuckled softly.
Half a day's pay for five hundred thousand Mora—basically a million a day. Absolute profit!
Wasn't that way better than being a consultant at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor?
Of course, Zhongli knew why Gu Chen was offering so much Mora. He wanted Zhongli to handle some of the follow-up work as well—at the very least, to make sure Ganyu wouldn't be busy all the way up to the Lantern Rite.
The Sect Master's style was always killing multiple birds with one stone.
After bidding farewell to Venti and Azhdaha, Zhongli clasped his hands behind his back and headed for Yuehai Pavilion.
The secretaries at Yuehai Pavilion were both shocked and excited by Zhongli's arrival.
After all, this was the Geo Archon himself. Even though he had retired, his status was still exalted.
The news that Zhongli had come to Yuehai Pavilion to cover for Ganyu quickly reached the Jade Chamber. After hearing it, Ningguang couldn't help but laugh.
"So all it takes is Mora to make the old man work?" she said with amusement.
Baiwen thought for a moment. "Should we perhaps offer some Mora and ask Mr. Zhongli to help us think through solutions to certain problems?"
"No."
Ningguang shook her head gently. "The meaning is different. Mr. Zhongli can help Ganyu temporarily, but he won't help us—at least, he won't intervene in major matters."
Unless absolutely necessary, Ningguang didn't want to ask Zhongli to step in. Once Zhongli was involved, it would be a blow to Liyue, which had just entered an era of human governance.
Though some things didn't need to be drawn so clearly, Ningguang never forgot the responsibility on her shoulders.
That said, she wasn't worried at all. In fact, Hu Tao's episode had filled her with confidence for the future—because in that episode, the Geo Archon had also faked his death, and looking at Liyue's development over the following century, things had turned out quite well.
"This lifetime has the Grand Profound Scripture…"
Ningguang murmured with a faint smile. "Looks like I'll be sitting in the Tianquan Star's seat for much longer."
Thinking of how she eventually died of old age in the previous episode, a strange expression crossed her face.
Now that longevity was within reach, Ningguang couldn't help but poke fun at herself.
…
"It's settled. Pack up a bit, and we'll head out too." Gu Chen turned to the others.
"Let me think—what should we bring…?"
Paimon pondered.
"Do we really need to bring anything?" Ganyu thought about it and shook her head. "If we find we're missing something, we can just buy it in the group."
Having the chat group really was convenient. There were always merchants inside. Although sending red packets came with handling fees, as long as it wasn't anything too expensive, no one really cared—after all, the fees were still cheaper than long-distance transport.
"That makes sense. Then where should we go?" Gu Chen asked.
"How about Jueyun Karst? It's been a long time since we last saw Cloud Retainer," Guizhong suggested.
Gu Chen looked at the others.
"I don't have any objections," Ganyu said after thinking for a moment.
The others shook their heads as well.
"Then let's go!"
Gu Chen raised his hand. Invisible, immense power rippled through the air, like ink spreading beneath a brush, gradually outlining the shape of a portal.
The portal slowly took form, the scenery within its frame shifting from illusion to reality.
In the blink of an eye, Paimon leaned closer. "I can feel wind blowing from the other side—so cold and refreshing!"
"Jueyun Karst is all high terrain. With the steep geography and the adepti living there, the environment is excellent. We should run into wild Qingxin on this trip," Ganyu said, cupping her face with anticipation.
"Let's go."
Gu Chen stepped into the portal first.
Paimon floated after him.
Looking around and realizing she was now on a high slope amid countless mountains, Paimon exclaimed, "Does this count as crossing thousands of miles in one step?"
"It does," Gu Chen nodded.
"Having an ability like this makes traveling way too convenient."
Paimon sighed in amazement while surveying the scenery. "That place over there looks familiar… Oh! That's Mt. Aocang!"
"Come on, let's knock on Cloud Retainer's door!" Guizhong said eagerly.
The group followed her. The portal disappeared.
They arrived at Mt. Aocang.
Ganyu looked on helplessly as Guizhong ran straight up to the entrance of the abode.
Then—
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Her delicate hand struck the seal, golden ripples spreading out.
"Cloud Retainer! You home?!" Guizhong shouted.
Before long, a bird's head poked out, its eyes filled with unmistakable disdain. "What is it?"
"True Lord, we came here to have some fun," Ganyu explained.
Cloud Retainer glanced at Ganyu, then disdainfully at Guizhong, and finally turned to Gu Chen, smiling warmly. "Oh my, after so long, you've come to visit this one?"
Gu Chen paused, then said, "Ah—yes. That's exactly it!"
Paimon clasped her hands behind her back and stared at Gu Chen. If she didn't know they were here for a picnic, she might've actually believed him.
While internally complaining, Paimon noticed Gu Chen giving her meaningful looks.
She immediately understood and turned to Cloud Retainer. "True Lord, it's almost noon. Don't you think…?"
Cloud Retainer froze, then said, "You're not here to freeload a meal, are you?"
"Yep."
Paimon nodded.
Cloud Retainer choked. She had expected some explanation—who knew Paimon would just admit it outright?!
"This one doesn't know how to cook!" Cloud Retainer said decisively.
"We know—you don't have to. We do!" Paimon grinned.
Cloud Retainer felt this group had clearly come prepared. Suspiciously so. She tested them. "Then… you'll handle it?"
"That's what we were waiting for!"
Gu Chen immediately nodded.
In front of Cloud Retainer's abode was a lotus pond, with a stone table and benches nearby.
The area was spacious. Gu Chen immediately contacted people to buy plenty of equipment and ingredients.
After everything was laid out, Cloud Retainer said, "As expected—you really did come prepared. You're planning to barbecue here?"
"That was the plan. And we thought you might be lonely up here in the mountains, so we came to see you," Paimon said.
"Did you forget that I still have a disciple?" Cloud Retainer rolled her eyes.
"Where is she?" Paimon looked around but didn't see anyone.
"Shenhe went to study with Mountain Shaper two days ago," Cloud Retainer replied.
"So you're still all alone," Paimon sighed.
"What kind of talk is that!"
Cloud Retainer huffed. "Mt. Hulao isn't that far!"
"Why not call them over and make it lively?" Guizhong suggested.
Cloud Retainer thought about it. "That works."
Before long, Shenhe returned. Mountain Shaper and Moon Carver arrived as well.
"Sect Master."
The two adepti greeted Gu Chen as soon as they arrived.
"I heard Zhongli handed the management of the Grand Profound Sect at Qingyun Peak to you two. You've worked hard," Gu Chen nodded.
"Not at all. The many adeptal arts there are eye-opening—I couldn't bear to leave," Moon Carver said with a smile.
Mountain Shaper nodded in agreement. "The more one sees, the more one realizes one's own insignificance and shallowness. The gains have been immense."
"That's enough. It's one thing to freeload a meal, but now you're waxing poetic too," Cloud Retainer said irritably.
"What do you mean freeloading? Didn't we bring some wild Qingxin?" Moon Carver retorted confidently.
Mountain Shaper nodded. "Exactly. I even caught quite a bit of fish in Huaguang Stone Forest."
"Perfect timing—come help out!" Guizhong called.
Watching them handle the ingredients, Shenhe looked a little lost.
Seeing this, Gu Chen said, "True Lord, Shenhe's been with you—don't tell me she's been eating Qingxin?"
As soon as he said that, Mountain Shaper immediately spoke up. "I said it back then—Shenhe is human. How can she live on Qingxin alone? That's far too plain!"
"Ganyu is one thing—she has the bloodline of an auspicious beast. But Shenhe really has suffered," Moon Carver sighed.
Mountain Shaper added, "If you ask me, it's all because Cloud Retainer can't cook."
"Indeed," Moon Carver nodded.
"If you don't speak, no one will think you don't have mouths," Cloud Retainer snorted.
"You've worked hard all these years. Here—try a beef skewer," Gu Chen said, handing one he'd just grilled to Shenhe.
…
Shenhe accepted it. "Thank you."
Her tone barely fluctuated, just like her demeanor—cool and distant.
If college students' eyes held a kind of clear, innocent foolishness, then Shenhe's gaze was so clear it seemed almost devoid of emotion.
If one had to describe it, she was like a sheet of white paper, barely touched by ink.
"I want some too, I want some too!"
Smelling the aroma, Paimon immediately felt hungry.
"Try grilling it yourself."
Gu Chen sat back down.
The three adepti transformed into human forms and joined in.
Ganyu, with her auspicious-beast bloodline, didn't eat meat and grilled some vegetarian food instead. The others weren't so particular.
[Extraordinary Group Chat]
[Paimon]: Hehe. (Happy barbecue time)
(Photos: Gu Chen, Ganyu, and Shenhe studying cold Qingxin salad; Guizhong smearing greasy hands on Cloud Retainer; Cloud Retainer in her true form chasing Guizhong and pecking her; Lumine boating with Makoto, Ei, and Buer; Hu Tao failing to scare Shenhe and looking dejected; an 8-second video of Cloud Retainer vowing to invent a cooking divine machine)
[Venti]: See? I told you pictures can transmit flavor—I can practically smell it! Anyone want to rush to Wanmin Restaurant with me? (urgent)
[Dvalin]: You treat, and I'll come. (picking nose)
[Nilou]: Wow, this family looks so warm and cozy! (Collei · longing)
[Collei]: All seven Madam Gus are here! Hehe—after the next episode, there'll be eight Madam Gus! (Klee · yay)
[Kirara]: Four days until the next episode—ahhh, it's so hard to wait! (Diona · irritated)
[Yun Jin]: It's fine. Just looking at the photos Paimon posted is satisfying enough. (Yun Jin · expectant)
[Furina]: I'll just ask one thing—is the next episode Fontaine?
[Venti]: Mondstadt hasn't even spoken yet! (Qiqi · collapsed)
[Collei]: Sumeru only has the Lesser Lord! Please let the next video's heroine be from Sumeru! (Klee · charge!)
[Furina]: You already have one and you're still complaining—how are countries with none supposed to live? (Qiqi · collapsed)
[Dvalin]: Honestly, if Venti were a girl, we wouldn't even need the video. I'd just tie him up and deliver him to the Sect Master. No—this won't do. We need to find a way to turn Venti into a girl! (angry)
[Venti]: So being male is really a crime in Mondstadt, huh. (dejected)
[Kaeya]: I'm sure that dejected expression definitely wasn't sent by accident. (grinning)
[Azhdaha]: You know it's Venti—this kind of talk is normal for him. (grinning)
[Osial]: Isn't it common knowledge that Venti's brain works differently from everyone else's? (grinning)
[Venti]: Kid, don't spread rumors! (Nahida · pointing)
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