"Sigh... what a shame. They didn't fight to the death."
Su Bai shook his head regretfully. Xiao beside him didn't show much reaction. Being able to witness ordinary people using power beyond Visions, he felt the show was quite worthwhile.
"Speaking of which, why is Scaramouche here? Is he looking for me?"
Su Bai smoothed down his wind-tousled hair. The grievances between him and Scaramouche couldn't be resolved in just a few words. Though Scaramouche always said he wanted to kill him, he had never actually made a move back in Inazuma.
When Su Bai left Inazuma, he had a feeling that the story between them was far from over. When he stepped foot on Inazuman soil again, their paths would certainly cross once more.
"Scaramouche, next time we meet, I won't be that child hiding behind Sister Miko anymore."
Su Bai stood on the heights of Wangshu Inn, watching Scaramouche depart. Xiao silently committed the man's appearance to memory. From the looks of it, this guy had bullied Su Bai before. Next time they met, he'd teach him a lesson.
"Alright, the show's over. Time to get back to training."
"Huh? No way, Brother Xiao. Can't you let me rest for a day?"
"Not a chance."
"Nooo! I don't want to! I can't eat another stir-fried Qingxin and Violetgrass made by Shenhe!!!!"
Back at Wangshu Inn—no, at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, for some reason Cloud Retainer had sent Ganyu over this morning with a dish, claiming it was a famous recipe that needed Azhdaha's appraisal.
Zhongli stared at the stir-fried Qingxin and Violetgrass before him, unable to pick up his chopsticks. If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, he would have found it hard to believe that this was the "famous dish" Cloud Retainer had mentioned.
"I'll wait for Azhdaha to come back before having her taste it. I won't sample it for her."
"Speaking of which, that child Klee seems to have picked up Azhdaha's scent. It seems Azhdaha has taken a liking to the little one."
"Mr. Zhongli, I'm back!"
Just as Zhongli was wondering whether Azhdaha and Klee would turn Liyue's terrain into a flat plain, a filthy Klee pushed open the door of Wangsheng.
"Klee is back. Why are you so early today? Hmm? Wait... are those Juvenile Jades in your arms?"
Zhongli's hand trembled as he held his teacup. If he remembered correctly, weren't these treasures of the Geovishap? How did they end up in Klee's hands, and so many of them?
"This strange rock? Sister Toto asked a weird-patterned big lizard to give it to me. She said I could trade it for Mora and take Sister Qiqi out for delicious food."
"Mr. Zhongli, I'll talk to you later. Klee is going to take a bath and change clothes. I got all dirty playing in the mud with some stone lizards."
Klee plopped the Juvenile Jades on the table and ran off to the bathroom. Zhongli picked one up and examined it. He didn't have any Juvenile Jade in his collection, and the quality was exceptional. Perhaps he could buy them with Mora.
Zhongli took a sip of tea. Before he could swallow, a head popped out of the ground. Startled, Zhongli sprayed his tea all over that head.
"Zhongli! How dare you spray me with tea? I'll fight you!"
Azhdaha crawled out of the hole, swinging his tiny arms as if to brawl. Zhongli simply pressed a hand on Azhdaha's head.
"Azhdaha, why did you suddenly pop out of the ground? Have you settled all your underlings?"
"Not yet. I came to pick up Klee. How did Klee's Juvenile Jades end up in your hands? You wouldn't stoop to stealing from a child, would you?"
Azhdaha's gaze was contemptuous. Zhongli tapped Azhdaha's head. This guy—since getting out of the seal, he had learned to be so sharp-tongued, even teasing him, an old man.
"I do like these Juvenile Jades, but I wouldn't snatch them from a child. I'll buy them all."
"Deal! A contract is a contract. Those who break it shall suffer the Wrath of the Rock."
Azhdaha quickly rattled off the words Zhongli used to say, as if afraid he might change his mind. Zhongli smiled helplessly and tapped Azhdaha's forehead, then told the accountant at Wangsheng to give Azhdaha the Mora.
Hearing Zhongli's request, the accountant didn't hesitate. He simply took half of the million Mora they had gotten from Childe a few days ago and gave it to Zhongli.
This made Azhdaha overjoyed. Zhongli didn't mind the small amount, though he was secretly pleased. He had said fifty thousand Mora per Juvenile Jade, not for all of them. But since Azhdaha had misunderstood, he wouldn't explain.
"Don't worry, Zhongli. I definitely won't mess up your plan."
"Excellent. Tomorrow is the Rite of Descension. If you have time, you can take those two children to watch."
"Hmph, what's so interesting about watching your true body fall from the sky?"
Azhdaha rolled his eyes at Zhongli. Zhongli scratched his chin awkwardly. It wasn't exactly spectacular, but he had no other ideas.
"Since you're my brother, leave this to me. I'll make sure it's handled properly."
"You just focus on falling from the sky. I'll take care of the rest."
Watching Azhdaha pound his little chest, Zhongli looked at him hesitantly. Though he felt Azhdaha might be unreliable, he still wanted to enjoy this moment with him. After the Rite of Descension, there would be no more Rex Lapis in this world—only Zhongli, a consultant at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
"In that case, I'll leave it to you. But can you tell me your plan so I can coordinate?"
"Don't worry about it. Me, Klee, and Qiqi—just us three are enough."
With Azhdaha's repeated assurances, Zhongli didn't ask further. After all, Azhdaha had promised to send him off with honor. Asking more might upset him.
"Very well. I am just an ordinary man named Zhongli. I shouldn't worry about these things. Let the little ones have their fun."
"If anything goes wrong, Su Bai can take the blame. Yes, that works perfectly."
Just as Zhongli was designating his scapegoat, Mona, who had been won over by Hu Tao's sincerity (and food), was walking the streets with Hu Tao, offering free fortune-telling. The more Mona read, the more uneasy she felt. After reading so many people, why did the stars indicate that many of them would face mortal danger in the near future?
She didn't tell anyone the results. But the ever-sharp Hu Tao had already noticed something was off with Mona. When they first set out, Mona had been smiling. After a few readings, her face had darkened, and she was slow to respond. Hu Tao was certain something was wrong.
"Hu Tao, can you introduce me to the Tianquan? There's something I need to confirm with her."
"Ningguang? That shouldn't be a problem. But Mona, think carefully. Ningguang always looks cheerful and easygoing, but she gives me a dangerous feeling. I think she's even more fox-like than Su Bai."