At Wangshu Inn in Liyue Harbor, as Li Mo told the story of Hu Tao and her grandfather on stage, the audience listened intently. But after a while, their curiosity grew.
Something didn't add up. The only thrush in Liyue was in "Mr. Zhongli's" hands—that is, Rex Lapis himself. How could it have been in Hu Tao's grandfather's hands? Moreover, in this life, the audience had only seen the sweet life Hu Tao shared with her grandfather. Though life was a bit tight, and the elderly grandfather worked hard managing the funeral parlor, they had always been happy together.
Had the storyteller finally come to his senses? Was he finally handing out sweetness?
The audience murmured among themselves.
"No wonder Hu Tao has such a strange personality—she learned it from her grandfather."
"Her grandfather was quite something too. Even his poems sound just like hers."
"Hu Tao was only six back then, and she nearly scared a customer to death—almost gained another customer!"
"So that's when Rex Lapis started thinking about giving up his position?"
"How did Hu Tao actually become the director?"
"Storyteller, don't slack off. Keep going!"
Seeing the storyteller pause to drink his tea, the audience urged him to continue. Though the story had started off somewhat mundane, the appearance of Rex Lapis had piqued their interest.
Now, in another corner of the inn, Keqing, Xiangling, La Signora, Beidou, Qiqi, and the others had all turned their attention to Hu Tao.
Xiangling hesitated for a moment. "Hu Tao was actually pretty cute as a child. But is it really comfortable to nap in a coffin?"
Though little Hu Tao had been mischievous, she had been an obedient child in front of her grandfather in every way. Despite not having parents to care for her, she hadn't caused her grandfather much trouble.
Hu Tao said matter-of-factly, "Oh, Xiangling, you just don't get it. The coffins my grandfather made were works of art. They're more comfortable than the beds in this inn. Napping in one is naturally comfortable. Besides, didn't you hear the storyteller? These coffins have miraculous effects like prolonging life and warding off misfortune. They're in high demand. Want to buy one? I'll give you thirty percent off."
Xiangling: "…"
Aside from Hu Tao, probably no one else would want to use those "miraculous" coffins as beds.
Beside them, Beidou asked curiously, "I thought Hu Tao and Qiqi were pretty close. When did you two meet?"
Qiqi: "Hu Tao, bad."
Hu Tao grinned. "Hehe, that came later. Forget about that for now. Let's listen to the storyteller."
Though she was smiling and hard to read, Hu Tao was actually quite shocked inside as she listened to her own stories from ages three and six. She couldn't understand how this seemingly ordinary storyteller knew so many of her private details—even her own thoughts. It was truly strange.
(T/N: This man is not ordinary bro.)
It seemed that after the storytelling ended, she would have to pay the storyteller a visit and perhaps promote her services to him at the same time.
…
Meanwhile, in another corner, the three Electro sisters, Barbatos, Yae Miko, and Tartaglia were enjoying themselves—some eating sweets, some drinking wine, and one playing with a bird.
Barbatos looked puzzled. "That thrush looks exactly like Hu Tao's grandfather's thrush. Did you steal it?"
Ei snorted in disdain. "Hmph, the great Geo Archon of Liyue, doing something like that. How disgraceful."
Ei had long disliked Zhongli, but since they were in Liyue, she couldn't act against him. She could only resort to verbal jabs. If they were in Inazuma, she would have already summoned the Shogunate forces to surround the inn.
Zhongli frowned slightly at Ei's taunts, but remained composed. "You're not mistaken. It is the same thrush. But I didn't steal it. It was the result of an unexpected contract."
An unexpected contract had given Zhongli the thrush, and in return, Hu Tao's grandfather had received what he wanted.
Barbatos laughed. "I see."
Just as Barbatos smiled and took a sip of wine, a breeze brushed past his ear, carrying a distant sound. He paused.
Ei noticed immediately. "What's wrong? Did something happen?"
Barbatos smiled. "Nothing. Just a little adventurer who got lost. Let the great Anemo Archon give him some guidance."
With that, he plucked a few notes on his harp. A series of pleasant notes rode the wind out of the inn, heading toward the border between Liyue and Mondstadt, to guide the lost adventurer to Wangshu Inn.
After doing that, Barbatos sighed in relief. "Eh heh, using that much elemental power takes it out of me. I'll need at least two jugs of wine to recover. Innkeeper, two more jugs of your finest wine."
The innkeeper: "Coming right up! Shall I put it on Mr. Tartaglia's tab as usual?"
Barbatos grinned. "Hehe, I didn't even have to ask."
Tartaglia: "…"
Ei snorted. "Enough fooling around. The storyteller is about to continue. Listen carefully—maybe one day you'll end up in his stories too."
Tartaglia: "…"
Impossible. Absolutely impossible. How dare that cursed Electro Archon make such a cruel joke.
…
While Li Mo was telling stories in the inn, at the coastline, a large merchant ship from Inazuma had just docked. The Traveler Lumine, her little sidekick Paimon, and the stowaway Arataki Itto had successfully set foot on Liyue's soil.
Returning to Liyue after just a few days, Lumine couldn't help but sigh. If she hadn't gone to Inazuma half a month ago, she might have already met the Raiden Shogun at Wangshu Inn.
Looking at the empty harbor, Arataki Itto said smugly, "Haha, so this is Liyue? Doesn't look so special to me. Little Paimon, let's go listen to the stories!"
He took the lead, walking ahead with a confident stride.
"I've heard Liyue is full of powerful figures—the Conqueror of Demons and the one who saves the suffering, Cloud Retainer. But if any of them dare to sumo wrestle me, they'll have to surrender!"