Thud—
"Ow, ow, ow…"
Trying out a wind glider for the first time, Stelle failed to get the hang of it and crashed straight into the ground. The fall even left her a little overexposed underneath, and she sucked in a cold breath from the pain.
She had experienced this exact kind of impact once before, back when they had first arrived in Penacony. It really was an indescribably brutal feeling.
"A perfectly normal reaction. After all, not everyone is as talented as I am," Lumine said smugly.
The first time she had tried using a wind glider, Amber had praised her and said she was better than many experienced glider users.
"What's there to brag about?" Stelle pouted.
It was only because she was not used to it yet. After a few more tries, this definitely would not happen again.
Besides, she was a Stellaron sprite, tough as nails. And now she also had a blessing from Tiamat, so injuries this minor basically did not matter.
…
The Astral Express crew was only traveling, not settling down here. So after touring Mondstadt, they headed straight for Liyue.
Looking at Liyue's architectural style, Dan Heng felt an odd sense of familiarity. Compared to the Xianzhou, the scenery here was even better.
"New faces, huh? Want to come take a look?"
Spotting the Astral Express crew while she was out promoting on the street, Hu Tao immediately walked over and greeted them warmly.
"Take a look at what?" Stelle asked curiously.
This girl felt pretty interesting, and those plum blossom-shaped pupils of hers were really pretty.
Welt blinked. That lively voice instantly reminded him of a certain tuna who always seemed to fail her exams.
"The Wangsheng Funeral Parlor is having a limited-time grand sale!"
"Buy one, get one free! Buy two, get three free! The more you buy, the more you get!"
"How about it? Interested?"
Hu Tao rattled off the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's sales pitch in one breath. From the expression on her face, it was obvious she was extremely satisfied with that slogan.
"There's even a deal like that? Then get me one," Stelle said at once.
Welt and Dan Heng fell silent.
The word Wangsheng was not exactly something you used casually. Whatever this shop sold, it was probably exactly what they were thinking of.
Then they realized Stelle was actually trying to place an order, and their faces turned into expressions halfway between laughter and tears.
"Oh, customer, you have excellent taste," Hu Tao said with a slightly surprised smile. "Don't worry, the quality is absolutely guaranteed."
As expected of out-of-towners. They did not even ask what she was selling before deciding to buy. That was some real confidence.
"Um… what exactly does the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor sell?" Himeko could not help asking.
"The Wangsheng Funeral Parlor is Liyue's funeral service establishment. I'm the seventy-seventh director, Hu Tao," Hu Tao introduced herself openly.
"Uh… Wangsheng Funeral Parlor isn't selling that, is it?"
Stelle's expression froze solid.
At this point, she could obviously guess it. Just moments ago, she had been ready to buy one without even thinking. Now that she had come back to her senses, she felt like a complete idiot.
"The Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's coffins come in all kinds of materials. Feel free to choose," Hu Tao said confidently. "There'll definitely be one you like. Even if you buy one just to use as a bed, that's totally fine too. There won't be any strange smell at all."
Looking at Hu Tao chatting away so naturally, Welt had the bizarre feeling that he was watching Kiana trying to sell coffins.
"No thanks, no thanks."
Stelle hurriedly shook her head.
She was still young. What did she need a coffin for? She had no desire to be buried ahead of schedule.
March 7th bent over laughing. Watching Stelle nearly buy a coffin for herself was the kind of joke that could relieve stress for two hundred years.
"All right then."
Hu Tao just laughed casually, not disappointed in the slightest. She had run into this kind of thing many times already.
"Wait, if you're saying coffins can be used for sleeping… does that mean you've actually slept in one?" Stelle suddenly asked in shock, having thought of something.
She still had a cardboard box in her room on the train, after all.
"I have," Hu Tao said. "When I was very little, I slept in a coffin before. Honestly, it felt no different from sleeping soundly in a normal bed."
The Astral Express crew could not help being stunned.
Even if it was a brand-new coffin no one had ever used, normal people still would not treat one like a bed.
"Amazing."
Stelle gave her a thumbs-up.
Someone who could sleep peacefully inside a coffin really was one of a kind.
As expected of the director of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. Most people would never want to lie in a coffin. Even if their body had no problem with it, their mind would reject it.
"Sort of. We just came over from Mondstadt," Stelle nodded.
"You've had a long trip, then. How about coming to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor for some tea and a rest?" Hu Tao invited.
"Wouldn't that be a little inappropriate?" March 7th said hesitantly.
They were not even that familiar with her. How could they trouble someone like this? Besides, just knowing it was a funeral parlor made the place feel a little eerie.
Hu Tao made the decision for them on the spot.
Stelle's mouth twitched. She really was flat as a board.
No one objected, so they followed behind Hu Tao.
When they arrived at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, they could more or less feel a faintly gloomy atmosphere. That was perfectly normal. No matter how you looked at it, it was still a funeral business. Having a somewhat unusual vibe was only natural.
"Director, who are these people?"
Zhongli was drinking tea, and Guizhong was seated beside him. The two of them together really gave off a bit of that old Lord of Guili feeling.
If he had guessed right, these should be the visitors from beyond the world who had landed in Mondstadt.
"Old Zhong, these are travelers from Mondstadt. This director brought them over to rest for a while."
Hu Tao casually poured a cup of tea.
Although Zhongli really did spend money recklessly, his eye for quality was impeccable. Pretty much everything he picked was excellent.
"Hello. My name is Zhongli. I am a consultant for the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor."
Zhongli's voice was calm and steady, heavy like stone itself.
"Uncle Yang, this gentleman's voice sounds a lot like yours," March 7th said in surprise.
Even though Welt was standing right beside her, it somehow felt like Welt was the one speaking from across the room.
Welt fell silent.
Of course he had noticed. But he was not especially surprised. Similar voices were nothing unusual.
Whether in the world of the Astral Express or here in Teyvat, he had already met plenty of people with familiar voices.
"Hello. My name is Welt Yang," Welt said.
Zhongli paused for a moment, then nodded.
What a curious coincidence.
"You all must have met young Koji, I assume?"
"He's currently over in Mondstadt."
When the Astral Express crew had left, they had not gone to trouble Koji. Having a guide would certainly have made things more convenient, but they preferred to rely on themselves to trailblaze their way forward.
"Your Excellency is the Geo Archon?" the usually quiet Dan Heng asked.
He could sense an ancient, weathered aura from Zhongli, and there was also something draconic about him—but it had nothing to do with the lineage of Immortality.
"Yes."
Zhongli nodded and looked at Dan Heng.
This young man was no ordinary person either.
Still, Zhongli was not worried. Since Koji had done nothing to them, that meant they were not a danger to Teyvat.
"The Geo Archon really does seem more reliable than the Anemo Archon," March 7th muttered.
Himeko nudged March 7th, telling her not to evaluate someone like that right to their face. It was rude.
March 7th realized her mistake and stuck out her tongue awkwardly.
The corners of Zhongli's lips lifted slightly. He did not mind.
This girl had a pure and sincere heart. That was a good thing.
(End of Chapter)
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