Zhongli nodded slightly, voice calm and warm. "The Rite of Parting is a thousand-year tradition of Liyue. It cannot be treated carelessly."
With hands behind his back, he looked toward Wangsheng's gates and spoke slowly. "The Rite of Descension has ended. Next comes the Rite of Parting."
"Since Liyue's founding, Wangsheng Funeral Parlor has borne the duty of seeing the departed off. But this time, what Liyue faces is an unprecedented upheaval."
His tone carried a heaviness so subtle it was almost unnoticeable—like an emotion hidden under still water.
"Mr. Zhongli… you look like you're not very happy?"
Paimon tilted her head, asking curiously.
Shouldn't this be something to celebrate?
After all, it was his own plan—
So why the sudden melancholy?
Zhongli paused, then gave a light smile. "It's only reflection. Liyue's changes have always required wind and rain."
"But to this day, Wangsheng has not received the formal letter from the Liyue Qixing about preparing the Rite of Parting."
"From that alone, one can see the Qixing do not place much importance on the Rite of Parting."
"As you can see… the age of the adepti is fading, and the age of humanity is gradually becoming reality."
"In past years, whenever an adeptus departed, there would be a grand ceremony—Liyue's tradition. Yet this time, even the Qixing cannot spare attention for it… truly unbecoming."
Zhongli shook his head lightly.
After all, when they'd met Keqing earlier, she had instructed Wangsheng to prepare it—
Yet until now, no letter had been delivered.
Remembered, but not cared for.
"I see…"
Paimon scratched her head.
"So, since you have some ties with the Anemo Archon… would you consider preparing a farewell ceremony for the Geo Archon with me?"
Zhongli looked at Lumine and Kairo, voice low. "If you agree, I'll explain the details."
At the same moment—
Lines of text appeared before Kairo's eyes.
[Because you used Kafka's spirit-speech to force Dan Shu to admit in public that she is the leader of the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus, the Cloud Knights were shocked and furious.]
[When surrounded by the Cloud Knights, Dan Shu relied on the inner-disciples' power to break free and escape.]
[With the Luofu's realms sealed and the Ambrosial Arbor's influence spreading, the situation is grave.]
[Yet Jing Yuan remains unhurried—instead, your "move" has drawn his even greater interest.]
[Jing Yuan believes you are even more "unconventional" than the Trailblazer's surprise force.]
[The coming crisis on the Xianzhou Luofu requires you—this "wild card."]
[Jing Yuan hopes you can remain at his side, help stabilize the Luofu, and deploy as support at any time.]
[Faced with Jing Yuan's invitation, you choose…]
Option 1: Accept gladly. Since the Luofu's situation is tense, why not borrow the momentum and display your talent? A "wild card" might tear open an unexpected breakthrough in the battle.
Reward:Divine Authority bestowed by Lan, the Reignbow Arbiter — "Celestial Thunder Court's Supreme Thunder Commander, Lightning-Wielding Demon-Quelling Heavenly Lord."
Option 2: Politely refuse. The Luofu's situation is complex; the higher you stand, the deeper you're dragged into the storm. Staying away from the center of power may be a wise form of self-preservation.
Reward:Wind-Thunder Heavenly Root — a rare medicinal herb. Though there is no wind here, the aerial roots sway in the air. Along their paths, the air splits with crackling lightning. A priceless treasure stored by the Alchemy Commission.
Option 3: Watch from the sidelines and seek profit. If you're a "wild card," why not maximize your advantage? No matter who gains the upper hand, the wise ensure they stand in the most favorable position.
Reward:Valorous Xuāoxiǎo Mask — a mask modeled after the ominous bird "Dàfēng." Its auxiliary eyes once witnessed miracles. Wearing it increases ATK by 6%.
Kairo sucked in a breath.
These rewards were… absurdly generous.
Lightning-Lord?
If he obtained it—wouldn't he be able to steamroll all of Teyvat?
He glanced at the other two rewards and made his decision instantly.
Looking even one more time would be a betrayal of his own conviction.
Lightning-Lord. No question.
"Of course."
As Kairo decided, Paimon immediately grinned. "We're already here—so obviously we'll help you prepare the Rite of Parting!"
"Getting invited personally by the Geo Archon—that's not something just anyone gets!"
"Right."
Lumine nodded decisively, then looked to Kairo.
"Naturally."
Kairo nodded as well. "But Mr. Zhongli… do you have Mora? Some expenses can be billed to Wangsheng's account, right?"
Normally, Childe had been the one paying for preparations.
But now Childe had fled Liyue—there was no way he'd be paying anything.
"And he can't pay, even if he wanted to."
"…Some things can, and some things can't."
Zhongli thought for a moment. "If it can't… you may need to pay first."
"So that's how it is."
Paimon rolled her eyes. "So you invited us because you want us to foot the bill?!"
Kairo, meanwhile, wasn't surprised at all.
Some things could be put on account; others absolutely couldn't.
But for him, it didn't matter.
Trading Mora for Lightning-Lord was an insane bargain.
If there were a Mora exchange rate for Lightning-Lord, could it please appear?
He'd buy a few more.
And with Lumine here, he didn't even need to pay himself.
Kairo glanced at Lumine.
He specialized in one thing: freeloading.
"So what exactly do we need to spend money on?"
Lumine thought briefly. "What's the first step for preparing the Rite?"
"The first step…" Zhongli began as they walked, "…is obtaining the finest Noctilucous Jade—quality worthy of a god. At minimum, it must be Candlelit-grade."
Paimon looked shocked. "Top-grade Noctilucous Jade? We mined a ton of ore back in Mondstadt—there's still lots of good stuff we didn't sell!"
"That won't do," Lumine scratched her head. "Noctilucous Jade is a Liyue specialty. In Mondstadt, what we mined most were magical crystals."
"Yes."
Zhongli nodded. "Noctilucous Jade exists only in Liyue."
As he spoke, he brought them to Shitou's Jade Shop.
"Welcome, welcome! Come try your luck cracking a few raw stones!"
The owner spotted Zhongli and brightened immediately. "Cheap and fun! Maybe you'll strike it rich in an instant!"
"Noctilucous Jade. The quality must be at least Candlelit-grade."
Zhongli shook his head lightly.
The owner's expression turned solemn at once. "Candlelit-grade Noctilucous Jade…? Ah. So you're not tourists. My apologies—I'll bring it immediately."
He hurried behind the counter and produced a carefully stored gift case.
When he opened it, he presented three pieces of Noctilucous Jade. "Please, take a look. Shitou's is a longtime jade merchant—just look at that quality! Truly superb—like a blessing even Rex Lapis rarely grants. Feel free to choose."
Paimon examined them and scratched her head. "They really do look beautiful—nothing like the usual stuff we dig up…"
"But how do we choose? Should we just pick one randomly?"
"A stone-gambling merchant cannot be trusted lightly."
Lumine looked serious, then turned to Zhongli. "We should see how you choose."
"Oh? You want me to decide. Very well."
Zhongli chuckled. "Then the answer is simple."
"Boss—I'll take them all."
"Wonderful!" The owner was delighted. "Consultant Zhongli, I knew you were extraordinary. What a generous purchase! I'll pack them right away!"
Paimon's eyes bulged. "W-wait! If the Rite only needs one kind, isn't buying all three just wasting triple the Mora?!"
"How can you buy things without thinking about Mora?!"
"If one must consider Mora before everything," Zhongli said calmly, "then one is, in turn, bound hand and foot by Mora in everything."
Lumine and Paimon stared, speechless.
Barbara and Fischl exchanged looks too.
Kairo: "..."
Zhongli continued evenly. "Mora is naturally currency… but currency is not naturally Mora."
Paimon was stunned. "Is this the world of the rich…? You understand macroeconomics, but you don't understand saving a little money!"
"Is it that you're so rich you've never needed to save small amounts at all?!"
"Do not waver," Zhongli said. "Even if Mora binds the hands and feet, I still have methods to solve problems under such constraints."
Then he explained, "Noctilucous Jade quality is indeed difficult to judge. In raw ore, whether it is good or bad, its texture, color, and internal striations will not differ much."
"Only after it is crafted into an object will you discover that some pieces simply aren't fit for purpose."
"And when you go back to argue with those dishonest merchants, they'll claim your forging table was poor, your heat was wrong, and so on…"
"So it's that easy to get scammed?!"
Paimon gasped.
Zhongli shifted his tone. "But there is still a true method of appraisal—real experts can tell."
"Like pointing at the moon—yet staring only at the finger."
"Huh?" Paimon blinked. "What does that mean?"
"You point at the moon. The clever understand you mean the moon. The foolish only see the finger, and never the moon."
Kairo laughed softly. "The patterns and the shell are the finger. Noctilucous Jade is a luminous stone used for night lighting—the brightness is the moon."
"High-quality Noctilucous Jade has stronger affinity with Pyro. Meaning: under high heat, the brighter and bluer the glow, the better the grade."
"So that's how it works!"
Paimon and Lumine immediately looked at him. "Kairo, you know a lot too!"
Zhongli nodded. "Precisely. That is the secret worth a fortune in the jade trade. Next comes practice."
"No need."
Kairo shook his head with a wry smile. "Just buy all three. At most it's twice the price—there will be chances later to test."
If Zhongli kept talking and stirred Lumine and Paimon's curiosity, they might actually want to go test this in Mondstadt—
Even with Zhongli guiding them, a trip back would be a disaster.
Just buy all three and be done with it.
As for money—put it on Wangsheng's tab.
What Kairo needed was to push the plot forward and get Lightning-Lord as soon as possible.
One day without it and he felt uncomfortable all over.
That was power you could walk across Teyvat with.
"…Ah, right."
Lumine and Paimon paused, then nodded. Makes sense—no need to test urgently.
"Mm. Then let us proceed."
Zhongli nodded. "We'll take all three."
The owner had already packed them. He smiled. "How will you be paying?"
"Put it on Wangsheng's account!"
Paimon answered instantly.
The owner blinked at the word "account," but the moment he saw Zhongli, he nodded readily. "No problem."
Consultant Zhongli's name in Liyue was basically a brand.
"…If you don't mind me asking—pure curiosity—what do you need so many top-grade Noctilucous Jade for?"
Zhongli replied calmly, "To craft the ritual vessels for the Rite of Parting."
"Rite of Parting…?!" The owner froze, then sighed deeply. "I've heard rumors… but never dared ask too much. So Rex Lapis really is…"
"…Sigh. Unbelievable. Shitou's has declined a bit, but for generations we were sheltered by Rex Lapis."
"They say two hundred years ago he visited the south of the city incognito and got lost—when he tried street snacks, he used a jade spoon from Shitou's…"
"Gone… all gone…"
Then he lifted his head, resolute. "If this is for bidding farewell to Rex Lapis, then this whole box of Noctilucous Jade will be half price."
Paimon's eyes went wide. "Huh? Really?"
"Without Rex Lapis's protection, trade city Liyue would never be what it is today."
The owner said seriously, "How could a businessman profit from this…?"
Zhongli nodded. "With the Liyue Qixing and steadfast merchants like you working together, Liyue will surely continue to prosper."
After bidding farewell, Zhongli led them toward Yujing Terrace.
"Wait."
Paimon's eyes bulged. "Why are we going to Yujing Terrace? Isn't it under lockdown?!"
"The Rite of Parting is held at the same venue as the Rite of Descension," Zhongli said evenly. "If we are preparing it, we must place the Noctilucous Jade there."
"The venue is no concern."
"Surely the Qixing have already handled it. Since the Yuheng has assigned Wangsheng to prepare the Rite, coming here is naturally acceptable."
As they spoke—
The Millelith guarding Yujing Terrace recognized Zhongli and greeted him politely. "Consultant Zhongli. Lady Yuheng has already instructed us: the Rite venue will be rented to Wangsheng Funeral Parlor for the Rite of Parting preparations."
"I understand."
Zhongli nodded and walked up into the venue.
It had already been cleaned thoroughly. Some layouts were even rearranged.
It was clear Keqing had given orders—even if the formal letter still hadn't arrived.
After adjusting the placement slightly, Zhongli set the Noctilucous Jade into its proper positions.
When he finished, he led everyone back down.
"So what's next?" Paimon scratched her head. "We've got the Noctilucous Jade—what now?"
"Next, we prepare the perfumed balm used in the rite."
"Perfumed balm? Where do we get that—just buy it?"
"No. This kind of balm, offered in reverence to a god… the quality of the Silk Flowers needed to brew it is also very particular…"
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