Zhongli's remarks also shocked the stone shop owner.
"Oh? To think this gentleman is so knowledgeable. Thank you for your understanding—truly, thank you."
Zhongli replied calmly, "Objectively speaking, we never promised that we would make a purchase. To demand samples under such circumstances is, in itself, unfair. The way of contracts in Liyue must always be grounded in fairness."
Paimon thought for a moment and said, "Then what's left is to find a place where we can conduct a test."
Lumine said, "We could go to Xiangling's kitchen."
Zhongli immediately rejected the suggestion. "That would be inappropriate. There are too many people coming and going. If an elemental reaction were to spiral out of control and harm civilians, we cannot take such a risk."
Paimon said, "Oh, I remember! There's a Hilichurl tribe in a valley in Mondstadt with a huge pot—it's really sturdy. It should be able to withstand an elemental reaction. Let's take the samples and head out right away."
On the way, Zhongli chatted casually.
"It has been a long time since I last came to Mondstadt. My Mondstadt friend, whenever he visits Liyue, always brings a few bottles of authentic dandelion wine. I must say, the famed wines of the City of Freedom are indeed far more enjoyable than Sumeru's cold-infused snake wine."
[Paimon: Come to think of it, that Mondstadt friend wouldn't happen to be Barbatos, would it?]
[Venti: Eheh, indeed it is me.]
[Lumine: Among the gods, the only one who wanders around everywhere would be Venti, right?]
[Venti: After all, Mondstadt is a nation without a god. Whether I'm there or not doesn't make much of a difference.]
After trekking over mountains and valleys, Lumine finally arrived at the Hilichurl valley. After offering two brief apologies, she forcibly drove all the Hilichurls away, then used their massive pot to test the materials.
The conclusion was clear: Sample No. 3 was the brightest.
Returning to the jade shop, Zhongli spoke.
"Number Three Noctilucous Jade. I'll take an entire crate."
The shop owner replied, "No problem. Since you've taken a liking to it, feel free to take it. Though forgive my curiosity—what do you gentlemen intend to do with so much premium Noctilucous Jade?"
Zhongli answered, "There's no harm in saying it. It will be used to craft ritual vessels for the Rite of Parting."
The shop owner's expression darkened.
"A Rite of Parting… I've heard quite a few rumors lately, but I never dared to ask too much. So the Geo Lord, he really… ah, it's hard to believe. Even though the Jade Trade has declined somewhat these days, for generations we have relied on the Geo Lord's protection. It's said that two hundred years ago, when the Geo Lord traveled incognito south of the city and lost his way, he sampled local street food using our jade spoon…"
"Ah, the past is the past. Since this is for bidding farewell to the Geo Lord, I'll only charge half price for this crate of Noctilucous Jade."
[Sigewinne: Sigh, earlier he couldn't bear to part with even a tiny bit of Noctilucous Jade—cutting the stone as thin as cicada wings. And now he's willing to sell at half price. That's not a small sum.]
[Dori: Raise the price threefold first, then cut it by fifty percent. Both sides feel like they've earned something—now that's a win-win.]
[Venti: All of this stems from respect for the Geo Lord. For thousands of years, he protected Liyue and guided its growth.]
[Charlotte: Thinking about it… if Lady Furina asked me for help, I wouldn't charge her either.]
[Furina: Very good, Charlotte. Hearing that makes me quite happy. It makes me feel like a god who is truly loved.]
[Barbara: Even though Lord Barbatos hasn't appeared for centuries, all the people of Mondstadt still love him dearly. Mondstadt Cathedral is always bustling, and we all deeply respect the Anemo Archon.]
[Paimon: Speaking of which, I heard that in Inazuma… some citizens have already risen in rebellion…]
[Kujou Sara: I will forever protect Inazuma and carry out the will of the Almighty Narukami.]
Paimon said, "Is this really okay? The owner looked completely stingy just a moment ago."
The shop owner sighed. "Without the Geo Lord's protection, the City of Commerce would never have become what it is today. As a businessman, how could I profit from such a matter?"
Paimon sniffled."W–wah… boss, your sincerity will definitely reach the Geo Lord."
[Arataki Itto: And it really did reach him.]
[Paimon: Who could've imagined the Geo Lord was standing right in front of him?]
[Furina: If I hadn't received the script ahead of time, I would never have guessed. But knowing it beforehand really does make it more entertaining…]
[Paimon: I remember Furina really likes theater. We're all being treated as entertainment now.]
[Furina: Little Paimon, what's wrong with being entertainment? Wasn't I just entertainment myself a moment ago?]
[Paimon: That… does seem true.]
[Furina: But the Geo Lord's "entertainment" is truly delightful.]
Zhongli said, "With the combined efforts of the Liyue Qixing and hardworking merchants such as yourself, Liyue will surely continue to prosper as always. So, please, take heart."
The shop owner replied, "Y–yes… thank you, gentlemen. What's come over me? Crying like this—there goes my fortune, hahaha."
With the matter settled, Zhongli moved on to the next step.
"Since the selection is complete, we'll take the Noctilucous Jade—"
Paimon interrupted, "Wait! Even at half price, that doesn't mean we don't have to pay!"
Zhongli replied apologetically, "Ah, my apologies. I seem to have forgotten about the payment again. Let me see… hmm… as expected, I didn't bring it."
Paimon asked, "Didn't bring what?"
Zhongli said, "Mora. I didn't bring any Mora. How embarrassing—another oversight."
[Furina: Hahahahaha! A god of a nation without any money on him!]
[Venti: I don't have any money either…]
[Paimon: Furina, do you have money? From what I've seen, you'll be eating cheap pasta with tomato sauce every day in the future…]
[Furina: Paimon, you underestimate me! Over the past five hundred years, countless theater troupes paid exorbitant sums to invite me to perform—and I never spent any of that money. I'm extremely wealthy.]
[Dori: Wow, Furina is rich. That must be a huge amount of Mora.]
[Furina: In short, it's a very, very large number.]
Lumine also couldn't help commenting, "Such a strange view of money. To think there are people in Liyue who don't keep money in mind at all…"
Paimon grew anxious. "Then what do we do? This isn't a small amount. Oh, right—didn't Childe give us some money to cover expenses?"
As she spoke, Lumine took out the funds.
"Boss, is this enough?"
The shop owner looked and nodded. "It's enough, it's enough. At half price, it's just about right. Honestly, even if it weren't enough, it wouldn't matter."
Zhongli continued, "Good. Now that the Mora issue is resolved, let's deliver the Noctilucous Jade to Yujing Terrace. That's the venue I've reserved."
Paimon shot Zhongli a sideways glance. "Didn't pay a single Mora himself, yet Mr. Zhongli says it so lightly!"
Lumine said, "Next time we go out, please bring some money."
Zhongli considered it. "Yes, that would indeed be necessary. I'll remember it. This time, I truly owe the two of you."
After transporting the Noctilucous Jade to Yujing Terrace, Zhongli said, "Mm, placing it here will do. I've already sent word for the jeweler. Soon, these will be crafted into the vessels required for the ritual."
"Oh, right," Zhongli added. "In such a short time, I haven't yet had the chance to meet Childe. As for the jeweler's payment, that too…"
Before he could finish, Lumine already understood. "I'll cover it for now, then ask Childe for reimbursement later."
Paimon said, "That's the only option. So this is the venue for the Rite of Parting?"
Zhongli nodded. "Yes. I've already leased this site and begun preparations for the ceremony."
Lumine frowned slightly. "But this is the same location as the Rite of Descension. We're just going to—"
Zhongli replied, "This arrangement has been tacitly approved by the Liyue Qixing."
Paimon was still worried. "But a major incident just happened here. That means if we, as suspects, return to the scene, we need to be extra careful not to get arrested by the Millelith."
"And come to think of it, ever since we came back from Jueyun Karst, we haven't run into any Millelith causing trouble. What's going on? And the Exuvia that was left here before… the murderer hasn't been identified either."
Zhongli explained, "That can only mean the Qixing already have a clear understanding—or that they've determined all useful clues have been collected."
Lumine felt something was off and thought for a moment."It still feels strange. Isn't this decision a bit too hasty?"
[Lumine: The advantage of the livestream is being able to ask the Qixing directly.]
[Ningguang: Mm. The culprit is actually easy to eliminate. From a young age, we all grew up hearing legends of the Geo Lord. For example, Guyun Stone Forest is not a natural formation—it was created during the Archon War when the Geo Lord hurled massive stone spears. Beneath those spears lie the defeated gods of that era, ancient deities who failed to claim a seat among The Seven. Someone capable of killing the Geo Lord would not be chased around by the Millelith.]
[Lumine: So the fact that the Millelith chased us clears us of suspicion?][Ningguang: Precisely.]
[Paimon: That's… really such a simple reason?]
[Ningguang: After all, the Geo Lord was no ordinary being. My intelligence network spans all seven nations. Among the Seven Archons, only the Geo Lord and the Anemo Archon have never changed. The others all perished during the Khaenri'ah War. This alone is proof of the Geo Lord's strength. In fact, when I saw the footage of his body falling, I even suspected the attacker came from Celestia.]
[Paimon: Just didn't expect this to be an "incident" orchestrated by the Geo Lord himself.]
[Furina: Only the Heavenly Principles are beyond defiance.]
Zhongli said, "Such matters will be handled by the important figures at Yujing Terrace. Trying to share their burden would only invite unnecessary worry. Before the ceremony, the Exuvia will be temporarily housed in the Golden House."
Paimon asked, having never heard the name, "The Golden House?"
Zhongli explained, "The Golden House is Liyue's sole mint—and the only mint in all of Teyvat. Every Mora circulated across the Seven Nations is minted there."
"Wow," Paimon exclaimed."That really fits Morax's identity. But Zhongli, how do you know about this?"
Zhongli replied, "Because the Rite of Parting has received the Qixing's approval and is considered a semi-official event, I have access to some internal information."
Lumine fell into thought. "The Qixing provide the venue, Childe provides the funds—what exactly are they trying to achieve with this ceremony?"
Zhongli answered indifferently, "Perhaps each has their own objective. But in a city of commerce, being used from time to time is not entirely unacceptable."
"On land governed by the God of Contracts, only contracts themselves must never be violated. As for small maneuvers outside of them, I don't particularly mind. Now then, it's time to prepare the ritual incense paste."
[Furina: 'As for small maneuvers outside the contract, I don't mind'—good thing the Traveler didn't think too deeply. Otherwise, that one line alone would've given it away.]
[Lumine: Under normal circumstances, it would indeed be hard to connect that sentence to anything.]
Paimon asked, "Incense paste—where do we buy that?"
Zhongli spoke at length. "Such incense used for honoring gods requires specially prepared Silk Flowers. Silk Flowers are named for their petals, which are excellent fiber materials often used in silk weaving. At the same time, their fragrance is refined and elegant, making them especially suitable for solemn offerings to the divine."
Paimon weakly complained, "Looks like it's time for Mr. Zhongli's upper-class knowledge lecture again."
Zhongli replied, "The finer details need not be discussed just yet. Come—follow me to the merchant to procure the materials."
At the flower shop, Paimon got straight to the point.
"Boss, do you sell Silk Flowers?"
The owner, Bolai, replied, "Silk Flowers? Of course. Which type would you like?"
Paimon hesitated."Which type? Uh—just the best one? There are different kinds?"
Bolai laughed loudly. "Hmph, clueless foreigners, asking such questions."
[Furina: Hahaha—two clueless foreigners.]
[Zhongli: Speaking of 'worldliness,' the shop owner's view is somewhat extreme. Everyone's experiences differ. A chef may not understand floristry, and a florist may not understand cooking. Should one be called 'uncultured' simply for not knowing a dish's finesse or a flower's variety? Who can truly understand everything in the world?]
[Lumine: Zhongli probably can, though. He knows so much.]
[Zhongli: Mm. Merely the result of living long enough. Even so, there are many things I still do not know.]
Lumine didn't know flower varieties—but Zhongli did.
After a brief pause, he spoke.
"Golden Pavilion Cherished Bloom, Mountain Shade Brocade Cluster, and Ethereal Immortal Fate. Please bring one stem of each for inspection."
Bolai was startled."So this gentleman is a true expert! Then these two beside you must be servants—servants shouldn't speak before their master."
Lumine replied weakly, "No… don't you think I look a bit familiar?"
Bolai froze for a moment. "Huh? We have met before… Oh! You're the Traveler, aren't you? My apologies—my tone just now was inappropriate."
"Please, take a look. If you have any thoughts, do share them."
Zhongli did not hold back, explaining in detail.
"Depending on their environment and ancestral lineage, Silk Flowers exhibit different traits. These specimens are all excellent and well-preserved. For instance, this one—lush branches, a golden core like 'a beauty hidden in a golden house,' evergreen leaves—typically grows in regions with complex water systems."
"In mountainous shade or humid lands, Silk Flowers often develop large petals and dense stamens, with a rich fragrance—truly a clustered splendor."
"And this final variety is aloof and pristine. Sparse branches and leaves, a faint fragrance when in bloom, yet one that lingers for a very long time. Ancient travelers discovered it by chance while seeking immortals in the mountains. Sadly, due to geographical changes, most wild Silk Flowers of this kind have gone extinct, and modern specimens are largely cultivated artificially."
Bolai sighed in admiration. "Ah, sir, you truly are an expert. Even I didn't know there were so many distinctions…"
Zhongli replied, "I only know a little. My traveler friend here is the one not to be underestimated—someone destined to tread every corner of the continent."
Lumine whispered, "I'm really not that impressive… I truly know nothing about Silk Flowers…"
Paimon looked at Zhongli and asked, "Mr. Zhongli, you're being far too modest. So which one should we choose?"
Zhongli declared decisively, "Boss, I'll take all of them!"
Paimon was shocked. "Not again!"
Zhongli smiled and said, "When attending an opera, one must choose the most celebrated performer. When buying a songbird, one must select the finest thrush. This—this is life."