After settling little Hu Tao down.
The old master Hu very enthusiastically introduced Zhongli to Cid.
"Hello, Mr. Cid." Zhongli was very polite.
"Hello, Mr. Zhongli." Cid was slightly restrained.
How should I talk to the old man Zhongli...
Fortunately, the old master Hu was there to help. "Guest Zhongli... This old man doesn't have many years left to live..."
Damn! Old master Hu, that's some pro-level moral kidnapping!
"Old master Hu... That child Hu Tao... I really can't handle her."
Zhongli looked at Cid.
Why is he looking at me?
Cid was a bit confused.
Wait, why do I seem to see admiration in old man Zhongli's eyes?
The mighty Geo Archon... One of the Seven Archons of the mortal world... Why would he admire me?
This old man could pin me down with one finger, right?
"Mr. Zhongli, is something wrong?" Cid maintained the good attitude of asking when he didn't understand.
"Mr. Cid uses a spear."
"Yes, what's the matter?"
"Zhongli also has a slight understanding of the spear..." Zhongli shifted his gaze to the Dragonspine Spear on Cid's back.
Hiss... Could there be a problem with the Dragonspine Spear forged from dragon teeth?
Cid very decisively removed the Dragonspine Spear and handed it to Zhongli.
"Please, Mr. Zhongli, take a look."
Zhongli was stunned for a moment.
"Mr. Cid, rest assured. Zhongli was merely feeling a momentary itch to practice."
???
If you're itching to practice, shouldn't you go find the Demon-Conquering Great Sage?
Why me?
But Cid had no intention of refusing.
For the Geo Archon himself to personally step in and beat him up—that would definitely be guidance.
And so... Cid assumed a defensive stance.
Come on! I'm ready to be one-shotted!
Then...
I'm not dreaming, am I? Why do I feel like I'm trading blows back and forth with old man Zhongli?
Is old man Zhongli holding back?
Cid dodged one of Zhongli's thrusts, then followed with a sweeping strike.
Then old man Zhongli one-shotted Cid.
He knocked Cid down with the butt of the spear.
"Mr. Zhongli... You are truly modest about your spear skills." Cid silently put away the Dragonspine Spear.
As expected, trading blows earlier was to give me some face, and then instantly killing me was to demonstrate his strength.
"Zhongli merely took advantage of a trick." Zhongli stored the spear in his Vision. (It looked like it.)
"Your fundamentals are very solid." Zhongli began evaluating Cid's spear technique. "And your spear style seems to pursue elegance while maintaining stability."
"Does Mr. Zhongli have any advice?"
"Zhongli hasn't studied spear techniques much, but I can still see where your issues lie." Zhongli looked at Cid. "Pardon my presumption, but does Mr. Cid have anything he fears?"
"This... Bugs... Especially those dirty cockroaches that make you shudder just thinking about them..."
Thinking back to the most memorable thing from school before transmigrating...
A flying cockroach buzzing around the classroom...
Fortunately, it was pretty far from him...
But he never wanted to see a flying cockroach again in his life...
It could kill a person... It really could...
"Zhongli has a way to improve Mr. Cid's spear technique. Come to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor early tomorrow morning to find Zhongli."
The Geo Archon is this enthusiastic?
Could it be! I'm actually the protagonist!? As a transmigrator, having some privileges seems normal?
"Alright, Mr. Zhongli."
...
Early morning.
"Mr. Zhongli, I'm here." Cid pushed open the main gate of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
Old man Zhongli was standing on an open space inside the parlor at that moment.
"Mr. Cid, before we begin, are you certain you wish to receive guidance?"
"Of course."
"Good. Zhongli has observed that Mr. Cid's spear technique has ample defense but insufficient offense. You need to pursue precision and speed in thrusting."
"So Zhongli specially used Geo elemental power to find the necessary training item for Mr. Cid."
"Necessary item?" Cid recalled yesterday's topic...
He seemed to have asked what I was afraid of...?
Damn!!!
"Yes, Mr. Cid. If we are to begin, Zhongli can lend you a new spear."
"Mr... Mr. Zhongli..." Cid finally mustered all his courage in life. "No need. My spear will have to face this sooner or later..."
Cid painfully removed the dog tag from his neck. "Please, Mr. Zhongli, help look after my wife. I hope the upcoming training won't affect her..."
Zhongli paused, looking at the dog tag in Cid's hand, then at Cid's expression of seeking death but not finding it...
He sighed. "Alright."
...
Dirty... My spear is dirty... My Dragonspine Spear is dirty!!!
But I successfully skewered every cockroach that flew toward me with the spear!
Not a single one of these cockroaches touched me!!!
Cid weakly plunged the Dragonspine Spear into the ground...
At the very beginning, he was truly terrified, but the moment he saw the cockroaches...
He staked everything on one thrust, piercing the cockroach flying toward him.
And so Cid had nearly gone berserk.
As long as I kill all you cockroaches! I'll be safe!
"Mr. Zhongli... I'm going to wash my hands..." At this moment, Cid felt as if all his strength had been drained.
Even though his hands hadn't touched the cockroaches, he still needed to wash them—wash them clean...
When he returned, he found Zhongli carefully examining his dog tag.
"Ahem, old man Zhongli, could you return my dog tag to me first?"
"Apologies. Zhongli did not mean to offend..."
Zhongli clearly paused for a moment, but quickly continued,
"The... wife you mentioned merely feels somewhat similar to a certain acquaintance of Zhongli's."
"Hmm, it's fine. I didn't mind." Cid carefully hung his wife Seele back around his neck.
As for the acquaintance old man Zhongli mentioned?
Cid didn't care at all.
Given miHoYo's style, it's probably some god.
It's a god... No matter how you think about it, they wouldn't have much overlap with me.
It's impossible for every god to be as kind and approachable as old man Zhongli, who wants to retire.
"Uncle!"
It was little Hu Tao's voice.
Then his calf was hugged by little Hu Tao.
Little Hu Tao directly sat on Cid's foot.
"Let's go~"
Looking at the adorable little Hu Tao, Cid turned to Zhongli.
"Please take care of the young hall master." Zhongli bowed to Cid. "Zhongli will take his leave first."
Watching Zhongli hurriedly depart... Recalling last night's conversation...
Old man Zhongli... He wouldn't have dragged me here early in the morning to babysit little Hu Tao because he couldn't handle her himself...
Right?
It shouldn't be, right?
Cid looked at little Hu Tao on his foot.
Such a cute little Hu Tao—old man Zhongli wouldn't have such a ridiculous reason, right?