"Rex Lapis?!!!"
Granny Ping, standing outside the door, cried out in shock.
Ningguang and Keqing's pupils constricted.
Ganyu covered his mouth.
Moon Carver and Cloud Retainer exchanged a glance.
Though surprised, their eyes were filled with a resolve that said, "Since Rex Lapis has given his approval, there must be a profound meaning behind it."
Zhongli offered no explanation.
He simply stood up slowly and walked to the window, gazing out at the bustling Liyue Harbor, which, despite its prosperity, harbored countless hidden impurities. His voice was as steady as solid rock:
"Liyue's ailments did not develop overnight."
"The framework of the contract remains, but within that framework, it has long been hollowed out."
"Merchants manipulate the laws, prestigious families monopolize resources, and the grievances of the common people are like a simmering volcano."
"If we were to proceed slowly through conventional means,"
He turned around, his gaze sweeping over everyone. "How many more years would it take? Five hundred? A thousand? By then, how much vitality would be left in Liyue? How much longer can the common people wait?"
Ningguang opened his mouth but found himself unable to retort.
As Liyue's greatest merchant, he knew better than anyone the extent of the corruption among Liyue's merchants today.
"Atrocious" was no longer enough to describe it; it was simply unbearable to witness.
Zhongli finished speaking.
The private room fell into a dead silence, leaving only the carefree Great Paimon still eating voraciously.
His chewing sound seemed exceptionally jarring.
The color drained from Ningguang's face, his heart filled with trepidation.
Keqing's breathing quickened slightly, his purple eyes filled with a sense of daze.
On the contrary, the usually gentle Ganyu's gaze gradually turned fierce after hearing Zhongli's words, a flash of blood-red light appearing in his eyes.
Outside the door, the Adepti remained silent, their heavy breathing faintly audible.
King didn't care to watch their expressions of internal conflict any longer.
He had said all he needed to say; what they did next was Liyue's own business.
Thus, he pushed back his chair and stood up.
"I'm full. I'm leaving."
The moment he stood, Lynette and Clorinde rose simultaneously like two shadows with a "swish."
One on his left and one on his right, they followed behind King with synchronized movements, their eyes alertly scanning the surroundings.
This reaction left the still-dazed Ningguang and the others stunned once more.
"Young friend King, please wait."
Zhongli's voice rang out, calm and unhurried.
This funeral parlor assistant also stood up, walked over to King in a few steps, and reached out a well-defined hand to lightly rest it on King's arm.
His face wore a sincere expression that suggested, "We've hit it off from the start and must talk through the night," while his amber eyes flickered with a searching light:
"It is still early; why the rush to depart? The night scenery of Liyue Harbor has a unique charm of its own."
"Furthermore, Director Hu Tao recently acquired some fine tea, and I was just lamenting having no one to share it with."
"If you don't mind, why not come to my humble abode for a few days? It would allow me to show some hospitality and, perhaps... discuss the matters we haven't finished addressing?"
He spoke with such earnestness, as if inviting King to the WangSheng Funeral Parlor for tea and conversation was a wonderful thing.
King: "..."
He slowly lowered his head to look at Zhongli's hand on his arm, then slowly looked up at Zhongli's face, which was full of "sincere invitation."
A vein in his temple throbbed uncontrollably.
Again?!
In Inazuma, there was a provincial girl who acted like a "curious baby" all day.
Now in Liyue, a retired old man wanted to "discuss life"?
Will they ever let me go home?
"Not going."
King was concise, refusing bluntly without even bothering to find an excuse.
His arm vibrated slightly, releasing a clever force that unceremoniously shook off Zhongli's hand.
The force was perfectly controlled.
It wouldn't hurt anyone, but it clearly expressed the attitude of "don't touch me."
Zhongli wasn't bothered by his hand being shaken off; he simply withdrew it and lightly brushed his sleeve.
A knowing smile of "as expected" appeared on his face, even carrying a hint of helplessness as if thinking "young people are so impatient," as he shook his head with a sigh:
"Very well. With a beauty waiting and your own homesickness, I was being inconsiderate."
Raiden Ei sat to the side, her purple eyes filled with massive question marks.
She looked at Zhongli, then at King, her brow furrowed, unable to wrap her head around the situation.
Is this guy Morax?
In her memory, this colleague should be the type of ancient being who sits above the clouds, looking down on all living things, whose single word could make the mountains echo and whose single rule could make ten thousand merchants obey—someone difficult to approach.
How is he now... mingling with the crowd, freeloading meals, and being so thick-skinned?
Even a bit "clingy"?
He wasn't even angry when King shook off his hand; instead, he was all smiles?
It's only been five hundred years; has the Geo Archon "eroded" this ridiculously?
Or is the person before me actually some strange imposter?
Raiden Ei fell into deep confusion, and she couldn't even finish her favorite sweets in front of her.
The atmosphere in the private room became even more bizarre due to Zhongli's unexpected "attempt to make him stay" and King's merciless "rejection."
Ningguang and the others watched their own Rex Lapis "take a loss" while still smiling, feeling as if their worldviews were being reshaped.
Paimon looked left and right, feeling as if something invisible was fighting in the air, making it hard for her to breathe.
"Ugh... it's so stuffy!"
He finally unable to stand the strange and oppressive atmosphere, kicked his legs and "whooshed" to the door of the private room, reaching out his short hands to pull open the carved wooden door.
"Creak—"
The wooden door was pulled open a crack.
A cool night breeze rushed in, dispersing the heavy scent of incense in the room.
Paimon squinted his eyes and took a deep breath of fresh air, a look of relief appearing on his small face.
Then, he opened his starry eyes, preparing to float out and see the beautiful scenery of Liyue Harbor.
The next second.
"Gwah!!"
Paimon cried out in surprise.
Outside the door, a row of "Adepti" had stood silently and neatly at some unknown point.
Caught off guard by Paimon suddenly pulling the door open, the expressions of the Adepti were somewhat subtle.
Xiao turned his face away, his ears seemingly a bit red.
Cloud Retainer cleared her throat, pretending to examine the patterns on the corridor pillars.
Moon Carver's action of stroking his beard stiffened for a moment.
Mountain Shaper looked up at the sky.
Granny Ping was relatively calm, offering a kind and apologetic smile to everyone inside, especially to King.
Paimon's mouth hung open as he looked from one to another. "When... when did you all get here?"
Lumine quickly stepped forward to pull Paimon back, smiling awkwardly at the Adepti outside. "Sorry, Paimon ate too many carbs, and his head is a bit fuzzy..."
"No matter," Granny Ping waved her hand, her voice gentle. "We old folks heard a distinguished guest was here and came to see out of curiosity. Fearing we might disturb your enjoyment, we waited here."}]
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