Hu Tao woke up early that morning, still dressed in her thin pajamas, her mind only half-awake.
"Ahh~ another energetic day~"
She stretched lazily, then happily checked the recent financial status of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
"Ever since Zhongli got acquainted with Tartaglia, we've finally stopped having mountains of bills piling up every single day~"
Sure, Zhongli's expenses weren't exactly a burden for Wangsheng Funeral Parlor—but no one enjoyed watching their money get burned daily.
"And with my Cael's popularity skyrocketing, our finances are getting better and better! At this rate, we might even return to our golden age!"
That golden age had been centuries ago, during the time of war.
Back then, disasters and conflict were constant, deaths occurred every day, and Wangsheng Funeral Parlor could earn five hundred thousand Mora a day.
And five hundred thousand Mora back then was nothing like five hundred thousand Mora today.
Right now, business was booming.
What were they lacking?
A heavyweight client.
If only we could bury Rex Lapis…
"Hehehe…"
In the corner, Zhongli—quietly drinking tea—suddenly noticed Hu Tao wearing an alarmingly dangerous smile.
He immediately felt she was thinking about something very, very inappropriate.
Hu Tao was sharp, eccentric, and unpredictable—
even the Geo Archon himself found her difficult to deal with at times.
"…This child," Zhongli sighed inwardly, "I really can't handle her."
Recalling how she had once jokingly deduced his identity as Rex Lapis, he shook his head.
It might've been said in jest—but it was terrifyingly accurate.
Just then, Cael dragged his exhausted body out of his room.
He looked utterly drained—like he'd been squeezed dry.
"…Hmm? Old friend, what happened to you?"
Zhongli frowned slightly at Cael's lifeless expression.
Cael waved his hand weakly, clearly unwilling to explain, and went to prepare breakfast.
Hu Tao watched him with concern, muttering under her breath,
"I've heard that guys can get… overworked like this. Cael really needs to take better care of his body…"
The moment Zhongli heard that, cold sweat broke out instantly.
"That's not it—!" he said quickly.
"In my judgment, my friend is recalling something painful. Emotional matters. Though… not usually to this extent…"
Zhongli could tell clearly—
Cael's exhaustion came from emotional turmoil.
Perhaps memories had surfaced.
"…Well, let it be," Zhongli sighed.
"In some ways, this may actually be a good thing."
...
...
"Damn it… didn't sleep a wink last night."
Dark circles hung heavily under Cael's eyes as he swayed unsteadily.
Last night, fragments of the past had surfaced.
Many fragments.
And almost all of them were knives.
Moments where his former self had struggled desperately—
only to fail anyway.
Among them… was Qiqi's death.
Yet strangely—
One person's tragedy hadn't appeared at all.
Guizhong.
She had fallen during a war at Guizhong Plains, one of Morax's erosions, and a close friend of Ping'er.
...
...
Guizhong Plains
Inside an exquisitely crafted cave abode.
Delicate furnishings filled the space, mechanisms of all kinds lining the walls.
At the very center lay a silver stone slab.
Upon it rested a maiden—beautiful as an immortal.
Beside her lay a small, ornate bell.
...
Her eyelashes trembled.
The pallor faded from her face, replaced by warmth and color.
"Ha…"
A faint breath escaped her lips, slowly growing steadier.
Suddenly—
Her eyes snapped open.
"We couldn't hold it—!"
She shot upright, knocking the bell to the floor.
"…Eh?"
She froze.
"This isn't where I was before…"
"Am I… not dead?"
She lifted her sleeve slightly, testing her body.
"My power… almost gone…"
She stepped down from the slab, bare feet touching the cold stone floor.
"Why… is this here?"
She picked up the bell, confusion deepening.
Looking around, she saw familiar mechanisms—
all of her own creations.
"Where are Morax… and Ping'er?"
Using the last traces of adeptal power, she slowly exited the cave.
Sunlight greeted her.
Warm. Familiar.
She could feel it—this was Liyue.
But… something was different.
Clatter—!
The sound of wood falling echoed nearby.
She turned—
A large bird stood frozen in place, wooden crafts slipping from its beak.
"Gu… Guizhong?!" the bird cried out.
"…Cloud Retainer?"
...
...
Zhongli suddenly stiffened.
Shock flashed unmistakably across his eyes.
"What's wrong?"
Cael, who had been watching Yun Jin's performance, turned toward him.
"Old friend. Come with me."
Zhongli said nothing more and walked off immediately.
Cael's expression sharpened as he followed.
If Zhongli looked this serious, it meant one of two things—
Either it was about unpaid bills…
or something big had happened.
And since Tartaglia was handling the bills now—
It was definitely the latter.
...
...
Ping'er—having resumed her youthful form—picked up her long-unused zither and hurried toward Guizhong Plains.
When she arrived, Cloud Retainer, Mountain Shaper, Moon Carver, and the Five Yakshas were already there.
Guizhong looked at the gathered crowd, lifting her sleeve shyly to cover the lower half of her face.
"Why… is everyone here?"
"Guizhong!!"
Ping'er broke free from the crowd and threw her arms around her.
"Ping'er? You… why are you—eh?"
Seeing her friend in tears, Guizhong was momentarily at a loss.
She hugged her back, saying nothing.
Two immortal maidens embraced—
a scene as gentle and beautiful as a blooming lily.
But no one was in the mood to admire it.
There was only astonishment—and joy.
"You've finally awakened, Guizhong," Cloud Retainer said with a smile.
Once Ping'er stepped back, Guizhong finally asked,
"So… what exactly happened?"
Mountain Shaper was about to speak—
When two familiar figures arrived.
"Guizhong, allow me to explain,"
Zhongli said, his gaze slightly uneasy.
"…Morax."
Guizhong nodded gently.
Zhongli began recounting the events of that day long ago.
At Guizhong Plains, Guizhong had been defeated, her life slipping away—
When Zhongli and Agarest arrived just in time.
Using divine power, they saved her life.
But her condition remained fragile.
So they built a special cave abode and placed her into deep slumber.
"Fortunately, Agarest used his divine authority to teleport us," Zhongli said.
"Otherwise, we never would've arrived in time."
Listening quietly, Cael finally understood the unease from his dream.
Indeed—
saving Guizhong prevented her death from becoming one of Zhongli's erosions.
Guizhong, having heard everything, lowered her gaze.
"So… I truly survived by sheer luck…"
She turned to Cael.
"Agarest, thank you. You saved me—"
Then she froze.
"…Eh?"
His divine aura was faint.
Almost gone.
Zhongli coughed lightly and explained Cael's situation.
...
...
—
AHHHHHHHHH!!
MIHOYO, DO YOU HAVE A HEART?!
DO YOU UNDERSTAND PACING?!
GUIZHONG IS THIS BEAUTIFUL!!
You fed me sugar first—
made me laugh, excited, thrilled—
AND THEN YOU STABBED ME OUT OF NOWHERE!!
DO YOU KNOW THIS CRIT?!
MY POOR, FRAGILE HEART!!
IT'S NEW YEAR AND YOU'RE STILL STABBING ME—
LAWYER LETTER, I SWEAR!!
I'LL STAB YOU BACK—
SLOWLY—
PAINFULLY—
UNTIL YOU REGRET IT!!!
(End of Chapter)