"Hehe… it truly is a rare and excellent position."
"But in the end, it must still be filled by someone knowledgeable and well-versed in human affairs."
After saying this with a soft chuckle, Zhongli turned toward Lumine and Paimon.
"Although the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor deals with funeral rites, its consultants are not required for ordinary funerals."
"The work of a consultant mainly involves giving lectures and telling stories to the young attendants."
"If an attendant needs help with a matter during their duties, they may also seek guidance from a consultant."
"Overall, it is indeed a very good profession."
Zhongli finished explaining.
"That really does sound like a great job."
Lumine nodded with a smile.
"Hehe. After all, gold will shine eventually."
"Congratulations on finding a job, Qiu Nian!"
Paimon floated beside Lumine and spoke cheerfully.
Qiu Nian simply smiled.
Meanwhile, in the parallel Blue Planet livestream…
"So Qiu Nian also became a consultant at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor."
"See? I told you those two definitely have something going on."
Xuehua wasn't very surprised after watching the scene.
Though she did feel a little jealous of Director Hu.
She still didn't even know whether Director Hu was male or female.
After all, Hu Tao only appeared in Version 1.3.
Just then, Hu Tao and the attendant girl walked over from a distance.
"Well well, if it isn't our Consultant Qiu Nian and Consultant Zhongli."
"These two must be the Traveler and her companion, right? Hello there!"
Hu Tao greeted Zhongli and Qiu Nian before turning to Lumine and Paimon.
"Wait…"
"You must be Director Hu that they mentioned, right?"
Paimon asked.
"That's right!"
"I am Hu Tao, the seventy-seventh Director of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor."
Hu Tao placed her fists on her hips and nodded with a cheerful smile.
"Hello, Director Hu. My name is Paimon."
Paimon introduced herself.
Lumine also smiled and gave her own introduction.
"Lumine… Paimon…"
"Alright, I'll remember that."
"Go ahead and enjoy your meal."
"I still have some business to attend to, so I'll excuse myself."
"If you ever need any services, I'll even give you a discount."
After memorizing their names, Hu Tao walked back toward the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
"Enjoy your meal."
The attendant girl nodded politely and followed after Hu Tao.
Hearing Hu Tao's final sentence, Lumine and Paimon both wore awkward expressions.
We definitely don't need to do any business there…
"Ah! So that's Director Hu!"
"Hu Tao… she's such a beautiful girl!"
"I love the way she talks too!"
Xuehua's expression changed instantly.
Instead of being jealous, she suddenly became a fan.
[So that's Zhongli and Qiu Nian's boss]
[Hu Tao hits all my preferences]
[Pyro Vision for sure—she'll definitely appear in a banner someday]
[The 'discount funeral services' line killed me]
[Who casually goes to a funeral parlor for business? That sounds like a curse!]
"Take care, Director."
Zhongli said as Hu Tao left.
"That's simply Director Hu's personality."
"She meant no offense."
Qiu Nian explained to Lumine and Paimon.
"It's fine."
"We were just surprised."
"I didn't expect the director of a funeral parlor to be a young girl—and so lively."
Paimon said.
"Yes…"
"When you have the chance to understand her better, you will see what kind of person she truly is."
Zhongli replied calmly.
"…If the honored guests are willing to listen, I shall continue the story of Lady Ningguang's Jade Chamber."
Seeing that the crowd had gathered, the storyteller Tian Tiezui prepared to begin.
"Wow! There's a storyteller here too!"
"The atmosphere is amazing!"
Paimon exclaimed.
"When people praise a place like this, it isn't only because of the wine."
"The environment also matters."
"Though the meaning of 'environment' here is different from what the Teyvat Travel Guide means when judging luxury restaurants."
Zhongli explained.
"Listening to stories while eating and drinking… truly delightful."
Qiu Nian chuckled.
Tian Tiezui wasted no time and began speaking.
"Everyone knows that above our harbor floats a palace among the clouds!"
"What does it mean to have power reaching the heavens?"
"Just look up there!"
"That magnificent structure is the industry built by Lady Ningguang herself!"
He raised his head toward the floating Jade Chamber.
"On a clear and sunny day, if you stand on the deck outside that palace gate and look down…"
"Amazing! You'll see half the entire beauty of Liyue Harbor!"
"Whenever Lady Ningguang faces important decisions, she always retreats to the Jade Chamber."
"She dismisses everyone except three trusted aides."
"What do those aides do?"
"They organize intelligence and process documents!"
"Reports are summarized and posted across the wall, one after another."
"But before the wall is completely filled, Lady Ningguang will always reach her decision."
"After making that decision…"
"She crushes all the documents!"
"Then she scatters the scraps out the window!"
"Those fluttering pieces of paper fall like a sudden snowfall!"
"To merchants across Liyue, the writing on those scraps is like ink on snow—impossible to ignore!"
"There's even a poem praising it:
Fluttering and drifting,
Snow-dust falls from the clouds.
Sparse and dense alike,
Each word worth a rare treasure.
With a single thought, mountains and rivers bow—
For all know that Tianquan reigns supreme!"
With that, Tian Tiezui struck his folding fan against his palm.
The surrounding diners immediately applauded.
"Just imagine!"
"Though they're only scraps of paper, they carry the very thoughts behind Lady Ningguang's decisions!"
"If you manage to grab even one or two pieces…"
"You might gain just a little more advantage than your competitors!"
Tian Tiezui shook his head meaningfully.
"Ningguang…"
Qiu Nian looked up at the Jade Chamber floating in the sky.
From a barefoot girl selling goods on the streets…
To becoming the Tianquan Star of the Liyue Qixing.
Truly remarkable.
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