Chapter 129: Zhongli: Is my acting good? Luo Li: Still a bit behind me!

Feiyun Slope! Wangsheng Funeral Parlor!

This place was the center for managing Liyue's funeral affairs, operating since a millennium ago with a long-standing heritage.

Initially, it only helped bury those who died from floods, disasters, or plagues; later, with the development of the era, this small group became the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor of today.

Devotedly performing the rites of parting for people, maintaining the Dao of yin and yang balance in the world.

It could be called a model of transitioning from amateur to professional.

However, because conducting funerals was not exactly an elegant line of work, people generally held some taboos when they didn't have a need for it.

Thus, the location of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor was in a corner of Feiyun Slope; those who weren't specifically looking for it would basically never approach.

In case they got tainted by something unclean, that would be a real headache.

Thanks to this, when Luo Li arrived here, he didn't see a single soul.

Let alone guests, he couldn't even find a shadow of a doorman to receive visitors.

"It really is quiet."

Luo Li muttered, stepping up to the entrance of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.

He saw the doors tightly shut, with no attendants on guard, only a board resembling a notice board stuck to the side.

Hanging on it was the wooden board used by the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor to accept commissions.

If a client had a need, they would take the wooden board, write the details, and stuff it through the door crack of the parlor.

Luo Li took a moment to look and discovered that the back of the board even had an advertisement written: "With this board, buy one get one free."

It was truly a method thought up by a business genius.

Normal product promotions were one thing, but there was no logic in a "buy one get one free" deal for coffins and funerals.

The current director of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor was indeed eccentric and inventive.

Holding this thought, Luo Li knocked on the doors of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.

After a long while, no one opened the door.

"Are they not open during the day?"

Luo Li pondered, thinking that made sense.

Judging by this business style, others were afraid to avoid it, preferring to write down their requests and stuff them inside rather than personally entering the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor and bumping into something unclean.

However, Luo Li didn't care about such things at all; let alone ghosts, he had even torn Archons apart with his bare hands.

So-called ghosts were merely energy leaking from the ley lines, allowing souls to linger briefly upon the earth.

Thus, just as he intended to knock again, the door opened automatically.

Luo Li raised an eyebrow slightly, glanced into the dim and deathly silent house, and stepped inside without the slightest hesitation.

He hadn't felt it outside, but as soon as he entered, the temperature inside the house dropped significantly.

Even though the sun was high, it couldn't pierce the shadows of the windows.

Luo Li finally understood why ordinary people really didn't dare to enter.

Looking around, he paused his steps and headed toward the inner courtyard.

Passing through the alleyway, a large plum garden planted with plum blossoms appeared before him.

Located in the center of the courtyard, the man sitting there brewing tea and tasting it was the target of his trip.

"Found him."

Looking at the man in fine robes with his back to him, Luo Li stepped forward and sat down.

That's right, sitting before him was none other than Morax, who had orchestrated his own fake death not long ago.

Now known as Zhongli.

Luo Li felt no guilt for deceiving Raiden Makoto and the others by saying he was going to look for clues, as he had indeed found Morax.

"How is this surprise?" Zhongli smiled rarely, picking up the teapot to pour him a cup.

Yesterday he said he would give Luo Li a surprise, and today he had truly delivered.

"Nothing special, truly low-level."

Luo Li criticized him without reservation.

Any normal person would know there were many suspicious points; how could the Geo Archon suddenly die on the spot, and who could possibly lay a hand on him?

It was just that because the situation in Liyue was complex recently, almost no one had the leisure to think it through.

Furthermore, Zhongli's own purpose was merely to hand out an exam paper to the Liyue the Liyue Qixing and this nation.

Zhongli chuckled: "Regardless, my goal is achieved. Next, I shall sit and watch the winds and clouds change."

"You are truly carefree, putting on such a show and leaving the mess for others while hiding here in self-satisfaction."

Unbothered by Luo Li's words, Zhongli replied: "We are the same. The situation in Inazuma is far more troublesome than in Liyue. How could you and Baal bear to leave Beelzebub all alone?"

"Cough, anyway, so much time has passed, it makes no difference in the short term."

Zhongli couldn't help but shake his head, well aware of his old friend's guilty conscience.

This guy had typically played himself into a corner and was likely preparing to slowly test Beelzebub's bottom line.

"By the way, don't interfere with Liyue's affairs casually."

Zhongli didn't want the exam he had painstakingly set up to be ruined by Luo Li filling in the correct answers with a few strokes.

"Rest assured, my acting is on point. However, according to your approach, I'm afraid the adepti and Liyue will clash. By then, Ganyu might drag me over to appease the adepti."

This point did make Zhongli fall into deep thought.

Indeed, his original plan was to see how the adepti, humans, and foreign enemies would maneuver during this turmoil.

But if Luo Li got involved, the adepti would certainly give him face, and the conflict between the adepti and humans would vanish instantly.

Thinking of this, Zhongli felt a headache.

Couldn't this guy have come later?

"It's not a big problem. If it really comes to it, I'll accompany you in hiding for a few days."

Understanding his old friend's gaze, Luo Li appeared quite magnanimous.

Raiden Makoto, Eula, and the others were at Yujing Terrace; their safety was not a concern, as they were, after all, first-generation Archons.

"That... would be good."

Zhongli felt relieved: "Coincidentally, the director of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor is a warm-hearted, good child. With your knowledge, staying here, I'm sure you'll receive a warm welcome."

Luo Li had a strange look in his eyes; do you even believe that yourself?

Although the evaluation wasn't entirely wrong, with Hu Tao's eccentric personality, ordinary people couldn't handle her at all.

Just as he was thinking this, he seemed to hear light-as-a-feather footsteps behind him, and suddenly saw Zhongli's eyes flickering.

Luo Li's heart stirred; he pretended to know nothing and continued chatting with him.

Until a certain moment, when his shoulder was suddenly tapped lightly.

"Whoa!"

At the same time, warm breath brushed against his ear.

Unmoved by the sudden startle, Luo Li turned his head gently to meet the eyes of an eccentric young girl who had been giggling but now looked bored.

'What a waste.'

— Author's Notes —

·· ·Seeking flowers·· ······