Chapter 388

·

·

·

Protagonist:

Xuan Ge

"Naberius, aren't you going to come out and handle this?"

Rhinedottir felt she had been set up; how could this Death Archon just wash her hands of it like that?

"You're the Life Executor."

Hearing this utterly shameless buck-passing, Rhinedottir's smile gradually faded.

No way, sis! You're washing your hands of it too!?

Rhinedottir never dreamed in her wildest dreams that she would one day regret devouring the Life Executor.

"Heh... Naberius, if you're going to be like that, don't blame me."

Since you're washing your hands of it too, don't force my hand.

Rhinedottir curled her lips into a mutually-assured-destruction smile.

She had heard every word of the conversation between the Death Archon and the Time Archon just now; worst case, she'd just dedicate her body to him — anyway, this Xuan Ge likes them big, doesn't he.

"You are a sinner of the Abyss; you indirectly caused the deaths of Shogun's soldiers." Naberius poured a basin of cold water over Rhinedottir without the slightest mercy.

Rhinedottir: "..."

Rhinedottir chuckled; whatever, this Xuan Ge is a being who doesn't eat beef in Teyvat — he can do whatever he wants.

The atmosphere fell silent; all three Shadow Archons had washed their hands of it, yet each harbored secret thoughts.

But the destination of their mutual scheming was still the question of where this Xuan Ge came from and why he possessed such tremendous power.

The Time Archon Istaroth stood up; seeing the two women still standing there doing nothing, she shook her head slightly.

"Since everyone can't discuss a result, there's no need to waste time here."

Leaving those words, Istaroth departed; she prepared to go sneak a look herself.

"What a pity, Asmodeus actually dodged it." Rhinedottir teased, then also vanished from here.

She also prepared to set off to take a look.

After all, this wasn't the Xuan Ge they knew; better leave a good impression first, then develop things slowly.

Seeing her two colleagues leave, Ruo Na Wa let out a dissatisfied cold snort: "Since you've all chosen to defy the Will, I'll go myself."

Liyue, beside the Jintai at the Rite of Descension site, Keqing held the Painting that once belonged to General Shogun, constantly sizing up the man before her.

"Is this Painting you?" Keqing flipped the Painting around to face Xuan Ge.

Xuan Ge glanced at it: "It's me."

"Is that so?" Keqing raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah." Xuan Ge nodded, "Back then, I was still very thin."

"Then that's not you." Keqing frowned.

"You say he's not me?" Xuan Ge likewise frowned in response.

"No." Keqing nodded.

"I say he's also not me." Xuan Ge looked at the Painting again, instantly stepped back several paces, "This fucking isn't me at all!"

"Keqing, he's not General Shogun; you're overthinking it."

Ningguang reached out and took back her treasured Shogun Painting, then smiled: "Mr. Xuan Ge, it was our suspicion; we've delayed your time — please forgive us."

Ningguang offered an apology and also signaled to Zhongli.

"No matter; it's procedure, I understand perfectly." Xuan Ge waved his hand; he didn't blame Ningguang and Keqing — after all, this face of his really does look awfully rebellious.

Keqing told him some deeds of General Shogun.

With only eight thousand private troops he nearly conquered Teyvat, and incidentally kicked Abyssal Monsters around like dogs.

These contents are actually all recorded in textbooks; they're all positive.

But where there's positive there's ambiguity: General Shogun campaigned across the Seven Nations, slaughtered innocents — that's also in the records.

Although Keqing explained that the innocents referred to the noble classes, those who refused to obey or resisted General Shogun, Xuan Ge didn't care.

All's fair in war; this is war.

Since those people didn't want to accept Dragon Merit, what else could he say — if he didn't kill them, what would he keep them for?

"Hehe, Mr. Xuan Ge is indeed straightforward."

Ningguang cast a few more glances at the Five-clawed Golden Dragon Pattern on his robes.

"We still have matters to handle; if Mr. Xuan Ge has time, you may come find me at Yuheng."

"Mm." Xuan Ge nodded.

Seeing Ningguang and the others leave, Hu Tao adjusted her hat, then said: "Alright, since the misunderstanding's cleared, let's head back to Wangsheng Funeral Parlor and prepare."

She had just accepted a super huge order — Ningguang entrusted her to see off Rex Lapis.

That's wonderful; Wangsheng Funeral Parlor has wanted to send Rex Lapis off for generations.

As the th Director, she can finally live up to her predecessors' hopes.

"Oh right." Hu Tao looked at Xuan Ge, "Since you and Zhongli know each other, do you want to come to Wangsheng Funeral Parlor as a Guest Elder?"

"Me?" Xuan Ge looked left and right, then pointed at himself.

"That's right, there's no one else beside you?" Hu Tao set her hands on her hips, watching Xuan Ge put on an act.

"I don't really understand the Ten Kings' Office... uh... I mean Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's business...."

Xuan Ge somewhat wanted to refuse; carrying coffins and such... can this Xianzhou Emperor really do that?

"Hey, Xuan Ge, don't you underestimate yourself."

Hu Tao reached up and touched the golden dragon patterns on him, then smiled with satisfaction.

"You just stand at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor entrance, drink some tea, read the paper, and it's guaranteed to bring Wangsheng Funeral Parlor a lot of business."

Xuan Ge's eyelid twitched; he found it somewhat hard to keep up with Hu Tao's train of thought.

She wants to use my looks to attract customers for Wangsheng Funeral Parlor?

This... is she serious?

Seeing Xuan Ge hesitate for a moment, Zhongli spoke up with a suggestion: "Xuan Ge, if you have no other business, you might as well stay at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor for a while; after all, you also need a place to live."

"Right, right." Hu Tao nodded.

"As long as you don't live like an old man like Zhongli, and don't send over any strange bills, I'll allow it."

"How about it, good or not?" Hu Tao blinked her Peach Blossom Eyes.

"Alright then, I'll stay for a while." Seeing Hu Tao like this, Xuan Ge thought, what else is there to say? Agree first, talk later.

"Yay yay~" Hu Tao happily grabbed Xuan Ge's hand, then also grabbed Zhongli's hand.

"Quick quick, once we're done with our business, I'll treat you to Xin Yue Xuan to welcome you."

"Ah, since we're talking about wind——"

A voice sounding like a young boy's rang out; Xuan Ge and Zhongli both looked over at the same time.

"Then I guess I've arrived?"

A youth appeared, wearing white stockings and a green hat, with short braided pigtails on both sides of his cheeks.

"Heya heya, let me see, who is this General?" Venti directly reached out and started touching Xuan Ge.

"Hey hey, who are you?" Xuan Ge, pulling Hu Tao and dragging Zhongli along, retreated several steps.

"Oh my, are you shy?" Seeing Xuan Ge display such a posture, Venti pressed close again.

But he had just taken his first step when a large hand directly clamped onto his shoulder.

Venti: "..."

"Uh... hehehe, Old Man, my shoulder is indeed a bit sore, but aren't you using a bit too much force?"

Venti perceived a chill behind him; he mechanically turned his head.

He saw Zhongli with a darkened face, and those boundless killing-intent golden pupils were staring dead at him.

"Hehe." Zhongli didn't speak, merely watching him with a faint smile.

"Looking at your getup...." Hu Tao sized up Venti, "Are you from Mondstadt?"

"Hehe, thanks to the beautiful and kind-hearted Hall Master Hu Tao for resolving the situation."

As Venti spoke, he tried to break free from Zhongli's palm, but that hand seemed as if welded onto him.

No choice, Venti could only use his ultimate move.

"Brother Xuan, your Zhongli is bullying me again."

"Hey hey hey, what nonsense are you spouting?" Xuan Ge immediately explained, "I'm telling you, don't slander me, my sexual orientation is perfectly normal!"

"Hm?" Venti blinked, looking at Xuan Ge with some confusion, "Did you forget the Rock King Empress?"

The moment those words were spoken, Venti directly cried out in pain.

"Ah! Zhongli, you're using too much force!!"