Chapter 27 – The Childe's Dinner Party

Qiu Bai and Zhongli exchanged a glance, both understanding the other’s meaning.

“What?!”

“Lady Ningguang actually invited Mr. Qiu Bai and Mr. Zhongli to the Jade Chamber!”

The surrounding citizens of Liyue all expressed shock.

After all, even a single scrap of information that fell from Ningguang’s Jade Chamber was enough for the business circles of Liyue Harbor to pay a hefty price to obtain it!

And the fact that these two Consultants of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor were personally invited by Lady Ningguang was enough to demonstrate the weight these two individuals carried.

“Lady Yuheng, I am accustomed to a leisurely life.”

“Usually, I enjoy admiring flowers and taking walks with birds, and have no intention of taking up any official position.”

“Perhaps you could ask my old friend here instead.”

Zhongli calmly began to explain.

If he were to go to the Jade Chamber to assist Ningguang, wouldn’t that be exactly his area of expertise? How could he continue to enjoy his retirement life then?

“This Consultant Zhongli of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor appears young and knowledgeable.”

“But to waste his time like this is unlike Rex Lapis and the Adeptus Lords, who have fought for Liyue for thousands of years.”

“Keqing will definitely follow in the footsteps of Rex Lapis and the Adeptus Lords.”

Keqing thought to herself.

Then, with an unchanged expression, she looked at Zhongli and said with a smile.

“Mr. Zhongli truly leads a carefree life.”

Upon hearing this, Zhongli’s mouth twitched slightly, and he glanced at Qiu Bai, who was snickering beside him.

“Haha, I am indeed accustomed to idleness. I must thank the Tianquan for thinking so highly of me.”

Keqing then turned her gaze to Qiu Bai.

“What is Mr. Qiu Bai’s opinion?”

Keqing asked Qiu Bai softly.

“Once we finish our business, I will naturally make a trip to the Jade Chamber.”

Qiu Bai said to Keqing with a smile.

Hearing this, Keqing smiled slightly. This Mr. Qiu Bai seemed more responsible than Mr. Zhongli.

“Whenever Mr. Qiu Bai wishes to come, you may find Baishi and Baiwen at Yujing Terrace.”

“They will take you to the Jade Chamber.”

Keqing said to Qiu Bai with a smile.

“I will not disturb you two any further, then. Farewell.”

After saying this, Keqing walked toward the other end of the street. She still had to busy herself with planning the city’s architecture.

The surrounding vendors, seeing Keqing leave, all began to think of ways to befriend Qiu Bai.

However, their intentions had long been seen through by Qiu Bai.

He then walked briskly with Zhongli toward the Liuli Pavilion.

As soon as they arrived at the Liuli Pavilion, two employees stood before them.

They respectfully said to Qiu Bai and Zhongli, “Gentlemen, Lord Childe has been waiting for you for some time. Please come in.”

The two employees smiled and pushed the door open.

Qiu Bai and Zhongli then walked inside.

Upon entering, Qiu Bai looked up and saw a man sitting in a chair beside the table.

His eyes seemed devoid of light, and his attire resembled that of a nobleman’s son.

At this moment, the man wore a faint smile as he looked at Qiu Bai and Zhongli.

“Well, if it isn’t Tartaglia?”

Qiu Bai thought to himself. Among the Fatui Harbingers, the only one who left a favorable impression on Qiu Bai was the man before him.

“Mr. Qiu Bai, Mr. Zhongli, please have a seat.”

Tartaglia stood up and said to Qiu Bai and Zhongli with a smile.

After all, the two guests today were somewhat unexpected, as he hadn’t anticipated Qiu Bai’s arrival.

The Fatui’s intelligence network had also gathered information about this Mr. Qiu Bai.

“Appeared suddenly at a certain point in time?”

“And to be friends with Zhongli, truly fascinating. I’d love to spar with him!”

Childe’s heart was also filled with surprise at this mysterious Mr. Qiu Bai.

Upon hearing Childe finish speaking, Qiu Bai and Zhongli didn’t stand on ceremony and simply took seats at the nearby table.

“Wait a moment, there’s still one guest who hasn’t arrived.”

“I’ll go find her first.”

Childe said with a smile to Qiu Bai and Zhongli.

He then left the room, while Qiu Bai and Zhongli were in no hurry and began sipping tea.

After all, there’s a saying in Liyue: starting to eat before everyone has arrived is somewhat disrespectful.

After waiting for a short while, Childe returned with a golden-haired damselette, dressed in peculiar yet luxurious clothing.

Beside the golden-haired damselette floated a round, somewhat adorable little spirit.

The newcomers were none other than Lumine and Paimon.

“Qiu Bai, what are you doing here!”

Paimon quickly flew up to Qiu Bai, asking in surprise.

Lumine was also somewhat surprised to see Qiu Bai here.

“Qiu Bai, I didn’t expect to see you here.”

Though a bit startled, Lumine still greeted Qiu Bai with a smile.

“Well, if it isn’t the Traveler and Paimon! Long time no see!”

Qiu Bai waved his hand, smiling as he greeted Lumine and Paimon.

“So Mr. Qiu Bai knows the Traveler.”

“That’s even better, since it’s easier to work with acquaintances.”

Childe also smiled, addressing both sides.

Then, turning his head to look at Zhongli beside him, he said, “Let me introduce you.”

“This is Mr. Zhongli, Consultant of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. Like Consultant Qiu Bai, he’s also a man of the underworld.”

“Man of the underworld?”

Upon hearing this, Lumine asked somewhat uncertainly, “The kind of underworld I’m thinking of?”

“Exactly the kind of underworld you’re thinking of.”

Qiu Bai, holding back laughter, slowly spoke up.

Hearing Qiu Bai’s confirmation, Lumine and Paimon were startled. They truly hadn’t expected Qiu Bai to be involved in such things!

“Hmm! In Liyue, industries like the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor often have no choice but to deal with some underworld business.”

Childe said to Lumine, who was sitting obediently beside him.

“And we, the Fatui, well…”

“We’ve always enjoyed dealing with these… friends who walk in the shadows.”

After hearing Childe’s explanation, Paimon beside them said fearfully, “W-walk in the shadows…”

“A pleasure to meet you both. I’ve heard of your exploits in Mondstadt.”

Zhongli looked at Lumine and Paimon and said calmly.

“Man of the underworld, shadows, sending people to the afterlife… Wow!”

“Could it be that the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor organization is…”

They had forgotten to ask Qiu Bai earlier what the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor did. Now that they knew, it sent a shiver down their spines.

“Indeed, just as you suspect.”

Zhongli responded calmly.

“Eek!”

Paimon covered her mouth with both hands, clearly quite frightened.

“The Wangsheng Funeral Parlor is an organization that oversees funeral rites, dedicated to peacefully sending people to the afterlife.”

“Hahahaha!”

“I can’t take it anymore!”

Qiu Bai, who had been holding it in, finally burst out laughing.

Paimon and Lumine looked at Qiu Bai with annoyance.

“You jerk, you just wanted to mess with us for fun, didn’t you?”

Lumine pouted as she looked at Qiu Bai, while Paimon crossed her arms and gave him a disdainful look.

“Alright, alright, I’ll stop teasing you.”

“My bad.”

Qiu Bai waved his hand with a smile. After all, Paimon’s expression just now had been absolutely hilarious.

“Haha, could it be that you’ve mistaken Mr. Zhongli and Mr. Qiu Bai for assassins?”

Childe also chuckled softly beside them.

“Among our Fatui friends, there are indeed many assassins, but the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor isn’t in that line of work—at least not openly.”