I, the leader of the esoteric sect, am doing great things in the infinite world!

In other words, a widespread epidemic led to widespread famine in Liyue.

At that time, the healers who were saving lives were inspired by the raging fire: they must raise a crimson flame to purify all evil in the world.

Burial was no longer used; instead, cremation was adopted.

This was the earliest sacrificial ceremony in Liyue, and the earliest prototype of the Hall of Rebirth. Although the healer also turned into a butterfly in the crimson flames, the staff he used to start the fire was left behind and became a treasured heirloom passed down through generations of the Hall of Rebirth.

Those were once firewood used to start a fire, and also torches that proclaimed the light.

Its name is... the Staff of Homa.

It means burning or fire sacrifice, used as a metaphor to burn away the deluded mind with the fire of wisdom, and to cleanse all evil spirits and heretics with great power and wisdom.

Among the seven gods, the fire god is also known as Agni in Sumeru. When the flames rise, it is believed that they have reached the mouths of the gods, who rely on them to subdue demons and bestow blessings upon mankind. Therefore, fire is also regarded as the mouth of the gods, which is the origin of the term "flaming mouth" in Liyue.

There are five methods of homa: pacifying disasters, increasing benefits, respecting and loving, attracting and subduing. As a result, the shrine of rebirth also has the alternative name of "fire samadhi".

Seeing Hu Tao's expression turn serious, Ke Qing raised her hand and waved it to indicate that the situation wasn't that serious: "Yes, I've already sent someone to invite Dr. Bai Shu from Bu Bu Lu. With him there, everything is reassuring."

"Oh, Bai Shu." Hu Tao suddenly became slouch, collapsing into the chair with a whoosh. "So you wanted me here to examine that female corpse?"

“Very well.” Zhongli’s reply was concise and to the point. “The water source of Liyue concerns every household and cannot be ignored.”

Ke Qing got up and led them to the back hall, explaining as they went, "Just now, um, Mr. Li said that this female corpse might have been murdered, but after being in the water for so long, it's hard for me to see any signs of foul play..."

Before the words were even finished, a foul stench wafted out from inside a coffin.

"Wow, this smell is awful!" Yan Fei wanted to open the window, but Ke Qing stopped her.

"I'm sorry, there are too many people and too much noise outside right now, so it's not possible."

“This wasn’t mentioned in the contract, so we have to pay extra.” Yan Fei muttered as she took a few steps back. Upon hearing her words, Zhong Li smiled.

Even though he hadn't signed a contract with "Emperor Rock King," this little immortal was fulfilling the contract in this way, which was good.

"It was indeed murder."

Before Ke Qing could explain anything, Hu Tao retreated from the coffin. She took out two gloves from her pocket, then reached into the pale female corpse's neck and spread them open, pointing to the clearly visible ligature mark.

Upon hearing this, Ke Qing couldn't help but turn around to look at Li Lin, only to find that Li Lin maintained his cold and profound expression, and had somehow appeared behind Yan Fei, reaching out to touch those jade-like antlers.

As if sensing that Ke Qing was watching him, Li Lin subtly withdrew his hand, clapped his hands lightly, and made a profound and unfathomable gesture.

Having witnessed the entire process, Keqing wondered if there was something wrong with her eyes.

Shen He, standing next to Li Lin, rolled his eyes almost imperceptibly.

The applause drew everyone's attention.

"Oh my? What brilliant idea does Mr. Li have?" Hu Tao chimed in, "I heard from Ke Qing that you were the first to discover that he murdered this body."

“I think you’ve misunderstood something.” Li Lin pushed up his non-existent black-rimmed glasses. “All the corpses in Liyue Harbor are handled by your Hall of Rebirth, so what about this corpse?”

Hu Tao's expression froze, and she turned to look at Zhong Li: "When I'm not around... never mind, asking you is useless."

She's good at slacking off, but isn't Zhongli good at it too? This street hustler who eats and shops everywhere keeps his money in the accounts of the Rebirth Hall and the Northern Bank.

Zhongli remained expressionless, as if he wasn't the one who had sabotaged Hu Tao.

“If this woman’s body was murdered first, then sent to the Hall of Rebirth, and then stolen and thrown into the sewers…” Ke Qing gritted her teeth, “I will definitely bring the murderer to justice.”

“That’s right.” Yan Fei’s antlers on both sides of her head turned slightly red. She took the heavy handwritten law book from her side. “For both moral and legal reasons, I will not let this kind of murderer get away with it. He must be severely punished!”

In the solemn atmosphere, a series of popping sounds rang out around Li Lin.

Although they couldn't smell anything because of the stronger stench of the corpse, the scene itself was embarrassing enough.

"Zhongli, why did you fart?" Li Lin maintained his serious expression, looked down and turned to look at Zhongli.

The crowd exchanged glances several times, unable to determine who had farted.

Could it really be Zhongli...?

"Master, why don't you go back and look up the recent roster of the Hall of Rebirth?" Zhongli, unable to bear the harassment any longer, was forced to change the subject.

He didn't want to argue with Li Lin about this matter. Rather than facing the ruthless Master Li, he would rather fight the Vortex Demon God Oser for three hundred rounds.

The group returned to the sunny and fresh front hall, as being with a rotting, stinking corpse was a real test of their mental fortitude.

Soon, Hu Tao and another man with a white snake wrapped around his neck, who looked very Indian, arrived together.

"Hehe, I ran into Bai Shu on the way, so we came together." Hu Tao waved the roster in her hand.

"Yes, Miss Hu Tao has already told me about it." Bai Shu pushed up his glasses and smiled gently. "This is indeed something that cannot be ignored, and I will do my best."

“Very good.” Zhongli stood by the window with his hands behind his back, nodding in approval of Bai Shu’s actions.

"Mr. Zhongli is here too, that's wonderful; ah, this is Miss Yanfei, I've heard so much about you; Lady Keqing, we're old acquaintances..."

After Bai Shu entered, he clasped his hands in greeting to everyone in the room. When he arrived at Li Lin and Shen He's table, he paused slightly, his expression slightly surprised.

“This young lady looks somewhat familiar… I’m so forgetful,” Bai Shu said with a gentle smile.

“Idiot, this is obviously that violent and cold-blooded woman. Bai Shu, your memory is really bad.” The white snake companion wrapped around his neck made a crisp voice.

“Chang Sheng,” Bai Shu said softly, then bowed to Shen He with clasped hands, “Miss Shen He, I’m so sorry… Chang Sheng was a bit reckless.”

"It's nothing. I wouldn't hold a grudge against a little snake." Shen He's aloof expression showed no anger.

"Hey, who are you calling a little snake—"

Changsheng wanted to say something, but Baishu grabbed his neck.

With a slightly apologetic smile, Bai Shu approached Li Lin: "This gentleman looks unfamiliar. May I ask...?"

Li Lin narrowed his eyes slightly, and after a moment he suddenly spoke tentatively: "I was playing in the mud in Northeast China?"

185 In short, they lack martial ethics.

Changsheng and Baishu exchanged a glance, not understanding what trick Li Lin was playing.

Seeing that Bai Shu did not start dancing upon hearing the call, Li Lin sighed in disappointment and turned to Hu Tao: "Look at yours."

“I’ve already checked. There’s only one female corpse reported to the Hall of Rebirth recently.” Hu Tao flipped through the black and red book in her hand, reaching the last two pages. “It’s the mother of an ordinary family in Liyue Harbor, named Huan Nian, but she hasn’t been sent for cremation yet.”

"Poor thing, Hua Nian has always been an ordinary adventurer, just to raise her two children. Her son and daughter are named Yi Zhu and Yi Xian, and they are only ten years old."

"An ordinary family?"

Ke Qing paced back and forth in the hall, puzzled, then suddenly looked up at Li Lin, "This shouldn't be happening—"

She clearly remembered that when she pulled the body out of the water, she was wearing a bracelet made of top-grade amber and night-blooming jasper on her wrist; judging by the style, it was a limited edition from the time-honored brand Mingxingzhai this year...

Ke Qing remembered this incident because when she wanted to buy the remaining three pieces of jewelry, she found that Ning Guang had bought them all. During that time, the woman kept wearing the three pieces of jewelry and dangling them in front of her.

Shaking his head to shake off the inexplicable grievances in his heart, Master Carver pinched his eye sockets, something about to burst out.

"Can Hua Nian afford such expensive jewelry?" A voice, like a howling wind, rang out from the window. Li Lin had already shooed Zhong Li away and was leaning against the window, his black eyes as deep as the night. "When we went in just now, we saw the clothes she was wearing. Don't tell me Li Yue has become so wealthy that it has fully achieved the Teyvat standard of living."

"If it's not Hua Nian, then who could it be?" Ke Qing bit her nails, her mind racing. After a moment, she looked up and called over a staff member from the General Affairs Department. "Tu Mi, investigate the recently missing people, focusing on wealthy women."

"Also, have Star House provide a list of those who purchased the latest limited-edition jewelry, under the name of the Liyue Seven Stars!"

Before the order was officially implemented, a sharp cry suddenly came from outside, followed by the sounds of gongs, drums, suonas, firecrackers, and mourning.

An old, sorrowful voice rang out from outside the door: "My daughter—"

Dozens of people cried out in unison, "My son—"

Ke Qing's eyebrows twitched, and she felt a surge of anger rising within her: "This is the General Affairs Department, how dare they cause trouble here?!"

She had an urge to draw her sword and go out, but as one of the Seven Stars of Liyue, it would be beneath her dignity to go out in person.

Fortunately, the authority of the General Affairs Department was quickly put to use. Dozens of Qianyan soldiers arrived in full armor and quickly took away and detained those who were illegally setting off fireworks and firecrackers, burning paper money and wailing in the city. Chiayi walked in with an old man dressed in cloud-patterned satin.

"Lady Keqing, it was my dereliction of duty," Jia Yi said in a low voice. "While maintaining order, someone suddenly started organizing an attack on the defensive line. I wasn't careful enough, and they rushed over..."

At this point, Chia-yi's eyes sharpened, and he glared fiercely at the old man beside him, whose face was full of grief: "Lord Keqing, should we also throw him into prison?"

"Put me in jail? Fine!" Upon hearing this, the old man instantly erupted in anger, plopped down on the ground, and began to howl, "My wife is dead, my daughter is dead, so be it, so be it, you bastard, just take my head along with her!"

Ke Qing looked around helplessly and gestured for Jia Yi to take De'an Gong away.

There was nothing she could do; when an old man, halfway to the grave, started acting strangely, she couldn't handle him.

"Wait a minute," Li Lin suddenly said.

Chia-yi looked at Ke-qing with confusion, then at Li-lin. Seeing that Ke-qing did not object, he brought De-an Gong back to the main hall.

......

When Duke De'an returned to the hall under the leadership of Qianyan Army, the atmosphere suddenly changed.

On the left armchair, Hu Tao, the young head of the Rebirth Hall, idly flipped through the roster in her hand, her two long, fair legs crossed, which was particularly eye-catching.

Beside her, whose exact age was impossible to discern, Zhongli, adorned with a beautiful jade pendant, was taking a sip of red tea, exuding an extraordinary air.

As De'an calmed down, his heart skipped a beat: the former was Hu Tao, the young man who had taken over the entire funeral industry in Liyue Harbor as the head of the Resurrection Hall; the latter was Zhong Li, a mysterious but knowledgeable and wealthy guest elder who was highly respected in all walks of life in Liyue Harbor...

When he shifted his gaze to the side, he involuntarily broke out in a cold sweat.

In the armchair on the right, Yanfei, the most renowned lawyer in Liyue Harbor, was casually gesturing with an ancient-looking scale. The scale, said to have been bestowed by the Geo Archon, was suspended in the air, emitting a faint glow.

In the two chairs near the center of the hall, the one on the left was occupied by a woman with a full head of white hair and a distant look, who looked remarkably like a legendary immortal; while the one on the right was occupied by Keqing, the Jade Balance Star of the Seven Stars of Liyue.

Behind them, the physician Bai Shu from Bubulu was teasing the small white snake wrapped around his neck.