Mr. Zhongli, we can't slack off anymore!

"Hey!" Under Zhongli's guidance, the traveler used the spear skills he learned from Yao Yao to drive away a group of Hilichurls.

"￥%*%&%￥￥%!" The Hilichurl shaman cursed and ran away.

Some broken masks were left on the ground.

Unlike in the game, travelers don't need to kill Hilichurls; they just need to drive them away.

Knowing that the Hilichurls were transformed from Kerians, the traveler lacked the courage to kill them.

“You did very well. Next up is the slime.” Zhongli immediately arranged the next trial after the traveler completed the first one.

"Ah..." the traveler sighed.

Fighting Hilichurls in the game is nothing to brag about, but in practice it's exhausting.

"Are you tired? Then let's postpone it to tomorrow," Zhong Li agreed.

"No, no! I was just venting. You finally have time to practice with me, it would be unreasonable for me not to try my best," the traveler quickly explained.

The traveler thought that all teachers like hardworking children, and they must dislike children who don't work hard.

"Just do what you can, and besides, I have free time every day now."

"That's right..."

In the traveler's memory, he was always very idle...

"It looks like it's going to rain, let's go back." Zhongli looked up at the overcast sky.

*

Just before the raindrops fell, the two returned to the Hall of Rebirth.

"Alas, as the saying goes, bad rain is an ominous sign. I, the master of this hall, feel that something bad is about to happen." Before the master of this hall was even seen, his voice reached the traveler's ears.

Outside, the rain was pouring down and it was pitch black, while inside, dozens of white candles were placed as if to summon a spirit.

The hall master, Hu Tao, stood among the candles, his face terrifying.

"There's such a saying in Liyue?" the traveler asked Zhongli.

"I've never heard of it," Zhongli replied crisply.

"In this situation, why don't we light some candles and gather together to tell ghost stories?" Hu Tao suggested.

"Alright then." The traveler was used to agreeing with the shopkeeper.

"I'll follow Master Hu's arrangements." Zhong Li wasn't going to spoil the mood.

"Then I'll start!" Hu Tao said enthusiastically.

"There was once an oil seller who was so busy with business that he was late for home and only remembered to go home at midnight."

"That day was also a torrential rainy night. He walked quickly with short steps, passing through a dark alley. In the alley, there was a house with a blue lamp lit."

“A beautiful woman at the door beckoned him to come in and take shelter from the rain. The oil seller already had a wife and children and should have avoided suspicion, but the rain was so heavy that day and the way home was so difficult to walk. The beautiful woman also aroused his evil intentions, so he went.”

Suddenly, lightning flashed and thunder roared in the sky!

A deafening clap of thunder sounded, fitting the occasion. The traveler, involuntarily drawn closer to Zhongli by the deafening roar.

"The thunder startled the oil seller awake. He suddenly realized his mistake and turned to run away, but the path he had come from had turned into a high wall!"

“Looking back, there are no houses or beauties left in that alley; only deeper, darker lanes… How about that? Scared you, huh?” Hu Tao asked excitedly.

"As expected of Hall Master Hu." Zhong Li praised him against his will; he truly understood the hierarchy perfectly.

"How about you go next, Mr. Lü?"

The boss has designated someone, so the subordinates certainly don't dare to refuse.

"My hometown also has many ghost stories. Have you heard the story of the red rope?" The traveler began to tell his own adapted ghost story...

five minutes later.

"You can't judge a book by its cover. I didn't expect you to be such a good ghost storyteller. I, the master, accept this as a win. Tell me another one, and another one!" Hu Tao listened with great interest.

"Then let me tell you a story about embroidered shoes!" the traveler began again.

ten minutes later.

"I am the head of the Hall of Rebirth, I am not afraid at all! Next, next!" Hu Tao shivered, her plum blossom eyes sparkling, even more eager for the traveler's story.

"Next... let's tell the story of the toilet." The traveler began, adapting the story as he went...

ten minutes later.

“That traveler…accompany me to the outhouse.” Hu Tao’s eyes darted away.

"Don't worry, there are no ghosts in the world," the traveler reassured him.

"I am the head of the Hall of Rebirth, how could I be afraid of ghosts? But... you should still come with me."

Hu Tao originally wanted to say that there are ghosts in this world. The original business of the Rebirth Hall was to guide the spirits of the dead to the afterlife. She was also afraid that the arrival of travelers would scare away the new employees.

*

By the time I got off work, the rain had stopped.

The ground was washed clean by the rain, and the air was filled with the smell of earth.

"You're old enough to drink now, aren't you?" Zhongli asked.

"Yes," the traveler replied.

However, she hadn't tasted Liyue's wine yet, so she wasn't sure what to expect.

"The best time to drink is after the rain. The aroma is rich and the warmth goes down the throat. Paired with the cool evening breeze after the rain, it is truly a human pleasure." Drinking alone can be lonely, so Zhongli invites travelers to drink together.

"That sounds perfect for hot pot, but unfortunately there's no hot pot in Liyue." The traveler felt a little nostalgic for real life.

Hot pot, barbecue, grilled meat, seafood, cake...

"If you have any insights about food, share them with Xiangling, and you'll have them within two days." Seeing her worried, Zhongli offered her a solution.

"How about this, we find a quiet place for a picnic, and I'll cook for you. We can drink, eat hot pot, and enjoy the night view outdoors. What do you think?" the traveler suggested.

“Very good. I’ll prepare the drinks.” Zhongli immediately agreed.

"I'm going to buy some ingredients and dipping sauce. We'll meet outside Liyue Harbor in a bit!" The traveler and Zhongli agreed, and the traveler hurried off to buy the ingredients.

*

Upon arriving at the grocery store, the traveler bought all kinds of meat and vegetables, and asked the vendor to slice the meat thinly and wash it.

Unable to find ready-made dipping sauces and hot pot bases, the traveler had a sudden thought: he could ask Xiangling to help him prepare them, so he immediately headed to Wanmintang.

Xiangling readily agreed to the traveler's request.

They created a variety of dipping sauces in the kitchen and made a base sauce using scallions, ginger, garlic, mushrooms, and chili peppers.

Time was of the essence, so the traveler packed up the dipping sauce and base, leaving Xiangling alone to continue refining her hot pot recipes.

Before leaving, she noticed there was still fried tofu, bean curd sheets, and hand-pulled noodles in the kitchen, and she wanted to buy some from Xiangling. Xiangling refused to charge her, and instead thanked the traveler for teaching her how to cook the new dish, and even gave her some tripe.

Much later than the agreed time, the traveler looked apologetic: "Phew... I'm sorry, I'm late."

She gasped for breath, breathing in the fresh air; she had run all the way from Wanmintang.

"It's alright. While you were away, I found a good spot for a picnic and set up a makeshift stove. Come on, the wine is ready too." Zhongli didn't blame her; instead, she used the time to make preparations.

There is a pavilion on the mountainside of Oozang, from which you can overlook the beautiful scenery through the gaps in the clouds below.

Green mountains and clear waters, fragrant flowers and singing birds.

In the simple stove, the flames, swaying in the wind, brought the water in the hanging pot to a boil.

"Mr. Zhongli, could you move the stone table next to the stove?" the traveler asked.

"Why?" he asked, puzzled.

"The hot pot we're going to eat is cooked and eaten at the same time, so we need to move it over here," the traveler explained.

"Judging from the weather, it looks like it'll rain again soon. Why don't we move the stove?" Zhongli raised his hand, and the rock element particles around him surrounded the stove, which moved smoothly into the pavilion.

"Okay, hot pot is the best when it's raining or snowing." The traveler said as he put the broth into the pot, prepared small dishes of dipping sauce, and added slices of meat when the water boiled.

"Snow... eating in the Dragon Ridge Snow Mountain... isn't that too cold?" Zhongli had never heard of such a way of eating before and found it novel.

"Then let's move a house over there," the traveler joked, watching the meat in the pot turn white. "It's ready to eat, come on, grab some. Xiangling and I have prepared five kinds of dipping sauces, try them one by one."

"Okay." Zhongli picked up a piece of meat, dipped it in the sauce, and put it in his mouth: "The fresh taste. It's different from stir-fried meat, and it has a unique flavor."

"Right? We can come here for a meal every now and then," the traveler said proudly.

The person who invented hot pot must be a genius!

"There's another place to enjoy delicacies," he murmured to himself.

*

The traveler was busy cooking hot pot, and Zhongli poured wine for him.

After a sip of wine, the stomach and intestines warm up, and the mouth retains a mellow and sweet aftertaste.

"It's delicious!" The traveler, who had never tasted Liyue's wine before, was quickly won over.

"Another cup, please." Zhongli refilled the traveler's cup.

After finishing their meal, the two cleaned up the leftover food and sat down on a bench by the pavilion, holding their wine glasses.

A light rain was falling, and a gentle breeze carried the fresh scent of earth to the pavilion.

"I'm a little dizzy." The traveler rubbed her forehead. She couldn't remember how many drinks she had. She was a bit tipsy tonight and hadn't been able to control herself.

"Shall we go back?" Zhongli asked in a low voice. His voice was reassuring, which made the traveler feel even sleepier.

"Let's sit a little longer." Her mind was a little foggy; she only remembered that she would have to say goodbye to him again after returning home, so she wanted to stay a little longer.

She didn't know when, but Zhongli's outer garment was draped over the traveler's shoulders. Her mind became increasingly hazy, and she could even fall asleep while sitting.

Her heavy head slumped uncontrollably to the side, bumping into a warm hand before hitting the wooden pillar. That hand guided her to a more secure place—Zhongli's shoulder.

“You’re drunk, lean on me,” he said.

"Thank you," the traveler mumbled, forgetting all his shyness and excitement.

"No need to be so polite." After pondering for a long time, Zhongli asked, "Traveler, do you understand what people mean by the love between men and women?"

"Romantic feelings? Who have you taken a fancy to? You're a hothead...you can't talk about love...or we'll all be crushed..." The traveler spoke without restraint.

“I just… don’t understand,” he said.

"Hehe, well, let me tell you... love between a man and a woman... it's probably just the feeling of wanting to be together all the time. Whether it's a strength or a weakness, it's the most precious thing in the world in the eyes of the admirer," the traveler said, feeling dizzy.

Things I wouldn't normally say, I can now say fluently.

"I see..." He remembered it.

"Have you fallen for someone?" the traveler asked.

"Go back to sleep. It's getting cold." He avoided the question.