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

"Please leave me alone!"

Please, you absolutely must not come near me again!

The two sentences kept echoing in Zhongli's mind.

Based on past experience, humans treasured his help and strictly followed his arrangements without ever complaining.

Why would travelers resist?

"Was she speaking from the heart, or was she just saying it out of anger because she was worried about me?" Zhongli pondered for a long time but couldn't come to a conclusion, so he had no choice but to find a quiet place to drown his sorrows in wine.

The moonlight was cold and clear, and the pavilion, which had been in disrepair for many years, was filled with the smell of rotting wood.

Few people know that Guyun Pavilion has such a scenic spot.

Zhongli hadn't brought the traveler here before. He had planned to bring her for a picnic after the barbecue stove was ready, but he didn't have the time.

The rate of wear and tear exceeded his expectations.

In the distance, the Rock of No Form is covered with cracks in every rock, and its core sometimes glitters and sometimes dims.

This foreshadows the physical condition of this ancient god.

"It's better that she can't see these things..." Zhongli drank a cup of wine to himself.

Last week he almost committed an unforgivable sin; had he not been unaware of the details of human reproduction, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

Even though he hadn't succeeded in the end, he couldn't forgive himself, while the traveler had forgiven him for everything. Her actions made him feel even more ashamed.

Zhongli feared he might actually commit a sin by staying by the traveler's side, and he felt it was time to let go, and that was all he could do.

Moreover, this world is too dangerous for travelers; it's best not to hold onto any lingering thoughts.

The waves crashed against the beach rocks, causing the ground to tremble. The Hilichurls and lizards fled inland, as if something was about to emerge from here.

"You cannot appear before her." Zhongli stood up and formed a hand seal, and talismans woven from light appeared throughout the Lonely Cloud Pavilion.

"Ugh..." Red blood vessels appeared in Zhongli's eyes and between his fingers: "No, the time is not right yet!"

He looked toward the direction of the giant rock abyss.

*

A huge abyss of rock.

After traversing intricate tunnels and winding through dense stone forests, we arrived at the deepest part of the abyss, a place where the sun never rises again...

An unknown number of times a rock prison was built, with chains covered in talismans and a huge stone coffin engraved with sealing patterns. It was the final resting place of the rock god Morax.

*

Ding Ding Ding Ding!

Early in the morning, an old-fashioned alarm clock woke the sleeping traveler. She reluctantly got up to go to work.

After their argument last week, Zhongli gave her an alarm clock, explaining that his body needed rest and he couldn't fulfill his duty of waking up the traveler every day.

After getting dressed and washing up, the traveler was going to work alone for the first time, and felt a little lonely without anyone to accompany him.

The streets of Liyue Harbor are still as lively as ever, and the morning market is a must-visit for Liyue locals looking to buy breakfast.

The traveler bought two steamed buns and a bowl of soy milk, and sat down at the table and chairs prepared by the vendor to eat.

"Excuse me, miss, could we share a table?" Xingqiu asked. Chongyun was following behind him.

"Please go ahead," the traveler said without refusing.

"Thank you very much then." Xingqiu and Chongyun sat down next to the traveler.

"Eat quickly, I still need to go to Guyun Pavilion later. Last night, I heard from the residents living around that there were strange phenomena, as if ghosts were causing trouble," Chongyun said.

"There are no ghosts or monsters. Have you forgotten the last time you went to Qingce Village to catch a ghost, only to find that the ghost was just a tattered piece of clothing?" Xingqiu teased.

"Alright, stop talking. There are other people here." Chongyun scratched his head sheepishly.

The traveler smiled at them, finished his meal in a few bites, and said, "Please continue your conversation, I'll be going now."

“Look, look, you’ve driven them away,” Xingqiu said.

The traveler felt that the journey to work today was more difficult than usual.

The distance from the hotel to the temple seemed more difficult to walk than usual.

I ate breakfast too quickly, and my stomach is a little uncomfortable.

If Zhongli were by their side, the journey would be much shorter, and he would remind travelers to eat slowly.

Xiangling from Wanmintang saw a traveler passing by and called out to her, "Hey, traveler! It's my shift today, and there are some new dishes! Remember to come and eat with Mr. Zhongli!"

"Okay!" the traveler replied.

Guoba, standing next to Xiangling, waved its two little paws to greet the traveler.

The traveler simply waved goodbye and continued on his way.

"The traveler's acting a bit strange today. Did he have a fight with Mr. Zhongli?" Xiangling discussed with Guoba. Guoba agreed with Xiangling's point of view and nodded vigorously.

*

Hall of Rebirth.

Before even stepping inside, I heard Hu Tao's voice: "Old Meng, is the recruitment notice ready? If we can't recruit anyone soon, we won't be able to finish our orders at the Rebirth Hall."

"Good morning." The traveler greeted Hu Tao and Lao Meng as he entered the room.

"Lu Ren, you've arrived! Just in time. In a bit, post the recruitment notice for the Hall of Rebirth on all the notice boards." Hu Tao handed a stack of notices to the traveler.

"Why are you suddenly hiring new employees?" the traveler asked.

"Huh? You didn't know? The guest elder resigned, so I, the head of this hall, have to find someone to fill the position." Hu Tao was also surprised. How come Lu Ren knew about it later than she did?

"Resign?" the traveler almost shouted.

"Didn't he tell you? Weren't you also resigning? The guest told me you were leaving this month." Hu Tao was also confused. These two were always together, how come she didn't know?

"I think they did say that. I'll go post it now." The traveler grabbed the recruitment notice and ran out.

"Hey! Wait a minute, you didn't bring the glue!" Hu Tao reminded him.

The traveler, clutching the recruitment poster, rushed towards the inn, losing countless copies along the way. But she couldn't care less about that now; she had to find Zhongli and find out why he had suddenly resigned.

Outside the hotel, a waitress named Xiuhua called out to the traveler, "Miss! Wait a moment."

"What's wrong?" the traveler asked.

“Mr. Zhongli has checked out. He told me he would return your deposit. Here, take this.” Xiuhua handed a heavy bag of Mora to the traveler.

"Checked out?" The traveler's heart skipped a beat, and the bad premonition grew stronger.

"Yes, don't you also have to return your apartment at the end of the month?" Xiuhua was also confused.

"Yes, that's right." The traveler finished speaking and ran upstairs.

When she reached the sixth floor, she stood panting outside Zhong Li's room.

She knocked on the door, but there was no response, so she simply pushed the door open...

Everything was gone—the things on the desk, the things in the display case, all traces of his life…

On the tea table are a brand-new tea set, a tin of tea, and a letter.

"friend:

The moon waxes and wanes, flowers bloom and fade, and life has always been filled with sorrow and parting.

Even with deep affection and a strong bond, we must eventually part ways.

It would be inappropriate to inform them by letter, but it would be difficult to bring up the topic of parting.

I hope my old friend won't take offense.

When the road home is cleared, I will ask a friend to see me off.

The wind and rain have dispersed; where have they drifted to?

This parting may be the last time we meet. I'm giving you a tea set and a box of tea to keep you company, as a token of my appreciation. Please accept them.

From then on, all contact and traces vanished, leaving only the verdant spring mountains and misty grasses.

Zhongli

"Ha..." The traveler sat on the ground, unable to shake off the feeling for a long time. Her journey had come to an end here.

*

Tianheng Mountain.

Zhongli stood at the highest point of the mountain, looking in the direction of the inn.

The wind blew his long hair, and his eyes were full of reluctance.

A moment later, he turned and disappeared into the forest.