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

“Deputy Hall Master, calm down… Mr. Zhongli is a guest now.” Old Meng stopped the traveler.

"I won't hold a self-deceiving funeral for you!"

To be fair, the traveler had already been very restrained; he didn't even touch the table or flip it.

She only lost her temper a little. Even though she could have turned the entire Rebirth Hall upside down right now, the traveler was far too polite to do so.

“Master Hu already promised me,” Zhongli said calmly.

“That’s your business. Master, I won’t do this job. Please hand it over to another ceremonial attendant.” The traveler stood up.

"Deputy Hall Master, please wait a moment," he called to the traveler.

"Is there... anything else?"

My heart aches terribly, I can't breathe, but not a single tear will fall.

"The beneficiary of the will should leave it."

"I don't want it! I don't want your things."

“Lu Ren…”

"Vice Hall Master, please stay..."

He clearly said yesterday that he would always be by my side, so why is he having a funeral today?

Why not bury them together?

I might as well lie down in there too.

"Traveler, please stay." Zhongli walked up behind the traveler.

"If Master Hu hadn't gone to call me, were you planning to leave without saying goodbye again?"

"I said goodbye to you last night, but you were too drunk to hear me, young friend."

He always does this, saying important things when I'm half asleep.

"I do not know anything."

"You know now."

"You clearly said you would stay by my side."

“After the funeral, every inch of land you walk on will be me.”

"Do you... know why I came back?"

"Let me take you through the inventory of the estate."

"I don't want it."

"It's alright, if you don't want to accept it, I'll just throw it away. But you haven't been to my place yet, so let me take you there."

*

Qingyun Peak.

The traveler had come here with the young master before, but was thrown down by him.

Even after returning to reality, I still feel lingering fear when exploring the map.

On the desk, there was only a dust-song pot.

"One Dust Song Pot." The traveler wrote down the name and estimated price of the item in the register of estates at the Hall of Rebirth without expression. "Anything else, Mr. Zhongli?"

Some deceased individuals have requested burial items as part of their funeral arrangements. Usually, the funeral director has to keep a detailed record of each item to ensure nothing is missing.

Losing burial goods, especially priceless ones, can lead to legal trouble.

"Traveler, there's no need for us to be so distant."

Seeing that the travelers had opened up communication channels, Zhongli would not miss this opportunity.

“Mr. Zhongli, you are a guest of our hall. Regardless of our previous relationship, this matter must be handled officially. Is the advance payment ready? Not a penny less.”

How dare he bring up our relationship?

He suddenly decided to hold a funeral, and I had no idea. Even the people at the funeral parlor knew about it a little earlier than I did. How long is he going to keep playing me for a fool?

"Okay. The rest are in the pot."

"Oh, that's convenient. This pot won't take up much space during the burial, and you'll have more options when choosing a coffin board later."

"Since we're on the topic, besides the style, I'll also explain the materials used for the coffin. It's made of cedar imported from Mondstadt, Otogi wood imported from Inazuma, and Karagu wood imported from Sumeru."

"Of course, the local Liyue sandwood is also very good. But for someone as important as you, I would suggest you buy the most expensive one. If you're happy with your purchase, I'll get a bigger commission."

“Okay,” Zhongli readily agreed.

"Buy two coffins, get one free; double coffins are also on sale. Mr. Zhongli, why don't you find a burial partner? You'll have company on your journey to the underworld." These travelers were quite pleased with themselves after saying this, but heh heh, they're probably getting angry now.

I have a temper too.

He lied to me first, but I didn't hold it against him. He has such a magnanimous heart. He should build me a big temple, or let me sit on the throne of the Rock King Emperor for a few days.

Huh? Why isn't he saying anything?

Did I make this old man angry?

The traveler turned around and found Zhongli standing at the edge of the pavilion, his hands behind his back, seemingly lost in thought.

"Mr. Zhongli?" The traveler took a few steps toward him, and despite his fear, he finally came to his side.

"Traveler, on my final journey, I hope it is you who sees me off."

"I don't care about you."

What final journey? I won't let him leave.

"Fallen leaves return to their roots, and the soul returns to nothingness; this is the way of Heaven. As the deputy head of the Hall of Rebirth, you should understand this principle better than others."

"You're not only lying to me, but you're also trying to lecture me, aren't you?" The traveler, who grew up in a modern PUA environment, is unlikely to be intimidated by such a statement?

"Hehe, my friend, you misunderstand. Since you are unwilling to talk to me today, I have no choice but to find another topic to discuss."

"You know very well why I don't want to talk to you."

"Traveler, please don't be offended. People who are used to parting often don't know how to say goodbye."

"Is it due to wear and tear? Has your body reached its limit?"

"Indeed. On his deathbed, he should return the power of the rock."

“I can help you… I know a way.”

“I’m sorry, but I can’t accept that. I have tried what you’ve said, but it didn’t solve the problem at its root; it only delayed things.”

"I have had enough time over the millennia, and it is time for me to leave. Your time has just begun, and you cannot waste it on someone who does not need time."

"I...I still want to..." There are some things I just can't say.

"Traveler, you've stayed in Liyue long enough."

A traveler should not linger in one place for too long; her destination is always the distant horizon, otherwise she cannot be called a traveler.

But I can't really be considered a traveler, and my destination isn't some distant place.

"You... that's enough for today, I'm tired." Overwhelmed with emotion, the traveler wanted to escape.

He has decided to leave.

Nothing can influence his choices.

The traveler understood; she could not imagine Teyvat without Zhongli.

She needs time to think things through alone.

"Traveler."

Just as the traveler was about to leave, Zhongli grabbed her wrist first.

"Let go." The traveler did not turn around.

Now that you've made your decision, don't give me any more illusions.

"Please wait a moment, there's something else I need to say..."

“Mr. Zhongli, you have made yourself very clear. I understand, so let go.”

Since I'm not part of his grand plan, I might as well leave early.

In a game of chess where the outcome is already decided, giving up early may not be a bad thing.

We're all adults; it's too ugly to hysterically try to stop something.

She turned in the direction she had left, but saw Yan Fei.

"Excuse me, both of you, I seem to have arrived at an inopportune time. Do you have a moment to check the will first?" Yan Fei appeared, carrying a file folder.

She had intended to come back later after seeing this scene.

Unexpectedly, the two seemed to have broken up, and one of them saw her just as he was leaving.

Lawyers are used to this kind of thing and it's not something to panic about.

What's distressing is that things became complicated as soon as she learned Zhongli's true identity.

*

The traveler, Zhongli, and Yanfei sat around the desk.

Yan Fei explained the contents of the will one by one.

Everything Zhongli possessed in his lifetime will be inherited by the traveler.

After recounting the thick stack of wills, Yan Fei didn't even drink a sip of tea before immediately confirming the contents with the two of them.

What is the relationship between the heir and the deceased?

"Miss Traveler is my only family."