Let me tell you something about returning to Liyue Harbor: it's like going back to a group project you half-finished, except now the school board's watching and your teammate might be an ancient dragon god pretending to be a mild-mannered tea enthusiast.
Anyway, we were back.
I tugged my hood down a little more as we snuck past a couple of Millelith patrols. Lumine walked beside me, her arms crossed like she was ready to throw hands with the next guy who even breathed suspiciously. Paimon floated behind us, doing her best impression of a super stealthy ninja... by whisper-yelling, "SHH! GUYS! BE STEALTHY!" every few seconds.
"You know," I whispered, "for a floating emergency food source, you're really bad at the 'silent' part."
"PAIMON'S NOT AN EMERGENCY FOOD!" she hissed.
"Tell that to my stomach after you almost got us caught."
We made it through the crowd and up the steps, and as we reached a quieter path overlooking the harbor, Paimon floated closer. "By the way," she said, "remember what Childe said? He's gonna introduce us to someone who can help us get to the Exuvia."
Lumine nodded. "He said it was someone with the connections to get us inside."
I just smirked. "We don't need him."
Paimon blinked. "Huh?"
"I already know who it is. Follow me," I said confidently. I puffed up my chest, which probably made me look like a very self-assured pigeon. "We're going to the Liuli Pavilion. But!" I held up a finger dramatically. "You must not mention what we know. Nada. Zip. Nothing. About Morax, I mean."
"Right," Lumine said. "Play dumb."
"Exactly. Something you and Paimon should have no trouble doing."
"HEY!" they both yelled at the same time.
I laughed and led the way down the main street like I totally wasn't sweating bullets on the inside. Truth be told, the idea of meeting him again -even though I only met him in-game- gave me a weird mix of excitement, dread, and the urge to challenge him to a tea-brewing contest.
We were halfway to the restaurant when—bam—Childe appeared out of nowhere like a ginger jumpscare.
"Fancy seeing you three here," he said with that fox-like grin.
"Yeah, fancy," I replied. "Like a fungus in your shoe."
Childe just laughed. "I've arranged everything. Our contact's waiting inside."
"Lead the way, Captain Budget Diluc," I said, gesturing grandly.
We entered the Liuli Pavilion, and there he was.
Zhongli. The Geo Daddy himself.
Sitting like a painting come to life, sipping his tea like he wasn't literally the guy whose corpse we were supposedly asking to see. I swear the only thing missing was a fan and a dramatic breeze to make his coat flutter.
Childe did the honors. "This is Zhongli. He's a consultant for the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor and someone who can help you reach the Exuvia—under one condition. You must assist him in preparing the Rite of Parting."
Lumine nodded politely. Paimon mumbled something about how fancy he looked.
I stared for a second, then grinned. "Hey old man. Let's go do your thing."
Childe looked at me. "You're... not gonna ask questions?"
"Nah. I already know everything. Also..." I turned to him with a smirk. "You're staying here, right? Good luck with your chopsticks issue, ginger boy."
"What does that even mean?!" Childe called as we walked out.
I didn't answer.
The three of us strolled out with Mr. Consultant of the Year. His footsteps were calm, unhurried, like he had all the time in the world. Which he probably did. You know. Being immortal and all.
After a few steps, he spoke. "You seem... unusually eager, young man. May I ask why?"
I smirked, dropping the act for a moment. "Caught on, huh?" I glanced at him. "You always were a sharp one, Morax."
He didn't miss a beat. Didn't even look surprised. Just gave a tiny smile, like a proud dad catching his kid sneaking cookies.
"You hide your knowledge well. But not your excitement."
"What can I say?" I shrugged. "I'm a fan of old legends. Especially ones that turn out to be dramatic tea-drinking consultants."
Lumine snorted behind me. Paimon just looked confused.
"Wait... is this another inside joke I'm not part of?!"
I gave her a wink. "Don't worry, Paimon. You're the mascot. You'll get there."
"PAIMON IS NOT A MASCOT!"
"Sure you aren't."
The walk with Zhongli was surprisingly peaceful. No monsters. No assassins. No exploding Fatui agents. Just vibes.
And yet, I could feel it.
That heavy, divine aura. Even when he was quiet, even when he was just looking at a leaf or sipping tea—Zhongli had this unshakable presence. Like if the world fell apart, he'd just calmly order another round of tea and keep watching the sunset.
Which, honestly? Kinda goals.
I had to admit, I admired the guy. Not just for the power or the mystery, but for the sheer dedication to staying classy while the world tried to implode around him.
He glanced at me again. "You're not from here, are you?"
I raised an eyebrow. "Define 'here.'"
He chuckled. "You wear your origins like a cloak. Hidden, but not invisible."
"...You know, if I had a mora every time someone made cryptic observations about me, I could buy Mondstadt."
Zhongli smiled. "I imagine you would spend it all on snacks and novelty teapots."
Damn. He got me.
So there we were. On our way to examine a dead dragon, with a live dragon, while pretending we didn't know the dragon was alive.
Yeah.
Teyvat's weird like that.
But you know what? I wasn't even mad.
Because this was my adventure. My chaos. My journey.
And I had tea grandpas, floating gremlins, sword-swinging blondes, and ginger nightmares to keep things spicy.
Let's see where this goes.
***
Alright. Rite of Parting. Cool. Fancy name for a fancy funeral that's totally not a front for a secret dragon resurrection, or an interdimensional god chess game. Either way, I'm in.
"Alright Gramps, first things first," I said as I crossed my arms like some bossy executive assistant. "Let's get your Rite of Parting stuff, yeah? I'm talking cleansing bell, nocti-whatever jade, and that incense that smells like it was blessed by a thousand years of Zhongli's elegance."
Zhongli merely nodded, all majestic and unbothered, as if the weight of the world sat nicely on his tailored shoulders. "Yes. The materials are vital."
No crap. We get it. It's a funeral. Not a street barbecue.
We started collecting stuff—and by that, I mean we embarked on a glorified treasure hunt with zero snacks and a high risk of existential crises. First up was the Noctilucous Jade. We had to get it from this overly enthusiastic miner who tried to upsell us like he was working on commission. I swear he almost gave us a full TED Talk about mineral density before Lumine just handed over the Mora. Efficient. Terrifying.
Next, we needed the Cleansing Bell. Of course, Madam Ping had it, because why wouldn't the ancient granny with the aesthetic tea setup in her front yard also be the guardian of sacred funeral bells? I thought she'd make us answer riddles or fight a spirit goose or something, but she just smiled at us like she already knew everything. Creepy. Wise. Slightly intimidating.
The incense though—that was a whole journey. Everlasting my butt. We had to convince a merchant that we weren't trying to scam him. He looked at me like I owed him child support and a three-page essay on why I'm suspicious. It wasn't until Zhongli gave him one of his "I'm actually your grandpa's grandpa" stares that he folded like paper.
Paimon floated nearby the whole time, still chewing on a skewer of grilled fish like she was judging every mortal in Liyue from above. Lumine just did her usual silent pretty protagonist routine, her hair flowing dramatically in the breeze like she practiced in front of a fan every morning.
And me? Well, I was doing the most important job of all. Carrying the mood.
So there we were, standing in a field of Glaze Lilies. Lumine stared at one like it was the final exam in Flower Appreciation 101. The wind was soft, the sun was golden, and I swear I heard the background music change. Classic.
I looked at Zhongli.
He stood there, perfectly still, eyes scanning the blossoms like he was reliving an entire century in silence. The guy's expression was unreadable—somewhere between fond memory and a knife through the heart.
I got close to him. Not too close. Respect the bubble.
"Glaze Lilies, huh? The tribute by a certain God to the woman he loved and who gave her life protecting the same people who live in this City." I muttered, my tone dipping into something rare—seriousness. "Reminds you of her, right?"
He didn't look at me. Didn't need to. I could feel it. That tiny pause. The stillness. The weight of knowing everything without saying a word. Yeah. He knew.
Guizhong.
The name echoed even if neither of us said it.
I exhaled and looked at the sky. Liyue's sky always looked like a painting. Blue, endless, like it mocked your mortality.
"I get you, okay?" I said. "But let me ask you something. Your contract."
His amber eyes turned to me slowly. The wind shifted.
He knew what I meant.
"Yes..." he said. "The contract to end all contracts."
My chest tightened. I don't know why. Maybe 'cause I've been wearing this idiot mask so long, it surprises even me when I get like this.
"You really think they can pull it off?" I asked. "The Fatui? The Tsaritsa? You really think she has what it takes to challenge Celestia?"
Zhongli didn't answer immediately. Of course not. He's a poetic fossil. Has to process every answer like a riddle from the Stone Age.
When he finally did speak, his voice was low. "I have no choice. The age of the gods is ending. Humanity must learn to survive without us. The time will come when not even the adepti can save them. They must become stronger on their own."
I let that sink in.
Because you know what? He's right. Dead right.
I smiled, not my usual toothy idiot grin. Just something small. Real.
"Gramps," I said, "think you could make another contract with me? Just one last time?"
He paused. That's the thing with him. A pause could mean everything. And I knew I'd thrown him off.
"I've already made my final decision," he said. "To end all contracts—"
"I know," I cut in, softly. "But... this one. It's not about Liyue. It's not even about me."
He narrowed his gaze slightly.
"I'll make sure you meet her again," I whispered. "I'll alter your past. Her past. Give you both the ending you were robbed of. As protectors of this city, as... more than that."
Silence.
Heavy silence.
He looked at me, and for a moment, I saw it. A flicker. A tremor in his resolve.
He closed his eyes.
"I cannot promise anything." I muttered...
"I know."
"But... with a contract, perhaps..." He opened his eyes. "There may be a chance."
And then he looked straight at me, expression unreadable. "So tell me, Shigeru. What is this contract you speak of?"
I just smiled.
"Hope."
***
Returning to Liyue Harbor should've felt majestic. You know, like the ending of an epic quest—glorious music, dramatic lighting, emotional revelations. Instead, I was dragging my butt across the road while Paimon complained about her scorched eyebrows, Lumine kept muttering something about betrayal, and Zhongli, the majestic fossil himself, just glided ahead like he didn't just watch a flower try to eat us alive.
Let me rewind.
So, remember how we needed a Glaze Lily for the Rite of Parting? Yeah, turns out our so-called lily was actually a Whopperflower in disguise. Yep. A flower with anger issues.
Lumine was all poetic—singing to it like it was her long-lost soulmate or something. I was harmonizing in the background because I've fully committed to the chaos that is this world, and Paimon was doing interpretive air ballet with her arms like she's auditioning for a Celestial Philharmonic.
Then it growled.
I, being the responsible one -yes, its a joke. Laugh now,- pointed it out.
"Why is it growling?" I asked.
"It's resonating," Lumine said with the elegance of a Broadway star.
"Nope. That's a carnivorous growl, my dear soprano," I muttered.
BOOM. Surprise, it's a Whopperflower.
Cue the screaming. But like, cool screaming. Warcry style. Totally not panic.
"PAIMON KNEW IT!" Paimon yelled, zipping around like a sugar-rushed seagull.
"YOU SAID IT WAS A GLAZE LILY!" Lumine shouted, eyes wild.
"I THOUGHT IT WAS TOO!" I screamed back, using a random stick like a sword even though I have one. I'm telling you, real gamers improvise.
After a dramatic smackdown where Lumine did most of the work while Paimon dodged pollen blasts and I screamed helpful encouragements like "YOU GOT THIS!" and "KICK ITS STAMEN!", the Whopperflower exploded in glitter because apparently that's a thing in Teyvat.
"Paimon's clothes are dirty," she said, inspecting herself.
"Your hair's fluffier. Honestly, it's an upgrade," I offered.
Now we're finally walking back. The air is a bit too calm. Like the calm before another emotional storm.
"Seriously though," Lumine huffed, brushing dirt off her skirt, "I beat that flower to a pulp and you two were just—standing there!"
"I was emotionally supporting you," I defended, puffing my chest.
"You were standing behind a rock."
"I was shielding the incense! For the ritual!"
Zhongli, not even fazed, added, "I was safeguarding the cleansing bell. A most vital task."
"You were sipping tea from who-knows-where while I was fighting for my life!"
"I brewed that tea with geo energy," Zhongli said like it was a badge of honor.
Lumine threw her hands up. "I swear, the next Whopperflower we see, I'm throwing you two at it."
"Let me finish my tea first," I muttered.
We trudged on, Liyue's skyline peeking over the horizon, all golden rooftops and rocky cliffs. Majestic stuff. But Lumine wasn't done.
"Seriously though, what were you and Zhongli talking about earlier?" she asked, adjusting the pouch with the jade and incense.
"Oh," I said, casual as ever. "Just his love life."
They both stopped. I kept walking.
"Wait—what?" Lumine's voice was flat.
"Tragic, ancient, poetic. Think soap opera. But like...with more rocks."
"Paimon thinks you're making that up."
"Probably."
And then silence.
Not the awkward kind. The heavy, meaningful kind. The kind that makes you reflect.
In that quiet, I let my thoughts drift.
Zhongli... he's mysterious, sure. Overdramatic? Absolutely. Talks like he walked out of a historical drama? Every single day. But he knows things. Things I don't. Things I need to know.
He's lived longer than some continents.
He saw the birth of cities, the rise and fall of gods, the cost of immortality.
He's someone I have to trust.
Because I'm not some outsider anymore. I'm not looking at this world through a screen. I'm in it.
Teyvat isn't just a game to me now.
It's my home.
My battlefield.
My weird, dangerous, unpredictable new reality.
I breathe its air. I eat its suspicious-looking street food. I argue with its talking mascots. And yes—I sing to its violent flora.
I'm a citizen of Teyvat.
And I'll protect it.
No matter what.
Even if it kills me.
...Just hopefully not by another flower.
________________________________
End of Chapter 23
Quest Completed: Form a contract with an Old Lizard, and watch Lumine and Paimon fight a Whopperflower without lifting a finger.
Rewards: Unwanted Reputation as the "Spectator", Zhongli's Silent Approval, +10 to Mysterious Vibes, One (1) Glaze Lily for Lumine's Collection, +10 to Sarcasm Level, and Paimon's Everlasting Grudge