Genshin Impact, I'm Slime

At this moment, in front of the Hall of Rebirth.

The ceremonial attendant, named Lao Meng, noticed the undisguised astonishment and disappointment on the faces of the traveler and Paimon, and sighed helplessly as well.

"Oh, please don't be offended, but to be honest, I'm also feeling quite anxious."

Old Meng subconsciously rubbed his hands together, looking somewhat uneasy. "At this time of day, Mr. Zhongli would definitely be sitting in the hall, his calm demeanor is reassuring just to look at him."

"Now that he's suddenly gone, it's the middle of the night, and only me and a few helpers are left in the hall... I feel like we've lost our leader."

He paused, looking at the piles of incense, candles, and paper horses in the hall, his sorrow deepening: "What's more... tomorrow is the Lantern Festival, and according to the rules, Mr. Zhongli should have presided over several rituals tonight to pray for blessings and ward off disasters."

"Now that the master is gone and Master Hu has also disappeared, I can only barely cope on my own. I am really powerless."

The Hall of Rebirth is a place that governs the balance of Yin and Yang and bids farewell to the souls of the deceased; there has never been a rule that the living should stay overnight there.

After explaining that he truly did not know Zhong Li's whereabouts, and seeing that the three had no requests for funeral arrangements, Lao Meng cupped his hands in a gesture of apology and consolation:
"It's late. The three of you should go back and get some rest. Tomorrow's Lantern Festival celebration is the most important thing."

After saying that, Old Meng bowed wearily again, and the heavy hall door slowly closed in front of the three of them, shutting out the flickering candlelight and the desolate atmosphere inside.

The heavy doors of the Hall of Rebirth closed completely, emitting a dull echo.

The traveler stood frozen in place, as if he had become a stone statue, staring unfocused at the mottled paint marks on the door panel, his mind churning with all sorts of speculations.

Paimon panicked completely, circling the traveler at high speed like a headless fly, his little fists clenched tightly, muttering to himself incessantly:
"A conspiracy! It's definitely a conspiracy! Ningguang is nowhere to be found, and Zhongli is gone too..."

"This must be related to that scoundrel Pantalone... Traveler, say something!"

Amidst this atmosphere of anxiety and confusion, FAMAS, who had been silently observing, subtly curled a meaningful smile at the corner of his mouth.

The smile wasn't very noticeable in the candlelight, but Paimon still caught it.

"Hey! FAMAS!"

Paimon slammed on the brakes, flew angrily in front of the boy, and almost poked his nose with his little finger.

"What are you laughing at? You're still so happy at a time like this, do you know something? Tell me!"

Famas shrugged innocently and spread his hands.

"Did I laugh? I don't know why."

The boy tilted his head slightly, his crimson eyes gleaming mischievously in the night, and slowly offered his suggestion:
"Actually, there is another place we can go."

"where?"

The traveler snapped out of his reverie and asked in unison with Paimon, their eyes immediately focusing on Famas.

The boy didn't answer directly, but instead pointed precisely to the spot higher up on Scarlet Cloud Slope, where the lights were the most dazzling and noisy.

There, a building that blends the cold aesthetics of winter with the opulent style of Liyue stands arrogantly like a crouching steel behemoth.

The enormous signboard of the Northern Bank is cast from some unknown, cold metal, reflecting a chilling, cold luster under the countless neon lights below and the stars and moon above.

The light carried an arrogant disdain for all living beings, silently proclaiming the unfathomable wealth and power of its owner.

"Northland Bank."

Famas's voice carried a hint of amusement, "How about we go directly to Pantalone herself?"

"What?!" The Traveler and Paimon gasped simultaneously, their eyes widening as if they had heard the most absurd suggestion.

Famas, however, spoke as if it were the most natural thing in the world, his tone as casual as if he were suggesting we go for a cup of tea: "Since we can't find anyone who can help us solve the problem, wouldn't it be better to just go find the person who created the problem?"

The young man paused, looking at the two people's surprised and uncertain expressions, his smile deepened, carrying an arrogance and certainty of absolute strength.

"Besides, with me here, what are you worried about? Even if Pantalone were to fight me with both hands, all the people from the Northern Bank couldn't beat me."

The air seemed to freeze for a moment. The traveler and Paimon looked at each other, both seeing shock and hesitation in each other's eyes.

Xingqiu's confinement, Ningguang's impeccable rejection, Zhongli's abrupt disappearance... one tightly closed door after another, like cold iron gates, blocked all the roads.

With this thought in mind, the traveler took a deep breath, his gaze hardening once more, and slowly nodded:

"Okay! Let's go to the Northern Bank!"

Paimon watched the traveler nod, and he also vigorously waved his little fist, raising his voice an octave, as if to encourage himself:

"Let's go! Who's afraid of who! With FAMAS, that... um... super bodyguard, I doubt that scoundrel Pantalone can pull any tricks!"

The three reached a consensus and decided not to linger.

They turned away from the suffocating gloom and desolation in front of the Hall of Rebirth, their figures disappearing back into the still bustling night lights of Liyue Harbor, heading with a clear goal toward the cold fortress that symbolized the wealth and power of Winter.

And FAMAS's judgment was absolutely correct.

Pantalone is indeed lurking deep within the heart of the Northern Bank at this moment.

After all, the Seven Stars' spies are as dense as a spider web throughout Liyue Harbor. Although he, the Fatui Enforcer, seems to be able to move freely, he is actually like a canary trapped in a cage.

The Northern Bank, this enclave in the dead of winter, has become the only safe haven he can occupy at this moment.

The bank is located at the highest point of Scarlet Cloud Slope, and from the rooftop terrace, you can see most of Liyue Harbor.

At this moment, Pantalone stood alone on the edge of the terrace with its white jade balustrade. In his hand, he held a crystal-clear luminous cup filled with a wine as red as blood, but his gaze pierced through the rim of the cup and fell heavily on the city that never sleeps below.

As night falls, Liyue Harbor remains as magnificent as ever.

The lights, like a cascading galaxy, bathed the long streets and alleys in gold. The magnificent buildings stood side by side, and the courtyards were deep and brightly lit. Merchants from seven countries gathered here, their carriages and horses gleaming with dazzling lights. The streets were teeming with tourists, shoulder to shoulder. Between the pavilions and terraces, the sounds of string and wind instruments filled the air, and laughter and chatter permeated the night sky.

Every step was adorned with brocade, and every glance revealed a scene of prosperity that overlapped with the unchanging grandeur in his memory.

However, the boy who struggled to survive in the muddy docks, dressed in rags like an ant, has now stood at the pinnacle of this magnificent scene, wielding the power of wealth that could overturn the world.

A cool night breeze, carrying the scent of wine, swept by, ruffling the sleeves of his magnificent black robe.

The intricate patterns embroidered with mithril thread on the lapel flowed under the lamplight and moonlight, like the shadow of a dragon wandering in the dark night, silently demonstrating the owner's nobility and power.

He leaned lazily on the cool white jade railing, with the priceless "Floating Shadow Returning to Separation" lamp beside him.

The glow of the lanterns still lingers, carrying a distant and lingering charm. They have clearly been carefully restored, but the light seems to be a bit dimmer than before, as if covered by a layer of dust that is difficult to remove.

The light and shadows flickered, vast and endless. In the past, an ant climbed to the clouds, held the universe in its hands, and looked down on all living beings. However, this bustling city and its magnificent glory were still like a layer of thick glass separating his mind from the world.

Liyue is no longer his homeland.

He has no home anymore. (End of Chapter)