The Infinite Journey of a Certain Flame

"Celebrating the Lunar New Year together...wasn't that a promise we made in the beginning?"

"Hehe, now I'll repeat it again."

"..." Zhongli watched the two of them so affectionately, unsure what to say. "Zhu Yue..."

He had assumed that the two men had come because of something important.

However, it now seems that this trip was merely to participate in the Liyue festival?

That's acceptable.

"I'm glad you're interested in Liyue. Welcome, friends."

Zhongli expressed his welcome, then turned his attention to the audiobook stall.

“I have some knowledge of Liyue’s famous landmarks. If you don’t mind, let me show you around Liyue Harbor.”

"Huh? Actually, you don't need to."

Kiana didn't immediately accept Zhongli's invitation; she simply smiled helplessly.

"Actually, I know this city quite well. By the way... you actually wanted to go listen to storytelling, right? Zhongli."

"...cough!"

Zhong Li coughed, trying to hide his embarrassment.

Seeing that he didn't object, Kiana then grabbed Shadow's arm and started shouting:

"Hehe, since that's the case, let's go together. Let's hear what Tian Tiezui has to say today. Ying, are you coming?"

"Me? Hmm... okay, although I don't really like crowded places."

Unable to resist Kiana's insistence, Ying had no choice but to obediently set off with the others to the audiobook stall.

At this very moment, the storyteller named Tian Tiezui was recounting Zhongli's past achievements.

"As mentioned in the previous chapter, at that time, Liyue was plagued by great demons in the sea and evil dragons lurking in the mountains, and the Geo Archon..."

"Hey? Zhongli, you're here! I've been looking for you for ages!"

Just as everyone was listening intently to the storyteller's narration, an unusually lively voice rang out.

Looking in the direction the sound came from, Zhongli saw a child she couldn't handle...

Seeing his expression, Kiana turned her head in confusion and saw a strangely dressed girl smiling and waving at Zhongli.

"walnut?"

"Huh? Who are you?"

Master Hu stopped at the table where the three of them were sitting, then put his hands on his hips and looked at the two women he had never met before with a puzzled expression, wondering who they were.

The Battle Between Flame and Lightning and the Abyss (Genshin Impact): Chapter 19 Walnut: We're having an event at the Hall of Rebirth~ Interested in participating?

Liyue Rebirth Hall.

A funeral service provider that specializes in handling matters for the dead.

The current head of the hall, Hu Tao, is a lively and lovely young woman who likes to promote the "second monument half price" service to people whenever she has free time.

It's hard to imagine that this leader is still a minor.

Zhongli, at this moment, is a guest of the Hall of Rebirth, strictly speaking, he is a subordinate, but he can also be considered a guest.

However, Zhongli felt utterly helpless, or rather, unable to cope, with his master.

It wasn't just because of her quirky personality, but also because she held a higher position of authority than the mortal Zhongli.

in short...

"I'm telling you, instead of working with me to make the Rebirth Hall prosper, you spend all your time drinking tea, chatting, and watching plays with others. Your lack of manners puts me in a difficult position, you know?"

Hu Tao gave Zhong Li a lecture in a haughty manner, and then turned her gaze to the other two people at the table.

"Oh my, they are... your friends?"

Being lectured by a little girl who wasn't even a fraction of his age, Zhongli was speechless but didn't say much.

He didn't want his identity as a mortal, Zhongli, to be exposed, so he could only silently drink his tea.

"That's right, an old friend and a new friend."

"An old friend? Wow... what a coincidence!"

Upon hearing Zhongli mention that he had met an old friend, Hu Tao quickly put the matter of the Hall of Rebirth out of her mind.

They began to observe the two people they had never met before.

She first looked at the veiled figure.

"Are you dressed like this? Are you a friend of yours from Inazuma?"

“Yes, that’s right,” Zhongli replied slowly.

Upon hearing this, Hu Tao immediately became interested.

She circled around the shadow as if examining something new and interesting.

While wandering around, he didn't forget to send out messages:

"Oh my? This one... looks as beautiful as a flower, so pretty and charming. Logically speaking, she should be quite good-looking, right?"

Despite Hu Tao's praise, Ying, the person involved, was not happy.

She slowly turned her head, and as if unable to handle Walnut, tugged at Kiana's cloak:

"Kiana, she is...?"

"Oh, this is him. Ahem! Let me introduce you."

Seeing that Shadow seemed unable to handle Kurumi, Kiana then began to explain:

"Her name is Hu Tao. She is the current head of the Rebirth Hall and Zhong Li's superior."

"Huh? Morakot—uh, Zhongli's boss? You must be really strong, right?"

"I guess so, um..."

As to whether it is strong or not, Kiana has not experienced it firsthand, nor has Kage witnessed it.

So saying anything is useless.

However, since we don't know for sure, saying something random should be convincing enough.

"so?"

After hearing Kiana's account, Shadow mistakenly believed that Kurumi's strength was extremely powerful, to the point that she could rival Zhongli.

Therefore, she did not show any displeasure at the girl's scrutiny, but simply sat obediently in her seat.

Listen to the storyteller continue to recount the achievements of the Rock King Emperor.

After receiving no feedback, Hu Tao gradually grew tired of it.

"Well..."

Seeing that Ying didn't seem inclined to acknowledge her, she turned her gaze to Kiana, who was standing to the side.

At just one glance, she felt...

"Hmm? What's wrong?"

Kiana noticed that Kurumi's gaze was a little strange, so she asked her what was wrong.

"No, I just feel..."

Hu Tao stroked her chin, looking thoughtful, and then moved closer to Kiana.

Their plum-blossom eyes and azure eyes stared intently at each other.

Before long, Kiana sensed that those expressive eyes had something to say, so she got up.

Seeing her get up, Hu Tao immediately stepped back.

The two circled the table, their eyes fixed on each other, never looking away.

"Sir, you seem familiar."

"Indeed, I feel like I've seen you somewhere before."

Where is it?

"I'm not entirely sure, but I feel like we should have some similarities..."

Upon hearing Kiana's candid words, Kurumi stroked her chin and pondered for a long time, then suddenly clapped her hands as if she had figured something out.

"I understand!"

"Understand what?"

Your voice sounds just like mine!

Upon hearing this, the two deities seated in their seats looked at each other in bewilderment.

"Do they look alike?"

"From a purely rational perspective, they do indeed sound very similar. However, in this vast world, it's quite reasonable for two people to have very similar voices, isn't it?"

"Hmm..." Ying felt there was something wrong with that statement, but she didn't know how to refute it.

Helpless, she could only turn her gaze to Kiana and Kurumi, who were holding hands and seemed to have reached some kind of consensus.

"This gentleman is... Master Hu?"

"Yes! Wait, no, no, my name is Hu Tao. 'Hall Master' is an honorific title."

Honorific?

As expected of a girl who can command Morax, she actually asked me to use an honorific title?

"Since she's come from so far away, let's go along with her wishes."

Thinking of this, Ying coughed.

"Hello, Master Hu, it's a pleasure to meet you."