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Walnut was silent.

If Zhongli's previous narration and the motorcycle attributed to Xianyun made her feel that they were carefully woven lies.

Then these "local specialties" in front of us, which carry the fragrance of Nata soil and are obviously not suitable for long-distance sales (large in size and relatively ordinary in value), are like heavy weights, pressing on the side of the scale that "Zhongli really went to Nata".

She took off the Huayu Society hat, and the suspicion on her face faded away, replaced by a complex realization that she had to accept.

She looked at Zhongli and softened her tone: "Okay... Keqing, it seems... you really went to Nata to help the travelers?"

She believed the "to and from Nata" part.

But then, her delicate eyebrows frowned again, with deep confusion and challenge to her own cognition.

"But... going to another world to participate in some kind of Hollow Car race? How... how is that even possible? And..."

She looked Zhongli up and down, her eyes filled with a sense of incongruity that "this style of painting is obviously wrong."

"With your personality, Keqing... you're lucky enough to just sit quietly, drink tea, listen to opera, admire flowers, and walk your birds. How could you possibly take the initiative to participate in a noisy, lightning-fast race?"

"This is simply... even more outrageous than the storyteller's 'Emperor's Dust Travels'!"

Her understanding of Zhongli's "personality" became her last and strongest barrier to accepting "Another World Racing".

Zhongli: "..."

He looked at Walnut's expression, which said, "I understand you want to go to Nata to help, but racing? Don't be ridiculous," and felt mixed emotions.

But Hu Tao didn't know how important the guaranteed 180 points for participating in the competition were to an old antique who needed to draw some otherworldly techniques to improve his existing cultivation system...

Seeing that Hu Tao finally accepted the core part (going to Natasha for help), Zhongli didn't dwell too much on the "racing motivation" to avoid making things worse.

He took advantage of the situation and turned the conversation to something Hu Tao was more interested in. "Zhongli has taken note of what the Hall Master said. Regarding the trip to Nata, there are indeed many interesting observations. If the Hall Master is interested, why not listen to them?"

Zhongli then began to talk about the unique tribal customs of Nata, the five-hundred-year plan led by the Fire Goddess Mavica, the grandeur of the Holy Fire Arena, and the active performances of travelers Ying and Paimon in the local area.

However, these naturally conceal the dangers of the abyss and the Kingdom of the Night God, and focus on describing Katsina's resurrection ceremony and the excitement of the celebration.

Walnut listened with great interest, and the last trace of doubt on her little face was replaced by these vivid and interesting exotic stories.

Especially when she heard Paimon display his divine power to drive away the erosion of the abyss, her eyes sparkled.

"Little Paimon is so amazing! Next time we meet, I have to ask her to 'optimize' me! Maybe I can even grow taller!" Wild Walnut has always been imaginative.

After telling the story, Hu Tao finally "let Zhongli go" with satisfaction.

She held the cotton camel doll and wore the slightly oversized Huayu Society hat. She waved her hand and said, "Alright, alright. Since you brought back so many novelties and really helped the travelers, I'll let you go this time! But..."

She raised a finger and emphasized, "This won't happen again! If you dare to disappear again, I'll let you taste the luxurious upgrade version of the Youyou March!"

Zhongli readily agreed, "I will follow the Hall Master's orders."

Zhongli returned to the room and recalled the "interrogation" process just now. The helplessness in his heart gradually turned into a smile.

"Although the Hall Master doesn't believe in things from other worlds, he's not completely unreasonable. It's just..."

He thought about the pile of things in his Dust Song Pot that needed to be processed, the rare minerals and antiques he'd "accidentally" bought in Nata, and the group points he might need in the future...

"It seems that it is not appropriate to add any more accounts to the Wangsheng Hall in the near future. However... I believe the North Country Bank will not mind, right?"

Chapter 107 Dai Yuan: Come and rescue me!

The nights in Liyue Harbor usually fall into tranquility, accompanied by the gentle sound of waves in the harbor and the gradually dying down of the bustling city.

However, last night was an exception.

In the Hall of Rebirth, Walnut tossed and turned on the bed.

Outside the window, waves of low but penetrating engine roars came from far away and then from near to far away, over and over again, violently tearing apart the tranquility of the night.

In between, there were also several highly recognizable, full-bodied shouts, which seemed to be "Enjoyable!" and "Faster!".

"Who is it... in the middle of the night..." Walnut buried his head in the pillow and muttered complaints.

This movement was more or less strange. She vaguely wondered if some blind treasure-hunting group had obtained some new mechanism.

But even if the treasure-hunting group got something good, instead of hiding it secretly, would they dare to show it off in Liyue Harbor and disturb the people?

In fact, what is even more eye-catching is the occasional blue-gold streak of light across the sky, which is short and eye-catching, like a falling star.

This also attracted many people who had not yet fallen asleep or had woken up at night to look around, wondering which immortal or strange person was testing a new magic weapon.

It’s just that Master Hu was in a hurry to go to bed and was too lazy to get up to look at these.

The hustle and bustle of this night undoubtedly added an unusual sense of restlessness to the peaceful Liyue Harbor.

The next morning, Hu Tao, with faint dark circles under his eyes, was sitting in the front hall of the Hall of Rebirth, leisurely enjoying his breakfast - a bowl of porridge with a few refreshing side dishes.

Other employees in the hall have also begun to clean and tidy up, preparing for a new day of business.

At this moment, a Qianyan Army soldier wearing standard armor and with a serious expression stepped into the gate of the Wangsheng Hall.

His appearance slightly tensed the originally peaceful atmosphere in the hall.

"Master Hu." The soldier saluted Hu Tao with his fists clasped, his voice steady and official.

"Excuse me. Last night, the General Affairs Department apprehended a man in the city who was driving a strange mechanical device at high speed late at night, moving across the ground and through the air, making loud noises and causing a serious disturbance to the public."

"This person claims to be a newly hired employee of your hall, named 'Dai Yuan.' This concerns the reputation of Wangsheng Hall, so we have come to verify it."

Although the Wangsheng Hall deals with funeral affairs, it has a long tradition in Liyue Harbor and follows proper procedures, earning it the trust and respect of the people.

Therefore, the Qianyan Army was extremely cautious about this matter, and the person in charge of reception in front of the Wangsheng Hall did not dare to jump to conclusion, so he directly led people to find the hall master Hu Tao.

"Dai Yuan?" Hu Tao's hand holding the chopsticks paused, and her face was full of surprise.

Her mind immediately emerged the young man Dai Yuan who seemed a little dazed after being "accidentally injured" by Youyou Marching Army yesterday, but who looked calm and reliable overall, and was wholeheartedly trying to help her "get justice".

He is Zhongli's friend. He doesn't look like the kind of person who would go crazy and disturb others in the middle of the night.

Could it be that... the aftereffects of yesterday's Youyou Grand March were so terrifying? This shouldn't be the case. I've never encountered something like this before.

Or was it that I had really misjudged him? Was Brother Dai Yuan not really that stable?

A trace of doubt and a wavering of my own judgment passed through my mind, but now was not the time to delve into it.

Hu Tao quickly put down his bowl and chopsticks, and his face replaced with the calm expression that a master of the Wangsheng Hall should have.

"There is indeed such a person. He is a friend recommended by Mr. Zhongli, a guest official of the Wangsheng Hall. He is temporarily staying in the hall to help out."

Hu Tao stood up and glanced at Zhongli, who was quietly sipping tea beside him, as if all the noise had nothing to do with him.

"Guest, something must have happened to Brother Daiyuan. Come with me to the General Affairs Department to rescue him!"

Zhongli put down the teacup, his golden eyes calm and unwavering, and nodded slightly: "The hall master has given orders, and I shall obey."

Just looking at his calm expression, it seemed that he was not surprised that Dai Yuan got into trouble.

The two followed the Qianyan Army soldier who reported the news without saying a word all the way, and soon arrived at the detention center of the General Affairs Department that specializes in handling such public security incidents.

When the two pushed open the door with the sign "Temporary Custody", the scene that came into their eyes made Hu Tao and Zhongli feel a little surprised.

I saw Dai Yuan sitting at a simple wooden table, buried in a bowl of white rice piled high, eating it in no time at all, with great enthusiasm.

That wasn't a big deal; the people of Liyue were blessed to have food. What was unusual was the pile of empty bowls piled high around him; a rough count revealed over a dozen!

The young Qianyan soldier who was in charge of guarding him had a numb expression and empty eyes, like a programmed mechanical puppet.

Every time Dai Yuan put down his empty bowl with a clang, the soldier would mechanically accept his fate, take out another full bowl from the wooden barrel filled with rice next to him, and push it in front of Dai Yuan with an expressionless face.

"..." The corners of Hu Tao and Zhong Li's mouths twitched slightly.

When he saw Hu Tao and Zhongli, especially when he saw the mark of the Hall of Rebirth on Hu Tao, a strong desire to survive instantly burst out in his eyes.

Almost crying, she whispered, "Master Hu! You're finally here! This... Mr. Dai Yuan, he's such a big eater! I... I really... And if I don't give him food, he'll scream about being abused, his voice so loud it makes the dust fall from the roof."

"The supervisor even scolded me, 'The General Affairs Department can't afford to feed him alone?' But he's been eating for almost an hour... I... I really can't take it anymore!" His words were full of grievances and accusations.

Seeing this, Zhongli first calmed the emotions of the young man in charge of guarding.

Hu Tao walked forward and called out, "Dai Yuan?"

Dai Yuan, who was eating, looked up suddenly when he heard the sound. When he saw Hu Tao, his eyes suddenly lit up, as if he had seen a savior.

He immediately put down the bowl, rushed to the fence, grabbed the railing excitedly, pointed at the Qianyan Army next to him, and began to accuse in a loud voice.

"Master Hu! You're finally here! Save me! I had no idea there were still rules like 'no riding speeding bikes' and 'no talking loudly at night' in Liyue Harbor!"

He spoke quickly, with a tone of utter grievance, "I just rode on the ground for a short while, then I noticed there were people on the road. I was afraid of hitting them, so I immediately flew up into the sky!"

"But they still wouldn't give in. They even chased me with their plane! It's totally unjust! I didn't hit anyone or damage any houses. I was just taking a spin in the sky to get familiar with my new car!"

He was very "smart" enough to ignore Zhongli, who was standing behind Hu Tao with a calm face as if it had nothing to do with him.

Dai Yuan knew very well that if he went to Zhongli to argue, he might be "educated" by the other party slowly citing scriptures, but if he went to this eccentric Master Hu, the effect would definitely be immediate. After all, even Zhongli had to listen to her.

However, this "righteous" accusation sounded absurd to Hu Tao.

Although she had heard of flying cars twice, flying into the sky and being chased and beaten by Gui Zhongji was still a bit outrageous.

The locomotive she saw yesterday was indeed extremely exquisite. It was said to be a masterpiece of a master of mechanical engineering. She believed that it could run very fast on the ground and even fly at low altitude.

But not only can he fly, but he's also being chased and attacked by a Guizhongji?! The Guizhongji is a weapon used to fight demons! How can you fly faster than the Guizhongji?

Hu Tao immediately concluded that the Qianyan Army's previous report was probably a bluff. After all, how would you know the severity of the situation if they didn't scare you? This was a common tactic.

Dai Yuan's words are definitely the "aftereffects" of Youyou's march, which are still continuing to ferment!

Chapter 108: The one who is speeding is Dai Yuan, what does it have to do with me, Dai Yue?

Poor Brother Dai Yuan, his sense of taste and mental state may not have fully recovered yet, so he has hallucinations, imagining the car running on the ground as a flying car, and the patrolling Qianyan Army as his home machine!

Hu Tao instantly praised her own "insight", and at the same time, the guilt in her heart for implicating innocent people last night deepened.

She quickly took two steps forward, put on a soothing smile on her face, and continued Dai Yuan's words as if coaxing a child.

"It's okay, it's okay, Brother Daiyuan, it's not a big deal! As for disturbing the neighbors, it was indeed you who were at fault first. However, considering that this is your first offense and it's a 'special case'..."

She deliberately prolonged her tone, glancing at the numb sergeant beside her, "I'll be your guarantor later. After paying a fine, I should be able to take you back. Don't worry, I'll leave it to this hall master!"

As she spoke, she was already calculating rapidly in her mind.

What's an appropriate fine? Should Wangshengtang's "traffic accident aftermath" service also offer a new package?

By the way, can we also promote the new slogan "Drive safely, cherish life, Wangshengtang provides warm service for your final destination in life"?

Well, this is called turning crisis into opportunity, killing two birds with one stone!

Walnut's abacus was clacking, and the smile on her face became brighter and more sincere.

When Daiyuan (Ruota) heard this, a warm feeling suddenly surged in his heart.

A relieved smile immediately appeared on his face, and he nodded repeatedly: "Okay! Thank you, Master Hu! I knew that Master Hu was the most sensible person!"

This Hall Master Hu, whom I have only known for two days, actually trusts me so much and promises to rescue me so readily!

This kind-heartedness and unconcerned trust touched the incarnation of the Dragon King, who had just regained his freedom and still had a bit of ancient simplicity in his mind. The way he looked at Hu Tao became more sincere.

Zhongli, who was standing by, saw all of this, and a faint black line slid down his forehead.

He anticipated that since Dai Yuan had just come into contact with new things, especially the "flying car" modified by Xianyun, his childish curiosity and excitement would inevitably cause some noise.

He also believed that his old friend would know his limits and would not cause any serious trouble.

But he hadn't expected that Walnut would cooperate so well, and seeing her slightly guilty expression, blaming everything on Youyou Daxingjun...

This obviously completely confirmed the conclusion that "Dai Yuan's excited behavior was entirely attributed to the 'residual poison' of yesterday's Youyou March."

Zhongli was speechless for a moment. This situation was hard to explain, and he even felt like he was in a difficult situation.

He couldn't just jump out and say, "Master, he wasn't poisoned. That car really could fly. It was really shot down by Gui Zhongji." That would only make things more complicated.

Just when the atmosphere was becoming slightly awkward, the young Qianyan soldier who was in charge of guarding (and delivering meals) in the corner was trying to shrink his body and reduce his presence.

He moved cautiously and began to pick up the precariously stacked empty bowls. His movements were as gentle as possible, with only one thought in his mind.

This torturous "feeding" task was finally over! The nightmare shift was finally over! He almost cried with joy.

However, just as he picked up a pile of bowls and tiptoed to slip out, Dai Yuan's loud voice rang out again, like a bolt from the blue exploding in his ears.

"Hey! The guy who delivered the food! Wait!" Dai Yuan's loud voice sounded again, with a sense of calmness as if it was a matter of course.