Luo Li: Still Not as Good as Mine
Feiyun Slope — Wangsheng Funeral Parlor
This place was responsible for managing Liyue's funeral rites.
It had been operating for over a thousand years and carried a long-standing legacy.
At first, it merely helped bury those who died from floods, disasters, or plagues.
As time passed, this small group gradually evolved into what was now known as the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
They devoted themselves to sending off the deceased, maintaining the balance between yin and yang in the world.
One could say it was a model case of turning a casual practice into a professional vocation.
However, funerals were hardly considered an elegant line of work.
Unless absolutely necessary, most people preferred to avoid anything related to it.
As a result, the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor was located in a secluded corner of Feiyun Slope.
Anyone who didn't come here deliberately would rarely approach this place.
After all, if one were to pick up something "unclean," that would truly be troublesome.
Thanks to this, when Luo Li arrived, the place was completely deserted.
There were no clients—
not even a gatekeeper in sight.
"It's really quiet," Luo Li muttered as he walked up to the entrance.
The main door was tightly shut, with no attendants present.
Beside it stood a signboard-like structure.
It held wooden plaques used by the parlor to accept commissions.
If someone needed their services, they would take a plaque, write their request on it, and slip it through the door.
Luo Li glanced at one casually—
only to find the words "Buy One, Get One Free" written on the back.
"…What a business genius."
Normal goods having promotions was one thing—but coffins and funerals?
How did buy one, get one free even make sense here?
The current head of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor was indeed eccentric and full of strange ideas.
With that thought, Luo Li knocked on the door.
No response.
After a long while, no one came to open it.
"Closed during the day?" he pondered.
That actually made sense.
Judging from their business model, most people would rather write down their request and slip it inside than step into the parlor and risk encountering something ominous.
But Luo Li didn't care in the slightest.
Ghosts?
He'd torn apart gods with his bare hands—what was there to fear?
To him, ghosts were nothing more than residual ley-line energy allowing souls to linger briefly in the world.
Just as he was about to knock again—
The door opened by itself.
Luo Li raised an eyebrow, glanced at the dim and deathly interior, and stepped inside without hesitation.
Only after entering did he realize how much colder it was inside.
The sun was shining brightly outside, yet none of that warmth penetrated the shadows within.
No wonder ordinary people were afraid to come in.
He looked around briefly, then walked deeper toward the inner courtyard.
Passing through a narrow corridor, a plum garden came into view.
At the center of the courtyard, a man sat calmly, brewing tea among the plum blossoms.
This was the person Luo Li had come to see.
"So you really are here."
Walking forward, Luo Li sat down across from him.
The man before him was none other than the one who had staged his own death not long ago—
Morax.
Or rather, Zhongli.
Luo Li felt absolutely no guilt about having told Raiden Makoto and the others that he was "investigating clues."
After all, he had found Morax.
"Well? How was the surprise?"
Zhongli smiled faintly and poured him a cup of tea.
Yesterday, he had promised Luo Li a surprise—
and today, he delivered it personally.
"Nothing special. Pretty low-level, honestly," Luo Li said bluntly.
Anyone with a functioning brain could spot the loopholes.
How could the Geo Archon just suddenly die on the spot?
And who could possibly kill him?
It was only because Liyue was currently in chaos that no one had the leisure to think deeply about it.
Besides, Zhongli's real goal was simply to give the Qixing—and the nation itself—a test.
Zhongli chuckled softly.
"Regardless, my objective has been achieved. Now I'll simply sit back and watch how things unfold."
"You're quite carefree," Luo Li remarked.
"You put on a whole show, dump the mess on everyone else, and then hide here enjoying yourself."
Zhongli didn't mind at all.
"We're much the same," he replied calmly.
"Inazuma's situation is far more troublesome than Liyue's. How did you and Baal manage to leave Ei alone for so long?"
"…Cough. It's already been this long—waiting a bit longer won't make much difference."
Zhongli shook his head knowingly.
This fellow had clearly gone too far and was now carefully testing Ei's bottom line.
"By the way," Zhongli added,
"don't interfere too much in Liyue's affairs."
The last thing he wanted was for Luo Li to stroll in and instantly fill in all the correct answers, ruining the entire 'exam.'
"Relax. My acting is solid," Luo Li replied lazily.
"Though with your approach, the adepti and Liyue are bound to clash. Ganyu might even drag me in to calm them down."
That gave Zhongli pause.
Indeed, his original plan was to observe how humans, adepti, and external forces would maneuver during the turmoil.
But if Luo Li got involved, the adepti would inevitably give him face.
That would erase the conflict between humans and adepti altogether.
…That was a problem.
Zhongli rubbed his temple.
Why did this guy have to show up now?
"No big deal," Luo Li said magnanimously after reading his expression.
"If needed, I'll just hide out with you for a few days."
Raiden Makoto, Eula, and the others were safe at Mt. Tianheng anyway.
Security wasn't an issue.
After all, she was a primordial Archon.
"…That works," Zhongli finally agreed.
He relaxed and said,
"Besides, the current head of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor is a warm-hearted child. With your knowledge, you should receive a very enthusiastic welcome."
Luo Li gave him a strange look.
Did he actually believe that?
While the description wasn't entirely wrong, Hu Tao's eccentric personality was something most people couldn't handle.
Just as he was thinking that—
He vaguely sensed feather-light footsteps behind him.
Looking up, he noticed Zhongli's eyes flicker slightly.
Luo Li understood immediately.
Pretending to notice nothing, he continued chatting casually.
Until—
A gentle pat landed on his shoulder.
"Boo!"
Warm breath brushed against his ear.
Unfazed by the sudden scare, Luo Li calmly turned his head—
And met the gaze of a mischievous girl who had originally been grinning, but now looked bored.