Zhongli silently watched the Hall Master, who was speaking eloquently, perfectly merging the two volumes of "unofficial history" and drawing astonishing conclusions. For a moment, he didn't know how to respond.
A rare look of astonishment, mixed with helplessness and amusement, surfaced in those golden, stone-like eyes that had witnessed millennia.
He slowly raised his hand, his fingertips unconsciously tracing the rim of the warm teacup, seemingly weighing his words.
After a long pause, he finally spoke, his voice still steady but carrying a barely perceptible sigh: "So... that is the case. To cross-reference two works and arrive at such a self-consistent conclusion—the imagination and connective ability of common rumors truly are astonishing."
His gaze fell once more on the two small booklets, lingering particularly on the author's name, "Lovia."
"This Mr. Lovia," Zhongli said softly, his tone flat, "is quite... meticulous in his conjectures regarding the Archon's daily life."
Hu Tao nodded vigorously: "Right, right! I also think this author is a talent! To write about the Archon, that old man, in such a... such a relatable way! Hey, do you think we should try to find this author and chat? Get him to write some promotional short stories for our WangSheng Funeral Parlor? Like, *The Indissoluble Bond Between WangSheng Funeral Parlor consultant Zhongli and the Boundary of Life and Death*? It would definitely sell out!"
Zhongli's hand, holding the tea, paused almost imperceptibly.
"...Hall Master." He slowly finished the slightly cooled tea in his cup, his voice calm, "It is better to deliberate on this matter further."
Seeing the Hall Master so engrossed, the Funeral Attendant girl smiled, then magically pulled another booklet from her sleeve. The title on the cover was even more startling—*regarding the matter of the geo archon being a synthesized god who caused his wifes death*.
"Hall Master, Mr. Zhongli, there's also this one! The title is... a bit too direct, but the content is actually similar to the last one, just bolder! Now many people in Liyue Harbor are reading the two books side-by-side, saying they confirm each other and supplement the details!" The girl said, her face showing an irrepressible desire to share, clearly having read it herself often.
"Ooh, ooh, ooh! A sequel?! No, a sister volume!" Hu Tao's eyes lit up instantly. She grabbed the booklet and eagerly flipped it open. "*regarding the matter of the geo archon being a synthesized god who caused his wifes death*... This title! Tsk tsk, is this author 'Lovia' really not afraid of being invited by the Millelith for tea?"
She quickly scanned through it, clicking her tongue in wonder as she read, occasionally letting out gasps of sudden realization or extreme shock.
"Wow... it's written in more detail here! It says 'Mora' had a particularly unrestrained personality and would say 'I want it all' when she saw something she liked, which is why 'Zhongli' Lord is like that now!"
"Heavens... it also says here that 'Kexi' was originally silent and reserved, and only became slightly more... er, talkative after losing 'Mora'? Was it to see and speak more for 'her'?"
"Pfft—This, this part actually describes in detail how 'Mora' merged her Divine Soul into him! And it's a bit spicy! This author is too bold!"
Hu Tao was thrilled as she read, sometimes slapping the table in admiration, sometimes covering her mouth to stifle a laugh. Finally, she simply handed the booklet to Zhongli, pointing to a specific passage:
"consultant, consultant! Look at this passage! The author actually managed to tie it all together! It says precisely because the Archon is 'Crafted,' he possesses both Mora's unrestrained nature (referring to saying 'I want it all' when paying) and Kexi's composure (referring to remaining unfazed when unable to pay)! It even says this isn't causing his wife's death, but 'eternity' in symbiosis! This line of thinking! This Hall Master is impressed!"
Zhongli's gaze followed her slender finger, landing on the freshly inked words.
[...Therefore, the Archon did not cause his wife's death; rather, he integrated her love into himself. Henceforth, wherever his Divine Body goes, he is both Mora and Kexi. Eternally solitary, yet eternally accompanied. His actions in the mortal realm, whether extravagant or frugal, are but recollections and imitations of the past...]
His expression remained calm, yet the back that had been steadily seated for thousands of years seemed to straighten imperceptibly for a moment. The fingers holding the teacup tightened slightly, the knuckles becoming faintly distinct.
Deep within those golden eyes that saw through the ages, something seemed to quietly fracture, only to be instantly covered by thick dust, restoring the silence of a deep pool.
Zhongli slowly inhaled. The tea fragrance filling the air seemed unable to soothe that subtle tremor.
"..." Zhongli remained silent for a moment, seemingly reorganizing his thoughts to counter this increasingly absurd "historical research."
Finally, he chose a relatively safe angle, his voice betraying no emotion: "To attribute numerous... largely unrelated behavioral characteristics to a fabricated, tragic origin story and give it a plausible explanation. This is indeed worthy of common folk creation; for the sake of narrative completeness and appeal, it is... hmm, quite ingenious."
He gently placed the teacup back on the table, producing an extremely faint clinking sound.
"However, the theory of 'synthesizing deities' is too shocking and deviates significantly from the commonly accepted Divine Status of a God. Hall Master, when reading, it is best to discern between truth and fabrication."
Hu Tao, however, completely missed the almost imperceptible strain in the consultant's voice, instead nodding vigorously: "Mhm, mhm, I understand truth and fabrication, but as long as the story is good, it works! Besides, look how much everyone loves it!"
She pointed toward the faint street chatter coming from outside the window, "Right now, all of Liyue is discussing whether the Archon really had a 'Mora' as his First Love! This Lovia is simply a marketing genius! What he writes is much more entertaining than those serious Records of the Archon's Divine Feats!"
"Look, how long have these books been out? They've already spread throughout all of Liyue Harbor! Everyone must really love reading this kind of thing!"
She rubbed her chin, her plum-blossom eyes darting around, forming the idea of poaching talent: "So, a genius! consultant, if we could find this 'Lovia' and pay him handsomely to write *Wangsheng Funeral Parlor Romantic Episodes—A Record of the Consultant Who is Learned in All Things but Always Forgets His Wallet*, riding the Archon's coattails, wouldn't our performance increase tenfold? No, a hundredfold!"
"Speaking of which, how is the Archon forgetting his wallet so similar to you, consultant?"