Returning to Yujing Terrace...
Lumine took out the bell of fleeting dreams...
Zhongli: Indeed, this is the bell of fleeting dreams...
Hmm, it's been kept quite well.
Zhongli: While we're at it, let's also place the fragrant balm we prepared earlier.
Lumine: Mr. Zhongli knows Granny Ping?
Zhongli: Of course, I do. Otherwise, how would I know this bell was with her?
Paimon: Hmm... So many questions! But if you don't want to talk about it, we won't press you for now.
Lumine: (Could Mr. Zhongli also be an adeptus? Or does he have another identity...)
Paimon: Oh right, that old woman asked us to give you a message.
Paimon, mimicking Granny Ping's steady voice, said: If you have time, you're welcome to come over for tea.
This old woman doesn't have much, but I do have a teapot.
Zhongli: Hahaha, that tone doesn't suit you at all.
However, her teapot is indeed excellent; it's perfect for brewing tea.
When the time is right, I will naturally bring some good tea... to visit her.
Paimon: So, what's the next item on the ritual's preparation list?
Zhongli: Hmm, next... we're going to buy kites.
Paimon: Kites! Is Zhongli taking us to fly kites now?
Is this like... an intermission?
Qixuan: Paimon, kites have more than just one meaning for Liyue people.
Zhongli: Haha, indeed.
Although kites are children's toys, they have other symbolic meanings in various Liyue rituals.
I will explain it to you. But for our next step, let's first go and buy the kites.
Paimon: Ugh... Alright, I'm completely lost...
Everyone found the kite vendor's stall...
Granny Ashan: Customers, you've arrived?
“The seven kites you ordered earlier have all been made.”
“Would you like to pick them up now?”
Zhongli: Yes, thank you for your hard work.
Granny Ashan: These days, it's rare to find customers who want this style of kite.
Back in the day, friends from all walks of life would use them...
Paimon: Hmm, this Mr. Zhongli is a consultant for Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, so he must understand the rules of all sorts of trades.
However, what we've chatted about with Zhongli on this journey is far more than just that...
Lumine: He also understands clothing, daily necessities, jade, and porcelain...
Paimon: Ugh... He also seems able to engage in Liyue people's favorite topics of finance and politics,
but he prefers to talk about more 'useless' knowledge.
Zhongli: Haha... Because I'm more willing to share these interesting anecdotes with you.
Granny Ashan: Oh, children's toys are indeed very interesting things.
However... Although I also enjoy seeing children smile, after all, there's still a different thought.
Intricate items always please children.
But this 'intricacy' is also a culmination of over a thousand years, and behind it all is 'meaning'.
I've been making kites in Liyue for forty years, and I know the patterns passed down from my ancestors like the back of my hand.
The seven kites this customer ordered have an extraordinary 'meaning'.
Zhongli: Precisely. These are ornaments for the Farewell to Sefarer Ritual; the seven kites... symbolize the Seven Archons.
Granny Ashan: Heh heh heh... For the pattern dedicated to the Anemo God, I deliberately painted the colors freely outside the lines.
As for the one dedicated to the God of Geo, it must be drawn strictly according to the contract.
This pattern is very ancient; you can even find it in the Golden House.
Paimon: Ah, Golden House, I've heard that name recently—
Lumine: Paimon! (Whispering)
Paimon: Huh?
Zhongli: The lightning pattern on this kite... Hmm, the sense of rotation is well-captured, just like the eternity the Electro Archon desires.
The grass-leaf patterns representing wisdom, and the silver wood's annual rings... cleverly integrated into the kite's frame, are truly admirable.
The justice as balanced as water, the war as fierce as fire, and the Cryo Archon's former... Hmm,
“The details are all very well done.”
Granny Ashan: Ho ho ho, occasionally hearing praise from a knowledgeable customer is also a joy.
Zhongli: Well then, Granny Ashan, I'll take these pre-ordered goods now. As for the remaining payment...
Lumine: It's over!
Just as Lumine was bidding her Mora a final farewell,
Qixuan: Alright, Lumine, look who's here?
Lumine looked forward and saw Childe walking over,
Childe: As for the remaining payment... I'll cover it.
Paimon: Oh, it's Childe.
Lumine: So generous, my great savior!
Childe: Haha, no need, friend, I just happened to be passing by.
Childe: Mr. Zhongli is still the same.
When paying... or asking someone else to pay, he never looks at the price, nor at his wallet.
But then again, he actually understands the value of money, and he's very aware of human suffering.
But he seems unable to comprehend that being poor is a situation that could possibly happen to himself...
Qixuan: (The God of Geo has no Mora, hmm, that's very logical...)
Childe: Or, to put it another way, he simply cannot imagine himself without money.
Paimon: That's incredible, how has a person like that not starved to death?
Zhongli: ...Mr. Childe is still so fond of joking. Alright,
Buying the kites went smoothly. Before moving on to the next preparation, there's no need to rest, is there?
The Farewell to Sefarer Ritual needs materials, and it also needs people.
Near the docks, we can hire some good helpers.
Childe heard this and took out a purse, handing it to Lumine,
Childe: Take this purse—you understand without me saying, right?
You handle the bargaining yourself, don't let Zhongli interfere.
Then Childe left,
Afterward, Lumine and the others found a dockworker,
Ah San: Helper? Sure, I'm a probationary member of the Adventurers' Guild, I welcome adventure commissions, but decline paperwork.
Zhongli: Adventure... Catching a few Crystalfly for the ritual in the deep mountains does seem to have some adventurous meaning.
Lumine: Brave Adventurer, I need 5 Crystalfly.
Ah San: Eh? This job isn't too difficult, it's beneath my status as a probationary Adventurer... Never mind,
Then I'll just charge “fifteen thousand Mora,” how about it?
Zhongli: A very fair price.
Qixuan: Lumine, remember to bargain (whispering)
Lumine nodded,
After a 'battle of words', the price was set at 9000 Mora,
Then they went to find a few more helpers,
In short, Lumine, with her 'scummy' attribute, negotiated all the prices to be very 'reasonable',
Then Zhongli went to Yujing Terrace alone,
Lumine, Paimon, and Qixuan went back to find Childe,
Childe: Oh? Business handled? You don't need to return the remaining money, keep it for yourselves. Those who work for the Fatui never lose out.
Paimon: Hmph, this kind of charity, could it possibly buy me off—when are you giving us the next batch of funds?
Qixuan: Hahahaha
Lumine covered her head, looking speechless,
Childe: Haha, I have a piece of information; as long as you can tell it to me, I'll open the Northland Bank's vault to you for half an hour.
Paimon: What information!
Qixuan, meanwhile, was leisurely watching Childe
Lumine: No!
The atmosphere at the scene was a bit strange at this moment...
Paimon: Huh? Does Lumine know what he wants?
Lumine: What else could the Fatui want?
Paimon: Ah! In Mondstadt, the Fatui's Signora...
Childe: ...Alright, alright, really, what are you talking about?
What's wrong with us? The atmosphere just now was so strange.
Paimon: Woo...
Just as the atmosphere was stiff,
Zhongli walked over from the side; he must have finished his business,
Zhongli: Next, for the Everlasting Incense, we need to go to Bubu Pharmacy.
That's the most famous pharmacy in Liyue Harbor—hmm?
As if noticing the unusual atmosphere...
What's wrong with you all?
Then he looked at Qixuan, who smiled and shook her head.
Childe: Heh... Nothing.
“I was just telling them that they don't need to return the remaining money.”
Then let's part ways here,
Childe said and then left,
Paimon: Woo... Just now, Paimon definitely felt a very terrifying killing intent...
Zhongli: Hmm? Perhaps it was a misconception.
Qixuan: Alright, alright, Paimon, you have me. Let's go quickly.
Paimon: Okay~~