Genshin Impact's Incense Burner Of Liyue.

"Really? Is that how it is?"

Hu Tao raised her head. "Logically speaking, something that could enhance Liyue's strength… shouldn't you, as a Fengxiang, report it immediately?"

Gu Sanqiu rolled his eyes. "So, you're admitting your family has records about mine, aren't you? That's exactly what you mean."

"Oh, come on! Don't sweat the details."

Hu Tao waved her hand dismissively. "I'm making a valid point. Besides, Ningguang is the Tianquan of the Qixing. Telling her about this could only benefit you."

"The Liyue Qixing, not Liyue Uniquexing," Gu Sanqiu quipped with a shrug. "If Liyue only had one star, I'd already be on the Jade Chamber after making you ice cream. Get it?"

"Ah, I see."

Zhongli picked up a fruit sphere from his plate. "If Miss Ningguang were the sole leader, revealing the Battle Soul of Killing Intent would indeed be straightforward."

"However, since the leadership comprises multiple individuals, and not all of them may have noble intentions, it is unlikely that they share the same perspective as you and Tianquan. Holding onto something they desire and waiting for them to approach you ensures leverage—an advanced form of political strategy."

"Zhongli gets me," Gu Sanqiu said, giving him a thumbs-up. "If Liyue were in dire straits, or if someone coveted our land, I'd report this immediately—no questions asked. I'd even personally train them to master it faster."

"But right now? Forget it. These days, even Liyue Harbor needs the authorities to enforce market discipline and emphasize moral conduct. Throwing away my trump card like that would be plain stupidity."

"Moral conduct…"

Zhongli set his teacup down. "Speaking of which, was the Conqueror of Demons' recent affair your doing?"

"That's right," Gu Sanqiu admitted. "Xiao has done so much for Liyue, and as a Fengxiang, I owe it to him as both an ally and a friend to lend a hand."

"Choosing the Lantern Rite as the occasion was strategic. It gathered substantial energy while rekindling the people's memories—or rather, their sense of responsibility."

"Before laws were firmly established, rural customs and self-discipline formed the moral backbone of the people. It's a nostalgic reminder of personal accountability and righteousness."

"It's the kind of win-win scenario I enjoy, even though I knew it'd be exhausting. But I didn't expect it to leave me this drained."

Gu Sanqiu tugged at the corner of his mouth, recalling how cool he had looked while wielding white flames against the corrupted god, only to end up collapsing like a dead dog afterward.

"Gratitude is a virtue. Perhaps this is why the Geo Archon entrusted your family with the role of Fengxiang," Zhongli remarked.

...

Although it sounded like praise, Gu Sanqiu couldn't shake the feeling that the old man was subtly patting himself on the back for his brilliance.

It must be my imagination.

"Oh, right."

Gu Sanqiu snapped out of his thoughts and kicked Hu Tao's chair. "Hand over your Staff of Homa. It's about time for some maintenance."

"Here."

With a spoon in her mouth, Hu Tao passed her weapon to Gu Sanqiu.

"Sanqiu, you weren't lying when you said it's coated with powdered Electro Shark teeth. It's amazing! Every stab goes boom-boom-boom! So much fun!"

Hu Tao mimed spear thrusts with her spoon, jabbing at the air as if demonstrating her skills.

"Just don't blow yourself up," Gu Sanqiu said as he laid the Staff of Homa across his knees.

He regretted ever telling Hu Tao what materials he used. This was practically inviting Zhongli to question him further.

Old man, this stuff isn't from Teyvat. Aren't you curious where it came from? Go ahead, ask me!

The sheer irony made him want to crawl under a rock.

"So, do you have any plans next?" Zhongli asked.

"Are you inviting me to dinner, Zhongli? Because otherwise, no. It's a festival—I don't think anyone's deranged enough to make me work overtime today."

Let's hope that wasn't a FLAG.

"Not exactly. I was hoping you could refine a few elixirs for me."

"You need elixirs?"

"To be precise, I require true gold-and-silver pills, a process closer to artifact crafting," Zhongli clarified.

Gu Sanqiu raised a brow. "Do you have the recipe?"

"Here."

Zhongli handed him a scroll. "If this formula is absent from your family's archives, consider it your payment for refining the pills. If it's already documented, I'll find another way to compensate you."

"Hey!"

Hu Tao scowled. "What do you mean by 'find another way to compensate'? Don't think I don't know you're planning to use Wangsheng's budget for this, you cheapskate!"

"The Hall Master is astute," Zhongli said with a faint smile.

"That's not something a compliment will fix!" Hu Tao huffed.

"Let me take a look."

Gu Sanqiu unrolled the scroll and clicked his tongue. "All these materials are listed with ancient names. Where did you even dig this up?"

"While strolling through the harbor during my leisure, I encountered a merchant selling salvaged ironware and ancient relics from the sea. One well-sealed chest bore a noble pattern, so I purchased it. The pill recipe was inside," Zhongli explained matter-of-factly.

...

A classic Child of Destiny move—finding rare treasures while casually shopping?

Gu Sanqiu clasped his hands in a gesture of respect. True expert behavior. Definitely not someone to mess with.

"From the looks of it, this seems to be the type of golden pill crafted by the Adepti," Gu Sanqiu noted, furrowing his brows. "I can refine it, but the results won't differ much from the treasures you'd find in the Domain of Guyun."

"To what extent can you refine it?" Zhongli asked.

Gu Sanqiu glanced at Hu Tao.

"If cost isn't an issue, I can refine every pill to the level of a true golden elixir. But if we're talking practicality, I'd need to know what you intend to do with them."

He explained, "Using golden elixirs to enhance standard weapons is overkill. Their compatibility with the materials would matter as well."

"Moreover, advanced materials consume significantly more Mora. If this project involves extensive work, the expense could be astronomical."

"Golden elixirs, you say?" Zhongli pondered. "What about crafting the legendary Adepti Reversal Divine Pill?"

Gu Sanqiu's mouth twitched. "Now you're overestimating me. That pill is said to simulate the primordial chaos—before Heaven and Earth were separated. There's no way I could refine something like that."

Though, if you'd like, I can tell you stories about Pangu splitting Heaven and Earth or Nuwa patching the sky. As payment, how about giving me a Ruyi Jingu Bang—the Sea-Stabilizing Rod?

Then again, I'd probably get cut off after two sentences.

---

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