The Line of Love

3: Bathe in Moonlight

The anticipation of what Madame Ping had told you was killing you, but after walking for what seemed like forever, you finally arrived at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, just in time for the sun to set.

"Here goes nothing." you whisper to yourself, and open the large doors.

"Greetings!" Is the first thing you hear as you walk in. You see a young girl dressed in black smiling at you.

"Welcome to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor! What brings you here?" she says cheerfully.

"I was just-" you try to speak but get cut off.

"Wait! I know! You're here to make sure that you're treated like royalty when you die! Not to worry! we offer lots of deals to ensure that you're gateway to the afterlife becomes a getaway to the afterlife!"

Wow this girl doesn't shut up! She's kinda cute so you'll excuse it, but you are curious, you thought it would be a man working here.

"Who are you?" you decide to cut her off from blabbering on about the deals.

"Huh..." she's a little caught off guard, "Surely you know who I am, everyone knows me" she seems to say in an almost negative way. She must be pretty infamous around Liyue.

"I'm not from around here.." you say

"Aiya! Well I'm Hu Tao, the director here!"

"Director-?"

"Yep! My family has been in the business for years."

You didn't expect such a happy young girl to run a funeral parlor, but that's not what you're here for. Oh no she's talking again. Well, I guess you have no choice but to interrupt again.

"Excuse me, but do you know where a Mr. Zhongli would be? I was told he works here.."

"Oh so that's what you're here for" -_-

"Heh- yeah..." you say back.

"In that case, I'm going to need you to do me a favor before I tell you where he is, for wasting my time! Go pick me some silk flowers all the way from the Wangshu Inn!"

"Wh-? No!" you shout a little.

"Just kidding! He's in the back," Hu Tao says, and walks towards the door to hold it open for you, "Just remember those deals I talked about!"

"Will do!" you respond, and walk through the door to go meet with Mr. Zhongli.

The door shuts behind you and you see the man sitting at a table, drinking tea and looking at some papers.

"Excuse me?" you say softly. He looks over to you.

"Why hello" he says and smiles. His voice deep, but calming. "I've been expecting you."

"R- really?" you say and blush a little, trying to hide it out of embarrassment.

"Come, have a seat. There's lots I must discuss with you." You begin to sit at the seat across from him, and he gets up and walks over to the door, and go half way through it.

"Master Hu, would you mind stepping out for a while, I need somewhere completely private to speak with our guest." You can faintly hear him say this from your seat. You're assuming she complies because you hear the front door open.

Zhongli steps back into the room, locks the door, and closes the blinds on the window.

"Y/N." He says walking back to sit across from you.

"How did you know my name?" you say skeptically.

"Do you promise to keep what I am about to tell you a secret? This is a very important matter."

Today has been such an eventful day, I mean you did just meet this guy. A few hours ago you were being chased by the guards, and having tea with an Adeptus. Still, something told you that you could trust this man.

"Yes I promise." You really do mean it. No matter what this is you won't break his trust.

"I believe that you are destined to have come here at the time you did. According to old Liyue legend, a Traveller will come to the city, running from the guards, seeking help, only a few days before Morax himself will die." The mood of the room goes cold.

"D-Die?" You're praying you didn't screw anything up by taking this trip in the first place.

"Not exactly. In a few days, Morax will fake his own death, and you play a key part in making sure it runs smoothly." He sounds completely serious about this.

"How do you know?"

"Because I am Morax."