Zhongli Returns, and the Connection with Huan Huan!

Upon sensing the aura of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, Zhongli immediately ended his leisure time and returned.

The closer he got to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, the more he found that aura peculiar.

For some reason, Zhongli felt a hint of... familiarity from that aura.

This feeling was something he had never experienced even in his long life.

It only deepened his curiosity about what had happened at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.

As soon as Zhongli stepped through the doors, his gaze landed on Huan Huan on the floor.

Zhongli's eyes flickered for a moment before he concealed it again.

When the people of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor saw Zhongli return, they respectfully greeted him:

"Mr. Zhongli, you're finally back."

"While you were away, something major happened at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor."

"Little Yung went out looking for you, Mr. Zhongli; who would have thought you'd return on your own?"

Although there were a few guests present, their eyes also shone with respect when looking at Zhongli.

He was a legendary figure, almost omniscient.

Most of the guests at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor were well-educated individuals, but they all felt ignorant in Zhongli's presence.

In other words, Zhongli was fully qualified to be a teacher to the guests.

Furthermore, it was rumored that Zhongli was the oldest guest at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.

Past leaders of the parlor had all received his guidance.

This added a layer of mystery to Zhongli's identity.

As Zhongli greeted everyone, his gaze remained fixed on Huan Huan.

Huan Huan felt the deep gaze, akin to the sea, from Zhongli and shivered inwardly.

Wow, the Geo Archon! The living Geo Archon! The Geo Archon who can move!

He was indeed handsome! No wonder he's called the strongest man in Teyvat!

Even a solid guy like me, standing at 1.8 meters tall, couldn't withstand the charm of the Geo Archon!

Since Zhongli entered, Huan Huan had felt an inexplicable connection, as if he and Zhongli were relatives.

This made Huan Huan, who already admired Zhongli, even more excited.

Zhongli, of course, had no idea what Huan Huan was thinking.

He simply cast a deep glance at Huan Huan, his eyes flickering with a complex expression before returning to normal.

At that moment, Hu Tao walked over and looked up, saying:

"Zhongli, you went out to slack off again!"

The others in the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor pretended to look elsewhere.

In the entire parlor, only Hu Tao could speak to Zhongli like this.

Zhongli replied with an air of calm:

"A few days ago, I appraised a batch of treasures for the master, enough to earn a few days of leisure."

Just from his skills in appraising antiques, paintings, and minerals, Zhongli created enough value for the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor to justify his downtime.

However, as the boss, Hu Tao naturally wanted her employees to work harder.

She raised an eyebrow and said:

"Then, considering that the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor has just gone through a major change, shouldn't you, as a guest, be present?"

Having watched Hu Tao grow up, Zhongli was already accustomed to her personality and responded smoothly:

"It was precisely because I sensed that something significant had happened at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor that I rushed back."

He glanced at Huan Huan as he spoke.

Upon entering and seeing Huan Huan, Zhongli had already deduced that the recent unusual occurrences at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor were caused by him.

And it seemed that this was not a bad thing for the parlor; it might even be a good thing.

Hu Tao, being lively, quickly shifted her attention back to Huan Huan, saying:

"This is Huan Huan; he looks quite extraordinary, doesn't he? I was just about to ask you what species he is."

As Hu Tao's personally appointed encyclopedia, she felt that Zhongli must know Huan Huan's species.

If even Zhongli didn't know, it would only mean that Huan Huan was a completely unprecedented elemental life form.

Zhongli's expression remained calm as he said seriously:

"Well, such a creature is indeed unheard of. However, generally speaking, the birth of new life is often related to its birthplace. Where did you obtain him, Master Hu?"

Hu Tao replied:

"I found Huan Huan at Wuwang Hill; at that time, he was still an egg."

"Wuwang Hill?"

Zhongli's gaze sharpened, a hint of curiosity in his eyes.

How could something like this appear in Wuwang Hill?

He had thought that Hu Tao had acquired it from some immortal.

He even feared that his identity had been exposed.

But it didn't seem to be the case.

Zhongli recalled that while Wuwang Hill had a unique landscape, aside from a pathway connecting the two realms, it didn't have anything sealed like the God of Dust at Ganyu's abode or the Aranara at Mount Hulao.

Why would something like this appear in such an ordinary place?

Though Zhongli found it puzzling, he said:

"Then it seems that this... Huan Huan was born at Wuwang Hill. Given its unique position, he must have resonated with various elements and the ley lines, stabilizing that chaotic realm of yin and yang."

Zhongli also knew that Hu Tao had a special talent for naming.

Although it was a bit odd to name such a being "Huan Huan," he adapted to it quickly after a moment of discomfort.

However, Hu Tao looked puzzled and said:

"Earlier, Old Meng and the others noticed that Huan Huan bears some resemblance to the Geo Archon's true form. Could it be...?"

The others behind her nodded, curiously awaiting Zhongli's answer.

If Huan Huan had the same bloodline as the Geo Archon, they would be half-believing.

After all, during the Geo Archon's reign of three thousand seven hundred years, such a situation had never occurred.

It was just too coincidental that Huan Huan had appeared shortly after the Geo Archon's departure.

Could there really be such a coincidence in this world?

Zhongli's expression darkened; he hadn't expected that the Wangsheng crowd would have already speculated to this extent.

He then spoke calmly and firmly:

"This is an excessive reminiscence of the Geo Archon affecting you. The time the Geo Archon existed is longer than Liyue itself; even if there are some similarities, Huan Huan can never be the same as the Geo Archon."

"I see; I was wondering how such a coincidence could happen."

"Elemental life is inherently extraordinary, so it's not unusual to have some resemblance to the Geo Archon."

"It turns out it was because I often think of the Geo Archon that I unconsciously believed this."

Zhongli was considered an authoritative expert in the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.

Since even Zhongli had said so, the others accepted his explanation.

Remembering the fall of the Geo Archon, they couldn't help but sigh.

Even Hu Tao agreed with Zhongli's statement.

After all, for her to have picked up an egg at Wuwang Hill and ended up with something resembling the Geo Archon, it seemed highly improbable.

Standing to the side, Huan Huan shook his head.

No wonder the Geo Archon was so skilled at persuasion; he had a way with words.

After all this talk, they still hadn't figured out what exactly he was!

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A/N:

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