Genshin Impact's Incense Burner Of Liyue [87]
Gu Sanqiu yawned as he sat in the elevator heading up to the upper floors of the Wangshu Inn, looking a bit worn out. Zhongli, on the other hand, stood with his arms crossed, calmly gazing at the landscape of Dihua Marsh.
"Hey, Zhongli," Gu Sanqiu said, "aren't you feeling tired? The hygiene here at Wangshu Inn is pretty good—at least, you don't have to worry about the elevator being dirty."
"For me," Zhongli replied without turning around, "this already counts as relaxation. Besides, this mission was mainly your effort; I wasn't particularly fatigued."
Gu Sanqiu scratched his cheek with a finger. If it weren't for the fact that this guy was truly the Geo Archon, he would've shamelessly accepted the compliment.
In reality, it was Zhongli who had saved him from Azhdaha's last charge and dealt with the malevolent energy. All Gu Sanqiu had done was draw aggro and stall for time—not much different from the role of a typical expendable decoy.
"You're too modest, Zhongli," Gu Sanqiu said with a chuckle. "After all, you're the man who can channel the Geo Archon. You must have some extraordinary qualities."
"Well then, let's take some time to rest and recuperate. We'll head back to Liyue Harbor in a day."
Gu Sanqiu handed some Mora to the receptionist and cheerfully booked two of the finest rooms, planning to take a well-deserved break.
In Teyvat, there wasn't the convenience of a digital network, so booking a return carriage was impossible. After such a fierce battle, laziness overtook Gu Sanqiu; he wasn't in a rush to head back to Liyue.
Plus, he had a mischievous idea brewing—he wanted to see if bringing the "leisurely" version of the Geo Archon to Wangshu Inn might lure a certain someone out.
He kept his Vision's detection field active at all times. If even a hint of wind-element activity appeared, he'd be on it like a relentless paparazzo.
"Hmm, I remember that old friend has a fondness for almond tofu and is quite the fan of the Geo Archon," Gu Sanqiu mused, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Now, what if I covered Zhongli with almond tofu and served him up? Would that guy faint from excitement?"
...
What a wicked idea.
Quickly dismissing the thought, Gu Sanqiu walked out of his room and onto Wangshu Inn's observation deck.
"Hmm, the view really is something," he said, playing the part of a cultured traveler. Then, after making sure no one was watching, he sneaked away to the smaller, upper balcony.
After confirming he was alone, he leaped lightly onto a higher platform, shading his eyes with his hand as he looked out over the horizon.
"Not bad, not bad. The space is a bit small, but the view is certainly better."
"Leave."
Gu Sanqiu froze, instinctively turning his head. All he saw was a rush of wind enveloping him.
"Huh? Sir, did you come back down already, or are you looking to dine in the lobby?"
The receptionist seemed genuinely surprised to see Gu Sanqiu standing in front of her. "You're a martial artist, aren't you? You walked down so quietly I didn't even notice when you got here."
I didn't come down on my own...
A bead of frustration appeared on Gu Sanqiu's forehead. He hadn't even caught a glimpse of that person's face before he was gently deposited back downstairs—a clear sign that a certain Yaksha's power was leagues above his own.
"Was it really necessary to send me all the way down just because I wanted to chat a bit? How boring," he muttered to himself. Ruffling his hair in frustration, he sat in a quiet corner and ordered food.
After all, he'd already booked a room at Wangshu Inn, so any expenses incurred by Zhongli would be settled before they left. No need to worry about his boss going hungry.
To be sent downstairs by a breeze so subtly... it was clear that this Conqueror of Demons was out of his reach for the time being.
"Wait a minute," Gu Sanqiu realized. "Why am I even comparing myself to these ancient immortals? If I live a thousand years, I might be stronger than they are!"
Yes, that was it. Feeling a surge of confidence, he promptly ordered three servings of almond tofu and devoured them all, feeling much better.
...
"Gu Sanqiu, though brief, this journey has been enlightening," Zhongli said, offering a polite bow. "There are still matters I must attend to at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. Until next time."
Next time?
Which boss are we fighting next?
If it's another grueling ordeal like this, please count me out.
Gu Sanqiu forced a smile, returning the bow as they parted ways outside Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
Back home, Gu Sanqiu went to the incense chamber. After lighting incense and reciting the familiar verses, he bowed to the large censer and placed his right hand on its surface.
"Temperature... normal?"
He frowned. "That's odd."
"Time to check the lower level."
Gu Sanqiu descended to the basement, activating soundproof barriers and alert wards before sitting at his forge, brows furrowed in thought.
"Something's off... Zhongli didn't seem indifferent about Azhdaha's situation. It's different from what I knew before."
"And then there's Xiao... He seemed to recognize my Vision."
Normally, Xiao would silently wait for visitors to leave without a word. Yet, he had explicitly told Gu Sanqiu to "leave" and had gently transported him downstairs.
"It's like the details are subtly different from what I understood. Does that mean my plan to lure out a certain emergency food might also be off?"
Aware that certain words might attract unwanted attention, Gu Sanqiu carefully avoided saying the name, even with protective wards in place.
The overall situation hadn't changed. If the main character hadn't yet made an appearance, then the era of the "abandoned automaton" couldn't have passed—it should still be a part of the military.
"So, the general direction is correct. I still need to wait for that person to make an appearance in Mondstadt, so it lines up with the timeline in my memory."
He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "But I can't just sit around and wait for them to show up. I need to take care of my own preparations."
"The crops from the treasure trove, my understanding of the Geo Relic, and this."
From his pocket, Gu Sanqiu pulled out the golden scale. "What exactly am I supposed to do with this?"
As for whether he'd be able to handle the scale, he wasn't too concerned. The fact that it had been entrusted to him meant that both Azhdaha and Zhongli had faith in him.
In simple terms, he'd scored enough favor points with the big shots that any necessary preparation had likely already been handled. Even if this scale was high-tier material, he should be able to work with it.
"A shield? Or maybe... a weapon coating?"
He had no intention of trying to eat it—he didn't have the kind of teeth needed to gnaw through dragon scale. If he did, he would've gone straight for Azhdaha's hide back then and done more damage than with a hammer.
Gu Sanqiu had also dismissed the idea of tossing it into his treasure trove for a random item. First, it was a gift from Azhdaha, a meaningful keepsake. Second, his treasure trove was like a gacha machine—who knew what it would spit out?
Considering Azhdaha's stature, if he threw it in and a dragon-like creature emerged... he might get pulled inside himself while fishing it out, and the Gu Clan's line would end right there.
"Hmm... should I really try to make a shield with it?"
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