Genshin Impact's Incense Burner Of Liyue [519]

Gu Sanqiu landed in front of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, nodded at the undertaker who had come to receive him, and walked straight into the depths of the hall.

"Hey, girl. You here? Come with me for a trip."

"Hehe, Little Qiuqiu, what business do you have with this Hall Master? If it’s a work trip, I’ll have to charge extra, you know."

Hu Tao emerged, holding a hairpin in her mouth. "Why are you showing up now? Don’t you know this is my precious break time?"

"Grab that half-token of yours—we’re heading to Minlin."

Gu Sanqiu stated plainly, "We’re going to Mount Canglong to ring the bell."

Clatter.

The hairpin slipped from Hu Tao’s mouth and fell to the ground as she stared at Gu Sanqiu in utter shock.

"Did your brain finally break? You’re actually looking for something to do? Little Qiuqiu has turned into Bad Qiuqiu!"

"My review of this situation: forced labor."

If not for suddenly being dragged into this, he wouldn’t willingly pile on strange responsibilities. This was just making life difficult for himself.

Gu Sanqiu expressionlessly picked up the hairpin and started fixing Hu Tao’s hair.

"It’s a bit urgent. Once we grab the token, we’ll set off immediately. I want to be back in Liyue Harbor within a week."

"No problem! I always carry that token with me—after all, it’s a pretty important keepsake."

Hu Tao playfully shook her head, making it harder for Gu Sanqiu to do her hair. "Why the sudden urge to ring that bell? Can’t the Conqueror of Demons handle whatever this is for you?"

"No. This matter is complicated. Going to Minlin is just one step in a much larger process."

If the day ever came when the Jade Chamber became a battlefield, not even someone as diligent as Xiao—or even the usually laid-back adepti—would be able to stay idle.

"Alright, alright, you win. Do we need to let Xingqiu and the others know?"

"We won’t need them, so no need to call them over."

Gu Sanqiu patted Hu Tao’s head. "Once I claim the title of Head Disciple, then they can come witness the ceremony. As a fellow student of the Guhua Clan, he ought to offer me a grand salute. If he kneels, even better."

"Tsk tsk, I never quite understand the brotherly bond you two have, but it sure sounds interesting."

Hu Tao’s eyes gleamed. "If he really kneels, can I use a Kamera to capture the moment? I bet I could squeeze a hefty sponsorship out of his family’s commerce guild."

"You’ll have to ask him that yourself."

The two boarded a Shadow Roc and left Liyue Harbor. If not for the invisibility spell they had cast in advance, this majestic and powerful beast would have been the talk of the town for days.

At an open-air teahouse in Liyue Harbor, Zhongli took a sip of tea and looked up at the sky.

"So, he thought of this approach after all. I hadn’t expected little Sanqiu to reach out to the people of Minlin."

"It seems the trial has taken an unexpected turn."

Zhongli swirled his tea gently, watching the tea leaves rise and fall in the cup.

"Perhaps… an accident is in order. Or several unforeseen accidents."

"You understand, don’t you, Barbatos?"

Zhongli drank the tea. "Find the right moment and send that child over."

A gentle breeze swept past, causing Zhongli’s braid to lift and slap against his chin. It seemed to be Barbatos’ way of responding to his old friend.

"You’re still as mischievous as ever. Have millennia truly not taught you a shred of maturity?"

A playful voice echoed through the wind. "Hehe, you mean mature and steady like you? No thanks. Change and unpredictability are part of the wind’s nature, after all."

"My old friend, I must say, you play dirty. You’ve set up yet another massive scheme for your dear nephew. I’m starting to think you’re afraid your beloved son won’t suffer enough."

Zhongli remained composed, drinking his tea as if completely unaffected by Venti’s words.

"As rulers, we have guided the mortal world to this point. It is only natural to test the results. As for what kind of tree will grow from this seed, I have full confidence in my actions."

Venti immediately pouted. "Hey, hey, so after all that, you’re just patting yourself on the back again? My poor nephew—after all this talk, you haven’t even mentioned him once."

"This is his trial. You already know that Sanqiu is entangled in far too many things. Not to mention he even had the audacity to provoke that shut-in in Inazuma. It’s pure luck he’s still alive."

"If he can pass the test, it means he will at least be capable of handling what’s to come. If not, then he can live an ordinary life in peace."

"Yeah, yeah. Running headfirst into trouble without even realizing it—my nephew really has it rough."

As Zhongli’s tea cup emptied, the conversation between the two archons faded into silence. If any being wished to uncover what they had discussed, they would have to sift through the vast traces left within the currents of elemental energy.

---

Meanwhile, aided by the Shadow Roc, Hu Tao and Gu Sanqiu arrived near a towering and treacherous mountain.

"Take it out. To be honest, I couldn’t find any recorded instances of this being used in my family’s archives. Maybe our ancestors never intended to use it in the first place?"

"That’s possible. Your family does hate trouble, after all."

The two combined their tokens, forming a dragon talisman inlaid with a golden gemstone at its center. Gu Sanqiu tossed the talisman into the mountains and projected his voice with controlled energy.

"To those of Mount Canglong, I seek to ascend and ring the bell. Please inform the elders—I bear the dragon talisman of both the Gu and Hu families."

"Oh? What a rare visitor we have here."

As the mist parted, an elderly man with such deep wrinkles that they could trap a fly stood below them.

"Gu Xiangjun, Hall Master Hu, this old man greets you. Please, follow me."

Gu Sanqiu offered a respectful bow, while Hu Tao grinned and ran over to support the elder.

"Old man, you just called us ‘rare visitors.’ Does that mean no one’s come to Mount Canglong in a long time?"

"Hehe, I hardly deserve such formality from the Hall Master."

The elder glanced up at the Shadow Roc in the sky, momentarily startled, before smiling and answering Hu Tao’s question.

"I meant that your identities are rare. The ones who come to ring the bell here are usually either reckless young adventurers or familiar old faces."

"But you two—and your ancestors—haven’t set foot on Mount Canglong in many years."

"If not for the talismans reacting with the formation, even our Mountain Lord would’ve had trouble recalling what they were for."

Gu Sanqiu’s expression grew serious. "As per the old agreement, when both talismans appear together, Mount Canglong must accommodate any reasonable request within its limits."

"Elder, I need you to make the necessary arrangements immediately. I must ring the bell."

The elder stroked his long beard in contemplation. "Gu Xiangjun, you seem anxious. Has something happened in the outside world?"

"It’s urgent. I need the strength of the cultivation sects—and I may even need you all to be ready to act at any moment."

The elder instinctively stroked his beard again. "I see… Our young ones have reported an increase in demonic activity lately. Is it related to this matter?"

"More or less. After the wars we’ve been through, I know the cultivation world has been resting and rebuilding. I didn’t want to disturb that."

Gu Sanqiu let out a bitter chuckle. "But times have changed."

"If I don’t consolidate the forces I know exist, I fear that one day I’ll regret it. That I’ll lose something—someone—I can’t afford to lose."

"I won’t give that wretched future the chance to take hold. Whatever happens… I will be the one to decide!"

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This is a fan translation of 原神之璃月奉香人 by 淡白蛋清. All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!