Hu Tao looked at Qiu Bai with a surprised expression.
"Really? Really?!"
"Did you really promote my business for me?"
Hu Tao ran up to Qiu Bai, tilted her head up with her beautiful plum blossom eyes, and asked excitedly.
"Really."
Qiu Bai lowered his head to look at Hu Tao and said with a gentle smile.
"This guy..."
"I didn't see him promoting any business."
Paimon glanced at the lying Qiu Bai with disdain and spoke to the Traveler beside her.
"Oh my, if it isn't the Traveler and Paimon!"
"Long time no see! What brings you to Wangsheng Funeral Parlor? Did you miss me?"
Hu Tao tilted her head and noticed the Traveler and Paimon standing behind Qiu Bai, saying with a smile.
"Yes, Hu Tao, I missed you."
The Traveler placed one hand on her chest, looked at the lively Hu Tao, and nodded with a smile.
"Hahaha, really?"
"Nice, that makes me feel good."
Hu Tao crossed her arms over her chest upon hearing this, nodding with satisfaction.
"Your presence here..."
"Brings me great joy."
Zhongli looked at the Traveler behind Qiu Bai and slowly spoke.
"Isn't this the Traveler and Paimon?"
"What's going on, Qiu Bai? Did you bring them here because something happened?"
Azhdaha saw the Traveler and Paimon and greeted them with a smile.
"Qiu Yue!"
Paimon exclaimed when she saw Qiu Yue, waving her hand cheerfully.
"Little Paimon!"
Qiu Yue saw Paimon calling her, gently tilted her head, and waved back with a smile.
"Oh? I didn't expect..."
"That you and my sister would be so close."
Qiu Bai looked at Paimon beside him with some surprise.
"Hmph, the last time we came to Wangsheng Funeral Parlor..."
"You weren't even here, so of course we got to know Qiu Yue."
Paimon crossed her arms over her chest and gave a light huff upon hearing this.
"By the way, I need to talk to you all about something. Come outside for a moment."
"Except for Zhongli."
Qiu Bai looked at everyone with a mysterious expression.
"What is it?"
"Why not include Zhongli?"
Hu Tao looked at the mysterious-faced Qiu Bai with curiosity.
"You'll know once you come outside."
Qiu Bai said mysteriously.
Though Azhdaha, Qiu Yue, and Hu Tao were somewhat confused, they still followed Qiu Bai out of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, leaving Zhongli behind to ponder their departing figures.
"So that's how it is... and this too..."
"Do you all understand now?"
Qiu Bai crossed his arms over his chest, looking at everyone gathered in a circle, and said with a smile.
"Oh~"
"So that's it. Well, I approve of this plan!"
Azhdaha was the first to raise his hand.
"I approve too!"
Qiu Yue also raised her delicate hand with a smile.
"Hmph, how could such an event proceed without the Director of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor!"
Hu Tao said, also raising her hand.
"The Traveler and I will join too."
Paimon and the Traveler also raised their hands with a smile.
"Then it's settled. The plan begins tonight."
"You all go prepare first. I need to get something important."
Qiu Bai looked at everyone and said with a smile.
Afterward, everyone dispersed across Liyue streets.
Qiu Bai walked to a secluded spot and instantly transported to a secluded area in Inazuma City.
Then he walked to Naganohara Fireworks shop.
"Yoimiya, give me a few hundred boxes of large fireworks."
Qiu Bai looked at Yoimiya and said with a smile.
"A few hundred boxes of fireworks?!"
"Qiu Bai, what, what are you planning to do with so many fireworks?"
Yoimiya exclaimed in surprise, then, noticing her voice was a bit loud, quickly lowered it and asked softly.
"Hehe, it's a secret."
Qiu Bai told Yoimiya with a mysterious expression.
"Alright, I understand. Though it might take some time."
"I'll have them ready for you by this afternoon. Let me go prepare."
Yoimiya nodded with a smile upon hearing this and walked back into the shop.
"By this afternoon, huh?"
"I'll go find that guy first."
Qiu Bai chuckled softly, then walked to a deserted place in Inazuma and vanished in an instant.
When he reappeared, he was already at Windrise in Mondstadt.
At that moment, a bard was standing beneath the giant tree, playing a lyre.
"Oh?"
"What brings you here, my friend? What a rare visit."
Venti turned around, saw Qiu Bai before him, and asked with a smile.
"Hey Venti, let me tell you something..."
Qiu Bai smiled and walked to Venti side, explaining for a while.
"Oh~!"
"I understand. Let me go find some good wine I've buried."
After listening, Venti ran to a spot in Windrise, used Anemo power to uncover the ground, and took out several bottles of Dandelion Wine.
"Ah~"
"These wines, I can hardly bear to drink them myself."
Venti looked at the bottles of fine wine, almost on the verge of tears.
"Come on."
"It's just a few bottles of wine."
Qiu Bai patted Venti shoulder and with a wave of his hand, collected the bottles.
"Hey, hey!"
"That's easy for you to say! Don't take them away yet, let me look at them a bit longer!"
Venti, seeing his wine being taken away, said tearfully.
"Come on, grab onto me."
"It's not like you won't get to drink them."
Qiu Bai looked at the tearful Venti and complained helplessly.
"Alright, alright."
Venti walked over and grabbed Qiu Bai clothing, then they instantly disappeared from the spot.
When they reappeared, they were already in a secluded corner of Liyue Harbor.
"Let's go see how they're preparing."
Qiu Bai looked at Venti beside him and said with a smile.
Venti nodded and followed Qiu Bai through the streets of Liyue.
After walking for a while, they saw the Traveler and Paimon buying ingredients.
"Venti?!"
"What are you doing here?!"
Paimon saw them coming, flew around Venti several times, and exclaimed in surprise.
"Venti, you came too."
The Traveler saw Venti and greeted him with a smile.
"Hahaha, for something like this..."
"How could I not be here? Of course I had to come!"
Venti looked at the Traveler and Paimon and nodded with a smile.
"I feel like the two of you together..."
"Looks particularly suspicious."
Paimon stroked her chin, examining Qiu Bai and Venti with a suspicious expression.
Well, now the Geo Archon, Anemo Archon, and God of Yin and Yang were all gathered together.
"Hahaha, what's suspicious about that?"
"I just heard from Qiu Bai, how are your preparations coming along?"
Venti laughed and looked at the Traveler and Paimon, asking with a smile.
"We've prepared most things."
"We were just about to go find the others."
The Traveler nodded with a smile upon hearing this.
"Then let's go together."
Qiu Bai said with a smile.
Then the four of them walked toward Qiu Yue direction.
"Brother?"
"Traveler, Paimon, and this... little boy?"
Qiu Yue saw them coming and said with a smile, then looked at Venti with curiosity.
"So she's your sister, Qiu Bai."
"No wonder she looks so much like a female version of you."
Venti stroked his chin, looking at Qiu Yue with curiosity.
"He's not just some boy, sister."
"He's the Anemo Archon, one of the Seven."
Qiu Bai explained to Qiu Yue with a smile.
"I see?"
"Just like Mr. Zhongli then."
Qiu Yue looked Venti up and down upon hearing this, and nodded with a smile.
"My name is Qiu Yue, I'm Qiu Bai sister."
Then Qiu Yue extended her delicate hand and looked at Venti with a smile.
"I'm Venti."
Venti reached out and took Qiu Yue hand, introducing himself.
(T/N: Like the story fellow daoist? Now you can read 30 chapters ahead on my P@treon [[email protected]/DaoistRongyi] Thanks for your support! 😊)