Qiu Bai looked at the stone table before him, and the corner of his mouth twitched.
What was Azhdaha thinking, making the stone table so large?
"Hehe, it has indeed gotten bigger."
"But as for the reason why it's bigger..."
Qiu Bai looked at Zhongli before him and said somewhat mysteriously.
"What is it..."
Just as Zhongli was about to speak.
"Happy birthday, Zhongli!!!"
"Happy birthday, you old relic."
"Happy birthday, Mr. Zhongli."
"Happy birthday, old friend."
"Hahaha, happy birthday, old man."
"Happy birthday, Zhongli."
Suddenly, from somewhere, a group of people approached.
Paimon, Hu Tao, Qiu Yue, Azhdaha, Venti, and the Traveler all walked out carrying various items.
They looked at Zhongli and said with smiles.
"You all."
Zhongli looked at everyone approaching, was stunned for a moment, then slightly closed his eyes with a smile on his lips.
"Thank you."
After a while, Zhongli opened his eyes, looked at everyone before him, and said with a smile.
"How about that? Are you surprised?"
"Happy birthday, Zhongli!"
Qiu Bai looked at the smiling Zhongli and said with a smile.
"By common reasoning."
"Of course I'm happy."
Zhongli looked at everyone before him and said with a smile upon hearing this.
"Come, come, old man!"
"Look at these bottles of Dandelion Wine I buried at Windrise."
Venti looked at Zhongli and said with a smile.
Then he winked at Qiu Bai.
Qiu Bai smiled and nodded, placing several bottles of wine on the stone table.
"I didn't expect you would come too."
Zhongli looked at Venti beside him and said with a smile.
"Oh my, of course I would come!"
"How could I not come for the old man birthday!"
Venti looked at Zhongli beside him and said with a smile.
"Come, see what we've prepared."
"Dishes from Liuli Pavilion bought by Qiu Yue, and dishes made by the Traveler."
Azhdaha came over and placed more than a dozen delicious dishes on the stone table.
These dishes were all hot, still steaming—they had been heated by Hu Tao.
Then Paimon flew over with a smile and set out the plates, bowls, and chopsticks.
"Oh my, it's rare for Consultant Zhongli to celebrate his birthday."
"Quick, look at what the Director has prepared!"
Hu Tao suddenly appeared behind Zhongli.
She placed her arm on Zhongli shoulder, holding a large box, and said with a smile.
"I wonder what Director Hu has prepared for me?"
Zhongli turned his head slightly, looked at Hu Tao behind him, and said indulgently.
"Hehe."
"Ta-da! Of course, it's a delicious cake!"
Hu Tao let go of Zhongli and directly threw away the box lid, revealing a large cake inside.
On the cake was written crookedly.
"Happy Birthday Zhongli."
"Hahaha."
Zhongli saw his name written crookedly on the cake and also laughed out loud, which was rare for him.
"Oh my!"
"Consultant Zhongli actually laughed out loud, this is incredible."
Hu Tao was shocked to see Zhongli laughing out loud.
"This is also my first time seeing Zhongli laugh!"
Paimon looked at the Traveler beside her and said with a smile.
The Traveler also nodded with a smile upon hearing this.
"This is my first time seeing it too."
Qiu Yue looked at the laughing Zhongli with some surprise.
"Forget about you all."
"I haven't seen it many times myself."
Azhdaha looked at the laughing Zhongli and said with a smile.
"Oh my, look at you all!"
"You've made the old man laugh, this is truly remarkable!"
Venti looked at Zhongli beside him with an exaggerated expression and joked.
"Come, old man, Qiu Bai, Azhdaha, let's have a drink first."
"This is truly rare and excellent wine."
Azhdaha smiled upon hearing this, and everyone else also sat down on the stone chairs.
Qiu Bai sat next to Qiu Yue, Azhdaha next to the Traveler and Paimon.
Zhongli sat next to Venti, and Hu Tao sat on Zhongli other side.
Venti poured a full cup of Dandelion Wine for Zhongli, and filled his own cup as well.
Azhdaha and Qiu Bai, needless to say, also had full cups.
"Those who can drink, drink; those who can eat, eat!"
"Happy birthday, old man!"
After saying this, Venti finished his cup in one go.
"As expected of Venti."
Paimon, chewing meat in her mouth, looked at Venti who had drained his cup in one go and commented sarcastically.
"Hehe, fortunately the Traveler was smart."
"And brought several bottles of juice in advance."
Paimon looked at the Traveler beside her and said with a smile.
Otherwise, Qiu Yue, Hu Tao, and the others who don't drink alcohol wouldn't have known what to drink.
"Happy birthday, Zhongli!"
Qiu Yue, Hu Tao, the Traveler, and Paimon raised their cups filled with juice.
Qiu Bai, Venti, and Azhdaha raised their wine cups, looked at Zhongli, and said with smiles.
"Once again, it's the last day of the year."
"A rather special day, both an end and a beginning."
"Every time this day comes, I feel deeply moved."
"Time, stories, everything that flows quietly in the mortal world, all connect head to tail on this day."
"Surging waves or gentle streams, they all flow ceaselessly."
"On this special day, I also want to see the clear mirror of the world."
"Someone who has traveled for a long time should rest for a moment."
"Seeing you all do this for me brings joy to my heart."
Zhongli raised his wine cup, looked at everyone before him, and spoke with a smile.
"The old man always speaks so elegantly!"
"Drink!"
Venti held his wine cup, one arm around Zhongli neck, looked at everyone and said with a smile.
"Drink!"
Everyone raised their cups and drank in one gulp.
"Haha..."
Zhongli looked at everyone before him, chuckled softly, and also drained his cup in one go.
"Hahahahaha, the Director is dying of laughter~"
"Qiu Yue, how do you eat like that?"
After a while, Hu Tao looked at Qiu Yue whose mouth was covered in oil and laughed loudly.
"Hmph, Director Hu, don't laugh at me."
"I have a handkerchief here, I can wipe it clean if it gets dirty."
Qiu Yue looked at Hu Tao with puffed cheeks, then used a handkerchief to clean her mouth.
"Pfft~"
Paimon looked at Qiu Yue in this state and also held back her laughter.
"Hehe."
Qiu Bai saw his adorable sister and also smiled.
Time passed bit by bit.
Everyone face had more or less some cake crumbs on it.
These were left from the cake fight earlier.
Especially Paimon face, which was covered in cake—only her mouth was clean.
"Hahahaha, little Paimon."
"You look so funny like this."
Qiu Yue covered her mouth, looked at the flying Paimon, and said with a laugh.
"Qiu Yue, you're in no position to talk about me."
Paimon looked at Qiu Yue whose hair was covered in cake, put her hands on her hips, and said disdainfully.
"Hahaha, mission accomplished!"
Hu Tao held cake in her hand, looked at the little pig face drawn on the Traveler face, and laughed loudly.
"Sigh, I'm telling you, Qiu Bai."
"Let me tell you, back in the day, Morax was..."
Azhdaha was drunk, with a red face, one hand on Qiu Bai shoulder, bragging away.
Venti held a piece of cake in his hand and hiccupped from the alcohol.
"Hahaha..."
"Old man, take this!"
After speaking, Venti smashed the cake in his hand onto Zhongli clothes.
Then he ran behind Qiu Bai.
Zhongli stood up with a dark expression, staring at Venti behind Qiu Bai.
"Qiu Bai, quick, think of something."
"The old man look seems a bit off."
Venti grabbed Qiu Bai clothes with both hands, looked at the grim-faced Zhongli, and said somewhat fearfully.
"You reap what you sow."
Qiu Bai sat in his chair, took a bite of good food, and murmured.
Just as Zhongli was about to walk over, Qiu Bai smiled slightly, and moved his finger.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The sky seemed to light up for a moment, with various colors.
"Wow~"
Paimon opened her eyes, looked at the fireworks exploding in the sky, the beautiful fireworks reflected in her pupils.
Everyone gaze also turned to the fireworks, all staring at the brilliant display.
Even Zhongli stopped his steps, turned around, and looked at the magnificent fireworks.
A smile appeared on his face.
"As Yoimiya would say."
"Fireworks are fleeting, but human feelings endure."
Qiu Bai clasped his hands behind his back, looked at the brilliant fireworks, and said with a smile.
The ethereal aura of Jueyun Karst, combined with the warmth of human emotions, formed a scenery that was beyond description.
(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! 😊)