Three and a half months earlier, Liyue

“Have you heard? Have you heard, Zhongli? There’s good news!” Hu Tao's cheerful voice rang in his ears, livelier than ever, even though it was only a quarter to eight in the morning.

Zhongli sighed, taking a sip of hot tea from the teacup on his desk. His immortal body was used to enduring just a few hours of sleep. But on that morning in particular, he felt exhausted; a long day awaited him. He had to perform an important funeral ceremony, and then attend his usual weekly meeting with Xiao for lunch.

With the papers in front of him yet to be filled out, he barely had an hour to finish his work before he and Hu Tao had to conduct the funeral. “Uh…what is it about?” he asked, lost in thought as he signed a document to be given to the family of the deceased regarding the funeral practices.

The Wangheng funeral parlor where Zhongli worked along with Hu Tao, his director, was an organization that had been standing for hundreds of years. It was created with the aim of giving a dignified burial and farewell to those who had lost their lives in their country. To an outside eye, their profession might have seemed macabre and psychologically exhausting, but Zhongli had never regretted choosing it ever since he had decided to start living as a full-fledged human. The funeral parlor provided a vital service to Liyue’s society, guaranteeing a worthy farewell to anyone who asked for their help.

Hu Tao, despite her young age and eccentric personality, proudly carried on her grandfather's job, and Zhongli found himself understanding how important their role was as they completed one burial after another. It was not a simple task, and he often found himself overwhelmed by the melancholy of the losses he witnessed, but he had never felt so close to humans—to his own people—as in the moments in which he was able to give comfort to the families of their lost loved ones.

Unfortunately, not even he, a literal God, could prevent humans from dying, and he had always regretted that. At least through their rituals, he and Hu Tao could celebrate the past lives of the fallen without making them insignificant and lead their spirits to peace in another dimension.

“Are you still writing? Or can you listen?” asked Hu Tao, resting her elbows on the office desk, leaning toward his paperwork to look at it.

"Give me a moment, I will be quick," Zhongli replied as he finished leafing through the diary of the deceased he had received from the family.

He had just finished reading, with melancholy and interest, the memories of Zhang Shun, an old artifact merchant who had passed away. After staying up late to read his words, Zhongli had paid homage to his grave with silk flowers, the same ones the man had given to his wife many years ago. It had taken Zhongli a long time to get that information, but he didn't think it was a wasted effort. For him, every funeral had to be unique, down to every little gesture.

“The Fatui are about to arrive in the city!” Hu Tao exclaimed, making him lift his nose from the papers once and for all, giving him instant relief from those gloomy thoughts. The girl sat down opposite him, taking a generous sip from the cup of tea that she had forgotten on the desk, now cold. “They are going to stay at the hotel in Liyue near our offices. They’ll work there at the Northland bank. It will be great for business. I bet they are super, super rich,” she added, before giggling, turning the spoon around in the cup.

“We have to be careful not to let them take all the money circulating in Liyue!” Zhongli was not surprised to hear that news: the arrival of the Fatui was an event he had been aware of for some time and had been waiting for to put an end to his plan. Soon, finally, he could consult with them to find an agreement useful for them both. It was precisely because of their transfer that he had decided to take a human form and live among mortals. Hu Tao was not aware of his true identity, nor was any other besides his friends, Xiao and Ganyu, and some of the gods of other nations. For Hu Tao, Zhongli was nobody else but Zhongli, a young man without a family and with somewhat particular interests and knowledge.

The presence of the Fatui in Liyue, therefore, should have disturbed him. After all, their beloved city was known for steadfastly resisting any conspiracies or usurpers, and the Fatui had a reputation for both. To know that the Fatui had managed to set foot on their land through new trade agreements would have given a certain torment to anyone.

“I see. They have managed to find their place here, too.” Zhongli observed, a sharp line crossing his thoughtful brow. He was prepared for their arrival but not sufficiently prepared for the fear that came with it. Until that moment, Liyue had managed to resist the Fatui without too many problems. Officially protected by the adepts and by Zhongli himself, their faithful god, it was a stronghold as solid as the element of the Geo to which it was linked to.

The establishment of a new Bank in Liyue, however, had disrupted the peace and comfort its inhabitants had grown accustomed to, and Zhongli could not help but be on guard. If he couldn't defeat the Fatui, he would have to form a profitable contract with them to stem their damage. With that thought, he tried to assert a calm self-restraint against the imminent threat that was about to come. He would not abandon his people even now. Even in a different form, he would have been careful to watch over them.

“To think they come from Snezhnaya, the ice nation—it’s incredible! The Fatui have come here to us, and who knows for how long!” commented Hu Tao, with her usual amused tone of voice.

The young woman rarely showed negative feelings, preferring to joke about even the most disturbing events. Behind that facade, however, Zhongli sensed that a slight apprehension was lurking.

"Maybe not long, considering how they usually behave,” Hu Tao continued, folding her lips in a mocking grimace. “They follow the orders of their goddess—what's her name? Ah yes, the Tsaritsa—with so much fidelity. Bankers, politicians, warriors, and corruption…uh…” sang Hu Tao, gesticulating amusedly with her hands. “They will get themselves in trouble and, who knows, maybe they will leave and never come back, or even pass away! Thus, we will have new customers and become as rich as them.”

“Hu Tao,” Zhongli admonished her, indulging in an ill-concealed smile for a moment. “I hope you don't want to say such things in front of them. It would be completely inappropriate.”

“They don't scare me. The course of life can take unexpected turns, it is true, but I will not get carried away by the current!” said Hu Tao, standing up and putting hands on hips in a proud posture. She then picked up her beloved director's hat that she had inherited from her grandfather and proudly put it on her head. She then beckoned Zhongli to follow her.

"You know what? Why not go and peek? I'm curious to see them!”

Zhongli shook his head without a reply. If there was one thing he understood, it was that the girl let no one stop her. Hu Tao had grown up fast and had to learn to be strong sooner than necessary after being left alone in the world following the death of her lovely grandfather. And despite her reckless and sometimes intrusive behaviors, she was brave and courageous.

No one would ever have guessed by observing her small figure, long, dark ponytails and youthful face illuminated by bright scarlet eyes, that she was a smart and sensitive person, whom Zhongli now felt compelled to help and defend.

Zhongli followed her to the door, peering out just in time to observe the throng of people who had just arrived in the city, accompanied by Ningguang, the Tiansheng who was guiding them to their accommodations. There were about ten people behind her; Fatui in Snezhnaya's dark uniforms, heavy and fur trimmed, suited to the harsh cold of the place of origin.

Much of their faces were hidden by the characteristic masks with which they made themselves recognizable to other foreigners. All except for two people: a woman with snow-white hair whose mask covered only half of her face, and a young man with auburn hair. “Follow me, please. The Northland bank is not far from here,” Ningguang announced, walking in front of them without hesitation.

The woman seemed anything but intimidated by their presence. After all, she was the Tianquan of Liyue, the woman in charge of maintaining the law, order, and affairs of the kingdom. Her two faithful stewards had come with her to meet the Fatui in person and they kept a sharp eye on the newcomers. As she walked proudly in front of the group, Ningguang slowed for a moment, noticing the figure of Hu Tao, flanked by Zhongli, who had barely stuck his nose out the door.

“Director Hu Tao, good morning,” Ningguang said, hinting with a well-controlled smile that she was quite far from being surprised by their appearance. “It is nice to see you already at work in the early morning.” “We wanted to welcome the Fatui to our city, of course. I was really curious to meet the new guests, I must say.” Hu Tao grinned, taking off her hat in greeting with a quick bow. Zhongli did his best not to shake his head. The white-haired Fatui stared at Hu Tao with an expression that was anything but amused

. Hu Tao did not let herself be frightened and spread her arms in an over-exaggerated cheerful gesture.

“Oh, right, let me introduce myself: I am Hu Tao, seventy-seventh director of Wangheng Funeral Parlor! And this is my friend, Zhongli, funeral consultant at my service. Just in case you need some tombstones, now you know where to find them,” she said, introducing her business with the same enthusiasm one might use to advertise a travel agency. The white-haired Fatui wrinkled her nose unceremoniously while the red-haired boy seemed to make an effort not to burst out laughing, or so it seemed to Zhongli when he met his gaze.

The young man had an almost inappropriately light-hearted pose, with one hand buried in his uniform pocket and the mocking smile of someone who was looking for something fun and reckless to do. He seemed so different from the rest of his group, so little controlled in every slightest gesture.

Zhongli could not help but observe him for a few seconds longer than necessary. Unbrushed locks framed his bright face and he had a cheerful expression that brought contrast to the one the woman at his side wore.

His eyes had the same blue as the ocean in Yaoguang Shoal, the placid color of days spent sitting among the sand dunes, caressed by the rays of the sun. Or at least it had seemed so for a few moments, for when he turned to his companions behind him, his irises seemed to change to the same blue of the stormy sea, as cold and merciless as the cruelest waves.

Who was that boy, and why did two very different natures seem to coexist in him? Was he merely affable toward people he did not know, and fearful and authoritarian toward his subordinates? How had he ended up in such an important position with the Fatui? What had he done to get there? Those and countless other questions ran through Zhongli's mind for a few moments until the boy opened his mouth.

“Well, actually, I hope we don't need gravestones! We are a strong people, after all. We won’t put ourselves into trouble,” the young man said, with a short laugh to the rest of his army, before returning to look at Zhongli and Hu Tao and giving them a nod in greeting.

“Thank you for your welcome, citizens of Liyue. I am the number Eleven of the Fatui Harbingers, codename Childe, but I also go by Tartaglia.” The corners of his mouth turned back into an amused smile. He had said that sentence as if he knew it by heart, as if it were customary for him to present himself that way. “We'll see you soon, I hope.”

“Yeah,” the white-haired Fatui agreed dryly, glaring at Hu Tao and casting a suspicious glance at Zhongli, who had remained rigid, observing without commenting. She then forced a smile, probably not interested in making a good impression even by mistake.

“I am Signora, the number Eight of the Fatui Harbingers. Just call me Signora. Now if you’ll excuse us, we’ve had a long journey, so you’ll understand that we’re very tired and need to rest at the hotel. Have a nice day.”

“The Wanghen Funeral parlor boasts a centuries-old tradition,” Ningguang pointed out. “Hu Tao carries it forward, following in the footsteps of her family.”

She smiled imperturbably at the perplexed reaction of the Fatui. She wasn't afraid to scare Signora, Childe, or whoever followed them. By her controlled tone of voice and proud posture, she sent a clear message: if they wanted to pass, if they wanted to start a business in Liyue, it would be up to her and her alone. At the slightest misstep, she would make their life difficult. The Fatui’s could start a bank and extend their influence there but they would never become Liyue's true masters

. Zhongli, accustomed to observing the situation from the outside, could only be relieved by her behavior. If there was one person who could defend their capital properly, it was Ningguang.

"You will soon know more about the various peculiarities of our city,” added the woman, before the new arrivals continued to follow her and her stewards toward the hotel.

“I bet I will!” were the last words Zhongli heard hilde say before he waved at them with a carefree hand, and added without thinking twice, managing for the first time in a long time to leave him feeling vaguely displaced, “Your uniforms look nice, by the way. "

***

Hello everybody! I posted this update a little bit earlier than I thought, I really hope you don't mind it ehehe

I really hope you liked how I portrayed Hu Tao, she's such a complex and interesting character in my opinion. Zhongli has just met Childe and in the next chapters, we'll get to see what's going on between them. In the next chapter, you'll know Signora better, and Chongyun and Xingqiu are coming too.

Again, thank you so much for your attention ❤️ please, let me know if everything was clear and you enjoyed it. Have a nice day ❤️❤️❤️
Skylar