Genshin x Minecraft: Building the Temple of Virtue

Everyone stepped through the dual-gate portal, chatting and laughing as they returned to Teyvat.

Though it was also dusk in Teyvat, it lacked the lifeless stillness of the MC world.

At this hour in Liyue Harbor, workers had just finished their shifts, and it was the perfect time to go out for dinner, drinks, and entertainment.

Spending two full days mining had left Ryen and the others feeling mentally drained.

Ningguang suggested that they all go to the Jade Chamber for a meal.

Ryen had no objections. After all, the Jade Chamber was Liyue's greatest architectural wonder—it was only fitting to see it with his own eyes.

Who knew? Maybe in the future, he'd build a Jade Chamber in the MC world as well.

However, just as they had made plans to head to the Jade Chamber, Baiwen suddenly rushed in from outside.

She let out a small sigh of relief upon spotting Ningguang.

"Ningguang-sama!"

She hesitated for a moment, stealing a glance at Ryen.

Seeing this, Ningguang frowned slightly, a hint of displeasure flashing across her face.

"If there's something to say, say it. No need to act so secretive."

Baiwen pursed her lips and spoke softly.

"Ningguang-sama, this manor has caught the attention of the Fatui. There have been spies lurking around the mountain, occasionally coming to investigate."

"Additionally, Master Yun has sent word that the newly arrived Fatui Harbinger, Childe, seems to have caught wind of your frequent visits to this courtyard over the past few days…"

"It seems he plans to use some scheme, leveraging the excuse of Hu Tao searching for the guest consultant, Zhongli, to probe the situation here."

Baiwen meticulously relayed every detail regarding Tartaglia and the Fatui's movements, even presenting a written report filled with precise records.

It included everything from the moment Tartaglia arrived in Liyue to every move he had made since.

Every detail was crystal clear.

It was likely that even Tartaglia himself was unaware of just how little privacy he had in Liyue.

"Heh… Already stirring up trouble the moment he arrives in Liyue?"

Ningguang let out a cold chuckle, her golden eyes flashing with an icy gleam.

"Seems like he hasn't figured out his place yet… What's the situation with Hu Tao?"

She casually took the intelligence report and flipped through it, her tone indifferent, as if Tartaglia's actions were barely worth her attention.

However, Keqing and Ganyu, who knew her well, understood—Ningguang was preparing to act.

It was safe to say that Northland Bank was about to feel some serious pain.

"…Hu Tao…"

Baiwen hesitated for a moment, then struggled to suppress a grin.

"Hu Tao didn't fall for it. Instead, she tried to sell Childe a funeral service package worth five million Mora…"

"She even took his deposit and is now busy plastering advertisements for Wangsheng Funeral Parlor all over Liyue Harbor…"

Hearing this, even Ryen couldn't help but let out a chuckle.

Ningguang shook her head, a trace of amusement flickering in her eyes.

"That girl is as crafty as ever. At least we don't have to worry about her. Childe certainly took a tumble this time."

"But still, we should keep an eye on him in case he gets angry and takes it out on Hu Tao."

At this, Keqing scoffed lightly.

"Even if he's a Harbinger, Hu Tao is still one of the top fighters in Liyue Harbor. On top of that, she's lived her life constantly walking the fine line between life and death…"

"If he dares to make a move on her, I doubt he'll get off easy."

"To be honest, I think the bigger issue here is not the advertisement, but rather…"

Baiwen suddenly looked a little embarrassed, averting her gaze as if she was struggling to find the right words.

It seemed Keqing's guess had hit the mark—Hu Tao really had stirred up yet another mess.

Even Ningguang, who hadn't been fazed by the Fatui's schemes, now rubbed her temples in mild distress.

"Just say it. What did she do this time?"

Baiwen lowered her voice, as if trying to preserve Hu Tao's dignity. After all, despite her antics, the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's young master was well-liked by many.

She was an adorable troublemaker, after all.

"Well… It's not just the advertisements. Hu Tao went to the Adventurers' Guild and proposed a new partnership with Lan…"

"She called it 'Traveler's End-of-Journey Care'… Basically, she wants Wangsheng Funeral Parlor to handle the… unfortunate adventurers who don't make it back…"

Ningguang immediately held up a hand, signaling Baiwen to stop.

"I get it… I'll send Lan a letter later."

"As for the advertisements, have the Ministry of Civil Affairs handle them. And…"

She paused for a moment.

While she didn't mind the Fatui's presence—after all, Childe had already been played for a fool, wasting five million Mora—it was still a fact that he was a Harbinger.

That alone warranted some level of precaution.

Besides, since he had so graciously delivered leverage right to her doorstep, it would be a shame not to take advantage of it.

She turned her gaze to Ryen, seemingly unsure of how to broach the topic.

Ryen, however, simply chuckled and waved her off.

"Don't worry about me. Go handle your business first."

Hearing this, Ningguang let out a relieved sigh, offering a small nod of gratitude.

"Apologies, Ryen. We'll send someone to escort you up once we've settled things."

With that, Ningguang, Keqing, and the others quickly left the manor.

In the blink of an eye, only Ryen, Zhongli, and a few others remained.

The ones who stayed behind were all well aware of Zhongli's true identity, so there was no need for any pretense.

And the moment Ningguang and Ganyu left the range of Xiao's perception…

Cloud Retainer remained the same, unbothered as always.

But Xiao's demeanor underwent a complete transformation.

He immediately stood at full attention—one step behind Zhongli—his posture filled with absolute reverence.

Sensing the subtle change in the atmosphere, Zhongli couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

Among all the Adepti, Xiao had always been the most respectful toward him.

Perhaps it was because of the salvation Zhongli had granted him in the past, or perhaps it was due to the thousands of years they had endured together.

Regardless, it was clear that Zhongli's vision of having a casual conversation with Xiao as old friends was little more than a pipe dream.

"The night is still young."

Zhongli gazed at the slowly setting sun on the horizon before turning to Ryen.

"How about accompanying me to Wangsheng Funeral Parlor for a visit? It could serve as the first stop of your journey through Liyue Harbor."

Hearing this, Ryen raised an eyebrow and looked at Zhongli with mild exasperation.

"You do realize that I know exactly what kind of place Wangsheng Funeral Parlor is, right? The mighty Geo Archon himself invites me for a tour, and the first stop he chooses is a mortuary?"

Even Zhongli, with his usual composure, felt a rare moment of awkwardness.

He cleared his throat softly and spoke with a touch of helplessness.

"I would have preferred to show you around elsewhere first, but… I haven't returned to Wangsheng Funeral Parlor in three days."

"As of now, my official identity in Liyue is as their consultant. It would be inappropriate for me to ignore my responsibilities entirely."

Ryen didn't immediately reply.

Zhongli made it sound so noble—fulfilling his duties, upholding his responsibilities.

But in truth?

If there was any place Zhongli religiously visited every day, it wasn't the funeral parlor.

It was Yunhan Opera Troupe

His daily routine consisted of wandering around, shopping, and then passing the bill back to Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.

Out of twenty-four hours, Zhongli probably spent only a couple at the actual establishment.

Ryen figured the real reason Zhongli wanted to go back was that if he didn't show up soon, Hu Tao might start suspecting he had abandoned his post.

Not that she would care much about that—what she would care about was the pile of bills he had left behind.

If Hu Tao refused to cover his expenses, then Zhongli would really be in trouble.

After all, he hadn't yet gotten in touch with Tartaglia, meaning his personal wallet sponsor still hadn't been activated.

Amused by the thought, Ryen eventually nodded and replied lightly,

"Well, I don't have any pressing matters at the moment. Since you've extended the invitation, I suppose I'll tag along."

Zhongli gave a small nod of acknowledgment, then glanced toward Cloud Retainer and Xiao, momentarily hesitating.

If these two followed him into Liyue Harbor, the entire city's leadership would know of his presence within ten minutes.

Fortunately, while Cloud Retainer rarely spoke directly, she was perceptive.

"The Emperor and Ryen may proceed. This one does not take kindly to the noise of the mortal realm."

She then turned to Ryen and asked,

"May I stay here for a while?"

Ryen shrugged. "Pick any room you like."

He then turned to Xiao. "And you?"

Before Ryen could finish his sentence, Xiao spoke with solemnity,

"You need not concern yourself with me. My karmic burdens have lightened for now, and I have not been engaged in any demon subjugation these past few days. It is time for me to resume my duties."

"I will return before we depart for the other world tomorrow."

With that, and without waiting for any response from Ryen or Zhongli, Xiao gave Zhongli a respectful nod.

A gust of black wind howled briefly—and the next second, he was gone.

"…Tsk, now that's a real workaholic."

Ryen shook his head, muttering under his breath in a way that was anything but subtle.

Zhongli, on the other hand, seemed entirely unfazed by the remark.

With his hands clasped behind his back, he strolled out the door at a leisurely pace, exuding the air of a seasoned bureaucrat.

Ryen asked Cloud Retainer to keep an eye on the estate before stepping out to follow Zhongli.

This was the first time Ryen had properly set foot into Liyue Harbor.

After all, he had only arrived three or four days ago.

And in those few days, he had been constantly occupied—helping Keqing and the others build in the MC world by day, then handling personal tasks and planning his base at night.

Tonight, however, he was finally free.

The MC world was progressing well, and there was nothing that urgently required his attention.

With a relaxed mindset, Ryen followed Zhongli through the harbor.

It was in moments like these that Zhongli's age became most apparent.

He knew every detail about Liyue Harbor—every building, every street, even the individual stone slabs beneath their feet.

Everywhere they went, people would nod approvingly and praise him as Liyue's most erudite scholar.

But Ryen knew the truth.

Zhongli had measured every inch of this city with his own steps.

He had paused to observe every street corner, year after year, century after century.

For 3,700 years, he had watched over Liyue.

From its humble origins as a ramshackle village to its current status as the wealthiest nation and most prosperous port in Teyvat.

Every moment, every transformation—he had witnessed it all.

The people of Liyue saw Zhongli as an omniscient scholar, a sage who had mastered the past and the present.

But Ryen saw something different.

He saw someone who had spent countless years doing the same thing over and over—loving his city, cherishing his people.

An old fatherly deity.

No wonder the people of Liyue spoke of their god with such pride, admiration, and reverence.

Not because Morax was the strongest of the Seven, but because out of all the nations, Liyue was the one where its people could feel the direct, unwavering care of their deity.

Passing through the bustling streets, Ryen noticed countless souvenir shops selling Geo Archon figurines.

The wooden architecture of Liyue Harbor exuded a rich, classical elegance—luxurious, yet not ostentatious.

It was a city with soul.

A nation with identity.

At this moment, Ryen became even more certain—

Collaborating with Liyue was not only the most suitable choice but also the most correct one.

As he walked, he played the role of an attentive listener, letting Zhongli proudly introduce the "child" he had watched over for millennia—Liyue Harbor.

Before long, they crossed a small arch bridge.

The atmosphere here was suddenly different from the rest of the city.

Unlike the bustling marketplace, this place was eerily quiet.

A solemn building stood before them, its black wooden exterior exuding an air of reverence.

Save for…

The rather ridiculous advertisement board covered in promotional coffin deals.

"Aiya! If it isn't Consultant Zhongli himself! Finally decided to grace us with your presence, huh?"

Before Zhongli could respond—before Ryen could even get a clear look at the speaker—

A gust of wind, fragrant and swift, swept past him.

Gold butterflies flitted through the air.

The next thing he knew, a pair of bright, lively eyes were staring up at him.

Ryen recognized that look instantly.

It was the look of someone who had just found the perfect customer.

"Oho! A new face! You've got the demeanor of a refined young master—must be from a wealthy background, huh?"

"Listen, rich folks like you need to be extra mindful of your reputation, both in life and in death."

"You're in luck! Wangsheng Funeral Parlor is having a special promotion—an exclusive, all-inclusive burial package at a discounted rate!"

"Just one million Mora! What do you say?"

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