The closer it got to the Lantern Rite, the faster time seemed to fly. This was especially true on the day of the Lantern Rite itself.
However, it was clear that the people of Liyue didn't care about this. Letting time pass in joy was always better than enduring days like years in boredom and sorrow.
Darkness descended silently upon the world, but the black curtain halted its relentless advance when it reached the harbor city.
For the city's lights were already enough to dispel all encroaching darkness.
The bustling crowds in the streets also noticed the arrival of night; they excitedly looked up, and what met their eyes was a full, round moon.
The first full moon night of the new year, and this also signified the arrival of the Lantern Rite.
"Happy New Year, wonderful New Year, a squawking good New Year!"
Inside a private room at the Xinyue Kiosk, the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor was holding its annual poetry recitation assembly once again.
Of course, generally speaking, this was Director Hu's solo stage; the other members of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor would only echo her from below.
"Excellent poetry, excellent poetry!"
"Marvelous, marvelous!"
"Director Hu doesn't seem to have grown taller this year."
... Amidst the praises, there would always be other sounds unrelated to "poetry," but no one cared anymore.
The night of the Lantern Rite was mainly about the lively atmosphere.
"A new year, ah. This is probably one of the few New Years I'll always remember."
Zhongli looked at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor employees making a ruckus with Hu Tao in the distance and said with emotion.
He had experienced the Lantern Rite at least a thousand times, and rarely had one left such a deep impression on him as this one.
So much had happened this year.
"This is the Lantern Rite?" Azhdaha sat beside Zhongli, turning his head to look at the bustling crowd outside the window. Specks of light flickered on the transparent glass, making one feel relaxed and lazy.
From time to time, muffled explosions could be heard outside, reminding the relaxed people and seemingly luring them to join this feast of revelry.
Peace and liveliness, coexisting so harmoniously on the same day.
"This is the Lantern Rite." Zhongli took a sip of tea but tasted nothing, for his thoughts were also drawn by the scenery outside... On the night of the Lantern Rite, many people enjoyed family reunion time in their homes, but even more people went out to witness Liyue's most prosperous moment of the year.
"This one! This one! I want this one!"
"You haven't finished chewing the nian gao in your mouth yet~"
"This one! This xiao lantern, I want it too!"
"If you want so many xiao lanterns, aren't you afraid of being carried away?"
In the bustling streets, two figures, one silver and one gold, were weaving through the crowd.
Lumine was carrying bags and packages, chasing after Paimon, who was flitting about. However, just as she arrived at one spot, Paimon would be drawn away by the next curious thing.
This was not Paimon's fault, because Liyue during the Lantern Rite was captivating enough for anyone.
Liyue during the Lantern Rite was ablaze with lights; every street was adorned with red lanterns, emitting a warm glow, and even the chill of deep winter was dispelled by the pervasive light of the lanterns.
The people of Liyue, dressed in festive attire strikingly different from their usual clothes, walked the streets in an endless stream, with laughter and blessings rising and falling. It was as if they were bringing out their best state of the year.
Stalls selling snacks lined both sides of the street, wafting tempting aromas. Candied hawthorn, fried nian gao, roasted sweet potatoes, and other familiar and unfamiliar delicacies made one's mouth water.
In the distance, the sounds of gongs, drums, and firecrackers echoed, creating a lively atmosphere. Children waved various styles of xiao lanterns, singing and dancing as they played.
They weaved through the crowd, exactly like Paimon, but one was in the sky and the other on the ground.
The entire Liyue was filled with an atmosphere of joy and festivity, and everyone was immersed in the happiness and delight of reunion.
Lumine, carrying her bags, was strange, and Paimon, excitedly dancing, was also strange, but during the Lantern Rite, they were merely two among countless ordinary people.
Looking at the scene before her, excitement surged, yet a sense of inexplicable sadness arose in Lumine's heart.
If her brother Aether were here too, how wonderful would that be? Lumine couldn't help but think this in her heart.
"Hey! Lumine, what are you doing? Come over here!" Paimon saw Lumine standing still and couldn't help but call out loudly.
Paimon's shout pulled Lumine back from her sadness. The heat wave generated by the crowd rushed over, dispelling all the sadness that had arisen in Lumine's heart.
"Coming!" Carrying the bags in her hands, Lumine waved at Paimon, then immediately ran over.
Now that she knew Aether still existed in this world, there was no need to worry about anything.
After all, in terms of strength, she was stronger than Aether; it was just that her power was lost for now.
Once her power was recovered, she would bring Aether back... "Gurgle! Gurgle!"
In the courtyard, where a strange purple light flickered at the entrance, Ember and Morgott sat facing each other.
Between them, a bonfire had been set up. Above the hotpot was a slightly swaying iron pot.
The water in the iron pot bubbled from boiling, and the milky-brown thick soup surged, occasionally forming a bubble.
The bubble burst, and the aroma it contained spread, making one's appetite grow.
"Come, come, I reckon it's ready." Taking a wooden bowl from the nearby wooden table, Ember filled it to the brim.
"Taste it. I haven't made it in a long time, so the taste might be a bit strange, but it shouldn't be too far off."
Ember carefully handed the thick soup in his hand to Morgott.
Taking the wooden bowl, which was a bit small for him, Morgott gazed at the thick soup in the bowl and couldn't help but swallow.
The thick soup looked quite normal, milky-brown. It emitted an enticing aroma, as if telling people of its deliciousness.
Looking closely, this bowl of thick soup was like an oil painting, with its naturally formed milky-brown hue exuding an inviting luster. On the surface, a layer of golden floating oil shimmered with an inexplicable glow, reflecting Morgott's conflicted face.
Although the soup looked the part, Morgott was still very aware of Ember's cooking skills.
He didn't know if he could handle it.
Feeling Ember's gaze, Morgott no longer hesitated. He gritted his teeth and drank it down in one gulp.
When the lord commands death, the subject must die.
But to Morgott's surprise, the anticipated horror that could directly destroy his taste buds did not come. Instead, it was an overflowing rich aroma.
The umami of stewed meat mixed with the fresh scent of vegetables filled Morgott's taste buds.
This taste was not a delicacy, but it could certainly be called delicious. More importantly, this was made by Ember!
Could he actually make edible things?
Morgott's wide eyes betrayed his thoughts.
"Hoo... a long-lost taste." Ember held a wooden bowl, on which some soup residue remained.
"Your Majesty..."
"elemental soup, a friend taught me. It's so delicious... even I can taste it." Ember looked at the boiling elemental soup in the pot and suddenly smiled.
"Actually, I don't know if this tastes good to you. After all, one of the only two tastes I can perceive is what it gives me."
Ember served another bowl. Onion, oh onion, that guy is really amazing.
Although he wore armor like an onion, was a terrible navigator, always liked to sleep, and, like Ember, was always tricked by Patches.
But his cooking skills were excellent. So good that he could make elemental soup that even the Undead could taste, which Ember had only witnessed once.
Ember had experimented countless times, trying to find a third taste besides elemental soup, but all had ended in failure.
Those strange-looking things were his experimental products.
"Besides this, what else can move Your Majesty's taste buds?" Seeing this, Morgott no longer disliked the elemental soup and drank it generously.
"This, I call it Jacques's wine." Ember pulled out a small wooden barrel.
"My friend, his name is Jacques Baal Dor."
The wooden barrel opened, and the aroma of wine filled the air.
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