Eula stood behind Amber. They didn't understand what "Immortal" meant, but judging from Hu Tao's expression, it had to be someone extremely powerful.
Kaeya, meanwhile, wore a thoughtful look.
After a short pause, the convoy continued forward. The streets of Liyue Harbor were vast, and the crowds were dense.
If Amber hadn't kept close to Hu Tao, she might have gotten lost.
Suddenly, she heard voices from above and looked up, there was a bridge in the sky, with buildings and even shops on it.
"What's that? It looks so high…"
Seeing Amber's wide-eyed curiosity, Hu Tao stopped and explained, "That's called the Aerial Walkway. But you'd better just look from a distance and not get too close, the Northland Bank people live up there."
At her kind warning, the three from Mondstadt immediately understood.
The Northland Bank, that meant the Fatui. Indeed, it wasn't wise to go near, especially since their current journey needed to stay discreet.
As they continued forward, Kaeya noticed a massive line of people stretching endlessly down the street.
"Is there some kind of festival today? There are so many people."
In Mondstadt, such crowds only gathered during holidays, but there were no lanterns or decorations here.
Seeing his puzzled face, Hu Tao couldn't help but laugh. She pointed at the line and said, "You guessed wrong. These people are all here to buy the new comic."
"Huh? It's that popular?"
"Of course! You probably don't understand the power of the words on that sign, Approved by an Immortal.
You know what that means? An Immortal is on par with the Four Winds Guardians.
If a work gains an Immortal's approval, tell me, who wouldn't want to see it?"
Hearing her explanation, the usually quiet Eula suddenly asked, "Is it really approved by an Immortal? Couldn't it be a scam?"
During missions in the past, she'd seen many merchants use false advertising to make money.
And beings of the Four Winds' level surely wouldn't have time for such trivial things.
But before Hu Tao could reply, a passerby overheard and immediately snapped, "You outsiders really have no idea!
Just yesterday evening, an Immortal manifested in person at the Yujing Terrace branch and said this with their own mouth:
『Reading more comics helps one's state of mind. There are indeed traces of immortal fate within them, but those without destiny cannot force it.』
How dare you slander Boss Su's work! Careful, or I'll report you to the Qianyan Army for defamation!"
As soon as his words fell, others nearby grew furious as well.
"Someone's insulting Boss Su's work?"
"Who dares defame Boss Su? Are they blind?"
"Qianyan Army! Is anyone here? Someone's slandering Boss Su!"
Seeing the angry stares and hearing the rising shouts, Eula turned pale with fear, and Amber shrank behind Hu Tao.
They had never seen fans this fanatical before, Eula had only asked a simple question, not insulted anyone.
Yet these people looked as if they might tear them apart!
Kaeya quickly stepped forward, pulling out a comic from his coat.
"Everyone, please calm down! We're new here and don't know Liyue's customs. We never meant to insult Mr. Su!
In fact, we're fans of his too, look!"
He held up his Wind and Cloud comic as proof.
Amber hurried to nod along. "That's right, that's right! We're outsiders and didn't understand the greatness of the Immortal.
Eula only asked because we didn't know, and you said yourself it happened yesterday.
We just arrived today! If we'd known an Immortal approved it, we'd have bought copies right away!"
"What's wrong with you all? Don't you recognize me anymore? I'm Hu Tao, the 77th Master of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor and Boss Su's close friend!
I'll use my own name to vouch that Eula never insulted Su Han or the Immortal!"
Others might back down, but Hu Tao was never afraid.
Besides, Amber was her good friend, if her guest got bullied on her first visit to Liyue, how could she hold her head high?
Once they recognized Hu Tao, and with Kaeya clearly holding one of Su Han's comics, the frenzied crowd slowly calmed down.
The man who had first threatened to report them scratched his head awkwardly and said to Eula,
"We didn't mean to make things difficult… but doubting Boss Su like that, that's really crossing the line!"
"Yeah! Just a few days ago, Boss Su even donated money to build a welfare home for orphans.
Even if you doubt something, never doubt Boss Su's character!"
"If not for Boss Su, those poor kids would still be barefoot right now!"
Hearing this, Kaeya and the others finally understood, the comic shop's owner, Su Han, wasn't just a merchant; he was a genuinely kind man.
Putting themselves in the same shoes, they realized, if someone questioned Acting Grand Master Jean's honor, they'd be angry too.
Once the misunderstanding was cleared up, Hu Tao quickly led them away to avoid any more trouble.
Only after ducking into a quiet alley did everyone finally breathe a sigh of relief.
"Phew… those fans are terrifying. Wait... are all Boss Su's fans that intense?"
"Not at all! They weren't like this when I left. I bet it's because of the Immortal, since that person said something publicly, Eula's words probably sounded bad to them."
Amber wiped the sweat from her forehead, she'd just experienced the pressure of dealing with a fanatical fandom for the first time.
Eula, looking apologetic, murmured, "I'm sorry. It was my fault."
They had come to Liyue for a mission, yet they had almost caused trouble the moment they arrived, truly careless.
Hu Tao waved her hand dismissively. "Don't worry about it. Su Han's a very easygoing person, he never fusses over small stuff.
Let's go. I'll take you back first, then bring you to meet him.
Oh, and did you hear what they said earlier? The Yujing Terrace branch? I've only been gone a few days, and Su Han already opened a new store there, didn't expect that!"
Yujing Terrace was the very heart of Liyue, owning a branch there was no small feat.
Back at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, Hu Tao shouted at the top of her lungs,
"Zhongli! You here? Zhongli!"
"The Master has returned. How did things go in Mondstadt?"
The curtain lifted, and the tall figure of Zhongli stepped out. It just so happened he hadn't gone out today.
Seeing him, Hu Tao crossed her arms proudly. "With me in charge, of course it went smoothly!
The branch already has twelve new orders. Impressive, right?"
"Very impressive."
"Hehe, enough flattery. Tell me, did Su Han really open another branch?
Everyone's talking about it in the streets. And is he in the store right now?
I've got some friends who want to see him."
Calm as ever, Zhongli answered, "Yes, he opened a branch near Granny Ping's place at Yujing Terrace, you know the area.
As for whether he's in, I'm not sure. I only know he's been very busy lately."
"That makes sense. I'll head there right now, we'll talk later."
Knowing Kaeya's group was in a hurry, Hu Tao didn't delay. She dropped off their luggage and hurried straight for Yujing Terrace.
But when they arrived, they found yet another massive crowd.
Kaeya stared at the line of a thousand people and asked, "Do we really have to queue too?"
"Of course not! If we did, it'd be afternoon before our turn. Come on, we'll go through the back!"
Because she used to hang around here with Xiangling, Hu Tao knew the layout perfectly.
After a few turns, they reached the back door of the shop, but this time, two burly guards stood watch.
Seeing her, one of them said, "Are you here to see Mr. Su? If so, you can enter through here."
"We can go straight in?"
"Yes, Mr. Su gave us a list. Everyone on it may come and go freely.
Miss Hu Tao, your name is on it, no problem at all."
Hu Tao beamed. She hadn't expected Su Han to give her such special treatment, being on that list was practically like having a key to his home!
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