After sleeping an entire night wrapped around the Anaconda, Orion awoke the next day feeling suffocated by the snake's coils.
Last night, the Anaconda had given Orion an incredibly vivid lesson.
A single teaching session with a python can last several hours, and the backpack materials obtained can be stored in the backpack for months or even years.
The Anaconda was no different.
If Orion's physical fitness wasn't good enough to punch through Teyvat without issue, any ordinary person would probably have gone straight to heaven that night.
After a night of intense battle, Orion's stamina drain was significant, but he couldn't rest, as Amber and Barbara were still waiting for him.
Alas, although he had agreed to Jean's and Eula's requests, he hadn't found a chance to deepen his relationship with Barbara and Amber. This was even more true now that they had left Mondstadt City. The daily morning ritual of curing the curse was increasingly resembling a lovers' tryst.
"Does this really feel relaxing?"
The pink tongue retracted.
Barbara asked with some curiosity.
Amber, standing nearby, blushed. She felt the weather was getting hotter as summer approached, making her want to shed a few more pieces of gear.
Barbara compared them and tried again, feeling that her jaw would get very tired.
But then she remembered that her sister and Eula seemed to have mentioned that Orion had joined the WangSheng Funeral Parlor due to his craving for human flesh, and she felt this couldn't continue.
The curse was still too dangerous!
Barbara turned to Amber: "Amber, I will take the main offense here. You go suppress the other side."
Amber looked confused: "Suppress? How do I suppress it? I don't know how, and will it really work?"
"It definitely works!" Barbara stated confidently. "My sister told me that he even had the idea of using corpses for hotpot, so he must be very interested in the human body!"
"Then, then he won't eat me, right?" Amber asked timidly.
Barbara shook her head: "Of course not. You can see his attitude toward us. At worst, you can feed him some drinking water later."
Having finished speaking, the Damselette lowered her head again: "This side, I'll take responsibility for it!"
"Mmm."
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"It's progressing further."
Teleporting back from Mondstadt and walking on the streets of Liyue, Orion couldn't help but savor the taste he had just experienced.
Speaking of which, he felt a bit sorry for Barbara.
Barbara had complained fiercely to him.
Even if she was a Hydro element Vision holder, she shouldn't push herself like that, right?
Amber's side was much easier; after all, it was just suppression, so she only sat there and didn't do anything else.
But... "The taste is indeed very similar..."
Orion savored the taste of the mineral water he just had.
He compared it to the time he analyzed Xiangling's information.
Similar, very similar.
Could it be because they are both Pyro element Vision holders?
Is that why the mineral water tastes so passionate and enthusiastic?
After dropping Shenhe off with Xiangling and bidding farewell to Shenhe, who waved obediently, Orion fell into contemplation as he watched Xiangling preparing various breakfasts.
"Sure enough, next time I should test it out.
But there hasn't been anyone at the door recently? Could it be... in the closet?"
...Putting aside his doubts about Xiangling, Orion rushed to the WangSheng Funeral Parlor as quickly as possible. Yesterday's holiday was specially granted by the Director and the others because they thought Orion, being an outsider, would surely be interested in the Rite of Descension. Naturally, he had to arrive early today.
As soon as he stepped through the WangSheng Funeral Parlor gate, Hu Tao hit Orion with a big announcement.
"We've secured the contract for the Rite of Parting!" Hu Tao announced proudly, wearing sunglasses and placing her hands on her hips. Zhongli, also wearing sunglasses, stood behind her, applauding vigorously.
The emotional value of this moment.
Orion nodded: "I saw the Lord of Geo's corpse yesterday. So what should we do? Take a posthumous photo of the Lord of Geo?"
"Ah, no need. How could we possibly get close to the Geo Archon's Exuvia? Currently, the Geo Archon's cause of death is unknown, and the Seven Stars of Liyue have probably already secured the Exuvia," Hu Tao said, shrugging as she took off her sunglasses.
Then she used her sunglasses to point at Zhongli behind her: "Moreover, a grand ceremony like the Rite of Parting involves numerous procedures, complicated steps, and a huge pile of strange and strict rules! Since Adepti live for so long, this Rite of Parting hasn't been held for who knows how long. It won't be easy to do it properly.
Fortunately, we have Zhongli! This guy is like an encyclopedia; there's almost nothing in Liyue he doesn't know, so I've handed the Rite of Parting arrangements over to him.
And when it comes down to it, although I was the one who first proposed holding a funeral, the idea for the Rite of Parting actually came from Zhongli."
Hearing this, Zhongli stepped forward and said: "The Geo Archon has passed away, yet Liyue Harbor has only had a slight disturbance. The Fatui are stirring beneath the surface, and the Seven Stars of Liyue are wholly focused on finding the culprit. The most crucial act—comforting the deceased—has not been proposed by anyone. This is truly unacceptable.
That is why I proposed to the Director that our WangSheng Funeral Parlor should proactively suggest to the Seven Stars of Liyue that we host the Rite of Parting. Some traditions must never be forgotten.
Fortunately, the Seven Stars of Liyue agreed immediately upon hearing the suggestion and fully entrusted the operational authority to the WangSheng Funeral Parlor, which makes things convenient for us."
Orion smacked his lips: "So, what you mean is, we will be following Zhongli to prepare for the Rite of Parting next, right?"
Orion's mind raced. He had to find a way to delay this until Lumine returned, otherwise the plot would go astray again. But Hu Tao interrupted Orion's train of thought with a single sentence.
"Of course not. Preparing for the Rite of Parting can be left entirely to Zhongli. I looked at the list of things he needs to prepare; it's quite a bit, but none of it is particularly difficult to procure, nor does it require us to mobilize everyone. He can handle it alone and will find helpers himself."
Orion couldn't help but feel puzzled: "Then what about us? Are we just going to be Zhongli's logistics crew?"
"Of course not!" Hu Tao pointed to herself with her thumb: "Your brilliant and mighty Director, how could I let us sit idle? I found a legitimate job that also lets us dig up treasure chests! This will mainly be the responsibility of the two of us!"
Orion became interested upon hearing this: "Oh? What kind of job is it? Tell me about it."
Hu Tao smiled upon hearing this: "Hehe, don't be too shocked! This job is actually related to the Seven Stars of Liyue!"
Orion was intrigued and quickly pressed: "Which Seven Stars of Liyue?"
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"This is the Celestial Equilibrium—Keqing Daren."
At the Guili Plains construction area, the figure that appeared before him was a character Orion was extremely familiar with.
Amethyst-like hair was tied into light twin Horsetails. From a distance, the hair buns on her head looked like clever cat ears, but upon closer inspection, one realized they were the Damselette's unique touch.
She wore luxurious attire tailored like twilight, a short skirt adorned with golden, flowing patterns. The curve of her waist was cinched between light armor and sashes, resembling a slender blade about to be drawn.
But one's gaze would inevitably linger on those legs—what beautiful legs they were: twilight-like black silk wrapped around balanced contours, extending two elegant shadows beneath the hem of the skirt. A faint glow moved with her steps, as if starlight flowed over a deep pool. Every curve held a secret like the moonlit night. They possessed both the sharp beauty of a blade and the soft, luxurious appeal of silk—a silent poem that stirred the heart with every breath.
Yet, on the black silk of her right leg, there was a golden pattern, like the hand of a clock, pointing straight up, guiding the viewer's gaze toward the Damselette's most hidden, least known secret garden.
However, this sweet Damselette carried three parts severity, three parts competence, and four parts concern for the common people on her face.
"Oh? You must be the 'professionals' from the WangSheng Funeral Parlor?"
Hearing that the help she requested had arrived, the severity instantly vanished from her face, replaced by an expression interwoven with maturity, warmth, and scrutiny.
This was precisely the Seven Stars of Liyue who personally measured every inch of land and believed that man can conquer destiny, the Celestial Equilibrium, Keqing.
Rarely, outside of the game, did she reveal her "workaholic" side, which was less amiable than when dealing with friends.
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