Chapter 295: Drinking Tea at Midnight
The ten system-allotted hours of their stay, like fine sand flowing through an hourglass, were rapidly slipping away. Finally, the invisible time limit arrived. Even with the deepest reluctance, separation was unavoidable.
Perhaps in the future, when the Chat Group's functions became more strong and it upgraded to a higher level, they might be granted longer stays, or even the ability to traverse between worlds at will. But for now, they had to abide by the rules.
Upon learning that their otherworldly reinforcements were about to depart, many of the Natlan companions they had met in the heat of battle rushed to see them off. Kachina, Mualani, Varesa… these newly acquainted friends, who could now be called comrades-in-arms, all wore faces etched with reluctance.
Mualani even took Himeko's hand, her voice brimming with regret. "Can't you really stay for just two more days? The battle's over! It's the perfect time to relax!" she pleaded. "Our Flowing Spring Tribe's hot springs are unique to Natlan, and you haven't even had a chance to experience them yet! A good soak can wash away every last bit of fatigue!"
Lumine met Mualani's sincere, hopeful gaze. Though she was just as reluctant to part with their new friends, she could only offer the pre-arranged explanation. "I'm so sorry, Mualani. They came here using a special kind of teleportation array."
She continued, her tone apologetic, "While this array can cross extremely vast distances in an instant, it also comes with a lot of restrictions. For example, right now, they have to catch the 'last train' of the array's operation. If they miss this energy cycle, the whole thing will shut down."
"If they don't make it," Lumine concluded with a sigh, "they'll probably have to walk all the way back to Liyue and Mondstadt on foot. That could take several months."
This seemingly reasonable explanation finally convinced Mualani and the other Natlan warriors to accept the reality of the situation. Though disappointment lingered in their eyes, they understood that such a miraculous form of "long-distance teleportation" must come with stringent limitations.
"Alright..." Mualani sighed, but her spirit quickly rebounded. She and the other Natlan companions looked at the members of the Chat Group, their eyes filled with a fiery determination. "Natlan wouldn't be standing here today without your very useful contributions! This is a kindness our people will never forget! You are always welcome to return! No matter when, Natlan will be your friend!"
The heartfelt words, as warm as the afternoon sun, shone down upon each of them.
"We'll definitely come again!" Stelle promised loudly, waving her arms with enthusiasm.
"And next time, we're definitely soaking in those hot springs!" March 7th chimed in.
"Take care," Dan Heng offered, his words concise but carrying a quiet weight.
"May the wind guide you on your future path," Venti added, strumming his lyre to play a soft, melodic blessing.
As the last second of their stay ticked down to zero, familiar pillars of blue light erupted from beneath each member of the Chat Group, enveloping them without warning. The light instantly muted all external sounds; they could only see the vigorously waving arms and the smiling, blessing-filled faces of their Natlan friends.
With a final, brilliant flash, all the visitors from other worlds, along with every trace of their existence, vanished from Natlan's Holy Fire Arena.
Only the faint, lingering fluctuations of anomalous energy in the air, and the vivid memories etched into the hearts of the people, proved that they had once been there and fought side-by-side.
Liyue, Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
Hu Tao registered a blinding blue flash, and then the familiar air of her private quarters, carrying the faint scent of sandalwood, filled her nostrils. She blinked, finding herself standing in the quiet hall of her room at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
Outside the window, Liyue Harbor was draped in the peaceful deep of night, a single crescent moon hanging high in the sky. It was a stark contrast to the boisterous celebrations and brightly lit bonfires she had just left behind in Natlan. This sudden shift in environment left even the usually irrepressible Hu Tao a little lost in thought, as if the grand adventure spanning several nations and the raucous party were merely an overly realistic, brilliant dream.
Just then, a cup of warm, perfectly steeped tea was presented to her.
Hu Tao snapped out of her reverie. At some point, Zhongli had seated himself at the nearby tea table. He was elegantly pouring her a cup, his expression as calm and composed as ever, as if they had merely returned from a short stroll around the harbor.
She took the teacup, the warmth seeping into her palm, and pouted in a practiced, habitual complaint. "Consultant, oh, consultant, it's the middle of the night. Are you serving me this tea to keep your dear Parlor Director from sleeping? So I'll have to stay up late dealing with the backlog of accounts?"
Despite her words, her hands moved without hesitation. She lifted the cup of clear, fragrant tea to her lips and took a few small sips. The gentle warmth brought with it a sense of peace and tranquility, effectively dispelling some of the lingering daze from the teleportation.
Zhongli watched as Hu Tao, despite her grumbling, regained the usual lively spirit in her eyes. He nodded slightly, a flicker of reassurance in his gaze. He picked up his own teacup, took a sip, and then spoke in his unhurried cadence. "The Parlor Director worries too much."
"This is a calming, soothing tea, not a stimulating one," he explained. "Drinking it helps to quiet the mind and dispel distracting thoughts. It is precisely to help the Parlor Director get a good night's sleep."
He set down his cup, his gaze calm as he looked at her. "Since fate has brought you into this trans-dimensional Chat Group and you have met heroes from many worlds, there will always be a time for reunion. The barriers between worlds are not impossible. If the Parlor Director wishes to play freely with Stelle and March 7th again, or even participate in more exciting adventures, then now is the time to seize the opportunity and diligently improve herself."
He paused, his voice steady. "After all, the challenges of those other worlds will not wait for anyone."
Hu Tao, having her thoughts read so clearly by Zhongli, wasn't annoyed in the slightest. Instead, a glint of cunning and fighting spirit flashed in her plum-blossom pupils. She drained the remaining tea in one go, placed the empty cup firmly on the table, and put her hands on her hips, resuming her fearless Parlor Director demeanor.
"Hmph! Do I need you to tell me that?" she declared. "This Parlor Director is going to expand the business of our Wangsheng Funeral Parlor into other worlds and become the most formidable Parlor Director in history! Of course, I have to work hard to become stronger!"
Watching the re-energized Hu Tao, the corners of Zhongli's mouth curved into an almost imperceptible smile. He said nothing more, merely refilling the clear tea for both himself and his director.
In the quiet night, only the faint clinking of porcelain teacups remained within the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, accompanied by the indistinct, sleeping breath of Liyue Harbor drifting in from outside the window. A legendary adventure had temporarily concluded, but perhaps the seeds of a new story had just been sown.
Unlike the tranquil, tea-scented return to Liyue, Belle and Wise's homecoming was steeped in the weariness of modern reality.
As the blue light before their eyes dissipated, the familiar scent of slightly old videotapes and cheap air freshener replaced Natlan's festive air of barbecue and woodsmoke. They were back in the cramped but lived-in lounge of their video store. Outside the window, the neon lights of New Eridu glowed, a city that never truly slept.
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