Everyone followed Zhongli to a stall selling jade.
The boss, seeing a customer, quickly welcomed them.
Shitou: Oh, honored guest, welcome to Jiecui Workshop.
Would you like to try your luck with two rough stones today?
It's cheap and fun, and maybe you'll strike it rich without even realizing it?
Paimon: Rough stones? No, no, we're here to pick... what kind of stone was it again?
Zhongli: Noctilucous Jade, at least of the Luminous grade.
Shitou: Luminous grade Noctilucous Jade?
Oh, so you're not just tourists, my apologies.
I'll get the goods right away. Saying that, he took out three pieces of Noctilucous Jade from a box behind him.
Shitou: How do these look to you?
Our Jiecui Workshop is an old jade brand. Look at this luster, this quality, it's definitely top-grade.
It's simply a blessing that even the Rock Lord rarely bestows.
You can rest assured.
Paimon: These three pieces of Noctilucous Jade are indeed very beautiful, unlike the ordinary Noctilucous Jade we usually dig up.
But how do we choose? Should we just pick one at random?
Qixuan: Paimon, are you really not afraid of getting a fake?
Then Qixuan scanned them with her clearance.
Qixuan: (Heh), Mr. Zhongli is very knowledgeable, so why don't we listen to what he has to say?
Zhongli: Caution is a good thing, especially in this City of Commerce.
Lumine: Then how should we choose?
Zhongli: If you ask me... the answer is simple.
Boss, I'll take them all.
Paimon: Eh?!
Lumine: Yay!
Paimon: What are you happy about?!
Qixuan: Anyway, Childe is paying, so why not?
Paimon: It seems... that's right.
Shitou: Good! Sir, I saw your extraordinary bearing early on, and your generosity is indeed impressive.
Paimon: Is this the world of the wealthy?
Zhongli: Actually, sometimes it still depends on one's discerning eye. A true expert can still tell.
If one doesn't have enough financial support, then one needs to rely on their 'eye'.
Like a fool pointing at the moon, looking at the finger but not the moon.
Paimon: Huh? What does that mean?
Zhongli: If you point at the moon with your finger, a smart person will understand you're pointing at the moon.
But an unintelligent person will only see your finger, not the moon.
So when looking at stones... the patterns... the outer shell, these are all fingers. Noctilucous Jade is a wondrous stone that illuminates at night.
Its brightness is as important as the moon in the sky.
High-quality Noctilucous Jade will have a better affinity for the Pyro element.
Under high temperatures, the brighter and bluer the Noctilucous Jade's luster, the better its quality.
Lumine: So Mr. Zhongli is really an expert.
Paimon: Should we try the ones we bought then?
Qixuan: Let's try them then. It's a good way to eliminate the Noctilucous Jade with poor quality.
Then Lumine asked the boss for a table and began to 'burn' the stones.
As the flames grew, the Noctilucous Jade gradually began to glow.
Paimon: Wow, Noctilucous Jade number one and two are starting to glow!
As the temperature rose again, Noctilucous Jade number three's glow far surpassed the first two.
Zhongli: Hmm... then let's choose that one.
In any case, just this one isn't enough. We still have plenty of funds, let's go buy another box.
Lumine: I hate the world of the rich.
Paimon: ...
Qixuan: Hahahaha.
Everyone went back to Jiecui Workshop and bought another box of Noctilucous Jade number three.
Shitou: Alright, boss, take care.
By the way, if I may ask, purely out of curiosity...
What are you esteemed customers buying so much top-grade Noctilucous Jade for?
Zhongli: Hmm... it's fine to say. It's for the instruments used in the Farewell to Sefarer Ritual.
Shitou: Farewell to Sefarer? Uh... I've heard a lot of rumors recently, but I never dared to ask too much.
They say that the Rock Lord... he really...
Sigh, it's hard to believe. Although Jiecui Workshop is somewhat in decline now,
Our ancestors have always relied on the Rock Lord's protection.
Legend has it that two hundred years ago, the Rock Lord descended to Liyue in disguise, and when he got lost, he tasted local snacks.
He used a jade spoon from Jiecui Workshop...
Qixuan: Hahahaha! What kind of 'unofficial history' is this?
Qixuan really couldn't hold back, clutching her stomach and laughing loudly.
Paimon: Uh...
Lumine: The Rock Lord gets lost in his own country after descending?
I can understand all these words individually, but when put together, I can't understand them.
Zhongli: ...
Shitou: Cough, cough, oh dear, it's just a legend, there's truth and falsehood in it.
Since it's for the Rock Lord, I'll give you half price.
Paimon: Huh? Is that really okay? You were trying to trick us just now!
Shitou: Without the Rock Lord's protection, this City of Commerce wouldn't be what it is today.
As a businessman, how could I earn money like that...?
Paimon: Waaah... Boss, we will definitely convey your sincerity to the Rock Lord.
Zhongli: With the efforts of the Liyue Qixing and all the merchants, Liyue's City of Commerce will surely continue to prosper.
Shitou: Good, good, thank you all, esteemed customers.
Sigh, what's wrong with me? A businessman must keep smiling! My good fortune will run away, haha.
Zhongli: Since we've bought them, let's take this batch of Noctilucous Jade to Yujing Terrace.
That's where I booked the venue...
After Lumine placed the Noctilucous Jade,
Zhongli: The Noctilucous Jade can be placed here.
I've already sent someone to call the jeweler. They will then craft them into the instruments needed for the ritual.
Zhongli: Oh, right. In such a short time, I haven't had time to see Childe.
The jeweler's Reward...
Paimon: Huh? Zhongli, you don't carry money when you go out?
Zhongli: My apologies, I'm not interested in Mora, so I often forget to bring money when I go out.
It's usually charged to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's account.
Lumine: Never mind, I'll pay for it.
Paimon: That's the only way then. Speaking of which, is this... the venue for the Farewell to Sefarer Ritual?
Zhongli: Yes, I've already rented this venue.
The preparations for the ritual have begun.
Lumine: The same venue as the Rite of Descension...
Zhongli: Yes, the same venue was used. This is also a situation tacitly approved by the Liyue Qixing.
Qixuan: Mr. Zhongli's connections are truly extensive, even the Qixing have to give him some face.
Zhongli: You jest. I merely know some friends in the circles.
Paimon: Speaking of which, shouldn't there be a lot of guards here? Why now...
Also, where exactly is the Exuvia hidden?
Zhongli: Those are still unknown. One can only say that the Qixing already have an idea, or have already confirmed it.
All the clues at the scene have been gathered, right?
Lumine: It still feels very strange.
Zhongli: Those matters will naturally be considered by the important figures at Yujing Terrace.
Trying to 'share their worries' would only add to your troubles.
Before the ritual begins, the Exuvia will be temporarily placed in the Golden House.
Paimon: Golden House?!
Qixuan: As the name suggests, there's a lot, a lot of Mora inside!
Paimon: Eh! (Eyes gleaming)
Lumine: Still a money-grubber.
Zhongli: That's not entirely unreasonable. It's Liyue's only mint.
And it's the only mint in all of Teyvat.
All the Mora circulated in the Seven Nations is minted there.
Paimon: Wooow~~
Lumine: But why would Mr. Zhongli know about this?
Zhongli: Because the Farewell to Sefarer Ritual has received the tacit approval of the Qixing, it's considered a semi-official event.
So I received some internal information.
Lumine: Childe provides the funds, the Qixing provide the venue.
It feels a bit like a 'conspiracy'.
Zhongli: Perhaps they each have their own goals. In this City of Commerce, occasionally being used by others,
Is not an unacceptable thing.
Under the god of contracts in Liyue, only contracts cannot be violated.
As for minor actions outside of the contract, I don't mind.
Alright, we should go prepare the 'incense paste' for the ritual.
Paimon: Incense paste? Where do we get it? Do we buy it?
Zhongli: No, for this kind of incense paste for worshipping gods,
The quality of the glaze lily needed to brew it must also be superior.
The flower named 'Nishang', its petals are excellent fiber material, mostly used for making brocade.
But its fragrance is also very elegant, most suitable for solemn occasions like worshipping immortals.
I won't go into too many specific details. Come with me to the merchants to acquire the materials.
Qixuan: Then, Mr. Zhongli, do you have money with you?
Zhongli: ...
Lumine: Sigh...
