Modern Teyvat, bound to the Abyss Spiral

Volume 1: 20. Zhongli the Connoisseur

This won’t do. Sister Lan has been so kind to me!

This is not a question of money, of course it is mainly because Ye Lan has given enough money.

"There is no such plan at the moment." Li Qingping shook his head.

Seeing Li Qingping's decisive refusal, Keqing tactfully did not mention it again.

The two bodyguards were still standing at the door of Yanshang Tea House. Li Qingping thought they would be as aloof as they were yesterday, so he walked up to them and said he was there to join the company.

But the two bodyguards stood respectfully on both sides and opened the door in advance.

"welcome!"

If Li Qingping had not heard it with his own ears, it would have been hard for him to imagine that just four simple words could sound so flattering coming out of their mouths.

"What's going on? Let's go." Keqing put away the car keys and looked at the stunned Li Qingping, feeling a little confused.

Li Qingping suddenly realized that yesterday he was riding in Ren Siqian's old antique car from 05, and today he was riding in the young lady's luxury car worth 2000 million. How could they be the same?

When I entered Yanshang Tea House, I found that the person at the front desk had indeed changed.

According to Ye Lan, Chu Yi, who neglected his duties, has been fired.

"I'm here to see Sister Lan."

"Appointment?"

"Just say that Li Qingping is looking for her."

"Hold on."

The front desk responded quickly and asked Li Qingping to go upstairs.

"I'm hungry. Come find me after you're done over there." Keqing had already sat down in the hall and picked up the menu.

She called the waiter, asked for a cup of tea, and then ordered a few side dishes.

Is Yanshang Tea House actually open to the public?

Li Qingping understood after a little thought that although collecting intelligence was the main business, some side jobs were also needed to cover up the truth.

Of course a teahouse sells tea, and it makes sense to also serve some craving-satisfying dishes.

Li Qingping went upstairs and found Ye Lan in a room with an open door.

"Sister Lan." Li Qingping knocked on the door.

"You're here." Ye Lan stood by the glass window, pulled aside the curtains with one hand, and observed the situation below.

The glass window faces the hall of the tea room, where Ye Lan is observing Keqing sipping tea.

"I didn't realize you were that capable. In just one day, you managed to kidnap the precious granddaughter of old Yuheng Star." Ye Lan turned to glance at Li Qingping, then looked out the window. "Tsk tsk, using a five-star alchemical weapon as a hairpin—it should be Rock Green, right? How extravagant! The manufacturing process for that thing has long been lost. It's a one-of-a-kind piece. It's said that the Emperor used it back then."

In fact, I almost used it.

But...what does it mean to kidnap? It was obvious that someone was pulling me with one hand and throwing money around with the other. I had no choice but to bring her to Yanshang Tea House!

Besides, this is exactly what you want. Now you can contact this young lady with a legitimate reason.

Li Qingping could only complain in his heart. Some things could not be explained clearly even if he wanted to, so it was better to just shut up.

"But it's still a little bit worse than you." Ye Lan walked back from the window, pulled out a chair and sat opposite Li Qingping.

Ye Lan was sporting a career-beautiful look today, with a light blue woolen coat on the outside and a white turtleneck sweater on the inside. Her light-colored straight-leg pants just outlined her waist, which was less than the width of an A4 paper. Adding a pair of white short boots on her feet, she was sure to attract a lot of attention when she walked on the street.

Li Qingping has been used to seeing beautiful women recently, but Ye Lan in front of him still ranks among the top in Li Qingping's heart.

She's a little too cool.

"Almost what?" Li Qingping asked.

He knew in his heart that Ye Lan must have discovered something in the remaining elemental traces in Qingxupu, but for now he could only play dumb.

"There's a rule in our business: don't delve into other people's secrets unless you're ready to bear that secret." Ye Lan smiled. "I'm not prepared, and I'm not that curious. I just want to remind you to clean up your mess. You won't always run into me."

"Sister Lan is mighty, I understand."

"Here's the contract. Take a look. Sign it if you have no problem."

Ye Lan took out a stack of contracts from the drawer and handed them to Li Qingping.

Li Qingping didn't quite understand these things, but fortunately the terms of the contract were written very clearly, and the word "penalty" was not mentioned anywhere in the contract.

But that's true, who would dare to break this person's promise?

If that time comes, don't pay any penalty, just pay with your life.

At the end, Li Qingping found out the party A of the contract, a man named Ningguang.

"She is your real boss. I'm just borrowing you to do some work." Ye Lan explained.

"Sister Lan has been very kind to me, and I only recognize you, Sister Lan." Li Qingping expressed his loyalty indifferently and signed the contract.

Ding, 10 Mora has arrived in Fetion.

Li Qingping's cell phone rang.

"You're lucky to get your salary today. We get paid a month's salary for one day's work here." Ye Lan said and put away her phone.

Li Qingping's body trembled, and he shouted loudly: "Sister Lan is so generous!"

Ye Lan waved her hand and said, "Everyone else in the Yanshang Teahouse is busy now. I'll introduce them to you when I have the chance."

"No problem." Li Qingping agreed.

"Did you bring the jade token? The expert happens to be free this afternoon."

"I brought it." Li Qingping said.

The jade token was not big, and he carried it with him after learning the origin of the jade token from Lei Dianzhen.

Li Qingping did not have any hope for the expert that Ye Lan mentioned. Could there be someone with more profound knowledge than Lei Dianzhen, who was suspected to be a demon god?

There shouldn’t be any!

Ye Lan nodded, then dialed the number, chatted for a few words and hung up.

"He's nearby and will be here soon. You haven't eaten yet, right?" Ye Lan said.

"Yeah." Li Qingping nodded.

"We provide meals here." Ye Lan walked to the window again and parted the curtain, "But I suggest you go to the eldest lady's place and get some."

Li Qingping walked to Ye Lan, looked down through the gap in the curtain, and immediately felt numb.

In the hall, two square tea tables were placed in front of Keqing. Behind her stood several waiters wearing white gloves and waiter uniforms.

Those people were coming in and out of the door, bringing in an insulated box every time they went out.

The dishes are still steaming hot when taken out of the thermal box, just like they are freshly baked.

After a short while, six dishes and two soups were placed in front of Keqing.

"Which big restaurant did you move here?" Li Qingping had already come downstairs and walked in front of Keqing, with Ye Lan following behind him.

"I looked at the map and saw that my family opened a restaurant nearby. I asked them to send some food." Keqing saw Ye Lan behind Li Qingping and asked, "Who is this?"

"Boss Li Qingping, this teahouse is mine." Ye Lan introduced herself.

"Hello. The tea in the teahouse is very good, but the food is not to my taste. So I brought some with me. I hope the boss doesn't mind?"

Keqing looked Ye Lan up and down and felt that this woman was not simple, and... a little pretty.

"No problem, it would be even better if you don't mind taking me along."

"light."

After saying this, Keqing dragged Li Qingping to a seat and whispered in his ear, "Why are there always beautiful women around you, kid?"

Miss, how many of them are there that you haven’t seen yet?

"He's my boss." Li Qingping pushed Keqing back to her seat. "Then I won't be polite. Let's eat!"

The three of them had a hearty meal in the hall, and during the meal, Li Qingping even snatched a few golden shrimp balls from under Keqing's chopsticks.

The shell is crispy and the shrimp meat is juicy. No wonder Keqing loves it, it is indeed delicious.

Li Qingping enjoyed the meal, but Keqing's eyes looked a little resentful.

Those are all my favorite foods!

Ye Lan asked someone to clean the table and served a few cups of good tea. The door of Yanshang Tea House was pushed open again.

"Excuse me, is Ye Lan here?"

The man was wearing a dark brown velvet robe and trousers of the same color. He had a rock-attributed eye of god hanging around his waist and wore a pair of thick-soled boots. His short hair was neatly styled, with only a section of long hair left at the back, tied with a hairband and hanging behind him.

His first impression is that he is gentle and bookish, and he seems easy to get along with.

"This way, Mr. Zhongli." Ye Lan waved, "You came at the right time. I just made tea."

Zhongli walked to the table and sat down: "Long time no see, old friend."

Li Qingping was shocked and thought that these words were directed at him, so he quickly looked at Zhongli.

"It's not been long since I asked you to appraise an antique. Have you forgotten?" Ye Lan replied with a smile.

"I forgot. It wasn't that long ago." Zhongli picked up the teacup and blew gently. "The water temperature is just right, and the tea is fragrant. It's perfect for entertaining guests. Who are these two friends?"

Keqing sat next to Li Qingping, and the two of them were sitting close to each other. They each said their names.

"I am Zhongli, a guest official of the Rebirth Hall. I have read some books and have some knowledge of ancient and modern times." Zhongli said.

Wangshengtang was a Liyue company specializing in funeral arrangements, practically monopolizing the industry. Li Qingping was somewhat familiar with the company, known for its professionalism and top-notch skills. It was Wangshengtang that handled his parents' funeral.

Li Qingping originally had no hope for the person Ye Lan invited, but now it seems that is not necessarily the case.

He felt that Mr. Zhongli in front of him was no ordinary person. Looking into his eyes was like looking into a bottomless lake.

This is a hidden gem!

"Please take a look, Mr. Zhongli." Li Qingping handed over the jade token.

Zhongli took the jade token.

Li Qingping saw that he reacted after just one glance, and his calm eyes became more brilliant, as if he was reminiscing about an old friend, or as if he had some unspeakable regret.

But in short, the expert invited by Ye Lan recognized the origin of this thing.

"I have seen two pieces of the relics of the Demon God of Dust and Hagentus. The one in your hand is the last piece. If the three are combined, I think they can unlock the dusty ruins of Hagentus on Guili Plain." Zhongli spoke slowly.

Li Qingping was extremely shocked.

Wow, this guy is a real expert! He explained it in more detail than Lei Dianzhen and even pointed out the purpose of the things.

"Doesn't that mean that the inheritance of the Demon God of Dust is about to be revealed?" Keqing said.

"Yes." Zhongli nodded. "Collect the three jade tokens to enter the ruins. Those who are recognized by Hagentus's remaining consciousness will inherit her power."

After the Demon War, countless demons fell, and countless similar ruins were left on the continent of Teyvat.

Most of these ruins have vanished into history, reduced to shattered ruins. Only a handful remain intact, and within these intact ruins lies the lingering consciousness of the Demon God, allowing those who pass the corresponding tests to obtain the Demon God's power.

It is said that there are many such inheritors of the Demon God among the eleven executive officers under the Ice God of the Kingdom of Winter. Their strength is almost comparable to that of the gods of the seven countries, and is far more powerful than the twelfth level.

"This thing belongs to my friend. When the time comes to allocate quotas, he must have one." Keqing's tone was very firm and unyielding.

Ye Lan nodded, meaning the same thing.

"It's too early. The other two jade plates are in the hands of my old friends. They all have some official status. When the time comes to open the ruins, I think it will be left to the current Seven Stars to decide the number of places. Besides... they may not be willing to hand over the things." Zhongli said.

"That's easy." Keqing breathed a sigh of relief. Her grandfather was simply old and was currently searching for the next ruler of Yuheng Star. After all, he hadn't abdicated yet. She patted Li Qingping on the shoulder and said, "When you truly inherit the legacy of the Demon God of Dust, don't forget my contribution!"

Awesome, miss, awesome!

Li Qingping said nothing, but just kept giving Keqing a thumbs up.

"Mr. Zhongli, please contact your two old friends. I am also going to report this matter." Ye Lan said.

"Yes, I will." Zhongli said.

They chatted for a few more minutes, drank a few sips of tea, and then Zhongli got up and left.

"Mr. Zhongli is quite a capable man," Keqing praised.