No one spoke at the scene. Lumine spoke first,
"We don't know your name yet. I'm Lumine, and this is Paimon, my best emergency food," Lumine said with a wry smile.
Lumine's gaze darted around, tinged with fear.
Zōu Ruì, that simpleton, naturally didn't notice.
"Hehehe, I am Hu Tao, the 77th Director of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. My grandfather was the 75th. The first job after I took over was to hold my grandfather's funeral."
Zōu Ruì finished in one breath, adding the last sentence because she wanted to.
After hearing this, Lumine put on an apologetic look, as if offering condolences to Zōu Ruì, no, to the passing of Hu Tao's grandfather.
"Alright, alright, don't be so gloomy. I'll show you this year's Rite of Descension. It's about to begin, follow me."
Zōu Ruì said to Lumine. Lumine nodded at this, beckoning Paimon, who was still looking around, to come along.
The three walked towards Yujing Terrace. Even before they arrived, they could hear the clamor of many people. While the Rite of Descension had not yet begun, Yujin Terrace was already crowded with "people."
Among them, Ningguang stood in the center. Beside her, a powerful Geo element shield rose, separating the Millelith and Ningguang from the "people" outside.
This barrier was erected by Zhongli and Zhōng Ān together and was extremely strong; even for the two of them, it would take several hours to break.
Ningguang looked around, ensuring the barrier was secure. Ningguang's legs were trembling. Though it was barely noticeable, she was indeed a little scared because she knew what these so-called Liyue "people" truly were.
After a while,
Ningguang suddenly spoke,
"The auspicious hour has arrived." Ningguang formed an incantation with her hands, and several Geo element crystalline chunks flew towards several braziers. Instantly, the world changed color, and a dragon shadow appeared in the sky. Seeing this, Ningguang knelt on one knee.
However, the "people" outside the barrier showed no reverence. Instead, greed appeared in their eyes as they gazed at the dragon form of Morax within. They began to pound on the barrier, shouting,
"Lord Rex! Lord Rex! Let us see your immortal visage!...." They gradually revealed their strange visages.
Zōu Ruì was among them. She watched as Paimon next to her gradually transformed into an unspeakable entity. Paimon and a few other strange beings merely glanced at Zōu Ruì, curious why she wasn't transforming, and immediately attacked the barrier.
And among so many strange beings, there were only two who did not transform into unspeakable entities:
Zōu Ruì and Lumine.
Zōu Ruì looked at Lumine, completely bewildered. Wasn't Lumine a strange entity? Why wasn't she like them? And why did she seem to be moving backward all the time?
Although Zōu Ruì didn't understand the aura of strange entities, seeing the black energy around Lumine, she knew Lumine was definitely an entity. But why didn't she seem to want to devour Morax at all?
As Lumine retreated, she also saw Zōu Ruì, who had also not transformed into an unspeakable entity, and was also taken aback.
"Aren't you..." Lumine was about to say something when Paimon, now a monster among monsters, let out an angry roar. Lumine's face contorted with terror and pain as she suddenly knelt down, clutching her head and screaming.
Her once clear eyes became clouded, and her body began to twist. However, Lumine was clearly resisting this transformation.
Zōu Ruì looked on, utterly confused. It seemed Paimon was controlling Lumine.
Seeing this, Zōu Ruì made up her mind. She stepped forward and directly embraced Lumine from the front. Lumine's expression was one of pain, but she was startled.
Why did Zōu Ruì do this? Because before this, Zhōng Ān had told her, "Although you don't use the aura or power of strange entities, nor do you know how to channel this power, after many years, Guīzhōng and I discovered that by simply... *cough*... by simply having a little intimate physical contact, you can transfer the other person's strange aura to your own body. This is why I haven't become a strange entity over the years..."
This is what Zōu Ruì remembered. She glanced at the monstrous Paimon in front, who was roaring a few words at Lumine before immediately attacking the barrier. Zōu Ruì understood that Paimon was controlling Lumine. Although Lumine was an entity, her previous actions clearly showed she didn't want this.
So, she decided to try anything, following Zhōng Ān's method.
This made Zōu Ruì blush, after all, her soul was still that of a pure and innocent boy.
"Cough... Come with me," Zōu Ruì immediately changed the subject, pulling Lumine, who was still sitting on the ground with lingering reluctance, to her feet.
Lumine was first stunned, then followed Zōu Ruì and ran.
The two ran all the way back to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. There was already a Geo element barrier that could isolate auras. As Zōu Ruì approached the barrier, an opening appeared on its own. Zōu Ruì, dragging Lumine, entered.
Inside the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, Hu Tao and Zhōng Ān were sitting on stools, looking bored. Hearing the commotion, Hu Tao immediately turned her head and saw the two of them. Seeing Zōu Ruì bringing someone back,
Zhōng Ān fell into deep thought, looking at the surging malevolent aura and strange aura emanating from Lumine.
"We asked you to gather information, and you just kidnapped someone?"