"The flower named 'Néshang,' its petals are made of the finest fiber material, often used for brocade. However, its fragrance is also very elegant, especially suitable for solemn occasions serving immortals and deities..."
Lumining: Learned something new!
Paimon: Useless trivia just keeps piling up...
"More specific details are not necessary for now. Let us first accompany me to the merchant's shop to purchase materials."
Zhongli led everyone to the Wanyou Shop. The owner of this shop, Bolai, Lumining and Paimon had met before. He was the talkative one who explained the 'Rite of Descension' ceremony, almost making Paimon fall asleep.
"The owner is you. Do you have Néshang flowers here?"
Paimon recognized him at a glance.
"Little ones, it's you. You want Néshang flowers? Of course, we have them. But, which kind do you want?"
Bolai naturally recognized Paimon and the others. After all, there aren't many flying little creatures like Paimon, so she was easily identifiable.
"Hmm... There are many kinds of Néshang flowers?"
"Tsk, tsk, you really are an unsophisticated foreigner, asking such questions..."
Bolai shook his head with a click of his tongue.
'To be looked down upon!'
Paimon was so angry she almost jumped up and cursed at the shop owner.
Paimon: Hey, hey, hey, don't underestimate us. We're not ordinary people. We are... suspects in Liyue!
"'Golden House Hidden Beauty,' 'Yin Mountain Splendor,' 'Misty Immortal Fate.' Boss, please bring out one of each of these three types of Néshang flowers to look at..."
Zhongli interjected, stating his request.
"Oh— This sir is a true connoisseur! Please, take a look. If you have any thoughts, please share them."
Upon hearing Zhongli speak, Bolai knew he was dealing with an expert. He immediately brought out one of each and presented them to him for appraisal.
"Hmm, depending on their growing environment and ancestral lineage, Néshang flowers will exhibit different characteristics... These few that the boss has are all good, and they are preserved very fresh..."
"For example, this one, with lush branches and flowers like a 'Golden House Hidden Beauty,' with evergreen leaves, it mostly grows in areas with complex hydrological conditions."
"As for those in shady or humid places, Néshang flowers tend to have large petals and dense stamens, with a fragrant aroma, truly a 'Flower Cluster Splendor.'"
"Finally, this type is solitary and aloof, with extremely sparse arrangements of branches, leaves, and flowers. When they bloom, the fragrance is faint but extremely long-lasting. It was accidentally discovered by ancient people during their mountain ascents to seek immortals."
"However, to this day, most wild Néshang flowers have become extinct due to the geological changes in Liyue. Nowadays, they are mostly cultivated artificially..."
Zhongli truly lived up to his reputation as a walking encyclopedia. Feng Yi felt as if she had returned to a high school biology class.
"Ah, sir, you are indeed an expert. Even I didn't know there were so many nuances..."
Bolai also looked enlightened. These Néshang flowers actually had so many origins?
"I have a slight understanding."
Zhongli smiled faintly, exuding an air of effortless sophistication.
"Then, Mr. Zhongli, which of these three types of Néshang flowers should we choose?"
As Paimon asked this question, she felt a strange sense of familiarity. It seemed like she had asked the same question when buying Noctilucous Jade.
"As for me, boss, I'll take them all!"
Zhongli waved his hand grandly. Only children make choices; 'rich people' take everything.
"Again?!"
Paimon was shocked. What was this feeling of being surprised yet unsurprised?
"Heh, when listening to opera, one must choose the most popular courtesan; when bird-watching, one must buy the most valuable thrush—this is life!"
Zhongli said with a calm smile, with the premise that someone else would pay the bill.
"However, the reason for buying all three types of Néshang flowers this time is not based on my life philosophy. You may not know this, but traditionally, if different Néshang flowers are made into perfumes separately and offered before the 'Statues of the Seven,' the Geo Archon will make his own choice..."
"However, this ancient custom and some overly complex traditions have gradually been simplified. But this is the only 'Rite of Sending Off the Adepti' for one of the Seven Archons, unique in three thousand seven hundred years. Let us still follow tradition and offer these perfumes one by one."
Zhongli was earnestly deceiving them, saying that the Geo Archon would make his own choice, which was essentially his current choice.
Just as he was about to take out his money pouch to pay, an awkward situation arose.
The expenses for buying Noctilucous Jade had been too high, and the advance payment from 'Childe' had almost run out, not enough to support his decision to take them all.
"Um... Feng Yi, do you have Mora? Please help me cover it for now, and I'll get reimbursed by 'Childe' later..."
Zhongli looked around. He didn't know if Lumining had Mora, but he was sure Feng Yi did.
It would be too time-consuming to find 'Childe' to apply for a second round of funding now. Going through the reimbursement process would be more convenient.
"That shouldn't be a problem."
Feng Yi nodded, covering 100,000 Mora. She planned to ask the boss for a receipt of 200,000 Mora later. That seemed reasonable, right?
"Uh... customer, I'm sorry, may I ask if you intend to offer these flowers to the Geo Lord?"
Bolai chimed in upon seeing this.
"It's not wrong to put it that way."
Paimon nodded. Offering them to the Geo Lord's corpse could also be considered offering them to the Geo Lord, right?
"Alas, you should have said so earlier... After that 'Rite of Descension' ceremony, I also heard some unfortunate news... I won't say anything inauspicious, but in short, I've been worried about the Geo Lord, worried that the news is true.
If it's for the Geo Lord, I won't charge you for these flowers. Just pass on my regards."
Bolai sighed, bidding farewell to the Geo Lord, considering it his humble gesture.
"This, is this really appropriate?"
Paimon looked at Bolai in surprise. Was the name of the Geo Archon that useful?
"What a thing to say. Without the Geo Lord, there would be no place for common folk like me to live. If it weren't for the Geo Lord's poem back then, how could these precious Néshang flowers command such a high price..."
"Thank you, boss. I believe the Geo Lord will feel your sincerity. However, these Néshang flowers are not easy to cultivate, and the money should still be collected. Please charge it to the account of the Fatui Harbinger 'Childe,' Tartaglia. You can collect the payment from the Northland Bank later."
Zhongli said with a nod. Spending the Fatui's money to conduct the Geo Archon's funeral, why let a small Liyue merchant suffer losses?
Sincerity is sincerity. As long as one truly thanks the Geo Lord, these external formalities are unnecessary.
"I need to go discuss the next steps with 'Childe.' I'll leave the matter of making perfumes to you. We'll meet at the Statues of the Seven later."
Zhongli: I'm out of money. Time to go get the second installment from 'Childe.'
"Hey, hey, hey, why are you leaving so quickly? Feng Yi, Lumining, what should we do next? Do you know anyone who is skilled at making perfumes?"
Paimon saw Zhongli quickly slip away, unable to stop him. It seemed they could only rely on themselves from now on.
"I know someone who is skilled. Lumining, Paimon, follow me..."