Honkai Star Rail: I Became the World Tree — Chapter 104

Chapter 104: Ronova: Morax Wants to Retire? Absolutely Not!

Zhongli was sweating profusely.

Hu Tao circled the polished mahogany dining table, her footsteps deliberately slow and rhythmic, before coming to a dead halt right in front of him. She crossed her arms, her plum-blossom eyes narrowing into a sharp, scrutinizing glare that practically screamed, I want to see how you try to talk your way out of this one.

Zhongli swallowed hard, the usually unflappable consultant looking distinctly cornered.

“Director Hu…” he began, his deep voice carrying a rare hint of hesitation. “I truly did not mean to keep it from you. I simply wished to keep my identity concealed from the general public.” He offered a small, apologetic gesture. “I wanted to integrate into Liyue Harbor as an ordinary person. Just think about it, Director. If I were to wander the streets as Morax, would I still be able to casually make friends, browse the antique markets, and listen to the opera in peace?”

Hu Tao let out a sharp, unamused snort.

“Oh, so you do know?” She leaned forward, jabbing a finger toward him. “The money you spend treating those ‘friends’ to lavish meals, buying overpriced ancient rocks, and tipping Yun Jin at the opera—that is all This Hall Master’s money! Just look at you! You are the literal creator of Mora! Why in the world do you keep putting every single expense on the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor’s tab?!”

Zhongli cleared his throat, adjusting his collar. “My current mortal vessel is Zhongli, a humble consultant of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. I am not Morax, the creator of Mora, at this present moment.”

Hu Tao threw her hands up, utterly rendered speechless by the sheer audacity of his logic.

Off to the side, Ronova watched the exchange with mounting confusion. She reached out and gave Lumine’s sleeve a gentle tug. “Lumine, what exactly is happening here? Hu Tao is just a mere mortal, yet she dares to interrogate Morax like this?”

Lumine offered a helpless, wry smile. “Uh… how should I put it? Zhongli—that is, Morax—is currently employed as a consultant for the parlor. And absolutely everything he buys in Liyue gets charged directly to the parlor’s business account. Recently, there’s also been Childe, a Fatui Harbinger, footing some bills, but since Hu Tao is the Director…”

Realization dawned on Ronova’s face. “In other words, Director Hu works tirelessly every single day to earn a living, only for all her profits to go toward paying off the Geo Archon’s personal debts?”

Lumine nodded. “Pretty much. So, now that Hu Tao has finally discovered Zhongli’s true identity, we get a front-row seat to this.”

Stelle leaned in, her eyes gleaming with chaotic amusement. “Zhongli even specifically asked us to keep this a secret. We were actually doing a pretty stellar job of it, but, well… you just completely spilled the beans.”

Ronova blinked, momentarily at a loss for words. Did this count as sabotaging a subordinate? Probably not, right? She was just being a thorough leader!

Hu Tao placed her hands on her hips, staring Zhongli down. “You’ve certainly integrated into your mortal role a little too well. But, well… it’s not entirely impossible for me to forgive you. You just have to do one tiny little thing for me!”

Relief washed over Zhongli’s face, and he agreed without a second thought. “Please, Director. Name it.”

Seeing him fall right into her trap, Hu Tao let out a mischievous chuckle. “Hehe! It’s very simple. Today is the Rite of Descension, isn’t it? Later, when you descend from the clouds in your magnificent dragon form, I want you to help This Hall Master run an ad!”

She whipped out a piece of paper from her pocket. “I’ve already drafted the script. Come, I’ll read it to you. Memorize it perfectly, and do not mess up your lines!”

A single drop of cold sweat slid down Zhongli’s temple. “Ah… Director, I am afraid that is highly inappropriate.”

Hu Tao turned her head away, her pigtails swishing. “This Hall Master doesn’t care! You’ve drained so much of the parlor’s funds, and you won’t even do a simple commercial for me? Fine. If you refuse, I’ll just march right back and pawn off every single antique you’ve ever bought! It’s all my money anyway, so I can do whatever I please with it!”

The threat struck a critical blow. Those treasures were rare artifacts he had carefully curated with great difficulty. Zhongli closed his eyes in defeat.

“Fine. I agree.”

Hu Tao’s face lit up with a triumphant grin. She stepped forward and gave his broad shoulder a hearty pat. “That’s the spirit! As a dedicated member of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, it’s high time you pulled your weight! If you perform well, I might even give you a raise! Come, come, let me show you the marketing genius I just came up with. Repeat after me.”

Zhongli looked as though he were being led to the execution block, but under Hu Tao’s menacing glare—which promised absolute financial ruin—he caved.

“Which… which is the best for funerals in Liyue?” Zhongli read, his deep, resonant voice entirely unsuited for the peppy script. “Find Wangsheng Funeral Parlor at Yujing Terrace. Our professional ability is strong, our prices are favorable, and everyone who uses our services says it’s good.”

He paused, visibly pained, before forcing out the rest. “Recently, Wangsheng Funeral Parlor is launching a ‘Buy One Get One Free’ package. Limited spots available, first come, first served. You won’t lose out, you won’t get scammed. Fam… charge.”

By the time he finished, Zhongli felt the color drain from his life. His six-thousand-year reputation as Rex Lapis was about to be irreversibly shattered.

“Director,” he sighed heavily. “How did you even conceive of such a script? It is truly a bit…”

Hu Tao pulled out her smartphone, waving it proudly. “This Hall Master saw it while scrolling the net! You have to admit, there are so many talented marketers online. They speak with such passion, and everyone has a trick up their sleeve to drive sales!”

Zhongli fell silent for a long moment. “Director, I believe it would be wise to spend less time staring at that device. It is detrimental to your eyesight.”

Hu Tao waved her hand dismissively. “Eh, it’s fine, it’s fine! Myopia is just a minor inconvenience. The Herta Space Station can cure it in minutes, and the procedure is incredibly cheap.”

Zhongli closed his eyes. Fine. As long as you are happy.

With the crisis temporarily averted, the group settled back down to finish their meal. As the plates were cleared, Zhongli looked around the table, his demeanor returning to its usual refined calm.

“Everyone, today marks Liyue’s annual Rite of Descension. If you have the time, you are all more than welcome to visit the harbor and partake in the festivities.”

Samuel, Neuvillette, and the others readily agreed. Ronova found herself quite interested as well. She had only ever observed Liyue from high up in the heavens; she had never actually walked its bustling streets during a major festival. More, she knew the harbor would be packed with mouth-watering food stalls today, and she fully intended to sample every single one.

Stelle, however, leaned back in her chair. “March and I are going to pass. We need to go grind some monsters to level up. We were so bogged down with errands on the Luofu these past few days that we haven’t fought anything in ages. My bat is practically itching for a fight!”

Hearing this, Venti casually leaned over and whispered a few hushed words into Stelle’s ear.

Stelle’s golden eyes instantly widened, sparkling with chaotic intent. She slammed her hands on the table. “But then again! Since you, Morax, a distinguished God of a nation, have personally invited us, it would be terribly rude to decline. I suppose I will reluctantly tag along!”

March 7th tugged on Stelle’s jacket, looking betrayed. “Hey! Didn’t we just agree to go fight monsters today?”

Stelle leaned down and whispered back, her voice barely audible. “Trust me. Going to Liyue today is going to be hilarious.”

March’s eyes lit up with immediate understanding. “Oh! I see! Well then, the monster-grinding schedule is officially canceled! We’re going to Liyue!”

Zhongli watched the two girls whispering and giggling, a distinct feeling of impending trouble washing over him.

After breakfast, Zhongli summoned a glowing geo-construct teleportation gate in the courtyard. Stepping through the golden threshold, the group instantly arrived at the serene grounds of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor in Liyue Harbor.

Zhongli turned to face his guests. “I have some pressing matters to attend to, so I must take my leave for now. There is still ample time before the Rite of Descension officially begins; please feel free to explore the city at your leisure.”

Hu Tao shooed him away with a flick of her wrist. “Go on, go on! And do not forget to do the ad! If you chicken out, This Hall Master is marching straight to the pawnshop!”

Zhongli nodded stiffly, turned on his heel, and vanished in a flicker of golden light.

The moment he was gone, Furina stepped up to Stelle, her curiosity burning. “Stelle, what exactly did the bard say to you earlier? You completely flipped your schedule after hearing it.”

Stelle snickered, unable to hold it in any longer. “There’s a massive show happening in Liyue today. That guy Zhongli? He’s planning to fake his own death!”

Lumine gasped. “Oh ho? Faking his death? Now that is definitely a spectacle worth watching!”

Beside them, Ronova—the ultimate diligent worker—froze. Her expression darkened instantly.

“What?” Ronova’s voice dropped an octave. “That blockhead Morax is going to fake his death? Does he want to slack off and follow the terrible example of this drunkard Barbatos?! No! Absolutely not!”

She rolled up her sleeves, her aura flaring dangerously. “I absolutely despise slackers! I’m going to find him right now! Daring to fake his death and abandon his post? Impossible! I think his scales are just itching for a thorough beating! I’ll use my own two fists to remind him of his divine duties!”

Seeing Ronova actually preparing to storm off and commit deicide, Venti panicked and lunged forward, grabbing her arm. “Ronova! Wait, wait, please don’t be hasty! The old blockhead doesn’t actually want to abandon his people!”

Ronova glared down at the Anemo Archon. “He is faking his death. How is that not abandoning his post?”

Venti threw his hands up defensively. “The old man wants to hand over the governing power to the Qixing, and then guide them from the shadows! He wants to test the people of Liyue, to see if they have the strength to stand on their own two feet without their God holding their hands.”

He took a deep breath, speaking rapidly. “When push comes to shove, if they truly fail, the old man will immediately step in to protect the city!”

Ronova crossed her arms, her fiery temper cooling just a fraction. “Then tell me, what exactly is this grand test of his?”

Left with no other choice, Venti spilled every detail of the confidential plan Zhongli had shared with him. If he didn’t throw his old friend under the bus right now, Morax was going to get physically assaulted before the Rite even began. Ronova was the only Archon-level entity who actually took her job seriously.

“The old man plans to drop a fake dragon corpse at the Rite of Descension, throwing the city into chaos, and then he’s going to manipulate the Fatui into unsealing Osial, the Overlord of the Vortex.” Venti explained. “He’ll let the Adepti and the Qixing face Osial together. If they can defeat the ancient god with their own strength, he will officially retire and command from behind the scenes. He’ll just tell the higher-ups that he passed away peacefully.”

“And if they fail?” Ronova asked sharply.

“If they can’t solve it, then they fail the test. The old man will swoop in, crush Osial, and make up some flimsy excuse about shedding his mortal coil, claiming he didn’t actually die, and just resume his position.”

Ronova stared at Venti for a long, piercing moment. Seeing the genuine honesty in the bard’s panicked eyes, she finally let out a huff and dismissed her battle aura.

“Fine then. That’s an acceptable strategy. It will actually be a good opportunity for me to observe if the mortals of Liyue can truly handle divine threats without their Archon.”

Venti let out a massive sigh of relief, his tense shoulders slumping. Phew… I finally managed to stabilize this terrifying ancestor.

Old man, Venti thought defensively, I’m doing this for your own physical safety. You can’t blame me for breaking our contract! If it weren’t for me, you would have been beaten to a pulp today!

Venti was, of course, completely oblivious to the fact that he was the one who had blabbed the secret to Stelle in the first place, which was the only reason Ronova found out at all.

Hu Tao clapped her hands, drawing everyone’s attention. “Alright, let’s get moving! This Hall Master will take you all on a grand tour of Liyue Harbor. It’s going to be incredibly lively today!”

Just as she finished speaking, one of the parlor’s young undertakers came jogging into the courtyard, waving a crisp bank draft in her hand.

“Director! Sister Yelan just sent this over. She said the special items you asked her to auction off are all sold, and you can take this draft straight to the Northland Bank to withdraw the funds!”

Hu Tao’s eyes sparkled like Mora as she snatched the slip from the undertaker. She took one look at the string of zeroes and actually jumped into the air with joy.

“So much money! This Hall Master’s Wangsheng Funeral Parlor is finally rich!”

Flush with newfound wealth, Hu Tao struck a dramatic pose and waved her hand expansively. “Stelle! This Hall Master is covering every single one of your expenses today!” She spun around to the undertaker. “And you! Tell the rest of the staff that This Hall Master is treating everyone to a massive feast tonight!”

The courtyard erupted into cheers.

“Heck yeah! Director Hu is the best!” Stelle pumped her fist.

“Hu Tao is mighty! Hu Tao is awesome!” Paimon cheered, already drooling.

Hu Tao glanced down at the bank draft again, secretly wondering if she should make another trip to the Linyuan Realm. The pearls they found in that place fetched an absolutely absurd price on the market!

Spirits high, the group finally stepped out of the parlor’s quiet courtyard and merged onto the main street leading toward Yujing Terrace.

The atmosphere was electric. The streets were packed shoulder-to-shoulder with tourists, merchants, and locals, the air thick with the endless, overlapping calls of street vendors hawking their festival wares. Red lanterns swayed gently in the coastal breeze, casting a warm glow over the vibrant scene.

Stelle looked around, her eyes wide. “Are there always this many people? I feel like if we step into that crowd, we’re just going to get carried away by the current.”

“It’s not that bad!” March 7th grabbed Stelle’s arm. “Come on, let’s go shopping! I want to try that grilled fish stall Xiangling was raving about. I heard it’s to die for!”

At the mention of food, Ronova immediately raised her hand. “Count me in!”

Hu Tao took the lead, handling the crowds with practiced ease. “Follow me! We’ll hit the grilled fish stand first. I know the exact place—Old Liu’s stall. He’s been grilling fish on these streets for decades, and the flavor is absolutely out of this world. His Grilled Tiger Fish is a local legend!”

The group wove through the bustling throngs. The Millelith were stationed at every corner, efficiently managing the flow of traffic, ensuring that despite the massive turnout, the streets remained safe and orderly.

However, their progress was painfully slow.

Every time Ronova or Paimon spotted a new snack—be it candied fruit, steamed buns, or fried dough—they absolutely had to stop and buy it. Everything was a novel experience, and they wanted to taste it all. Since the street food was cheap, Hu Tao generously paid for every single skewer and pastry Ronova pointed at.

In Ronova’s eyes, Hu Tao’s image had rapidly ascended to that of a magnificent, benevolent deity. Given that Hu Tao possessed a Pyro Vision, Ronova seriously considered dragging the girl to Natlan to see if she could compete for the title of Pyro Archon. If she did, Ronova would personally lead her cheering squad!

Presently, Ronova was dual-wielding a massive skewer of grilled squid in one hand and a stick of sweet Tanghulu in the other. Venti trailed miserably behind her, his arms loaded with greasy paper bags and boxes of half-eaten treats. The Anemo Archon had been thoroughly reduced to a glorified pack mule.

Paimon didn’t have the luxury of a bag carrier, but the little fairy didn’t care. She floated along, happily juggling three different snacks at once.

It took them over half an hour to finally reach Old Liu’s stall. The savory, smoky aroma of roasting spices and charred fish hit them from a block away, but the line stretching out from the counter was staggeringly long.

March 7th groaned, slumping her shoulders. “With a line this huge, how long are we going to be stuck here? We still need to get good seats to watch Zhongli’s dramatic performance!”

Stelle tapped her chin, equally impatient. “Maybe we should skip it and look around somewhere else?”

Ronova, however, planted her feet firmly on the cobblestones. The smell was too intoxicating. “I want to eat this. It smells incredible. I’m not leaving.”

Stelle sighed. “Alright, let’s just line up. Hopefully, Old Liu has fast hands.”

Just as they resigned themselves to the wait, a small, cheerful voice called out over the din of the crowd.

“Big Sister Hu Tao! Big Sister Hu Tao!”

Hu Tao turned to see a little girl jogging toward them. She wore her hair in two neat buns, a woven basket full of radishes strapped to her back, and a plush rabbit doll bouncing at her hip.

“Ah! Yaoyao!” Hu Tao beamed. “You’re out enjoying the festival too?”

Yaoyao nodded, her bright eyes curving into happy crescents. “Mhm! Yaoyao and Qiqi came to get some grilled fish. Are all these big sisters your friends, Big Sister Hu Tao?”

“Yup! These are all This Hall Master’s esteemed guests.” Hu Tao gestured to the group. “Yaoyao, introduce yourself.”

Yaoyao immediately stepped back and offered a perfectly executed, polite bow. “Hello, big sisters. I am Yaoyao. It is very nice to meet you all.”

Seele, who had been quietly observing the chaos, raised an eyebrow in genuine impressed surprise. “What a polite kid. Who raised her? They did a fantastic job.”

Hu Tao puffed out her chest proudly. “Polite, right? Yaoyao’s master is an actual Adeptus of Liyue! Speaking of which, Yaoyao, where is Madame Ping? Did she not come down to the harbor today? I haven’t visited her in ages.”

Yaoyao shook her head, her bells jingling. “No, there are too many tourists today, so Master stayed back to sell some of the little trinkets she made. By the way, Big Sister Hu Tao, do you all want to eat Grilled Tiger Fish? Should Yaoyao buy them for you? Qiqi is already holding our spot near the front of the line; it will be our turn very soon!”

Hu Tao’s eyes lit up. “That would be a lifesaver! Let me count…” She pointed around the group. “Stelle, March, Furina, Seele, Ronova, Lumine, plus Paimon and Venti. Yaoyao, be a dear and help us order eight Grilled Tiger Fish!”

Yaoyao nodded obediently. “Okay! Big Sister Hu Tao and all you big sisters, please wait over there where it’s less crowded. Yaoyao will bring the food over as soon as it’s ready!”

As Yaoyao spoke, a small zombie girl wearing a purple talisman on her forehead peeked out from the front of the line. She raised a stiff hand and waved slowly.

“Yaoyao… it is our turn… to order…” Qiqi called out, her voice flat and monotone.

“Coming!” Yaoyao waved back, offering a quick goodbye to the group before scurrying off to join her friend.

The moment Hu Tao laid eyes on Qiqi, an old, familiar spark ignited in her plum-blossom eyes. Qiqi! Burying Qiqi! It used to be her absolute favorite pastime.

However, that urge was purely nostalgic now; Hu Tao didn’t actually want to bury the little zombie anymore.

In the beginning, she genuinely believed she was doing the right thing. To the 77th Director of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, the dead belonged strictly to the world of the dead. She had spent weeks trying to catch Qiqi, intending to grant her eternal rest and return her to the natural cycle of the world.

But after finally learning the tragic truth of Qiqi’s past, Hu Tao had quietly abandoned the crusade.

During the brutal era of the Archon War, Qiqi had been just an ordinary mortal child who went up the mountains to pick herbs. She had accidentally wandered into a cataclysmic battlefield between the Adepti and the demonic remnants of a fallen God. Caught in the crossfire, Qiqi was crushed by a collapsing boulder. In her final, agonizing moments, her desperate, overwhelming will to live connected with the heavens, granting her a Cryo Vision.

The sheer burst of energy from her awakening healed the wounded Adepti, turning the tide of the battle. Stricken with guilt and gratitude, the Adepti couldn’t bear to let the child die. They pooled their immense Adeptal energy and forced it into her broken body, resurrecting her.

But a mortal vessel could not contain the raw power of the Adepti. Qiqi went completely berserk. Left with no choice, Mountain Shaper sealed her away in the amber of Mt. Hulao.

Centuries passed. The violent energy within her slowly settled, fully integrating into her immortal body. Eventually, Qiqi broke free from her amber prison, returning to a world she no longer recognized.

The violent resurrection had permanently damaged her mind. Her memory was incredibly fragile, forcing her to rely on a small notebook she carried everywhere just to remember the basics of her life. There were only two things Qiqi never forgot: doing her daily calisthenics to prevent her rigor mortis from setting in, and reading her notebook from cover to cover the moment she woke up.

Knowing all of this, Hu Tao no longer harbored any desire to bury her. Whenever she chased Qiqi around the harbor now, it was mostly just to tease her—and, secretly, to force the little zombie to run around so her joints wouldn’t stiffen up.

Hu Tao led the group to a quiet stone bench away from the crushing crowd.

March 7th watched Yaoyao gently guiding Qiqi at the food stall, a soft smile on her face. “Hu Tao, Yaoyao is so incredibly sensible. She acts like a little adult.”

Hearing the praise, Hu Tao couldn’t help but smile proudly. “Right? Yaoyao is amazing at taking care of others. And the little girl with her is Qiqi. She’s an apprentice herb gatherer for Bubu Pharmacy, the most famous clinic in Liyue. The two of them often brave the mountains to bring back incredibly rare medicinal herbs. Half the city has probably taken medicine made from the plants they’ve gathered.”