Zhongli felt a bit helpless at the actions of these fellows just now, and immediately after, he felt the "reminder" from behind.
He fell silent for a moment, his eyelashes drooping slightly to hide the trace of helplessness in his eyes. In the end, he went along with this improvisation and asked in his steady tone, "...Why?"
Funeral Attendant B immediately picked up the cue. With hands on hips and following the backup plan Hu Tao had instructed beforehand, they said harshly, "Hmph! Gone for a whole Kun-year, and you come back still a loser! WangSheng Funeral Parlor no longer has a place for you!"
A low clamor rose from the audience below. The book fans' eyes instantly lit up—interesting! This was the right flavor! This was the feeling!
Zhongli was momentarily stifled by the sudden "loser" evaluation, and for a moment, he didn't know how to respond. Seeing this, Hu Tao quickly leaned in close to him and prompted him in a rapid whisper, "consultant, say it! Say 'Don't you all regret this'!"
Zhongli turned his head slightly and glanced at Hu Tao with a look that was complex and hard to describe, but he still spoke as instructed, his tone still lacking any waves: "...You all, do not regret this."
However, this sense of "indifference" happened to perfectly match the audience's expectations for the Dragon King!
As soon as he finished speaking, Hu Tao suddenly jumped out, intentionally gave Funeral Attendant B a forceful push, and scolded loudly, "Blind fools! How dare you humiliate the Dragon King!"
Funeral Attendant B cooperated by stumbling back, face full of "disbelief": "What Dragon King? This Zhongli is just a loser consultant of our WangSheng Funeral Parlor!!"
At that moment, Hu Tao suddenly turned around to face Zhongli. She dropped one knee to the ground and cupped her fists in a salute, the movements fluid and her voice loud: "Liyue's WangSheng Funeral Parlor was blind and humiliated the Dragon King. How should this be handled? Please give us your instructions, Dragon King!!"
Seeing their cue, Funeral Attendants C and D, who were standing by, immediately followed suit. They knelt on one knee in unison and echoed loudly, "Please give your orders, Dragon King!"
Funeral Attendants A and B cooperatively took two steps back, pointing at Zhongli with "trembling" voices: "You... You are actually the Dragon King?!"
Seeing that the moment had arrived, Hu Tao took a deep breath and shouted toward the sky (and the surrounding crowd) with all her might: "The three-year term is up! Welcome back, Dragon King—!!!"
This shout was like lighting a fuse. The fans below who had been waiting for a long time instantly boiled over. Their long-suppressed excitement and sense of immersion completely exploded as they shouted in unison, the sound waves nearly lifting the roof off WangSheng Funeral Parlor.
"Welcome back, Dragon King—!!!"
"Welcome back, Dragon King—!!!"
The scene was momentarily chaotic, yet filled with an absurd fervor. Ordinary citizens who didn't know the truth were caught up in the atmosphere and joined in the shouting or marveled at the spectacle.
Zhongli stood there, surrounded by the mountain-shaking shouts of "Welcome back," the magnificent "Dragon King Robe" on his body shining brightly under the sun.
He looked at the fanatical crowd below, then at Hu Tao kneeling beside him and secretly winking at him, and then at the Funeral Attendants who were trying hard to suppress their laughter, their shoulders shaking.
A gust of wind blew by at the right time, fluttering the hidden dragon patterns embroidered on his sleeves, truly giving off a bit of a Dragon King's air.
He remained silent for a full three breaths.
During those three breaths, the cheers below gradually subsided. Everyone held their breath, waiting to see how this "Dragon King" who had been "welcomed back" would react.
At this moment, Zhongli suddenly felt a small hand secretly tugging at his hem. Looking down, it was Hu Tao.
Seeing Zhongli look at her, she hurriedly made faces and said in a "whisper" that everyone could hear: "consultant, the time has come. It's time to show your true foundation! Let everyone see what is called—foundation!"
Zhongli: "..."
He looked into Hu Tao's eyes, which were full of expectation and the joy of "causing trouble," then glanced at the crowd below who were fired up by their actions, and fell silent for a moment.
Zhongli shook his head slightly. He did not utter any "Dragon King's Decree" as Hu Tao had expected, but instead leaned down slightly with natural elegance and reached out to gently support Hu Tao up.
"Director." His voice was as steady as ever, and his words clearly reached everyone's ears. "The ground is cold. Please rise."
Hu Tao: "...Huh?"
The follow-up lines she had prepared got stuck in her throat. Her plum blossom pupils blinked, not quite reacting yet.
This reaction wasn't right! Shouldn't the Dragon King be oozing dominance right now, saying something like "You may rise" or "This King pardons your crimes"?
Zhongli ignored her bewilderment and turned his gaze to Funeral Attendants C and D who were still kneeling, his tone calm: "The two of you, please rise as well."
Funeral Attendants C and D looked at each other, then peeked at Hu Tao. Seeing that the Director was also a bit dazed, they had no choice but to stand up obediently.
But when Hu Tao saw this, she realized the consultant was about to completely dismantle the stage! How could that be allowed!
She immediately bounced up from the ground, no longer caring about the cool kneeling posture. She grabbed Zhongli's sleeve and shook it forcefully, speaking in an urgently low but audible "whisper": "consultant, foundation, the foundation! At this time, you should say 'How can the foundation of this King be fathomed by the likes of you,' or 'The sky of Liyue Harbor should also change its color'! Or if not that, 'Planet Befall' or 'This is the Heavenly Order' would work too! Quick! The atmosphere is already here!"
As she spoke, she desperately winked at Zhongli, her plum blossom pupils filled with the message "Quick, take the cue, take the cue."
The crowd below also stirred again because of this sudden "behind-the-scenes coaching," letting out bursts of suppressed laughter.
The book fans craned their necks even further, wanting to know how this "Dragon King" who didn't follow the script would respond.
With his sleeve being tugged by Hu Tao, Zhongli looked down at her anxious and excited little face, then raised his eyes to scan the countless expectant gazes below.
Just as Hu Tao thought he was going to say something mood-killing like "the ground is cold" or "Director, do not be mischievous," he seemed to finally give up his struggle, a hint of resignation appearing deep in his eyes.
Zhongli let out a barely audible sigh and closed his eyes slightly. When he opened them again, the aura around him seemed to undergo a subtle change.
He didn't intentionally raise his volume, but his steady tone carried a magical penetrating power, clearly entering everyone's ears.
"A thousand years have passed, and the contract is as firm as a mountain. The path of WangSheng also requires thunderous means to cleanse the dust."
These scholarly yet suggestive words instantly made the fans excited!
Although they weren't the lines from the book, nor the ones Director Hu had arranged for him, the feeling was right! This was the style!
Seeing this, Hu Tao immediately seized the opportunity. She raised her right hand high, gave the audience a look with all her might, and once again took the lead in shouting: "Welcome—"
The fans below understood perfectly. Their accumulated passion was ignited once again, and for the second time, a mountain-shaking echo erupted, completing the second half of the sentence in unison:
"Back, Dragon King!!!"
[Progress: 75%]
-------------------------
If you enjoy this story, you can read 70+ advanced chapters on Patreon!
Webnovel will keep getting 1 new chapter every day but Patreon readers can stay far ahead.
Maybe it's not a big deal now… maybe it will be later.
[email protected]/Greyhounds
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"