Chapter 431: Zhongli's Strategy of Advancing by Retreating
"Psychological suggestion... this is home... I am perfectly normal..." Furina muttered under her breath. She shifted on the plush sofa, carefully adjusting her posture to project an aura of dignified elegance.
Yet, the moment she reached out to set her porcelain teacup back onto the coffee table, her muscle memory betrayed her. Her fingers curled inward, unconsciously mimicking the stiff, stubby grasping motion of a Bangboo's mechanical paws. The cup wobbled violently, tea sloshing over the rim. Startled, she lunged forward in a flurry of limbs to steady it, a furious flush of embarrassment dusting her cheeks.
"L-looks like this is far more challenging than writing a stage script. Um... I mean, it clearly requires rigorous practice." She forced her jaw shut, violently swallowing down the verbal tic—na—that had nearly slipped past her lips. She took a deep breath, forcing her expression into a mask of absolute seriousness.
Meanwhile, across the sea in Liyue Harbor, the atmosphere inside the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor was entirely different.
Stripped of the cozy warmth found in a Fontaine living room, the parlor currently radiated the heavy, suffocating sternness of a strict disciplinary hearing.
Hu Tao stood dead center in the room, her hands planted firmly on her hips. Her signature plum-blossom pupils were narrowed into dangerous slits, locking onto Daiyuan, who stood off to the side with his head hanging in utter defeat.
A few paces away, Zhongli, the parlor's esteemed consultant, sat leisurely at a carved stone table. He held a delicate cup of clear tea, blowing away the steam and sipping it with absolute composure. To him, the intense scolding unfolding in the room seemed like nothing more than an entertaining segment of a daily Liyue opera.
"Daiyuan!" Hu Tao's voice cracked through the air like a whip—crisp, loud, and brimming with the absolute majesty of a Director. "Exactly how many times did I warn you before we crossed over?! When we are over there, there are specific functional areas you absolutely cannot wander into!"
She took a step forward, jabbing an accusatory finger in his direction. "We had so many new friends waiting for us at the banquet! But you? The very second curiosity struck your little brain, you nearly slipped down a restricted hallway into some unknown technical zone! What if you had gotten lost? What if you triggered some high-tech security system you shouldn't have touched? What then, huh?"
Guilt and helplessness were practically tattooed across Daiyuan's face. He shrank back, attempting a weak defense. "Director, I... I was just looking around. I didn't mean to wander far. It's just... the structural integrity of that base, the bizarre way their energy flows, and those mechanical formations... they are truly novel..."
"Looking? You call that looking?" Hu Tao interrupted him unceremoniously, throwing her hands up in exasperation. "The look in your eyes was exactly like a toddler who just spotted a shiny new toy! Fine, this time you were inside a secure base, so it was relatively safe. But what happens when we actually form a squad and dive into a Hollow?"
She leaned in, her playful demeanor entirely vanished. "The environment inside those Hollows is chaotic, shifting, and fraught with lethal danger. If your curiosity gets the better of you again, and you carelessly wander off to study some strange Ether Crystal deposit, you could scatter our entire formation! A failed evacuation route, an ambush—you could drag everyone into a death trap. What then?"
"It is extremely, extremely irresponsible behavior!" she scolded, her tone leaving no room for argument. "You aren't just being reckless with your own life, Daiyuan. You are being irresponsible to your teammates!"
The blistering lecture left Daiyuan entirely speechless. He couldn't even formulate a rebuttal because Hu Tao was absolutely right. His behavior while trapped in that mechanical Bangboo state had been undeniably reckless, driven by an unnatural, hyper-focused curiosity.
Left with no other option, he nodded repeatedly like a reprimanded schoolboy. "Yes, the Director is entirely right to lecture me," he replied, his voice rough and subdued. "I will definitely be more careful next time. I won't run around blindly, and I swear I'll stick close to the team..."
Even as he apologized, his eyes kept darting desperately toward the stone table. He frantically fired visual distress signals at Zhongli, who was still sipping his tea in a slow, measured, and agonizingly unbothered manner.
Zhongli! Have you enjoyed the show enough?! Hurry up and say something to save me! The sheer panic and pleading in Daiyuan's gaze were so intense they practically materialized in the air.
After what felt like an eternity, Zhongli seemed to have finally finished appreciating the golden hue of his tea. He blew gently on the rising steam, elegantly set the porcelain cup down onto its saucer, and spoke in a slow, resonant baritone. "Director, please calm your anger for now."
Hu Tao whipped her head around, her cheeks puffing out in a stubborn pout. "Consultant, do not try to speak up for him! He absolutely must learn his lesson this time!"
Zhongli's expression remained perfectly placid, his tone as steady and grounding as bedrock. "Director, do not be overly annoyed. Daiyuan is straightforward by nature. Encountering the bizarre and wondrous scenery of another world for the very first time, it is only natural that he was eager to observe it. In his excitement, he simply lost himself a little. It is merely human nature."
Hearing this defense, Daiyuan nodded so fast his head resembled a pounding mortar pestle. His eyes swam with deep gratitude as he stared at the consultant. Good brother! You're a real one! I owe you my life!
However, the warm relief was instantly shattered as Zhongli's tone took a sharp, authoritative pivot. "However, the Director's concerns are exceptionally valid. Without rules, nothing of value can be achieved. Since we are operating within the boundaries of another world, we must strictly abide by its rules and focus on the safety of the team. In my opinion, it would be best to impose a small, practical punishment to serve as a warning."
Daiyuan's frantic nodding froze mid-bob. A terrible, icy premonition crawled up his spine.
Zhongli continued, his voice maintaining that same calm, ripple-free cadence. "How about this: as a fitting punishment, and to urge him to act with utmost caution in the future, we apply a financial restriction. For a set period of time, whatever Daiyuan gains during his activities within the 'Hollow'—whether it be Gear Coins, rare materials, or other valuable items—shall be handed over to the Director for safekeeping."
He steepled his fingers, looking thoughtfully at Hu Tao. "Depending entirely on his performance during these operations—specifically, whether he follows commands and considers the bigger picture—the Director can then distribute a small allowance at her discretion. This will allow him to exchange for the technological trinkets he is so interested in, acting as a behavioral incentive. In this way, his reckless actions can be effectively restrained without you losing your reputation for generosity."
Daiyuan: "...???"
His jaw practically unhinged. He stared at Zhongli in sheer, unadulterated disbelief.
Wait... what happened to the rescue?! Why does this sound like I'm being strapped into even tighter shackles?!
From now on, the hard-earned "money" he bled for while fighting and exploring those nightmarish Hollows had to be surrendered directly into Hu Tao's pockets? And then he had to beg for a meager "allowance" like a child?!
How was it that, even after crossing into an entirely different universe, he still couldn't escape the miserable fate of being a wage slave for the Director?! This was infinitely worse than his usual contract!
The deep gratitude on Daiyuan's face instantly curdled into burning indignation. He glared daggers at the calm consultant, the sheer accusation in his eyes practically spitting sparks of fire across the room. Zhongli!!! You set me up, you traitor!!!
However, Hu Tao merely rubbed her chin. She pondered the suggestion for a long moment before slowly shaking her head.
"The consultant's method... well, perhaps it doesn't need to be quite so harsh." Her fierce tone softened considerably. While she genuinely wanted to drill a lesson into Daiyuan's thick skull, she didn't actually want to exploit him like an indentured laborer.
"After all, just as the consultant rightly pointed out, Daiyuan is traveling to a completely unfamiliar universe for the very first time. Everything is fresh and exciting. Making a small mistake or acting a little willful is entirely understandable. There's no need to make a mountain out of a molehill and make it seem like I'm mercilessly exploiting my own employees."
She pivoted back to Daiyuan. Her hands remained on her hips, but the fiery anger in her eyes had cooled into a deadly serious warning. "However, Daiyuan, listen to me very well: do not let this happen again! I will let it slide this once. But if, during our future 'Hollow' operations, you fail to follow my commands, run off on your own, or touch things you shouldn't... if you cause our team to fail an evacuation or drag us into unnecessary trouble..."
Hu Tao narrowed her eyes, her lips curling into an incredibly "kind" and terrifyingly sweet smile. "Then I really will have no choice but to follow the consultant's brilliant suggestion and temporarily withhold your entire share of the Gear Coins. Understood? Don't blame me for 'enforcing the law impartially' when that time comes."
Hearing his sudden reprieve, Daiyuan hurriedly swallowed his burning indignation toward Zhongli. He thumped his chest loudly with a fist, guaranteeing his loyalty with absolute desperation. "Don't worry, Director! There will absolutely not be a next time! Inside the Hollows, I promise on my life, I will follow every single one of your commands to the letter!"
For the sake of his future "gaming funds" and his precious freedom to explore the new world, Daiyuan went all out, swearing his allegiance as loudly and quickly as humanly possible.
Hu Tao nodded in deep satisfaction. She dropped her rigid, scolding posture, her aura instantly snapping back to its usual lively, eccentric warmth. "Now that's more like it! You better remember what you just said!"
She spun on her heel and skipped over to the stone table, eagerly pouring herself a cup of tea. "Aiya, I've talked so much my mouth is completely dry. Consultant, this tea has gone cold by now, right? Shall I brew you a fresh pot?"
Zhongli dipped his head in a slight, polite nod. "Thank you, Director. That would be lovely."
Daiyuan remained rooted to his spot, quietly exhaling a massive breath of relief. He wiped a layer of phantom cold sweat from his brow. Once his heart rate settled, he shot another incomparably resentful glare at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's consultant, who had already returned to calmly studying the expansion of the tea leaves in his cup.
Zhongli seemed completely oblivious to the daggers being stared into the side of his head. He simply picked up the freshly poured tea, bringing it to his face. The swirling, fragrant steam rose between them, perfectly blurring the faint, almost imperceptible curve of amusement playing at the corner of his lips.
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