The Weapon Master Shall Never Die Bare-Handed in Genshin Impact [178]

As they made their way to meet Zhongli at the ceremony site, Paimon chimed in, "Do you think Zhongli might also be an Adeptus?"

"Who knows…" Jia Changjiang deflected, steering the conversation elsewhere.

"It’s strange," Lumine mused. "We’ve run into so many Adepti on this journey. Aren’t they supposed to be rare? Some people go their whole lives without meeting even one."

Their chatter continued until they arrived at the venue for the Rite of Parting preparations. Zhongli was already there, coordinating the efforts with several others bustling around him.

"Zhongli!" Lumine crept up behind him, her footsteps light, before clapping him on the shoulder with a sudden shout. She’d hoped to startle him.

But Zhongli, as composed as ever, didn’t even flinch, as though he’d anticipated her arrival.

"Hmph, no fun at all…" Lumine pouted.

"You’ve retrieved the bell," Zhongli said, turning to examine the Bell of Cleansing Dust. He nodded approvingly. "It’s in excellent condition. Well done."

"Granny Ping had a message for you!" Paimon interrupted, mimicking Granny Ping’s voice with exaggerated sweetness. "‘If you have the time, come by for tea. This old lady doesn’t have much, but I always have a teapot ready.’"

Zhongli chuckled, amused by Paimon’s impression. "That tone doesn’t quite suit you, Paimon. But yes, her teapot does make excellent tea."

He looked thoughtful. "When the time is right, I’ll bring some fine tea leaves to visit her."

"Next, we’ll need to purchase the kites required for the ceremony," Zhongli continued, motioning for everyone to follow.

They headed to the toy store where ceremonial kites representing the Seven Archons were crafted. After complimenting the shopkeeper’s meticulous handiwork, Zhongli turned to collect the pre-ordered items.

"These kites… I’ll take them. As for the remaining payment…"

Zhongli paused, glancing toward Lumine, who immediately clutched her wallet protectively.

Before the moment could escalate, Childe appeared, his voice casual yet pointed. "I’ll handle the balance."

Childe’s sudden entrance did nothing to ease Lumine’s wariness. If anything, her guard went up further. "What are you doing here? Spying on us again?!"

"Not at all. Just passing by," Childe replied with a light laugh. "Zhongli hasn’t changed a bit, though. He always orders without checking the price and then either pays himself or has someone else cover the cost."

He continued, his tone tinged with wry humor. "Zhongli understands the value of things and the struggles of the common people, yet he seems incapable of imagining himself ever being… well, poor."

At that, Paimon couldn’t hold back. "What a miracle this guy hasn’t starved to death yet!"

Childe smirked. "Jokes aside, I’ll leave the rest to you. Just don’t let Zhongli handle the haggling." He tossed a heavy pouch of Mora to Lumine. "The leftover funds are yours to keep."

"Hmph. You’re with the Fatui, but since you’re footing the bill, I’ll hold off on attacking you… for now," Lumine grumbled, tucking the pouch away.

Childe laughed. "I’ll consider myself lucky, then."

As they left, Childe watched their retreating figures, shaking his head. "Looks like I missed some interesting details. Perhaps next time, I’ll choose a better moment to intervene…"

---

On the way to the docks, Jia Changjiang and Lumine chatted in hushed tones.

"What’s your take on Childe?" Lumine asked, her voice laced with suspicion. "I can’t shake the feeling he’s up to no good. He was definitely eavesdropping earlier."

"It doesn’t really matter what he’s up to," Jia Changjiang replied evenly. "As a Fatui Harbinger, he’s loyal to the Tsaritsa, whose goals remain unclear—even to Venti. Regardless of his actions, he’s part of an opposing faction. Stay cautious around him."

"Good point," Lumine agreed, nodding.

Shortly afterward, they caught up with Zhongli, who was preparing to negotiate with the dockworkers. Seeing this, Lumine rushed ahead to intercept him.

"Hold it, Zhongli! Let me handle this!" she insisted, pulling him away before he could casually agree to exorbitant rates.

Childe’s earlier promise echoed in her mind: Whatever you save, you keep.

Taking charge, Lumine managed to strike a deal with several dockworkers at a surprisingly low price. The mention of the Geo Archon’s Rite of Parting inspired a sense of reverence among the workers, many of whom agreed to work at a discount.

Lumine couldn’t help but marvel at how effective the Geo Archon’s name was in garnering support. It reminded her of the people of Mondstadt—despite their differences in philosophy, both regions shared a deep-seated respect and love for their Archons.

When the negotiations were done, Lumine happily jingled the pouch of Mora she’d saved. It was then that Childe reappeared.

"How’d it go? Saved quite a bit, didn’t you?" he asked with a knowing smile. "Working with the Fatui has its perks."

"Hmph. Your money’s tainted," Paimon muttered. "When’s the next handout?"

Childe chuckled. "If you’re willing to share some information, the Northland Bank vault might open for you—for half an hour, at least."

"Dream on!" Lumine snapped, glaring at him. "Don’t think I don’t know what you’re after! I’ll never give you anything!"

Paimon blinked. "Huh? Traveler, you know what he’s after?"

"Think about it—Mondstadt, La Signora…" Jia Changjiang reminded her.

At the mention of La Signora, Childe’s expression darkened briefly before he forced a smile.

In the tense silence that followed, an unspoken standoff formed between Childe, Lumine, and Jia Changjiang.

Without warning, Jia Changjiang struck, aiming a punch at Childe’s throat. Childe countered smoothly, deflecting the blow.

"Enough," Zhongli’s calm voice cut through the tension as he approached. "What’s going on here?"

The two combatants quickly backed down, exchanging knowing looks.

"Nothing serious," Childe said with a shrug. "Just testing Jia Changjiang’s skills."

"Same here," Jia Changjiang added with a grin. "I was just going with the flow."

Zhongli sighed. "We’re in the middle of preparations. This is no time for sparring."

He gestured for the group to follow. "Come. Our next stop is Bubu Pharmacy to purchase the Everlasting Incense."

---

This is a fan translation of 武器大师在原神绝不死于徒手 by 徐人双 All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!