Zhongli, standing nearby, couldn't help but chuckle and lightly shake his head when he saw Hu Tao first taste it herself, then let Yun Xu lick a bit.
Ruo Li, on the other hand, had transformed into an unfeeling eating dragon, using an 'eat-like-a-trash-can' method that probably few people in all of Teyvat could manage.
As the name suggests, when eating this way, it was like dumping the food from the plate into a trash can.
She would hold the plate with both hands, tilt her head back, and pour the contents directly into her mouth, chewing and swallowing.
However, for someone so young, to be able to pour everything from the plate into her mouth was quite incredible to those unaware of her identity.
Hu Tao was precisely such a person; after she and Yun Xu rinsed their mouths with water to soothe their taste buds, she was astonished to find that Ruo Li had single-handedly cleared the lavish late-night meal from the table.
The two guests at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor today—one said to be the daughter of Guest Elder Zhongli's old friend, and the other a disciple of an adeptus—were why Hu Tao had prepared such a generous spread.
"The taste was alright, but a few dishes were too salty."
Placing down the last plate, Ruo Li lightly patted her small belly, then turned to the dumbfounded Hu Tao and spoke.
The salty dishes she referred to were all the bizarre creations Hu Tao had concocted on a whim, with the youyou great march being the signature one.
"Yun Xu..."
Looking at the plates on the table, Hu Tao suddenly called out to Yun Xu.
"What's wrong?"
Yun Xu, who had just finished rinsing his mouth and recovered, looked at Hu Tao in confusion.
"How about we make a pinky promise again? This time, you pull me, just to cancel out the last one. I feel like she might be better suited for taste-testing."
Hu Tao reached out and pinched Ruo Li's little cheek, then couldn't help but turn back and suggest.
"?"
"Ah, on second thought, never mind. With her pig-like eating style, even if she eats it, she won't give accurate feedback. This Master doesn't want to deceive herself."
Just as Yun Xu tilted his head in response to Hu Tao's suggestion, Hu Tao shook her head again, abandoning her plan.
To her, the youyou great march was merely salty, so Hu Tao didn't think she could rely on Ruo Li to judge whether it was good or bad.
Ruo Li didn't mind Hu Tao's words, but she still pushed away the hand pinching her cheek in dissatisfaction.
This little brat really treats me like a child... Ruo Li grumbled discontentedly in her heart.
"Oh well, Yun Xu, should I go prepare some more for you?"
After giving up on Ruo Li, Hu Tao suggested to Yun Xu.
However, Yun Xu declined. Although his appetite had greatly increased during the period he took the Qilin Pill, he had just eaten his fill from Ruo Li and didn't feel hungry yet, so he didn't want to trouble Hu Tao.
"Alright, alright. Then I'll find you next time after This Master's cooking skills improve. Guest Elder, please help me see Yun Xu off."
Hu Tao didn't insist; after all, it was getting late. Then she instructed Zhongli.
"Understood, Director."
"Young friend Yun Xu, please."
Zhongli nodded, then politely said to Yun Xu.
"..."
Yun Xu awkwardly scratched his head but still bid farewell to Hu Tao and walked out of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
"I'm coming too."
Ruo Li remembered something at that moment, immediately jumped off her chair, and scurried to catch up with Yun Xu and Zhongli.
"My dear disciple-grandson, our contract has just been completed. From now on, remember to send me a piece of seafood God meat every seven days."
Following Yun Xu and Zhongli out of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, Ruo Li sidled up, linked her arm through Yun Xu's, and looked up at him seriously.
"Then you also have to give me volt locust wood."
Yun Xu subtly tried to pull his arm free and responded, but his arm remained linked.
Many of his old pill recipes required volt locust wood. If he lost the volt locust wood, those old recipes would have to be re-researched from scratch.
"...Fine, deal."
Ruo Li hesitated for a moment. Considering that her tail could grow freely, but there weren't many Gods still alive, she could only nod and agree.
She didn't actually like eating Gods before, just as modern humans are unwilling to eat raw meat and drink blood. However, having been eroded to her current state, her memory and mind were not what they once were, so she no longer had much aversion to it.
And so, under the witness of the God of contracts, the two reached a contract of fair trade.
"But speaking of which, Martial Grand-Aunt, your true form is such a massive Geo Dragon, can you also shapeshift? Is the art of shapeshifting really that powerful?"
After walking a bit further, Yun Xu curiously asked Ruo Li and Zhongli.
Most adepti were beast-shaped but could use shapeshifting to appear human. However, Yun Xu had never heard that Azhdaha could also shapeshift.
After all, shapeshifting from the size of a mountain to human size was quite incredible.
"Why not? You wouldn't think I'm weak, would you? The shapeshifting technique is for non-human forms. If one could already turn into a human, there would be no need for shapeshifting. It's just that I get a little more tired when I shapeshift."
Ruo Li said proudly, with her hands on her hips.
Although her shapeshifting technique was taught by Zhongli, who was beside her.
They continued walking until they reached Feiyun Slope, where Yun Xu said goodbye to Zhongli and Ruo Li.
Afterward, Yun Xu traveled all the way to Wangshu Inn.
Unlike Lumine and Paimon, he hadn't set up a house or made a bed in his qiankun bag, and he didn't plan to sleep inside unless absolutely necessary.
Upon arriving at Wangshu Inn, Yun Xu simply rented a room, quickly washed up, and went to bed to rest.
"Get up, practice your spear."
"..."
...After practicing his spear all night, Yun Xu received a "Progress Award" from Xiao: a small tuft of the Vanquisher of Evil's hair.
After lying in bed for half a day, Yun Xu finally got up again.
Yesterday's harvest was quite fruitful. After a night's rest, he should continue refining pills.
Thinking this, Yun Xu left Liyue Harbor again and went to the mountain peaks on either side of the road leading to Guili Plains. He found a safe corner and placed down the sun and moon cup.
Then Yun Xu returned to the outer landscape space.
Lime, who had recovered, was staying in front of his sister's grave. Yun Xu didn't disturb him, found a safe spot, and began to prepare for pill refining.
The main materials obtained today were ying water, powdered dragon lords crown horn, Vanquisher of Evil's hair, and a section of volt locust wood.
Yun Xu decided to keep the volt locust wood for now, as many of his pill recipes required it, and he didn't want to add any new recipes that would also need it.
However, with only three materials, and all of them very small, Yun Xu felt that it would probably be impossible to refine a pill, so he poured in some paimon soup.
So far, the consumption of paimon soup had reached roughly thirty percent.
Then, Yun Xu dumped all sorts of medicinal herbs into it.
And so, Yun Xu began to set up the furnace and refine pills...