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Morax knew Liuye the same way a mother knew her newborn, like an extension of himself that hasn't really left his body yet. He could feel the beat of the ground under his feet, the energy of the people in the city, of the Adepti in the mountains, he could feel the energy fluctuate in the leylines, Liuye was something alive for him, something that was closer to his heart than his gnosis or the crown in his head.
He knew every person under his care, going generations to generations in the past, he knew all the Han family, he knew master Zhang the new owner of the Hanfeng's Ironmongers, whose father was desperate to find him a partner in life, to get grandkids and to live a peaceful life in Qingce Village, he knew this of first hand, having meeting Hanfeng a bunch of times.
He always wants to get Morax (in any shape or form he decides to take at the moment) set up with his lonely son in Liuye harbord.
Morax knows the Yun family, also coming back from generations of blacksmiths, whose youngest daughter was part of the opera, an amazing singer who Morax tries to visit anytime he gets the opportunity. A new face every time but also the same admiration.
He visits Ganyu at her workplace, always running and falling asleep, never noticing the face of the god that watches over her. He tries to keep himself out of the Qixing way, only coming once a year to give them guidance, like a father that isn't sure their kid is big enough to live past them. Who always worries and always watches up close.
This wasn’t exactly one of those days, but he was watching up close, walking past Keqing whose determination would take Liuye to a bigger place someday, and walking past Yanfei who was running late to her tea with Madam Ping. He walks past little Lulu, who excuses herself with a small: “sorry sir” when she almost runs into him, trying surely to get to her friends at the harbor.
Lantern rite is just a week away, he can feel the energy of the people, the preparations, he can almost taste the excitement in the air, people getting ready for their time off, for the fireworks and the blessing they are gonna ask from Rex Lapis.
This has to be the most expected holiday in the region, and so, it's really not a surprise for him when his little walk takes him to the only place in the whole city who tries to pass unseen during these holidays.
In the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, the last of the Hu had learned since she was just a little girl, that people don't take it kindly for her or her family to ask for a blessing year ahead, Morax understands his people, can see why they would find that to be disrespectful, but also knows that life and death are, in the end, one and the same.
He has known the Hu since before Liuye was Liuye, they have been his, since the Guili Assembly was founded, they have walked by his side even before he knew how to rule, they have been his all along. He isn't even sure little Hu knows about it, the extension in which her family and herself connects with Liuye, with himself.
How in some ways, she doesn't even need the blessing from Rex Lapis, what's so ultimate his, cannot be another thing but blessed.
He has known the last director Hu her whole life, had met her father when he learned to walk, her grandfather when he said his first word, and her grandfather's mother, at her own mother's funeral. He knows her so deeply that it's hard to believe this is the first time he is using his old face with her. The first face the Hu made a contract with, the face other gods learned to fear.
She doesn't look afraid, not when she extends her hand and asks if he wants something to drink, she doesn't look afraid in the face of a god older than life itself.
“You look lost,” she says, already serving him tea, and sitting on the other side. “Do you need guidance?” she asks, a small smile adorning her face, Morax finds it endearing, like a joke he had heard a million times and doesn't get old.
“Director Hu”, he says, sitting down at her table, drinking her tea and eating her pastries. “I hope that when my time finally comes, you or your family are the ones guiding me to the after life”
“That’s a big thing to ask for a near stranger.” She answers, her smile only getting bigger. “I don’t even know your name.”
But I know you , he thinks, feeling the energy inside her, looking at her, but also all her ancestors. “Excuse me, my name is Zhongli, I came back to Liuye after being outside of it for years.”
She touches her chin, looking up, almost like she is reading something in her head and coming back empty handed, she says: “You surely look like you belong in Liuye, but I can’t remember having business with any new coming, is there something you would need for me?, Is your family in need of a mortician?”
“Not right now, but you should always have one at hand, don’t you think so, Director Hu?”
“That’s absolutely true, we have to greet death the same way one greets an old friend, for death is something we all have in common, Adepti, humans and gods.” She looks at him, and he knew from the start that it would be hard for him to fool her. Had she already discovered his identity?, has she known from the start?
“Indeed, true words of wisdom from the Director herself.” he drinks under her watchful eyes, giving nothing away. Her smile only gets bigger before drinking herself.
“Well, Mr Zhongli, if a funeral is not what you are looking for, I can only wonder why a gentleman like yourself would need my services.”
“I would like to offer my services instead.” She finally looks surprised, like she is trying and failing to understand his real motive for all this. “If that’s something the Director would be interested in.”
“Your services?” her eyes haven't left his face, it's something not even fallen gods were able to do. “What services are you offering?”
“I am knowledgeable on the rite of parting, as well as other rites forgotten by the people of Liuye”
“Are you suggesting you know rites, even myself and my family have long forgotten?” she says, her face full of pride, but her voice letting it know she finds the idea rather funny.
“I could never suggest that, Director Hu, for the Hu family have been the responsibles of bringing peace to the souls of Liuye since our Archon Rex Lapis decided to fight for his throne” Her smile only gets bigger, and she almost laugh with incredulity, Morax feels he made a mistake but he's not really sure.
“Eh?, you sound so sure of your knowledge of Liuye, yet I have never seen you here nor have you told me about your family.” she takes her cup, bringing it closer to her face, hiding her smile behind it. “Where have you been? You said you were outside for years, weren’t you?”
He smiles, “I have been traveling all over Teyvat, but I just came back from Mondstadt, I have a dear friend there who gave me asylum”
“And you decided it was time to come back?”
“One’s heart always yearns for their home. And Liuye is the only place I can call mine.”
She looks out of the window, as if thinking his words over, Liuye is his home the same way it is hers. For Liuye is also hers, hers, hers.
“The rite of parting you say.” She is still looking out the window, to the mountains and the rivers and the people and the city. “You think we are gonna lose an Adepti soon?”
He looks out too, to his city and his people, his mountains and his rivers. “You said so yourself, death is but a dear friend we have to be ready to greet.”
She looks back, smiling once more and extends her hand over the table. “I haven’t shared my name with you” she says, Morax holds her hand and can feel the shift, something happened and he can’t put his finger on it. “I am the 77th director of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor: Hu Tao”
“Hu as in butterfly?”
“Hu" as in "Who put me in this coffin ?" she laughs. “and “Tao” as in "I can't geT OUt!"
It takes him so by surprise that he laughs, his hand covers his face trying to compose himself, the smile it gets him is beautiful. “It’s good to see you have a sense of humor, there’s no other way for you to work here.”
“Because someone needs to appreciate your jokes?”
“Yes, and also because in Wangsheng Funeral Parlor we believe in living to the fullest and without regrets. Do you think you can do that Mr. Zhongli?”
He looks at her, really at her, not her ancestors or her family name, nor the part she will have to play someday. “I will try my best, Director”
He thinks she can also see him: “Well, welcome then, dear consultant.”