Chapter 103: Kun Jun, the Forgetful One

Liyue Harbor — near the docks, at the reputation quest area.

"Hmm...?"

Kun Jun rested his chin on one hand, looking at Zhongli and Qiu Bai as if deep in thought.

Zhongli facing Kun Jun, was also lost in thought.

"His name is Zhongli, a consultant of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor."

"And this is Qiu Bai, also a consultant of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor."

Lumine looked at Old Dai and explained, trying to ease the awkward atmosphere.

"Consultants Zhongli and Qiu Bai of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor…"

"I've heard of you both, renowned for your vast knowledge and unmatched talent. I didn't expect to meet you in person today."

Old Dai looked at the two and smiled politely.

"When it comes to ores and geology,"

"I'm no match for my old friend Zhongli."

Qiu Bai responded with a smile, gesturing toward Zhongli.

"Haha, my old friend is being modest."

"Everyone has their own strengths."

Zhongli smiled back at Qiu Bai calmly.

"Hm? This Mr. Zhongli looks a bit familiar..."

"Hmm, could it be that I've seen him at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor? But I've never been there..."

Kun Jun muttered to himself, puzzled as he looked at Zhongli.

"Old Dai, why don't you test them?"

"See who's the real expert!"

Paimon, unwilling to back down, spoke up with a challenging tone.

"So it's going to be a face-off, huh?"

Lumine looked at Paimon beside her and commented.

"Huh? This... I-I wouldn't even know where to start..."

Old Dai frowned and looked at Paimon, clearly confused.

Paimon suggestion had clearly thrown him off.

"Then you guys figure out how to compare yourselves."

Paimon put her hands on her hips and smiled at Old Dai.

"If Zhongli wins, we ask for his help. If Zhongli… no wait, how could he possibly lose?"

Paimon shook her head quickly, thinking it over—Zhongli losing? Impossible!

"A contest? Sure, I'm happy to join in!"

Kun Jun heard the idea and nodded with a cheerful smile.

"This gentleman seems quite enthusiastic."

Zhongli gave a small wave of his hand and replied calmly.

"Haha, the moment I saw your face, I knew you definitely know your stuff."

Kun Jun scratched his head and said with a grin.

"But as for who's better between me and him… that's still up for debate."

Kun Jun looked at Zhongli in front of him, spread his hands and said with a hint of fighting spirit.

"This guy's really full of himself!"

Paimon put her hands on her hips and looked at Kun Jun, clearly not impressed.

"I'm just speaking honestly, hahaha."

"Besides, this is all I really know."

Kun Jun turned to look at Paimon and explained with a smile.

"Brother Kun, are you an appraiser?"

Zhongli asked, observing Kun Jun.

"No, actually... I forgot what I came to Liyue Harbor for."

"One day I was just standing by the roadside, and Old Dai suddenly called out to me."

Kun Jun turned his head to glance at Old Dai.

"He saw me holding a stone and asked me a few questions."

"Then he got really excited and arranged to meet me here."

Kun Jun turned back and slowly explained to Qiu Bai and the others.

"Huh? How could you forget something like that?"

Paimon looked at Kun Jun in disbelief.

"Morax, has the seal on Azhdaha been loosened?"

Qiu Bai sent a voice transmission to Zhongli, asking quietly.

"No... I haven't sensed anything."

"If the seal had been broken, the stone pillars I left behind would have shattered—but I've felt no such disturbance."

Zhongli responded calmly through the same telepathic method.

"I see..."

Hearing Zhongli's explanation, Qiu Bai rubbed his chin and murmured thoughtfully.

"On the way to Liyue Harbor, I saw this guy by the roadside fiddling with some rocks."

"He was muttering to himself, like he knew everything about them."

Old Dai glanced at Kun Jun.

"Out of curiosity, I asked him a few questions and to my surprise, he knew more than I did, and I'm the head miner!"

"Since he didn't seem to have anything better to do, I figured, why not ask him to lend me a hand?"

Old Dai chuckled, looking at Kun Jun.

"This guy... has memory problems, doesn't he?"

Paimon looked at Kun Jun with a puzzled expression.

"Indeed, his memory doesn't seem too good at the moment."

Qiu Bai looked at Kun Jun and chuckled to himself.

"Although it's not quite right to say he has memory issues... but when it comes to rocks, I can definitely help."

"Mr. Zhongli, what do you think of this stone?"

Kun Jun smiled at Paimon as he explained, then pulled out a rock and turned his gaze to Zhongli.

"Hmm..."

Zhongli examined the stone Kun Jun held out, observing it carefully.

"The surface of this stone is smooth. The cracks on its surface were caused by volcanic eruptions."

"If I'm not mistaken, this is a raw stone from another nation."

Zhongli looked at Kun Jun and explained slowly.

"Oh~ oh, impressive eye!"

Kun Jun nodded in surprise after hearing Zhongli explanation and murmured with admiration.

"This isn't an ordinary raw stone."

"The shell is thin, and the lines are dark... I'd guess it contains high-quality crystal ore inside."

Zhongli calmly explained to Kun Jun.

"Exactly right. This stone came from the area around a volcano. I bought it while wandering around the marketplace."

"The seller thought it was just scrap, unaware of the treasure within."

Kun Jun nodded and explained to Zhongli with a smile.

"Uh..."

"Qiu Bai, can you understand what they're talking about?"

Paimon scratched her head in confusion and asked Qiu Bai.

"Hehe, I understand a little, Little Paimon."

Qiu Bai smiled as he answered the puzzled Paimon.

"Isn't crystal ore found everywhere?"

"Why is this one considered top quality?"

Lumine looked at Zhongli and Kun Jun, puzzled.

"Just being clear and fine in texture doesn't make it a true treasure."

"Higher-grade rare crystals sometimes contain water droplets, or even flecks of gold."

Kun Jun slowly explained to Lumine.

"This crystal, hidden beneath the stone shell, trapped a cluster of water at the very moment it formed."

"The water rests at the base, like a full moon in the mountains, reflecting the sky as it moves. It's incredibly rare."

Kun Jun looked at the stone in his hand and explained to the group.

"So detailed... it's like he saw it with his own eyes..."

"He's not trying to trick us, is he? You haven't even opened the stone yet."

Paimon put her hands on her hips and stared at Kun Jun, with Lumine following suit.

"No, he's telling the truth."

"Crystals mostly form in high-temperature environments, where water and heat are incompatible—making water-containing crystals rare."

"The one inside this stone contains water from a mountain lake, making it even more unique."

Zhongli stroked his chin and explained as he examined the stone.

"Even Zhongli says so… then it must be true..."

Paimon, hearing Zhongli explanation, gave a half-resigned wave of her hand.

Qiu Bai mouth twitched hearing what paimon said, he didn't expect Paimon to be this much of a double standard.

"Mr. Zhongli, your insight is truly unmatched!"

"How did you know what's under the stone shell?"

Kun Jun asked Zhongli with a smile, placing a hand over his chest.

(T/N: Like the story fellow daoist? Read 20 chapters ahead on my P@treon [p@treon.com/DaoistRongyi] Thanks for your support! 😊)