Chapter 207: Hu Tao: Yo, Mister, Are You an Immortal?

Hu Tao blinked as she watched Takumi step out from the void.

"An immortal?"

Hu Tao was a bit surprised. Had an immortal just appeared out of nowhere?

"Not at all, just call me handsome!"

"Hello, Hu Tao."

Takumi, emerging from the portal, was a bit surprised himself to see Hu Tao. What a coincidence.

"Handsome!! You're really not an immortal?"

Hu Tao played along and called him that. Was this handsome guy really not an immortal? If not, how could he show up like this? Hu Tao was truly curious.

"Really, I'm not an immortal! I'm here to see Zhongli."

Takumi looked at Hu Tao with some amusement. Hearing this, Hu Tao was taken aback.

"You're here to see Zhongli?"

"Heh~! Zhongli actually has friends like you? Tsk tsk~! Who would've thought? Are you one of Zhongli's new big suckers? That guy found a wallet among the Fatui, so lately he hasn't been sending any bills my way."

As she said this, Hu Tao looked Takumi up and down. Could it be that Takumi was the new sucker Zhongli had found?

Hearing this, Takumi rolled his eyes.

"Is it possible that I'm here to spend her money?"

Takumi looked at Hu Tao with a grin.

"You're here to spend Zhongli's money? Really?? Wait! If you spend Zhongli's money, isn't that spending mine?"

Hu Tao immediately caught on. Recently, Zhongli had been eating and drinking at her expense. Although there had been a wallet to help pay for him for a while, that wallet had already left Liyue, so she was footing the bill again.

"Exactly! I'm here to freeload off you."

Takumi said this openly and confidently. He was here to eat and drink for free!

Hu Tao rolled her eyes again.

"Go, go, go! I'm telling you, don't learn from Zhongli. He's shameless—you can't beat him!"

Zhongli watched the two with a helpless expression. After a round of banter, he finally spoke.

"All right, Takumi, don't tease Hu Tao anymore."

Takumi really liked joking around with Hu Tao.

Upon hearing Zhongli's words, Hu Tao snorted and then looked at Takumi with curiosity. Zhongli's friends? Those were rare. Although Zhongli knew many people in Liyue, Hu Tao had met or at least seen most of them herself. After all, she was the most famous socialite in Liyue. Who didn't she know? She even knew which family would have a funeral next. That's why she'd never seen Takumi before—especially someone who could just appear like this. Takumi's identity was clearly not simple.

Hu Tao's curiosity was piqued. She moved closer and forgot about sleeping. Even though she'd just finished a cremation, she was now full of energy.

Takumi sat down, and Hu Tao followed. Zhongli poured each of them a cup of tea.

Hu Tao immediately took a sip to perk herself up.

Takumi glanced at her, then casually sent her a bit of energy. Instantly, Hu Tao felt even more awake.

"Huh? Not sleepy anymore? That's a nice trick! Can you teach me? If I learned that, even after a few more funerals, I wouldn't get tired."

Energized, Hu Tao was interested in Takumi's little trick.

"I'll teach you when I get the chance."

Takumi smiled and agreed cheerfully. It was just a minor spell after all.

Seeing that Takumi actually agreed, Hu Tao got even more excited.

"Alright! To thank you, I'll give you a discount!"

Takumi immediately declined.

"No thanks! I'm immortal—I can't die."

He looked at Hu Tao, a bit speechless. A discount? He'd rather not!

Hu Tao, however, was surprised.

"Really? Immortal? And you still say you're not an immortal?"

Goodness! He said he's immortal but still claims not to be an immortal?

"I'm really not. Your guest consultant Zhongli is the real immortal, not me!"

Takumi shrugged, shifting the immortal label onto Zhongli.

Zhongli was speechless. Was Takumi trying to expose his identity? Still, Takumi only said he was an immortal. Maybe Hu Tao would accept it? She'd probably suspected for a while. Zhongli's appearance had never changed, and he'd watched Hu Tao grow up—of course she'd have doubts.

"I knew it! He really is an immortal! You—if nobody said anything, you'd have kept it a secret from me, right?"

Hu Tao glared angrily at Zhongli.

"I wasn't hiding it—just figured you wouldn't believe me. Besides, hadn't you already guessed?"

Zhongli looked at her helplessly.

"I don't care! From now on, I'm docking your pay!"

Hu Tao glared at Zhongli, still angry.

Takumi watched their argument with amusement. Suddenly, he remembered something and brought Keqing out.

Keqing, surprised at first, quickly bowed to Zhongli.

Zhongli saw Keqing and wanted to stop her, but it was too late.

"Your Excellency!"

Hu Tao, who'd been furious just a moment ago, was instantly stunned.

"Huh? Your Excellency? Where? Keqing, why are you here?"

She was still processing everything.

Where was Your Excellency?

How did Keqing get here?

Just now, Takumi hadn't opened the imaginary space—he simply pulled Keqing out, as if she'd appeared out of thin air.

Zhongli looked helplessly at Takumi. Why release Keqing at this moment?

Takumi just shrugged.

Keqing, however, reacted quickly.

"It was Your Excellency who just brought me over!"

Keqing said it without a hint of embarrassment. Yes, it was Your Excellency who let her come.

Hearing this, Hu Tao was full of questions.

"Your Excellency let you come over?"

She couldn't quite believe it.

"Miss Keqing, go take care of your business first. Handle what His Excellency asked you to do."

Zhongli finally spoke.

Hearing him, Keqing nodded.

"Alright! Takumi, Mr. Zhongli, I'll be off now."

Keqing said goodbye, then turned into a bolt of lightning and disappeared on the spot.

The scene left Hu Tao dumbfounded.

Eh? When did Keqing get so strong?

"Looks like Keqing's training paid off! She's changed a lot over there."

She'd only been gone a few days, and her strength had already increased so much?

Not bad at all. Honkai energy was really effective. If he went over to Takumi's world, maybe his own strength would improve too?