Feng Yi, along with Lumine and Paimon, arrived at Chunxiang Pavilion and found Ying'er, a shop assistant, already waiting outside.
"Oh my, you've finally arrived. I've been waiting for you for quite some time," Ying'er said with a smile.
"Huh? How did you know we were coming?" Paimon asked, finding the woman's smile a bit strange.
"I just heard that someone purchased a large quantity of Silk Flowers for the funeral of the Geo Archon. Traditionally, if one wants to make incense, Chunxiang Pavilion in Liyue is the most professional place."
"The owner is indeed formidable. We do want to make incense, using these three types of Silk Flowers..." Paimon mused.
"For the sake of the Geo Archon, I'll help you make it. However, during this time, you'll need to be my assistants," Ying'er nodded with a smile.
"No problem."
"So, where would be a good place to boil the incense?"
"Xiangling's kitchen at Wanmin Restaurant. It has been expanded with two more stoves. Let's borrow them."
"An excellent choice. Without further ado, let's head there now."
Ying'er nodded, Feng Yi's choice aligning with her expectations.
Wanmin Restaurant was not far from their current location, and they arrived in just a few steps.
"I've already spoken with Master Xiangling. We can start anytime," Feng Yi said, having easily borrowed the stoves at Wanmin Restaurant thanks to his acquaintance with Master Xiangling.
"So, who will be my assistant?" Ying'er asked with a smile, looking at Feng Yi and Lumine.
"Lumine, you do it. You're more meticulous than I am," Feng Yi said, feigning politeness while actually trying to avoid the trouble.
"Okay," Lumine nodded. In her opinion, women were indeed more suited for making incense.
At Ying'er's request, Lumine fetched half a bucket of clear water.
"Hmm, the water quality is quite good. Next, I'll need your help. Go to the alchemy bench and extract the essential oil from the Silk Flowers... The method for making incense is quite different from alchemy. Let me teach you. You need to hold the pestle gently and softly like this... Your palm should also be kept close to prevent slipping..."
Hearing Ying'er's description, Lumine's face flushed red. She immediately understood.
"Then, stir at your most comfortable rhythm... until the juice of the Silk Flowers..."
"Um, I, I understand," Lumine replied softly, feeling she couldn't take it if Ying'er continued.
Feng Yi also turned his head away, his old face flushing. Although he had played through this part of the story in the game before, hearing Ying'er's gentle and alluring voice speak such potentially misleading words still made him involuntarily think otherwise. They, after all, had experience with such actions.
"Hmm~ As expected, you have a talent for this. You understand as soon as I explain. Take these and try them at the nearby alchemy bench. Remember to make all three types. Although they look very similar at the essential oil stage, I will pack them in different boxes for you once they are made into incense," Ying'er said with a smile, looking at Lumine.
"Thank you," Lumine replied, then ran off without looking back, carrying the Silk Flower materials.
"Lumine, wait for me! Why are you running so fast?" Paimon quickly chased after her.
"Ahem, Miss Ying'er, I'll go take a look too..." Feng Yi coughed dryly, rubbed his nose, and also left the scene of potential awkwardness.
"Oh my, am I that terrifying? Or are all of you just so easily embarrassed?" Ying'er chuckled as she watched them run off, finding it immensely amusing.
After waiting for a while, she finally saw them return. Ying'er sniffed the aroma of the essential oil and nodded with satisfaction.
"Mmm, excellent Silk Flower essential oil. Now, the rest is the most crucial part... I will add it to water and simmer it over a slow fire until the water has almost completely evaporated. The control of the fire here is very important. If the fire is too high, it will affect the fragrance. Please pay attention to controlling the intensity of the stove fire, so as not to let the effort be in vain."
"Don't worry, Miss Ying'er," Lumine nodded, not wanting to go through the process again.
An hour passed...
The incense boiling process was completed successfully. Ying'er smiled as she looked at Lumine's serious expression and couldn't resist teasing her again.
"You're so capable. If you weren't already taken, I might have been tempted... Haha, alright, alright. Shall I introduce these types of incense to you? So you know which one to use for which occasion..."
Ying'er's teasing made Lumine blush, and she instinctively looked at Feng Yi. Feng Yi's knowing smile only made her more shy.
"Please enlighten us, Miss Ying'er," Feng Yi said with a smile, trying to ease the atmosphere.
"This first type of incense has a sweet and dreamy feeling, which little girls love the most."
"The second one smells noble and imposing, the favorite of wealthy young ladies."
"The last type has a light but long-lasting fragrance, like the dim twilight and misty atmosphere. It is most popular among mature women."
"Do you remember? Don't use them on the wrong occasions," Ying'er reminded them with a smile.
"Of course," Feng Yi replied, thinking about which one Zhongli might prefer.
Carrying the incense, Feng Yi and Lumine found Zhongli under the Statues of the Seven, deep in thought.
"Mr. Zhongli, we've brought the incense! Mr. Zhongli, did we keep you waiting too long?" Paimon waved and greeted him. Seeing Zhongli's silent demeanor, she thought they had delayed too much and made him impatient.
"You're back. I haven't been waiting long. Compared to the watch of the Geo Archon depicted on the statue, it was but a brief moment," Zhongli shook his head, looking at the statue and feeling a sense of nostalgia. They had all built this statue together back then.
"Haha, how can a person be compared to a statue?" Paimon, unaware that Zhongli was the Geo Archon, laughed heartily, not quite understanding his thoughts.
"That's true. How about it, did you bring back the incense?" Zhongli smiled enigmatically, not intending to explain further.
"Three portions of incense, not one less!" Paimon declared, hands on her hips. She had been cheering them on the whole time, so she deserved some credit, didn't she?
"Thank you for your hard work. Let's try offering the three portions of incense in order."
When the third portion of incense was offered, the Statue of the Seven of the Geo Archon suddenly flashed with a pink light. It seemed the Geo Archon favored the third type of incense, the kind preferred by mature, elegant women.
As expected of you, Morax!
"The second preparatory task is complete! Mr. Zhongli, what is the next step?"
"Next... I hope you can do me a favor and borrow the 'Dust Vanquisher' bell. Currently, my friend Granny Ping is in charge of it. She's near Yujing Terrace. If you ask her, she will know."