"Director Hu, um, I wanted to ask... my dad's name isn't on the list, is it?"
Watching the person in front of her cautiously inquire, Hu Tao was getting annoyed. The same thing had happened countless times over the past two days.
"No, no! This Director has already said that all those recent rumors are false!"
"But Director Hu, that family on East Street you visited this morning... you told them the same thing before."
Hu Tao: "..."
Hu Tao really didn't know what to say, so she just bolted.
After seeing Hu Tao slip away, everyone present immediately had no doubt about the rumor's authenticity. Soon, a new wave of rumors was about to spread throughout Liyue.
Hu Tao, in a less-than-great mood, first went to the teahouse to fetch Zhongli, then returned to Wangsheng Funeral Parlor to find Chen Feng.
"Consultant Chen Feng, come quickly! This Director is taking you to close a big deal!"
"If this deal succeeds, This Director will give you a huge red envelope!"
"Coming, coming, Director Hu Tao!"
Watching Hu Tao and Chen Feng's retreating figures, Zhongli took a deep breath.
Whatever. Drinking tea at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor is just as good. What's the difference where I drink?
Meanwhile, Chen Feng followed Hu Tao, winding through the streets until they stopped outside a pharmacy.
"Director Hu Tao, is the big client here?"
Chen Feng asked hesitantly, looking at Bubu Pharmacy in the distance.
"While there are certainly many high-quality clients here, isn't this a bit too unconventional?"
Hearing Chen Feng's words, Hu Tao immediately explained.
"This time, the high-quality client isn't one of the patients, but... she's coming out!"
Just then, Hu Tao's voice grew slightly louder as she pointed to a tiny figure in the distance.
"That's her!"
Chen Feng followed Hu Tao's pointing finger with his gaze and saw a little girl in strange clothes, with a talisman on her head, walking somewhat stiffly out of Bubu Pharmacy, then doing stretches in the open space in front of the door.
"Consultant Chen Feng, you should be able to tell, right? That's someone who shouldn't have lingered in this world for so long."
Chen Feng nodded.
"Indeed."
"The death energy around her is concentrated but not dissipating. It seems someone has used a special method to protect her soul, preventing the death energy from eroding it. However, her body has almost completely lost its life force. Only a special power maintains this last sliver of vitality, allowing her body to function normally."
"Then what are we waiting for? I'm leaving this matter to you, Consultant Chen Feng!"
Hu Tao patted Chen Feng's shoulder and said.
"It's our Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's duty to send every deceased person to the afterlife with dignity. She shouldn't remain in this world any longer."
However, Chen Feng appeared hesitant.
"Director Hu Tao, I've heard of her. She's the Sword Saint of Bubu Pharmacy!"
"Look at my skinny arms and legs. You want me to fight a Sword Saint? I'm afraid I'll be the one she sends off!"
"Who started that rumor?"
Hu Tao was momentarily stunned, but she quickly recovered.
"She's just an ordinary zombie. With This Director backing you up, you can go ahead without any worries!"
"Director Hu Tao, aren't you going?"
Hearing Chen Feng's words, Hu Tao spoke with some embarrassment.
"This Director has already tried several times before, but they all failed."
"Now she recognizes me. The moment she sees me, she just runs away."
"It's so strange. This Director remembers hearing that her memory isn't very good. Why does she remember This Director so clearly?"
The corner of Chen Feng's mouth twitched. You're trying to send her to the afterlife; of course she'd have a strong impression of you.
"Anyway, I'm leaving this to you. Pretend you're there to buy medicine, sneak up on her, slip this over her, and then just bundle her up and carry her away!"
As Hu Tao spoke, she pulled out a huge sack, causing the corner of Chen Feng's mouth to twitch again.
"Director Hu Tao, I don't do illegal things. If I did this, I'm afraid you'd only be able to see me during prison visits for the rest of your life."
"One hundred thousand Mora."
Chen Feng snatched the sack from Hu Tao's hand and declared with righteous conviction.
"Sending every departed soul to the afterlife is our inescapable duty!"
"Director Hu Tao, rest assured! I'll definitely have her bundled up and delivered to you!"
Chen Feng pounded his chest with loud thumps, then strode purposefully in that direction.
"One, two, Qiqi."
"Two, two, Qiqi..."
Qiqi was doing her stretching exercises outside Bubu Pharmacy when someone suddenly walked up the steps toward her.
Only when the person was almost right in front of her did Qiqi belatedly stop her movements, tilting her head up to speak.
"Are you here for medicine?"
At that moment, Qiqi got a clear look at the person's face. He wore a smile so bright it almost seemed blinding.
"Are your adults home?"
Hearing his question, Qiqi placed a finger on her chin and began to ponder. After a long moment, she slowly replied.
"Mr. Baizhu is out gathering herbs. If you need any medicine, Qiqi can get it for you."
Just as Qiqi finished speaking, she suddenly felt the world go dark.
Chen Feng had slipped the sack over Qiqi's head, then hoisted her onto his shoulder and started running back.
"Consultant Chen Feng, over here! Quick!"
Seeing Chen Feng's success, Hu Tao waved excitedly. Chen Feng jogged over to her side and asked.
"Director Hu Tao, what now?"
"Follow This Director!"
Led by Hu Tao, the two quickly found a secluded alley, planning to find a spot to dig a hole and bury Qiqi.
Along the way, Hu Tao even took Chen Feng back to Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. She had originally wanted to find a shovel, but after searching for a long time, she couldn't find one. Seeing the Staff of Homa hanging on the wall, an idea struck her. She grabbed the Staff of Homa and hurried out.
Zhongli, who had been watching calmly the whole time, couldn't help but pause with his teacup when Hu Tao's gaze fell upon the Staff of Homa.
Zhongli considered stopping Hu Tao's reckless plan but ultimately gave up. He worried that if Hu Tao noticed him, she would drag him along to dig the hole.
Although Hu Tao tried her best to choose less crowded paths, both she and Chen Feng were now major celebrities.
Everyone had figured out the pattern: if either of them went out alone, nothing much happened, but whenever they went out together, someone was bound to have a bad day.
Today, seeing Hu Tao and Chen Feng sneaking through the streets carrying a burlap sack, pedestrians felt their hearts pound at the bizarre sight. Yet, driven to gather intelligence, they forced themselves to act calm and approach the pair, savoring the thrill of repeatedly dancing on the edge of death.
"Out for a stroll, are we?"
"Yes!" "No!"
Hu Tao and Chen Feng exchanged a complicated look, their eyes seeming to say, "What are you doing?"
Then they both turned back to the passerby and spoke.
"No!" "Yes!"
Watching their guilty expressions, the passerby's mouth twitched. After a long moment, they couldn't help but say.
"Why don't you two get your story straight in private first?"
Hu Tao didn't want to waste any more time; time was precious. She had to send Qiqi off peacefully before Baizhu returned and discovered she'd been kidnapped.
"We have important business and no time to spare, so we'll be going now!"
Hearing Hu Tao's words, the passerby instantly straightened their back, muscles tensing.
As expected, these two were up to no good again!
Important business? Director Hu Tao's "important business" was never good news for them
And then there was the burlap sack, faintly human-shaped, and the Staff of Homa in Hu Tao's hand. Had Director Hu Tao finally resorted to this?!
Had Director Hu Tao, struggling to keep Wangsheng Funeral Parlor afloat amidst poor business, finally given up and resorted to launching a "forced burial" service to boost sales?
That's terrifying!
After tossing out that line, Hu Tao and Chen Feng hurried past the passerby and left. Fearing they would be targeted, the passerby didn't dare stop them.
Only after the pair had disappeared into the distance did the passerby snap out of it, their face now drenched in sweat.
I must spread this information immediately! Warn everyone to guard against fire, theft, and Director Hu Tao!
Before long, the rumor had spread throughout Liyue Harbor, sending the entire city into a panic.
The rumors grew increasingly outrageous, eventually claiming that whenever Hu Tao saw a living person, she would dig a pit on the spot, sneak up behind them with the Staff of Homa, knock them out with a thwack, thwack, and then toss them into the pit to be buried alive.
Baizhu had just returned from gathering herbs and was about to head back to Bubu Pharmacy when he heard the rumor.
At first, Baizhu didn't pay it much mind, but gradually, he realized something was amiss.
Hu Tao, carrying a burlap sack and wielding the Staff of Homa, digging pits to bury people?
If anyone in all of Liyue were to receive such "treatment," it would only be Qiqi, the tragic little girl under his care.
Baizhu couldn't even wait to drop off his things at Bubu Pharmacy. He turned around immediately and headed out of Liyue Harbor, asking for directions as he went.
Because he was rushing and his heart was anxious, Baizhu couldn't help but break into a violent coughing fit.
"Baizhu, don't be hasty. Take care of your health."
A white snake coiled around Baizhu's neck suddenly lifted its head and spoke in a calming voice.
"Qiqi is under Adeptus protection. Unless she willingly goes, even Director Hu Tao wouldn't find it so easy to send her to the afterlife."
"I know that, it's just..."
Baizhu began to speak in a low voice, then trailed off as if lost in thought, before another violent coughing fit seized him.
Changsheng seemed to realize something and asked,
"You're not worried about that Consultant Chen Feng from the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, are you?"
Baizhu hesitated, then nodded.
They had observed Consultant Chen Feng from the shadows before but couldn't see through him at all.
However, Changsheng could faintly sense something unusual: his life force seemed much weaker than an ordinary person's.
Logically, such a faint life force should have left him frail and sickly, yet Chen Feng was lively and incredibly healthy every day.
Although his physique was slightly weaker than an average person's, that was clearly because he hadn't exercised much, so he naturally couldn't compare to ordinary people busy with their daily lives.
Changsheng was very curious about this, but because Baizhu was wary—fearing that if they met, Chen Feng might directly say something like "You don't have long to live," which would shake his resolve—they had never approached him.
But unexpectedly, the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor had taken the initiative to stir up trouble this time, even abducting Qiqi.
Baizhu wasn't worried about Hu Tao; he knew she wasn't malicious at heart and wouldn't forcibly perform last rites if Qiqi was unwilling to pass on. Besides, he and Hu Tao were fellow disciples, just on different paths.
But he knew nothing about Chen Feng, so he couldn't help but start to worry.
"Last time you said he, like me, should be a short-lived person. Yet even after taking so many medicines, my condition hasn't improved much, while he remains free from illness and pain."
"Combined with such a special ability, he's someone I truly can't see through."
"That kid is indeed strange; even I can't see through him."
Changsheng shook her head, then spoke again.
"But since that kid is so special, perhaps you could study him to find a method of longevity."
Baizhu shook his head. He didn't think he could discover anything. Given Chen Feng's mysterious origins, the Liyue Qixing must have already tested him multiple times without finding anything, and it was unlikely Chen Feng would let himself be studied anyway.
After making several inquiries, Baizhu confirmed that Hu Tao and Chen Feng had gone to Wuwang Hill. He immediately quickened his pace, refusing to slow down despite his constant coughing.
Finally, Changsheng couldn't bear it any longer and spoke up.
"Baizhu, didn't you say before that to save others, you must first save yourself? By treating your body like this, are you trying to find me a new contractor sooner?"
"I will be your last contractor."
Baizhu spoke slowly, but he did slow his pace.
Seeing this, Changsheng contentedly resumed her nap on Baizhu's shoulder.
After some time, Baizhu arrived at Wuwang Hill, then took a medicine bottle from his pocket and sprinkled the powder inside.
When the powder landed on the ground, countless specks of green light appeared.
Because of her poor memory, Qiqi often wandered off, so Baizhu had left some measures on her to help find her when she got lost.
Seeing the tracks on the ground, Baizhu knew he was heading in the right direction. He then poured some powder on the ground every few meters to follow Qiqi's trail.
After much effort, Baizhu finally saw Qiqi tied to a large tree. In front of her, Director Hu Tao was speaking loudly, trying to convince Qiqi to accept her fate as a deceased person and peacefully pass on.
Nearby, a young man was wielding the Staff of Homa to dig a pit, which was nearly finished.
Seeing this scene, Baizhu breathed a sigh of relief, then revealed himself and spoke calmly.
"Director Hu Tao, I wonder what your intentions are in bringing my Bubu Pharmacy's medicine-sorting apprentice to this place?"
Hearing the familiar voice, Hu Tao flinched, her entire demeanor deflating. She knew today's business was a lost cause.
Of course, Hu Tao had anticipated this outcome; similar situations had occurred before.
Hu Tao turned around, and just as she was about to speak, Chen Feng beside her beat her to it and shouted.
"I'm guilty! I confess!"