Xianyun quickly knocked on the doors of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. The moment they opened, she strode inside with such haste she nearly seemed to fly.
"Xianyun, what brings you to see this Director today?"
Hu Tao asked, puzzled, upon seeing Xianyun. She and Chen Feng had been about to head out for "Yama's Roll Call"—secretly noting down potential high-quality clients.
This time, Hu Tao had learned her lesson. Before leaving, she always locked her new black notebook in a cabinet. She was confident that, barring any accidents, everything would be fine this time.
The only thing troubling Hu Tao was that the people of Liyue no longer seemed to trust her. The moment they saw her, they would quickly cover their faces and flee. As a result, discovering each high-quality client often involved a chase, a tactic that seemed a bit too obvious.
Just then, Baiwen arrived.
Upon seeing Baiwen, a flicker of surprise crossed Hu Tao's face.
"Oh, so many visitors! The Wangsheng Funeral Parlor is quite lively today, isn't it?"
Hu Tao glanced around. "Strange... Weren't Consultant Zhongli here just a moment ago? Where did he go?"
"Could he have slipped away to drink tea, stroll with his pet bird, and listen to music?"
Hu Tao had hoped that Chen Feng's arrival would make Zhongli feel his position threatened and encourage him to work more. Instead, he seemed to have become even lazier.
With her almost daily excursions with Chen Feng, she hardly had time to manage Zhongli. All she did was occasionally visit various teahouses to round up the slacking Consultant and herd him back to work. The only thing that brought her any solace was that the bills hadn't increased.
Never mind that for now, she thought.
Hu Tao turned her gaze to the excited Xianyun and spoke again.
"This Director still has to set out to scatter spirit-guiding talismans later. If you have something to say, say it now."
Hu Tao, of course, knew about her new neighbor, but in her eyes, the person was quite strange: they almost never left home, she never saw them buy any food, and she was even worried they might faint from hunger inside.
"Director Hu Tao, I didn't come to see you today."
Xianyun explained, then looked around. When she spotted Chen Feng, the joy on her face grew even more pronounced.
"I came to see him!"
Xianyun pointed directly at Chen Feng, and instantly, everyone's gaze focused on him.
"Me?"
Chen Feng pointed to himself and asked in confusion.
It's starting!
Baiwen's heart pounded with excitement; she was just short of grabbing a small stool to find the best spot for some drama.
"Yes, this... this young lady came to see... you..."
Xianyun suddenly froze. Just as she was about to speak, she realized that in her current identity, she didn't know Chen Feng. Wouldn't speaking so rashly expose her immediately?
Thinking this, Xianyun forced an awkward yet polite smile.
"Looks like it's nothing after all. Goodbye, you two!"
After tossing out these words, Xianyun scurried away dejectedly.
Everyone was instantly dumbfounded, completely unable to understand what Xianyun was trying to pull. Baiwen, in particular, felt helpless; she had already prepared for the drama, only to be told the show was canceled!
"What a strange person."
Hu Tao watched Xianyun's retreating figure and remarked with some emotion.
Baiwen felt secondhand embarrassment for Xianyun, but soon Hu Tao's attention shifted to her.
"Baiwen, does Ningguang have another message for me?"
"But we've been behaving ourselves lately, haven't we!"
Seeing Hu Tao's poorly concealed attempt to cover up, Baiwen didn't have the heart to expose her.
They had been behaving, but only just barely. In fact, the Liyue Qixing had grown somewhat accustomed to it by now.
However, she hadn't come to Wangsheng Funeral Parlor for that reason today. After all, just as Hu Tao said, Ningguang was already quite satisfied that the parlor hadn't pulled any major stunts.
"Director Hu Tao, I'm here to see Consultant Chen Feng."
"You're looking for me too?"
Chen Feng pointed to himself and asked again in confusion.
Baiwen nodded, then relayed everything Ningguang had instructed; in short, Ningguang wanted to use the grand opening as an excuse to invite Chen Feng to dinner.
"Alright, I understand."
After hearing Baiwen's words, Chen Feng nodded, and the scene fell into silence.
After another long pause, Chen Feng looked at Baiwen with a strange expression, as if to say, "Why are you still here?"
"Is there anything else?"
"No, nothing else..."
Baiwen replied awkwardly. She couldn't very well admit she wanted to stick around for the drama.
Adeptus, please hurry up and come!
Seeing that lingering any longer would attract unwanted attention, Baiwen could only sigh inwardly. It seemed today's drama was not meant for her.
But just as Baiwen was about to say her goodbyes, she heard a commotion from the sky.
Looking up, she saw Cloud Retainer riding a seven-colored stream of light, appearing above Wangsheng Funeral Parlor before descending into the courtyard.
"Adeptus!"
Seeing Cloud Retainer finally arrive, Baiwen's heart leaped with joy, and she immediately bowed respectfully to her.
Hu Tao had the same reaction; only Chen Feng remained unmoved.
"Mm."
Cloud Retainer nodded to the others, then fixed her gaze on Chen Feng.
"Chen Feng, you brat! You still recognize this Adeptus, don't you?"
Chen Feng nodded repeatedly.
"Of course I remember, Lady Cloud Retainer."
"I really don't want to cultivate. I think being rich is far more carefree and enjoyable!"
"Hmph, truly stubborn!"
Cloud Retainer spoke with a hint of annoyance. For thousands of years, countless people had exhausted their lives seeking the path of cultivation, even willing to sacrifice their entire fortunes for it, yet she had always disdained them.
Now, she had taken the initiative to accept a disciple, only to be rejected. Naturally, Cloud Retainer felt quite displeased.
However, Cloud Retainer didn't say much more, as this wasn't her main purpose for coming here.
"Chen Feng, you brat, come here. Stand closer to this Adeptus."
Hearing this, although Chen Feng's face showed confusion, he still moved closer to Cloud Retainer.
"Closer."
"Closer!"
As Chen Feng approached, Cloud Retainer's tone grew noticeably more excited. Anyone could tell something was amiss, and Chen Feng was no exception. He instinctively turned to flee, but Cloud Retainer flapped her wings and pulled him back.
Before Chen Feng could react, Cloud Retainer pressed a strange, hollow, circular device against his forehead. Immediately, the device burst forth with a dazzling light.
"Now I can finally see your secrets, you brat!"
Cloud Retainer said with a hint of smugness as she watched the scene unfold.
After repeated deductions, Cloud Retainer had concluded that since Chen Feng showed no outward abnormalities, the problem likely lay within his soul. Thus, she had spent a great deal of time creating an instrument capable of detecting souls.
Hu Tao tried to step forward and intervene, but Cloud Retainer stopped her midway.
"Director Hu Tao, please remain calm. This device is harmless to humans. This Adeptus is merely verifying some of my inner speculations. Nothing will happen to Chen Feng."
Hearing Cloud Retainer's words, Hu Tao's heart calmed slightly. But just then, she noticed that the instrument in Cloud Retainer's hand looked increasingly familiar.
At this point, Baiwen was too exhausted to even criticize Cloud Retainer. You've been gone for so long, she thought. Even if you didn't change the design, you could have at least changed the color!
Just then, the device hovering before Chen Feng's forehead suddenly erupted with a burst of black light, instantly engulfing the previous light completely. Not long after, the light gradually dimmed, and soon the device fell directly to the ground, looking as if it had broken. Cloud Retainer's expression changed instantly.
"I can't even see this brat's soul!"
Cloud Retainer was somewhat shocked. Although she had hastily constructed the device, it was powerful enough to work on ordinary gods. Yet, when used on Chen Feng, a mere mortal, it failed to produce any result.
This alone was enough to show that Chen Feng's soul was extraordinarily powerful.
Such a powerful soul... he's truly prime material for cultivation!
Unfortunately, the man had no interest in cultivation whatsoever. Cloud Retainer nearly fumed with anger just thinking about Chen Feng's reactions.
Forget it, forget it. No point in bringing it up!
"This has nothing to do with me! I didn't break it, so I'm not paying for it!"
Chen Feng seemed to snap back to his senses. Seeing the broken device on the ground, he hastily tried to distance himself from the responsibility.
Seeing Chen Feng's reaction, Cloud Retainer sighed again, her gaze filled with the disappointment of someone seeing wasted potential.
Soon, after hearing Cloud Retainer's explanation, Hu Tao and Baiwen were also startled and turned to look at Chen Feng.
"Don't look at me! I don't remember anything."
Chen Feng, looking completely innocent, quickly waved his hands and said.
Seeing Chen Feng's actions and words, Hu Tao scratched her head and followed up.
"I don't know what caused it, but no matter what, Consultant Chen Feng is one of this Director's people. Rest assured, this Director will keep a close eye on him and make sure he doesn't cause any trouble!"
Finally, Cloud Retainer glanced at the malfunctioning device, then at Chen Feng, before lowering her head and muttering.
"This Adeptus refuses to believe it!"
Cloud Retainer was determined to press on. She was dead set on finding out just how strong Chen Feng's soul truly was.
After dropping that line, Cloud Retainer quickly departed. Not long after, Baiwen also bid farewell to Hu Tao and Chen Feng and hurried away, planning to report back to Ningguang immediately.
Once the two had left, Hu Tao, seemingly unfazed by the earlier events, eagerly urged Chen Feng to go out with her to secure new clients.
"Consultant Chen Feng, we need to get going! We've already wasted a lot of time. We'll have to speed things up today."
"Today's goal is the same as yesterday's: thirty orders!"
Hearing Hu Tao's words, Chen Feng paused for a moment, then smiled and replied.
"Alright!"
-
"Traveler, I heard Neuvillette is back! Let's go find him as soon as we finish eating!"
At this moment, the trio of Lumine, Paimon, and Enjou, having returned weary from their travels, first went to the Adventurer's Guild to collect their commission rewards. Then, they happily made their way to Hotel Debord, ready to treat themselves to a hearty meal.
Soon after, the food arrived. As the three feasted, they overheard conversations from other tables, seemingly about Neuvillette.
Lumine nodded, but her mouth never stopped moving.
"Traveler, don't eat so fast! Leave some for me!"
Seeing this, Paimon couldn't afford to be distracted any longer and quickly snatched food from Lumine's plate.
"Fontaine's food is a bit on the sweet side, but it tastes pretty good!"
Paimon commented fairly, waving her hand as she ate.
Compared to the other two, Enjou appeared much calmer. The main reason was that Enjou no longer needed to eat much. However, if Lumine and Paimon were eating while he just sat there watching, he would seem out of place.
Aspiring to be Lumine's number one lackey, Enjou would never make such an obvious mistake. Thus, he joined them in enjoying Fontaine's cuisine, nodding and smiling from time to time, looking completely immersed in the experience.
Suddenly, at this very moment, Enjou sensed a terrifying aura steadily approaching, and his body instantly tensed up.
Lumine also sensed a similar aura. Her eating speed noticeably slowed, and her other hand, hidden under the table, was somewhat on guard.
Paimon, however, like everyone else in the hotel, seemed completely oblivious.
"Mommy, hurry, hurry! There's an empty seat here!"
When Lumine and Enjou finally saw the figure emitting the terrifying aura, they froze in shock.
A... a child?!
Wait, what kind of child is this ridiculously powerful? Based on what they could sense, this kid's strength was already infinitely close to that of a god!
They didn't have to wait long. A few seconds later, a figure radiating heroic spirit appeared at the hotel entrance.
At first, Lumine and Enjou didn't sense anything from the woman. But soon, they realized something was wrong: they couldn't sense anything at all, likely because she had concealed her aura too well.
They had never heard Furina or Focalors mention such a person in Fontaine before. It was possible she had hidden her strength, which was why neither of them had noticed her.
Judging by the aura emanating from the child, the woman's power had likely already broken through the barrier of a god. For such an existence to hide her strength and appear in Fontaine... her purpose was truly intriguing.
Lumine and Enjou exchanged a subtle glance. Then, Lumine wordlessly reached for the Dull Blade with one hand, and Enjou began to chant in a low voice.
Suddenly, just then, the sound of a glass smashing on the floor echoed from an unknown source, followed immediately by the countless sounds of chairs being pushed back as people rose to their feet.
"Stop, stop!"
As this shout rang out, Hotel Debord instantly turned into a chaotic scene.
Some picked up their muskets and began firing, while others hoisted rocket launchers, launching numerous missiles toward the women and children. There were even those who threw open their coats, revealing countless explosives strapped to their bodies. They shouted, "Art is an Explosion!" as they charged forward, and in no time, Hotel Debord was engulfed in a sea of fire.
Lumine and her two companions were completely stunned, staring at the restaurant that had suddenly turned into a battlefield.