That person is wearing a black hat on her head, with a 'wooden plaque' inserted in the front and plum blossoms on the side. Surprisingly, the two items go well together.
Her black outfit gives off a very solemn vibe, suitable for the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor setting, but her legs... they're too white, way too white!
I wouldn't be this white even after being dead for three days!
["Hu Tao to Old Meng: 'Oh? Oh~ Don't make a fuss; they're not ghosts, just ordinary customers.'"]
There doesn't seem to be much difference either; once they become her customers, don't they become ghosts?
The next illustration is still Hu Tao, but this time it's a side profile shot. She's turning her head to look at the Traveler and saying:
["'Sorry about that; he's a new rite performer here named Old Meng. It's his first time coming here to perform a funeral rite, so he's bound to be a bit paranoid.'"]
It has to be said that from this angle, Hu Tao's side profile really looks flat.
["'I'm Hu Tao, the current hall master of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. What I specifically manage… um, just some minor matters of life and death separations.'"]
What she calls minor matters had readers crying their eyes out earlier over 'life and death separations.'
Fushe and the Thousand Rock Army truly experienced 'parting while alive' and 'eternal separation in death.'
Leaving loved ones while alive, and upon death, it's a true eternal farewell—the kind where even relics can't be found.
Everyone still felt that Hu Tao claiming to manage life and death separations was too exaggerated. Even though they'd heard some Wangsheng Funeral Parlor stories from Zhongli during the Lantern Rite.
But it didn't feel like it had reached the level of 'managing' life and death separations yet.
Everyone still doesn't know that Hu Tao can even travel to and from the 'otherworld.' They only know about the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's collaborations with some Yakshas.
["Traveler shakes head: 'We're not customers.'"]
["Hu Tao: 'Aiya, I don't mean customers who come to my door to talk business. From the moment every person is born into this world, they're destined to be my 'customers.'''"]
Though this sounds weird, it's completely correct.
Liyue residents are even more curious: So you know that? Then why do you keep urging us? Aren't we already your customers? What are you still promoting?
People all die eventually; we just need a little help from you, right?
They don't know that the promotion is purely Hu Tao's personal hobby. The Wangsheng Funeral Parlor never lacks money or customers.
As one of Zhongli's 'mobile payment' methods, how could Hu Tao lack money?
["Hu Tao says: 'The Wangsheng Funeral Parlor very much welcomes reservations for services. However, the reservation time needs to be a bit more accurate.'"]
["'If you can't decide, at least come tell me first. Otherwise, if I see you still bouncing around full of life by then, I'll be very disappointed, you know.'"]
By Hu Tao's logic, the Traveler really can't buy this service because Lumine's lifespan is very long. Hu Tao probably won't live to see Lumine die first.
Unless Hu Tao turns yandere and, feeling like she's about to die, takes the Traveler with her first.
["After hearing Hu Tao's words, the Traveler comments: 'Is the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor full of weirdos?'"]
The Wangsheng Funeral Parlor people the Traveler has met so far are Zhongli and Hu Tao.
These two... how to put it, both have some strange aspects that ordinary people find hard to understand in their speech and actions.
Of course, after Liyue residents learn Zhongli's true identity, none of Zhongli's behaviors seem strange anymore. The Geo Archon surely has his profound intentions.
But for Hu Tao, Liyue residents still find her strange, though not in a disliked way.
The Old Meng in the book also knows that Hu Tao speaks strangely and helps explain.
["Old Meng: 'Sorry about that; the hall master is a very special person. Let me explain instead.'"]
High EQ: special person. Low EQ: weirdo.
["Old Meng continues: 'We heard that there have been recent supernatural incidents at Wuwang Hill. To quell the impact, we just performed a funeral rite here.'"]
Supernatural incidents? Funeral rite? Are there people in this ghostly place? Could it be exorcising ghosts?
Ordinary people don't come to places that are 'haunted' like this. Hu Tao came to handle the supernatural incidents, while Lumine came for adventure.
Upon hearing that Lumine is an adventurer, Hu Tao's eyes light up. Adventurers are 'premium customers.'
["Hu Tao: 'Looks like not just a customer, but a rare 'Peach'-level esteemed guest.'"]
Readers and Paimon in the story have the same confusion: What is 'Peach'-level?
["Hu Tao explains: 'It's the customer importance classification, divided into 'Plum,' 'Peach,' 'Bamboo,' and 'Wood' four levels. Often, the higher the level, the closer the dealings.'"]
'Peach'-level is still the highest tier. Probably because adventurers die easily—maybe dying in some unknown place any day now.
Having close dealings with the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor—how many people in the family? Dying so much.
["Hu Tao continues: 'Think about it: adventurers cross mountains and ridges every day, explore secret realms, go through all sorts of battles, and inevitably encounter dangers and accidents.'"]
["'For such customers, giving them special attention and frequent care is good for them and good for me.'"]
Adventurers: That makes sense; thank you very much.
But compared to being given special attention by the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, adventurers would rather visit Bubu Pharmacy multiple times—maybe they can still be saved.
Moreover, as an adventurer, the Traveler has ridiculously strong fate; she completely doesn't need the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's special attention.
How tough is Lumine's fate? Teyvat might even get sent away by her.
The story writes that Hu Tao wants the Traveler to help with a small favor: have the Traveler make connections so she can establish business dealings with the Adventurers' Guild.
As thanks, Hu Tao is also willing to help the Traveler with one favor.
Does the Traveler need anything? Naturally, it's finding her brother.
However, the Traveler asking Hu Tao for intelligence on her brother always feels a bit off.
After all, the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor is a funeral home and crematorium. If she knows about Aether's intelligence, that would be bad.
If she pulls out a small box, it'd be straight-up hellish.
This kind of thought mainly arises because everyone still doesn't know Hu Tao can travel to the 'otherworld.' In fact, Hu Tao is quite capable with intelligence gathering.
In any case, the two's 'deal' is reached. Hu Tao and Lumine head back to Liyue Harbor together to find Katheryne.
["Katheryne sees Hu Tao and says bluntly: 'Ah, it's you again. I said we have no interest in this kind of cooperation.'"]
See, hasty again.
["Hu Tao: 'Don't be hasty~ Look, there's someone in your Adventurers' Guild who deeply agrees with what I said!'"]
The supporter Hu Tao mentioned is naturally Lumine. Lumine doesn't particularly agree with Hu Tao's views, but she was 'tempted by benefits.'
The Traveler has a lot of prestige among adventurers. Seeing this, Katheryne decides to hear what Hu Tao has to say.
["Hu Tao: 'Here's the thing: after our last talk, I came up with a new plan and added some very cost-effective content.'"]
Readers are curious: What cost-effective content can the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor have? Second tablet half price? Or buy one burial get one free?
It can't be 'early access experience,' right?
===✧✦✧===
Character Voice Line · Hu Tao: About Papilio Charontis Chapter
"So this is the 'my story' that Lucian was talking about. Not just the future, but also the past."