Every time the forest breeze came,
Qiqi would quietly say:
"You… familia… Bu… can't remember…"
This time, perhaps because Baizhu was present,
She didn't speak.
Just stared at Orion with wide eyes.
Outside, Hu Tao hid in the tall grass beside the doorway.
Her deadpan gaze was fixed, carefully avoiding Baizhu's sightline.
But Atractylodes was perceptive.
He subconsciously glanced toward the door.
Hu Tao flinched and shifted position in alarm.
Orion hurried to smooth things over.
He feigned confusion.
"What is Mr. Bai looking at?"
"Oh, nothing," Baizhu replied with a smile.
"Let me help you check your pulse."
He reached toward Orion's wrist.
Orion dodged back gently, adopting an apologetic tone.
"Sorry, Mr. Bai. I've been feeling chilled lately… I'm probably a bit worn out."
Qiqi, slow to react, didn't notice anything unusual.
"Please ask Mr. Bai to go inside and diagnose me carefully,"
Orion said while winking at Baizhu.
"Okay."
Atractylodes was already a seasoned soul.
He sensed something quietly hidden and nodded in silent agreement.
"Changsheng, I brought your favorite—water slime ball. Want to come see?"
"Okay."
Changsheng was also familiar with Orion.
He'd often brought her treats in the past.
Hu Tao had asked Orion about that before.
That's how she developed this particular plan—
To lure Baizhu and Changsheng away too.
---
"That seventy-seven… is she here?"
"Coconut sheep… Qiqi wants…"
Though Qiqi didn't remember who Orion was,
She still felt he was kind.
When she heard he'd brought something for Changsheng,
She instinctively approached, tugging at the corner of Orion's sleeve.
Her big eyes gazed up at him pitifully.
"Not this time," he said gently.
"Next time, okay?"
His voice softened unconsciously, like he was speaking to a child.
In reality, Qiqi was likely hundreds of years old—
A dozen lifetimes older than Orion.
But with her small form and fragile memory,
Who could treat her any other way?
"Ahh… next time…"
Qiqi lowered her head, tone full of disappointment.
"Next time, maybe… I don't remembe…"
"Qiqi, obediently look after the store here."
"Brother will bring it for you next time."
"Oka."
Orion patted Qiqi's chilly little forehead.
Then walked inside with Baizhu.
Changsheng returned to Baizhu's shoulder,
And the trio headed in.
---
Hu Tao waited patiently outside.
Seeing no movement, she sprang into action.
A sack dropped cleanly over Qiqi.
In one practiced motion, Hu Tao tied it tight.
Then lifted Qiqi and dashed off into the darkness.
Qiqi didn't react immediately.
Hu Tao had already run a few miles before Qiqi spoke.
"Ahh… Why… take a sack and put Qiqi in it…"
"Qiqi can… go by herself…"
"Qiqi, you've been dead for so long, trapped in this body all these years."
"It must be painful."
Hu Tao's voice—tinged with genuine sorrow.
"Don't worry."
"I'll help you out."
"Ahh…"
Hu Tao said no more.
Just tightened her grip and ran faster.
---
Meanwhile, Orion had completed his calculations.
He quietly left Baizhu a note—
Asked him to keep quiet—
Then excused himself, returned to his lodgings,
And went to sleep.
Even without his warning, Qiqi would be fine.
The reminder was just backup.
He believed in the power of the plot.
---
The next morning.
Orion rose early.
Sat in the front lobby, sipping tea casually.
When a dark red shadow streaked across the horizon—
Hu Tao.
She halted beside him.
Snatched the tea from his hands.
Drank in one gulp.
Then huffed deeply.
"That Baizhu is so annoying!"
Orion feigned ignorance.
"What's wrong?"
"It was only a quarter of an hour away!"
"Just fifteen minutes—and the time for the ritual would've been perfect!"
"It was a rare cloudy moment that won't come again for months!"
"Hateful! Disgusting! So frustrating!"
Sure enough—Qiqi was fine.
The final stone in Orion's heart finally dropped.
"Forget it. We'll talk about it later."
"It's been so long. No rush now."
He didn't try to console her.
Just flowed with her words.
If he insisted on persuasion, Hu Tao might grow suspicious.
Next time, there might not be a chance to tip off Baizhu again.
She wouldn't listen anyway.
Planting the seed once was enough.
Further attempts would only backfire.
"Yes!"
Hu Tao nodded, her expression firm.
"I must send Qiqi to the afterlife!"
Orion smiled faintly.
With him as the insider…
That probably wasn't happening.
---
Hu Tao was exhausted.
After breakfast, she returned to her room and fell asleep—
Leaving all Wangsheng Funeral Parlor matters to Orion.
He was used to it.
Handled everything with ease.
Even the staff of Wangsheng...
He was used to it.
Every so often, the hall master would sneak off to relax,
Leaving all the affairs of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor to Mr. Orion.
And Mr. Orion?
He handled it all with quiet precision.
Well—except for the occasional slip-up.
No one understood why.
Mr. Orion was clearly an intelligent, knowledgeable man.
It didn't make sense for him to be careless.
But of course, it was all intentional.
To lower his own standing.
And elevate Hu Tao's prestige.
It was the same this time.
While processing the paperwork,
He deliberately left a small, harmless mistake.
Everyone in the parlor was used to it.
They simply corrected it, without a word.
---
Business continued until almost noon.
Then someone arrived at the door—
Claiming that the mine at The Chasm was haunted.
He wanted Hall Master Hu Tao to come investigate.
This was a request Hu Tao needed to handle herself.
Orion invited the man to wait—until Hu Tao woke up.
It wasn't long.
Hu Tao soon appeared, clad in her familiar deep red robes.
Her oversized hat back atop her head.
---
"I just did the math," she said.
"The next cloudy day will be three months from now."
"Thinking about it still frustrates me."
Hu Tao was still a little bitter.
"That Baizhu! And that snake he raises—Changsheng!
He's obviously researching immortality.
Look at Qiqi!
He must have done something to her!"
Atractylodes carried a cauldron nearby.
Orion only sighed in silence.
He couldn't say anything.
Just gave an awkward laugh.
"Haha…"
And quickly changed the subject.
"Well, there's someone looking for you."
"Says the mine at The Chasm is haunted—wants you to come have a look."
--------------
End of chapter.
(If you are wondering why I did this...well I just copy and paste. Just fixing minor issues like Hall of the dead Walnut or something similar)