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Even though Jiang Xuan had guessed that if he met Hu Tao, she would certainly try to sell him coffins or funeral services.
But Jiang Xuan never expected it to be so direct and decisive.
Zhongli, standing beside him, also looked a bit awkward and was the first to speak:
"Director Hu, this is my friend, and a very important friend to Liyue. Please, don't try to sell him a coffin~."
"Tsk..."
Hu Tao pouted disinterestedly, the dazzling highlight in her large eyes dimming.
"Zhongli! You rascal! Leaving the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor for so long without a word, this Director thought you'd switched jobs!"
"But... you haven't been back in so long, don't you know to bring some business to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor!"
"Do you know your bills have made the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's expenses exceed its budget again this month?!"
Hu Tao didn't press Zhongli on why he was with Ningguang and the others in that small courtyard.
Nor did she question what it meant for Zhongli to call Jiang Xuan an important friend of Liyue.
Hu Tao was mischievous, but she knew what she should know and what she shouldn't.
Moreover...
For Hu Tao, running the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor and presiding over Liyue's funeral affairs was already tiring enough.
She had no interest in getting involved in other messy matters.
"Come in!"
Hu Tao casually sized up Jiang Xuan, her eyes glinting, and then said in a spooky tone:
"Oh, by the way, handsome stranger, are you afraid of ghosts?"
"There are quite a few terrifying things inside the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, you know..."
Saying this, Hu Tao abruptly turned around and made aéŹźč¸ (ghostly face) at Jiang Xuan.
At the same time, a white ghost also appeared behind Hu Tao. Both human and ghost tried their best to maintain a terrifying and eerie expression.
But...
Both Hu Tao and the ghost were adorable, and Jiang Xuan found it impossible to feel any fear.
Furthermore, how many zombies and skeletons had he killed in the MC world?
Jiang Xuan smiled, standing still and watching Hu Tao.
A hint of appreciation flickered in her eyes, and she hopped over, patting Jiang Xuan's shoulder with a grin.
"You're quite good! No wonder Zhongli brought you back to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor."
Putting the ghost back into the ring on her finger, Hu Tao continued walking towards the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
With one hand behind her back and her index finger raised on the other, she said in an old-fashioned tone:
"Even if you're not afraid of ghosts, and perhaps possess considerable strength, don't run around wildly inside the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor."
"The Wangsheng Funeral Parlor undertakes Liyue's most solemn funeral affairs. There are still many souls here who haven't been sent off yet. Don't disturb them."
"Order in life and death is an absolute taboo that cannot be joked about!"
At this point, though Hu Tao still wore a smile, her tone was exceptionally serious.
Jiang Xuan also re-realized the true personality of this "main DPS Hu Tao" whom he was very familiar with.
She was indeed lively and whimsical, but when it came to her profession and the cycle of life and death she upheld.
Hu Tao was absolutely uncompromising.
Hmm...
A spirited girl with strong principles.
With Hu Tao present, it was naturally not Zhongli's place to introduce the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor to him.
Hu Tao took pride in the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, recounting its history with considerable pride, even down to its roof tiles.
Not long after, Hu Tao led Zhongli and Jiang Xuan to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's reception hall.
A middle-aged man dressed in a dark, ancient-style robe, resembling a butler, came up to pour them tea, then closed the door and left.
Hu Tao certainly had no intention of slowly savoring the tea; she drank it all in one gulp.
Hu Tao's eyes darted around, then she pulled out a purse and weighed it in her hand.
"Zhongli, did you upset someone? Someone actually paid five million Mora for me to investigate your whereabouts!"
Zhongli calmly took a sip of tea, then said indifferently:
"As far as I know, the terms of their transaction with you should only concern a funeral package, and furthermore..."
"By universal principles, Director Hu, a five-million-Mora package should significantly disrupt the funeral industry's market balance."
Hu Tao pouted, muttering:
"Such an old-fashioned guy..."
"That guy is a Fatui Harbinger. He eavesdropped on my conversation with Yun Jin, trying to trick me into going to that small courtyard at the foot of Mount Tianheng to find you."
"For someone like that, five million is just a lesson for him!"
Putting away her purse, Hu Tao smiled at Zhongli.
"Anyway, I've told you everything! You decide what to do."
"Also, if you don't mind, how about I re-package your information and sell it to him? It might even cover some of your expenses for this month."
Zhongli shook his head and said no more. After a moment of silence, he softly said:
"Director Hu, I might need to take a long leave soon..."
"A long leave?"
Hu Tao raised an eyebrow, not caring much.
"Isn't your daily life always about bird-walking, watching plays, and listening to stories? How is that different from being on a perpetual holiday?"
"...By universal principles..."
Zhongli opened his mouth, momentarily unsure how to refute Hu Tao's words.
Fortunately, Hu Tao didn't dwell on it too much, waving her hand:
"Alright, alright, you're going on a long trip, right? How long will you be gone?"
"Even though I don't usually need you, and you often put pressure on the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's poor finances..."
"Still, this Director needs your technical support for some ancient rituals."
Zhongli glanced at Jiang Xuan, then mused:
"The specific time is uncertain, but I'm not leaving Liyue. It's just something I have to do."
"If the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor needs me for anything, you can notify the Jade Chamber, and I'll return when I receive the message."
Hu Tao scrutinized Zhongli up and down, occasionally glancing at Jiang Xuan.
Her beautiful eyes flickered with thought. After a while, Hu Tao said thoughtfully:
"It seems something very important has happened in Liyue. Is it related to you, handsome stranger?"
"My name is Jiang Xuan."
Jiang Xuan smiled and nodded, then looked at Zhongli and said:
"By the way, is it really necessary to keep it from Director Hu? No matter how you look at it, this is kind of neglecting your duties, isn't it?"
Zhongli pondered for a moment, then took a sip of his tea.
"You decide."
Hu Tao blinked, looking at Jiang Xuan with curiosity.
Jiang Xuan organized his thoughts and slowly began to explain to Hu Tao what Zhongli was truly doing.
Hu Tao's personality, while whimsical, was never ambiguous about serious matters, and her own strength was formidable.
Hu Tao, who walked the line between life and death, also possessed powers beyond elemental abilities.
For example, exorcising ghosts.
Jiang Xuan was curious about what unique effects these abilities would have in the MC world.
The Nether had Ghasts, the Overworld had Phantoms, and strictly speaking, Zombies, Skeletons, Drowned...
These were all within Hu Tao's purview.
Furthermore, Hu Tao herself was incredibly strong, arguably one of Liyue's mightiest, and her inclusion would undoubtedly bring positive benefits.
With the Liyue miners about to take up their posts, Jiang Xuan no longer needed to worry about basic resources.
Ningguang and the others would also be freed from resource collection.
After this, Jiang Xuan definitely planned to lead everyone to explore other worlds.
At the very least, one hundred diamonds couldn't possibly be gathered just from the village.
To explore other worlds, the more combat power, the better.
Most importantly...
Hu Tao was lively and adorable, and she would certainly bring much joy to the MC world.
The unique nature of the MC world would be difficult for Jiang Xuan to explain purely through words.
In fact, anyone else hearing it might think Jiang Xuan had lost his mind.
But Hu Tao herself was someone who didn't follow the ordinary path.
She listened to Jiang Xuan with starry eyes, seemingly accepting everything.
Of course, this was just the emotion Hu Tao displayed; how she truly felt remained unknown.
Nevertheless, Hu Tao agreed to go to the MC world with Jiang Xuan and the others tomorrow.
Everyone chatted for a while longer at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, and soon, someone from the Jade Chamber came to invite Jiang Xuan and his companions for dinner.
As a provisional member of the exploration team, Jiang Xuan naturally brought Hu Tao along to get acquainted with everyone.
The news of Jiang Xuan and his companions ascending to the Jade Chamber was not hidden from the Fatui.
In fact, the three of them were openly and publicly escorted onto the Jade Chamber by Bai Wen herself, witnessed by many.
However, neither Tartaglia nor the Fatui had any time to consider this.
Not long after Ningguang returned to the Jade Chamber, Liyue's overt investigation into the Northland Bank, which was in reality a scheme to make trouble for the Fatui, officially began.
Driven by the desire to make Tartaglia understand that Liyue was not a place for the Fatui to run wild, Ningguang mobilized significant resources and power.
Currently, they were too preoccupied to pay attention to this information.
The vast Northland Bank was busy until late into the night, paying a considerable price to finally deal with the General Affairs Department.
Even the Fatui were utterly exhausted.
Many harbored resentment but dared not express it.
Liyue was different from other nations...
No one knew how many Adepti were truly hidden within Liyue Harbor.
And the Geo Archon, Rex Lapis, was a being who reigned at the pinnacle of Archons, known as the God of War.
Even Tartaglia had been warned by the Tsaritsa upon his arrival in Liyue not to be too high-profile.
"My Lord Harbinger..."
A debt collector lowered his head and walked behind Tartaglia, his face under the hood showing a hint of fear.
"The Wangsheng Funeral Parlor Director you asked us to keep an eye on..."
"She didn't go, I heard."
Tartaglia's expression was normal, but secretly, his fists were clenched tight.
He had been fooled by the seemingly carefree Hu Tao.
Five million Mora...
To buy himself a Liyue-style funeral?
Tartaglia suddenly remembered the term the rich used to describe the merchants he had swindled.
Suckers!
Thinking this, a cold glint flashed in Tartaglia's eyes. After a moment of silence, he whispered:
"All Fatui operations are to be tightened. Continue to monitor the situation at Chihu Rock and obtain the Warding Talisman as soon as possible!"
"Yes!"
In the dark night, Tartaglia looked up at the Jade Chamber suspended high in the sky.
It was brightly lit, as if a grand banquet was being held.
After a long pause, Tartaglia sighed, a hint of regret in his voice:
"As expected, schemes and tricks are not for me."
"Tsk... Let the rich guy worry about the Northland Bank's affairs."
Slowly raising his hand, clear water slowly condensed, eventually forming an incredibly sharp short blade.
The dim light made Tartaglia's features appear particularly deep-set.
"Well... just endure a bit longer..."
"When the time is right... then I can cause a huge ruckus."
"The formidable foes in this land shouldn't disappoint me... I'll get my money's worth."
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