Chapter 148. Hu Tao's Special Dish
That night, Liyue Harbor remained as tranquil as ever.
Lantern-light shimmered upon the water. The markets quieted. The scent of tea and incense drifted through narrow streets. To the ordinary citizen, nothing had occurred. The city of contracts endured—steady, immovable.
Within their temporary residence, Futsu Mitama and the others rested.
Guizhong's matter had concluded. The storm that was not a storm had passed. By all accounts, they could return to Inazuma on the morrow.
On Liyue's soil, most affairs had been settled. The Fatui—represented here by Tartaglia—would not stir significant trouble in the near term.
More importantly, Futsu Mitama had already extracted nearly all useful intelligence from them.
There was nothing left worth prying loose.
Thus, he no longer intended to press the Fatui further in Liyue. A blade dulled by overuse was inefficient. However—
Just because he had no intention of seeking Tartaglia did not mean Tartaglia would refrain from seeking him.
The following morning, sunlight had barely settled over the harbor when a familiar figure appeared at the doorway.
Tartaglia stood there with a bright, almost bashful smile.
"Brother Mitama," he greeted harmlessly. "Are you free?"
"?"
Futsu Mitama regarded him with measured calm.
"No," he replied without hesitation. "We're leaving Liyue. Do you need something?"
He paused, then added evenly:
"Could it be that you've learned of our departure…and wish to fight us?"
The temperature in the courtyard shifted.
Aila's hand rested upon her sword hilt.
Shenhe silently drew the Calamity Queller.
Kuki Shinobu's talismans slipped between her fingers.
Yae Miko watched with a pleasant smile that did not reach her eyes.
Cold sweat formed at Tartaglia's temple.
He adored challenging the strong. That did not mean he enjoyed being collectively dismantled.
Three standard Adeptus-level combatants. One capable of temporarily reaching such a level. And a former Guuji of Grand Narukami Shrine.
Even at full strength transformation, he might withstand their assault.
Defeat them? Impossible.
"Oh my~ Isn't this the Eleventh Fatui Harbinger, Childe?"
Yae Miko's voice carried effortless amusement.
"What brings you to Futsu Mitama? We are leaving Liyue today."
She tilted her head slightly.
"Isn't your timing…inconvenient?"
Her words were teasing, but beneath them lay frost. Their relations had never been amicable. The Fatui's presence in Inazuma had already crossed lines that should not have been crossed.
On the surface, Kujou Takayuki had invited the wolf into his house of his own will.
In truth, Yae Miko knew him well.
To put it generously, he was a man faithfully executing the Raiden Shogun's decrees. To put it plainly, he was petty, self-serving, and useful only so long as circumstances required him.
In Inazuma's present climate, his efficiency was passable. His heirs were talented. That was the only reason she had tolerated him—intending to strike the Kujou Clan sharply once he retired.
The Tenryou Commission could not be permitted to dominate.
Yet in her brief absence, he had colluded with the Fatui to suppress the Resistance. He lacked the courage for such ambition. Someone had incited him.
"Hahahaha~~~"
Tartaglia's smile remained polite—if strained.
He knew Yae Miko's reputation. La Signora had once evaluated her succinctly: not overwhelmingly powerful in raw force, but exceedingly dangerous in matters of manipulation and rule-bending.
And she never strayed far from Grand Narukami Shrine. Even when she did, she appeared within Inazuma City—under the Raiden Shogun's gaze. Who would dare strike her there?
Signora's advice had been clear: avoid Yae Miko unless confident in absolute superiority.
Scaramouche had once lured her out using Futsu Mitama. After that…the Raiden Shogun herself had appeared.
Tartaglia had no intention of repeating such mistakes.
"My apologies," he said lightly, taking several steps back and spreading his hands to show he bore no weapons. "No ill intent."
His gaze shifted to Futsu Mitama.
"Would it be convenient to speak for a moment?"
He blinked—an unsubtle hint.
Privately.
"It would not." Futsu Mitama smiled politely.
"I have an appointment with Captain Beidou. If nothing unexpected occurs, we depart today. If it is something that can be spoken aloud, say it here. If it is suitable for response, I will answer."
There was no reason to grant Tartaglia privacy.
The Harbinger had nothing left to offer him.
Like La Signora, Tartaglia acted for gain, not sentiment. Friendship was merely another instrument. If they met alone in the wilderness—
One would fall. Or both would bleed heavily.
"This…"
For a fleeting instant, Tartaglia felt genuine frustration.
The day before yesterday, he had been too calculating. He had bartered information strictly in exchange for information—offering only intelligence on Dottore and Scaramouche's activities in Inazuma.
Nothing extra.
Now, the result was clear.
He did not know what Futsu Mitama valued anymore.
He could not entice him.
'Next time…perhaps sincerity over profit,' he thought ruefully.
He was a warrior. Intricate schemes were not his strength. His earlier friendliness had been strategic—a foundation for future leverage. Yet no matter how amicable he became, Futsu Mitama never spoke as freely as he did with Zhongli.
And now that slight shift in attitude had yielded this awkward stalemate.
"Actually, I only wished to ask—"
Tartaglia maintained his shameless smile.
"Last night, a strange demon god's aura erupted in Liyue Harbor." His eyes sharpened. "Would you happen to know anything about it?"
Demon Gods.
The word carried weight.
Even common folk knew fragments of the Archon War.
As a Fatui Harbinger—though the youngest—Tartaglia was no fool. He had sensed the eruption of Guizhong's authority.
But the Adeptus had gathered swiftly. Infiltration had been impossible. The Liyue Adeptus were not hospitable toward Snezhnayan diplomats.
Thinking of this, irritation flared.
Dottore's segments had caused enough damage already—compromising soldiers, destabilizing operations, and leaving him in this passive position. If not for that meddling Dottore—
"No." Futsu Mitama shook his head without hesitation. "I know nothing."
Tartaglia understood at once.
From Futsu Mitama's composure, from that perfectly measured refusal, it was obvious—the other party knew something. He simply had no intention of sharing it.
"Sigh~"
There was nothing to be done.
If gentle probing failed, could he truly resort to force? Especially against such a lineup? Even the thought felt unreasonable.
"If you ever require anything of me," Tartaglia said at last, stepping back with deliberate restraint, "you may find me at the Northland Bank. Anytime. Anywhere."
It was the closest thing to sincerity he could presently offer.
Yet Futsu Mitama and his group were returning to Inazuma. Which meant the investigation into last night's mysterious Archon authority would fall to him alone.
His temples throbbed.
Ever since he had arrived in Liyue, events had refused to proceed smoothly. Instead of advancing the Fatui's objectives, he had been left cleaning up after Dottore's excesses—damage to soldiers, destabilized operations, and absolutely no progress toward acquiring the Gnosis. If that mad Dottore had not meddled and other Harbingers agreed with him—
Tartaglia's smile remained intact, but irritation simmered beneath it.
He departed decisively this time, without lingering words.
After he left, a faint, unreadable light flickered in Futsu Mitama's eyes.
So. The Demon Gods authority released during Guizhong's resurrection had indeed drawn the Fatui's attention.
Hardly surprising.
The Fatui had a talent for inserting themselves into matters that did not concern them. Still, even if Tartaglia launched a full-scale investigation, he would uncover nothing. Guizhong's resurrection was known only to the Chat Group and the Adeptus.
The Liyue Qixing might have sensed the authority's ripple—but sensing was not touching. And at their current stage, they struggled even with lingering Demon God remnants. An unknown Archon authority was far beyond their jurisdiction.
More importantly—
So long as the Geo Archon stood, Liyue feared no god.
"His hands reach too far," Shenhe said coldly, watching Tartaglia's retreating figure.
"That is simply the Fatui way," Kuki Shinobu replied evenly. In Inazuma, she had witnessed far worse—collusion with the Tenryou and Kanjou Commissions, interference in sovereign affairs. A taboo anywhere on the continent.
Yet from Mondstadt to Liyue to Inazuma, they really acted brazenly.
"It is of no matter." Yae Miko's smile returned, light and amused. "If his claws extend where they should not, Liyue will deal with him."
She paused, her tone shifting subtly.
"After all, this is not Inazuma."
A faint stiffness crossed her expression.
The disparity was undeniable.
In Liyue, the Fatui tread carefully.
In Inazuma, they did not.
That difference alone spoke volumes. For a brief moment, silence settled.
"Creak."
The door to the neighboring Wangsheng Funeral Parlor opened. Hu Tao poked her head out, eyes bright with curiosity.
"Oh? What happened?" she asked cheerfully. "Why does your atmosphere feel so strange? Would you like this Director to tell a few jokes?"
"No need," Futsu Mitama replied with a sigh. "Guuji Yae was speaking ill of someone and ended up stabbing herself in the process."
Yae Miko shot him a sideways glance.
It was not inaccurate. It simply felt… pointed.
Hu Tao tilted her head but did not press further. As Director of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, she possessed a keen sense for what questions should remain unasked.
Suddenly, Aila's nose twitched.
"What is that smell?"
"It's fragrant," Kuki Shinobu added cautiously. "But…somewhat strange."
Their gazes shifted—slowly—toward Hu Tao.
A subtle silence descended.
"Oh my~" Hu Tao beamed. "Consultant Zhongli mentioned yesterday that you would be departing today. Since you're returning to Inazuma, we may not meet again for some time."
She stepped fully outside, holding a carefully plated dish.
"To clear up any misunderstandings about me," she declared solemnly, "I have prepared my specialty."
The dish was arranged beautifully. Round-headed ghostly shapes huddled together in comical charm. The aroma was rich—inviting—almost intoxicating.
"This," Hu Tao announced proudly, "is Ghostly March."
Her exclusive dish. No one else in Liyue could replicate it.
Futsu Mitama quietly retreated several steps.
He knew this dish. In another life, he had often used Hu Tao as a Pyro DPS—and therefore, her specialty dishes were far from unfamiliar.
It was exquisite. It was powerful. And it was devastating.
A single ghost—just one—could overwhelm the senses so completely that one would question reality itself.
"Oh, right." Hu Tao blinked. "Where is Consultant Zhongli? I would like him to taste it as well."
"One moment," Futsu Mitama replied, already opening the Chat Group.
[Futsu Mitama: "@Zhongli, are you there?"]
[Zhongli: "What is it?"]
[Futsu Mitama: "Director Hu made a dish for you, called Yoyo Grand March."]
[Zhongli: "It's good to be alive."]
[Yae Miko: "Is it that terrifying?"]
[Shenhe: "It smells good."]
[Aila: "It does smell good, but there's something very strange about it. I can feel a slight sense of danger."]
[Guizhong: "Sense of danger???"]
[Maha Rukkhadevata: "That's a dish, right?"]
[Venti: "A dish that terrifying? It actually made Mr. Zhongli comment like that."]
[Raiden Makoto: "Miko, why don't you try eating some?"]
[Keqing: "Wait?! Is it food made by Director Hu?! Doesn't she specialize in making funeral dishes?"]
[Albedo: "Funeral dishes???"]
[Klee: "What's that? Klee doesn't quite understand."]
[Zhongli: "To put it simply, it's food for the dead, or for those who are about to pass away."]
[Yae Miko: "Never mind, I'm going to try a bite first! This thing smells so good!"]
[Yae Miko: "I am the wise and beautiful Lady Yae Miko~ Ordinary things cannot defeat me!"]
[Futsu Mitama: "It's over!"]
[Raiden Makoto: "What's wrong? What's wrong?"] [Azhdaha: "What happened?!"]
[Zhongli: "..."]
[Kuki Shinobu: "Guuji Yae has fainted."]
[Shenhe: "She fell directly to the ground."]
[Aila: "Is this the legendary killer dish?"]
[Futsu Mitama: "No time to talk, saving her is more important!!!"]
[Klee: "So scary!!!!"]
[Azhdaha: "Even the little fox can't handle it?? What kind of dish is this?!"]
[Venti: "Hmm...Looks like it can't be served with drinks."]
[Raiden Makoto: "@Zhongli, is the problem serious?"]
[Guizhong: "@Zhongli, Mr. Zhongli, have you eaten this dish from Director Hu?"]
[Maha Rukkhadevata: "Have you really eaten it?"]
[Zhongli: "Yes, I have eaten it. I had a small taste. Theoretically speaking, Director Hu is a prodigy. @Raiden Makoto, and Guuji Yae's problem isn't serious. She might just have been overwhelmed by that indescribable taste."]
[Zhongli: "If her tolerance is strong, she should wake up in a while."]
[Yae Miko: "I... am... a... live..."]
[Kuki Shinobu: "Huh?! Guuji Yae? Woke up?! But why aren't you opening your eyes?"]
[Shenhe: "Strange, that shouldn't be. The talisman has already been placed on her, and that strange food should have been thrown up."]
[Yae Miko: "I... think... I... see... Lady... Kitsune... Saiguu...!"]
[Futsu Mitama: "Yae Miko! Please open your eyes! I am Zoffy, ah no, I am Futsu Mitama, you are fine now."]
[Albedo: "I'm interested. What kind of dish is this that even has an effect on a strong person like Yae Miko?"]
[Klee: "So scary, but Hu Tao-jie's cooking is amazing!"]
[Kuki Shinobu: "In a sense, this isn't cooking anymore, is it?"]
[Zhongli: "No, this is the pinnacle of a certain kind of culinary art. Director Hu's skill has reached the acme of perfection."]
[Aila: "Director Hu's cooking skills have reached such a terrifying level?"]
[Keqing: "Xiangling will cry if she knows."]
[Shenhe: "..."]
[Yae Miko: "Ah... I... see... Lady... Makoto...!"]
[Raiden Makoto: "Snap out of it. I'm still in the Chat Group and haven't gone to the land of the living and the dead. How can eating a dish cause hallucinations? How much did she eat?"]
[Futsu Mitama: "Not much, just picked up one ghost and ate it."]
Outside the Chat Group, Yae Miko collapsed gracefully—almost elegantly—into unconsciousness.
Aila and Kuki Shinobu rushed to support her.
Inside the Chat Group, chaos erupted.
Even Azhdaha expressed disbelief.
Zhongli's commentary remained steady: Director Hu was a prodigy. The pinnacle of a certain culinary path. The condition was not serious—merely overwhelming.
One.
That was sufficient.
Hu Tao now stood proudly, hands on hips.
"Hmm~ It seems she was conquered by my cooking."
Her smile was radiant.
Futsu Mitama regarded her carefully.
"Director Hu…is there a possibility that Guuji Yae has suffered food poisoning?"
Kuki Shinobu's lips twitched.
"Didn't you taste it yourself?"
Kuki Shinobu had truly not expected that a single dish could reduce a retainer of the Raiden Shogun to such a state.
Even now, Yae Miko remained supported on either side, eyes closed, muttering incoherently about seeing the afterlife.
Shenhe and Aila both turned their gazes toward Hu Tao.
If such was the effect on Yae Miko…had the chef herself tasted it?
"Of course."
Hu Tao answered without hesitation.
With perfect composure, she lifted her chopsticks, selected one round little [Ghost] from the Ghostly March, and placed it into her mouth.
She chewed.
Two bites.
Three bites.
Then her expression shifted.
"Strange." She tilted her head slightly. "Why does this vegetarian abalone taste different from before? Did I not add enough seasoning?"
Vegetarian abalone.
For a brief second, the courtyard fell into absolute silence.
Hu Tao frowned in deep concentration, as if having uncovered a grave culinary flaw. Without another word, she pivoted and rushed back toward Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, plate still in hand.
"Wait just a moment!" she called out cheerfully. "I'll quickly prepare an authentic Ghostly March!"
She moved with startling speed. So quickly, in fact, that she forgot to close the door behind her.
Futsu Mitama stood frozen.
You…knew it was vegetarian abalone?
A chill crept up Kuki Shinobu's spine.
"Shall we run?"
Her tone was decisive.
She stared at the open doorway of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor as if it were the entrance to an abyss.
"If Director Hu produces a truly perfected Ghostly March—"
She paused.
"We may become the Funeral Parlor's next clients."
No one present misunderstood what kind of clientele Wangsheng Funeral Parlor specialized in.
"Agreed."
Shenhe nodded immediately. After witnessing Yae Miko collapse from a single ghost, she had no intention of testing her own constitution.
Aila gave a small, firm nod as well—then instinctively looked to her young master.
"Eh?"
Futsu Mitama was no longer beside her.
A voice drifted from the distance.
"What are you waiting for? Are we not leaving?!"
They turned.
Futsu Mitama was already a hundred meters away, robes fluttering as he moved with alarming urgency.
"Hurry to Liyue Harbor!" he called out. "Board The Crux Fleet! We leave for Inazuma immediately!"
There was no hesitation.
Kuki Shinobu hoisted Yae Miko over her shoulder with remarkable efficiency.
Shenhe followed without question.
Aila broke into a sprint.
Behind them, within Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, the faint clatter of cookware echoed ominously.
And somewhere inside, Hu Tao's bright voice rang out:
"Ah! This time I'll add extra seasoning!"
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