Hu Tao awakened this ability when she obtained her Vision. She had now used this ability to achieve extreme counter-kills multiple times.
But the more powerful an ability, the stronger its side effects. Although her Lingering Fragrance of the Ghostly Butterfly hadn't reached the extent of a Delusion shortening one's lifespan, each use required half a day of rest.
If she were to use it continuously in a short period, she estimated she would have to lie in bed for several weeks afterward.
Hu Tao, holding homao's staff, cautiously circled around inside Wanmin Restaurant. Fortunately, she did not find the person—or should I say ghost?—who left the Lightning element.
In any case, this was a good thing. She had a Pyro element Vision, and if she were to encounter this unknown entity, the entire Wanmin Restaurant would be blown sky-high.
"It's good that it's not here ~ Disperse!"
With that, Hu Tao transformed into a swarm of golden butterflies and flew out of Wanmin Restaurant.
Chef Mao, seeing the girl come out, quickly asked, "Hall Master Hu, how is it? Is my house safe?"
"It's safe for now! But to be safe, don't stay here tonight. Come with me to Wangsheng Funeral Parlor!"
Hu Tao said, putting away homao's staff.
"Although I really don't want to admit it, you really did encounter something bad."
"That thing ran away before I arrived. It was a very powerful entity, and even I'm not confident I could defeat it."
"But we have a special barrier at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. It definitely wouldn't dare to come. You can rest assured and sleep at my place."
Hu Tao patted her small chest. Just kidding, their Wangsheng Funeral Parlor was a thousand-year-old establishment. How many people had they sent off? Would they be afraid of one ghost?
As for Wanmin Restaurant… she would have Morax come take a look later. He was so knowledgeable, he might recognize something.
Actually, there was another reason: Hu Tao believed Morax was an adeptus who came to Liyue Harbor to experience life. Since he was an adeptus, he surely wasn't afraid of ghosts, right?
After Hu Tao held her grandfather's funeral, this young-looking consultant joined Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. Several years passed, and he remained the same, without any change.
Moreover, his words and actions were like an old man's, and he knew so much. Wasn't that an adeptus!
"Sleeping at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor? Uh… alright, I guess that's the only option now."
Chef Mao deep down did not want to spend the night at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, a place that sends people off, but he had no choice. He didn't want to wake up and be separated from Xiangling by life and death.
"Hey ~ why are you so unwilling? How many people haven't slept at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor before!"
Hu Tao frowned, her face like a grumpy kitten. Their Wangsheng Funeral Parlor didn't send off living people, so why the fuss?
And what was there to be taboo about? If there were really any taboos, wouldn't everyone working at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor be doomed?
'This… no one wants to go, right?' Chef Mao thought to himself when he heard this.
The two returned to Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, and at the entrance, Hu Tao saw that familiar figure.
"Morax, Morax! You're back?" Hu Tao excitedly greeted him.
"Hmm, good evening, Head of the Parlor, and… Chef Mao?"
"By common sense, Chef Mao's family shouldn't have a funeral, so why would he come to Wangsheng Funeral Parlor?"
Morax was a bit puzzled. Ordinary citizens like Chef Mao typically only came to Wangsheng Funeral Parlor when someone in their family passed away, and even then, they would just hang up a plaque and leave, never lingering.
But why was he showing signs of following Hu Tao?
"This…" Before Chef Mao could finish, Hu Tao interrupted him.
"I'll explain this later. For now, I'll take you to your room for the night!"
"Eh, but!"
"No buts!"
Hu Tao rather forcefully pushed Chef Mao into Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, leaving Morax standing at the door, somewhat puzzled.
Emmm… Xiangling is gone?
'Ah, how pitiful. So young, yet she left this beautiful world.'
Xiangling: "Achoo!"
Paimon: "Eh eh eh? Xiangling, are you catching a cold? Should we just give up?"
Xiangling: "No! I must make Miss Shiki's ice cream today! Guoba, breathe fire!"
Guoba: "Luluulu~~"
Cryo Regisvine: "I'm f*cking done with this!"
Hu Tao pushed Chef Mao into a side room, which was one of the few guest rooms at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. If a friend were to visit today, Chef Mao would have to spend the night with a corpse.
Returning to the doorway, Hu Tao saw a somewhat melancholic Morax.
Hu Tao: "???"
Oh my, what did this old man remember?
"Morax, Morax, listen to me, Wanmin Restaurant is haunted!"
Morax: "???"
"Hall Master Hu, by common sense, this joke is not funny."
"It's true! There was such a strong Lightning element, even I wasn't confident I could contend with it!"
"But that thing isn't in Wanmin Restaurant now. Morax, aren't you knowledgeable? Do you recognize this thing? Could it be some Archon's resentment?"
Hu Tao spoke with increasing excitement, completely oblivious to Morax's strange gaze.
'Hmm… a powerful Lightning element. Could it be that child, Shiki?'
'But that's not right. Why would she go to Wanmin Restaurant? And what's so good about a restaurant that's not open for business? To get seasonings?'
Thinking this, Morax decided to go to Wanmin Restaurant to take a look. Besides, it wasn't certain if it was Shiki.
"Since Hall Master Hu says so, then let's go. It won't take long anyway," Morax said.
"Okay, let's go!"
Hu Tao took the lead, transforming into a flock of butterflies and flying away, while Morax followed as if on a leisurely stroll, yet his speed didn't lag much.
Before reaching Wanmin Restaurant, Morax sensed that the owner of the residual Lightning element was Shiki.
'It really is her, but why did she come here?'
With this question in mind, Morax arrived at Wanmin Restaurant.
"See, did you recognize anything?" Hu Tao asked.
"By common sense, the owner of this Lightning element should be a friend of mine, and Hall Master Hu, you saw her last night."
"However, what did she come to Wanmin Restaurant for? And why did she take jueyun chili powder and cumin?"
Having lived for thousands of years, Morax was naturally an expert in cooking. He knew seasonings by heart and could tell at a glance what was missing from the stove.
"Huh!?"
Hu Tao was dumbfounded. Did she really not mishear him?
Saw last night, Morax's friend + saw last night, wasn't that the black-haired Inazuma woman?
From the powerful Lightning element, it was clear her strength was not low, and coupled with Morax calling her a friend, she must be at least adeptus-level, right?
But such a person actually ran to Wanmin Restaurant to pretend to be a ghost and scare people, all to steal jueyun chili powder and cumin?
"Really? Morax, are you sure you didn't make a mistake?"
"Of course, her Lightning element is very special. I wouldn't mistake it," Morax nodded.
Hearing such a definitive answer from her consultant, Hu Tao was truly at a loss. How was she going to tell Chef Mao tomorrow?
Was she supposed to say that his house was robbed by an adeptus?
"Hall Master Hu, consider it a personal request from me. Please help me keep it a secret."
"Just say that the ghost in Wanmin Restaurant… has already been expelled by us," Morax said slowly.
Although he didn't know why the girl did this, it must have had her own reasons.
Since that was the case, he might as well do her a favor.
"Eh? Is that so? Hmm… it's not impossible." Hu Tao thought for a moment: "But Morax, can your bills stop being sent to Wangsheng Funeral Parlor all the time?"
"Also, what did you do today? How did you spend over a million Mora again?"
"Well… Hall Master Hu, do you think Mr. Yun Jin's opera is good?"
"It's good, what about it?"
"Then if it's good, shouldn't she be rewarded?"
"Yes… no, no, what do these two have to do with each other?" Hu Tao said, hands on her hips, huffing.
"Naturally, there is a connection. If a master sings well, the audience will reward them. This has been a tradition in Liyue since ancient times."
"So you rewarded her a million Mora?"
"Indeed."
"Ahhh, Morax!!!"
"Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's money is going to be squandered by you!!!"
"By common sense, Hall Master Hu can send the bill to Northland Bank."
"It's not about the money!"
"Phew, I'm satisfied!"
Shiki patted her flat stomach with great satisfaction. As expected, late-night skewers were the best, though it was a pity there was no happy water.
Although the recipe for cola was public on Earth, she had never seen it, so there was no way for her to make it.
Unlike the satisfied Shiki, Ayaka was currently caressing her slightly bulging stomach with some worry. Had she eaten too much tonight?
'Indeed, while late-night snacks are good, it's still better to eat less… '
Thinking of someone who never gained weight no matter how much she ate, Ayaka couldn't help but sigh. How to put it, there was now one more reason to learn immortal arts.
Ganyu, they are all lying to you. How can anyone eat as much as they want and not get fat? Right, Shiki?
After paying, Shiki and Ayaka returned home.
It was already almost midnight, and Ayaka, who usually went to bed early and woke up early, could no longer hold on. Without even taking off her clothes, she lay on the bed and immediately fell asleep.
Shiki helped the girl take off her yukata and change into pajamas, then kissed the girl's forehead and quietly exited the room.
"Good night, sweet dreams…"
After speaking, Shiki's figure disappeared from Kamisato Estate. Immediately after, dark clouds began to gather over Watatsumi Island.
Rumble…
Thunder rumbled, waking up many people who were sleeping, but none of them intended to come out, because…
It was going to rain.
In the Coral Palace study, Shiki's eyes shone with golden light. Seeing this, Sangonomiya Kokomi took out the bloodbranch coral she had prepared long ago.
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