"Have you heard?"
"Director Hu Tao said she wants to clarify the whole 'Book of Life and Death' thing in front of everyone."
"Don't fall for it! This must be Director Hu Tao's scheme!"
"Director Hu Tao is definitely using this as an excuse to lure us there and then find a way to learn our names. Don't fall for it, everyone!"
"But Director Hu Tao said just for showing up we'd get a thousand Mora!"
"Oh, my dear friend, why didn't you say so earlier?"
"Director Hu Tao has an event—we have to support her!"
"I'm going back to call all my aunts and grand-aunts to come cheer for Director Hu Tao!"
"There are quite a few people here," Hu Tao remarked, surveying the crowd.
"Of course there are! No one can resist the allure of Mora. If they do, it's only because they haven't been offered enough!" Chen Feng retorted immediately.
Hu Tao wanted to smile, but the thought of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's remaining liquid assets being almost entirely spent on this event made her heart ache.
"Director Hu, you can't catch new clients without spending Mora. You have to endure! Just endure it!" Chen Feng urged, sensing her inner turmoil. "The Wangsheng Funeral Parlor is destined to expand across all of Teyvat. We should be looking at the global picture, not be blinded by this small, immediate cost."
What kind of 'small cost' is over a million Mora?!
Hu Tao was speechless. The Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's profit margins weren't even that high. How many more orders would she have to complete just to earn this money back?
But it was too late to turn back now. She could only take things one step at a time.
As long as today's plan worked, the money would be well spent.
Fortunately, she had already considered the issue of overcrowding. Hu Tao had specifically chosen a location that couldn't accommodate too many people and marked out a boundary, which still saved a huge sum of money.
Otherwise, if tens of thousands of people showed up, even selling herself wouldn't be enough to cover the cost!
With this thought, Hu Tao saw that the time was right and called out loudly to the people around her.
"Everyone, please quiet down."
Only after hearing Hu Tao's voice did the crowd's chatter subside slightly.
"Director Hu Tao, we've all come to support you. When will you give us the money you promised?" someone asked, worried that Hu Tao might deny the payment after seeing the crowd.
"You'll get it after we finish!"
The very thought of this matter made Hu Tao's heart ache, and she had no desire to discuss it further.
"Anyway, I'm very grateful to everyone for coming today. As you all know, the main reason I've gathered everyone here is that this Director wants to clarify the rumors about Wangsheng Funeral Parlor that have been circulating recently."
"After you learn the truth, I'd also be very grateful if you could help clarify things for us. This Director thanks you in advance."
Hu Tao clasped her hands together and bowed to the crowd.
"Director Hu Tao is too modest. If these really are rumors, we will definitely help clarify things for the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor."
"Yes, yes. Actually, I've long felt that all those things were just nonsense. How could such mysterious things ever happen? The Wangsheng Funeral Parlor has been passed down through seventy-seven generations in Liyue!"
"Oh, so you came after all! Weren't you the one who told us yesterday not to come, saying this was all a scam?"
"You've got the wrong person! You must have seen my long-lost twin brother who shares none of my parentage!"
Although no one truly believed Hu Tao's claim that the recent news about the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor was all rumors, the Funeral Parlor was a big spender this time. Everyone gave her face and refrained from openly questioning her, instead watching with a mix of belief and doubt as she prepared to clarify the recent events.
Chen Feng and Hu Tao had already discussed how to clarify it. Thus, Hu Tao produced a black notebook in front of everyone.
"Everyone, this is the so-called 'Book of Life and Death' that has been causing such a stir recently."
"This Director has already retrieved it from Yuehai Pavilion. You can see that the names and markings on it are exactly the same as those in the leaked photos, and there are even names that didn't appear in the photos."
When everyone saw the notebook Hu Tao held and the names—most of whom were already dead—recorded in it, they immediately backed away several steps in horror.
Meanwhile, Chen Feng brought out another black notebook. Judging by the names written in it, this was the first notebook that had been stolen. Chen Feng then displayed it to the crowd, signaling that the items they held were indeed the real deal.
Seeing this, the crowd backed away even further, instantly clearing a large space around Hu Tao and Chen Feng.
"Everyone, don't be afraid! What we have in our hands are just some ordinary notebooks, nothing like what you all think!"
After Hu Tao said this, however, there was no significant reaction from the crowd, which was, of course, within the two's expectations.
Hu Tao then continued.
"To clear up this misunderstanding, I, this Director, will write down some people's names in these two notebooks and mark them."
"If the people whose names are written down ultimately remain alive and well within the time limit, then the recent rumors will be proven groundless!"
"I wonder who would trust this Director and be willing to leave their names in these two notebooks?"
As soon as Hu Tao finished speaking, the crowd immediately burst into an uproar.
Good grief, they only wanted to earn a little extra money, but Director Hu was after their lives!
"Anyone who agrees to leave their name will receive a reward of 50,000 Mora!"
"I will!" "Me!" "It has to be me!"
The people who had just backed away several meters immediately swarmed forward upon hearing this, eagerly volunteering and arguing until their faces turned red.
"Brother, don't joke with your life for a mere 50,000 Mora!"
"Put down your raised hand before you talk!"
Seeing such a fiery scene, the others were utterly bewildered.
"No way, you're not actually afraid?!"
Some were tempted, but at the thought of Hu Tao's fearsome reputation, all other thoughts vanished.
Money is good, but you need to be alive to spend it!
"We believe Director Hu; those must be rumors!"
Upon hearing those few declare so emphatically, the corners of everyone's mouths twitched involuntarily.
You believe Director Hu? You believe in Mora! I'm too embarrassed to even expose you.
"Director Hu, choose me!"
"Director Hu, look over here!"
"Director Hu, we're neighbors, choose me!"
In just a few moments, the scene had transformed into an open casting call.
This scene was somewhat unexpected for Hu Tao. She never imagined so many people would be willing to leave their names. While inwardly lamenting that she'd offered too much money, she waved the people to gather together, then signaled for Chen Feng to step forward.
After walking over, Chen Feng swept his gaze across the crowd. He pointed out several who appeared to be older or even looked a bit sickly. Of course, he had already verified that these individuals had plenty of remaining lifespan, making them perfectly suited to debunk the recent rumors.
Hu Tao quickly singled them out. Immediately, victorious smiles spread across their faces, and they pumped their fists in excitement. All they had to do was let Director Hu record their names in a notebook to earn 50,000 Mora—this money was simply too easy to earn!
The others who weren't chosen groaned in despair, slumping their shoulders. They shot sour, envious looks at the selected few.
"Director Hu, I was the first to volunteer! Why didn't you choose me?!"
Someone, refusing to give up, tried to fight for this chance to make easy money.
"Because they're older," Hu Tao explained. "As long as nothing happens to them in the end, it will prove that all the recent rumors about Wangsheng Funeral Parlor are just that—rumors."
Hu Tao explained.
"You can't just pick older people. You should select some younger ones too. That would better prove your thoroughness, Director Hu."
"You make a point there."
Hearing this, Hu Tao stroked her chin in thought for a moment before saying,
"In that case..."
Hu Tao shifted her gaze to the people who had been selected. Suddenly, they all grew nervous.
Hu Tao thought it over and finally decided to eliminate the youngest person. However, the moment her gaze landed on him, he immediately spoke up.
"Director Hu, it must not have been easy for you to run such a large business as the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor at such a young age. I'll take just 40,000 Mora!"
Hearing this, Hu Tao's gaze immediately bypassed him and landed on the second youngest person.
That person was stunned on the spot. Good grief, you really are a piece of work, you sneak!
"Director Hu, I only need 30,000 Mora!"
As soon as this was said, the remaining people almost spat blood on the spot.
Do you have to be this competitive?!
Feeling Hu Tao's gaze drifting towards them without a clear target, the remaining people didn't dare to be careless and immediately began competing for the reward.
Of course, it was reverse competition.
"I'll take only 28,000!"
"I'll take only 25,000!"
In the end, Hu Tao settled on a price of 10,000 Mora with the few of them. After confirming with them once more, she had Chen Feng record their names one by one, adding a black and a red "√" behind each.
This outcome left everyone completely stunned.
Good grief, Director Hu hadn't even opened her mouth yet, and you've already driven the reward down to one-fifth of the original amount.
Seriously, are you really willing to risk your lives for just 10,000 Mora?!
They didn't understand it, but they were utterly shocked!
Now, all they could do was wait for the outcome.
Having inexplicably saved a huge sum of money, Hu Tao was still very happy and prepared to head back.
Hu Tao trusted Chen Feng's abilities; after all, Chen Feng hadn't made a single mistake before this.
Because she had suddenly saved hundreds of thousands of Mora, Hu Tao was quite generous with the final Mora distribution to the people present.
This matter quickly fermented in Liyue. Many people fixed their gazes on the few who had left their names, and as long as they were still alive and well after seven days, it would prove that the "Book of Life and Death" was complete nonsense.
Of course, some people didn't believe it, thinking Hu Tao was just putting on a show, but such people were in the minority. The vast majority of people still decided to wait for the next result.
However, no one expected the unexpected to come so quickly. Early the next morning, Keqing came to Wangsheng Funeral Parlor to find Hu Tao and Chen Feng, speaking to them with a serious expression.
"Something has happened, Director Hu Tao, Consultant Chen Feng."
"Just this morning, the youngest among the few people you recorded yesterday was found to have fallen to his death in front of his own home not long ago."
Hearing this news, the two people whose heads were still a bit dizzy instantly woke up, then looked at each other, their eyes filled with expressions of disbelief.
-
"Traveler, are we really not passing through Sumeru to get to Liyue?"
At this moment, Lumine, Paimon, and Enjou, after a detailed conversation with Neuvillette, agreed to Neuvillette's request, rested for a bit in Fontaine, and then set out to head for Liyue.
However, when it came to choosing the route, Lumine was very reluctant to pass through Sumeru and instead chose another path.
"Although taking that way could also reach Liyue, we are not very clear about the situation along the way and it might take more time."
"Traveler, what on earth did you dream of in Sumeru before, that could make you so scared?!"
Hearing Paimon's question, even Enjou looked at Lumine curiously.
However, Lumine just shook her head and refused to reveal anything.
Finally, under Lumine's insistence, the three of them chose the route through Chenyu Vale.
"Sigh, if it's slower, it's slower, just treat it as a new journey this time."
"It should not be urgent, right?!"
"Although Neuvillette said that the faction will definitely carry out new activities in other countries, that's Liyue, after all!"
"Forget about those Adepti, even Ningguang isn't someone to mess with!
"I'm sure even if that faction takes any action, Ningguang and the others should be able to handle it well!
Hearing Paimon's words, Lumine nodded in agreement.
If it were Mondstadt, she might still be slightly worried. After all, that slacker Barbatos looked completely unreliable.
But Lumine was beyond reassured about Liyue and Inazuma. The combat power of these two countries was too strong; she didn't need to worry at all.
So if they were slow, they were slow. Lately, she was either taking the blame for something or on her way to take the blame for it. And every time it was a huge scene, making her feel utterly numb. This was the perfect opportunity to relax a little.
"It's a pity I haven't finished reading the latest chapters of my novel. I heard the author is from Liyue. I wonder if I'll be able to meet the author in person on this trip to Liyue.
"The author updates too slowly. If I can meet him in person, I'll go to his house every day to nag him for updates!"
Paimon paused, then spoke to Lumine.
"Oh right, Traveler, the author I'm talking about is the one who adapted our personal experiences into a novel."
So it was him!
Lumine felt a surge of anger just thinking about it. If that person hadn't adapted her exploits into a novel and published it, she wouldn't have ended up in such a pathetic state trying to save Enjou that one time.
Fine, fine, fine. It would be best if she didn't run into him on this trip to Liyue, otherwise she would definitely send him some "blades" in person to express her gratitude!
At this moment, the three of them crossed the border of Fontaine one after another and headed towards Chenyu Vale.