Lishu's expression suddenly grew serious. He spoke in a solemn tone, "Natlan can indeed revive the dead—but only the warriors who fall during the Rite of Returning Flame. And even then, the Pyro Archon must pay a tremendous price."
He continued, voice firm. "Under normal circumstances, no living being—including gods—can cross the boundary between life and death. Forcing it will only bring disaster."
By the end, his tone carried an unmistakable warning—he clearly feared Adrian might attempt such a thing.
Adrian chuckled lightly. "Uncle Lishu, you worry too much. I've never even thought about resurrecting the dead. I rely on funerals to make a living, remember? I only asked because of something I saw today."
He then explained Lord Dean's tragedy from beginning to end.
Lishu sighed deeply, sympathy flashing in his eyes. "Losing a wife in middle age, losing daughters in old age… his suffering is immeasurable."
Then he added thoughtfully, "Life is a bitter journey. We drift in a small boat of sorrow, searching for the distant shore of happiness."
Adrian blinked, stunned. After a long pause, he blurted out, "Uncle Lishu, I didn't expect someone as burly as you to say something so philosophical."
Lishu's face darkened. "Burly? I am an elegant immortal! What do you know, you brat?"
Before the words finished, he grabbed the wine jug on the table and poured it down his throat as if trying to drown his irritation.
Adrian saw right through him and immediately lunged to snatch the jug away.
The two wrestled back and forth, shoving and bickering, the room filled with loud laughter and curses.
Five days later, inside the Adeptal Funeral Hall, Adrian lay slumped on the lounge chair behind the counter, looking thoroughly miserable.
Lord Dean still couldn't accept Claire's death. Every day, he sat beside her body, praying for a miracle.
At that moment, a little girl hopped toward him, holding a freshly made paper flower. She waved it excitedly, waiting for praise.
Seeing her innocent smile, Adrian's foul mood eased a little. He gave her a thumbs-up.
The girl's face instantly lit up like the sun. Beaming happily, she returned to her seat to continue crafting flowers.
Adrian looked around the shop.
His jaw dropped. The deaf-mute children had already stacked wreaths into a small mountain in the corner.
His mood plummeted again.
He stood up, straightened his clothes, and headed to Grant's estate.
When he arrived, he happened to run into the two officers from the Ministry of Civil Affairs.
They brought him one good news and one bad.
The good news: Grant's case was finally closed, and the burial could proceed.
The bad news: Grant's illegitimate daughter had disappeared.
Adrian went to discuss the matter with the bookkeeper.
The message was clear: Grant could be buried, but the treasury wouldn't pay an extra mora. If Adrian insisted on receiving the full three million mora, he would have to find the missing daughter himself.
After a moment of thought, Adrian decided to proceed with the burial. Any more delay would cost money, and that daughter would definitely refuse the arrangement Lillian had negotiated.
He walked into the hall where the corpse was kept.
Inside, Hu Tao was crouched on the ground, bored out of her mind, poking a cockroach with a long twig.
When she noticed Adrian entering, mischief flashed in her eyes.
With a flick of her wrist, she catapulted the cockroach straight toward him, grinning wickedly.
Adrian moved instantly—light on his feet, dodging effortlessly.
"I'm deducting a day's wages." he said flatly.
Hu Tao shot to her feet, hands on her hips, eyes bulging. "What?! The roach didn't even hit you! Why deduct my pay?"
Adrian smirked. "Because your sudden attack gravely wounded my pure and fragile heart."
Hu Tao puffed up like an angry balloon. "Pure and fragile? Adrian, you shameless jerk! You dare say that with a straight face? If you deduct my pay, I'll sleep on your shop's doorstep every day!"
Adrian shrugged casually. "Go ahead. But I should warn you—according to the Liyue Codex, attacking someone with a cockroach counts as intentional assault."
Hu Tao froze.
She turned anxiously to Zhongli. "Consultant Zhongli… is it really that serious?"
Zhongli thought for a moment, then nodded calmly. "From a rational standpoint, the act does match the criteria for intentional harm. But in practice, an apology is sufficient."
Hu Tao sighed in relief, muttered a half-hearted "Sorry…" at Adrian, then made a face at him triumphantly.
Adrian's voice remained unhurried. "Hu Tao, did you think it ends here?"
Hu Tao instantly felt danger. She took a step back.
Then—her eyes went wide.
Adrian slowly crouched down, picked up the half-dead cockroach, cupped it gently in both hands, and burst into a dramatic wail:
"Chonky! What happened to you?! You can't die!"
"We've been together for years—sharing joy and hardship! I raised you like my own child!"
"How could you leave me first?! How can a parent bury their child?!"