"Alright, Elliot and Shenhe, please follow me." Hu Tao never imagined she'd actually land a client outside.
Guided by Hu Tao, they soon arrived at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
As soon as the door opened, they found Zhongli leisurely sipping his tea. When he noticed the two figures behind Hu Tao, he simply set down his teacup and rose to his feet.
"This is Zhongli, our guest consultant at the Hall of Rebirth," Hu Tao introduced warmly.
Zhongli responded with a faint smile and a nod.
"These two are our guests, Mr. Elliot and Miss Shenhe. They wish to book funeral arrangements."
Elliot and Shenhe also offered faint smiles and nods in acknowledgment.
Regarding the funeral arrangements, Hu Tao shed her usual mischievous demeanor, adopting a more solemn and serious air.
Zhongli, upon hearing this, felt a slight jolt of surprise. In all his time at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, he had never encountered young people making funeral arrangements for themselves in advance. This was a first.
But his surprise lasted only a moment. He skillfully poured tea for Hu Tao, Elliot, and Shenhe.
"Please sit," Hu Tao said.
Once they were seated, she began her inquiry.
"What kind of funeral would you like to hold?"
"What kinds are there?" Elliot followed up.
"We offer many funeral styles. The most typical and common one is..."
Through Hu Tao's explanation, Shenhe learned quite a bit. She hadn't realized there were so many intricacies involved in funerals after someone passed away. Elliot already knew all this; he'd asked simply to let Shenhe understand.
"Which one do you prefer?" Elliot asked.
"Let me think..." She pondered for a while before speaking. "I think I still prefer a joyful burial."
Elliot questioned, "Why?"
"If life and death are a cycle of reincarnation, then my death means I'll find you in my next life. That's something to be happy about."
Hearing this, Elliot smiled gently. "If it truly is reincarnation, then yes, it is something to be happy about."
"Right? Death isn't so terrifying. Live this life with integrity, and after death, don't cling too much to the present. After all, our Wangsheng Funeral Parlor doesn't ferry those with attachments."
Seeing them both so open-minded, Hu Tao felt happy as well. She loved making friends with such cheerful, open-hearted people.
"We don't ferry those with lingering attachments..." Elliot murmured softly, as if recalling something.
"So you both chose the Joyful Burial?" Hu Tao asked.
"Do you happen to have a shovel for digging graves?" Elliot asked instead, tossing back an oddly specific question.
"Huh?" Hu Tao froze, momentarily confused.
"Oh, oh, yes." After a brief daze, she nodded repeatedly.
"Could I buy one?" he asked again.
"Buy one? What for?"
Hu Tao was deeply curious—and she wasn't alone. Shenhe and Zhongli also couldn't fathom the meaning behind his words.
"To dig my own grave," he replied.
"Your own grave?" Hu Tao was baffled.
"Yes, exactly as it sounds. I intend to dig my own grave."
"I will die after Shenhe. I will personally bury her and participate in her joyful burial."
"Then I will dig a plot beside hers. I will be buried next to her, also through a joyful burial."
Hu Tao and Zhongli understood then, but Shenhe still did not. For lovers, the one who dies first often suffers less.
But they did not know that Elliot spoke no jest.
Though life and death remain unpredictable, given Elliot's current power, the possibility of an untimely end was practically zero.
Thus, only one outcome remained: to die of old age.
Mortals who obtain the Vision may extend their lifespan, yet they cannot achieve immortality. One day, they too must pass away.
Elliot was different. Having transcended the Seven Gods, his life was truly immortal. He would inevitably outlive Shenhe.
Though he could reverse time, rewinding the clock to relive moments, by then it would likely be unnecessary.
Thus, he had resolved that after personally seeing Shenhe off, he would follow her.
"I see. Well then, this Master Hu understands. I'll make an exception and grant you one."
Hu Tao dashed inside and soon returned with an iron shovel for Elliot.
"Thank you." He accepted it with a faint smile before storing it away.
"Why did you choose to die after me?" Shenhe asked, puzzled.
"Because if I left first, I wouldn't rest easy knowing you were behind. That would make me prone to obsessive attachments, and failing to enter the cycle of reincarnation would be disastrous." Elliot lied.
"Huh? Then what if I develop obsessive attachments?" Shenhe asked, a hint of fear in her voice.
"You won't. I'll always be behind you, accompanying you, protecting you."
His answer reassured her deeply, and her cheeks flushed.
"So you chose the Joyful Burial because you want to enter the cycle of reincarnation too?" she asked again.
"That's just one reason."
"Another?"
"Yes. I dislike sad endings, so I want to depart happily after death."
"Hmm hmm hmm. Letting the deceased leave without regrets, entering reincarnation joyfully—that's the true meaning of a joyful burial!" Hu Tao wholeheartedly agreed.
"Elliot, you seem quite knowledgeable about funerals," Zhongli commented at last.
"Just a bit of surface knowledge from books," Elliot replied modestly.
"No wonder I felt such ease with you—you've studied this before." Hu Tao now understood the source of that peculiar sense of familiarity. From the moment she met him, she had felt inexplicably drawn to him. His mannerisms, appearance, and presence all felt comforting. Conversing with him felt effortless, almost like speaking with an old friend.
"Yes," Elliot nodded.
After settling the Mora payment, the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor recorded their names.
"You're always welcome to visit the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor!" Hu Tao waved them off at the entrance.
Elliot and Shenhe smiled faintly in response before leaving.
"Elliot... It's been ages since we had such an easygoing guest," Hu Tao murmured to herself as they grew distant.
"From our brief exchange, he seems remarkably well-read. I'd love to have a proper conversation with him sometime."
Zhongli stood beside her, his gaze following Elliot's retreating figure with equal intensity.