The people of Liyue had complex feelings about Hu Tao.
Her personality was indeed endearing, lively, and cute, but...
Always grabbing people to sell coffins, it was too outrageous.
Especially the "second tombstone half-price" advertisement—who, while alive, would constantly think about arranging their own funeral?
Uh... Zhongli excluded.
But to say they disliked Hu Tao...
That was certainly not the case.
Hu Tao, managing Liyue's funeral business, was essentially an indispensable presence for every Liyue citizen.
Even the dignified Geo Archon still needed the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor for the Rite of Descension, didn't he?
Moreover, people deeply respected Hu Tao for maintaining such a lively mindset despite facing death day and night.
Hu Tao's serious attitude towards funerals and her responsible care for the deceased also earned unanimous praise from those who had used the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's services.
Since opening, not a single negative review!
But this didn't stop people from preferring to keep their distance from Hu Tao.
Humans, even knowing that death is an unavoidable fate in this life, still harbor fear towards it.
Hu Tao expressed her incomprehension about this.
However, these were not concerns for the Four Heavenly Kings of the Yunhan Opera Troupe; they were already thinking about how to get away.
If the boisterous person in front of them had been anyone else, they wouldn't have hesitated to give them a good beating.
But Hu Tao...
She was a top-tier powerhouse in Liyue, a pyro human par excellence.
She was also one of their boss's few closest friends.
They really couldn't afford to offend her.
But before they could think of any excuse, Hu Tao, with her hands on her hips, blinked her big eyes.
With a flash, she leaped in front of the Four Heavenly Kings.
"Hey, hey! You guys, what have you decided about what I told you last time?"
Hu Tao spoke earnestly, gesticulating with her finger:
"Think about it, as bodyguards, you face dangerous tasks protecting your employers every day. The mortality rate is consistently high among professions in Liyue Harbor."
"You wouldn't want to be suddenly attacked by an unforeseen accident one day and not even get a decent funeral, would you?"
"Hmph hmph, hurry up now. Since you're Yun Jin's bodyguards, this Director will give you a group discount!"
"A full set of funeral services and coffins, buy three get one free, plus free gravestone engraving. If you become wandering spirits, this Director will even provide soul-sending services!"
"This opportunity comes once in a lifetime! Nanan! Hurry up and place your order!"
Hu Tao's big eyes sparkled with extreme earnestness, meaning all those words were truly heartfelt.
The Four Heavenly Kings, the bodyguards, were already breaking out in cold sweat.
But they stammered, unable to say anything to refuse for a moment.
"Looks like you're going to place an order this time!"
Hu Tao, slightly excited, pulled out a contract and was about to urge them to sign quickly when a soft laugh suddenly came from behind the Yunhan Opera Troupe.
"Alright, Hu Tao, don't make it difficult for them. How could people in their prime arrange their affairs for after death?"
Yun Jin, dressed in a moon-white everyday gown, gracefully walked out, her steps seemingly carrying a hint of opera flair.
She truly lived up to Ningguang's words; Yun Jin was a master who integrated drama into her life.
Stepping out of the threshold, Yun Jin nodded to the four bodyguards.
"It must be almost time for Liyue Harbor's closing. You all go get something to eat and fill your stomachs, then come back later."
The four of them breathed a sigh of relief, turned around, and clasped their fists in unison towards Yun Jin.
Then, like they were being chased by wolves, they fled in a hurry.
"Tsk... Yun Jin, you ruined another big deal for me!"
Hu Tao put away the contract, her words tinged with a slight resentment, but her expression was all smiles, showing no sign of disappointment.
"Hu Tao's business promotions are as straightforward as ever."
Yun Jin smiled faintly, extending a hand to invite her in.
"Come in and chat. Hu Tao, you rarely visit, so after the show, why don't you come with me to find Xinyan?"
Hearing this, Hu Tao giggled and shook her head.
"No, no, this Director doesn't understand your opera, Yun Jin. I came to ask you something."
"Hmm... and those four bodyguards' funeral orders, it's a pity you ruined them."
Yun Jin didn't feel offended, merely led Hu Tao to the private room on the second floor and poured her a cup of tea.
"Oh, you! If you changed your habit of promoting funeral services to everyone you meet, perhaps Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's business would be even better."
"After all, no one wants to approach death when they are in the prime of their lives."
Hu Tao took a sip of tea, and hearing Yun Jin's words, she vigorously shook her finger in disagreement.
"Birth, old age, sickness, and death are the myriad phenomena of heaven and earth. Yin and Yang have order, but fate is unpredictable."
"Rocks will weather, and lakes will dry up."
"A hundred years of life, from birth, one walks step by step towards death. Since it is an unchangeable law, it is better to face it calmly."
"Perhaps, you might even create a few more moments worth reminiscing at the end of your life."
Yun Jin was clearly very familiar with Hu Tao's theory.
She neither fully agreed nor completely disagreed.
Yun Jin wouldn't force Hu Tao to hold the same views on life and death as ordinary people, otherwise...
That wouldn't be the innocent and carefree Hu Tao anymore.
"Although what Hu Tao says is the essence of the world, people hate hearing the truth the most."
Yun Jin shook her head with some emotion.
In the time it took to usher Hu Tao in, the Yunhan Opera Troupe had already begun to receive guests.
Yun Jin estimated the time, thinking it was almost time for her to go on stage.
She didn't continue chatting with Hu Tao and went straight to the point:
"I'll be going on stage soon, Hu Tao. Is there something you need to ask me?"
"Oh! Right! I almost forgot!"
Hu Tao clapped her head, sticking out her tongue with a giggle.
"I wanted to ask, Yun Jin, have you seen Zhongli these past two days? That guy hasn't returned to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor for two days—no, almost three days!"
"Your place is where he's most likely to be. Have you seen him? That guy, I was planning for him to go negotiate a collaboration with the Adventurers' Guild."
"He just had to disappear at this time!"
Watching Hu Tao's puffed-up expression, Yun Jin also frowned slightly and recalled.
"Mr. Zhongli... it's strange, Mr. Zhongli, who never misses a show, indeed hasn't come to listen to my opera these past few days."
"Hu Tao, haven't any bills been sent back to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor these past few days?"
Clearly, Yun Jin was well aware of Zhongli's freeloading habits.
Hu Tao spread her hands.
"That's the strangest part! I haven't received a single bill these past few days."
"I was thinking that Zhongli had gone out these past few days, and when he came back, he'd just listen to your opera, and you'd have kept his bills at the Yunhan Opera Troupe again."
Yun Jin pursed her lips and smiled, not answering.
She indeed used to have such little whims, because she and Hu Tao were good friends, and Zhongli was also a kindred spirit in opera.
Except when Zhongli grandly exclaimed "reward," Yun Jin sometimes held back his other expenses at the Yunhan Opera Troupe, not sending the bills back.
But when Hu Tao found out, she would often come over to settle the accounts.
Although the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's business wasn't as grand as the Yunhan Opera Troupe's, it had a long heritage, and the people of Liyue couldn't do without it.
To say it was poor would be utter nonsense.
Of course, it wasn't impossible that Yun Jin used such a small trick to get Hu Tao to visit; Yun Jin enjoyed chatting with Hu Tao very much.
Hu Tao's quirky and witty remarks often delighted Yun Jin.
"Alright, if you don't know Zhongli's whereabouts, Yun Jin, then never mind."
Hu Tao drained her tea and stood up, walking towards the door.
"If Zhongli comes here, please tell him to hurry back to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor; there's an important collaboration he needs to discuss..."
"Pfft, pfft, pfft! This Director has already finalized it! He just needs to go and sign the final confirmation! Tell him to hurry!"
"Otherwise, if Ms. Lan refuses, it will all be Zhongli's fault!"
Hu Tao skipped along, and Yun Jin accompanied her to see her off.
Yun Jin didn't intend to keep Hu Tao there to listen to the opera; Hu Tao wasn't fond of such things.
In Hu Tao's opinion, she might as well rack her brain and compose a doggerel poem instead of spending time listening to opera.
Who knows, it might become a classic like "The Great Hilichurl is Sick" or "The Sun Comes Out"!
Of course, the above are Hu Tao's personal thoughts and do not involve the suggestions of the Liyue Poetry Association.
The two had just left the private room on the second floor and were heading towards the exit.
Suddenly, a rather refreshing voice rang out.
"Excuse me, please wait a moment, Director of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, Miss Hu Tao."
Hearing this, Hu Tao turned her head, hands behind her back, to look behind her.
Not far away, a sunny young man, looking like he hadn't quite shed his youthful innocence, stood dressed in distinctly foreign gray clothes with orange-yellow hair.
But the reactions of Hu Tao's and Yun Jin's Visions made them realize.
This slender fellow possessed a warrior's physique honed to perfection.
Very dangerous!
Hu Tao narrowed her eyes slightly, thinking for a moment, then said:
"Oh, oh, you're not that..."
Tartaglia rubbed his head, smiling seemingly guilelessly.
"That's right, I am Tartaglia, the Eleventh of the Fatui Harbingers. I just arrived in Liyue a few days ago, thinking of coming to hear Ms. Yun's famous Liyue opera."
"By the way, Director Hu seems to be troubled by Mr. Zhongli's whereabouts..."
His words were polite and refined, but...
Yun Jin stepped forward, her voice sharp:
"Guests from afar are welcome, the Yunhan Opera Troupe welcomes guests from all over Teyvat. However... the Yunhan Opera Troupe has the right to refuse ill-intentioned guests who lurk in the shadows, eavesdropping on others' conversations."
The Fatui, huh!
Yun Jin knew about them too.
Ningguang and the others talked about them constantly; the people of Liyue were practically running out of the most vicious words to use against the Fatui.
Naturally, Yun Jin found it hard to treat Tartaglia with her usual composure.
What's more, although this guy seemed to have all his manners in order, his eavesdropping on Yun Jin and Hu Tao's conversation displeased them both.
Especially since...
Although this person hid it well, Hu Tao could see the hysterical battle lust in his eyes.
This person seemed to constantly yearn for a fight with her.
Indeed! The Fatui are all lunatics!
Tartaglia didn't mind Yun Jin's rejection in the slightest; he even chuckled, his expression somewhat awkward:
"My apologies, that was indeed my oversight. However, I actually know something about Mr. Zhongli's whereabouts and thought I could help Director Hu."
"To be honest, I'm also very eager to meet Mr. Zhongli, this extraordinary man who is knowledgeable in ancient and modern times."
Hu Tao raised an eyebrow, giggling:
"I'm not surprised you know about Zhongli; after all, his peculiar personality is quite well-known in Liyue Harbor."
"But since you know Zhongli's whereabouts, why don't you go find him yourself?"
Hearing this, Tartaglia showed no panic, merely shrugging his hands somewhat helplessly.
"I would like to go myself."
"However, that gentleman's location is a bit special..."
Tartaglia looked helpless, but a glimmer of deep meaning flashed in his eyes.
"Mr. Zhongli seems to be in a small courtyard near Mount Tianheng, and besides Mr. Zhongli, it seems Ningguang, Keqing, and the Qixing secretary are also there..."
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