Big G is a ghost, and those three people earlier are the ones he might be following.
The three in real life are collectively startled. Big G might be following us?
Instead of being afraid, they're actually somewhat expectant. They look around but find nothing, inevitably feeling a bit disappointed.
Yeah, how could there be? Hall Master Hu also said there's no trace of ghosts around them.
Besides, even if there were, they wouldn't be able to see it. Not everyone has the Traveler's high 'spiritual vision.'
["Paimon says: 'Then why didn't you say earlier?! I really thought you had some superpower to see who's… uh, not in great health.'"]
This is also what the readers want to say: We really thought you could see other people's lifespans!
["Hu Tao: 'Hmm? Why would I need that kind of ability? I'm not a doctor.'"]
Baizhu: ...(￣︶￣)
After some conversation, the group in the book returns to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor and informs Old Meng of the bad news that they didn't find 'Big G.'
Paimon is a bit curious about who 'Big G' actually is.
Old Meng explains to her that 'Big G' was his childhood playmate, but he passed away due to an accident later on.
Some time ago, Old Meng was missing 'Big G' and went back to Wuwang Hill to take a look. Since then, 'Big G' has appeared in his dreams every night.
How to put it? We still don't know the name of the flower we saw that day.
Old Meng was also worried that his childhood playmate had turned into a vengeful ghost, so he chose to join the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor to investigate clearly. Old Meng is even working for free for this.
Readers finally understand why Old Meng has been working but hasn't seen Zhongli—it's free labor, after all!
The people at Lucian's house are even thinking: Does everyone at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor love using free labor?
Hu Tao is like this, Zhongli is like this, and even Lucian loves freeloading. Is this some kind of company culture?
Speaking of which, Lucian has three bosses, making him a bit of a 'servant of three masters.' How come he hasn't picked up the good habits of his other two bosses?
Let's not talk about that and return to the story. In fact, Hu Tao isn't too concerned about Old Meng's worries because there are hardly any malevolent ghosts in Liyue nowadays.
Even Hu Tao, who frequently walks the 'boundary,' has only seen malevolent ghosts a few times.
Liyue's malevolent ghosts must have all been eradicated by the Yakshas, right?
While they're still chatting about 'Big G,' someone arrives at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
He looks panicked, saying that a few days ago, he went to Wuwang Hill for a test of courage. After returning, he fell ill and has had nightmares every day. He's certain he's been cursed by a demon god!
Lucian strokes Furina's hair. Furina doesn't understand why but is used to being petted and doesn't resist.
["Hu Tao, extremely perfunctory: 'Yes, yes, um, that's right, a demon god curse, very serious.'"]
["Luo Cheng, panicked: 'You know too, right?! It's that one, the legendary curse of pain cast upon the world by a demon god who died in the Archon War.'"]
Readers are puzzled: If you're cursed by a demon god and need an exorcism, why go to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor? Why not find an exorcist? Where's Chongyun?
Are you just giving up on treatment and coming to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor to prepare for your funeral?
Havria and Guizhong exchange a knowing glance, their eyes seemingly saying 'your husband'—no, more like 'your curse.'
Well, actually, they just smile at each other, their eyes filled only with amusement, not much deeper meaning.
Demon god curses do exist, but they don't have much to do with these two, as their demon god remnants are sealed.
Even if they weren't sealed, Wuwang Hill is too far for them to reach.
It's just that since demon god curses are related to the deaths of demon gods, and both of them are demon gods who died in that same period, they instinctively glance at each other.
["Old Meng ponders: 'Wuwang Hill, curse… No, it shouldn't be a curse. It's probably because of Big G …'"]
Here he goes too.
["Hu Tao quickly turns to stop Old Meng: 'Hey, hold on, hold on. Both of you, stop right there. Don't keep talking to yourselves.'"]
Hu Tao, exasperated, decides to deal with Luo Cheng's issue first: 'removing the demon god curse.' This requires a suitable venue and some props.
Hu Tao will find the props, the Traveler is responsible for the venue, and Old Meng, well, he'll help Luo Cheng perform an incense-burning exorcism. Now everyone has something to do.
By the way, even though Old Meng is already doing an incense-burning exorcism, he still has to prepare other exorcism measures. Everyone can tell at a glance that this incense-burning exorcism is useless and clearly just a scam.
Oh, Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, how have you fallen to such depths? Using such deceptive tactics?
When they arrive at the exorcism venue, Hu Tao has already prepared the props: an ordinary Ley Line Monolith.
There's nothing special about the props because the whole 'demon god curse' is nonsense.
Unlike Inazuma, where demon god remnants are relatively 'free,' in Liyue, they're either sealed or cleared and suppressed by Xiao. It's hard for ordinary people to even come into contact with them.
Only the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's premium customers—adventurers—might encounter such things.
But Luo Cheng is clearly not an adventurer. Adventurers don't go for tests of courage; they just court death directly.
What Hu Tao is doing now isn't 'removing a curse.' She just needs to make the other party believe the curse on them has been removed.
Now everyone understands why Hu Tao is deceiving Luo Cheng—not to scam money but as an actual treatment method.
For people who believe in metaphysics, treating them with metaphysics works much faster.
["Hu Tao says: 'I've seen too many people lose control over things like this. To calm them down, you have to show them something convincing.'"]
Now the readers get it: This isn't a scam; it's a form of psychological comfort.
How to put it? It's useless for ordinary people, but for those who believe in this stuff, it's extremely effective.
Coincidentally, people like Luo Cheng, who come to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor for an exorcism instead of going to Bubu Pharmacy when they feel unwell, are the type who believe in this.
The Wangsheng Funeral Parlor wasn't a doctor's office for nothing before. Look, isn't this just being a psychologist?
Paimon is a bit curious: Why not just tell the other party the truth?
["Hu Tao explains: 'Because no one can guarantee that telling the truth to ignorant people will make things better instead of worse.'"]
This is true, and readers deeply relate to this.
Originally, everyone was just ordinary people. Not exactly carefree, but their worries were mostly about daily trifles.
Ever since Lucian started writing prophecy books, everyone has learned more and more. Now, great—they're starting to care about Teyvat's major events.
Constantly keeping up with the latest developments in Lucian's prophecy books is practically like following political news.
It's gone from worrying about what to eat for dinner to 'the Abyss,' 'Khaenri'ah,' 'the False Sky,' and so on.
As everyone learns more, the things they worry about also multiply. Though these matters are hard for ordinary people to influence.
===✧✦✧===
Character Voice Line · Guizhong: Demon God Curse
"I do have the ability to curse people, but in the eyes of mortals, a demon god's curse might actually be seen as a blessing, no?"