["Hu Tao: 'Since it's a psychological effect, we'll treat it accordingly and handle it as a psychological issue.'"]
Baizhu actually agrees with Hu Tao's words. For people who believe in these things, neither telling them the truth nor prescribing medicine to regulate their body will work.
The only thing you can do is go along with their beliefs to solve the problem. As long as they believe the issue is resolved, they'll recover on their own—a classic case of mind over matter.
In the story, Hu Tao also tells the Traveler about the Yakshas' stories, which everyone is now very familiar with.
Some are too familiar. Just seeing the words 'Yaksha stories' makes them recall Bosacius' events, with images of several Yakshas' 'mirrors' shattering in their minds, bringing them to tears.
Hu Tao talks about the stories of Yakshas fighting demon gods. After a demon god was defeated, their resentment lingered for a long time. Some resentment turned into plagues, causing suffering in the mortal world.
The Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's original job was to prevent plagues: purifying the air and burning corpses. This was the 'collaboration' between the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor and the Yakshas.
Back then, people might have seen these plagues as 'curses,' but in fact, at that time, 'curses' were still very real.
Over thousands of years, the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor has dealt with similar matters many times, which is why Hu Tao had such an exasperated expression back then.
Nowadays, 'plagues' or so-called 'demon god curses' are no longer common—at least they're something ordinary people can hardly come into contact with.
So Hu Tao can be certain that Luo Cheng's issue is purely psychological and not an actual curse.
The most likely demon god curse you'd encounter in Liyue now is probably Zhongli casting a curse on you.
Readers, seeing this, also start pondering a question. When they saw 'demon god curse,' they had a sudden thought about Zhongli.
According to Hu Tao, Zhongli should have been collaborating with the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor for a long time, right?
So when exactly did Zhongli start being a 'guest consultant'? Could it be hereditary?
Thinking about it this way, no wonder the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor is so prosperous. Liyue residents are truly envious.
They'd rather not have such a grand enterprise and instead have a hereditary Geo Archon.
Especially Pantalone, who now has just one expression: ¯( ◠‿◠)/¯
The stories in these two books make him increasingly understand Scaramouche and Signora's feelings, and he's even a bit tempted to burn the books.
Why can't he experience the gaze of a god?
Back to the story, Hu Tao says they're about to put on a performance to make Luo Cheng believe his 'curse' has been removed.
This is where the Traveler comes in, as the performance will involve using the Ley Line Monolith to summon some monsters, which the Traveler will need to clear out.
You can only say she's got a keen eye for people—this is the Traveler's specialty.
When it comes to fighting, the Traveler has lost and retreated, but she's never backed down. Whether she can win or not, she's bold enough to go up and slap any opponent twice in the face.
When Luo Cheng arrives, Hu Tao tells him that this device (the Ley Line Monolith) can draw out the evil curse in his body and materialize it. Once the 'curse' is defeated, the exorcism will be successful.
To those who don't believe in this, it sounds ridiculous, but for those who do, it's like a 'miracle cure.'
After the Traveler defeats the summoned monsters one by one, Luo Cheng instantly feels refreshed, his waist no longer aching, his legs no longer sore—like he's taken a vitality tonic.
["Luo Cheng, excited: 'An unprecedented sense of relief! It's the feeling of health!'"]
Look how quickly he recovers. Even buying a pair of crutches doesn't work this fast.
But his feelings aren't entirely fake. It's true that psychology and emotions can affect a person's physical state.
Take Ei, for example. During the years when she had psychological issues, she was practically floating magnetically, unable to even walk on the ground.
Readers find Luo Cheng's reaction amusing.
Baizhu, as a doctor, is quite accepting of this 'treatment' method. Say what you will, she did 'cure' Luo Cheng's 'illness.'
["Hu Tao points with her fingers: 'Now, I can tell you—'"]
["'Ta-da! You were tricked!'"]
In the illustration, Hu Tao raises her two small hands, her expression bursting with cheer as she says this, smiling with infectious brightness.
'Ta-da'—the last person who spoke like this was probably Klee.
Are all you Pyro Vision holders this cheerful? Right, Diluc?
Hu Tao tells Luo Cheng the truth: there was no 'materialized curse' at all.
["Hu Tao: 'I didn't do anything, yet you feel completely fine. What does that mean?'"]
What does it mean? It means feeling fine is fake, the illness isn't cured, and now his stomach's going to hurt again.
Someone with a 'terminal illness' mindset might think this way, but fortunately, Luo Cheng isn't that severe. He only started getting paranoid a few days ago.
["Luo Cheng: 'Th-This… Could it be, I wasn't actually cursed?'"]
Now it's 'treating the root cause.' Luo Cheng realizes there's no 'curse,' so he won't scare himself anymore.
["Luo Cheng, puzzled: 'But then, why did I get sick?'"]
["Hu Tao: 'You caught a cold, ate something spoiled, or scared yourself—any of those are possible… I lean toward the last one. It's a common illness around here.'"]
The Wangsheng Funeral Parlor is even stealing business from Bubu Pharmacy now. Some people, when they have health issues, go to a funeral parlor instead of a doctor, skipping the process and heading straight for the ending.
There aren't many 'patients' who come to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor; they still get more dead people.
The reason Hu Tao explains so patiently to Luo Cheng is that she doesn't want him to truly believe in ghost curses in the future. Hu Tao doesn't want people to believe in these things.
These things are now unlikely to threaten ordinary people, and letting ordinary people know about their existence only adds unnecessary anxiety.
Lucian is different. Ghosts and curses? I'll go big: the Abyss, Khaenri'ah, even the False Sky—I'll tell you all about them.
Anxiety? These things are so 'far away' that ordinary people can't even muster the energy to feel anxious about them.
So instead of worrying, just listen to Hu Tao.
["Hu Tao: 'A person's life is so short. While you're still alive, seize the time to enjoy life to the fullest.'"]
Some Teyvat residents now share this mindset. There are too many crises, so just strive to enjoy life—you never know when you might die.
Of course, crises are also opportunities. Many Teyvat residents also want to face these crises and become heroes whose names go down in history.
In the story, Luo Cheng says thanks and leaves without even pre-ordering a coffin as a gesture of gratitude. That's really not right.
Old Meng, on the other hand, breathes a sigh of relief. Good thing it wasn't caused by 'Big G.'
And there's even better news: there's no need to keep looking for 'Big G' because 'Big G' has already shown up, right behind him.
===✧✦✧===
Character Voice Line · Qiqi: About Hu Tao
"She… scary… I-I need to run."