["Hu Tao: 'Phew, it's about time. Let's go! Take them to the "Place of Origin and Repose"!'"]
The "Place of Origin and Repose" she mentions is actually something she made up on the spot. It's just the place they were at before entering the 'boundary.'
Speaking of which, the name isn't great. Why not call it the 'Land of Genesis and Finality'?
Back at the "Place of Origin and Repose," Hu Tao reminds Big G.
["Hu Tao: 'Big G, you should be satisfied now, right?'"]
["'If you get any funny ideas in the future and really turn into a malevolent ghost, I won't show any mercy and will eliminate you on the spot.'"]
["Big G promises and sighs: 'Knowing everyone is doing well, I don't want to disturb their lives.'"]
Indeed, this might be the best outcome. If they met, it might start off with good conversation, but then what?
It's been so long since they last saw each other. Their life experiences are so unfamiliar to Big G that they've become the most familiar strangers.
Moreover, Big G's mindset is still that of a child. Could he really understand all the topics adults talk about now?
It's like childhood's Krushchev—separated by a tragic, thick barrier.
Would seeing the divide between Big G and them shatter the beautiful, dreamy memories of their hometown?
So it's better not to meet, just as Hu Tao said: what shouldn't be known is better left unknown.
Putting that aside, Old Meng is still very grateful to Hu Tao, as his dream has sort of been fulfilled.
["Old Meng: 'I also want to thank you all. This counts as fulfilling a dream of mine.'"]
["Hu Tao glances at Old Meng: 'Then those words go for you too, Old Meng. If you keep clinging to this after today, I'll send you to reunite with him a bit early.'"]
In the illustration, Hu Tao squints as she glances at Old Meng. Due to her height, she has to tilt her head slightly upward, but from a top-down angle, her expression carries a hint of 'danger.'
Indeed, it's 'dangerous,' as the reunion Hu Tao speaks of involves sending Old Meng to the other side too.
When saying their final farewell to Big G, Hu Tao reminds everyone not to say 'see you again'—they absolutely can't see each other again!
Lucian, however, thinks there's no issue with seeing each other again. If Old Meng kicks the bucket tomorrow, wouldn't they reunite?
["Big G, saying goodbye: 'I'll remember everyone. See you all again!'"]
She said not to say 'see you again,' but in the end, Big G still says those two words.
After Big G leaves, Old Meng finally shows a nostalgic, regretful expression, sighing:
["'I'm really envious of my friends. Xiao Wu and the others still have the chance to fulfill their dreams, but my dream… I'll never have that chance…'"]
In reality, his friends, seeing this part, frown slightly, thinking they need to make time to spend with Old Meng more often.
Other readers, however, are reminded of Ruu and Venti's words.
See the world for me…
Fly to the high heavens for me.
You can only say the worth of the God of Freedom keeps rising.
["Traveler consoles: 'Think positively.'"]
["Hu Tao also comforts: 'Exactly, exactly. And if you think about it, everyone will have their day to be cremated.'"]
["'Live well while you're alive. Once you've fulfilled your duties in life, you'll still get to see the people you want to see. Isn't that a good thing?'"]
["Old Meng, speechless: 'Uh… th-thank you.'"]
Readers are also quite helpless. You can only say Hu Tao's comforting skills are a bit advanced—she can console a living person into feeling like a dead one.
But as a boss, Hu Tao is still kind-hearted, directly giving Old Meng a day off! Of course, it's unpaid.
It's unclear if Zhongli will come back to work once Old Meng is on leave.
After Old Meng leaves, the Traveler and Paimon suddenly remember: Didn't they start running around with Hu Tao to find her brother?
["Hu Tao: 'Hmm? I took you to the "boundary" to let you look for him too. But judging by your reactions, you probably didn't find him. What a pity, what a pity.'"]
Lumine: A pity? If we actually found him in the 'boundary,' that'd be a problem!
In the illustration, Hu Tao playfully winks, activating her charm and successfully getting everyone to forgive her.
In fact, she did try to help the Traveler find someone using some private methods, but unfortunately, she didn't find any clues.
["Traveler sighs: 'It feels like you really enjoy this job.'"]
["Hu Tao smiles: 'Haha… I have my reasons.'"]
["'The place we went to today is where you can see the dead who still have attachments to the world of the living.'"]
["'But there, I've never seen any of the past "hall masters." Not even once.'"]
Hu Tao's 'legend quest' ends here.
But turning the page, there's actually more—it's about the story of the 'past' hall masters.
The first illustration that catches the eye is 'young Hu Tao.'
In the picture, Hu Tao is still very young, her little face still chubby with baby fat, smiling adorably.
Next to her is an open copy of the Book of Songs, seemingly tossed aside by her. At the moment, she's holding a brush, doodling something on paper.
Seeing this part, Hu Tao takes a deep breath, her shoulders rising, then slowly lowering.
Seeing her childhood self appear, Hu Tao seems to have guessed what Lucian is about to draw. Her plum-blossom pupils fixate on Lucian.
Hu Tao: Stare—
Lucian responds with a radiant smile, thinking to himself: If my three bosses gang up on me later—oh no, plus Furina, that's four—should I run or just run?
Readers are also smiling, as little Hu Tao is just too adorable.
In the picture, little Hu Tao hands her finished drawing to the person beside her. The elderly man doesn't scold her for not studying; instead, he smiles gently and strokes her hair.
["'Tonight, what do you want to eat?'"]
A casual question speaks volumes about their daily life.
Turning the page again, this time the scene only features Hu Tao, with her drawings still pinned on the wall in the background.
Little Hu Tao has no playmates. Besides studying, during her free time, she plays by herself.
Talking to herself, playing four-player card games alone, or playing house with her dolls.
But all this changed when she was six years old.
Hu Tao was very clever, able to recite poetry upside down by age three, but her lively nature made her dislike dull studying, so she secretly hid in a coffin to skip lessons.
Little Hu Tao fell asleep in the coffin. When she woke up, she found a blanket covering her, with her grandfather right beside her.
No scolding, just the familiar question: 'What do you want to eat?'
Little Hu Tao blinked, as if thinking, but her thoughts were quickly replaced by a smile.
Having no friends, she seemed to experience the fun of 'hide and seek' for the first time, with her grandfather as her playmate.
The real-life Hu Tao never expected Lucian to draw her past story. Seeing her grandfather again makes her emotions hard to stabilize.
But Little Lucian is too much—since you drew Grandpa, why didn't you draw his face clearly?
===✧✦✧===
Character Voice Line · Hu Tao: About Childhood
"You say I was lonely? I wasn't lonely at all. Even before I met Xiangling and the others, I had plenty of playmates—dolls, stone lions, and Grandpa. So I was never lonely."