Furina is very sensitive to changes in expression and notices Hu Tao's unusual demeanor. She deliberately sits next to Hu Tao, casually kicking Lucian's shin as she passes by.
Lucian doesn't dodge and stands beside Hu Tao, waiting—waiting for an opportunity.
Turning the page, the scene in the illustration shifts to when little Hu Tao is eight years old. Little Hu Tao has grown a bit, no longer looking like a 'round dumpling' as before.
That year, little Hu Tao's grandfather began teaching her the funeral rites of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
With her quirky and lively personality, it's hard to imagine her being associated with something as serious as funerals.
But little Hu Tao is a genius. She quickly mastered all the content, and after finishing her studies, she started playing 'hide and seek' with her grandfather again.
Of course, her hiding spots weren't always coffins. Sometimes, Hu Tao would secretly climb over the wall to sneak out, checking on her pet 'stone lion' along the way.
As if on purpose, her grandfather would always find her at dusk, no matter where she hid.
In the illustration, their silhouettes are shown. Under the twilight, Hu Tao's grandfather bends slightly, holding little Hu Tao's hand. The scene is heartwarming.
No one knows if he's bending because of his age or to accommodate Hu Tao's height.
Like a grandfather calling a child home for dinner, he always held little Hu Tao's hand as they returned home.
Time passes, and little Hu Tao seems to have grown a bit more. Though her face still retains some childishness, the baby fat has faded considerably. At this point, she is thirteen years old.
On this day, little Hu Tao is reading, but finding it boring, she tosses the book aside—she's going to 'skip school.'
This time, she hides in a coffin to sleep again. No need to worry; Grandpa will wake her up in the evening.
But when Hu Tao opens her eyes, the familiar person isn't by her side, and no one asks her, 'What do you want to eat?'
Hu Tao panics. She hurriedly gets up from the coffin and runs to her grandfather's room.
Her grandfather is lying in bed. Seeing Hu Tao approach, he gently waves to her, as if it takes all his strength.
How could this happen? Hu Tao quickly grabs his large hand. That once-warm hand now feels somewhat cold.
The hand that always held hers is now being held by her.
Tears stream down the young girl's face. The quirky and lively Hu Tao is crying, unable to stop. How could this happen?
Hu Tao's grandfather had a sudden illness. Before this, no one expected he would fall ill so suddenly.
In his final moments, her grandfather smiles gently. He places the hall master's hat lightly on Hu Tao's head, the brim covering her eyes.
Though her eyes are obscured, Hu Tao can still vaguely see her grandfather's expression—it's a smile.
Her grandfather's hand falls limp. Hu Tao tightly grips the hat. The hat is large, almost hiding her entire face.
But it can't hide her tears, which gather at her delicate chin and drip to the ground.
How could this happen? Hu Tao's hands clutch the brim tightly.
Her grandfather said this is a hat for subduing demons, exorcising evil, and driving away malevolence.
This hat symbolizes the hall master's identity. This is the hall master's duty! This is the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's duty!
The Wangsheng Funeral Parlor will not end, because I am the seventy-seventh hall master of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor—Hu Tao!
This young hall master will hold her first funeral, and the subject is her grandfather—the seventy-fifth hall master.
In the illustration, Hu Tao, for once, removes her hat and holds it to her chest, closing her eyes in silent contemplation. Gone is her usual playfulness; her teeth lightly bite her lip, holding back tears.
In the corner of the image, there seems to be a familiar hem of clothing—someone everyone recognizes, seen in the Layered Rock story: Zhongli!
At the time, the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor staff worried whether Hu Tao could handle the funeral properly, given her lively personality, which didn't seem suited for such a serious task.
But no one expected that at the funeral, this young girl would be so meticulous and solemn, making people forget she was only thirteen years old.
After the funeral, no one asks if my porridge is warm, and no one stands with me at dusk.
The hunched silhouette under the twilight is gone forever. Lucian uses a 'shattered mirror' technique, and the image 'breaks,' turning the warm scene into a knife that flies back.
In reality, Hu Tao finally can't hold back her emotions and sheds rare tears. Lucian frantically captures the moment.
Furina comforts Hu Tao while 'shooing' Lucian away.
In the story, Hu Tao still can't calmly accept death. She can't accept her grandfather's passing.
Bringing food and water, she travels two days and two nights to the 'boundary,' searching for her grandfather's trace among countless wandering souls.
In the chaotic 'crowd,' only Hu Tao has a clear goal. She is the only entity in this 'transparent world,' an anomaly.
Her grandfather told her that this is the 'intersection' of the living and the dead. If someone has unfulfilled wishes, they linger here after death, where you can see them one last time.
In the illustration, Hu Tao, wearing her oversized hat, looks up at the passing souls. Why isn't he here?
Exhausted from searching, she collapses and falls asleep. When she wakes, it's night. Opening her eyes, she sees several ghosts around her, but still none are the one who asked her, 'What do you want to eat?'
["Ghost, laughing: 'Silly girl, how could Old Hu be here? Don't waste your effort.'"]
Hu Tao doesn't listen. She stubbornly stays, searching for that familiar figure.
For several days, until her provisions run out, her grandfather doesn't appear. Instead, an old lady shows up, persuading Hu Tao.
["'Your grandfather isn't here because he has no regrets. You should know this means he passed away happily. Go back, silly child.'"]
Hu Tao's eyes widen. The large hat can hide her vision and her tears. Never to see him again?
Did Grandpa not want to see me one last time? Wasn't he worried about the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor?
After a long pause, Hu Tao breaks into a smile. Grandpa, you trusted me that much…
He won't appear here. Go back.
Yes, let's go. If we met, I wouldn't be able to bear leaving.
When Hu Tao returns to Liyue Harbor, she climbs over the back courtyard wall into her room and checks her pack, finding something inside.
But didn't she already eat all her food?
In the illustration, Hu Tao slowly opens the pack. Inside is a Vision, lying there quietly.
Hu Tao holds the Vision in both hands, tears streaming down for some reason, dripping onto the Vision.
Afterward, Hu Tao, who already had no playmates, lives alone. Fortunately, she's good at playing cards with herself and chatting with stone lions, so she's 'not lonely.'
Hu Tao's face always wears a smile, though it's unclear how much of it is genuine.
===✧✦✧===
Character Voice Line · Hu Tao: About Her Own Story
"My Little Lucian, you really wrote a great story, didn't you?"