Before entering the 'boundary,' Hu Tao mysteriously reminds them:
["'Absolutely, absolutely don't make a big fuss, okay? Otherwise, before we leave, I'll have to wipe your memories.'"]
Readers are startled. They didn't expect Hu Tao to have memory-wiping abilities. How does she do it? It's not a physical method, is it?
But more than how the memory wipe works, everyone is more curious about what the 'boundary' is and where it's located.
Unfortunately, this time Lucian didn't write any location details, only describing what happens after they enter the 'boundary.'
Hu Tao tells everyone that this isn't some underworld or hell; it's just a place where the Ley Lines are particularly chaotic.
That's how Teyvat works—almost all cycles of life and death are based on the Ley Lines, except in Natlan.
Perhaps this is why Natlan can pull off something like the 'Ode of Resurrection,' which is basically impossible in other nations unless you dig up the Ley Lines first.
To avoid disturbing the 'boundary,' Lucian didn't write detailed explanations about it.
Hu Tao is very satisfied with this, patting Lucian's head. "Little Lucian is so well-behaved, still remembering this hall master's teachings."
Shenhe doesn't quite get it but nods in agreement. "Junior Brother is indeed well-behaved."
"Well-behaved, my foot!" Paimon puts her hands on her hips. "Every time we talk about adventuring together, it's always 'next time for sure'!"
Lumine nods in agreement. Once, while Lucian was sleeping, she carried him on her back for an adventure—yes, literally carried him.
But when this guy woke up, his brain processed the situation for a moment, figured it out, and without a word, teleported back home.
The worst part? He teleported with Lumine in tow! All the distance they traveled for the adventure was for nothing!
Of course, Paimon wasn't left behind either—Lucian grabbed her and brought her back too.
In the story, it's as if the Traveler is also stuck looping around in the 'boundary' because Lucian didn't write clear instructions, until Hu Tao gives a hint.
According to Hu Tao, there's a 'cliff' ahead that they need to jump off.
Looking at the illustration, the 'cliff' is so deep you can't see the bottom. Those unaware might think this is a sequel to Amber's story.
The Traveler jumps down and is fine—there's water below to cushion the fall. But the Traveler doesn't even touch the water; she directly opens her Wind Glider and glides over.
This time, Xiao isn't following, so there's no 'kind fairy to save her' if she falls into the water.
After crossing the cliff, they finally enter the true 'boundary.'
Lucian naturally drew an illustration. The scenery here is quite nice—not some dark, cold place but rather giving off a 'warm and cozy' feeling.
Some Liyue residents even wonder if Lucian is advertising for the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. After all, he's a guest consultant there.
This place is drawn so beautifully, so serene—I almost want to contribute to Hall Master Hu's performance metrics.
But those who stay here are people with lingering regrets. No matter how beautiful the scenery, their hearts are filled only with the anxiety of waiting, with no mood to appreciate it.
In one part of the 'boundary,' Big G, Old Meng, and others from their memories are chatting about some things, talking about their wishes for when they grow up.
Among them, Xiao Wu wants to open a restaurant, Mumu wants to make a fortune, and Congzi wants to make Xiao Lanterns. They all fulfilled their childhood dreams, except for Big G and Old Meng.
This scene is like the lyrics from Anohana: 'This summer with you, our dreams for the future'
'The hopes we made together, I'll never forget.'
But their wish can never come true, because their wish was "to start families and celebrate the Lantern Rite together as two families."
It's impossible now, forever impossible. Old Meng feels sorrow—Big G is his 'childhood,' but his 'childhood' left so full of regrets.
When readers see Xiao Wu say he wants to eat Tender Pepper Chicken every day,
When they see Mumu say he wants to buy several super expensive toy boxes for everyone, they can't help but smile. What youthful dreams.
The innocence of youth, the fantasies about the future, unknowingly stir up everyone's childhood memories.
The sadness remains, but the tears seem to flow from 'warmth.'
They're lucky—they all achieved their childhood dreams. Only Old Meng can't let go of this past.
This journey to find Big G—perhaps Old Meng thought he was saving Big G from possibly becoming a 'vengeful ghost,' or maybe Big G was saving his childhood playmate, Old Meng.
Maybe Old Meng thought he was the savior, but in reality, he was the one being saved.
["Old Meng says: 'We always kept that promise in our hearts, treating it as something we had to fulfill no matter what.'"]
The childhood promise was kept by everyone, and I found you too.
This story doesn't have a tragic twist—thank goodness. Readers breathe a sigh of relief.
In the book, Hu Tao doesn't want to disturb Big G and Old Meng's reunion and calls the Traveler aside to chat, giving them space to be alone.
["Traveler sighs: 'The Wangsheng Funeral Parlor is so different from what I imagined.'"]
Readers find the Traveler's sentiment neither here nor there. In terms of image, with Zhongli as a guest consultant, the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor doesn't seem like a proper place.
But no one refutes it, as its scope of operations is indeed somewhat beyond everyone's expectations.
["Hu Tao, rarely serious: 'I said before, the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor didn't start with funeral rites but with work similar to doctors.'"]
["'During the Archon War, corpses littered the fields, lives were devastated, and infectious diseases spread everywhere. "Death" was frantically devouring the world of the living.'"]
["'At that time, the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor was born. As insignificant humans, we spent an immense amount of time driving death back.'"]
A single sentence encapsulates the efforts of generations of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor members.
Jokes aside, the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor absolutely qualifies as a heroic organization. They were the first to stand up in the face of 'life and death.'
After countless generations of effort, they drove 'death' away.
Later, during Liyue's development period, 'demon god remnants' did 'return' at times, and it was through the efforts of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor and the Yakshas that they were quelled.
This is what Zhongli mentioned—the collaboration between the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor and the Yakshas.
["'After that, it was a long, long time—very, very long—until balance was restored, and the boundary was clearly drawn. That's how we got the Liyue Harbor you see today, the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor you see, and—me.'"]
At the end of her words, the Hu Tao in the illustration rarely shows a serious, earnest expression.
["Traveler, surprised: 'So you can tell such serious stories too.'"]
The serious Hu Tao flashes her signature smile again, making it hard to tell if it's genuine or fake.
["Hu Tao laughs: 'Hahaha, this is the stuff the old hall master loved to ramble about. I think I tell it better than they did.'"]
At this moment, readers don't feel much reading this, unaware that the 'old hall master' Hu Tao refers to is her grandfather.
But soon, Lucian will make them aware.
===✧✦✧===
Character Voice Line · Furina: About Hu Tao
"I like her a lot, but… from what I can tell, her smile doesn't seem all that genuine."