At this moment, in front of the Morgue door, Hu Tao was holding the staff of homa and facing off against Ferrylady.
"Why did you close the door?"
"No... I thought the Funeral Director was looking for a Gigolo..."
"Didn't I tell you I was looking for a consultant?"
"You did say that, but Mr. Huo is so handsome, and you are getting older, so I thought... I thought 'consultant' was just a cover."
"Then why don't you misunderstand Zhongli?"
"He's different. Although Mr. Zhongli is a wonderful person, he exudes the air of someone enjoying retirement—drinking tea and strolling with a bird—it's hard for ordinary people to have those kinds of thoughts about him. Plus, keeping him as a Gigolo... that would be quite a test of financial strength."
Orion quietly listened to the two girls engaging in their turn-based conversation right in front of him, feeling utterly helpless.
We're an action JRPG, what are you doing with turn-based combat?
Unable to bear it any longer, Orion interrupted, "I say, is no one going to consider untying me?"
Hu Tao and Ferrylady suddenly looked over together. Ferrylady lowered her gaze, while Hu Tao scratched her head: "Sorry about that, we forgot."
Hu Tao then turned to Ferrylady and said, "Could you please brew another pot of Sweet Flower Tea, and bring the Preserved Fruit I had earlier to the Reception Room as well!"
What kind of diabetes special is this?
But Ferrylady didn't raise any questions; she simply bowed slightly, acknowledged the request, and withdrew.
Hu Tao also turned around, took off her Large Sunglasses and placed them on top of her head. Still carrying the staff of homa with one hand, she said to Orion, "Well then, consultant Huo, who is a day late, let's go!"
Orion smiled and nodded, extending his bound hands. Although he could untie himself, why do it when someone else could?
Hu Tao understood immediately. She walked over and extended her small hand toward Orion.
She then picked up the rope binding Orion and started walking ahead: "Come, come, consultant Orion, this way please!"
Orion:???
Are you doing this on purpose or by accident?
Hu Tao led Orion, still tied by the rope, through several twists and turns until they arrived at the room Orion had first entered.
Looking again now, there was actually a couplet next to the Reception Room.
First line: Ask not the road you traveled, let wind and rain become sounds of laughter.
Second line: Let us finish this Stick of Incense, for mountains and rivers shall meet again.
Ah, that's the flavor, that's the flavor! This unrestrained spirit somewhat matches Hu Tao's philosophical contemplation of life and death!
"Did you write this couplet?" Orion pointed with his chin.
Hu Tao crossed her arms, lifted her chin, and hummed twice: "How is it? Aren't you impressed by this Funeral Director's talent?"
Orion nodded: "Impressive. I have read many good poems and couplets, but I still believe that the unique thought contained within the text itself is what makes it easiest for people to keep reading."
"AUV! Not bad!" Hu Tao opened her large eyes and looked at Orion: "You're not actually a soulmate the Lord of Geo sent me, are you?"
Then, Hu Tao, still holding the rope, spoke to herself: "Sigh, you wouldn't know, but every time I write a poem like this, or a couplet like this, I want to hang them up by the door or paste them onto the wooden sign outside.
"But every time, the guys in the parlor advise me: 'Funeral Director, absolutely not!' They say things like,'Separation by life and death is a major matter, how can it be treated like child's play?' And also, 'If the relatives of the deceased see sentences like that, they might get upset.'"
"But the implication of this Funeral Director's sentence is just asking them to look past their grief, don't you think? The dead cannot return to life; it is the living who must look toward the future!"
Orion looked at Hu Tao, then looked at the couplet.
"I can only say that standing from different perspectives leads to seeing different things."
"WangSheng Funeral Parlor is familiar with Both Realms, neither lingering in the Mortal World nor fearing the past. It is natural for the Funeral Director to be more open-minded than the average person."
"But ordinary people are different. Common folk don't care about the Mortal World or the afterlife; they only know one fact: once the seven Posterity Nails are hammered into the coffin, they will truly never see their loved ones again."
"What remains is only an empty heart and a complex feeling, realized only on the way home: the closer they get to home, the further they feel from the departed relative."
"Therefore, the general populace cannot achieve the detachment of the Funeral Director, and this is why the successive Funeral Directors of the WangSheng Funeral Parlor needed to wholeheartedly protect them in the past, right?"
Listening to Orion's simple words, Hu Tao inexplicably recalled how, as a child, she had specifically gone to the Yin-Yang Boundary in Liyue to see her deceased grandfather one last time, only to be met with two days of fruitless waiting.
Finally, an old woman who was about to cross over told her that successive Funeral Directors of the WangSheng Funeral Parlor always departed directly, never lingering in such places where Yin and Yang converge, nor holding any attachment to the Mortal World.
Once her heart's burden was lifted, she suddenly felt the world broaden. That night, her younger self returned to the WangSheng Funeral Parlor, and upon opening the package, a gleaming Vision was lying inside.
Recalling that precious memory, Hu Tao's lips curved upward. She leaned closer and waved the rope she held in front of Orion's eyes: "As expected of someone this Funeral Director values, you see this matter as clearly as I do. In that case, this Funeral Director truly cannot let you go!"
Around the corner, Ferrylady was approaching, carrying a tray of Tea and Snacks. She looked up, saw the scene, and immediately turned back.
Hu Tao, Orion:???
"Hey, hey, hey, why are you carrying away this Funeral Director's things again!"
"Sorry to disturb you. Please continue; I'll bring them back later."
"Miss Ferrylady! You've misunderstood again!"
"Yes, yes, yes, I won't tell anyone. And my name is not Ferrylady!"
.
.
.
Soon after, Hu Tao chased Ferrylady back, bringing the Tea and Snacks back as well.
As soon as Ferrylady returned, she saw Orion had broken free of his restraints, and she immediately showed an expression of disdain.
Untying himself without even needing a safe word—and he says it's not a fetish?
Afterward, Orion casually found a chair and sat down. Hu Tao sat down just as casually beside him and briefly explained what a consultant needed to do.
"Actually, you just need to provide opinions and suggestions when necessary! Simply put, you're a consultant. Alternatively, if you find any good, rare items, you can buy them for the WangSheng Funeral Parlor; we might be able to use them!"
Hearing Hu Tao say this, Ferrylady quickly rushed over and whispered something in Hu Tao's ear. Hu Tao listened while nibbling on a pastry, then looked at Orion in shock.
"Opening Treasure Chests?! Are you good at opening Treasure Chests?"
Orion patted his chest: "I am a professional Adventurer, after all. I won't miss any Treasure Chest that enters my field of view."
Hu Tao was immediately overjoyed: "So a consultant can be a profession that comes with its own revenue stream?!"
"What exactly do you guys usually go through?"
Just then, the BGM around Orion suddenly changed style, and the prelude belonging to the Storyteller abruptly began.
"Deng Leng Leng—"
Orion:?
The three of them turned to look towards the door. A man with dark brown hair, wearing a National Style Suit and playing with walnuts in his hand, walked in: "Funeral Director, today I saw a Porcelain Vase outside. The glaze was exquisite and the craftsmanship fine, and it was from at least two or three thousand years ago, so I bought it and the bill... Eh? Do we have a guest?"
Hu Tao pointed at Zhongli, who had just entered: "See, this is what we've been through before—the Bill Reaper."
Orion nodded: "It must be very difficult for the WangSheng Funeral Parlor to maintain profitability."
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