"You're saying you plan to take Hu Tao back to Mondstadt for a visit?" The gaze of the elderly Hall Master Hu carried a trace of stern authority.
Oh no! This strange feeling!
Why do I feel like a shady blonde punk trying to abduct someone's granddaughter?!
Cid's heart was a little flustered…
But feeling the expectant gaze of little Hu Tao standing beside him…
Let's do it, brothers! I can't disappoint a cute child!
"Yes." Cid nodded. "I'm worried that after I leave, Hu Tao will be very…"
Cid searched for the right wording, recalling the way people in Liyue Harbor looked at little Hu Tao.
"Lonely."
Cid settled on that word and began explaining the reasonableness and benefits of taking little Hu Tao to Mondstadt:
"Mondstadt is the city of freedom. I think if I take little Hu Tao there, she might make friends her own age."
The elderly Hall Master Hu looked at Cid, making Cid feel slightly uncomfortable. "It was Hu Tao who troubled you into taking her to Mondstadt, wasn't it?"
Cid shook his head decisively. "No, it was me who said I could take Hu Tao to Mondstadt to play, but I needed to ask for your opinion, Elder Hall Master Hu."
That was the truth. The idea had come from Cid; Hu Tao had only expressed her unhappiness about parting.
"What if I say no?" The elderly Hall Master Hu stroked little Hu Tao's head, and little Hu Tao, seeming to realize this was a life-or-death moment, obediently let her grandpa ruffle her hair.
"Then I would have to go to Mondstadt alone." Cid gave the answer without hesitation. After all, little Hu Tao was still young, and on such a major matter, her opinion was secondary to her guardian's.
Little Hu Tao raised both hands, as if in protest. "But I don't rule out the possibility of running away on my own~"
Little Hu Tao's hand-raising gesture felt so cute…
Wait a second, why am I sensing killing intent?
The eerie aura coming from the elderly Hall Master Hu felt like he was about to bury me!
Feel the power of a grandfather swinging a shovel to protect his granddaughter!
"Elder Hall Master Hu, don't mind it. Even if little Hu Tao ran away, I would bring her back." Cid said very seriously. "No matter what, little Hu Tao is still too young right now. For safety reasons, your opinion is the most important in this matter."
Little Hu Tao's eyes widened as she gave a look that said, "You actually betrayed me."
Sorry, little Hu Tao, forgive Uncle. This really isn't something that can be decided by a child like you. Learn early about the dangers of adult society! This is only a tiny fraction of the darkness that society holds!
"If you encountered danger on the road, what would you do?" The elderly Hall Master Hu restrained his aura and seemed to return to being a kind old grandfather.
He's probably testing my attitude? But asking so directly—anyone would say something nice, right?
Cid looked at the elderly Hall Master Hu. At this moment, the elderly Hall Master Hu was looking into Cid's eyes with an extremely serious and penetrating gaze.
Old people become shrewd with age; dealing with a young man like me who can hardly hide his thoughts would be no problem at all.
But this gaze was somewhat unfriendly to someone like me—a bit of a shut-in with social anxiety who isn't good at communicating.
Cid instinctively closed his eyes and began organizing his thoughts: If we met danger on the road, how far would I go to protect little Hu Tao?
What could I at least do?
In just a brief moment, Cid already had his answer.
"If we encountered danger, I would consider running away with Hu Tao directly," Cid opened his eyes and looked at the elderly Hall Master Hu, keeping his gaze fixed on the other's eyes without shifting away. "I can be certain of one thing: if something unexpected happened, I would definitely fall in front of little Hu Tao."
It was only a promise for now, but Cid was certain he could do it—no, that he would do it.
This wasn't a statement of confidence; it was a declaration of fact.
Once I found myself here and met them, I would definitely get bored enough to help them anyway.
"Bullshit!" The elderly Hall Master Hu's voice was loud, like thunder in the ears.
…
So, was the thought I just had merely self-indulgent sentimentality deceiving myself?
The elderly Hall Master Hu appeared very angry. "Talking about dying or not dying! You're simply not treating your own life as something that matters!"
…
Is that how it is? Now that he mentions it, it really does seem that way…
I really don't seem to take it very seriously. When I went adventuring outside Mondstadt, I had the mindset of "if I die, I die." When I stayed in Dragonspine, I never thought about death either—I just stayed there on instinct.
This really… does seem to be a problem.
Then it looks like there's no way I can take little Hu Tao to Mondstadt. After all, someone who doesn't value their own life—how could they value someone else's?
That would just be the self-indulgent desire to sacrifice oneself for others.
"You're right. Death is something to fear and revere." Cid was very dejected, but he genuinely realized he should seriously think about what his own life meant. "Life is precious. I should go back and think about it properly."
"You really should think about it carefully," the elderly Hall Master Hu, being old, was slightly out of breath after speaking loudly. "But it should be now, not after you go back."
?
"Think about it right now. Reflecting while you have the feeling is more useful than empty rumination after going back." The elderly Hall Master Hu pushed open a door. Inside were rows upon rows of coffins, yet under the moonlight they somehow appeared rather serene and lonely.
The Wangsheng Funeral Parlor truly is quiet. Wangsheng…
It really is a good place to contemplate.