A young girl wearing an octagonal hat with her peach-pink hair tied in twin tails stood on the streets of Liyue Harbor, sighing deeply.
"Birth, aging, sickness, and death are clearly the natural laws of life. Isn't it a good thing to prepare in advance? Yet not a single person dares to face this truth."
Hu Tao said with a look of melancholy.
[So cute! Another new wife!]
[Ever since stepping onto the land of Liyue, I've been constantly bombarded by the beauty of new characters.]
[Using ancient words, we are destined to encounter peach blossoms. Our peach blossom luck is at its peak.]
[Let the storm come even harder! I can take it!]
Although Wangsheng Funeral Parlor had monopolized Liyue's entire funeral industry ever since Liyue Harbor was founded and fundamentally did not need to go out looking for customers, the parlor only needed to exist for clients to keep coming to seek their services.
However, the 77th Director of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor remained tirelessly enthusiastic about proactively finding "potential clients."
This had resulted in Director Hu's poor reputation in Liyue Harbor. In Liyue terms, when the Director of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor personally approached someone, it felt somewhat ominous.
Ordinary people found Hu Tao very difficult to understand.
But clearly, Jun Bai was not an ordinary person.
"Excuse me, are you the current Director of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, Hu Tao?"
Hearing someone call her name, Hu Tao looked up and saw a black-haired, red-eyed young man walking over.
"Yes, the 77th Director of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor is none other than Hu Tao herself." The originally somewhat dejected Hu Tao puffed out her chest and said.
[That action… MiHoYo, are you doing this on purpose?]
[Flat-chested princess? Or cross-dressing?]
[Just from the voice you can tell it's impossible for her to be a guy. Accept reality—your new wife is flat.]
[It's fine, small ones are cute too, and they naturally grow bigger after frequent rubbing.]
"Super mods, mute everyone who's driving." Silver Wolf waved her small hand and issued the punishment.
Do not run a barbershop in my livestream.
Jun Bai stood in front of Hu Tao and said politely: "I have long heard that the current Director of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor is an extraordinary person. Only after seeing you today do I realize the rumors were true."
"Oh my, little brother, you're quite good with words. This Director likes you very much." Hu Tao laughed.
Jun Bai smiled and nodded in response, then looked at the man standing behind Hu Tao: "Zhongli, it's been a while."
"I hope you have been well."
The man nodded slightly toward Jun Bai.
The man had a tall and slender build, with long hair tied up and naturally hanging down his back. He wore a morning-coat-style long robe that exuded maturity and steadiness. His appearance was handsome, and his narrow, long eyes seemed to contain the vicissitudes of the ages.
Wangsheng Funeral Parlor Consultant (public identity), Zhongli.
[So handsome.]
[Aiya, let me see who I found—turns out it's my long-lost husband!]
[Jun Bai or Zhongli… so hard to choose.]
The female viewers in the livestream were calling him husband, while Silver Wolf was pondering whether she had seen this person somewhere before.
Was it in the closed beta plot? It didn't seem that long ago… it should have been recently…
Silver Wolf looked thoughtfully at Jun Bai, then recalled the three statues enshrined in Guili Assembly square.
An idea surfaced in her mind, but she did not mention it in the livestream. She planned to continue the story first.
Hu Tao looked at Zhongli and said: "Consultant Zhongli, won't you introduce this friend of yours to the Director?"
"Director Hu, my name is Jun Bai. I am from Guili Assembly and met Zhongli there."
To prevent the honest Zhongli from revealing his identity, Jun Bai performed a cupped-fist salute first and introduced himself.
Although there would be no issue if Hu Tao learned his identity as the Nirvana God, since they were putting on a full act, it was better not to expose it if possible.
"A friend of the Consultant is a friend of this Director. Little brother Jun Bai, no need to be polite—just call me Hu Tao." Hu Tao said familiarly.
"Then I shall respectfully obey." Jun Bai smiled and naturally addressed her: "Hello, Hu Tao. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Hu Tao waved her hand, then asked with great enthusiasm: "I wonder if little brother Jun Bai knows about Wangsheng Funeral Parlor?"
"Of course I do. The Wangsheng Funeral Parlor that lays the deceased to rest and maintains the boundary between life and death. In Guili Assembly, whenever someone passes away, the funeral is always handled by Wangsheng Funeral Parlor."
[Translation: funeral parlor.]
[So Hu Tao is a funeral parlor boss?]
[Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's business is quite big—reaching all the way from Liyue Harbor to Guili Assembly. Is it the only funeral business in all of Liyue?]
[Wait, wasn't Hu Tao just trying to sell Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's services to someone earlier?]
"Then I wonder if little brother Jun Bai would like to pre-order some services from Wangsheng Funeral Parlor? With the Rite of Descension approaching, Wangsheng Funeral Parlor has launched a series of promotional activities. The more you buy, the more you get. I guarantee it will put you one step ahead of other clients."
Hu Tao's eyes sparkled as she promoted the business.
Zhongli listened to these words, his gaze falling on Jun Bai's face. Seeing the smile on the other party's face, the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.
After all, Jun Bai was different from ordinary people. The kind of service Wangsheng Funeral Parlor was promoting… Jun Bai might actually be able to use it.
"Sure. Give me the highest-tier service."
"Let me tell you, little brother, this is a rare opportunity. After all…" Hu Tao was about to continue persuading him when she suddenly froze. Did he just say "sure"?
Jun Bai said with a serious face: "However, can I skip the buy-one-get-one-free promotions and such? My epitaph doesn't need two tombstones."
[? Wait, Brother Bai, you actually want this promotion?]
[Hu Tao: Bro, aren't you being a bit too cooperative?]
[He doesn't even want the free extra tombstone.]
Hu Tao had always been dedicated to promoting Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's services, partly due to her lively nature.
But Jun Bai believed she was using her own way to make the people of Liyue try to face life and death directly, and not treat death as something terrifying.
Jun Bai himself had always viewed life and death openly. In the previous background supplements, he had even personally experienced death (and would experience it again in future supplements).
His current attitude toward death was very calm.
Therefore, when faced with Hu Tao's proactive promotion of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's services, Jun Bai did not choose to avoid it. Instead, he actively accepted.
There were reasons to raise Hu Tao's favorability and to create contrast for popularity points, but the main reason was that Jun Bai had absolutely no taboos regarding life and death.
Looking at Jun Bai's serious expression, Hu Tao realized he was not joking.
Immediately, Director Hu's eyes grew moist. She grabbed Jun Bai's hands, her expression excited as she said: "Really? You're really willing to pre-order services from Wangsheng Funeral Parlor?"
"Of course." Jun Bai nodded.
"From now on, you are my Hu Tao's confidant." Hu Tao's eyes were wet, as if she had found a kindred spirit.
Only Zhongli standing to the side knew that these two were resonating with each other at this moment. Jun Bai, who saw life and death with complete openness, was indeed Hu Tao's true confidant.
"Wait for me. I'll go back to Wangsheng Funeral Parlor right now to get the plaque and register you as a Peach-tier client."
As Hu Tao spoke, she pushed Zhongli toward Jun Bai, then turned and jogged all the way back to Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
"Zhongli, catch up properly with your old friend."
Soon, Hu Tao's figure disappeared at the end of the street.