At this moment, on a cliff at the border between Liyue and Mondstadt, Bennett stood gazing out at the distant land of Liyue, trying to figure out the direction of Liyue Harbor and Wangshu Inn.
Unfortunately, as a professional adventurer, Bennett was uncharacteristically lost.
"Ah, isn't the other side of this mountain supposed to be Wangshu Inn? Did I take the wrong path again?"
"Forget it—I'll find someone and ask for directions."
With that, Bennett shouldered his small pack and set off once more toward Wangshu Inn. He really wanted to get there soon, to see his dad. Maybe by the time he arrived, his dad, after countless reincarnations, would already be standing in the inn, waiting for him.
Thinking of this, Bennett touched the bruises on his shoulder and leg and gradually forgot the pain.
...
Meanwhile, at Wangshu Inn in Liyue, when Li Mo announced the identity of the seventy-fifth director of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, every listener in the inn was stunned.
Because the seventy-fifth director of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor was Hu Tao's grandfather.
Among all the bewildered people, the most stunned was Hu Tao herself, who had been smiling all along.
When listening to others' stories, even the most touching ones couldn't easily make the mischievous Hu Tao cry. The hardships she had endured were no less than those in any previous story. That was why she had developed such a personality over time.
Hu Tao would never have imagined that while she had been eating popcorn and watching the show, cheering for the storyteller and using the opportunity to promote her funeral business, the story would suddenly turn out to be about her. The protagonist of this life had been reincarnated as her grandfather?
Her first reaction was disbelief.
"Impossible. After my grandfather died of illness, I waited alone at Wuwang Hill for several days and never saw his spirit. He must have gone to the underworld. Since he went to the underworld, he can't be a reincarnation in this story."
From the previous stories, Hu Tao knew that every reincarnation in the cycle never entered the underworld. Otherwise, the cycle would be broken.
Hearing Hu Tao's objection, the audience also grew confused.
"That's right. Even though the storyteller hasn't said it yet, Crepus in the twelfth life definitely wouldn't have entered the underworld, which led to the thirteenth reincarnation. So the thirteenth shouldn't have entered either."
"Did the storyteller make a mistake?"
"Is it possible the storyteller got it wrong, and Hu Tao's grandfather isn't actually part of the reincarnation cycle?"
"Forcefully making Hu Tao cry?"
After thinking it over, the audience felt Hu Tao had a point. Unless the thirteenth life was the final one, Hu Tao's grandfather's soul couldn't have entered the underworld.
Just then, a listener spoke up thoughtfully. "Is it possible that Hu Tao's grandfather never entered the underworld at all, and Hu Tao was mistaken?"
Hearing this, even the usually mischievous Hu Tao grew annoyed. "Don't talk nonsense. I waited at Wuwang Hill for many days and never saw my grandfather. He definitely entered the underworld."
She had survived on minimal rations for over a week waiting for him.
The listener continued, "The fact that you didn't see him only means he wasn't there at the time. Could it be that he had already entered the next reincarnation by then? That's why you didn't see him—not because he went to the underworld?"
Other listeners chimed in.
"That's right. Every life ends and immediately enters the next reincarnation. Not finding him at Wuwang Hill doesn't prove whether he entered the underworld or the cycle."
"Let the storyteller continue."
"The previous twelve lives were all correct. The thirteenth shouldn't be wrong either."
The audience debated among themselves.
Hu Tao felt a bit unsettled. She wanted to argue with the audience and the storyteller, but they weren't wrong. Based on the known information, she couldn't prove that her grandfather had definitely entered the underworld rather than the reincarnation cycle. She also couldn't prove the storyteller was lying.
After realizing this, Hu Tao said with some frustration, "Fine, storyteller. Let's hear what you have to say. If I find any errors or fabrications, I'll bury you at Wuwang Hill and let the little ghosts surround you. That'll scare you."
She raised her hands and made a ghostly face to threaten the storyteller, which drew laughter from the audience.
Hu Tao huffed. "What are you laughing at? I'm serious. Anyone who laughs, I'll bury you too."
The audience stifled their laughter. "Alright, alright, let's just listen to the story."
Hu Tao: "…"
Now, Shenhe, Keqing, La Signora, Xiangling, Beidou, and everyone around Hu Tao looked at her with changed eyes. They hadn't expected even this mischievous girl to appear in the storyteller's tales.
Beidou said seriously, "That's right, Hu Tao. Let the storyteller finish first. If he makes anything up, I won't let him off."
Keqing added, "Yes, let's hear what he has to say."
Xiangling said, "I've never heard Hu Tao's childhood stories before. I really want to know."
Qiqi: "Want to hear... why... Hu Tao... became bad."
Hu Tao: "…"
With the entire inn waiting for the storyteller, what else could she do but listen? Though if the storyteller dared to lie, she would definitely make him a customer.
...
Meanwhile, in another corner of the inn, when the three Electro sisters, Zhongli, and the others heard that the thirteenth reincarnation was Hu Tao's grandfather, even they raised their eyebrows.
Ei snorted. "Hu Tao's grandfather—your former superior, Zhongli. You must know him well, don't you?"
Zhongli said flatly, "Not really."
He had only made a contract with him under certain circumstances.
Barbatos frowned. "That Tartaglia hasn't actually run away, has he? Does he think he can escape? Should I go check his inn and bring him back?"
Ei nodded. "You'd better find him. We can't handle the bills without Tartaglia."
Just as they were speaking, Zhongli raised his hand and pointed toward the inn's entrance. "No need to look. Tartaglia is already here."
Barbatos grinned. "Eh, perfect! Innkeeper, bring out your finest wine. We've got Mora now."
Ei: "And three servings of the best sweets."