On the land of Liyue, there were many strange and extraordinary places that defied common understanding. There was Jueyun Karst, shrouded in adeptal energy, where legend said qilin once roamed—a sacred retreat for the adepti, revered by all. And there was Wuwang Hill, dark and foreboding, said to be the resting place of departed souls, where even vengeful spirits roamed—a place feared by every citizen. It was said that a hunter who once wandered into Wuwang Hill emerged a madman, too terrified to ever approach it again.
Among all the people of Liyue, only the directors of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor and their few staff regarded Wuwang Hill as sacred.
Now, under the cover of night, in the desolate wilderness, Hu Tao carried a small backpack, clutching its straps tightly with both hands. She took one last look back at the distant lights of Liyue Harbor, then reached up and wiped the tears from her eyes. Gritting her teeth, she stepped without hesitation into the bounds of Wuwang Hill.
Every time she had entered Wuwang Hill before, someone had been with her. This was the first time she was going in alone. Even as the director of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, looking at the eerie world ahead and the fireflies flickering with an unnatural glow, she felt a flicker of fear.
"A shovel. Grandfather said those mischievous little ghosts are afraid of shovels."
She wanted to raise a shovel to scare them off. But only now did she realize she had forgotten to bring one. What should she do?
A chill wind brushed past her. Rustling sounds came from the bushes—little ghosts stirring. Pale shapes darted between the trees.
Hu Tao clenched her teeth, steeled her resolve, and grasped her grandfather's favorite walking stick, raising it high. As she lifted it, a faint red glow flickered along its length, like an ethereal flame, radiating a gentle warmth. The moment the mischievous spirits felt that warmth, they scattered in terror, not daring to come near her again.
And so, clutching her small backpack in one hand to keep her food and water from spilling, and raising her grandfather's walking stick in the other, she ventured into the deep forest.
Her grandfather had once said that the end of Wuwang Hill lay deep within the forest, where an endless sea of red spider lilies bloomed. Though she had visited Wuwang Hill several times, this was her first time entering the forest's depths. A stone path wound through it, but weeds had grown through the cracks, and in some places, tall trees had split the path, forcing Hu Tao to waste precious time finding her way around.
She knew only that the end lay somewhere deep in the forest, not its exact location. So she followed the path as best she could. When vegetation covered it, she had to carefully push it aside to make sure she didn't lose her way. Even without interference from spirits, her progress was slow.
By the time dawn broke the next morning, sunlight filtering through the trees, she still hadn't found the end of Wuwang Hill or her grandfather's spirit.
"The book said Wuwang Hill is in the deepest part of the forest. As long as I keep going, I'll find it."
Buoyed by faith, she didn't give up. She just kept walking. But as she walked, her stomach began to growl. She hadn't eaten in nearly a day and was already hungry.
So she pushed aside some undergrowth, sat down on a stone slab along the path, and carefully opened her pack, pulling out a piece of dried rations and a small bottle of water.
She took a bite of the dry, flavorless food and a sip of water, eating with surprising relish. She didn't know when she would find her grandfather, nor how long the rations would last. So she didn't dare eat too much. After finishing half a piece, she put the rest back in her pack, slung it over her shoulder, and continued her search.
And so she walked through the forest for another full day.
Evening came. The sun was setting. The already eerie forest was shrouded once more in a veil of mystery. Darkness was approaching. As night fell, the spirits that had been sleeping in the grass and among the trees began to stir once more.
But after walking through the forest all day, Hu Tao was no longer the timid girl she had been. She was no longer afraid of spirits. She gathered her courage, lifted her head, and met the gaze of a spirit before her.
As she made out the ethereal, mist-like form, she was startled to realize she recognized it. It was the spirit of Old Man Wang, who had passed away recently.
Summoning her nerve, she walked toward him. As she approached, he noticed her too.
"Little Hu Tao, you can see me? What are you doing here?"
Hu Tao steeled herself and told him she was searching for her grandfather's spirit. "I have to find my grandfather. I still have things I want to say to him."
She wanted to see her grandfather one more time. That was her wish.
But Old Man Wang's spirit said, "I didn't know Old Hu had passed on... Your grandfather was the director of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. No spirit could have stopped him. He must have already reached the end of Wuwang Hill. You might find him there."
Hu Tao nodded firmly. "I'll go there."
With that, she was ready to continue. But just as she was about to leave, Old Man Wang's spirit added, "Little Hu Tao, be careful of the ruins ahead. There are Hilichurls there."
As a departed spirit, he had nothing to fear from Hilichurls. But Hu Tao, with her flesh-and-blood body, could easily attract their attention.
Hu Tao gripped her walking stick tightly. "I'm not afraid of Hilichurls."
With that, she pressed on along the path. Sure enough, before long, she reached the ancient ruins Old Man Wang had warned her about.
From a distance, she could see towering sections of ancient walls rising among the trees, standing firm despite the ages. Pillars carved with strange symbols stood tall, some even taller than the trees themselves. Even Hu Tao felt a sense of reverence and caution at the sight.
She wanted to go around the ruins, but they lay directly on the path to the end of Wuwang Hill. If she wanted to see her grandfather, she had to go through.
So, summoning all her courage, she stepped into the ruins.