As the captain of the Crux Fleet, Beidou was a true leader, possessing the unique presence of someone in command. Arataki Itto, on the other hand, was nothing more than a street thug from Inazuma. Though both were "bosses" in name, their bearing could not have been more different. Beidou had led her crew for years. She had seen plenty of troublemakers like him and had dealt with far too many. She didn't take him seriously at all. With a single word, she could have Kazuha toss him out.
As the self-proclaimed king of Inazuma's kids, Arataki Itto was wary of Beidou but not afraid of her. Just as he was about to say something, Kazuha quickly pulled him aside and signaled him to stop, or he really would be thrown out. Itto was a loyal man. For Kazuha's sake, he decided to let this captain slide for now. Once the stories were over, he would defeat her in sumo wrestling.
…
When Itto sat back down and cheerfully pulled out his Onikabuto to train for the next beetle fight, on stage, Li Mo saw the audience quiet down and set down his cup to continue.
As he spoke, the Electro projections above the inn shifted once more. The images showed the empty courtyard of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
A day had passed since Hu Tao's return. In that time, in order to be a worthy director, she had dropped out of school and devoted herself entirely to the parlor's business. During the day, she promoted services on the streets of Liyue. At night, she studied the ancient texts. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't attract a single customer. No one trusted Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. No one believed a thirteen-year-old girl could properly host a funeral. If this continued, the parlor would decline.
So, to lead Wangsheng Funeral Parlor back to prosperity, Hu Tao distributed flyers everywhere and held a recruitment drive. She was hiring pallbearers, masters of ceremonies, and consultants. She spent the entire day preparing.
When the appointed time arrived the next day, Hu Tao set up a table and chairs in the courtyard, ready to greet applicants. But she waited and waited. The sun set. Night fell. Still, no one came.
Looking at her own flyers, Hu Tao thought for a long time and murmured to herself, "Why is no one coming? Even though there's no salary, I'm offering room and board, and a valuable free funeral opportunity. Isn't that attractive enough?"
It wasn't that Hu Tao didn't want to pay wages. The parlor's business was so poor that there was simply no extra Mora to spare. Offering food and shelter was already generous.
She sat in the chair for a long time, then sighed and stood up, ready to end the day's recruitment and think of another plan. But just as she was about to move the tables and chairs, she heard rustling from the darkness outside the gate.
Footsteps.
Hu Tao said seriously, "Who's there? Who's hiding outside so late? Are you a customer? Funeral services are thirty percent off today!"
She peered curiously into the dark street beyond the gate. The next moment, a young man carrying a birdcage stepped into the courtyard. The moment she saw him, Hu Tao's eyes narrowed. She recognized the birdcage in his hand—it was identical to her grandfather's. In fact, it was the very same one.
The young man saw the curious Hu Tao and said coolly, "I heard Wangsheng Funeral Parlor was hiring. I'd like to apply."
Hu Tao's gaze grew serious. "Why do you have my grandfather's birdcage?"
Zhongli said calmly, "He gave it to me."
Hu Tao looked thoughtful. "I see."
So before her grandfather had passed away, he had given the birdcage to this young man. But why? She decided not to dwell on it. Her grandfather must have had his reasons.
Since someone had actually come to apply, that was a good thing. She would start with the interview. She sat back down and motioned for Zhongli to sit as well.
"What position are you applying for?" she asked.
Zhongli set down the birdcage and said flatly, "Consultant."
Hu Tao asked cautiously, "Did you read my flyer carefully? Are you clear on the benefits?"
To avoid any misunderstandings, she pulled out a flyer and explained earnestly. "Ahem, there's no salary, but room and board are provided. After working a full year, you'll receive a free funeral opportunity. Don't underestimate this—it's a top-tier funeral package. Many people would love to have it."
With no Mora to offer, she had to use free funerals as an incentive. Fortunately, Zhongli didn't care about Mora and had no demands regarding wages.
He said flatly, "I've read it."
For Zhongli, joining Wangsheng Funeral Parlor was not only because of Hu Tao's grandfather's request, but also his own choice.
Hu Tao looked at Zhongli's aloof demeanor with some confusion. He was so young, yet he spoke like an old fossil. Was he prematurely aged? Strange. Still, finding someone willing to join the parlor made her happy.
"Do you have any other conditions? Just name them. If I can manage, I'll do my best to accommodate."
Her first impression of Zhongli was positive. Seeing her grandfather's birdcage in his hands, she trusted her grandfather's judgment and chose to trust him as well.
Zhongli thought for a moment. "No conditions. Just don't interfere with my tea and bird‑watching."
Hu Tao was speechless. Don't interfere with your tea and bird‑watching? Were you here to be a consultant or to be a guest of honor?
Afraid of scaring him off, she didn't argue. Instead, she smiled and agreed. Hehe, once you're officially hired, you're a Wangsheng Funeral Parlor employee. Trying to slack off? Not a chance.
After they came to an agreement, the consultant hiring was complete.
After Zhongli had worked at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor for a while, Hu Tao was astonished to discover that this seemingly young man knew everything. He seemed young, but acted like an old antique. His presence even attracted several new customers.
However, what exhausted Hu Tao was that although Zhongli knew everything, he was incredibly lazy and unwilling to do anything. At every opportunity, he would slip out of the parlor and head to the teahouse to drink tea and listen to stories. What was worse, he put all his bills on Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's tab.