The girl was around sixteen or seventeen, lively and mischievous, wearing a grin that looked like she might pull a prank at any moment.
Her smooth reddish-brown hair was tied into twin ponytails. She wore a traditional Chinese-style outfit with patterns and a long trailing hem, embroidered with lilies and red spider lilies. On her head was a Taiji-style hat, with a plum blossom branch tucked into the side—most likely snapped straight from the plum garden.
Seeing that Luo Li wasn't startled, her expressive, plum-blossom-like eyes blinked twice.
"Tch, boring. You didn't even get scared."
She pouted, then noticed Luo Li examining her. Placing both hands over her chest, she announced loudly:
"Allow me to introduce myself! I am the 77th Director of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor—Hu Tao! So, unfamiliar guest, what business do you have coming to Wangsheng?"
Before Luo Li could answer, she rattled on nonstop.
"Hmm, judging by your glowing complexion and healthy appearance, you're clearly not here for work-related reasons, right?"
Hu Tao launched straight into a confident analysis.
Watching her slender fingers—painted with jet-black nail polish—wave around, Luo Li replied regretfully:
"Sorry, I'm here to see Zhongli. Little Director, you guessed wrong."
"Eh? You're here for Zhongli?" Hu Tao exclaimed. "Do you have some kind of difficult question for him?"
Despite it being their first meeting, she spoke as if they were already familiar.
Most people would find it hard to keep up with her pace, but Luo Li was well-versed in dealing with such personalities.
After all, he had once infiltrated the Inazuma Shogunate.
Sighing, Luo Li said, "No place to go. I figured I'd seek refuge with a friend."
"I see!" Hu Tao nodded, then brightened. "Perfect timing—Wangsheng is short on manpower. Since you're Zhongli's guest, why not become my consultant as well?"
Is Wangsheng really that rich?
Luo Li glanced at her skeptically.
Hu Tao snorted proudly, hands on her hips.
"Wangsheng Funeral Parlor is Liyue's number one business! Birth, aging, sickness, death—everyone is a potential customer. Supporting a few consultants is nothing!"
That was true.
Unless someone died far from home and their remains were never recovered, everyone would eventually pass through Wangsheng.
"We just met. Is that really appropriate?" Luo Li began acting.
"Though I do think I'm not inferior to Zhongli, still—"
Hu Tao's eyes lit up.
Not inferior to Zhongli?!
She immediately turned to Zhongli, who calmly nodded in confirmation.
Hu Tao clenched her fists in excitement.
I must get him!
Just Zhongli alone brought Wangsheng enormous business—many ancient funeral rites and adepti send-off ceremonies were already lost to history.
As far as she knew, Zhongli was the only one left who understood them.
And now—another one had appeared?!
Grinning slyly, Hu Tao scooted over and sat right beside Luo Li, her soft body pressing close.
"Since you're Zhongli's friend, you're my friend too! From now on, food, clothes, housing, and travel—I'll cover it all! Just submit the expense reports. How about it?"
Hu Tao firmly believed in one principle:
You have to spend money to make money.
"..."
Luo Li now fully understood why so many people avoided her.
Constantly pitching funeral services door-to-door was already bad enough—shop owners found her especially troublesome.
Worst of all, she stuck like glue. Impossible to chase away.
Seeing Hu Tao latch onto a new target, Zhongli quietly breathed a sigh of relief and nodded approvingly.
This child was difficult to deal with.
Since Luo Li was skilled with women, he would leave it to him.
Luo Li didn't refuse outright, but neither did he agree immediately. After some thought, he finally nodded.
"Alright. I'll accept."
"Hehe, wonderful! Such an auspicious moment—this Director shall compose a poem!"
Calling herself a dark poet of the alleyways, Hu Tao happily jumped up and paced around, preparing to recite her doggerel poetry.
Luo Li and Zhongli ignored her and continued their earlier conversation.
"If I don't interfere, then according to your plan, things should start soon."
"Since the Fatui have stirred the waters, they'll attack from every angle. Even the adepti will be used as tools."
Zhongli agreed.
"Indeed. The timing should be about right."
His gaze drifted into the distance—toward the direction of Jueyun Karst.
Through overlapping clouds and mist, something could faintly be seen racing toward them.
The two fell silent, like chess players watching the board, waiting to see how the game would unfold.
"I've got it!"
Hu Tao suddenly exclaimed, just as she was about to recite her poem.
At that moment, a voice came from outside.
"Director, someone is here looking for Mr. Zhongli."
Her poem got swallowed back down.
Hu Tao froze and looked toward the courtyard entrance.
There, the Wangsheng ferryman peeked halfway inside. Seeing Luo Li, she stared in confusion, wondering when an outsider had appeared in the parlor.
Hearing this, Luo Li turned to Zhongli.
"Your chess piece has arrived."
Morax, in his mortal guise, followed his gaze.
Behind the ferryman stood a striking young man.
Tall and slender, dressed in gray, he looked like a silver blade wrapped in velvet—sharp and refined.
Though his face still carried traces of youth, confidence radiated from his entire being.
"Pardon the intrusion," the young man said with a smile, peeking inside.
"May I ask if Mr. Zhongli is present?"
Luo Li glanced at him once, then looked away.
A tool delivered straight to the door—might as well use it.
As expected, Zhongli's expression shifted slightly. His calm, aged voice sounded out:
"May I ask what brings you here, sir?"
The young man—Tartaglia—smiled faintly.
"I've heard that Mr. Zhongli, consultant of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, is well-versed in matters of the adepti, knowledgeable across all fields. So I came with a small question."
"Please, go on."
Tartaglia's smile slowly faded.
"Since the death of the Geo Archon, the Liyue Qixing have done nothing—except centralize power and conceal the divine remains. They've taken no real action. Their intentions are… suspicious."
"We Fatui may be outsiders, but we are willing to seek justice for an allied nation. The Geo Archon's death is a tragedy. I hope to uncover the truth and return it to the people."
"However, the divine remains have been hidden by the Qixing. There's no way to determine the cause of death."
"May I ask—do you have any solution?"
Luo Li raised an eyebrow.
This visitor… had not come with good intentions.