Today's Liyue was bustling with extraordinary excitement.
Even Neuvillette and Focalors felt a little dazzled by the sights, let alone Kokomi and the others who had just emerged from the long years of Inazuma's isolation.
Especially Kokomi and her companions—seeing such prosperity and peace after so long, their eyes grew misty.
If Inazuma had never fallen into war, had no Vision Hunt Decree, had never locked its borders—even if it could not be as prosperous as Liyue, it should at least have shared some measure of this splendor, right?
The passersby on the streets, whether wealthy merchants or ordinary citizens, were all neatly and brightly dressed.
Their faces were rosy and healthy, without any trace of the starvation so common in Inazuma.
Shops shouting their wares lined both sides of the road, orderly patrol troops marching past.
This confidence of a great nation was evident even in these smallest of details.
Ayaka stared for a long time, and in her heart a fierce, unshakable resolve to change Inazuma suddenly took root.
Right now, the Shogun seemed to have softened somewhat; at the very least Kujou Sara had already come.
Since that was the case, why not seize this opening, break through directly, and restore Inazuma to what it once was?
Compared to Ayaka and the others' complex emotions, Neuvillette and Focalors—brought here by Furina—looked at Liyue with only amazement and deep thought.
They could not deny it—Liyue had already given them the most perfect direction for national development.
To raise the fortune of their nation, they simply needed to follow this model.
Livelihood, economy, military—
If all three advanced together, the nation's destiny would surely become stronger than ever before.
With Furina's Celestial Investiture of the Gods technique, once bound to Liyue, the crisis foretold in Fontaine's prophecy could likely be resolved with ease.
This overwhelming national fortune—its strength was obvious, even without any need for its material manifestation.
After walking a while, Gorou suddenly spoke:
"So this is martial cultivation?"
Everyone followed his gaze and saw a little girl anxiously watching her kite drifting higher and higher into the sky.
She looked so pitiful, as if she were about to burst into tears.
But in the next instant, a Millelith soldier suddenly leapt up, soaring more than ten meters into the air with ease, and snatched the kite back.
He returned it to the girl, smiling warmly as he patted her head.
"Today is the Rite of Descension—no flying kites allowed. Make sure it doesn't fly away again."
The girl's joy at regaining her kite was boundless.
"Got it! Thank you, Millelith Uncle!"
The soldier returned to his patrol. Feeling eyes upon him, he turned slightly, gave a faint nod, then continued marching with his unit.
"So strong…"
Kujou Sara narrowed her eyes slightly, shocked.
"The energy within him doesn't feel much weaker than my own… are there many such martial experts in Liyue?"
"Not exactly many, but certainly not few either."
Suddenly, a mischievous voice rang out. Everyone glanced around, yet could not find the source.
In this lively, bustling street, a chill spread in the hearts of Kujou Sara and the others.
"Who?"
"Heehee, why don't you guess? If you guess wrong… you'll be eaten up, you know."
The voice turned eerie, and a cold wind began swirling around them.
Compared to the martial expert from before, this untraceable ghostly wind struck even deeper fear into their hearts, the sense of danger far greater.
But—
Kazuha recognized the familiar aura in the wind, and sighed helplessly.
"Hall Master Hu, is that you?"
The ghost wind halted, then slowly dissipated.
"Tch… boring. You found out so quickly."
As her voice fell, a swirl of black yin wind gathered, and Hu Tao's figure emerged.
From that gloomy vortex of ghostly qi, out stepped a radiant, cheerful young girl.
The contrast was almost too much to accept.
Kazuha chuckled lightly and cupped his hands.
"It's been a few days, Hall Master Hu. Your Ghostly Phantom Steps have grown ever more refined."
"Don't flatter me! You saw through me, didn't you?"
Hu Tao waved her hand with feigned disinterest.
"Not exactly 'saw through.'" Kazuha smiled.
"The nature of this true essence is quite distinct. Among all of Mount Shu's arts, only you cultivate such a technique. Naturally, I guessed it was you."
"So my cultivation really is top-notch after all!"
Hearing that, Hu Tao puffed out her chest proudly, her mood greatly improved.
"Not in vain—I've harvested dozens of souls these past days."
"Hu Tao, it's been a while."
Furina walked past Kazuha with Neuvillette and the others, pulling Hu Tao into a big, careless hug.
Among the disciples of Mount Shu, Furina and Hu Tao shared the closest bond.
Perhaps because both were still young maidens, equally lively and mischievous at heart.
Ever since they joined Mount Shu, the two had become inseparable confidantes.
"Long time no see, Fufu."
Hu Tao beamed, clinging to Furina's arm, then glanced at Neuvillette and the rest behind her.
"Are these new clients you've brought me? I knew Fufu treated me the best! Don't worry, I'll give you a commission!"
"But wait—why does this one look exactly like you? Is she your sister?"
Furina scratched her cheek awkwardly.
"No, no! I brought them to meet the Sect Master. This is Neuvillette, our Chief Justice of Fontaine, also known as the Hydro Dragon King.
"As for this one—she's the true Hydro Archon, Focalors."
Hu Tao's eyes widened with curiosity.
"So you're the water god who cursed Fufu for five hundred years?"
"Hello, Miss Hu Tao."
Unlike Furina, Focalors spoke with elegance and grace.
But Hu Tao still preferred Furina. After all, the two could play together—and more importantly, Furina had agreed to let Hu Tao open a branch of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor in Fontaine.
If that wasn't a true best friend, what was?
See? Even gods differed—Furina was way better than that stingy Zhongli who had joined Mount Shu and still kept secrets from her!
"In any case—do you want the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's package service? Since you're Fufu's friends, I'll give you twenty percent off.
"And right now, we're offering a half-price deal on the second tombstone. You two fit perfectly for a bundle package!"
Neuvillette looked a little bewildered, but considering she was both a Mount Shu disciple and Furina's friend, he thought—spending a little money to build rapport wasn't a bad idea.
He was about to agree when Clorinde quickly tugged at him, whispering:
"Mr. Neuvillette, Miss Hu Tao's Wangsheng Funeral Parlor… controls all of Liyue's funeral industry."
Neuvillette stiffened.
"Then the half-price second tombstone…"
"Isn't it obvious?" Hu Tao interrupted, spreading her hands.
"Of course it means gravestones! Since you're Fufu's friends, I'll even throw in a coffin for free. Just making friends!"
Neuvillette fell silent. After a long pause, he turned his gaze away.
"Thank you for your generosity, Miss Hu Tao. But for now, we have no such need."
"Fine, fine. But when you do, remember to come to us first—I'll give you the best price under heaven."
"…Alright."
Having received his promise, Hu Tao cheerfully turned to Kazuha's companions.
"Now, as for you all—"
"Hall Master Hu, no need. In Inazuma we don't follow Liyue's funeral customs."
Kazuha quickly cut her off.
They had just come out of a war; talking about coffins and death was too heavy. It might traumatize Kokomi and the others.
"Tch… fine, suit yourselves."
Hu Tao shrugged, then asked:
"By the way, Kazuha, aren't you going to introduce your companions?"
Kazuha nodded helplessly.
"This is Kujou Sara, general of the Inazuma Shogunate. This is the present Divine Priestess of Watatsumi Island, Sangonomiya Kokomi. This is General Gorou of the resistance.
"Lady Kamisato Ayaka of the Kamisato Clan, and Yoimiya, the fireworks master of Inazuma."
Hu Tao blinked, then smiled.
"All big names, huh…"
"Hardly." Kokomi shook her head modestly.
"Compared to Hall Master Hu, we are nothing."
"No need for such politeness! I don't go for that kind of thing."
Hu Tao crossed her arms casually. Kokomi seemed to recall something and asked softly:
"Hall Master Hu, earlier you said that Millelith soldier's level of strength is quite common in Liyue?"
"Not common, exactly. But among innate cultivators, there are at least a few thousand."
Hu Tao didn't linger on the topic. She had just returned from guiding souls and only meant to attend the Rite of Descension before going back to Mount Shu for cultivation.
But since she had run into Furina and the others, she might as well play guide for a while.
With that thought, Hu Tao looped her arm through Furina's again, smiling brightly.
"Looks like you're showing them around Liyue. Why not let me lead?
"Though I'm usually running about on Wangsheng Funeral Parlor business, I am still a born-and-bred Liyuean!
"How about it? It's a rare chance to have me as your tour guide!"
Neuvillette and the others exchanged glances. They knew she probably just wanted to tag along, but having Hu Tao guide them could indeed offer deeper insights.
Not to mention, befriending a cultivator wasn't a bad move.
"Then we'll trouble you, Hall Master Hu."
Focalors spoke softly, not interrupting Hu Tao and Furina's reunion.
For Furina to find a true friend was no small blessing.
Still, curiosity about Hu Tao lingered among them. Watching her chatter happily with Furina, Neuvillette turned to Clorinde, silently asking for an explanation.
Clorinde understood, whispering:
"Hall Master Hu was the second-best performer in the Mount Shu initiation trials, surpassed only by Lady Furina.
"She is now an inner-sect disciple of Dragonhead Peak, at the mid-stage of Refining Essence into Qi."
Mid-stage Refining Essence into Qi?
That meant she was even stronger than Furina and Kazuha. Among all the inner-sect disciples, she already stood at a mid-tier level.
And she had only joined Mount Shu not long ago.
Which meant—her strength had already been extraordinary even before entering the sect.
"Also, you should be aware," Clorinde continued,
"the cultivation art she practices is called the Ten Thousand Ghosts Codex—a demonic technique that manipulates the souls of the dead.
"In other words… Hall Master Hu is a demonic cultivator."
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