"Huh? No one's home?"
Hu Tao blinked, a little puzzled.
Could it be that Old Meng and the others weren't around?
Just as she was about to knock again—
Click.
The door opened from inside, revealing a tall, elegant man.
"Zhongli? You're actually here?"
Hu Tao was surprised.
Although Zhongli was officially a consultant for the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, he was usually nowhere to be found.
The only time she ever heard about him was when he sent over the monthly expense reports.
"I was merely resting here for a while,"
Zhongli replied calmly, nodding slightly.
As he watched Hu Tao walking around the room looking for something, he asked curiously,
"Might I ask, Hall Master, what are you searching for?"
"Have you seen Old Meng and the others?
I have something very important to discuss with them— something that concerns the life and death of the entire Wangsheng Funeral Parlor!"
Hu Tao answered while rummaging around.
But when she couldn't find anyone, she sighed and plopped into a chair.
"Old Meng and the others went out to promote our business,"
Zhongli explained calmly.
"They should be back before long."
"Ah, I see! Then I'll just wait here."
Hu Tao nodded.
In her mind, Old Meng was probably running into the same rejection she did—
so he'd likely be back soon enough.
Zhongli took a seat across from her, intrigued.
"This life-or-death matter for the Funeral Parlor… may I ask what it is?"
Wangsheng's history stretched all the way back to the Archon War— a time when Liyue was filled with death and disease.
Back then, humanity was weak and fragile.
Yet, over long years, the people of Wangsheng had fought back against death itself,
restoring balance and helping the living and the dead find their rightful places.
To Zhongli, the story of Wangsheng was the story of Liyue itself.
It had endured for thousands of years, so hearing Hu Tao call something a "life-or-death crisis" naturally piqued his curiosity.
"Well, business hasn't been doing great lately," Hu Tao said, shrugging.
"So I'm planning to take Old Meng and the others to Boss Han's place— that manga store I mentioned earlier.
Maybe we'll find some inspiration there!"
"Boss Han? Manga store?"
Zhongli's expression shifted slightly at those words.
Even though he didn't usually meddle in daily affairs, he still understood the state of Wangsheng's operations well.
To him, the parlor's decline wasn't necessarily bad— it simply meant that Liyue's people were safe and prosperous, and fewer deaths meant more peace.
That was something he found comforting.
But this "manga shop"… and this "Boss Han"?
How could such a place improve Wangsheng's business?
"The store's called Solace Bookhouse," Hu Tao said, her eyes sparkling.
"I stumbled upon it this morning— and get this, they actually have a manga about our line of work!
It's called Mr. Vampire, and it's absolutely amazing!"
Her voice rose with excitement as she continued.
"But that's not even the best part—after reading, you actually get rewards!
I got one called Palm Thunder. Look!"
Hu Tao extended her hand.
A faint arc of purple lightning crackled in her palm.
Though the power was weak, it was definitely real— and clearly not something ordinary.
Zhongli's usually calm amber eyes flickered with interest.
"Such a miraculous shop exists in Liyue?"
He had seen everything there was to see in this land.
As the founder of Liyue, no one knew it better than he.
Yet even he had never heard of such a store.
Reading books and receiving divine powers afterward?
It reminded him of the way a Vision was bestowed.
A thought crossed his mind.
"Could it be… that this 'Boss Han' is a surviving ancient Archon?"
During the Archon War, many gods had perished— but not all of them.
Some had fled to distant lands beyond Teyvat's seas.
If anyone could grant such powers so casually, it would have to be a being of that level.
Hu Tao, oblivious to his internal musings, kept talking excitedly.
"Besides Mr. Vampire, he's got a ton of other manga too!
So I'm planning to take Old Meng and the others there.
The only problem is… it's kind of expensive."
She sighed.
"One Lakh Mora per person per day doesn't sound like much, but if you add it up over a month, that's three million Mora!
And with the whole staff? That's over ten million!"
Even for a hall master as rich as her, that stung a bit.
Zhongli smiled faintly.
"If one can obtain rewards like that, then the cost is well worth it."
"You're right!" Hu Tao nodded, instantly brightening.
"If I keep going, I'm bound to get something even better!
And if I can find a way to fix our business, the Funeral Parlor will be thriving again in no time!"
As she was talking, she noticed Zhongli stand up.
"Eh? You're heading out again?"
"Yes. I plan to visit this manga store you mentioned."
Zhongli gave a faint, knowing smile.
A mysterious new establishment had appeared in Liyue, its owner possibly a long-forgotten god— of course he had to see for himself.
Hu Tao blinked in surprise.
"You? Interested in manga?"
She had always thought of Zhongli as an "old scholar" type— the kind of man who preferred tea, poetry, and opera, not comic books.
But if he wanted to go, who was she to stop him?
So she gave him the address anyway.
"A manga store tucked away in a remote corner, hmm?
Interesting."
Zhongli's curiosity deepened.
"Many thanks, Hall Master," he said politely before turning to leave.
Hu Tao stayed behind, waiting for Old Meng and the others to return.
Moments later—
"Eh? You're back already?"
Hu Tao looked up, startled to see Zhongli again.
Could it be he'd changed his mind and wanted her to come along?
"Just now, you mentioned that reading a manga costs One Lakh Mora per session,"
Zhongli said evenly.
"So I've returned to… request a small loan from you, Hall Master."
Hu Tao: "…"
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