After pinching himself over and over until bruises surfaced,
Chongyun finally accepted that everything he'd just experienced was real.
Qiqi… really could herd corpses.
For a moment, an overwhelming urge to rant nearly burst out of his chest.
This world had gone insane.
A zombie, herding corpses—
and doing it with such skill no less!
What kind of cosmic joke was this supposed to be?!
Would Hu Tao even know about this?
And if she did… how would she react?
After a long silence, Chongyun struggled to his feet.
"Qiqi, it's been a long time. Thank you for saving me this time—I really owe you."
Qiqi tilted her head, giving him a long, quiet look.
Chongyun forced a bitter smile.
"You still don't remember me, huh… I'm—"
Before he could finish, Qiqi interrupted softly:
"Chongyun. Qiqi remembers you."
"…"
Chongyun froze, staring at her in disbelief.
"You remember me?! Your memory came back?"
Qiqi nodded stiffly.
"Senior Brother Sect Master said… after I start cultivating, my memory will recover quickly.
I won't keep forgetting so many things.
So Qiqi must work hard at cultivation.
Your aura… it's like Senior Sister Shenhe's.
You must be the nephew she mentioned—Chongyun."
Chongyun's eyes lit up. His voice trembled with excitement.
"So it's true! You really joined Mount Shu, and Auntie too…
Auntie hasn't written to us in so long. My family's been worried.
So she also went off to cultivate immortality—what a relief!
How is she now?"
Qiqi took her time processing all of Chongyun's words.
Nothing seemed too important, so she simply turned away and continued shaking her bell, leading the corpses toward Liyue Harbor.
Chongyun wasn't offended—he was used to her.
Even if her memory was somewhat better now, there was no way she'd start behaving like a normal girl overnight.
He packed up his weapon and hurried to catch up.
They were still in Jueyun Karst, one of the most perilous places in all Liyue.
Following Qiqi, a cultivator, was the safest choice.
But watching her ring the corpse-herding bell, with dozens of cadavers—human and beast alike—marching behind her, gave him goosebumps.
Even as a frequent exorcist, he couldn't help but feel spooked.
The atmosphere was suffocatingly eerie.
Trying to lighten it up, Chongyun spoke:
"Qiqi, are you heading to Liyue Harbor?"
She nodded.
"But… shouldn't you be cultivating on Mount Shu? Why would Sect Master and Baizhu let you out?"
"Senior Brother Sect Master said… Qiqi must herd corpses, absorb yin qi, temper the body.
So he let Qiqi out.
This is Qiqi's way of cultivation.
These people died in Jueyun Karst.
Qiqi must send them back to Liyue Harbor."
Chongyun glanced back at the gruesome troop.
No matter how many times he looked, he couldn't suppress his shiver.
If Qiqi hadn't arrived in time, he would've ended up worse off than those poor souls.
He sighed.
"Since the rise of cultivation, more and more people venture into Jueyun Karst searching for immortals.
But the dangers have multiplied too.
Fate is cruel… Qiqi, what you're doing is a good deed."
Then, something clicked in his head. He looked at her strangely.
"Wait… did you just say this is your cultivation method?"
Qiqi nodded.
"Then… you'll be herding corpses regularly from now on?"
Another nod.
Chongyun gave a silent sigh—for Hu Tao.
So that was it.
The funeral parlor's monopoly was about to collapse.
And the competitor wasn't just strong… she was Hu Tao's prized client.
How could anyone make sense of this?
If Hu Tao found out, wouldn't she blow a gasket?
And even if she wanted to escort Qiqi's "departure," she couldn't anymore—Qiqi was cultivating immortality!
As his imagination ran wild, Chongyun's eyes fell on the beast carcasses trailing behind them.
Ferocious beasts…
Yes, most were slain by Qiqi, but he'd killed his fair share too.
And even a Foundation Establishment–level beast corpse was priceless.
Their meat could strengthen the body, increase cultivation, even heal ordinary illnesses.
The Qixing had already confirmed it.
One such beast could fetch tens of millions of Mora in Liyue Harbor.
The late-Foundation beast they'd fought earlier—just a piece of its flesh was worth a fortune.
And still, supply could never match demand.
Today, surviving and bringing back the beasts he'd slain meant billions in Mora.
But Chongyun wasn't short of money.
His family ranked among Liyue's wealthy merchant clans.
Such rare meat—he'd give it to Xiangling to cook and share among his family and friends.
Strength was priceless. Mora, by comparison, meant nothing.
In these turbulent times, cultivation was the only foundation for survival.
"Qiqi," he asked, "what do you plan to do with these beasts?"
"Big Sister Ningguang said… if we find beasts outside, we can hand them over to Liyue Harbor.
If we want to eat them ourselves, that's fine too.
Qiqi doesn't need them.
So later, I'll give them to Big Sister Baiwen and the others."
She then resumed absorbing the yin qi from the corpses.
Chongyun thought for a moment.
"Qiqi, the beasts I killed—could you leave them to me? Just help me get them back to Liyue Harbor. I'll pay you. Is there anything you want?"
"Want…"
Qiqi paused. Her eyes brightened faintly.
"Qiqi wants corpses.
Many, many corpses.
Senior Brother Sect Master said… the more corpses Qiqi herds, the more yin qi she absorbs.
The faster her body strengthens and heals.
Chongyun… can you find lots and lots of corpses for Qiqi?"
Chongyun fell silent.
Looking at her surrounded by an army of corpses, her words carried an undeniable chill.
Maybe sensing she'd gone too far, Qiqi lowered her gaze and said no more.
Chongyun scratched his head.
"I can't find corpses. But if you need, I can get you rare herbs."
"Okay. Thank you, Chongyun."
Qiqi nodded quietly, and the corpse march continued toward Liyue Harbor.
She even gave him a few Ten-Thousand-Li Divine Travel Talisman so he could keep up.
For the first time, Chongyun experienced blinding speed—and his anticipation for the Mount Shu Opening Ceremony grew stronger.
Not long after, Hu Tao finally arrived at the site of Chongyun's earlier battle.
Gripping the Staff of Homa, she sniffed the air, frowning.
"Such heavy corpse qi… did someone really rise from the dead?"
"No… there's living aura too. And it feels familiar…"
Her brows furrowed.
"What the—who stole my client?! Damn it!"
She stomped her foot in frustration.
Looking toward the trail of footprints, she murmured:
"That direction… Liyue?"
"Oh, I see!
Bold little thief! Not only did you steal the Hall Master's client, you dare swagger into Liyue itself?"
"Is this a challenge to my authority?!"
"Ridiculous! Trying to steal my business? You're a century too early!
Just you wait—I'll ambush you at Liyue Harbor and beat you half to death!"
With a huff, Hu Tao cut across the mountains, rushing straight for Liyue.
Meanwhile, Qiqi handed her corpse bell to Chongyun.
The corpses would follow wherever the bell rang, so he could take them into the city.
If he wanted to help with chores, she was happy to let him.
Perched on the back of the Wolf King, Qiqi closed her eyes and cultivated, absorbing moonlight and yin qi.
Her body grew warmer, more flexible—
bit by bit, she was becoming more like an ordinary girl.
A flying sword shot into the forest.
Moments later, it returned, bloodstained—dragging with it the corpse of a Foundation Establishment–level beast rabbit.
Chongyun hardly batted an eye anymore.
Along the way, Qiqi had casually felled beast after beast without breaking her meditation.
The corpse troop now numbered over a hundred.
Watching her, Chongyun couldn't help but envy.
He risked his life every time he fought a beast.
She, meanwhile, sat serenely with her eyes shut, solving dangers with a flick of her sword.
That was the difference between a cultivator and a mortal.
Thanks to the talismans, they reached Liyue Harbor by midnight.
The harbor blazed with lantern light, lively as ever.
Even at this late hour, the city bustled with travelers from across the Seven Nations.
At the city gate, Hu Tao stood proudly on a giant bluestone, arms akimbo, cheeks puffed in anger.
She was already plotting how she'd punish the scoundrel who dared steal her business.
Suddenly—
a commotion rippled through the crowd.
"Corpses! The corpses are walking! Save us!"
"Millelith! Hurry!"
"Beasts! There are beasts with them!"
"Haunted! Liyue Harbor is haunted!"
Panic erupted. A stampede nearly broke out.
But then, the grotesque corpses halted at the gate, standing motionless.
Hu Tao's eyes lit up. She bared her little tiger fangs with a vicious grin.
"Got you, you filthy thief!
Let's see which fool dared snatch a Hall Master's client right from under her nose!"
She shoved through the crowd, only to stop short.
"Chongyun? What the hell is going on here—"
Then her gaze shifted.
On the back of a massive wolf corpse sat a small figure, fingers forming seals.
At her command, the corpses straightened like puppets on strings.
Bathed in moonlight, Hu Tao saw the girl's face clearly.
"…Qiqi?"
Her jaw dropped.
"Qiqi… is herding corpses?!"
"Heavens above! Is there no justice left in the world?!
Who on earth taught a little zombie to herd corpses?!"
"Do you people have no shame? No morals?!"
"The one stealing my clients… is actually my own loyal customer?!"
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