Liyue Cave, Third Island.
Director Hu still couldn't avoid her embarrassing situation being exposed.
Keqing suppressed a smile, gently stroking Director Hu's hair: "It's alright, it's alright, everyone has a first time, and there's nothing wrong with being a little sensitive."
"I'm, I'm not sensitive at all! It's because this guy is too skilled!"
"Going twice in ten minutes, no matter what, it's not my problem, is it?"
Jack added, twisting the knife.
So the mortified Director Hu bit him again.
Jack didn't resist.
He even feared his muscles might break Director Hu's teeth, so he deliberately relaxed his body, allowing her to bite more comfortably.
"But you said these clothes are sold at Ningguang's store? Heh, that woman truly has no shame, designing such absurd clothing."
Keqing touched the slightly high-quality intimate fabric on Director Hu.
She secretly slandered her good friend.
"You can't say that; Ningguang is just an investor. Perhaps she initially came up with such an idea, but for it to eventually form such a rich and diverse product line, one can only say that the spiritual life of Liyue people is indeed rich."
"Hmph! You just defend her. I can't argue with you. I'm leaving."
Keqing tossed a string of keys to Jack.
"The location is near Yujing Terrace; the specific number is written on it. It's a villa belonging to a wealthy merchant that has been vacant for some time."
Taking the keys, Jack felt the girl's thoughtfulness.
She didn't directly ask Jack to go to her house, or to Qunyu Pavilion with Ningguang.
Instead, she fully considered his male pride and directly provided him with a piece of property.
Although there was a suspicion of living off a woman, it looked much more comfortable than directly marrying into the woman's family.
"Still looking! She's already far away!"
Director Hu, who had simply wiped herself dry, walked over, extending a small foot still glistening with water droplets: "The one who tied the bell must untie it. Whoever took off the clothes is responsible for helping me put them on!"
It seemed as if Director Hu was preparing to offer a benefit.
But Jack, who understood her inner thoughts, knew.
This girl just wanted to deliberately tease him and see his embarrassed state.
Too naive, young lady.
With your saintly demeanor, let alone the witch Lisa, even Amber is more alluring than you.
Jack, with a slight smile, helped Director Hu put on her clothes.
The process was strictly proper, with no abnormalities occurring.
Director Hu's seduction plan, a complete failure!
...
Splendor Boutique, stepping out of the mysterious area.
Director Hu immediately reverted to her lively self.
Bouncing and skipping, looking here and there.
If he liked a style, he would have Jack note it down, then buy a dozen or so of each size later, just to help Ningguang clear her inventory.
Looking at the bill in front of him, Jack made a rough estimate.
"It's already hundreds of millions of mora. As expected, when it comes to making money, earning from women and children is the fastest."
Ningguang's business acumen was indeed very strong.
According to her, almost all high-end fashion brands in Liyue were under her umbrella.
She herself was a trendsetter; a casual remark from her could easily result in tens of millions of mora.
The adventurers, working themselves to death, were truly like cattle and horses, risking their lives but earning very little, then being used like livestock by these capitalist sharks.
After the crazy shopping spree, Jack and Hutao returned to the tailoring area.
Qiqi had already finished her measurements and was holding a bottle of coconut milk given to her by a store employee, drinking it.
Then, she spotted Jack and the others.
"Brother, coconut milk."
Qiqi jumped off the stool and held up the coconut milk in her hand, signaling for Jack to try some too.
Jack didn't mind and took a shallow sip directly from the straw she had used.
It was sweet, with a hint of medicinal fragrance.
"It tastes very good."
"Mm, first time... drinking real... coconut milk. I like it very much."
It is human nature to share beloved food with family.
And if that food is also appreciated by family, it brings a double joy.
Jack ruffled Qiqi's hat, then looked at the staff member who was secretly taking out a camera and asked, "Excuse me, how are my Qiqi's measurements coming along?"
"Oh, yes, yes, I'll check for you." The employee came to his senses, took out his record book, and then said, "We've finished the modifications for the three outfits you chose, guest. They should be ready in about two days. Would you like to pick them up yourself then, or would you prefer our staff to deliver them?"
"Your clothing store also offers delivery services?"
"Hehe, guest, you might not know, but under the planning of our Tianquan Ningguang, traditional escort services have become normalized, gradually evolving into the ubiquitous express delivery industry we see today. This booming new industry is even used by street fruit vendors!"
"That's truly impressive."
Jack knew that Ningguang had connections with Miss Alice, who had traveled through many worlds, so these modern, whimsical ideas likely originated from her.
Speaking of Alice, Jack thought of Klee.
So he glanced at Qiqi, who was still drinking her beverage.
When he played the game, he did form a team of the four little ones: Klee, Qiqi, Diona, and Yaoyao.
He just wondered if they knew each other in reality.
"Qiqi, do you know Klee?"
"Klee?" Qiqi shook her head. "Qiqi doesn't know her."
"Then later, I'll take you to Brother's world and let you meet. I'm sure you'll become good friends."
"Friends..."
Qiqi mumbled these two words, her eyes suddenly lighting up.
Could those things that could only be recorded in her little notebook finally become reality?
...
Under the setting sun, in front of the Hall of Wangsheng.
Jack stood Qiqi and Hutao face to face.
"Aren't you coming with us to that world?"
Jack took out a Maid Charm.
They had been playing together for most of the day, and Jack had invited Hutao to join MC several times, but she had always brushed him off.
Hutao smiled and said, "Oh, I haven't decided yet. If I accept this thing, I'll jump out of the cycle of yin and yang and become an immortal, forever wandering the human world, right?"
"Why does it sound like a curse when it comes from your mouth?"
"Life and death are fated, wealth and honor are in the heavens. If a person, ah, no longer has the natural order of death... can they still be called human?"
When she spoke the last sentence, Hutao's tone was a bit low.
In short, she was lost.
From birth until now, she had encountered countless deaths and witnessed countless wandering souls unwilling to die.
The education she received was that the meaning of life is built upon the unbridgeable bridge between life and death.
Now, suddenly, someone tells her she's immortal, that unless an accident occurs, death will never visit her again.
If that's the case, what was her life for the past decade or so? A joke?
"It's not a joke, oh."
Jack said, holding Hutao's face from above.
"The ferryman does not ferry himself. This is a saying from my hometown, and now I give it to you."
"Wh-what does that mean?"
Ferryman refers to people like Hutao who guide the souls of the deceased.
Does 'does not ferry himself' mean they can't guide themselves after they die?
"It's not about guiding; it's about salvation."
"You! Can you stop reading people's minds randomly!"
Hutao bared her teeth at Jack.
This ability was too annoying, especially for a fun-loving person like her, who was full of strange ideas.
"I didn't read your mind; you had the answer written all over your face."
Jack indeed hadn't activated his grass element ability. Hutao's current expression of confusion was simply too easy to understand.
"The ferryman is a salvation for the departed souls, guiding them towards rebirth. So, what happens when the ferryman dies? A true ferryman does not cling to the present world, thus they do not need guidance after death. This is the meaning of 'does not ferry himself.'"
"It's not that they can't be ferried, but that they don't need to be ferried."
Jack once again took out a Maid Charm and invited Hutao.
"Whether living or dying, for a ferryman, it has long lost its meaning. What they uphold is a belief in balanced reincarnation."
Hutao stared blankly at Jack, who was feigning profundity.
In a daze, a familiar shadow appeared behind him.
"Grandpa..."
"What?"
"N-nothing!"
Hutao took the Maid Charm from Jack's hand: "Actually, if you gave me a bit more time, I could figure it out myself and join your side... But seeing how you, Jack, can't bear to be without this Hall Master, I'll reluctantly go against ancestral teachings just this once."
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