After Luya roughly explained the duel rules to Hu Tao, Xingqiu, and Chongyun, the four of them walked toward the massive [Bluff Duel Stage].
The people in the shop quickly noticed the commotion.
"Wow, what's going on here?!"
"Four people can duel at once...?"
"Heh, brother, you really haven't seen much, huh?! In the anime, the Paradox Brothers arc had a Tag Duel."
"Damn, I missed yesterday's screening, and today I couldn't get a seat either."
"I have no idea what's happening in the story..."
"+1"
"+1"
"Looks like Master Hu and the shopkeeper are teaming up, while Young Master Xingqiu and Chongyun are the other team."
"Honestly, this match already looks decided."
"I feel like Master Hu could handle a 1v2 just fine. After all... this is the [Bluff Duel Stage]."
"Master Hu's battle power is off the charts!"
The crowd watched as Luya and Hu Tao stood side by side on the left side of the Duel Stage, while Xingqiu and Chongyun took their place on the opposite side.
This Tag Duel was about to officially begin!
"Duel!!!" (x3)
Three voices rang out in unison across the Duel Stage.
They were clearly the voices of Luya, Hu Tao, and Xingqiu.
Because the [Bluff Duel Stage] was so large, the duelists were spaced far apart. Amplification was added to make sure their declarations could be heard clearly. That way, their bluffing would properly reach the opponent—so even if they lost, they'd know exactly how they were bluffed! It also allowed spectators to follow along more easily. A thoughtful and clever design.
Why only three voices?
Because Chongyun had never dueled before and didn't know he was supposed to shout for morale...
Since Hu Tao and Xingqiu were veterans, they both shouted, adding an invisible psychological buff. It boosted their confidence for the bluffing ahead.
Chongyun, looking bewildered, heard the others and belatedly joined in: "Duel!"
With Chongyun's delayed call, the duel officially began. His tardy shout drew chuckles from the more experienced spectators.
Now it was time to decide the turn order.
"Master Hu, why don't you do rock-paper-scissors for us?"
Hu Tao smiled and nodded.
"Alright, I'll handle the guessing game~"
She pressed the button to choose rock.
On the other side, Xingqiu chose paper.
The result: Xingqiu won.
Smiling, Xingqiu said:
"Hehe, sorry, Master Hu... looks like we take the first small win. We'll choose to go second this time."
Chongyun didn't understand why Xingqiu would want to go second. Wasn't going first cooler?
But since this was his first duel, he simply followed Xingqiu's lead. After all, he didn't know many card effects yet, let alone Hu Tao's ace [Wangsheng Funeral Parlor].
So for his very first duel, Chongyun decided to just go along with Xingqiu's strategy.
Since Xingqiu and Chongyun gave up the first move, Luya and Hu Tao began their turn!
Luya glanced at his starting hand...
[Flying Kamakiri #1] (Monster Card)
[Heavenly Motion, Universal Creation!] (Spell Card)
[Pot of Greed] (Spell Card)
[Summoning of the West Wind] (Spell Card)
[Sinner's Waltz] (Trap Card)
Only one monster. He had to think carefully.
Smiling at Hu Tao, Luya said:
"Uh... my starting hand isn't great. I'll let you take the lead, Master Hu!"
Hu Tao blinked, then smirked and nodded.
"Alrighty! Time for the Hall Master to shine!"
She immediately pulled out a card glowing with emerald light.
"I activate a Spell Card! [Graceful Charity]!"
As soon as she spoke, a beautiful angel in a pale green gown appeared above the Duel Stage. A golden halo shone above her head, her wings fluttering softly as she radiated a holy, powerful aura.
The customers were mesmerized by her beauty, forgetting they were even watching a duel.
Chongyun, in his first duel, stared blankly at the angel in awe.
The angel waved her right hand toward Hu Tao's deck, drawing three cards into her hands. She then gently offered them to Hu Tao, glowing brightly in green.
Descending gracefully, the angel placed the three cards into Hu Tao's hand.
This was Luya's first time seeing her up close. The [Bluff Duel Stage] didn't just add bluff effects; its realism far surpassed that of a normal Duel Stage—he could even see the fine white fluff on the angel's face.
Then Hu Tao declared:
"[Graceful Charity] effect activates! I draw 3 cards, then discard 2 to the Graveyard."
She chose one card to keep, discarding the other two.
The angel vanished afterward.
Hu Tao added [Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's Attendant Girl] to her hand, while discarding [King of the Skull Servants] and [Mezuki] to the Graveyard.
[King of the Skull Servants] Level 1│DARK│Zombie│? ATK / 0 DEF
[Mezuki] Level 4│EARTH│Zombie│1700 ATK / 800 DEF
Once the angel disappeared, Chongyun snapped out of his daze.
Hu Tao continued her play.
"I Normal Summon [Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's Attendant Girl]!"
[Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's Attendant Girl] Level 3│LIGHT│Spellcaster│1200 ATK / 1500 DEF
A young woman dressed in black appeared on Hu Tao's field. Her neat short black hair framed her face as she held a pen and notebook, jotting something down.
Over at the Card Furnace, Zhongli looked up. Wasn't that the very same Attendant Girl in charge of the Funeral Parlor's accounts?
As someone who often spent the Funeral Parlor's funds, he was naturally familiar with her.
He recalled the other day when he had gone to the pawnshop and noticed a pair of hairpins. The owner refused to sell them, saying they were heirlooms pawned by a poor man to pay for his wife's medicine, and they had to be held until the redemption date.
Zhongli, stroking his chin, had been intrigued. In the end, he paid extra and bought the hairpins, then returned them to the poor family with additional living expenses. Of course, all of that came from the Funeral Parlor's funds—funds managed by the Attendant Girl.
Afterward, Zhongli had to plead with her: "Attendant Girl, do me a favor. Slip these into the accounts as reimbursable, won't you? I'll treat you to dinner..."
Luckily, she agreed. Though as for the dinner money... Zhongli still hadn't figured out where it would come from.
Now, seeing her appear on Hu Tao's field, Zhongli grew curious about her effect.
"Could it be... related to Mora?!"
...
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