Chapter 49

"Is that... Hu Tao's voice?"

Jiang Ning muttered to himself.

What was that young girl doing here?

As this thought crossed his mind, Jiang Ning completely overlooked the fact that he and Hu Tao were actually the same age.

Nevertheless, he decided to go check it out.

Hu Tao was dressed in her usual attire, showing off her fair legs, with her Vision glowing red in the darkness.

The Pyro element transformed into numerous delicate and beautiful butterflies, scattering in all directions.

Before her stood a vengeful spirit, which she had just sent off.

And surprisingly, judging by the spirit's expression, it seemed to have departed rather peacefully?

How was this young girl able to send off spirits?

Hu Tao noticed Jiang Ning and greeted him with a smile:

"Well, well, if it isn't Brother Jiang Ning! What brings you to Wuwang Hill so late at night?"

Jiang Ning walked over: "I was about to ask you the same thing. It's dangerous here."

Hu Tao placed her hands on her hips and declared: "I'll have you know that I'm the 77th Director of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor! I could climb Wuwang Hill blindfolded since I was little."

"Besides, this is my duty as the Director of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor - to guide souls to the afterlife and prevent vengeful spirits from harming the living."

Hu Tao said seriously.

Jiang Ning replied: "I didn't know the Funeral Parlor had such responsibilities... I always thought you just handled funerals, you know, taking care of the dead and all that."

Hu Tao pondered for a moment, her plum-colored eyes showing approval:

"Well, you're not wrong, but you still haven't told me what brings you here, Brother?"

Jiang Ning said: "Just call me Jiang Ning. I've learned a few tricks and came to Wuwang Hill to try them out on some spirits."

Hu Tao's mischievous eyes darted around before settling on Jiang Ning: "So you can send spirits to the afterlife too?"

Jiang Ning nodded: "Yes, I just knocked down... I mean, helped a spirit pass on over there."

Hu Tao exclaimed: "Ah, that explains it! I sensed a client waiting for my services earlier, but suddenly my Secret Rite of Ressurection couldn't detect them anymore. So it was your doing!"

Then Hu Tao grinned: "Say, Jiang Ning, I see you have remarkable potential and this talent for guiding souls. How about joining the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor and embracing a bright future?"

Jiang Ning felt uncomfortable hearing Hu Tao's pitch - it sounded too much like a pyramid scheme.

Besides, wasn't her previous marketing of funeral packages a bit too bizarre?

Jiang Ning quickly declined: "No thanks... I already work at the Yuehai Pavilion."

Hu Tao didn't press the matter: "What a shame! The Yuehai Pavilion truly lives up to its name, always one step ahead in finding talent. But if you ever come to Wuwang Hill again, remember to invite me along!"

"Sure, sure..." Jiang Ning replied.

Hu Tao said: "Well then, there are still many clients waiting. Want to join me?"

She was quite curious about Jiang Ning's method of sending spirits to the afterlife.

Jiang Ning said: "Alright, but it might be... slightly different..."

He could sense that Hu Tao's Secret Rite guided these vengeful spirits to reincarnation, but his own power... seemed to have completely obliterated the previous spirit...

They found another wandering ghost with intense resentful energy, and Hu Tao encouraged Jiang Ning to try his method.

Then, Jiang Ning acted, and the ghost was instantly destroyed.

Hu Tao frowned at Jiang Ning, then sincerely said:

"I think you should refrain from using this power carelessly... The cycle of life and death, reincarnation has its order. While some vengeful spirits truly cannot enter the cycle and must be eliminated, they're the minority... and I don't understand your power."

Jiang Ning asked: "So what I just did..."

Hu Tao reassured him: "Don't worry, that spirit's resentful energy was already beyond purification, destruction was the only option."

"How can you tell which spirits can be guided to the afterlife and which ones are beyond help?"

Hu Tao explained: "Well, the Secret Rite tells me..."

"Can I learn it?" Jiang Ning asked curiously, noting that Hu Tao seemed quite approachable.

Hu Tao shook her head: "No, even if you're acquainted with Consultant Zhongli, it's not possible. Only members of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor can learn it."

Hu Tao thought to herself that only her parents and grandfather had learned it, and now she was the only one who knew it. Unless she had a future husband and children, then they could learn it too.

Unconsciously, Hu Tao glanced at Jiang Ning's face and blushed.

This young man was quite handsome...

Meanwhile, Jiang Ning was plotting ways to get Hu Tao to share the Secret Rite...

[System: Host, you could just rob her, you're a bad person after all.]

"I think you might be a bit crazy, Master Zhongli is right there," Jiang Ning replied irritably.

"So I've decided to steal it."

Jiang Ning declared confidently.

[System: Huh?]

"Didn't you say my comprehension ability was amazing? So, I've decided to steal the technique - if I watch it a few times, won't I figure it out?"

Jiang Ning said matter-of-factly.

He had tried this with some of Master Zhongli's celestial techniques before - after watching them a few times, he learned them.

Surely this so-called Secret Rite couldn't be more complex than Master Zhongli's celestial techniques?

"Tonight's client quota has been met, hehe, I'll come back next time!"

Hu Tao said cheerfully after dispatching another vengeful spirit with her spear.

"Are you heading back?" she asked.

Jiang Ning shook his head: "No, I want to look around more... We saw many spirits on our way here, are you really finished?"

Hu Tao explained: "Well, eliminating them all at once isn't practical. I've set up some barriers with the Secret Rite around here to contain the spirits. They can't escape, so I'll deal with them all next time when I'm better prepared."

Jiang Ning understood - she was keeping them penned up for later.

"Well, I'm heading back now!" Hu Tao waved at him, trying to hurry away to calm her fluttering heart.

As she left, she skipped away singing a whimsical verse:

"The moon shines bright above, Hu Tao smiles with love~"

"Now that she's gone... time for us to get to work."

Jiang Ning said.

[System: Host, what are you planning?]

"Like I said, I need to watch it several times. How can I let her resolve everything at once next time... So I'm going to destroy her barriers and release those spirits."

Jiang Ning explained.

[System: ...Alright! Let's boost those numbers!]

"Nobody comes around here anyway... if someone gets hurt, that's their bad luck. But we can't let anyone know it was me..."

Jiang Ning mumbled, still wanting to do mischief while keeping his public service job.

Then, he saw a familiar figure...

Jiang Ning smiled - speak of the devil.