Volume 5 – Chapter 65(Hu Tao)

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Author Note:

[ ] = When Twilight is speaking.

{ } = When talking through Telepathy.

' ' = When thinking in your mind.

<<  >> = When talking with your Pokémon or Tamed Beast.

--- --- = When describing a certain period of time OR Another place.

** ** = Point Of View i.e., POV

/// /// = In Call

" " = System and when talking to it.

「 」 = Thoughts being heard

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The person was 18-20 years old girl. Her long brown hair tied in a pair of pigtails that faded into red at the tips and a black hat adorned by a yellow emblem along with red blossoms and blue ribbons tied to said flowers at the side of the hat. Her eyes are red with pale gold pupils resembling stars. She wore dark coat and black shorts with a pair of low-heeled shoes. She also had a few rings with skulls on her hands along with black nails.

While Primis and his group was looking at her, the girl showed a smile and waved her hand towards them.

???: Hello. It's rare for people to come here at Wuwang Hill. Can I ask who you are?

Primis: Just some wanderers.

???: Is that so.

The girl, of course didn't believe it and decided to go with the flow.

Ei: We are not your clients either.

「 Primis: For now. 」

Ei: ....

Hearing his thoughts, Ei gave a side-eye to Primis. Makoto and Ganyu could only show a wry smile.

On the other hand, the girl showed a thoughtful look to Primis and finally realized whose voice she was hearing in her head. But then her eyes started sparkling when she remembered his thoughts.

Still, she didn't speak about it right away.

???: Aiya, forgive me. This is one of our new undertakers, Meng. It's his first time working a funeral, so of course, he's afraid of his own shadow.

Primis: I see.

???: By the way, let me introduce myself. I'm Hu Tao, the current Director of the Wangsheng Parlor.

Primis: Hmmm…

「 Primis: Not many people know about it but Wangsheng Funeral Parlor was originally founded during or after the Archon War, when the fallen gods manifested demons that prompted Rex Lapis to send the Yaksha to protect Liyue. Since then, it has existed for 77 generations. Over time, the Yaksha accumulated massive amounts of negative karma, some of which manifested into a plague that swept through Liyue, killing many in its path. Paranoid people believed it to be a curse from the gods, but a few realized that the plague could be contained by purifying the air and burning infected corpses. These people pioneered a new path and eventually founded the parlor. They and their successors would tirelessly maintain the balance between life and death. The Hu Family currently owns and operates the parlor. 」

All Waifus: ...….

All of them become silent since most of them heard it for the first time that a funeral parlor had existed for so long and had such a history. It really came surprising to them.

The director now had stars in her eyes since even she never expected for the Primis to know so much about them.

Primis: Still, we are not your clients.

Seeing that Primis was still not speaking his true thoughts, the girl didn't mind and continued.

Hu Tao: Ah but you see, I wasn't referring to clients in the business sense. Everyone who enters this mortal realm will be a client of mine. Sooner or later...

Primis: Oh…

「 Primis: Sorry girl but such things won't apply to me. Because I am not a mortal. 」

All Waifus: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Except for Makoto and Ei who were aware of his identity, other women all were shocked at this. Too bad, Primis didn't say what he was. Hence, they can only conclude that he must be either Adeptus or some old God. Though the God they meant was the one who participate in Archon War in the past and lost.

The hat girl narrowed her eyes as she looked at Primis with curiosity clearly visible in her eyes.

He also noticed that and spoke.

Primis: Why don't you stop looking at me like this? Haven't you heard the saying "Curiosity killed the Cat"?

Hu Tao: That's true~ Though I like the other one~

Showing a radiant smile, she continued.

Hu Tao: A Cat has nine lives.

Hearing this Primis chuckled in amusement.

Primis: Then let me show you an example. Come here for a bit.

Showing a confused expression, the girl approached. He told her to stand at his side, or to be more precise at the edge of the hole and pointed downwards.

Doing as told, Hu Tao of course failed to see anything. Though just when she was about to ask Primis, she finally sensed something.

In the next second, she knitted her brows.

Hu Tao: How can I sense so many deathly auras coming out of this hole? Just how many have died there? Is there a graveyard or something down below?

Primis: Why don't you go down and take a look?

Hu Tao: ...….

Primis: What happened? Didn't you say "A Cat has nine lives"? Getting cold feet already.

Hu Tao: ...….

Primis: On top of that, isn't it duty of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor to purify the souls so that they can pass to the other side. Don't tell me it was all a lie.

Hu Tao: ...…

Even though the girl didn't reply, the corner of her lips was twitching. She had of course heard Primis thoughts just when they were about to meet. So, she knew that he was tricking her to go down and provide help to the people below.

Yet, even after knowing this, she can't say anything to decline. After all, she can't just ignore someone who required her help. Her consciences won't let her.

On top of that, Primis not only used her own words against her about the cat having nine lives but also put the duty of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor on the table in front of her.

So, in a way, he broke through all of her defences and hit her where it hurt the most. It's like he knew how she did her utmost to flawlessly carry out her duties.

For the first time, a trace of dread appeared in Hu Tao's heart. She felt completely naked in front of Primis who can read her like an open book. It's like he knew about her more than she herself. He knew all of her weakness and even now how to use them against her during the perfect moment.

Now she was even regretting her decision to counter Primis words before. She thought she attained a victory in their verbal talk but never excepted him to turn the whole thing upside down.

Taking a deep breath, she calmed her throbbing heart. She really wanted to say why didn't you go. But since he never said there were people fighting down, she can't do so. After all, she only heard it from his thoughts. And she even had a bad feeling that in case this information will be known to him, something devastating will happen to their world.

Putting those thoughts away, she smiled.

Hu Tao: Don't worry. The director of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor will go down right away and take care of all the evil spirits.

Meng: But directo----

Primis: As expected from the head Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, you really have a humble heart.

'Hu Tao: If only someone else also has the same.'

Primis: How about this? If you really succeeded in purifying all the spirits, I will become one of your biggest clients and will buy more than 100 coffins with double the market price.

Hu Tao: Really!!!

Primis: Of course. I never go back on my words.

「 Primis: Well, all the seven nations will require these coffins in the near future. I am just doing them the favor by buying it for them in advance......Hmm. I think I should also buy some flowers alongside. 」

The excitement that had appeared on Hu Tao face, faded away in the next second after hearing this.

Noticing this, Primis raised of his brows and asked.

Primis: What happened?

Taking a deep sigh, the girl shook her head.

Hu Tao: It's nothing.

Next, she turned her attention to Meng.

Hu Tao: No need to follow me. I will go down myself and purifying this scourge. You better wait here.

Then without waiting for his response, Hu Tao jumped into the abyss below.

Meng: Director!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ei: Be quiet.

Hearing this cold voice, Meng shivered and covered his mouth while looking at Ei with fear.

Seeing his reaction, Ei just snorted and started looking at the fighting that was going on below.

None of them bother speaking again. Even Ganyu who was sitting on Primis lap relaxed and lowered her guard completely while enjoying his hand which was patting her head.

Nevertheless, it was not even a minute that Meng started pacing here and there with scared and worried face.

Since he was coming and going forth after reaching the edge of the hole again and again. In a few minutes, both the twin archons started getting irritated because he was distracting them and making it difficult for them to concentrate on the fight.

Still, before Ei could scare him even more, Makoto opened her mouth this time.

Makoto: By the way, Meng. What is Wangsheng Funeral Parlor doing here in the first place?

Meng: Huh? Oh? Well...…. Actually, we heard that there'd been some supernatural activity at Wuwang Hill. To restore calm here, we performed a funeral ceremony.

Makoto: So, you people are already done with the ceremony.

Meng: Yes. It went very smoothly. And according to the director, we shouldn't be expecting any more issues in the near future.

Makoto: I see.

Meng: Actually, you people have no business coming to Wuwang Hill. You being here is not normal. That's why....

Makoto: That's why you thought of us as some ghosts and ran away.

Meng: Um…yeah. Sorry about it.

He apologized will scratching his head in embarrassment.

While this was going on, Primis who had heard everything, raised his head and looked at the horizon.

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.

.

.

.

Three hours later.

After sending Meng back to Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, Primis and others descended into the hole since the battle was over by now.

They were passing through a deep tunnel with the scent of blood so strong that it could make any normal human to lose their mind.

Finally, they saw the light and reached the bloody hall.

No matter where one looked ground, wall or ceiling. Everything was dyed red in blood and flesh.

Mountains of corpses, river of bloods, organs, tissues, vessels, bones were scattering all over the place. So much that there was not even a space to place your foot.

Primis, Makoto, and Ei were indifferent to this since they had seen things a lot. Ganyu, on the other hand, turned pale witnessing this and unconsciously moved closer to Primis.

He then waved his hand and all the things were separated by an unknown power and made three ways.

Primis and Ganyu took one. Makoto took the second one. Ei took the third.

He kept on walking with Ganyu for a minute before stopping.

In front of him was lying his student.

She was covered in severe injuries from head to toe. The injuries were so heavy that even her broken bones and destroyed organs could be seen.

Ganyu covered her mouth witnessing this because such injuries were enough to kill a person hundred times.

Yet, even after seeing her student's condition, Primis remained calm. As he knew that his student was still alive. She was still holding onto her last trace of life.

While he was looking at Xiangling, Makoto and Ei also returned while carrying a person. Makoto brought Hu Tao and Ei brought Keqing.

The condition of both the girls were same as Xiangling.

Primis: You know what to do.

As he said that both the girls were put on front.

Ganyu stepped forward and joined her hands as her Adeptus power burst out and soon engulfed all three of them.

Confirming that they were no longer in danger, Primis turned and walked in another direction.

Primis: Stay here.

These words were for Makoto and Ei who were about to follow.

Hearing this they stopped their steps and nodded.

Leaving the group behind, he made his way towards the bloodiest place.

A minute later, he reached his destination as the corpses parted.

He saw Shenhe who was still standing as tall and brave as always in the center of the blood pool.

Even though her back was towards him, he can easily see her hair whose color were different and the dark bloody aura coming from her.

Clearly indicating that currently she was in her demonic form.

Unfazed by her aura, Primis approached her.

Hearing the sound behind her, Shenhe turned and glared towards his direction with her bloodthirsty eyes.

However, the moment she saw him, it was as if she could finally relax. So, her demonic dispered as she fell.

THUD!!!

Primis caught her in princess carry and looked at her sleeping face. Shenhe was the main reason that he knew that in case something happens, she will handle it somehow.

Primis: Rest for now. You all have done a great job.

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*A/N: Please throw some power stones.

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