Chapter 51

"Well, since you don't know the way, just follow your Director here. We can handle this together, and it'll be more efficient," Hu Tao muttered.

"I'll leave the identification to you, Hu Tao. I'll just serve as the muscle for now," Jiang Ning said cheerfully. His excuse had successfully fooled Hu Tao.

Working together now meant he could openly observe Hu Tao using the Secret Spirit-Calming Art, which would surely provide more insights.

"Let's go, let's go! There are quite a few restless spirits ahead that need to be put to rest," Hu Tao said.

In the time that followed, Hu Tao and Jiang Ning worked together to pacify these spirits, sometimes having to resort to physical means for those that couldn't be calmed through normal methods.

Through watching Hu Tao's repeated battles, Jiang Ning became familiar with and gradually mastered the Secret Spirit-Calming Art.

"This thing is really useful..." Jiang Ning muttered to himself.

In just one short evening, he had already learned how to use the Secret Spirit-Calming Art to determine which restless spirits were worth attempting to pacify.

"This is the last one! Your Director is tired. Why don't you handle this final one?" Hu Tao looked at Jiang Ning curiously. Just as Jiang Ning was intrigued by Hu Tao's Secret Spirit-Calming Art, Hu Tao was equally curious about Jiang Ning's mysterious ability to harm spirits.

She wanted to observe more closely.

Jiang Ning understood Hu Tao's intention, but he wasn't concerned. Not everyone had his passive ability, and the Authority alone would be enough to shut down any questions.

Jiang Ning nodded, initially thinking of using his Authority directly, but then changed his mind and smiled.

He wanted to give Director Hu Tao a little taste of Liyue shock.

Secret Spirit-Calming Art, activate, disperse!

Blue-tinted ice elemental butterflies danced around Jiang Ning as he gripped the Millennial Movement Spear. With a mighty sweep, the restless spirit appeared heavily wounded, howling as it retreated continuously, its aura significantly weakened.

Hu Tao's eyes widened instantly, her plum-blossom pupils filled with disbelief.

"The Secret Spirit-Calming Art?!"

Wasn't this her family's ancestral secret technique? How did he know it? Could he be her parents' secret love child?

No, that couldn't be right - if he already knew it, why would he want to learn it from her?

Though Hu Tao didn't understand, she was thoroughly shocked.

In three quick moves, Jiang Ning had dealt with the spirit.

Jiang Ning also realized that while the Secret Spirit-Calming Art wasn't as effective as his Authority, it could complement his Authority, making him more proficient and even providing some degree of completion and enhancement.

Honestly, in just one evening, the improvement to his Authority matched what the system would give him for completing a small task.

At this thought, Jiang Ning felt disdain: "What use are you, System?"

System: [...]

How frustrating, Host, your abilities came from me in the first place!

"Hey hey hey, how do you know our Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's Secret Spirit-Calming Art?" Hu Tao circled around Jiang Ning with curiosity.

Jiang Ning explained, "After watching Director Hu use it multiple times, I gradually grasped the technique. It seems my ability is similar to the Secret Spirit-Calming Art, so I could understand how to use it."

With Authority as the foundation, building upon it with the Secret Spirit-Calming Art, and then having it enhance the Authority in return - perfect.

"Why can't I do the same? I've watched your method for so long but still can't figure out how you do it," Hu Tao complained.

"Master says I was born clever, with high comprehension," Jiang Ning said.

"Ugh, that's so irritating to hear... but the Secret Spirit-Calming Art is our Funeral Parlor's closely guarded secret. This is..." Hu Tao was troubled.

Grandpa, Mom, Dad, what should I do? Hu Tao hasn't encountered this situation before.

Jiang Ning put on an obedient and apologetic expression.

Hu Tao shook her head in frustration: "Whatever, let's deal with it later... when I figure out what to do... But you absolutely cannot reveal this to others, understand? Otherwise, I'll have Zhongli deal with you."

Jiang Ning promised, "Understood, Director Hu."

"Forget it, just call me Hu Tao. We're friends now - calling me Director is too formal," Hu Tao patted Jiang Ning's shoulder.

"Alright, Hu Tao."

Hu Tao stretched and looked up: "It's almost dawn, let's head back. I need to get some good sleep... Damn Fatui, making this Director work overtime. Just thinking about having to continue like this for two or three more nights makes me feel awful."

Jiang Ning also looked up...

Only to see dense, eerie tall trees overhead.

Wait, how did she know what time it was?

...

For the next few days, Jiang Ning spent his time helping Hu Tao pacify restless spirits.

To become more familiar with how the Secret Spirit-Calming Art and Authority could complement each other, Jiang Ning simply used the Secret Spirit-Calming Art in front of Hu Tao during their missions.

It made Hu Tao quite uncomfortable.

It felt like their family's secret technique had run off with someone else.

Moreover, she heard that the two Fatui in prison, no matter how they tried to explain themselves, had become bargaining chips in negotiations between Liyue and Snezhnaya.

After finishing her tasks today, Hu Tao returned to the Funeral Parlor.

It was the first time in several days that Zhongli had seen Hu Tao. Noting her exhausted yet perplexed expression, he asked with concern:

"What's troubling the Director? Perhaps the night work isn't going well?"

Hu Tao said, "It's going okay. Even with the Fatui's interference, we still completed the work..."

"Then why does the Director look so confused and troubled?"

Zhongli asked.

Hu Tao said, "Well, how should I put this... Zhongli, our Hu family's Secret Spirit-Calming Art has been stolen..."

Zhongli's gaze sharpened: "Oh?"

The Secret Spirit-Calming Art had always been kept at the Funeral Parlor. Due to the contract with Hu Tao's ancestors, he was responsible for ensuring that at least the scroll recording the technique within the Funeral Parlor wouldn't fall into others' hands.

He had even made some arrangements for this, so had someone somehow stolen it from under his nose? But that wasn't right - the scroll was still there.

Zhongli carefully sensed around, feeling puzzled.

Hu Tao said, "Never mind that. Say, what's your relationship with Jiang Ning?"

Zhongli said, "I suppose he's my disciple... Could it be that Jiang Ning stole the technique?"

But Zhongli thought this impossible. First, he knew Jiang Ning's capabilities - he absolutely couldn't steal anything from under Zhongli's nose.

Moreover, after observing Jiang Ning for so long, he didn't seem like that kind of person.

Hu Tao pondered thoughtfully: "Is that so... If he's your disciple... then he shouldn't be considered an outsider, right?"

Zhongli: "Hmm?"