Chapter 130: Tartaglia: I have something to say, please listen!

The girl was in her prime, eccentric, with a mischievous smirk as if she were about to pull a prank at any moment.

Her smooth, reddish-brown long hair was styled into twin tails, and she wore a Chinese-style outfit with patterns and long tails, embroidered with lily and spider lily motifs.

She wore a hat with the Qiankun Tai Gua symbols, and a plum blossom branch was tucked into the side, likely plucked from the plum garden.

Discovering that Luo Li hadn't been scared, the girl's plum-blossom-like pupils blinked.

"Boring, I didn't even scare you."

She pouted, watching the stranger Luo Li examine her, and couldn't help but place her hands on her chest: "Let me introduce myself, I am the 77th Director of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, Hu Tao! Unseen guest, what business do you have with this Director at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor?"

Before Luo Li could answer, she continued chattering away.

"Hmm, looking at your appearance, you are radiant and healthy, so you must be here for something other than work, right?"

Hu Tao started with a confident analysis.

Seeing the girl shaking her slender fingers painted with black nail polish, Luo Li said regretfully: "Sorry, I'm here to find Zhongli. Little Director, you guessed wrong."

"Eh eh eh, you're actually here to find Mr. Zhongli? Could it be you have some difficult problem to ask?"

Even though it was their first meeting, Hu Tao acted like an old acquaintance and asked curiously.

Ordinary people would probably find it hard to adapt to her attitude, but fortunately, Luo Li was well-versed in this; he was like that himself.

Otherwise, how would he have managed to blend into the Inazuma Shogunate?

Luo Li sighed and said: "Alas, I have nowhere to go, so I had to come and rely on a friend."

"So that's it." Hu Tao realized, then suggested: "Coincidentally, my Wangsheng Funeral Parlor is short-handed. Since you are Mr. Zhongli's guest, why not become a consultant for this Director as well?"

Is the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor that rich?

Catching Luo Li's suspicious gaze, Hu Tao hummed twice, placed her hands on her hips, and said proudly: "My Wangsheng Funeral Parlor is the number one shop in Liyue. Birth, aging, sickness, and death—everyone is my potential customer. Supporting a few consultants is a piece of cake."

That was true, unless one died miserably in a foreign land and their bones couldn't even be found.

Otherwise, everyone had to accept the funeral rites of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.

"It's our first time meeting, is this appropriate?" Luo Li began to ramp up his acting: "Although I pride myself on being no worse than Zhongli, however..."

Hu Tao's eyes lit up. No worse than Zhongli?

She turned her head to see Zhongli nod in confirmation, and immediately rubbed her hands together, secretly vowing to win Luo Li over.

One had to know how much business Zhongli alone brought to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor; those ancient funerals and Rite of Parting ceremonies that others didn't know about were mostly lost.

Passed down to this day, he was likely the only one who knew them.

To think another one had come along.

Hu Tao giggled, her eyes rolling, and she took the initiative to sit next to Luo Li, her soft and delicate body pressing against him.

"Since you are Zhongli's friend, you are naturally this Director's friend. From now on, I'll cover all your food, clothing, housing, and transportation; you just need to submit the bills. How about it?"

Hu Tao knew that if you don't risk the bait, you won't catch the fish; one must learn to give first.

"..."

Discovering that the girl's level of familiarity was indeed extraordinary, Luo Li understood why she made so many people avoid her.

Constantly pushing funeral services on people—let alone whether people could handle it, the shopkeepers who opened their doors to welcome guests found it even more of a headache.

The key was that Hu Tao was like a sticky candy that couldn't be shaken off; it was unbearable.

Discovering that Hu Tao had a new target to pester, Zhongli on the other side felt a strange sense of relief and nodded inwardly.

He couldn't handle this child well, and remembering that Luo Li was quite adept at dealing with women, he would leave it to him.

Luo Li accepted gladly, but he didn't agree too quickly; he deliberated for a moment before responding.

"Very well, I shall agree to your request."

"Hee hee, that's great! On this auspicious occasion, I shall compose a poem!"

Having received a satisfactory answer, Hu Tao, who called herself the Dark Poet of the Alley, jumped up happily and began pacing back and forth to create her doggerel.

Neither Luo Li nor Zhongli paid much attention, continuing to discuss the unfinished business from before.

If I don't interfere, according to your plan, everything should be about to begin.

Since the Fatui are stirring up this muddy water, they will surely strike from all directions.

The adepti are also their tools to be used.

Zhongli agreed with Luo Li's words: "That's right, at this time, I imagine it's about time."

His gaze drifted, looking toward an unknown distance.

That was the direction toward Jueyun Karst.

Amidst the overlapping clouds and mist, one could vaguely see something speeding toward them...

Both fell silent, like two chess players wanting to see how this game would be played.

"I've got it!"

Just then, on the other side, as Hu Tao was about to start reciting her doggerel.

A report came from outside the door.

"Director, someone is here to see Mr. Zhongli."

The poem she had finally thought of was stifled. Hu Tao paused and looked toward the courtyard entrance.

There, the Ferrylady of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor was poking half her body out, and upon seeing the stranger Luo Li, she was stunned for a long time, confused as to when an outsider had come into the parlor.

Hearing this, Luo Li looked at Zhongli.

"The chess piece you wanted has arrived."

Morax, incarnated as a mortal, was thoughtful and followed his gaze.

He saw that following the Ferrylady was a young master with an outstanding appearance.

He had a slender build, wore gray clothes, and was as sharp as a silver blade wrapped in velvet.

He looked youthful on the surface, but his whole body exuded immense confidence.

"Excuse me, everyone, may I ask if Mr. Zhongli is here?"

Tartaglia asked with a smile, poking his head inside.

Luo Li glanced at him and withdrew his gaze; a tool delivered to his doorstep—might as well use it.

Sure enough, Zhongli's expression shifted, and his steady, weathered voice sounded.

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