Herrscher of Domination: Motorcycle Mode (Continued)

"... Then why are you looking for me?"

"Because you look perfect for a funeral!"

"..."

Hu Tao's answer left Liu Bai speechless.

This was the first time he had received such praise, and for a moment Liu Bai really didn't know what to say.

Very suitable... for a funeral?

Is this a compliment?

Or are you saying I have a gloomy appearance?

... Isn't it unreasonable for me to receive such an evaluation?

Liu Bai touched his face, and at that moment, long-lost knowledge suddenly flooded his mind.

"... borrowing a face to attend a funeral?"

[Hu Tao's Affection Level: 2022]

"Hey! Bro, you actually know this joke?" Hu Tao looked surprised.

"... No, these aren't kind words at all, are they? Isn't this Mi Heng accusing Xun Yu of being all show and no substance?"

"But he was criticizing Xun Yu!" Hu Tao clearly didn't care. "In my opinion, young man, you might just be a talent like Xun Yu!"

"Then you shouldn't have gone to work at your Wangshang Funeral Parlor!"

"Um... well..." Hu Tao seemed surprised that Liu Bai wasn't fooled by her. "Really, aren't you going to consider it? It would be a waste of your good looks not to go to the funeral, don't you think, Zhongli?"

"... I am merely a guest advisor."

The tall, slender man behind Hu Tao corrected her expressionlessly.

As a guest minister, he was not in charge of funeral matters; he was only responsible for teaching his apprentices the rules and etiquette of funerals.

In more modern terms, they would be called "consultant teachers".

"Hello, my name is Zhongli. As I just said, I am a guest elder of the Wangshang Funeral Parlor. Please do not take the Hall Master's words to heart."

"... Are you short-staffed?"

"No, it's probably just that the sect leader likes you more." Zhongli rested his chin on his hand, pondered for a moment, and then gave his answer, "May I ask who you are..."

"Liu Bai, is he considered a tourist?"

"Tourists?" Zhongli's eyes deepened for a moment.

Liu Bai remained calm. He accepted the true Musou Isshin, even though he didn't carry it with him. It wasn't impossible for Zhongli to see something about it.

"Then you've come at a rather inopportune time." Zhongli's gaze shifted to the sea.

"What's wrong with the sea? Did it upset Squidward?"

Liu Bai asked.

"Oh~ who lives in the big pineapple in the deep sea~" Hu Tao sang happily when she heard Liu Bai's question.

Zhongli was visibly speechless, but he wasn't distracted by Hu Tao. He took a deep look at Liu Bai and then shook his head.

I don't think so.

"Why are you two talking like you're discussing something serious?"

After singing a short while, Hu Tao changed the subject.

Zhongli knew this was a sign that Hu Tao's initial enthusiasm was waning.

"Just giving tourists some advice."

"Uh... that's so perfunctory." Hu Tao's lips twitched, but she knew there was no point in arguing with Zhongli, so she turned her attention back to Liu Bai. "So, little brother, you still haven't given me an answer!"

"Would you like to try working as a part-time cleaner?"

"The hourly worker is here!?" Hu Tao feigned surprise—although it was indeed rare to see someone who needed an hourly worker for this.

"I'm a tourist, there's no way I could possibly work a day with you, right?"

"Hmm... that makes sense." Hu Tao thought for a moment, then nodded in agreement. "Alright! From now on, you'll be our part-time cleaner at the Wangshang Funeral Parlor!"

"..."

How hasty.

At this moment, Zhongli calmly turned and left.

"... Mr. Zhongli, where are you going?"

"Have some tea." Zhongli answered, but her steps showed no sign of stopping.

Liu Bai had a subtle feeling that he had been betrayed.

"Let's go! Hourly worker Liu Bai! Your task now is to accompany this master shopping!"

"Wow... they're already showing their true colors."

The way they addressed me changed from "I" to "This Hall Master"... It's like a complete change of face.

"Hey... what's that little girl doing!"

Firefly and Guinaifen watched from behind the pillar as Hu Tao abducted Liu Bai, their eyes filled with resentment.

"Does the Boss Liu have absolutely no resistance to little girls like this?"

"... Maybe?"

Firefly spoke in a soft, gentle tone.

Guinaifen rolled her eyes at Firefly. When this guy lifted her up with one hand, his tone was also soft and sweet.

"Forget it, let's follow them... Although I don't think anything will necessarily happen, but... aren't girls who actively strike up conversations with strange men dangerous?"

Guinaifen gritted her teeth.

Is Little Gui not cheerful enough? Or not energetic enough?

Tsk! I knew I should have taken the initiative!

"You two, stop right there!" The two had just taken a step when they were stopped by someone.

The newcomers were the Millelith, the armed forces of Liyue.

"What are you two little girls doing sneakily?"

"We're... never mind! There's no time to explain! Sorry!"

Guinaifen watched the two people about to walk into the crowd, gritted her teeth, grabbed Firefly and quickly went around them—after all, the other party was just a well-trained ordinary person.

"What!?" The Millelith soldier, startled by the sudden movement, paused for a moment before pulling out his walkie-talkie. "The port market here..."

"W-Will everything be alright?" Firefly asked worriedly.

"Oh, right, why would I be holding you?" Guinaifen paused for a moment, then her expression suddenly dawned on her.

"..."

Give me back the emotion I just felt!

Therefore, Guinaifen immediately released Firefly.

"I'm going to find the Boss Liu, and you, Firefly— "

"Isn't this... not a good idea?" Firefly asked softly, lifting Guinaifen up by the collar with one hand.

"..."

Well, maybe the reason I ran with Firefly was because I instinctively realized that if I ran alone, Firefly would probably grab me and pin me to the spot.

"Yes, I don't think so either. I think we still need to work together to deal with external enemies."

Guinaifen nodded repeatedly.

That bastard has the desire but not the guts, yet he drags others into it!

Damn it! He deserves to have that collar put on him by Kafka!

Although Firefly didn't know what Guinaifen was thinking, she was happy to put Guinaifen down after hearing her change of address.

"So, are you sure there are no problems?"

"No problem, you have to trust my experience of being chased away by the city management officers during my many years of setting up a stall in Xianzhou."

Guinaifen patted her chest and assured them.

"You know what? My best friend is a member of the Cloud Knights."

"..." Surprisingly, it's hard to know where to begin complaining.

However, we can only trust Guinaifen, since running away in alleys is not something Firefly is good at.

"Let's go, let's go, don't lose the Boss Liu." Guinaifen stopped chatting with Firefly and quickly followed the two who were walking further inside.

"How about it? The morning market at the port is quite lively, isn't it!"

Hu Tao spun around in place, her tone cheerful.

"Even with the fishing ban at the port, it hasn't affected this place."

"It's quite lively, so is that why it's called a morning market and not a fish market?"

Liu Bai looked around and saw that there was everything, even a variety show – he felt that Little Gui would really like this place.

"But is this the job you were talking about?"

Liu Bai glanced at the things in his arms. He felt more like the person carrying bags while shopping.

No wonder Zhongli ran away.

"Our Wangshang Funeral Parlor doesn't always have work, and not every job requires my responsibility as the hall master. I can't be in two places at once."

That makes sense.

After all, even if it's a natural death, countless people die every day in the entire Liyue region. Even if only a small portion of them come to the Wangshang Funeral Parlor, it's still more than Hu Tao can handle.

"Then aren't you pretty useless?"

"... You really don't know how to talk." Hu Tao put her hands on her hips, then thought for a moment, "How about I take you to see a ghost? And while I'm at it, I'll show you what this master of the hall really is!"

"...?"

Wuwang Hill?

But then again, in Honkai... well, let's not discuss such meaningless things.

"Okay, let's go then."

"Then let's take the things to the Wangshang Funeral Parlor first."

Hu Tao skipped and hopped along with Liu Bai to the Wangshang Funeral Parlor. Perhaps because they were government employees, the Wangshang Funeral Parlor looked very grand, but the atmosphere was still quite solemn.

After putting the things away, Hu Tao led Liu Bai out of the city.

Liu Bai suddenly thought of something.

"Director Hu, how far is it from here to where you are going?"

The few hundred meters in the game are for gameplay purposes! The two countries are thousands of meters apart; if that were real data, it wouldn't even be as small as a university town.

"Hmm... two days?"

"Who has two days to play with you?!"

Liu Bai complained.

"Hmm... we can't get that far even if we go fast, taxis don't go that way, and the road conditions aren't good either." Hu Tao shrugged, looking innocent. "Let's just treat it as a picnic."

"... Wait a minute."

Liu Bai took out his bracelet and sent a message to someone.