40% Off?

(Brain Storage)

"Oh, so you're interested in this sort of thing too?"

"Then would you consider working at our Wangsheng Funeral Parlor?"

"Meals and lodging included, and we treat our employees very well. Isn't that right, Consultant Zhongli?"

Upon hearing that Lin Yiyi was also in the funeral business, Hu Tao did not think he was stealing her business. Instead, she sincerely invited him to join her establishment.

Even if they were competing for business, they were separated by an entire dimension. There was no real conflict to speak of.

"Ah, sure... Huh? No, no, that's not it! I came to find you because I have something to do!"

At last, Lin Yiyi's brain successfully reconnected. "I'm hosting a funeral as well, so I wanted to invite you two to come along."

"Today's rites for guiding the departed have already been completed. There'll be another ceremony tomorrow."

"I also wanted to hear the comments and opinions of professionals from another world."

Hu Tao and Zhongli exchanged a glance, and she was the first to ask, "Consultant, what do you think?"

Zhongli considered it. "Little friend Lin and we do not belong to the same world, much like that Traveler."

"I share the director's sentiments. If the director is interested in going, then Zhongli will accompany her."

Hu Tao blinked her plum blossom eyes, then said to Lin Yiyi, "Since we're seeing off the departed, how could it be done without the seventy-seventh director of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor?"

"Fellow colleague, wait here a moment. I'll be right back."

Hu Tao then left first, leaving only Zhongli and the socially anxious youth behind.

They were not far apart. All they had to do was cross that rift, and they would be standing beside one another.

For a time, the air was somewhat awkward. Fortunately, Zhongli, who had weathered erosion, had become gentle and easygoing toward others. He was quite conversational, and once again broke the delicate atmosphere.

"Little friend Lin, what kind of world is the one you live in?"

Lin Yiyi's expression dimmed, and for a moment, he did not know how to answer.

Selfishness, greed, sloth, pride, envy, gluttony, desire.

Lin Yiyi rarely saw warmth in this world. The only way he came to understand it was through those who had passed on.

Most of them had died violent deaths and carried immense resentment. Whenever Lin Yiyi performed rites to send them on, he could feel that resentment soaring to the heavens.

Yet he still smiled faintly. "It's a fairly good world."

Zhongli had lived for over six thousand years. He could see what the youth was thinking.

"Everyone sees the world differently, but little friend Lin, do not let those negative emotions affect your heart."

"Perhaps this world truly is, as you say, a beautiful one."

"Having been granted a pair of eyes, one must learn to see the truth and falsehood of the world clearly, and distinguish right from wrong."

The youth likewise lacked the courage to meet those profound eyes. Compared to Inazuma's Shirasagi Princess, there was a trace of gentleness in the Geo Archon's gaze, but even more depth that seemed capable of seeing through all things and piercing straight into one's soul.

Lin Yiyi could only look at the ground. "Thank you, Lord of Geo."

It had merely been a word of thanks, yet Zhongli was somewhat surprised. "Hm? Little friend, you know my identity?"

Lin Yiyi nodded, then explained Genshin Impact and its origins to Zhongli.

After learning this, even the calm and composed Geo Lord could not smooth out his furrowed brow.

"Learning such information truly comes as a great surprise," he said. Then, folding his arms as he looked at the youth before him, who was somewhat shorter than himself, he continued, "But I am already over six thousand years old. Even if I am a nonexistent person who was created, the experiences of those thousands of years still remain in my mind."

"Even if we exist in a virtual world, we still possess stable, happy lives."

"By universal principles, is this not still a form of reality?"

The god who governed the Geo element regained his usual calm composure.

From the Archon War, in which he stood above the other seventy-two demon gods and became one of the Seven who ruled the mortal realm, to the campaign against Khaenri'ah, whose technology had developed too far, the memories of the Geo Archon, Morax, remained deeply etched in his mind.

On his path forward, he had also continued to lose things: his dear friend Guizhong, the Five Yakshas reduced to only one...

This man had experienced far more than Lin Yiyi, yet he still possessed such an indifferent and tranquil state of mind.

Just as he had said, a person might be virtual, but their emotions and memories never were.

Lin Yiyi did not know how to respond. Fortunately, Hu Tao returned at that moment.

"This director has just finished giving the staff some instructions about the shop. Next, let's head to your world!"

Crossing the pale red rift, the barrier between dimensions was broken once more.

Unlike the gentle and quiet Shirasagi Princess, who was also one of Lin Yiyi's favorites, once the rift vanished, the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's director's eyes were full of curiosity. She ran back and forth, and Lin Yiyi could feel her curiosity practically overflowing.

By comparison, Zhongli, also from the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor—even if he was merely a consultant—was much calmer. He simply sat steadily in a chair and began leafing through several books left behind by the inn.

"Wow, fellow colleague, is this where you live? It may not look big, but I didn't expect it to be this tidy."

Perhaps she had grown tired from running around. Hu Tao sat on the bed, swinging her long legs back and forth, looking exceptionally lively.

Lin Yiyi shook his head. "No, I'm temporarily renting a room at an inn. A guesthouse, basically."

Hu Tao blinked again. "At your age, shouldn't you be living with your family?"

Lin Yiyi: "6."

The youth smiled awkwardly. "I'm actually traveling around. Just think of me as a Traveler too."

Seeing that Lin Yiyi was unwilling to say more, Hu Tao lay down on the bed.

However, the man seated in the chair vaguely sensed there was more to the youth's words and fell into thought.

Lin Yiyi also looked at Zhongli. He always felt that there was something he had not considered.

Second by second, time passed until night arrived.

During that time, Lin Yiyi told Hu Tao what he had told Zhongli. Unsurprisingly, the girl shared the same view as her "subordinate." He also briefly explained some knowledge about this world to the two of them, including cosplay.

Seeing that it was about time, Lin Yiyi stood up. "Let's go."

Hu Tao, who had just borrowed Lin Yiyi's phone and watched a few short videos, looked up. "What is it? What is it? Do we have a client?"

Lin Yiyi slung a backpack over his shoulders. "No. We're going to catch a ghost, probably."

Hu Tao was about to explain that this world did not actually have ghosts, but Zhongli stopped her.

"Different worlds have different laws and rules of operation. Perhaps ghosts truly do exist in this world."

Hu Tao rarely paused to think for a moment. "Fellow colleague, if ghosts really are causing trouble in your world, then I'll have to prepare a coffin for you in advance."

"Since we're colleagues, I'll give you a half-price discount—fifty percent off. How about it?"

Lin Yiyi: "6."

"Hm? Forty percent off? That's not impossible."

Lin Yiyi's face darkened. Zhongli smiled beside him. "Is it truly an evil spirit that must be eliminated on this trip, little friend Lin?"

Lin Yiyi then explained what had happened that afternoon with the girl who had stepped on the paper offerings someone had burned.

After hearing him out, Lin Yiyi rarely saw Hu Tao reveal even a hint of seriousness.

"Honestly, that's terribly disrespectful to the deceased. Even if she doesn't believe in ghosts and gods, she should still maintain a sense of reverence!"

"But a human life is at stake. If I see someone in danger and refuse to help, that would not conform to the principles of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor."

"Fine, fine. This director and Consultant Zhongli will accompany you, fellow colleague!"