Chapter 172 - 170: Hu Tao: Let’s Go on a Date

Words : 1177 Updated : Sep 29th, 2025

After parting ways with the Hydro Archon Furina and Ye, Hu Tao was still mulling over what had happened at the table earlier. To be honest, Hu Tao felt she had grasped some of it, but most of it still eluded her. Yet, precisely because of that, she found it all the more fascinating. Zhongli had been suppressed... This was the first time Hu Tao had ever witnessed such a thing. In her eyes, Zhongli had always carried himself with an air of "having everything under control." No matter the situation, nothing ever seemed to faze him—he exuded an unshakable sense of security. But this time, even Zhongli had been clearly overpowered. That man... that man called Ye... The Supreme Bishop of Fontaine! Hu Tao wasn't a fool. By now, she could more or less guess that man's identity. Accompanying the Hydro Archon, standing on equal footing with Zhongli, who was suspected to be an adeptus, yet completely suppressing him—the only person Hu Tao could think of was the legendary Supreme Bishop of Fontaine. So, the man she'd dreamed about was actually someone of such stature? —Well, yes. Of course. There was no way Hu Tao would simply dismiss that dream as nothing. At the same time, she never believed it was just some adolescent fantasy either. In Hu Tao's understanding, no ghost or monster capable of such vivid dream manipulation existed. Forget affecting someone like her—even for ordinary people, crafting a dream so seamlessly blending illusion and reality should be impossible. Once a person realizes they're dreaming, they should wake up. But even when Hu Tao became aware she was dreaming, she couldn't break free, remaining in a half-awake, half-asleep state. To put it bluntly (and perhaps a bit irreverently), such exaggerated dream control was probably something only a god could achieve. And even that might be pushing it—whether gods could actually do such a thing was still up for debate. Yet, despite all this, Hu Tao had been convinced from the start that there was a mastermind behind it all—one that was likely a terrifying ghost or monster unlike anything ever recorded in history. Or perhaps a youkai, a demon... Whatever it was, it definitely wasn't anything good. What was this mastermind's goal? Outwardly, Hu Tao pretended as if nothing had happened, acting completely unbothered. But in truth, she had been constantly pondering their motives, trying to uncover their identity. Now, she had met the man from her dream—the same man who had swindled her out of several large sums, treating her like a fool. And now, it was all but confirmed: he was the Supreme Bishop of Fontaine... Interesting. Hu Tao genuinely thought so. He was probably the culprit, right? But what was his purpose in making her dream like that? This was the one thing Hu Tao still couldn't figure out. Especially after confirming his identity. After all, the Supreme Bishop of Fontaine wouldn't invade her dreams just to indulge some lecherous whim, would he? Hu Tao had confidence in her looks, but this was the Supreme Bishop of Fontaine—he could have any woman he wanted. Why resort to seeking her out in a dream? If word got out, he'd be the one humiliated. Or... was she mistaken? Maybe it wasn't him? Maybe some other unknown entity made her dream of him? —But that still didn't explain that entity's motives. "I still need to test the waters." This wasn't just about her own affairs. Hu Tao was also curious about the strange tension between the Hydro Archon Furina, Zhongli, and Ye. So, the next day, Hu Tao mobilized the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's intelligence network to locate Ye and Furina. Well, "intelligence network." Some of the rumors circulating outside weren't entirely wrong—Wangsheng Funeral Parlor wasn't just a simple business handling funerals. Of course, funerals were indeed its main trade, and that much was undeniable... But what kind of funeral parlor had dozens of consultants on retainer? Wangsheng Funeral Parlor had been established during the Archon War and had endured for thousands of years since. Over those millennia, it had maintained the balance of life and death, presiding over the funerals of every mortal and adeptus who had passed away in Liyue. Its roots ran deep into the land, intertwining inextricably with all of Liyue's people. In Liyue, Wangsheng Funeral Parlor was like the air—unnoticed in daily life, yet omnipresent, supporting and influencing the entire nation in ways no one could truly ignore. When the Geo Archon "passed away," no matter how much the Liyue Qixing wanted to hide the truth and observe quietly, the moment Zhongli acted in the name of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, he forced them to hold Rex Lapis' funeral rites first. Under those circumstances, if not for Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's intervention, Ningguang would never have been able to organize the Rite of Parting amidst such turmoil. That was Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. Its core business was indeed funerals, but anyone who truly understood it would never mistake it for just an ordinary mortuary. And they'd be right. After thousands of years of development and its vast network across Liyue, Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's foundation was immense. No matter how much successive directors emphasized funerals as its primary service, the branches extending from its trunk were already too numerous to count. The simplest example? Its intelligence network. If Hu Tao wanted to find someone in Liyue, hiding in the wilderness would be pointless. As for Ye and Furina? They weren't even trying to leave Liyue Harbor, so of course they couldn't escape Wangsheng's notice. It was practically a case of Hu Tao saying, "I want their full information in three minutes"—and their whereabouts were promptly delivered to her. That's right—when she wanted to, Hu Tao could play the overbearing CEO too! —And this time, she did something even more overbearing. Instead of bringing Zhongli along, Hu Tao went to find them herself. When she arrived, Ye, Furina, and Astrea had just gathered outside their rented residence. "Furina. Ye. And... Astrea? Why are you here too?" "Eh? D-Director?!" Seeing Hu Tao, Astrea immediately shrank back, half-hiding behind Ye. Hu Tao blinked in confusion. "Why are you so scared? I'm not going to eat you." "Um... Director... I-I'm sorry! I have to guard Lady Furina today, so I can't go with you to promote our services..." "I just told you not to expose Lady Furina's identity." "Ah! Right! Sorry! Director, I misspoke! Not Lady Furina, just... Furina!" "...Never mind. Just be more careful." Ye placed a hand on Astrea's head, internally questioning what had possessed him to give her this kind of personality. With a resigned sigh, he turned to Hu Tao. "Director Hu, is there something you need?" Hu Tao ignored Astrea and instead gave Ye a "smug" smile. "Ye, let's go on a date." Ye: "?" Astrea: "Huh?!" Furina: "......Wha—?!"

Chapter 172 - 170: Hu Tao: Let’s Go on a Date

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