When performing a rite for someone's - or anyone's passing for that matter, it was usually always a solemn affair. And Hu Tao knew the moments for solemnity, the sanctity of the whole affair. But what Hu Tao also knew, were the joys of a peaceful death, one where family members clambled together with tears in their eyes, wishing to say a happy goodbye to their loved ones one last time. Mourning the loss of the people they had known for so long.
It only brought the family and friends closer to one another as each of them treasured every second they spent together with the person who left them far behind.
Yet people of Liyue didn't understand this feeling, and instead feared her intentions, suspecting that once the rite had passed, the dead person would be defiled in the afterlife, simply because the director wasn't taking the ritual seriously.
A suspicion caused by personal beliefs, held and taught since birth, carried out like a sacred pact, telling them that the mood during funerals should be dignified and serious, not letting some child throw jokes into the wind. Funerals weren't supposed to be anything like that. No happiness, only sadness and pain-filled mumbling by relatives about the deceased.
They weren't even supposed to hold any happy thoughts towards the departed. Just blank expressions and tears.
If not else, Morax, the God Of Liyue himself would surely resent their careless attitude.
But with Hu Tao around...it was a tough thought indeed.
They were very much afraid the funeral rites would turn into something unholy, the moment the solemn mood was lifted by happiness, jokes and fun.
Yomite, who was walking alongside Hu Tao, was unable to immediately respond to the remarks.
He initially believed he had misheard things, but this was not the case.
People simply didn't give a damn about Hu Tao and had no qualms about slandering her right in front of him.
The wave of surging emotion behind Yomite's trembling pupils conveyed the raw emotion of anger in a way dry sentences alone never could have accomplished.
He suddenly felt like lashing out, right on the spot. To shoot them down with such angry words.
It was almost unbearable to be so objectified to such a point. Yet he managed to suppress his actions for now and simply glared at those crowds as if he were taking aim for their immediate deaths.
He quickly attempted to form an idea to quell his rage, only to find no concrete reasons to keep it from building up inside him.
The environment he found himself in was rotten to the core, and made it hard to hold on, even with all of his inner strength. "These bastards wil—"
And yet, Hu Tao simply shook her head and held his hand.
Her gaze turned back to the road, hoping to distract herself from these people.
The girls comforted her afterward, and her entire body jolted after Yomite suddenly pulled her towards him and lifted her on his shoulders, surprising everybody as his arms wrapped around her thighs.
"Woah! So high!" She exclaimed with shock as her hands quickly hugged his face, afraid of falling.
"You're so much shorter than me…" He muttered, "You should look into improving your height to be as tall and intimidating as I am to shut those fools up. Now that you are sitting on top of me, we are crazy tall, they wouldn't dare to do anything again."
Her flailing legs were instantly caught by strong hands grasping onto them, after which they continued to walk through the crowds of confused people, who just watched them in wonder and amazement at the unorthodox feat.
"Let's go, let's go, let's gooo!" she ruffled his hair with her fingers while squeezing his neck with her thighs in excitement, insisting that they keep moving forward as quickly as possible with a merry shout. "I love you!"
Hu Tao was simply enjoying the ride, helpless against her sudden predicament, yet still happy he was trying to cheer her up, she really loved him dearly.
There were no more people harassing them after they reached the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's region. It was deathly silent.
A large mansion loomed ahead, seemingly waiting for them. It greeted them as soon as they came within its environs, large enough to house fifty people in addition to a huge garden and a cemetary for mourning rituals. There was probably no place better in all of Teyvat to bury the dead than this location.
They made their way towards the mansion, when they noticed a woman clad in Wangsheng Funeral Parlor attire, simply standing near the entrance, unmoving.
"..."
"Hello."
"..."
"Um...Hello?"
"Oh...are you... are you accosting me, by any chance? In Liyue it's generally not customary for people to speak to those of us from Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. Therefore... you must be outlanders. Or are you... something...else? Something from the other side? Is it my time? How unfortunate, I still had so many things I wanted to try... Oh well. Take me, O Entities of life and death..."
"..."
Did this woman seriously think they were some apparitions or something?
Heck, just how infamous was the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor for people to not even willingly talk to the employees...
"I serve the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. Come to think of it, I haven't spoken to anyone that isn't from there in a long time. Even when I'm working, I don't speak to the family of those who have passed out of respect for the old customs and while I wou—"
It was only then, that the ferrylady noticed Hu Tao, the Director that went missing months ago, sitting on his shoulders.
She blinked a few times, as if she didn't believe what she saw.
"...Director...? I see that you've returned...Welcome."
"Heya! We would like to pass through!" Hu Tao squeezed her thighs against his neck once more, replying cheerily.
Ferrylady looked straight at Yomite in fear and thought for a moment before pulling out her talisman and pointing it at him, "I am sorry, but just to make sure...I stare death straight in the eye when others dare not. I have nothing to do with what has led you here. I have nothing to do with where you shall go. Go, lost soul. Into the light!"
"...."
