200: Life, Death… and a Child?

While Jean and the others were hurrying on their way to Liyue, Ryen was leisurely wandering around with Hu Tao.

They had no fixed destination—just walking and sightseeing wherever their feet took them.

They admired the local customs of Liyue and bought all sorts of trinkets along the way.

Because the Rite of Descension was approaching, and Liyue had recently made several major moves, the number of foreigners flocking to the city had noticeably increased.

For Ryen and Hu Tao, this wasn't something particularly worth paying attention to. However, the more foreigners there were, the more exotic goods they could get their hands on.

Although Hu Tao often promoted coffins so eagerly that it made people avoid her like the plague, in truth, she was quite well liked.

At the very least, her cute and lively personality brought joy to many people.

Add to that the fact she had shouldered the heavy burden of Liyue's funeral rites at such a young age, and many couldn't help but feel a deep sense of sympathy for her.

Well…

That was only under the condition that she didn't start promoting her "Wangsheng Hall Family Coffin Package" the moment she met someone.

But clearly, at this moment, Hu Tao wasn't in the mood to do any sales pitching—she was on a date with Ryen, under the guise of a casual stroll.

The Mora earned from that pack of wolves in the cemetery earlier was enough to keep Wangsheng Hall running normally for at least three months.

Considering that Zhongli wasn't spending much in Liyue these days—usually farming and fishing in the Minecraft world—those funds could last half a year.

And with the Rite of Descension coming up, Zhongli would soon be reconnected with his personal wallet, Tartaglia.

Ryen figured that Wangsheng Hall's future days would only get better from here.

On the way, quite a few Liyue citizens who saw Hu Tao instinctively backed away at first. But after realizing she wasn't trying to sell them a coffin, they breathed a sigh of relief and greeted her with cheerful smiles.

Many even teased her about growing up and finally thinking about continuing the family line—preparing the next generation of Hall Masters for Wangsheng Hall.

The older ladies were especially relentless with their jokes, leaving Hu Tao a little flustered and at a loss for how to respond.

Things only got worse when they ran into the Car Queen, Ying'er, who started off the conversation by zooming past in her roaring Ferrari.

Even Ryen could barely handle that level of energy—let alone Hu Tao.

In the end, overwhelmed by the constant teasing, Hu Tao dragged Ryen all the way to a secluded beach.

Hardly anyone came here. Liyue residents didn't find anything worthwhile in this area, and foreigners didn't know about it.

Just a few alleys separated them from the bustling city, yet the peace and quiet here felt like a different world.

Hu Tao took off her shoes and walked barefoot on the sand, hands behind her back, strolling beside Ryen.

Her expression was soft now—not constantly wearing the usual mischievous smile she was known for.

The sound of the waves was gentle, rolling onto the shore softly and repeatedly. Crabs that had just burrowed into the sand, trying to return to the ocean, were swept back again.

Shells of all shapes and sizes lay scattered across the beach.

The natural, unpolluted environment brought a rare sense of calm to Ryen's heart.

"I used to come here with Grandpa after funerals," Hu Tao whispered softly as she walked beside him.

She nodded slightly, her expression unreadable.

"At the time, I didn't understand why people got so sad when someone passed away."

"I thought… they were simply returning to their origin. From nothing they came, to nothing they go."

"Yin and yang in balance, fate ever-changing."

"That's the law of the world since the beginning."

"We're happy when someone is born, so we shouldn't be crying when someone leaves."

"Birth and death are just two parts of the same cycle."

Hu Tao paused, then continued:

"Back then, Grandpa would always pat my head and say, 'This is what it means to be human.'"

"But I didn't understand…"

"He said that while birth and death are natural laws, to feel no joy at birth and no sorrow at death would be to forget our very humanity."

"To have flesh and blood, to feel emotions—that's both humanity's greatest strength, and its greatest weakness."

"I still didn't understand…"

"Then Grandpa would have me run barefoot after the waves. He told me to chase something that could never be caught. I still didn't get it…"

"But I was happy."

Hu Tao turned, gazing at the ebb and flow of the tide. For thousands of years, everything had changed—except for this sea.

"Later, I became the new Hall Master of Wangsheng Hall. The first person I sent off… was my Grandpa."

"Hu Tao…" Ryen looked at her with a pained expression.

She tilted her head and gave him a pure, innocent smile.

"Do you know, Ryen? It was only then that I understood why people cried when we held funerals…"

"Grandpa left with no regrets. He didn't linger on the border between life and death—he returned to the earth veins, just like all past Hall Masters of Wangsheng Hall."

"That's a good thing. Those of Wangsheng Hall must see through life and death, and have no regrets."

"That day… was the only time in my life that I cried."

"Right here… on this beach…"

"And it was then I understood: Yin and yang being in balance is the law of the world, but human emotions—that's the root of our existence."

"Life and death are never things that anyone can truly see through. Not me, not Grandpa, not even the Geo Archon."

"No matter how detailed our definitions of life and death are, they still can't describe even a fraction of what they truly are."

"Later on, I met Qiqi."

"She was a little zombie. I stubbornly wanted to help her pass on, but she refused to leave…"

"She had an incredibly strong desire to live. She didn't even fully understand what life or death meant, but she instinctively resisted death."

"And I came to understand—people are different, and so are lives. So their approach to death is different too."

"Some die for a great cause. Some pass on with simple, quiet wishes."

"Some want to die in the arms of loved ones. Others want to die in the embrace of the wind and freedom."

"For every person in this world, there is a different way to live and a different way to die."

"And so… I finally understood what Grandpa meant."

Hu Tao took a deep breath, staring at the sea before her.

"Life and death are important—but more precious than either is the journey between them, whether short or long."

"From the moment we are born, we begin chasing the waves of life. On this journey, we'll see many, many beautiful sights."

"And when we are finally swallowed by the tide, slowly sinking beneath the surface… what we think of is not the end, but the process of chasing the waves."

Hu Tao put her hands on her hips and looked up at the sky.

"So! I think Grandpa's life must have been something truly worth remembering, right?"

"He kept chasing that sea over and over, met countless people, did so many things, and in the final moment before closing his eyes, all of it must've flashed before him."

"So, Grandpa had no regrets. And I'll die without regrets too."

Ryen had never imagined that one day, he'd be standing in such a beautiful place, listening to the roar of the ocean.

Yet all he could hear in his ears was this girl's serene acceptance of life and death.

He stepped forward and took Hu Tao's hand.

Hu Tao was never the type to show weakness.

Or rather, the time when she sent her grandfather off and shed tears on this beach — that was probably the most fragile moment in her life.

Back then, she didn't need comforting. And now, she didn't either...

To someone like Hu Tao, who had carried the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor on her shoulders for so long, she had no soft spots…

"So..."

Ryen turned his head to look at her with a warm smile.

"Is there anything our Hall Master Hu still regrets not doing?"

"Hehe! Oh, tons!"

Hu Tao blinked, instantly turning back into that quirky, mischievous girl.

She stuck out a small hand and started counting on her fingers while muttering:

"The Funeral Parlor hasn't spread across all of Teyvat yet, the souls with unfulfilled wishes haven't all been sent off, and I haven't even guided one-tenth the number of people Grandpa did…"

"Hmm… there's way too much! I won't be able to finish it all any time soon."

"Mmhm! But that's a good thing! That way, this Hall Master won't be dying any time soon!"

Ryen chuckled quietly and asked softly:

"What about you? Do you have any regrets left?"

Hu Tao's face flushed red. She suddenly recalled those teasing remarks they'd heard from people earlier on the road.

She pursed her lips and said in a small voice:

"I… I still haven't found the next successor for the Funeral Parlor…"

"If I die like this, Grandpa would definitely scold me!"

Ryen raised an eyebrow and looked at Hu Tao, whose face was completely red. Her big eyes sparkled like fiery plum blossoms.

To Ryen, this was full of implications… No! Not even implied — she was being very clear!

But he still teased her with a grin.

"So?"

"So…"

Hu Tao's eyes sparkled mischievously — and then she pounced on Ryen like a hungry tiger.

"Have a baby with me!"

"...Huh?!"

Ryen froze, utterly stunned that Hu Tao would say something so blunt.

But then again, knowing her personality… it kind of made sense.

Still, before Ryen could say anything, Hu Tao leaned in and silenced him with a kiss.

What a bold and straightforward girl...

Ryen found it amusing, but didn't resist. He wrapped his arms around her and took the lead.

Hu Tao had no idea what she was doing — she just charged in recklessly and didn't move.

Until Ryen began guiding her — that's when she realized… oh, so that's how this works.

But her mind didn't stay clear for long. Soon enough, Hu Tao was dazed and lost in it all.

It was completely different from what she'd imagined, but to be honest…

Ryen gently laid Hu Tao down on the beach, letting the rising evening tide wash over them.

A child?

Hu Tao's proposal was certainly a heavy one.

But unfortunately…

From what Ryen had "explored" so far of Hu Tao's physique — even if they did have a child, raising it would be quite the challenge…

But that's okay!

With the number-one imperial massage master on the job, even flat plains can rise into hills!

Just look at Ganyu — her "scale" had been evolving these days. And Hu Tao? Her potential was even greater.

No one knew how long had passed before the two of them sat side by side on the beach, gazing out into the distance.

If the setting sun had been there, it might've made the scene even more poetic.

But sadly, not every moment of deep affection is blessed by perfect weather.

Not that either Hu Tao or Ryen cared.

Neither of them spoke for a long time… until finally,

Hu Tao tilted her head and looked at Ryen.

"So, now you're this Hall Master's man, huh."

Ryen gave a soft chuckle and gently pulled Hu Tao to lean on his shoulder.

"Why not put it another way?"

"Like what?"

Under Hu Tao's curious gaze, Ryen turned his head and looked at her seriously.

"From now on, you're my Hall Master Hu."

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