Hu Tao Is Monetizing My Existence. [69]

Being a zombie, Qiqi never got tired—so she could keep searching through the night.

She wanted to find it quickly.

She wanted to live.

She didn't want to go to the afterlife.

Hoisting her bamboo basket onto her back, she commanded herself to locate the plant in the drawing. Then, she began her climb up the stone peaks.

Despite her small stature, Qiqi's climbing speed was remarkably fast. She moved like an agile mountain cat, effortlessly navigating the cliffs.

The bright moonlight illuminated the rocky terrain, making it easy to see even without a lantern.

Every so often, she paused on a rock to compare the illustration in her notebook before continuing upward.

For the entire night, the little braided-haired zombie scoured one peak after another—tireless, relentless.

Finally, as dawn broke, she found it—nestled within the cracks of a rocky crevice.

The plant was hidden beneath fallen leaves, its tiny roots clinging tightly to the surrounding stone. A larger root segment protruded slightly, looking like a flattened green radish.

However, when she touched it, it felt cold as stone—hard and unyielding.

Qiqi tried pulling it out—no luck.

Seeing that force wouldn't work, she changed tactics.

Her fingernails lengthened, growing sharp and durable. She dug directly into the rock face, her nails piercing the stone like it was soft tofu.

In one swift motion, she excavated the entire section of rock where the Kongtong Lingsoul Jade was growing.

With the task complete, her self-imposed command lifted.

The once stiff, robotic emptiness in her eyes faded, replaced by a lively gleam.

"…Found it."

Delighted, she tucked it safely into her bamboo basket and spread her Wind Glider, descending swiftly back to camp.

After setting down her basket, she went to the lake to wash off the dust and morning dew clinging to her.

Unbeknownst to her, the dew had completely soaked her hair and clothes overnight.

As the sun slowly rose, a faint, almost imperceptible smile formed on her lips.

Hu Tao yawned as she emerged from her tent, already feeling mentally exhausted at the thought of searching for days.

She had been dreaming about climbing mountains lately—all because of this Kongtong Lingsoul Jade.

But there was no choice—she had to find it.

She wasn't someone who gave up easily.

However, the moment she lifted her tent flap, she was met with an unexpected sight—a small figure crouched at her tent entrance.

Qiqi, who had been waiting patiently for her to wake up, stood up the moment she saw her.

Holding something in both hands, she looked up and said:

"Qiqi… found it."

Her expression remained blank, but her eyes sparkled—brighter than the morning sun.

Being stared at with such pure, earnest eyes, Hu Tao suddenly felt unable to meet her gaze directly.

"…Qiqi gives this to you." Qiqi lifted the object higher. "…Qiqi doesn't want to go to the afterlife."

Hu Tao lowered her gaze to the item in Qiqi's hands—the very thing they had spent two days searching for.

The dirt on it was still fresh, and dew clung to the leaves—clear proof that it had just been harvested.

For a moment, Hu Tao was at a loss for words.

She had brought Qiqi along simply to keep an eye on her, not expecting her to actually help—yet in the end, Qiqi was the one who found it.

"…Don't tell me you searched the entire night?"

Hu Tao's gaze shifted to Qiqi's clothes. Though she had wiped off most of the dust and dirt, there were still traces left behind.

Looking at Qiqi—so sincere, so desperate to live—Hu Tao knew.

She could no longer treat her the same way she had before.

She couldn't go against Qiqi's will and send her to the afterlife.

Qiqi didn't deny the accusation. She simply raised the plant higher and said, "Qiqi wanted… to help."

Hu Tao's expression grew complicated.

She knelt down and gently ruffled Qiqi's hair.

"…Thank you. I respect your wishes. I won't send you to the afterlife."

"Really?" Qiqi blinked, surprised by Hu Tao's straightforward answer.

Suddenly, this person didn't seem so annoying anymore.

"Director Hu never goes back on her word!" Hu Tao pounded her chest in reassurance.

Her word was the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's word!

"…But," she added with a grin, "if you ever feel like life is too exhausting, come find me! I promise to give you a grand, elegant funeral!"

Hu Tao was quick to move on. Since she had already decided not to send Qiqi to the afterlife, there was no need to dwell on it.

…But her salesmanship? That wasn't going anywhere.

With a flick of her wrist, she pulled out a stack of flyers.

"I've got cremation packages—half-off on a second tombstone, buy-one-get-one-free deals, and exclusive VIP funeral services with customizable features! Prices are super affordable—"

Qiqi stiffened, instinctively taking two steps back.

…That fleeting moment where she thought Hu Tao wasn't so bad?

A complete illusion.

"…N-no thanks."

"Oh, come on! Just take a look—you've got nothing to lose! Everyone dies eventually! The more at peace you are with death, the better you'll enjoy life—"

Hu Tao kept rambling, but Qiqi had already bolted.

This woman is terrifying.

Qiqi had definitely been right to dislike her.

"Hey—don't run!"

The once-quiet Huaguang Forest suddenly filled with laughter and the sound of a chase.

Jiang Bai groggily crawled out of his tent, rubbing his sleepy eyes—only to spot the Kongtong Lingsoul Jade lying casually on the ground.

Blinking in disbelief, he bent down, picked it up, and inspected it.

…It was real.

He wasn't dreaming.

"…Why is this just lying here?" He turned it over a few times, double-checking that it wasn't some fake knockoff.

Looking around for Hu Tao, he called out as he walked:

"Director Hu! Where are you?!"

Before he even got a response, a small figure dashed past him at high speed, kicking up a cloud of dust.

Right behind her was Hu Tao, holding a fistful of flyers, running just as fast.

A cloud of dirt smacked Jiang Bai right in the face.

He stood there, dazed, trying to process what the hell was going on.

"…Just take a look! It won't hurt to learn about our services! The Wangsheng Funeral Parlor offers a wide range of options—"

Hu Tao's voice echoed as she ran after Qiqi.

"…No… noooo!" Qiqi sounded like she was on the verge of tears.

Jiang Bai scratched his head, completely lost.

…Was Director Hu trying to recruit Qiqi into the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor?

At least it didn't seem like she was planning to cremate her—with how cheerfully she was handing out flyers, it definitely wasn't an execution mission.

As for Qiqi? She was probably just traumatized.

Shrugging, Jiang Bai grabbed his toothbrush and cup, stood by the lake, and casually brushed his teeth—watching the chase unfold like he was at a zoo, watching two monkeys play-fight.

Eventually, it was Hu Tao who gave up first.

Panting heavily, she leaned against a rock, chest heaving.

"…I'm done chasing. That was exhausting…"

---

T/N: grrr dont make qiqi cry

...

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