Douluo; Zhongli Adventures in Mortal World with Paimon

Chapter 549: 549: Hu Tao Sees Qiqi Coming, Grabs Her and Buries Her in the Ground

Seeing Zhongli and Qiqi land, those who recognized Zhongli swallowed hard.

They had only been speculating, but they never expected that this god-like powerhouse was actually the Geo Archon!

"Greetings, Your Majesty!"

"Greetings, Your Majesty!"

The soldiers from the Heaven Dou side knelt on one knee, paying their respects to Zhongli.

After all, Zhongli was Heaven Dou's co-ruling king, the Geo Archon, also known as the Archon.

In other words, seeing Zhongli was like seeing the Heaven Dou Emperor himself!

Zhongli, seeing this, showed no unusual reaction.

With amber-colored energy gathering in his right hand, he waved it slightly, and the bodies of hundreds of thousands of soldiers involuntarily stood up.

"Soldiers, there's no need for this."

Zhongli waved his hand, not as a refusal, but as a sign that no words were necessary.

Bibi Dong and the others' expressions changed. She couldn't do such a thing, let alone the other Title Douluo.

After all, there were hundreds of thousands of soldiers on the Heaven Dou side!

A casual wave had made them all stand up. Such power was unimaginable!

As everyone marveled, Zhongli took Qiqi and left the battlefield, flying towards Heaven Dou City.

After Zhongli left, the soldiers from both sides looked at each other in confusion. They hadn't expected the Archon to appear and then disappear so quickly, truly elusive.

"Uh... are we still fighting?"

"You've all surrendered, what's there to fight?"

"Oh... so we've already lost..."

The recently resurrected were a bit lost. How had the battle ended so quickly?

The weapons they had picked up were quietly set down again.

The Star Luo Emperor had left, and the Star Luo's higher-ups, along with some nobles and powerhouses, didn't put up a fight and simply surrendered.

As the Star Luo Emperor had said, this chapter would be recorded as before. Those who had been resurrected would also leave a mark in history.

The end of the war on the Star Dou Plains symbolized the collapse of the Star Luo Empire. The Heaven Dou Empire didn't hesitate and immediately entered Star Luo territory, taking over the empire.

The entire process didn't disturb any civilians, only informing them that the Star Luo Empire now had a new ruler.

Upon hearing this, the former Heaven Dou Emperor, Xue Ye, smiled and passed away with a smile.

Xue Ye knew it was time for him to go. If he didn't leave, it might spark another war.

There was no need. Now that the Heaven Dou Empire had unified the Douluo Continent, there was no need for any more wars.

Besides, even if there were another war, could they really win?

It would just be leaving with regrets...

Leaving with dignity now was more appropriate.

Heaven Dou City, Zhongli Residence.

When Zhongli brought Qiqi back to the Zhongli Residence, Hu Tao popped out from somewhere, startling Qiqi.

"Qiqi, hehehe..."

Hu Tao had a mischievous smile, her plum blossom eyes flashing with a golden light.

"Hu Tao, don't bury... Qiqi!"

Qiqi held her head, speaking with some fear.

Seeing this, Hu Tao leaned closer to Qiqi, whispering in her ear, "The sun is high, Qiqi goes to pick herbs."

"Climbing a mountain, there's a temple."

"In the temple, there's an old Taoist, named Hu Tao."

"Hu Tao sees Qiqi coming, grabs her and buries her in the ground."

"Even the Geo Archon can't find her!"

Qiqi used one hand to keep Hu Tao at a distance, weakly saying, "Don't... don't bury me."

After all, even though Qiqi's memory wasn't great and she often forgot many things, once bitten by a snake, one is scared of ropes for ten years.

She had been buried by Hu Tao once before, and it was only because of Baizhu's rescue that she escaped.

From then on, Qiqi remembered Hu Tao as a "demon."

Hu Tao's intentions were good. She believed that since Qiqi was already dead, she should be laid to rest.

Being dead yet walking the earth would disrupt the balance between the living and the dead.

After Hu Tao failed and heard "someone" explain Qiqi's origins, she gave up on the idea of burying Qiqi.

This Qiqi was nothing short of a great hero of Liyue.

Moreover, Qiqi was so pitiful that even Hu Tao, a carefree girl, couldn't help but shed tears.

Now, when Hu Tao talked about burying Qiqi, it was mostly to tease her.

She talked about it a lot but never acted on it, so Qiqi wasn't afraid of her anymore.

"Is this the little girl who saved tens of thousands of people?"

"Truly remarkable."

Guizhong looked at Qiqi, murmuring in an extremely gentle tone.

Seeing Hu Tao "bullying" Qiqi, Guizhong shook her head.

"Hu Tao, stop teasing Qiqi."

Guizhong came before Hu Tao, gently tapping Hu Tao's forehead with her right index finger, smiling.

"Guizhong sister... hehehe..."

Hu Tao scratched her head, looking a bit embarrassed as she glanced at Guizhong, then quickly ran off while Guizhong was looking at Qiqi.

"Qiqi!"

"Qiqi!"

Lumine and Paimon exclaimed, surprised to see their old friend Qiqi also on the Douluo Continent!

"Lumine, Paimon."

Qiqi, upon seeing Lumine and Paimon, thought for a moment and accurately called out their names.

"Hmph... Paimon just saw Hu Tao. She must have bullied you again!"

Paimon put her hands on her hips, looking as if she was condemning Hu Tao.

Hearing this, Qiqi lowered her head, deep in thought.

Hu Tao hadn't succeeded this time... but next time...

No, this place is scary. Could it be the headquarters of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor?

Just thinking about it was terrifying.

"Don't worry, Qiqi, Lumine will protect you!"

Seeing Qiqi's frightened expression, Paimon patted Qiqi's shoulder, speaking earnestly.

Lumine: "..."

Although... but...

Well, Paimon wasn't wrong.

But wouldn't it have been better if she had said it herself?

At that moment, Hu Tao, who had just run off, came rushing back.

As she ran, she shouted, "Consultant, consultant!"

"We've got business!"

"This is a big order, you need to prepare quickly!!"

Hu Tao's voice echoed throughout the Zhongli Residence, causing Zhongli, who was drinking tea, to almost drop his cup.

"Business?"

"Big order?"

After a moment of thought, Zhongli understood the situation.

The Wangsheng Funeral Parlor hadn't officially opened yet. The only big order was the one "Xue Qinghe" had placed for Emperor Xue Ye.

Hu Tao saying this must mean Xue Ye had passed away.

Xue Ye had grand ambitions, but unfortunately, he lacked forward-thinking and couldn't give up the hereditary throne.

Leaving at this time was also a good thing.

"Xue Qinghe's" next moves would probably infuriate him.

Zhongli stood up somewhat helplessly. The last time he had conducted a funeral was for his past self...

Since he had taken on this order, as the consultant of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, if he didn't go, the director would drag him there, and the result would be the same.

"Alright, Director."

At that moment, Hu Tao had just run into the hall and heard Zhongli's response.

"Consultant, this order will definitely help us grow bigger and stronger, and create new glory!"

"Let the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor be great again!"

Fortunately, Hu Tao didn't know that Qiqi had resurrected tens of thousands of people... that's tens of thousands of potential clients!

###

Chapter 550: 550: Burying the Former Emperor

Heaven Dou City, Imperial Palace.

Zhongli and Hu Tao, upon receiving the news of Xue Ye's passing, rushed to the imperial palace without delay.

At this moment, in the Golden Hall, surrounded by court officials, all eyes were fixed on the two figures at the center of the hall.

As the Geo Archon, Zhongli naturally had his seat in the Golden Hall.

This was the only seat besides the emperor's.

The court officials had no objections to this position, even feeling somewhat pleased. With such a powerful Elder, what worry was there for Heaven Dou's prosperity?

Zhongli had a seat, but Hu Tao did not, and she didn't mind such things.

Moreover, Zhongli was already an "old man," "not very mobile," so what was wrong with him sitting and talking?

"Xue Qinghe" sat on the throne, cupping her hands towards Hu Tao and Zhongli, her face filled with "grief," as if Xue Ye's death had struck her hard.

"Hall Master Hu, Lord Geo Archon."

If it weren't for the court officials watching, would "Xue Qinghe" have been like this?

The court officials' faces flickered with strange expressions. On such a joyous day of defeating the Star Luo Empire, Emperor Xue Ye had passed away...

Should they cry, or should they laugh?

"Your Majesty~"

Hu Tao and Zhongli cupped their hands in return.

"I presume the Hall Master and Lord Geo Archon are already aware of my father's passing. I wonder how we should arrange his burial..."

"Xue Qinghe" said with a sorrowful expression. To be honest, she did feel a bit of sadness.

Her real father had passed away when she was very young. Although this fake father was false, she had called him "Father Emperor" for a long time...

Moreover, this fake father had been truly good to her, the fake crown prince.

He had Ning Fengzhi become her teacher to stabilize the situation, and he had her appear to recruit Zhongli, paving the way for her future.

As the Emperor of Heaven Dou, Xue Ye had truly done his utmost for "Xue Qinghe."

Suspecting that "Xue Qinghe" might be fake, yet still accepting this setup, facing death head-on.

"Your Majesty, rest assured, our Wangsheng Hall is professional!"

Hu Tao patted her washboard, her face filled with pride.

As if this was no big deal at all.

Seeing this, the court officials' eyes twitched slightly. This girl named Hu Tao had no sense of propriety!

Emperor Xue Ye had passed away, yet she showed excitement, joy...

If not for the Geo Archon beside her, such a heretic would not even be allowed into the hall, let alone be tasked with burying Emperor Xue Ye.

Hu Tao didn't mind the gazes of the crowd but slightly turned her head to look at Zhongli, saying, "Consultant Zhongli, Emperor Xue Ye was, after all, the former emperor, of extraordinary status. Should we prepare some local offerings?"

When it came to etiquette, Hu Tao believed no one understood better than Zhongli, hence she asked him this question.

Hearing this, Zhongli stroked his chin, deep in thought.

"Indeed, we should prepare some offerings..."

As for the term "localization," the court officials were puzzled, bewildered, and then quickly dismissed it.

"So, what should we prepare?"

Hu Tao asked curiously, and the court officials and "Xue Qinghe" also looked at Zhongli, seeking an answer from him.

If "Xue Qinghe" hadn't already entrusted the burial of Emperor Xue Ye to the obscure "Wangsheng Hall," the court officials would have buried Xue Ye in the manner of other emperors.

Although Wangsheng Hall was obscure, the Sovereign of Stone was its consultant!

This face still had to be given to the Sovereign...

"Emperor Xue Ye had great ambitions in life but failed to fulfill them. Now, on the eve of his passing, the Douluo Continent has been unified."

"Take soil from Star Luo to pay tribute to Emperor Xue Ye."

As soon as Zhongli spoke these words, the court officials were stunned, pondering for a moment, and found his words extremely reasonable.

Xue Ye had never set foot on Star Luo's land. Taking soil from Star Luo to pay tribute to him would fulfill his dying wish.

"Lord Geo Archon speaks wisely. Your Majesty should make preparations quickly!"

The court officials cupped their hands towards "Xue Qinghe."

In response, "Xue Qinghe" waved her hand, saying, "Let it be as Lord Geo Archon says."

Waving her hand was not a refusal but an indication that no more words were needed.

As time passed, the offerings for Emperor Xue Ye's tribute were few but highly symbolic.

Such as Emperor Xue Ye's former crown, or a ten-thousand-year soul bone produced by a swan-type soul beast...

Emperor Xue Ye's funeral was grand, with the empire's pillars carrying the coffin for burial.

Presided over personally by Hall Master Hu of Wangsheng Hall.

At the moment Xue Ye was buried, Hu Tao put away her smile, becoming solemn and dignified, truly looking the part.

As for who was the most grieved by Xue Ye's death in the entire Heaven Dou Empire, it was undoubtedly Xue Beng and Xue Xing.

Both were in a daze!

They had thought Xue Ye would live a few more years, never expecting him to pass away so suddenly.

"Uncle, I feel there's something fishy about Father Emperor's death..."

Xue Beng gritted his teeth, his eyes bloodshot, and spoke.

Hearing this, Xue Xing frowned but did not directly answer Xue Beng's question, instead saying, "You still haven't let it go?"

Whether there was something fishy about Xue Ye's death, did they really not know, or were they pretending not to know?

"Xue Qinghe" had not stopped them from visiting Xue Ye, even allowing them to be near Xue Ye after his death.

Xue Ye had died a natural death, not from poisoning or any other issue. His death had nothing to do with "Xue Qinghe."

Perhaps, it was indeed because he was too happy that he passed away.

Xue Beng was not foolish; he knew what Xue Xing meant.

Both of them were clear in their hearts.

But if he, Xue Beng, did not resist "Xue Qinghe," the next to die might very well be him...

As long as Xue Ye was alive, "Xue Qinghe" would not act against him, but now that Xue Ye was dead, would "Xue Qinghe" eliminate the threat?

Even if he was willing to be a carefree prince, the tree might wish for calm, but the wind would not cease...

"Don't think about these things. With him here, we have no chance."

Just as Xue Beng wanted to say something, Xue Xing patted his shoulder and continued, "Even without him, with the support of the Spirit Hall, Xue Qinghe is not someone we can challenge."

"Haha, the Spirit Hall came to offer support..."

As members of the royal family, could Xue Xing and Xue Beng be fools?

It was already too obvious. This might be the reason for Xue Ye's sudden passing.

Even Xue Ye had given up; what storms could they stir?

"Uncle, I..."

So unwilling!

"What's the use of being unwilling? That your father could live until now, that we can still speak here, is already their mercy."

"Pack your belongings, let's go."

"If we stay in Heaven Dou City, trouble will arise."

"Leave this place, find a remote spot to live out our days in peace."

Xue Xing patted Xue Beng's shoulder again, sighing as he spoke.

"Sigh~"

After a long while, Xue Beng finally sighed. This feeling of helplessness, of being unable, even afraid to reveal the truth, was truly unbearable.

"I'll pack my belongings and leave this place."