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[Cheat] Chapter 108: Hu Tao (3)
🕑 Added 2025-06-20 03:29:47 +0000 UTC“Sorry.”
“It’s fine. I've already let it go~ As the hall master of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, it's not proper to be sensitive about life and death.”
While those were the words, only Hu Tao herself knew whether there was any sadness in her heart.
Suddenly, a rustling came from the nearby grass.
Paimon cried out in alarm, “Ah! Hilichurls!” — shaking in fear.
Hu Tao’s eyes glimmered as she said, “Paimon, are you afraid? Don’t be afraid! My grandfather once said: live life to the fullest, and then face death without fear.”
“That’s easy for you to say… Paimon don't want to die!!”
Not far away in the forest, movement could be heard, and a group of Hilichurls slowly appeared.
“Hia!!”
“It’s Hilichurls!!”
Hu Tao’s eyes glimmered as well. “Whoa, a customer… two customers… a third customer… So many customers!”
“That’s… I honestly don't know what to say.”
As soon as her voice fell, a polearm suddenly appeared in Hu Tao’s hand. In a flash, it was engulfed in flames, piercing forward!
One strike — all the poor Hilichurls fell.
Paimon opened her mouth in awe. “So strong!!”
Zephyr directly saw her level — it was level 30, a full 10 levels higher than him. He was honestly shocked.
“Everyone’s higher level than me… and this damage isn’t scientific.”
Such damage couldn’t be dealt without a set of high-level Artifacts.
Just as Zephyr was about to ask Hu Tao, a hoarse voice came from the nearby dark jungle.
“A group of useless creatures — you can’t even handle something this simple!”
A red silhouette darted out from the shadows.
“Abyss Mage?”
Zephyr’s heart sank. This was the monster he least wanted to run into — and a Pyro Abyss Mage, at that. How unlucky!
Paimon exclaimed in surprise, “Is this the Abyss Mage Hu Tao met previously?”
> Pyro Abyss Mage — LV 20
“The level isn’t that high… but I can’t break its Pyro barrier with my attacks.”
“For the glory of the Abyss… Humans, die!”
Hu Tao, meanwhile, was unfazed. She turned to Zephyr with a smile. “I made a move just now — now let me see what you’re made of.”
“Alright.”
Zephyr kept his eyes on Hu Tao, wondering if she had something up her sleeve.
He tried a slash, but sure enough, it dealt no damage — his attack was completely absorbed by its fiery barrier.
“It’s useless, human. Tonight is your death.”
Zephyr attacked a few more times, but barely made a dent in its barrier. His Anemo slash barely dealt any damage. Breaking its barrier seemed impossible.
He fell into deep thought — should he make a break for it?
Then Hu Tao said, “Traveler, it looks like your attacks aren’t enough against this monster. Let me handle it.”
“You… have a way?”
Zephyr’s voice was filled with disbelief. If it were Barbara, he’d believe it — but you, a Pyro-user, breaking a Pyro barrier?
Hu Tao crossed her arms. “Watch my ultimate — Spirit Soother!”
Something akin to a soul darted forward and passed through the Abyss Mage’s body, causing it to let out a painful cry.
Zephyr said, “Spirit Soother… wait, isn’t that Tian Dong Wan Xiang? Are you scamming me?”
“Huh, you know Tian Dong Wan Xiang? Do you know Mr. Zhongli?”
Hu Tao’s ultimate attack was majestic — yet it dealt not a single point of damage.
Hu Tao was confused. “How… Mr. Zhongli said this ultimate is one of the strongest in Liyue… How come I couldn’t destroy a small monster with it?”
Zephyr sighed. “Did you see its barrier? That’s an Abyss Mage. Without breaking its barrier first, you’re not going to deal it damage. Furthermore, it’s a Pyro barrier — only Hydro or Cryo attacks can destroy it.
Your attacks, being Pyro, aren’t going to break it even after a thousand strikes.”
“That’s so unfair! This isn’t Mr. Zhongli’s style at all.”
Hu Tao was shocked.
“That… I thought you had something up your sleeve. You didn’t even know something this simple? Are there no Abyss Mages in Liyue?”
“There aren’t — I’ve never seen a monster like this.”
“That makes sense… Liyue is home to adepti. The Abyss Mages wouldn’t dare to cause trouble there.”
Hu Tao said, “What should we do now?”
“What should we do? Run!”
The two turned and ran away.
“Damn humans, don’t run! I’m going to kill you!”
The Abyss Mage chase after them from behind.
As they kept running, Hu Tao suddenly started laughing.
“Hahaha, this is so much fun.”
“Are you crazy? How can you laugh in a situation like this?”
“Because it’s the first time I’ve been in a situation like this — I find it really amusing.”
“That… I really don’t get your sense of humor.”
“Alright, I’ve made up my mind. I’m going to follow you.”
“What?”
“I’m going to follow you.”
“?? Didn’t you say you were going to Mondstadt to develop your new business?”
“That was my original plan, but now I think following you might be more fun.”
“Because I think there’s nothing more terrifying than death — and following you, there’s sure to be plenty of entertainment.”
“Besides, I want to see what other worlds are like.”
Zephyr kept turning left and right, following the mini map, and soon shook off the Abyss Mage.
He was panting as he said, “Are you sure?”
“I’m sure.”
“Alright. Take my hand — I’m making a contract with you.”
Hu Tao obediently held out her hand.
And just like that, it was done.
Zephyr was stunned. This was the most bizarre contract he’d ever made.
> Ding — The number of contracted players exceeds 3. Party functionality, friends functionality, and wish functionality have been unlocked.
> Additionally, 20 pulls have been rewarded.
“That’s great — party functionality is finally unlocked!”
He invited Hu Tao to team up.
Hu Tao was surprised. “What… What’s this that just popped up in front of me?”
Zephyr was confused. “You can see it too?”
“Are you talking about this thing that suddenly appeared? ‘Player Zephyr invites you to team up. Do you wish to join?’”
She clicked “Accept.”
“That’s it, right?”
On the side of Zephyr’s view, a portrait-like icon appeared — just like when you team up in a game.
At the same time, he clicked on Hu Tao, and a friend request notification popped up.
He chose “Yes.”
Hu Tao’s name appeared in his friends list.
He clicked on her portrait.
Instantly, his view switched to Hu Tao.
Hu Tao panicked. “Whoa! What’s going on? Why can’t I move?!”
Meanwhile, on the other side, Lumine raised her hand in confusion. “I… I can move now?”
Hu Tao said, “What’s this, hey?!”
Zephyr said, “Ah, I get it now.”
He finally understood — he could control the members of his team.
But it wasn’t a true character swap — instead, the previous character regained their freedom.
To confirm his understanding, Zephyr clicked on Lumine’s icon again — sure enough, his view switched back.
Hu Tao was confused for a moment, then slowly began to realize.
“So… this is what a contract is… I feel kind of duped.”
Paimon said, “Aw, you’re just noticing it now?”
“Lumine, were you previously under his control? How awful.”
Lumine nodded. “Yes… I was a lifeless puppet.”
Zephyr’s face twitched. “Hey, I’m not that sinister. You chose this voluntarily.”
Lumine nodded. “Yes, I chose it voluntarily.”
Hu Tao said, “Uh… I almost fell for it. Okay, but you shouldn’t control me casually. I’m a free bird soaring in the sky — I’ll be unhappy if you force me.”
“Is that so?” The view switched back.
“Hey! Are you even listening?!!”
Paimon gave a sympathetic look. “See? Now you regret it. He’s a total monster.”
Zephyr said, “Look, I’ve been controlling Lumine for a while. Let’s let her rest and team up ourselves.”
“No! No! NO!!”
Lumine was initially delighted, but upon hearing this, her happiness fell immediately — although, as someone understanding, she decided not to protest.
“That’s fine. If Hu Tao doesn’t want to, I shouldn’t force it. Zephyr, you should revert back.”
Strangely, Hu Tao felt a rush of guilt and reluctantly said, “A-Alright… but… only for an hour, okay?”
//END
