Early the next morning, Rover opened his eyes and sat up, looking out the window. A familiar figure could be seen hurrying out of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, heading in a particular direction.
Rover glanced at the map—the direction seemed to be Wuwang Hill. Remembering Zhongli's words from the night before, he decided to follow and see for himself.
"No need to wake Aether. If they ask, just say I might return very late. They don't need to wait for me—they can do whatever they want."
After informing the butler, Rover made his way toward Wuwang Hill.
...
"G-Good morning, Rover."
By the time Rover reached his destination, Hu Tao had just taken out the wound medicine from yesterday but hadn't had the chance to apply it before noticing him. She hurriedly tried to hide it.
"I already saw. I won't tell Him," Rover said helplessly, sitting down across from her before observing their surroundings.
Despite it being broad daylight, the eerie trees, ghostly blue flames, and dim lighting all screamed that this was no place to linger.
The dilapidated and desolate village at the foot of the mountain had long since become a land of deathly silence. Rover couldn't understand—what reason was there to come to a place like this?
Hu Tao let out a long exhale. Only after finishing her task did she finally look at Rover.
"Well, since you're already here... Hehe, do you believe in ghosts?"
She deliberately made a spooky face, but Rover raised his hand expressionlessly, Havoc energy swirling in his palm before he clenched his fist—causing it to burst. The oppressive atmosphere around them instantly dispersed.
"Uh... Okay, guess you're not scared..."
Hu Tao quickly abandoned her planned prank. She could sense that Rover's power could deal severe, irreversible damage to spirits.
"Then let me be your tour guide for the day. Come on, we'll start with the first stop."
She stood up, pointing at the ruins ahead. If one listened closely, faint wails could be heard, and the deeper they went, the poorer visibility became.
"This place is thick with Yin energy. There are plenty of legends and strange tales—adventurers always come here seeking thrills."
Hu Tao walked forward as if nothing were amiss, and Rover followed her deeper in.
"Is patrolling Wuwang Hill part of the Director's duties?"
Seeing how familiar Hu Tao was with the place, Rover couldn't help but ask curiously.
The rustling of leaves under Hu Tao's feet stopped abruptly. She smiled, giving an ambiguous answer:
"Sort of... but not really."
Then, sensing something, she quickly waved toward the trees.
"Hey, little troublemaker, back again?"
A ghost floated out from the bushes. Rover instinctively reached for his weapon.
"Yep! I've always remembered you wandering around here. So, do you recall anything yet?"
Hu Tao's questioning was practiced, but the ghost just shook its head before turning its gaze to Rover behind her.
"This young man is quite handsome... What a shame."
Rover immediately stiffened. He understood exactly what the ghost meant and coughed awkwardly.
"Old man, I'm not dead yet."
The ghost embarrassedly rubbed the back of its head, and Hu Tao steered the conversation back on track.
"Alright, alright! Enough chit-chat—we've got business to attend to. How much do you actually remember, old man?"
A sigh escaped the ghost before it spoke leisurely:
"Little girl, there's no need to keep doing such thankless work. You're just as stubborn as Old Hu. If even he couldn't accomplish it back then, how could his granddaughter?"
Hu Tao merely smiled faintly, filtering out some of the words before waving goodbye to the ghost.
After visiting several spirits, the results were the same—none remembered their past, as if she were just offering funeral services.
But Hu Tao remained full of energy. Remembering something, she quickly turned to Rover, who had been following her the whole time.
"Um... I've got something important to do next, so could you, uh..."
She stammered, and Rover twitched his lips. He understood what the girl meant and turned to leave.
Hu Tao exhaled deeply, surprised at how readily Rover agreed. But in a corner she hadn't noticed, Rover was already watching her.
He was curious about what Hu Tao intended to do—and if danger arose, he could always lend a hand.
...
Aether found a broken chair to sit on. Looking around, shattered walls, collapsed houses, and courtyards overgrown with weeds stretched before him. He couldn't fathom why the Director would come to such a desolate place.
The decrepit wooden door creaked as Zhongli gently pushed it open and sat across from Aether.
It turned out Aether had also woken early. After receiving Rover's message, he deduced that Rover had gone to Wuwang Hill and arranged to meet Zhongli at the mountain's base.
Zhongli's eyes swept over the surroundings, filled with reminiscence. After a long silence, He finally shook His head.
"This responsibility is far too heavy for the Director."
Aether wisely stayed silent as Zhongli continued:
"Each generation of Directors bears the duty of maintaining the balance between life and death. Wuwang Hill is a gathering place for lost souls. I cannot interfere, nor can I communicate with them normally. Some matters can only be handled by the successive Directors of Wangsheng."
Paimon immediately had a question.
"And what exactly are these matters?"
Zhongli lowered His gaze, watching a butterfly fluttering above a flickering flame deep in the woods.
"Those who lose their way, those who seek treasure, those who stumble into this place—any ordinary person who enters Wuwang Hill must be guided out by the Director. Because here... there will always be spirits trying to lure the living to their deaths."
Zhongli seemed reluctant to dwell on the topic. He set down the tea leaves and utensils He had brought, preparing to brew tea.
"Have you heard the strange tales of Wuwang Hill, my friend?"
Aether leaned forward slightly, gesturing for Him to continue.
"Then I shall share them with you."
...
The spear's tip pierced through the illusion like a blur, shattering the beautiful scene before the traveler's eyes. His vision cleared instantly, and when he realized his current predicament, his legs gave out—sending him tumbling backward toward the cliff's edge.
"Ahhh—Help!"
Hu Tao couldn't help but giggle at the traveler's flustered state before tapping her spear against a tree trunk.
"One more step, and your life would've flown to the heavens."
"Th-Thank you for saving me..."
The traveler scrambled back several steps, his chest heaving as he recalled what had just happened.
Like a dreamlike bubble, he had seen his deceased wife—her appearance, mannerisms, and tone identical to his memories. She had even invited him to walk with her, only for it to be a path to his doom.
Still shaken, he frantically followed the path Hu Tao pointed out before stumbling and crawling his way out of Wuwang Hill.
Hu Tao's smile faded as she flicked her spear, leaving a red mark on the dark soil before flames sprouted from it.
"Why?! This has nothing to do with you—why interfere?!"
The spirit's shrill scream made Hu Tao's eyes sharpen. The flames surged toward the ghost, and upon contact, its form dimmed slightly.
"Enough! Using an innocent person's death to fulfill your grudges violates the natural order. I will find the one who wronged you. But if there's a next time... I won't hold back!"