Everything was proceeding smoothly, but after discussing it with Zhongli, Su Yuan decided not to tell Hu Tao about this matter…
Because no matter how you looked at it—regardless of the intention—offering a bucket of slop to the deceased was clearly not a normal act.
Such behavior could easily be seen, especially by Hu Tao, as disrespectful to the dead and to death itself…
Although, from what they had observed so far, these eerie transformations that leaned heavily on subjective rules could indeed be altered based on one's perception…
As long as they could shift Hu Tao's mindset—convince her that this wasn't disrespectful to the dead—then perhaps she wouldn't undergo any eerie transformation either…
But just to be safe, it was better not to involve Hu Tao in this matter at all…
Soon, everyone had completed their preparations.
Xiangling went to retrieve the kitchen's slop bucket…
Yelan sought out the subordinates of those two Snezhnayan merchants and obtained their photos, which were then turned into black-and-white memorial portraits…
And Zhongli brought a few staff members from Wangsheng Funeral Parlor to help set up the venue and ritual…
Just like that, in a very short span of time, a simple offering table was ready.
A dining table was covered with a velvet cloth decorated with special patterns.
Then, the memorial portraits of the two Snezhnayan merchants were placed on the altar.
Various ceremonial items were arranged according to tradition, candles were lit, and incense was burned.
Of course, the centerpiece of it all was none other than the towering, half-human-height slop bucket with a green exterior—brimming full to the top.
The mixed stench of rot and sourness wafting from it was so overpowering that everyone couldn't help but pinch their noses…
Zhongli began to preside over the ritual, offering the bucket of slop to the two deceased Snezhnayan merchants.
However, after all the rites had been completed, Lumine—who had been calmly suppressing Guoba—suddenly spoke up:
"Su Yuan, looks like your plan failed…"
"Guoba still shows no signs of reverting from his eerie transformation…"
Everyone looked on in disappointment at the outcome.
They had just glimpsed a shred of hope—only for it to be dashed again.
Su Yuan also fell into deep thought…
Could it be that the Snezhnayan merchants weren't from Liyue, and thus didn't "receive" this kind of Liyue-style ritual at all?
After pondering for a moment, Su Yuan spoke: "If offering it didn't work, then… how about we try burning the entire bucket of slop?"
"After all, Liyue does have the tradition of burning joss paper—for the deceased to receive offerings, maybe it has to be sent off in flames…"
"We might as well give it a try…" Yelan nodded in agreement.
"Of course, you should also be prepared for the worst-case scenario—abandoning Guoba…"
Lumine looked at everyone and spoke calmly:
"Although I said I would follow Su Yuan's instructions, that doesn't mean I'll stay here indefinitely to keep Guoba at bay."
"My patience has its limits. I have more important things I need to do…"
"Then let's go ahead and try burning this bucket of slop…" Xiangling looked at "Guoba," her voice filled with helplessness.
"I don't want to give up on him…"
Just as everyone was preparing to head to the kitchen to fetch firewood and burn the entire bucket of slop, a voice suddenly called out from the front of Wanmin Restaurant.
A Millelith Army soldier, following Yelan's instructions, remained outside without entering or peeking in.
Slightly out of breath, he called out:
"Lady Yelan, something's wrong!"
"Even though we've sealed off the area, just now, two figures broke through our perimeter and forced their way in…"
"They're nowhere to be found now…"
"Nowhere to be found? But we're right here," another voice suddenly chimed in.
The next moment, two figures pushed open the doors to Wanmin Restaurant and stepped inside, appearing before everyone.
Everyone stared at the pair in shock—their faces were exactly the same as the ones in the memorial portraits on the offering table.
No one could make sense of what was happening.
Weren't these two people eaten by "Guoba" for wasting food?
Then who—or what—were these two now standing in front of them?
Even "Guoba" looked utterly stunned.
In his memory, he had clearly killed these two, eaten their flesh, drunk their blood—leaving behind only cold white bones…
"Wasting food was our mistake," the two Snezhnayan merchants said in unison.
"That's why we've come here today—with sincere remorse…"
"To make up for the wrongs we committed."
As they spoke, under the astonished gazes of everyone, the two men walked straight up to the bucket of slop, bent down, scooped up the food scraps with their hands, and began eating—one handful after another, devouring it all eagerly…
"So the offering plan failed because… those two were still alive?" Yelan muttered thoughtfully as she watched.
Not long after, the two Snezhnayan merchants had completely finished all the leftover food in the slop bucket.
They even stuck their entire heads into the bucket, licking every last bit of grease from the inside of the container until it was spotless…
"…Guoba's returned to normal."
The moment all the leftover food was eaten down to the last scrap, Lumine sheathed her sword and spoke.
Everyone could clearly feel it—Guoba's eerie aura had completely vanished.
Guoba scratched his head with a confused expression, looking around blankly.
"??—?!??"
Seeing that Guoba had returned to normal, Xiangling was instantly overwhelmed with emotion.
Tears welled up in her eyes as she leapt forward and hugged Guoba tightly.
"Guoba… it's so good to have you back…"
"Su Yuan…"
Just then, the two Snezhnayan merchants who had finished off the entire slop bucket suddenly turned their heads and looked at Su Yuan, speaking up.
Su Yuan was taken aback—he had never met these two before, so how did they know his name?
"Su Yuan, I really do want to be your friend…"
"I think… perhaps my previous approach was wrong."
"I shouldn't have tried to force you with such aggressive methods."
"If you believe that only those who help you can become your friends…"
"Then let me offer my help."
"This is… my sincerity."
Su Yuan and everyone else instantly recognized that voice—those words.
It was Dottore!
Everyone immediately went on high alert, watching the two Snezhnayan merchants warily.
Under their gaze, the bodies of the two men began to shrivel and rot, collapsing to the floor and dissolving into piles of decaying flesh…
---------------
Exclusive access : 276ch on paetron
Join now : patreon*com/DeCakraWnloverz