Walnut used me to boost her sales performance.

Seeing through his thoughts, Hu Tao warned, "It's okay to be curious, but you have to have the ability to explore the secrets first. Otherwise, you might end up becoming a monster's meal instead of getting the answer."

"There may not be any treasures in the ruins, but there are plenty of dangerous monsters."

"I see."

Jiang Bai was just curious, but he didn't intend to explore the secrets behind it right now.

If I have the chance in the future, I might go and take a look inside the ruins.

After lunch, Hu Tao magically produced two contracts, a calligraphy brush, and a piece of ink from her bosom.

She handed both items to Jiang Bai, saying, "With the Emperor as your witness, by signing this contract, you will become a formal disciple of our Rebirth Hall!"

Jiang Bai's lips twitched. So, after all that you've told me, I'm still not a formal disciple...

While Jiang Bai was carefully reading the contract, Hu Tao explained:

"The Emperor values ​​contracts, so you naturally need a contract to bind you when you join the Hall of Rebirth. Otherwise, if you leave one day, or if the Hall of Rebirth kicks you out, there will be no guarantee for either of us."

"This is both a contract and an employment contract. If you ever want to leave the Rebirth Hall, we can discuss it and peacefully terminate the contract..."

As Hu Tao stated, the scroll did indeed contain a standard employment contract. It also outlined the procedures for terminating the contract if the employee wished to leave in the future.

That's not all. It also mentions the pension system provided by the temple after 30 years of service.

I must say, this contract is quite humane.

But this puts a lot of financial pressure on Wangshengtang, which explains why Hu Tao is always thinking about expanding his business.

"Master, what happens if the contract is broken?" Jiang Bai was still very curious about this.

"By the Emperor above, the contract is established. Those who break their word shall be punished by being devoured by the Rock!"

Hu Tao stood below the statue, which radiated a dazzling divine light behind her, signifying the weight of her words.

I must say, it actually looks quite intimidating from this angle.

Jiang Bai had no intention of trying out what the "Punishment of the Rock" was; he figured it wasn't anything interesting.

After confirming that everything was in order, he signed his name and pressed his fingerprint on the document.

In the darkness, Jiang Bai felt a strange connection between himself and the world. This connection spread from him to the contract, then from the contract to Hu Tao, and finally to the Hall of Rebirth in Liyue Harbor.

'Is this the power of a contract...?'

Once you sign it, you can feel the existence of the contract; it's not just an ordinary piece of paper, but something you can truly feel.

With so many people in Liyue, countless contracts are formed every moment, each certified by the gods. How powerful must the God of Contracts be...?

"Two copies, keep one for yourself."

Hu Tao put the copy that Jiang Bai had signed into her pocket, and let Jiang Bai keep the other copy himself.

Then she took out a scroll from her bosom and laid it flat on the ground, facing the statue.

Chapter 15 A Sense of Ritual Is Still Necessary

The scroll looked quite old; the paper was yellowed, and some of the old ink had blurred.

Jiang Bai could see clearly that there were names written on it, one after another, from ancient times to the present, densely packed.

Jiang Bai had good reason to suspect that Hu Tao bringing him to the Seven Gods Statue was not a spur-of-the-moment decision, but rather a premeditated plan!

Otherwise, how could so many things be prepared?

Hu Tao didn't care what he thought. She took out three tall incense sticks, lit them, and inserted them into the incense burner. While bowing, she chanted:

"Hu Tao, the 77th generation head of the Rebirth Hall, is here. Please, Emperor and ancestors, bear witness that Jiang Bai has become a disciple of the Rebirth Hall today. From now on, we will share weal and woe, honor and disgrace."

Seeing Hu Tao's solemn expression, Jiang Bai's expression also became solemn.

He gazed at the names above, each one representing a person, an ancestor of all those in the Hall of Rebirth.

There was no elaborate ceremony, no countless eyes witnessing, even if it was just her and Hu Tao here, facing a statue of a god and the names of many ancestors.

Jiang Bai, who had initially joined the Hall of Rebirth as a matter of convenience, now took it seriously and truly considered himself a member of the Hall of Rebirth.

Hu Tao's clear voice rang in his ears. She said, "Repeat after me..."

"To send the dead to the afterlife, to do the work of the living, to ward off evil spirits and bring peace to the world."

This is the doctrine of the Hall of Rebirth, and also the maxim they follow.

"To send the dead to the afterlife, to do the work of the living, to ward off evil spirits and bring peace to the world."

Two voices, one after the other, echoed through the mountains and forests, their sounds powerful and resounding.

Jiang Bai didn't know what his previous style of doing was like, but now that he had become a member of the Hall of Rebirth, he was willing to abide by this doctrine.

After doing all this, Hu Tao picked up her pen and solemnly added Jiang Bai's name at the end.

After completing all the rituals, she let out a long breath and relaxed completely.

Jiang Bai also snapped out of his solemn state and remarked with emotion, "I thought that you bringing me back to the Hall of Rebirth meant I had already joined the Hall of Rebirth..."

Hu Tao packed everything away one by one. "That's what they say, but we still need to have a sense of ritual. Otherwise, it's too casual, and there's no sense of belonging or identity."

"Isn't the hall master afraid that I might be some kind of bad person with ulterior motives?"

"The fact that you said those things yesterday shows that you're not a bad person. Even if you're not a good person, you're still a person of principle. Besides, you've lost your memory, which is like a blank page. Whether you're good or evil ultimately depends on the person who draws the line on it."

"And I, the master of this hall..." Hu Tao patted her chest proudly, "have great confidence in my judgment!"

Jiang Bai smiled, a genuine smile.

He doesn't know if he has any principles, or whether he was good or evil.

But as Hu Tao said, what kind of person he is ultimately depends on what kind of person he wants to become.

He looked up at the sky, the warm sunshine bathing him and making him feel cozy.

It feels so good to be trusted...

"Let's go, down the mountain!" Hu Tao jumped up, as if all the fatigue from traveling all morning had disappeared, and she was full of energy.

Jiang Bai reluctantly picked up his basket and followed her down the mountain.

The setting sun painted the sky with golden clouds, and the two returned to Liyue Harbor in the afterglow of the sunset.

It was dinnertime, and the aroma of food wafted from the kitchens of every household, making everyone's mouths water.

Their stomachs rumbled at the same time, and they immediately decided to quicken their pace and hurry back for dinner.

Back at the shrine, the officiants greeted him with smiles, "Where has the head of the shrine gone again?"

"I've come up with a brilliant idea! Let's call a meeting with the ceremonial staff after dinner and discuss it thoroughly!"

After leaving those words behind, Hu Tao vanished like the wind, leaving Yi Guan standing there bewildered.

What's the sect leader thinking of now? Is it another buy-one-get-one-free, second stele half price deal? That's ridiculous...

Despite his worries, the ceremonial attendant still called out to Jiang Bai and went to inform the other attendants.

Following the aroma of the food, Jiang Bai headed straight for the restaurant, where Hu Tao was already enjoying her meal. Without hesitation, Jiang Bai joined in the feast.

Strangely enough, he didn't eat much yesterday and wasn't very hungry, so why did he get so hungry as soon as he smelled the aroma of food?

There aren't many people in the Rebirth Hall, but apart from the guest elders, there are only about twenty people in total.

Mealtimes are the liveliest time of day, as they eat and chat about recent interesting events, creating a joyful atmosphere.

The person in charge of the meals at the funeral parlor is an old man surnamed Ge, who prepares all three meals a day.

His hair was already gray, but he was still full of energy. At this moment, he was wearing an apron and watching the disciples of the Rebirth Hall eat together with a smile.

When he was young, he was also a ritual attendant at the Hall of Rebirth. He watched Hu Tao, the young head of the hall, grow up. However, he never got married. As he got older, he couldn't do anything else, and since he was a good cook, he started cooking for young people.

For him, the Hall of Rebirth is his home.

Seeing the young disciples of the Rebirth Hall today gives me a sense of satisfaction, like a sapling in my own family gradually growing up.

Looking at Jiang Bai, this new face, he said with a kind expression, "Little Jiang, you've just joined our Rebirth Hall, and I don't know your tastes or if you'll like the food. Please let me know if you have any dietary restrictions..."

"Uncle Ge's cooking is absolutely superb! I've never eaten such delicious food before!"

Jiang Bai had already met all the ceremonial attendants yesterday and also knew this Uncle Ge.

Upon hearing Uncle Ge's words, his flattery poured out like it was free, and he frantically shoveled rice into his mouth, trying to prove that everything he said was true.

This flattery really worked. Uncle Ge gently patted his back, signaling him to eat slowly. "I'm glad you like it. You're a pitiful child. Tell Uncle Ge if there's anything you like to eat, and Uncle Ge will make it for you..."

Jiang Bai looked genuinely touched, wiping away non-existent tears from the corners of his eyes. "Uncle Ge, you're so kind..."

He wasn't that moved, but that didn't stop him from making exaggerated gestures to make the old man happy.

To be honest, he did feel very comfortable in the Hall of Rebirth.

There are no restrictions, and you don't have to clock in and out like you would at a regular 9-to-5 job.

As for the grand plan of "returning to one's roots" that the leader mentioned...emmmm...we'll talk about that later!

"Hehe..." Uncle Ge laughed even harder, "If the leader bullies you, just tell me, and I'll teach her a lesson for you..."

"Uncle Ge, what are you saying? As the head of the hall, how could I do such a thing!"

"That's not necessarily true..."

The restaurant was filled with laughter and cheerful conversation.

After eating and drinking her fill, Hu Tao patted her round belly, which was full from overeating, and stretched.

She looked around, then jumped onto the stool so that everyone could see her.

"Ahem, everyone, please gather in the lobby after you finish eating. I have a big plan to announce!"

Chapter 16 The Hall Master's Idea is Excellent

After thinking about it all last night and today, she has sorted out the difficulties and improved the process. Now, everyone can discuss the rest and finalize the charter.

Then you can start the trial run.

Upon hearing Hu Tao mention some big plan, the restaurant immediately erupted in noise, with various whispers filling the air.

"What idea has the sect leader come up with this time?"

"Could it be another one of those ridiculous ideas?"

"I think it's possible..."

"Although the sect leader is a bit of a rascal and likes to shirk his responsibilities, he's quite capable when it comes to serious matters, so there's no need to be so suspicious..."

"That's not wrong..."

"I think we should invite Mr. Zhongli along, lest the head of the hall say something outrageous!"

"Yes, I support it."

"I'll go call him right away..."

Hu Tao paid no attention to the whispers below.

Soon they'll see just how brilliant her idea is!

Not only can it enhance the reputation of the funeral parlor, but it may also become a major source of income for the funeral parlor in the future, becoming its second largest business after funeral services.

However, this job requires a lot of personnel. At present, Jiang Bai is the only suitable candidate. Others need to train more, especially in combat.

After all, adventurers like to go to dangerous places, and they can't do without some strength.

Even Jiang Bai cannot be on duty in a short time and needs more training.

After dinner, everyone gradually gathered in the lobby. Even Zhongli, who was taking a walk outside, was called over to hear what shocking ideas Hu Tao had in store.

Once everyone had arrived, Hu Tao stood on the platform at the very top, and only then could she see everyone's face thanks to the height of the steps.

Because her body hadn't fully developed, her height was somewhat limited. When speaking to the many young and strong people in the Rebirth Hall, she had to tilt her head back to see their eyes.

Therefore, she likes to stand in high places so that she doesn't have to look up when she speaks.

Jiang Bai was the one she targeted.

As Hu Tao's number one henchman, Jiang Bai possesses excellent qualities as a subordinate, closely following in his boss's footsteps.

If the eldest brother goes east, he won't go west; if the eldest brother goes south, he won't go north.