Gacha Hell: Furina Edition

Meanwhile, Lu Heng and Hu Tao were deep in conversation.

The more they talked, the more engrossed they became, their excitement growing with each exchange.

For Hu Tao, the fragments of the past carried no burden of sorrow—she was entirely carefree.

For Lu Heng, this mischievous and lively girl was undeniably adorable.

Playful and witty, she wasn't the type to wallow in loneliness.

She genuinely treated Lu Heng like an old friend she had just met.

Lu Heng couldn't help but silently admire her.

Hu Tao was mischievous and often teased her friends—why didn't anyone dislike her?

The reason was simple: she had a sense of boundaries!

"Director!" Lu Heng suddenly exclaimed, moved by the thought.

Hu Tao immediately responded, "Old Lu!"

"Are you two seriously about to become sworn siblings?" Zhongli's expression was like that of an old man on the subway, utterly baffled.

He couldn't take it anymore.

The tea in his cup had long gone cold.

His expression was complicated.

What was this?

This was a meeting of kindred spirits!

"Gacha?"

"Draw cards?"

Well…

It made sense that an old man like him couldn't keep up with the younger generation's way of thinking.

"Ah…" Zhongli sighed and took a sip of tea.

"Alright, alright, enough chit-chat," Hu Tao said, suddenly serious. "This Director has decided!"

"To use all 36 million Mora I brought with me on gacha!"

"Don't worry, I still have some money left!"

Given how well the two of them were getting along, Zhongli wouldn't be surprised if they swore brotherhood the next second.

She truly understood herself—nothing she said would ever catch him off guard. Instead, he'd think, That's just so Hu Tao!

Most importantly, she didn't treat Lu Heng with the reverence reserved for a VIP.

Their dynamic wasn't defined by status or hierarchy. At the same time, Hu Tao maintained just the right amount of distance.

She knew exactly what would annoy someone and what would just give them a playful scare!

Zhongli cleared his throat loudly and interjected, "Director, since we're here at the shop, shouldn't we focus on business first?"

Hu Tao wagged her finger at him, her expression serious. "This Director catching up with an old friend is the most important business!"

"From a common sense perspective, that's absolutely true," Lu Heng agreed wholeheartedly.

Gacha could wait!

Even if Hu Tao showed up in the middle of the night, Lu Heng would welcome her with open arms.

But moments of lighthearted banter like this were rare and precious.

"You two…"

Zhongli could only conclude that people thought differently and had different priorities.

In short, he didn't understand their conversation at all. To him, it was just a bunch of nonsense, yet it somehow made both of them incredibly happy.

I'm old. I've truly confirmed it now—I'm old.

Hu Tao chuckled and said, "Alright, Old Lu, time to get down to business!"

"Of course!" Lu Heng laughed and stood up. "What's the Director's plan?"

"Where's the equipment and phone?"

At the very least, compared to ordinary people, Hu Tao was far from poor.

After all, she could afford to keep Zhongli around—how could she be short on Mora?

Of course, the real reason was that business had been booming lately.

Zhongli sipped his tea, sensing that Lu Heng was thinking something a bit mischievous.

But without evidence, he couldn't exactly call him out on it.

Lu Heng personally handed Hu Tao the equipment and a red phone.

"Old Lu, you're the best!"

Hu Tao took the phone, her eyes curving into happy crescents. After binding the equipment, she swiftly entered her information.

"Modern technology really is convenient, huh?"

Lu Heng agreed, though so far, Hu Tao was the first person to say it to his face.

Once the equipment was bound, the first thing Hu Tao did was confirm her phone number.

Then, she waved her phone at Lu Heng and blinked.

Old Lu, my kindred spirit, you know what I mean, right?

Strangely enough, even without any divination, Lu Heng seemed to understand her perfectly.

He immediately pulled out his own phone and showed her how to add friends by inputting the other person's number.

After adding Lu Heng, Hu Tao also added Zhongli. Zhongli was an important figure to her—he was the "asset" left to her by her grandfather.

Here, "asset" referred to Zhongli's vast knowledge and his mysterious background.

After her grandfather passed away, Zhongli had been the one looking after her.

Not in the way one would care for a child, but more like a mentor.

Deep down, Hu Tao regarded Zhongli as an elder, even though he appeared young. She wasn't a fool—she had always sensed something mysterious about him.

"Excellent, excellent."

Hu Tao shook her head, her ponytail swaying as she swiftly topped up her account.

Without hesitation, she dumped all her Mora into the system, watching intently as the counter "ate" it all up.

Once the top-up was complete, Hu Tao didn't need Lu Heng or Zhongli to explain what to do next.

3,600 pulls!

Would she get a fifth-tier gold card?

Zhongli thought it was unlikely.

Hu Tao also thought it was unlikely.

So, she decided to perform a mystical ritual.

With great solemnity, Hu Tao formed a series of hand seals.

Though no elemental energy manifested and there were no special effects, her serious expression and intricate gestures gave off an air of mysticism.

Zhongli had to admit—he had no idea what she was doing. Because, in truth, Hu Tao was just putting on a show.

In other words, she was simply goofing around.

"Director, I can already sense it—fortune is gathering around you," Lu Heng said with utmost sincerity.

Wait, seriously?

Are you for real?

"You can feel it too?!" Hu Tao was delighted, feeling truly seen.

"I can indeed sense it," Lu Heng nodded solemnly.

"Then this Director will seize this moment of gathered fortune and start pulling!"

Hu Tao immediately pressed her fingertip against the 10x pull button.

The gacha animation played—clouds parted, and a glowing crystal burst forth.

The color shifted between blue and purple.

The purple grew richer.

Zhongli nodded slightly. Getting a purple in a 10-pull was already decent luck for the Director.

But then, a golden light erupted from within the purple, growing brighter and more intense—even tinged with a faint red hue!

Wait, what?

Zhongli hadn't pulled much himself, but he understood the basics.

*Someone actually got a gold card in a 10-pull?!*

There were precedents, but this… this was just absurd!

Lu Heng also looked surprised.

He knew for a fact that Hu Tao's "mystical ritual" earlier was just for fun—it shouldn't have had any real effect on her luck.

And yet…

Did it actually work?

But Lu Heng couldn't be wrong.

Still, when it came to gacha superstitions, if it worked, it was worth remembering for future attempts!

"Ah—" Hu Tao's eyes widened in disbelief.

A fifth-tier gold card—she had heard about these cards ever since their existence was revealed.

A fifth-tier gold card represented the pinnacle of gacha!

And now, she had pulled one?!

In just ten pulls?!

Staring at the golden card lying on the counter, Hu Tao suddenly grinned and handed it to Lu Heng.

Lu Heng also extended his fist, and the two bumped knuckles before Hu Tao declared, "Old Lu, aren't you stunned by this Director's incredible luck?!"

"Absolutely awe-inspiring!" Lu Heng nodded firmly.

"Take a look first."

Hu Tao giggled, suddenly a little nervous.

What kind of card would it be?

Lu Heng picked it up and flipped it over.

Beyond the faintly red-tinged golden border, the black-and-white card depicted an open book filled with rows of names.

Even before appraising it, Lu Heng had a strong suspicion about what this was.

Is this the Book of Life and Death?!

No way, right?

It wasn't that the Book of Life and Death couldn't appear as a fifth-tier card—perhaps the world it came from wasn't high-level, but it still had an underworld system.

What struck Lu Heng as absurd was that Hu Tao of all people had pulled it.

That was just too fitting!

Lu Heng appraised the card.

As the colors filled in, the pages of the book began to flip on their own.

Each name on the pages glowed faintly with golden light.

At the same time, the card's details appeared.

[Book of the Dead]

[Tier]: Fifth-tier Gold

[Type]: [Daoist Card]

[Effects]: [Record of Life and Death], [Ascension Through the Book]

[Description]:

"Master, what's written in the Book of the Dead?"

"Legend says that when the underworld was first established, the power of the netherworld was gathered by the King of the Underworld, condensed into laws, and finally formed into a book—this is the Book of the Dead. It is said that whoever holds this book can ascend to the vacant throne of the King of the Underworld."

Holy—!

The King of the Underworld!

This was a King of the Underworld from a minor world?

Even if it was just a minor world, the title of King of the Underworld wasn't something just anyone could hold!

If this were brought to Teyvat…

Lu Heng pondered for a moment.

Given the faint red glow around the card, it was already at the peak of fifth-tier.

The King of the Underworld who created the Book of the Dead was likely beyond Teyvat's current level.

There was no point in comparing—nor was it necessary.

Lu Heng spoke up, "Director, your luck is truly incredible. This is an amazing item!"

"Oh? Tell me more!"

Lu Heng explained what the King of the Underworld was and described the concept of the Book of Life and Death.

Without a doubt, the Book of the Dead wasn't exactly the Book of Life and Death.

Their functions overlapped in some areas but couldn't be treated as the same thing.

Lu Heng continued, "Whether the underworld exists in Teyvat is something you'll have to explore yourself, Director. Whether you can use the Book of the Dead to ascend to the throne of the King of the Underworld also depends on your efforts."

"It does sound a bit like a fantasy," Hu Tao admitted seriously.

It was all a bit too surreal.

One moment I'm just living my life, the next I'm being told I can control life and death?

Who wouldn't be shocked hearing that?

"But the Director doesn't need to worry about that for now," Lu Heng said with a smile. "Focus on this first—the Book of the Dead!"

"The 'Record of Life and Death' is one of its functions. For example, if the Director encounters an enemy, just write their name in the Book of the Dead! Their lifespan will be cut short!"

"That powerful? How far can it go?" Hu Tao was even more curious now, and a little stunned by her own luck.

"You know Paimon, right?" Lu Heng asked.

Paimon?!

Zhongli coughed lightly. "Perhaps we should use Barbatos as an example instead?"

"That works too."

Lu Heng grinned. "For example, let's say Barbatos has 10,000 years of natural lifespan left. If nothing unexpected happens and he can't extend his life, then when his time is up, Barbatos will fade away."

"The Book of the Dead can add to someone's lifespan, but the Book of Life and Death can do that too. What makes the Book of the Dead special is its most powerful ability—to cut lifespan!"

"For example, if you and Barbatos were enemies, and you used the Book of the Dead to cut his lifespan by 10,000 years, then in an instant, Barbatos would age rapidly and meet his end."

"I think I get it," Hu Tao said. "What if I cut *20,000* years off his lifespan?"

"Then he wouldn't just die on the spot—he'd owe you 10,000 years of life, and his soul would never reincarnate!" Lu Heng explained.

"Wow!" Hu Tao gasped.

Lu Heng was also impressed.

This thing was downright broken!

Imagine meeting someone, whipping out the Book of the Dead, and instantly reducing their lifespan to negative numbers.

How would they even fight back?

They'd drop dead on the spot!

Of course, this didn't mean the Book of the Dead was invincible.

After all, it was still just fifth-tier peak—it couldn't absolutely overpower everything.

But in Teyvat? There were very few who could resist it!

Even as an external equipment card, it still required the user's equipment tier to match.

If Hu Tao raised her equipment tier to fifth-tier—even just mid-tier—she could theoretically cut even Zhongli's lifespan, and he would struggle to resist!

Because this wasn't just elemental power anymore.

Everyone else was playing by the world's rules, but this was like hacking the game's source code and rewriting it.

Lu Heng summed up such cards in one word: broken.

This thing was just like Keqing's [Sword Art Supreme].

It defied logic!

It was essentially a manifestation of a Dao or a rule itself!

Zhongli and Hu Tao both sensed the immense power of this card.

Seeing Hu Tao grow stronger, Zhongli felt genuinely pleased. He nodded and said, "This card suits the Director well."

"It does fit this Director's profession!" Hu Tao agreed.

Without delay, she first bound the card, then tore it apart.

Though the Book of the Dead was a book, it was essentially a magical treasure.

Binding it was akin to refining it in the context of cultivation.

This bond meant that as her equipment tier improved, her mastery over the Book of the Dead would deepen. Once her equipment tier matched the book's tier, she would have complete control over it.

The Book of the Dead materialized in Hu Tao's hands.

It was about a centimeter thick, bound in an ancient style with thread.

The words "Book of the Dead" were written in small seal script.

Just glancing at those words gave Zhongli the eerie sensation of walking the path of reincarnation—as if he were about to be reborn in the next moment.

Hu Tao, as the book's owner, remained unaffected.

She opened the first page.

"A book with no words?"

The pages were blank—completely empty!

"You'll need to fill it yourself," Lu Heng explained.

"For example, when you 'send off' a client, you can write their name and a summary of their life in the book… and you might gain something from it."

If the book only made her stronger, could she really be called the King of the Underworld?

Of course, the Book of the Dead couldn't appoint underworld officials on its own, but she could strengthen her "foundation" by gathering "souls."

This was easy to understand.

An empty book was just a collection of blank pages.

But once those pages were filled with records, the book gained value.

And that value would become the source of the Book of the Dead's power!

"I see, got it!" Hu Tao exclaimed, enlightened.

This encouraged her even more to seek out clients!

Perfect! This aligned perfectly with her philosophy!

Not only was there no conflict, but it actively encouraged her!

The Book of the Dead might as well have been tailor-made for her!

After letting Hu Tao revel in her excitement for a while, Lu Heng asked, "Director, want to keep going?"

Hu Tao waved her hand, dismissing the Book of the Dead, and nodded. "Of course!"

"Watch closely!"

Hu Tao began murmuring what sounded like incantations, her hands forming more seals.

Is she trying to be a Daoist priest or a ninja?

Lu Heng had no idea.

Neither did Zhongli.

But unlike Lu Heng, Zhongli couldn't see the flow of fortune.

He eyed Hu Tao skeptically.

Are these so-called mystical rituals actually effective?

Zhongli couldn't say for sure—he only knew it had worked earlier.

"Hey!"

Hu Tao finished her elaborate routine and immediately pressed the button.

The gacha animation played.

This time, no purple light appeared. Nothing happened.

"Tch."

Her face showed not disappointment but indignation.

Clearly, she was upset that her confidently performed ritual had failed.

If earlier had been just for fun, now Hu Tao genuinely believed in gacha superstitions.

"Heavenly spirits, earthly spirits, the Geo Archon, bless me now…"

Zhongli: "…"

He turned to Lu Heng. "Has the Director lost her mind?"

"You just don't get it," Lu Heng shook his head. "This is the mystique of gacha."

What else could Zhongli say?

He could only offer his blessings.

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T/N:

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