In the quiet courtyard, Xueyi, Hanya, and Huohuo sat around a stone table beneath a bamboo grove. A cool breeze swept by, rustling the surrounding bamboo with a soft susu sound. Huohuo instinctively hugged her tail and scooted closer to Hanya.
"Lady Hanya, didn't we agree to find a bright, lively place to drink? This place is so desolate... it feels really eerie..."
Hanya glanced around, puzzled. "Really? Compared to the Ten-Lords Commission, this place is quite nice—peaceful and comfortable. We can focus on the game's storyline without distractions. Isn't that great?"
Just as Huohuo was about to say more, the gray fur on her tail suddenly stood on end—a sign that Tail was getting agitated. It immediately interjected, "Shut up! Pay attention to the story! I think I'm about to make my debut!"
Hanya placed her Jade Abacus on the table and projected a screen. In the dimly lit courtyard, the glowing display illuminated their faces. In the bottom-right corner was the streamer's face, while the main screen showed the game's storyline.
At that moment, the three judges indeed appeared in the plot, engaging in a conversation with Guinaifen and the Trailblazer, who had trespassed into the area.
"Miss Guinaifen, though it's hard to explain briefly, those things aren't the ghosts or spirits you imagine. Please don't apply your hometown's folklore to Xianzhou's affairs..."
"Those things causing trouble are highly dangerous parasitic energy lifeforms—Heliobus," Huohuo patiently explained.
Guinaifen, however, responded skeptically, "Really? I don't believe it. Heliobus? What's that? Oh, I get it—on the Xianzhou, 'Heliobus' is just another name for ghosts, right? That must be it!"
"It seems we'll have to let Tail make an appearance. Tail... Tail? Ah!"
A flash of fire erupted as [Tail] manifested on-screen as a green flaming orb. To emphasize its sentience, the orb sported a pair of large, simple eyes, a tiny black nose, and a mouth made of a single line.
"Yeah, yeah, I heard you! Shut up already! I'm not some exotic pet here to entertain humans!"
Guinaifen froze. "Tail...?"
Tail conjured a simple hand from its flames and rubbed its nose. "That's right, I'm a Heliobus—exactly the 'ghost' you're imagining. Got a problem with that?"
Guinaifen gasped sharply—then screamed.
"GHOOOOOST!!"
Hanya sighed in exasperation. "What a strange girl. She came here specifically to film supernatural phenomena, yet she screams the moment she actually sees one..."
Watching this scene, [Tail] burst into smug laughter.
"Hah! See that, kid? The moment I show up, these fools lose their minds!"
"I, the great Tail, am one of the most feared Heliobus! ...Ahem, anyway, this plot better not screw things up."
"I admit I underestimated it before," Huohuo muttered.
Meanwhile, Hanya casually opened the live-stream chat.
"HOLY CRAP IS THAT A Heliobus?!"
"Wait, it's kinda cute!"
"The design's a bit rough though?"
"Do all Heliobus look this... improvised?"
"Adorable grandpa!"
"Is this even the same dimension? LMAO!"
Reading the comments, Tail, who had been gloating just seconds ago, froze.
"What the—?!"
"These idiots think I'm... CUTE?!"
Tail bared a pair of sharp fangs, its form twisting in fury.
"Damn it all! If I weren't sealed, you think I'd be stuck with this pathetic appearance?!"
"If I showed my true form, I'd scare you worms to death!"
Huohuo nearly burst into tears. "Tail... p-please calm down!"
"I-I never thought you were cute! It's just... everyone's watching through the Jade Abacus!"
"If they met you in person, they'd definitely be terrified!"
Tail huffed, slightly mollified.
"Tch. At least you know how to talk."
"Fine. Let's see where this plot goes. But if it dares to tarnish my reputation, I won't let it slide!"
Hanya rolled her eyes internally. This storyline was written by the developers. What're you gonna do, haunt their dreams?
Of course, she kept that thought to herself—otherwise, the day would never end peacefully.
Returning to the story, a now-calm Guinaifen asked, "Judge, if I may... what exactly is this fireball? How do we stop it from attacking people? And why do you even carry it around...?"
Xueyi replied coldly, "You've seen enough. The judges have duties to attend to. Huohuo, escort them out."
"Y-yes, ma'am!"
Hanya intervened, "Sister, don't be upset. You're usually out on missions and rarely handle social interactions. Let me take care of this—I'll explain everything clearly."
Turning to Guinaifen, she continued, "You must've heard about the incident at the Artisanship Commission—the 'Furnace' was damaged, and the Heliobus sealed inside escaped. The Ten-Lords Commission is tasked with recapturing them. We're advising you to leave for your own safety."
"You may ask questions, and I'll do my best to satisfy your curiosity. But afterward, I hope you'll keep this confidential and stay away from Sui Garden."
Seizing the rare opportunity, Guinaifen immediately asked:
What exactly are Heliobus?
"Per the Divination Commission's classification, they're extraterrestrial energy parasites—formless beings that feed on emotions and memories."
"To put it simply, they're like moths drawn to flame. Except their 'flame' isn't heat—it's the thoughts of sentient beings."
Are they dangerous?
"Extremely. They love parasitizing intelligent hosts, feeding on their experiences and emotions."
"Gradually, they embed themselves into the host's nervous system, exploiting their desires and weaknesses to induce delusions—manipulating them like puppets. We call this 'Soul Displacement.'"
"At this stage, the host's mind is no longer their own. Their body is hollowed out, becoming nothing more than a vessel for the Heliobus."
So... Tail is dangerous too?
Tail snapped, "Hey! What do you mean 'too'? I'm the MOST dangerous one!"
Huohuo meekly added, "Tail... has been subdued by Lady Hanya and sealed onto my tail. It won't harm anyone."
"The real headache is that Heliobus aren't flesh and blood—they're nearly impossible to destroy. Until the Furnace is repaired, the Ten-Lords Commission plans to set up a 'Binding Exorcism Array' in this abandoned garden to imprison them."
After this exposition, Guinaifen let out a long "Ohhh~"—finally enlightened.
"So that's what Heliobus are! The Xianzhou doesn't have ghosts—just escaped alien parasites!"
"Wait... that's even scarier! It's not a horror story anymore—it's sci-fi!"
The live chat exploded:
"Back in the Artisanship Commission arc, Master Gongshu mentioned Heliobus in the Creation Furnace! The foreshadowing was there all along!"
"Big thanks to the judges for the lore drop!"
"The Ten-Lords judges are so based—good-looking, patient, and always answering questions!"
"No wonder I've been so drained lately... I think a Heliobus's possessing me!"
"My friend keeps falling asleep in class—is he getting 'displaced'?!"
"Oh no. The Heliobus are among us!"
[[Heartless Divination Machine] gifted 10 Super Stellar Ladders with a message: Netizens, be cautious with your words. The internet isn't a lawless space—spreading misinformation will have legal consequences.]
To be continued…
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