"Lady Xueyi said Heliobi are inextinguishable flames, so Mr. Tail… he must be out there somewhere." A spark flashed in Huohuo's eyes.
"Miss, don't worry about me. Huohuo's fine. I need to pull myself together and continue the mission. By the way, the Ten-Lords Commission contacted Miss Guinaifen's friend, Sushang. I can't leave right now, so I'll trouble you to explain things to Miss Sushang to put her mind at ease."
Stelle nodded silently, let out a heavy sigh, and left Fyxestroll Garden. After a scene transition, she arrived at the edge of Aurum Alley, where a familiar friend awaited—Miss Sushang.
After talking with Stelle, Sushang felt a pang of sadness for not being there when Guinaifen got into trouble. But she reassured Stelle not to worry too much, as Guinaifen was mostly fine and they'd meet soon. After a bit more casual chat, Sushang said she had Cloud Knight duties to attend to and left.
"Sigh, I wonder how Guinaifen's doing? Will there be any aftereffects?" Stelle muttered to herself, just as her phone pinged. The camera zoomed to her phone, showing a message from Guinaifen.
Stelle: "???"
Opening the message, Guinaifen's first line hit her: "Family, got time? Wanna swing by Fyxestroll Garden?"
Stelle's face darkened as she sent a reply. "Isn't Guinaifen supposed to be in the clinic? You little Heliobus, don't think you'll trick me again!"
Beep beep beep… Guinaifen fired off a flurry of messages, explaining that Miss Hanya had invited several relevant people to meet up, along with location coordinates.
Stelle pondered for a moment but decided to go. What if it was real?
After a scene transition, Stelle arrived at the destination. She tilted her head, spotting not just Guinaifen but several familiar figures.
"Uh…" Stelle was puzzled. "What's going on here?"
The next moment, Stelle stood before the group. Guinaifen rubbed her hands together, hard to believe she was just lying in a clinic. "Family, you're finally here! Without you, our 'Ghostbusters Squad' would be missing a key fighter!"
Sushang pointed at herself. "When it comes to fighting, I'm pretty reliable too!"
Guinaifen: "Hehe, yeah, Sushang, you're super reliable when you're awake!"
"Little Gui, if you mock me again… I-I won't help you with your chest-breaking-boulder act anymore!"
[So reliable, all of them.]
[Reliable until she faints at the start.]
[Where's this random competitive streak coming from?]
[This team's Guinaifen, Sushang, Huohuo, and Stelle? Who's leading, who's DPS?]
[Stelle, obviously—highest combat stats. And Yanqing can tank.]
[Chest-breaking-boulder act? Where can I see that?]
[I'm basic, but I wanna see Sushang break boulders with her chest too.]
Stelle blinked, then looked at the most reliable one, Hanya. "What's this Ghostbusters Squad?"
Hanya continued in her half-dead tone. "The officially recorded name is 'Ten-Lords Commission Special Task Force for Heliobus Escape Incidents.' This team was established by the Ten-Lords' decree. We're inviting those who safely navigated the recent Fyxestroll Garden incident to track and subdue Heliobi using your unique strengths."
Stelle forced a grin. "Using our strengths?"
Sushang jumped in. "Huohuo's a Judge, I'm a Cloud Knight—when the Ten-Lords call, we answer. The Trailblazer's a friend from beyond who's bled and sweated for the Luofu… But why drag a civilian like Little Gui into this? It's dangerous!"
Guinaifen grew more indignant as she listened. "Oh, I get it. You think I'm useless and just a burden, huh?"
Hanya shook her head. "Every blade of grass and flower on the Xianzhou has its purpose. Miss Gui naturally has her strengths: as a street performer and online streamer, she knows exactly how to expand our information network."
Stelle nodded. "Fair enough."
"I've asked Miss Gui to set up an account on a certain website, using supernatural mysteries as a hook to gather intel for your operations."
Guinaifen stood tall, hands on hips. "Sushang, hear that? I'm not just useful—I'm super useful. Getting to be the Ten-Lords Commission's hound and help everyone? Amazing!"
"Uh…" Sushang scratched her head. "I'm not that educated, but isn't 'hound' a bad term?"
[No surprise, the cultural desert crew.]
[Speak human, I'm not well-read, don't trick me.]
[Hanging out with Sushang too much.]
[There's a beauty in their untainted ignorance.]
Hanya glanced at Huohuo. "Judge Huohuo is tasked with directing you all. On professional matters regarding Heliobi, please follow her lead."
Huohuo nodded earnestly. "I-I understand. Huohuo won't let you down."
After Hanya briefed the Ghostbusters Squad, she left to handle Fyxestroll Garden matters. Watching Hanya's departing figure, Sushang spoke first. "Lady Huohuo, shall we start the mission?"
"L-Lady? Just call me Huohuo."
"Alright, Lady Huohuo. No problem, Lady Huohuo."
Guinaifen then explained the situation. On the paranormal enthusiast site Luofu Miscellany, she created a new account. The plan was to gain followers by catching Heliobi, then use those followers to catch more, creating a positive feedback loop. Though only a few days old, the account already had posts.
To verify their authenticity, Guinaifen scrolled through. "Look, a help post popped up in no time!"
The screen showed Bailu. Sushang looked at the phone, confused. "'Lady Bailu Escaped'? What's weird about that? Doesn't the Dragon Lady escape every other day?"
"That's not the point—look at the details." Guinaifen kept scrolling. "'A healer from the Alchemy Commission went to catch Lady Bailu, but she vanished into thin air, leaving them grasping at nothing…'"
Stelle propped her chin with one hand. "Could it be a mistake?"
"From the comments, there were multiple witnesses. And no one's heard of the Dragon Lady knowing escape tricks, right?"
As they prepared to investigate, Huohuo suggested consulting "Cirrus" for intel first.
"Even thinking about meeting Cirrus… I-I'm scared to death… but I bet it really wants to see me, to eat me. It's still sore about Tail outsmarting it. If we can provoke its competitive streak, we can make it act how we want."
[That line made me a Huohuo fan.]
[Seriously, Huohuo shining without her fear holding her back is so adorable.]
[You can feel Huohuo's character arc after losing Tail!]
With that, Stelle, seeing Huohuo's rare assertiveness, agreed to talk to Cirrus first. Meanwhile, Sushang pulled out her phone. "'Luofu Misc…' Little Gui, what's this Luofu Maggots site? Why's it called that?"
Guinaifen's face darkened. "It's Luofu Miscellany! Seriously, Sushang?"
Huohuo stepped in to explain the site's origin. Stelle nodded, getting the gist, and the group planned to find Cirrus.
The screen went black, and the scene switched. The group stood before a child Nethergarde possessed by Cirrus. Suddenly, a few bullet comments floated by.
[Anyone notice this kid looks like Julian, the Thousand-Faced Man?]
[Hey, you're right!]
[Wasn't there a kid like that at Herta Space Station too?]
[Haha, no wonder he's called Thousand-Faced Julian. That's the gag?]
[Now that you mention it, yeah, so cool.]
[Julian's acting is solid. Plays anyone perfectly—I didn't even notice.]
"Ah, so boring it breaks my heart. Even a passing bug is entertainment now. But this time, a few little bugs came knocking together…" Cirrus lazily kicked a pebble by its feet, then slowly looked up at the four.
Sushang spoke sternly. "Cirrus, we need some information. Please cooperate with our work."
"Oh, isn't this the little miss who fainted the moment she entered Fyxestroll Garden? A few days later, and you're talking tough?"
Sushang's brows twitched. "Hey! Where's my sword? You, you, you, just wait…"
Stelle clenched her fists. "I really wanna punch it…"
Cirrus smirked smugly, as if unbothered by countless threats. "Hmph, plenty of folks in this garden want a piece of me. Why don't you sort out who goes first?"
At that, Stelle, Guinaifen, and Sushang rolled up their sleeves, ready to throw down. Huohuo intervened. "N-No, you can't… the host is innocent."
Huohuo took a few deep breaths. "Cirrus… you lost because of a tiny mistake, didn't you? You're not okay with that, are you?"
"Little fox, what do you want from me? The whereabouts of that watchdog? Sorry, it's long gone to ashes!"
[Goddamn, I can't stand this line.]
[Cirrus's mouth is foul!]
[Simple trash talk, ultimate satisfaction.]
"I…" Huohuo paused for a few seconds.
"I don't care about that. But you… you barely escaped the Creation Furnace. Other Heliobi are roaming free across the Luofu, yet you're stuck here, unable to move an inch… Are you okay with that?"
"Hahaha, you want me to help you betray my kind?" But the next moment, it fell into a long silence, its eyes behind the Nethergarde sizing up everyone present. Finally, it spoke.
"I have one condition. I want to revisit the duel between the great Heliobus 'Ignamar' and the general. If you can bring the current Luofu general to me… everything's negotiable."
In unison, the group said, "General?"
"What, stumped already? Looks like the Judge's resolve to deal with Heliobi isn't quite enough!"
The group felt this was a tall order, but Huohuo stood firm. "Deal. I'll go to the Seat of Divine Foresight to summon the general."
[Huohuo's so awesome, you can really see her growth.]
[Yeah, this Huohuo's super likable.]
[Yes, yes, this is our beloved Matcha Cupcake.]
Soon after, the group arrived at the Seat of Divine Foresight. Jing Yuan scanned them and spoke slowly. "Hm? A Nameless, a Cloud Knight, a Ten-Lords Judge, and a street performer… quite the unique lineup."
Guinaifen's eyes lit up. "Wow, General, you know me? I didn't realize I was that famous!"
"Haha." Jing Yuan crossed his arms over his chest.
"My disciple Yanqing mentioned you. You're one of the few on the Luofu who made him lose his sword and return empty-handed."
Guinaifen gave an awkward laugh. "I… I remember now! So sorry, so sorry. I got carried away performing a sword-swallowing act and forgot to return the sword after the show."
[Haha, so Guinaifen used a real sword?]
[She's killing me.]
[Wait, is that sword still in her body?]
[Little Gui, you're so brave!]
Jing Yuan steered the conversation back. "So, what brings you all to the Seat of Divine Foresight today?"
Huohuo recounted the Heliobi incident in Fyxestroll Garden and Cirrus's request.
Her expression was conflicted. "The general handles countless affairs daily. The Ten-Lords shouldn't trouble you with Heliobi matters, but if those creatures keep roaming, I'm afraid…"
Jing Yuan showed no impatience. "Hm, I've heard tales of the previous general battling spirits, thinking they were just made-up stories. Didn't expect the real deal to come seeking revenge, though targeting me feels a bit unfair."
Stelle put her hands on her hips. "Time for you to be the trump card!"
Jing Yuan said that with Heliobi escaping and harming the Xianzhou's people, he, as general, had a duty to act. Once he finished his paperwork, he'd head to Fyxestroll Garden immediately.
With Jing Yuan's confirmation, the group turned to leave. But, when they returned to Fyxestroll Garden, they were shocked to find Jing Yuan already there. Exchanging glances, they approached behind him.
At that moment, Jing Yuan was already speaking with Cirrus. Cirrus scrutinized Jing Yuan. "I haven't seen you in the garden… Human, who are you?"
Jing Yuan patted his chest. "Heliobus, weren't you itching to revisit your fight with the general? I came as requested."
Stelle stepped forward, pointing her thumb at Jing Yuan. "This is the current general!"
Huohuo: "Cirrus, the person you wanted to meet—we brought him. This is General Jing Yuan, now presiding over the Seat of Divine Foresight."
"This is the current general?" Cirrus gave a disdainful look. "Looking like you just woke up, weak as hell. Where's Teng Xiao? How'd he pick this guy as his successor? Though, having the Xianzhou hold a martial contest to choose a new general isn't realistic either."
[Haha, a Heliobus calling the Arbiter weak, I'm dying.]
[Haha, Jing Yuan's like, 'Even half-asleep, I'd wipe the floor with you.']
[He's just tired, hasn't slept much!]
"So, General Jing Yuan, how about a duel right here in Fyxestroll Garden?! If I win, I get to come and go freely."
Jing Yuan shook his head. "I said I 'came as requested,' but I never agreed to fight you."
Cirrus grew visibly agitated, a stark contrast to its earlier smugness with the Ghostbusters Squad. "What, you won't fight? You won't fight?! You said you came to revisit the old battle but won't fight. Is that admitting I win by default? No, in human logic, not fighting doesn't equal victory…"
Jing Yuan's lips curved slightly. "You misunderstood. I did come for that old battle, but… you're not worthy."