Daziel slowly propped himself up, a dull ache protesting from his lower back. Exhaustion washed over him like a receding tide, flooding his limbs. He lowered his head slightly, his gaze falling on the small, trembling figure curled up in his arms.
It was Huohuo. Her iconic fox ears drooped listlessly, having lost their usual liveliness. Lingering crystal tear tracks remained at the corners of her eyes, looking particularly pitiful in the dim light.
"Sob..." Suppressed, tiny sobs escaped from deep within her throat.
Huohuo slowly lifted her head. Those eyes, usually filled with timidity and unease, were now hollow and vacant, brimming with deep terror and bewilderment.
"Me... my body..." She trembled, raising a small hand, looking at her disheveled clothes. Her judge's uniform was stained with suspicious wrinkles and unknown marks. Those marks were like needles, pricking her fragile nerves. Her small face instantly lost all color, turning deathly pale. Her already fragile psychological defenses finally, at this moment, completely crumbled.
Large teardrops, like pearls from a broken string, burst forth, instantly becoming a flood.
"I'm not clean anymore... Waaah... Tail!.. Huh, where's my tail...?" Huohuo frantically looked around, her eyes anxious and helpless, but she couldn't find any trace of Mr. Tail. Her bottom was completely bare.
Daziel looked at her almost broken state, hesitated slightly, then finally spoke.
"Uh, Huohuo, your tail... I found out your tail seems to be detachable." "Things were urgent just now, I found it getting in the way, so I temporarily pulled it off, here, look."
Saying this, Daziel, looking slightly awkward, picked up a fluffy fox tail from the side and handed it to Huohuo. That tail was indeed a part of Huohuo's body, and also the manifestation of Mr. Tail. Being held by Daziel, it looked somewhat comical.
(Author's note: The fact that Daziel could so easily pull off Huohuo's tail is in itself completely unreasonable. But this bizarre "detachable" design can only be attributed to the 'inner world's' magical modifications… Since that's the case, let's just go with the flow. Daziel then conveniently used the place where this tail was originally supposed to be.)
Huohuo stared blankly at the tail Daziel handed her, then looked at her empty lower back, seeming not to have registered it for a moment. It wasn't until Daziel offered the tail forward again that she, as if waking from a dream, tremblingly reached out and took her tail. Huohuo carefully aligned the tail with its original position, applied a little force, and reattached the tail. As if a power switch had been flipped, the previously lifeless tail instantly regained its vitality. The tip of the tail twitched slightly, and then, a voice thick with disdain sounded before Huohuo.
"Little girl, what are you crying for? You're really embarrassing me." Mr. Tail had awakened, his tone as crude as ever, reprimanding Huohuo in a tone of 'hating iron for not becoming steel'. "He did save you, what's there to cry about?" "But what happened afterwards, I didn't see anything. Felt like something inappropriate for children was about to happen, so I immediately sank my consciousness."
Huohuo, however, completely ignored Tail's mockery. She was still immersed in her sorrow, tears streaming down her face as she sobbed, "No... it's not that, Tail, I... I'm not clean anymore..." She clutched her collar tightly, as if wanting to completely wipe away those "unclean" marks.
Hearing Huohuo's words, Tail's tone became even more disdainful.
"What are you shy about? It's truly baffling. You're so old, isn't this kind of thing normal? What's the big deal? Marry yourself off sooner, and I'll have less to worry about. I think this kid is pretty good." Tail's voice actually held a hint of mischievous amusement. "Hey, but if you go in now, you'll have to line up at the very back, all your sisters are ahead of you, hahaha."
"Wuwuwu! Tail, why are you saying that too?" Hearing Tail's words, Huohuo cried even louder.
Daziel felt a headache coming on, an indescribable helplessness welling up in his throat.
"Ahem, Huohuo, listen to me." Daziel tried to make his voice sound calm and reliable, trying to comfort Huohuo. "That was a last resort just now, to completely free you from that Heliobus's corrosion."
"Wu... but. I. I." Huohuo's sobs were intermittent, her words incoherent, tears flowing endlessly.
Nearby, Guinaifen, a dull ache at her temples, rubbed her forehead and sat up somewhat awkwardly. A few strands of fiery red hair stuck to her sweat-dampened cheeks, the lingering flush not yet completely faded. Her gaze fell on Huohuo, curled up and crying in Daziel's arms, and Guinaifen was visibly stunned for a moment. Then, an extremely complex emotion flickered across her usually vibrant eyes, a mixture of embarrassment, shyness, and an almost imperceptible trace of sympathy.
"Aiya, Huohuo, my little ancestor, can we stop crying?" Guinaifen moved closer, her movements slightly stiff as she reached out and gently patted the trembling back. "That... this matter, it's not your fault, and it's not..." Her words faltered, her eyes unconsciously drifting towards Daziel, carrying an unreadable meaning. "Anyway! It's all that damned Heliobus's fault! Yes, it's all its fault!" Guinaifen declared decisively, passing the blame.
On the other side, Sushang also slowly regained consciousness. Her cheeks were scarlet, the heat almost burning her. Sushang fumbled to straighten her slightly disheveled yellow and white dress, the buttons on her chest seemingly fastened incorrectly. When she saw Huohuo's heartbroken appearance, she immediately forgot her own awkwardness and hurried over.
"Huohuo, don't be afraid, don't be afraid, it's all over, it's okay now!" She carefully extended her arms, gently embracing the slender shoulders.
"Right, right! Don't mind that Sushang isn't usually very smart, she's absolutely right this time!" Guinaifen nodded vigorously in agreement from the side.
Only Fu Xuan silently retreated to a relatively secluded corner and began to meticulously tidy her appearance. She brushed off non-existent dust from her robes, re-fastened her hair bun, her movements precise and calm, as if the chaos and impropriety just moments ago had not touched her in the slightest. However, her slightly furrowed brows and lips pressed into a thin line silently betrayed the turmoil within the Master Diviner. Fu Xuan secretly glanced at Daziel, a hint of cleverly concealed annoyance and unwillingness in her eyes.
As for Qingque. Oh, she had long since retreated to the corner sofa at the first opportunity. Having found a Celestial Jade-patterned pillow from somewhere, she had completely covered her face with it, her body curled into a ball, the extremely subtle rise and fall of her chest clearly indicating she felt too ashamed to face anyone. After all, her righteous declaration in front of everyone just now was truly too embarrassing.
Thanks to Guinaifen and Sushang's tireless efforts, one joking and diverting attention, the other gently and considerately consoling, Huohuo's heartbreaking sobs finally began to subside. She still sniffled, her nose red, her eyes slightly swollen, looking pitiful.
Daziel, seeing this, secretly sighed in relief, but then his expression became grave once more.
"Alright, Huohuo, now is not the time to indulge in emotions." Daziel's voice wasn't loud, yet it carried an undeniable authority, instantly pulling everyone's attention back to reality. "The biggest trouble, that Heliobus calling itself 'Carnal,' it escaped." "And, before leaving, it threatened to sow the seeds of 'Depravity' in every corner of the Xianzhou Luofu!"
As these words were spoken, the air seemed to solidify instantly, becoming heavy and viscous. Fu Xuan sharply raised her head, her all-seeing eyes flashing with a piercing, chilling light.
"Are you sure? It wants to contaminate the entire Xianzhou?" This was no alarmist talk; the consequences were simply unimaginable. What had happened to them just now was the most direct, most painful example. That power, capable of stirring the deepest desires and amplifying negative emotions, if it spread throughout the entire Luofu.
"I am very sure." Daziel's tone was heavy as he nodded. "It must be found as soon as possible, and then, completely exorcised." Daziel's gaze shifted to Huohuo, who had calmed down slightly. "Huohuo, right now, can you still track its exact location?"
Huohuo sniffled hard, her voice still thick with a nasal tone and unshed tears.
"My... Fiery Spirit Compass... can track the aura of evil spirits." Her voice was as faint as a mosquito's buzz, filled with uncertainty and timidity.
"But, I have to... I have to... ask the other judges in the commission first. After all, the Fiery Spirit Compass is too large, it can only be used within the Ten-Lords Commission." Fu Xuan sharply interjected almost the instant Huohuo finished speaking: "Then contact them immediately! This is extremely urgent, there's no time to delay!"
Huohuo flinched at Fu Xuan's suddenly raised voice, quickly nodding. She fumbled in her pocket and took out a small, exquisite jade tablet emitting a faint glow. This was the internal communication jade talisman used by the Xianzhou Alliance. Huohuo's fingers trembled, ice-cold, as she typed something on the jade talisman, attempting to contact the Ten-Lords Commission.
For a moment, you could hear a pin drop in the entire office. Only the faint light from the jade tablet flickered erratically, like a candle in the wind. Everyone's gaze unconsciously focused on her and the jade tablet in her hand. Time seemed to stretch infinitely; every minute, every second, felt exceptionally agonizing. The light on the jade tablet flickered a few times, then finally, dimmed into silence.
No response.
The color drained from Huohuo's face, like sand washed away by the tide, bit by bit, leaving it completely pale. Her knuckles, white from the force of her grip, clutched the cold jade tablet tightly.
"How. how could this be?" Huohuo muttered in disbelief, trying a few more times, unwilling to give up. The result was still like a stone sinking into the ocean, no news at all.
"No. no one is replying to me." Huohuo's voice carried an uncontrollable tremor, and a fear deeper, more suffocating than before. "The Ten-Lords Commission side. can't be contacted!"
A bone-chilling coldness instantly crept up everyone's spine. There's an old saying: "Better to lose gold and jade than enter the Shackling Prison; better to suffer disaster than see a judge." Besides apprehending and suppressing criminals who violated the "Ten Evils" of the Xianzhou Law, the Ten-Lords Commission was also the Luofu's bulwark against all abnormal disasters. Now, the entire department had lost contact? This absolutely couldn't be a coincidence! The only explanation, the worst possibility, made everyone's heart sink to the bottom.
That terrifying Heliobus named "Carnal." Its target, or rather, its first target after escaping. Was very likely—the Shackling Prison where the Ten-Lords Commission was located! The hunted had become the hunter?
"!" Fu Xuan gasped, her face instantly turning incredibly ugly. Sushang's eyes also widened in shock, her small mouth slightly agape: "Could it be... that Heliobus it." The last trace of casualness also vanished from Guinaifen's face. She stammered in rebuttal: "No. no way. What kind of interstellar joke is this? The Ten-Lords Commission has judges presiding, and so many law-enforcing Jinren, and they still can't beat a Heliobus that just escaped?"
Daziel's brow furrowed tightly, disbelief swirling in his eyes, the ominous premonition in his heart growing wildly, almost suffocating him. The Ten-Lords Commission had experienced a loss of control in the original plot, but that was against the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus. This was just a Heliobus. Did it have such strength?
The air in the office completely solidified. The lingering sweet, peculiar scent from the earlier ambiguity and fierce battle had not yet completely dissipated, only to be frozen into the heaviest ice by the chilling news of the Ten-Lords Commission's loss of contact.
Fu Xuan pursed her lips tightly. The faint crimson in her all-seeing eyes, a remnant of the Heliobus mist's influence, was visibly fading, replaced by the undeniable sharp edge and decisiveness of the Master Diviner.
"Regardless, this matter has exceeded the ordinary, its implications are grave." Her voice regained its usual coolness, each word as if tempered with ice, sharp and decisive, striking everyone's taut heartstrings. "I have already reported this incident to the General, but the Divine Foresight side. has not yet received any reply."
Fu Xuan's sharp gaze slowly swept over everyone in the office. An invisible pressure emanated, carrying an undeniable force.
"Time is tight, we can wait no longer. We must set out immediately and personally investigate the Shackling Prison." Her gaze finally locked precisely on the small figure in the corner, hugging a pillow, desperately trying to reduce her presence—Qingque.
"Qingque." Fu Xuan's voice wasn't loud, yet it made Qingque's body tremble almost imperceptibly. "You stay in the Divination Commission, closely monitor the operation of all formation hubs, ensure everything is foolproof, and be ready to respond to any possible emergencies at any time."
"Uh. yes. yes! I will. obey the Master Diviner's orders!" Qingque's reply was as faint as a mosquito's buzz, her voice still holding an almost imperceptible tremor, a stark contrast to the audacious figure in the hazy illusion earlier, who even dared to boss Fu Xuan around.
A barely perceptible, extremely faint, yet somewhat playful arc touched the corners of Fu Xuan's lips.
"What?" She tilted her head slightly, her voice tinged with amusement. "Is your voice so small now?" "Weren't you quite arrogant, quite capable, in that grand dream of yours just now?"
Boom! Qingque felt a rush of hot blood to her head, her cheeks instantly flushing crimson, wishing she could find a crack in the ground to disappear into.
"I. I I I. I was wrong! Master Diviner! I really know I was wrong!" She almost buried her entire head in the soft pillow, making whimpering sounds.
"Don't." Fu Xuan snorted lightly, seemingly not intending to let her off easily, the amusement in her tone thickening. "I still prefer your rebellious, insubordinate look from just now." "How about you try it again, let me see?"
Hearing this, Qingque's body stiffened. After several seconds, she cautiously, as if probing an abyss, peeked out from behind the pillow with wide, watery eyes filled with fear and hesitation. In a voice as faint as a whisper, she tentatively murmured, "That. that one. pink-haired. shorty?"
Before the words faded, a slight whistling sound cut through the air! Fu Xuan lifted her slender, gracefully arched, white-stockinged foot, her movement fast, precise, and ruthless, landing accurately on Qingque's pert bottom. This kick was clean, even carrying a hint of satisfaction and release.
"You dare rebel?! You actually dare to say it?!" Fu Xuan tilted her elegantly lined chin slightly. Despite her petite frame, the aura she exuded at this moment was as imposing as a mountain. "As if you're that much taller than me! Aren't you only one meter four!"
"Ouch!" Qingque let out a short cry of pain, immediately clutching her bottom, her face a mixture of shame, anger, and pain. "Master Diviner! Your foot. your foot, why is it. a bit sticky?" she complained subconsciously.
Fu Xuan's movement paused slightly. She looked down at her own bare, white-stockinged foot. Indeed, the delicate silk was stained with a few inconspicuous, slightly viscous marks, faintly reflecting the light. Her elegant brows furrowed almost imperceptibly. Then, as if nothing had happened, she glanced out of the corner of her eye at Daziel, whose expression was somewhat subtle.
"You'll have to ask Daziel about that." Fu Xuan's voice returned to normal, even carrying an almost imperceptible hint of playful blame. "I don't know what he was playing at just now, he even misplaced my shoe."
As she spoke, she bent down slightly and began to carefully search for her missing shoe on the messy office carpet, littered with papers and sundries. After finding it, she discovered that the inside of the shoe also had.
Ah, this detestable, perverted foot-fetishist! Fu Xuan could only grimace as she slipped her foot in, feeling the sticky sensation inside.
Daziel stood to the side, feeling his temples throb, a familiar headache beginning to brew. He coughed twice, slightly awkwardly, his gaze involuntarily drifting elsewhere. This situation's development. was truly too. unpredictable.
Qingque rubbed her afflicted bottom, her watery eyes turning to Daziel, her small face filled with overflowing grievance and shame.
"Sob. S-sorry." Her voice held a clear sob. "I just. I just hadn't seen you in so long, I missed you too much. that's why. that's why the Heliobus took advantage of me, making me have that kind of messy dream. Oh my, it's so embarrassing, and so many people heard me talking nonsense."
Daziel's heart suddenly softened, as if something had gently nudged it. He slowly walked over, raised his hand, and his warm palm gently covered Qingque's soft hair. Traces of nervous sweat still lingered in her hair, feeling delicate to the touch.
"Alright, alright, it's not your fault," Daziel's voice was extremely gentle, carrying a soothing tone. "It's all my fault for not being able to come back and see you for so long."
Qingque felt the warmth and comfort from his touch. The blush on her cheeks, instead of fading, seemed to spread, but her watery eyes suddenly brightened. She tilted her small face slightly, mustered immense courage, and in a voice almost a whisper, barely audible, filled with a hint of almost imperceptible anticipation and hesitation, she gently confessed, "Then. then after things are settled here. can. can we. do it again?" "Just. just now I think I was a bit dazed, I didn't. I didn't get to feel it clearly."
Daziel's caressing hand froze mid-air, the corners of his mouth twitching uncontrollably a few times.
"No. I say, Qingque. can you please spare my old back. How many times has it been already." He felt his back muscles screaming in agonizing protest.
"Alright, alright! Everyone stop!" Fu Xuan, after wiping the liquid spilled around her shoe with a tissue, stood up briskly, her tone carrying unquestionable decisiveness, forcibly cutting off the increasingly bizarre conversation.
"This is urgent! Business first!" Fu Xuan endured the discomfort, walked over, quickly straightened the slightly messy hem of her skirt, and instantly regained the imposing of the Master Diviner. "The situation at the Shackling Prison is unclear, full of variables, there's no time to delay, let's set out immediately!"
As her words fell, Fu Xuan had already turned, her steps firm, unhesitatingly walking towards the office door. Sushang and Guinaifen exchanged a glance, a hint of gravity in both their eyes, and hurriedly followed. Only Huohuo still timidly shrank in place, her small body trembling slightly, but seeing everyone else already moving, she also quickly patted her tail and took small steps, trying hard to keep up with the group.
Daziel took a deep breath, forcefully shaking off the enchanting yet troublesome images from his mind. His gaze fell on Qingque, still shrunk in the corner of the sofa, half-covering her face with a pillow, only her eyes visible.
"Qingque, I'll leave the Divination Commission to you for now," Daziel instructed gravely. "If there's any abnormality, contact us immediately through the jade talisman."
"Mm. Mm! I understand! Daziel, don't worry!" Qingque poked her small head out from behind the pillow and nodded vigorously. Only, those eyes, besides the earnestness of her promise, seemed to hide a deep, unfulfilled. intense regret?
Daziel didn't dare to delve deeper into the meaning of that gaze, quickly turned, and hurried after Fu Xuan and the others. The heavy office door slowly closed behind him, completely shutting out the lingering ambiguous atmosphere within, as well as Qingque's complex, unreadable gaze.
Shackling Prison. The light in the corridor had a gloomy, chilling quality. The group's footsteps echoed in the empty passage, sounding exceptionally clear. The Realm-Keeping Anchor leading to the Shackling Prison wasn't physically far, yet at this moment, every step felt abnormally long. The entire Ten-Lords Commission out of contact. What did this imply? The thought was terrifying. That Heliobus named "Carnal," could it actually infiltrate the core department of the Xianzhou so silently? Too fake, right?! Was it already as strong as a Lord Ravager?
Fu Xuan walked at the head of the group, her pretty face calm as water, her chin slightly raised, carrying a sharp aura, though her steps seemed unnatural. While walking rapidly, she quickly processed the incoming information flow through the communication jade talisman on her wrist, her fingers flying, trying to contact other still operational departments, urgently mobilizing all available resources. Jing Yuan said he was already on his way, telling them not to worry.
Sushang followed closely behind, her right hand unconsciously resting on the hilt of the heavy sword at her waist. As a Cloud Knight, her instincts kept her entire body tense, ready to respond to any sudden battle. Guinaifen had also sobered up, holding a long staff, her face covered with a rare seriousness. Huohuo tightly gripped the small flag in her hand, her small face somewhat pale with fear. But she still bit her lower lip, trying hard to take small steps, closely following everyone, not daring to fall behind.
Daziel walked in the middle of the group, his intangible perception spreading out like a tide, alert to any possible anomaly. At the same time, he was secretly regulating his breathing, trying to quickly recover the stamina consumed in the sudden "battle" earlier. That "fierce battle," although without flashing blades or real weapons clashing, was no less exhausting, especially in terms of kidney function, than a high-intensity life-or-death struggle. Ah. Eh, if only I had brought that bottle of kidney energy supplement Guinaifen gave me back then. Daziel couldn't help but give a wry smile inwardly. Eh, why, even with anime levels of stamina, do I still have to follow the law that energy cannot be created out of thin air? Every infusion is a consumption of myself.
Passing through several complexly structured, dimly lit corridors, the group finally arrived at the dedicated spatial transport array area leading to the Shackling Prison. This was one of the core passages within the Shackling Prison, usually heavily guarded, practically watertight. However, at this moment, the several Netherworld Adjudicators responsible for guarding this key array appeared. extremely bizarre. Their eyes were no longer clear, carrying an almost dazed confusion, their cheeks flushed an unnatural crimson, their breathing noticeably more rapid than usual, their chests rising and falling erratically. When they saw Huohuo's group approaching, not only did they not immediately bow in greeting as usual, but their gazes fixed unabashedly on the only male in the group, Daziel's young, strong figure, lingering for an exceptionally long time, those eyes filled with a kind of extremely unsettling. greed and desire.
Although it's unknown why, the Netherworld Adjudicators of the Ten-Lords Commission are all female. Even in the game, it's the same setting; this isn't an 'inner world' magical modification.
"A man, it's a man!" One of the Netherworld Adjudicators spoke first, her voice hoarse as sandpaper, carrying a scalp-numbing, sticky, wet quality.
Daziel's eyes suddenly sharpened, a cold light flashing. He instantly understood the root of this abnormal scene. The influence of the "Carnal" Heliobus. Had it already spread so far? Even the heavily defended interior of the Shackling Prison couldn't escape? Fyxestroll Garden was one thing, security wasn't that strict, so it wasn't impossible for adjudicators and Jinren to be affected. But this was the Shackling Prison! The place where Xianzhou criminals were held!
"Stand down! Such behavior, what has become of you, you disgrace our Xianzhou!" Fu Xuan let out a cold reprimand. An invisible pressure, like a tangible substance, suddenly spread out, fiercely striking the minds of those Netherworld Adjudicators. The Netherworld Adjudicators' bodies jolted violently, a fleeting clarity returning to their eyes, but the traces of confusion and unclean desire still lingered on their faces. As if pushed by an invisible force, they subconsciously staggered back a few steps, finally clearing the path to the Realm-Keeping Anchor.
"It seems the situation is much worse than we anticipated." Daziel lowered his voice, whispering to Fu Xuan, his tone heavy. "The speed of this Heliobus's contamination spread. is faster than imagined."
Fu Xuan's face grew even darker and uglier. She didn't respond to Daziel's words, merely pursing her lips, quickening her pace, and stepping first into the Realm-Keeping Anchor, which shone with the light of spatial energy. A dazzling brilliance erupted, space violently twisting and folding. After a brief yet dizzying sense of weightlessness, the group's figures reappeared at the other end of the Realm-Keeping Anchor.
The moment they landed, a cold, damp, fishy smell mixed with. a kind of indescribably sweet scent, like an invisible giant wave, rushed towards them, instantly overwhelming everyone's sense of smell. This was the outer area of the Shackling Prison. Normally, this place should be heavily guarded by Ten-Lords Commission judges and Netherworld Soldiers at all times. But now, looking around, it was deathly silent, so quiet it was unnerving. Only from the depths of the prison area, faint, muffled sobs and intermittent, strangely eerie giggles could be vaguely heard. The sweet scent permeating the air was even stronger than what lingered in the Divination Commission office earlier, more. bone-marrow-corroding.
"Something's wrong." Sushang instantly tightened her grip on the hilt of her heavy sword, the guard making a slight scraping sound. "This place. is too quiet, terrifyingly quiet." Guinaifen also frowned tightly, covering her mouth and nose with her sleeve, complaining in a low voice: "This smell. it makes me feel really uncomfortable, dizzy." Huohuo was even more frightened, trembling all over, the fur on her large tail almost standing on end. "S-so. so many 'bad things' auras. M-more than. more than the Heliobus we encountered in the Divination Commission just now. even scarier." Her voice trembled, almost turning into a sob.
Fu Xuan's sharp, hawk-like gaze quickly and carefully scanned every inch of the surroundings. The overall architectural style of the Shackling Prison already leaned towards gloomy and solemn, with large quantities of dark green and black giant stones creating a cold and oppressive spatial sense. But now, these supposedly cold and unfeeling stone walls seemed to be strangely stained with an almost imperceptible, extremely unsettling "vibrancy." In some inconspicuous corners, lay clearly torn fragments of clothing, and a few broken Ten-Lords Commission standard-issue ritual implements. On the ground, some semi-dried, dark red, viscous unknown marks could be clearly seen, emitting a faint sweet and fishy smell.
"It seems the Ten-Lords Commission. has indeed met with trouble." Fu Xuan's voice carried a heaviness and fatigue that even she hadn't noticed. The "Carnal" Heliobus had very likely successfully invaded here, and. transformed this prison, meant to hold heinous criminals, completely into its own nest, or rather. a breeding ground for desire and evil.
Daziel subconsciously tightened his grip on the metal baseball bat in his hand. Its solid, cold touch brought him a sliver of insignificant reassurance. He could clearly feel the invisible force permeating the air, continuously, like a feather, lightly stroking his heartstrings, trying to ignite the most primal flames of desire hidden deep within him. Compared to the direct and domineering mist erosion encountered in the Divination Commission office earlier, the power here was more subtle, more cunning, yet also more pervasive, impossible to guard against. It no longer forcefully twisted your will to charm you, but was more like a. slow, continuous, spiritual corrosion, like water dripping through stone.
"Everyone, be vigilant. The source of contamination here. is probably not just one." Daziel immediately warned everyone, his tone serious. "That Heliobus has very likely already 'sown seeds' here."
"Sown seeds?" Guinaifen shivered upon hearing this, the color draining from her face. "You mean. it. it created more little Heliobi?"
Sushang's eyes lit up. "Oh! I get it, this Heliobus is of the Propagation Path!"
"No. it's not like that." Huohuo tremblingly interjected. When it came to knowledge about Heliobi, this timid little Foxian girl clearly knew more than the others. "A Heliobus, its essence is to strengthen itself by absorbing the lust, obsessions, and other such things from living beings. At the same time, it can also infect other living beings with this twisted and amplified desire, thereby controlling them, creating a kind of 'attendant' existence. These contaminated 'attendants,' even if not controlled by the Heliobus's main body, will attack autonomously."
Huohuo's explanation made everyone's heart clench, a chill silently creeping up their spines. This meant that what they were about to step into was far more than just confronting a powerful Heliobus. Even more terrifying were the enemies hidden in the shadows—Ten-Lords Commission judges completely corrupted by the Heliobus's evil, having lost their minds, and even prisoners from the jail.
The passage ahead was deep and dark. The faint, sweet, and metallic scent in the air grew stronger. Suppressed sobs mixed with twisted, eerie giggles drifted intermittently from the depths of the empty, silent corridor, striking everyone's already taut nerves.
"Let's continue. With me here, even without the General himself present, I will ensure your safety." Fu Xuan took a deep breath. "No matter what awaits us ahead, there is nothing to fear."
The decision made, the group once again took heavy steps, delving deeper into the unknown reaches of the Shackling Prison. With every step, the cold, damp stone slabs beneath their feet seemed to exude a bone-chilling cold, and every step also trod on the very edge of that unknown fear. The sweet and fishy smell in the air grew thicker, so viscous it almost seemed to solidify, clogging their nasal passages, seeping into their skin. Daziel clearly felt his heartbeat uncontrollably quicken slightly, his blood flow accelerating, a primal, wild heat stirring restlessly, trying to break free from the deepest parts of his body.
Sushang and Guinaifen, walking beside Daziel, also frowned, Sushang's face slightly pale, while Guinaifen's expression turned grave. Clearly, they were also affected by this strange atmosphere. Only Fu Xuan still maintained her icy, calm demeanor, as if everything unusual around them had nothing to do with her, completely undisturbed. However, Daziel keenly caught that the knuckles of the hand gripping the jade talisman were slightly white from the force, betraying her inner turmoil. As for Huohuo at the end of the line, she had almost buried her entire small face deep into her fluffy, warm tail, her small body trembling like the last leaf in a fierce wind, fear almost consuming her.
Silence was broken. Suddenly, from a dark corner ahead, came a messy and rapid patter of footsteps, followed by. a woman's deliberately raised, charmingly seductive, yet crazed cry.
"Found him, that's the man, catch him. don't let. don't let him get away. Stay. come play with us." "Hee hee. hee hee hee." That voice, sickeningly sweet, bewitchingly seductive, every syllable like poisoned honey drilling into the eardrums, yet deeply hiding a terrifying madness and distortion.
Guinaifen shivered all over, subconsciously gripping Daziel's arm, lowering her voice, and speaking with a trembling uncertainty: "I say. this voice. why does it sound. a bit familiar?"
Daziel's face darkened, his Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and he replied gravely: "It's not just you, I also think. it sounds familiar."
At the back of the group, Huohuo, who had been cowering, suddenly lifted her head. Her large, watery eyes were filled with unbelievable terror. In a tearful, weak voice, she tremblingly uttered a name: "Is. is that Lady Hanya.? She. how could she. how could she make such. such a sound?"
___
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