"Er… well…" An indescribable awkwardness flickered across Daziel's face. He scratched the back of his head unnaturally, momentarily stuck, unsure how to begin.
After all, actually saying this out loud in front of several people was still a bit too mortifying.
A dignified Nameless still had his reputation to consider… representing the Astral Express, no less.
Noticing Daziel's predicament and unspoken difficulty, Huohuo quickly stepped forward beside him, mustering a touch of childlike courage to explain on his behalf:
"Um… Lady Hanya, Big Brother Daziel, he… he did it to save me and Tail, so…"
She faltered, a faint blush creeping onto her cheeks, her voice growing softer and softer until it was nearly inaudible.
Clearly, she also understood that what Daziel had just done wasn't exactly… proper.
"To save you?" Hanya's voice was cool and questioning. She once again lifted her slender fingers, lightly touching the residue on the puppet fragment.
An unpleasant, slippery sensation met her fingertip, like touching some sort of cold biological slime. A faint, almost imperceptible metallic tang silently entered her nostrils.
Her previously calm expression changed abruptly. Her eyes froze, pupils constricting.
As an experienced Judge, Hanya instantly realized exactly what this liquid on her hand was…
"…"
Hanya snapped her head up, staring fixedly at Daziel, her tone filled with fury, each word seeming forced through clenched teeth.
"You actually… did such a filthy thing… to my sister's puppet body… Unforgivable!"
Daziel's brain short-circuited from Hanya's sudden rage, freezing him on the spot.
He quickly waved his hands, trying to explain, "Judge Hanya, you misunderstand! The situation was critical, I had to do it to save them…!"
"Silence!" Hanya gave Daziel absolutely no chance to defend himself, sharply cutting him off—
"Do you take me for some kind of fool? To readily believe such a flimsy lie? This is blasphemy against a Judge of the Ten-Lords Commission!"
"Enforcers, formation!" Hanya abruptly raised her hand as if wielding an invisible scepter, issuing the command to attack.
The surrounding Golden Hourglass Soul Reapers, standing silently at attention, instantly understood Hanya's will.
Their metal bodies simultaneously bent forward, joints scraping, hands gripping Soul-Seizing Orders, poised to strike. Beneath their black and gold uniforms, a deadly combat stance was revealed. The atmosphere instantly became charged, as if the air itself was being squeezed by an invisible giant hand, thick and suffocating.
Just at this critical moment, with conflict about to erupt—
A weak, slightly stiff voice suddenly broke the extreme tension. "Han… Hanya, stop!"
The voice actually came from one of the Golden Hourglass Soul Reapers previously controlled by Qiluo, now scattered haphazardly on the ground.
One of the previously motionless figures trembled, slowly pushing itself up from the ground.
It extended a cracked metal arm, pointing at the furious Hanya. Its voice was intermittent but carried a familiar coolness.
Hearing this voice, Hanya jolted, a look of shock and utter disbelief flashing across her face.
"Sister?! Er…"
She was momentarily speechless, unsure how to react. Her expression shifted rapidly, finally settling into a wry, helpless smile.
"I don't know what face I should be making right now. Happy? Tears of joy? Never mind, I'm already used to you coming back in various forms. I just didn't expect you to show up like this this time…"
Xueyi, controlling the Golden Hourglass Soul Reaper's body, explained weakly, "That's not the point. I… saw you two were about to fight. I quickly found a usable body nearby to stop you. Any later, and it could have been disastrous."
Hanya quickly composed her fluctuating expression, replacing it with one of pure confusion.
She frowned deeply, asking perplexed, "So… Sister, what exactly happened just now? Why…"
Xueyi, through the puppet, turned its gaze towards Daziel and said calmly, "Daziel… did indeed do something… hmm, rather unconventional… to my puppet. But it doesn't matter. It was just a puppet body, after all. Besides, he truly turned the tide and prevented a terrible outcome. His merits outweigh his demerits. There's no need to pursue it further."
Hearing Xueyi state the truth so casually, as if it didn't concern her at all, made Daziel even more flustered.
He stammered, "Wait… so, Judge Xueyi, what I did just now… you, you knew?"
The Golden Hourglass Soul Reaper controlled by Xueyi nodded slightly. Its face was covered by a metal faceplate, hiding her expression.
"Not only did I know, I felt the entire thing… Da…ziel… You, ah, were a bit quick. Perhaps you should see Lady Bailu for a prescription…?"
At these words, the air instantly froze.
Daziel felt his face burn hot, wishing the ground would swallow him whole.
Blushing furiously, he stammered defensively, "Cough cough, that, that was definitely not my usual performance! It was just an emergency! An emergency! I had to finish quickly, so…"
Xueyi chuckled softly, not pressing his embarrassment further. Instead, she said gently, "No matter. In any case… thank you… My previous attitude towards you was quite offensive. Please forgive me."
Daziel quickly waved his hands, greatly relieved. "No worries, no worries! You were just being professional. Totally understandable."
Hanya, watching the conversation between her sister and Daziel, finally understood that it truly was a misunderstanding.
She cleared her throat with slight awkwardness, trying to ease the delicate atmosphere, and asked, "So… this matter is considered settled then?"
Beside them, Huohuo nodded vigorously, whispering in agreement, "Y-yes, it seems so for now…"
Hanya let out a long sigh, her tense body finally relaxing completely.
She walked up to Daziel, her expression serious as she said, "Alright. Since Sister is letting it go, there's no need for me to dwell on it either. Thank you, Daziel, for your help to the Ten-Lords Commission in this matter. Please forgive my earlier offense."
Daziel sighed inwardly with relief now that the misunderstanding was cleared.
He scratched his head and said tentatively, "It was nothing, really. But… I do have one small request, if Judge Hanya might agree…"
Hanya raised an elegant eyebrow, signaling Daziel to continue. "What request? Feel free to ask."
Daziel pointed towards the Moon-Concealing Gourd still clutched tightly in Huohuo's arms. "That… the gourd Huohuo is holding, the one with Qiluo inside… could I have it? Huohuo said she couldn't decide and needed to ask you."
Hearing this, Hanya's brow furrowed slightly again. Her gaze fell on the talisman-covered gourd, her tone laced with doubt and uncertainty.
"What do you want this Heliobus for? Such dangerous entities aren't particularly useful to us in the Ten-Lords Commission."
"Besides, apart from making them devour each other, there's no way to completely destroy them; they can only be sealed long-term."
"If you take it back and handle it improperly, it could cause an even greater disaster. How would you deal with the consequences then?"
Daziel patted his chest, his tone steady and firm. "Don't worry, Judge Hanya. I know what I'm doing. If anything truly goes wrong, I, Daziel, will take full responsibility for all consequences."
Hanya looked deeply at Daziel for a moment, seeming to weigh her options.
After a pause, she nodded slightly, having made her decision. "You are an ally of the Xianzhou, and you subdued this Heliobus yourself. Your word is enough. Well then… Huohuo, give him the Moon-Concealing Gourd."
Hearing Lady Hanya agree, Huohuo's small face instantly bloomed into a brilliant smile.
She carefully handed the Moon-Concealing Gourd to Daziel, her voice chirpy with excitement.
"Here…! It's great that Lady Hanya agreed! Huohuo is happy for you too, Big Brother Daziel!"
Daziel ran his fingers over the slightly cool talismans on the gourd, feeling its substantial weight in his hand. A smile finally broke free on his lips, an indescribable joy welling up inside him.
Excellent! The first piece of the puzzle to strengthen Phantylia's soul is finally secured!
His mind raced, already beginning to plan the next steps…
After a moment, Daziel looked up, his gaze sweeping over Hanya, Xueyi (in the puppet), and Huohuo, who was clinging to Tail and watching him timidly. He put on a perfectly warm and enthusiastic smile.
Daziel took the initiative to speak, "Judge Hanya, I heard Judge Xueyi mention earlier that two other Heliobi apparently escaped Sui Garden. I wonder if the Ten-Lords Commission might require my assistance? I now have some… special methods for dealing with Heliobi. Perhaps I could be of help."
His tone was sincere, his posture humble, as if he were truly just a helpful Nameless passing by.
After a slight pause, Daziel added, seemingly casually, his tone carrying a subtle, almost imperceptible probing note:
"Of course, if, after everything is settled, those two Heliobi could also be handed over to me, that would be even better."
Hearing this, Hanya's cool, weary face instantly lit up with surprised delight.
"To be honest, two cunning Heliobi did indeed escape Sui Garden. But their methods of concealing their presence are extremely sophisticated. We haven't been able to pinpoint their exact locations yet and were finding the matter quite troublesome."
Hanya considered for a moment, a decisive glint appearing in her clear eyes. She quickly made her decision.
"How about this, Daziel: let's exchange contact information. If I get any news regarding the Heliobi, I will notify you immediately."
Daziel rejoiced inwardly but kept his expression calm, as if everything were proceeding exactly as he had anticipated. He readily agreed, "Excellent. Being able to offer my humble assistance to my allies is naturally my duty; Daziel wouldn't shirk it."
He took out his phone and opened the contacts interface. He exchanged contact details with Hanya, Xueyi, and the curiously watching Huohuo. His fingertips tapped the screen, completing the final step of adding them as friends.
Daziel looked up, gently surveying everyone present, adopting a suitably weary tone.
"It's getting late. Everyone's had a long day and must be tired. Let's call it a day for now."
Hanya's cool voice sounded again, the end of her sentence carrying a subtle softness.
"If you discover anything, please be sure to contact us as well! The entire Ten-Lords Commission will certainly cooperate to the best of our ability."
Daziel nodded, maintaining a perfect smile, and said gently, "Definitely."
Huohuo's soft voice held a trace of shyness. She leaned forward slightly, as if wanting to get closer but feeling timid. "Th-thank you for saving Tail… Huohuo doesn't know how to thank you properly…"
Seeing Huohuo's cautious demeanor, Daziel bent down and gently tapped her forehead with his fingertip.
"Heh, it was no big deal. Don't worry about it so much."
"No!" Huohuo shook her head seriously, her small face flushed red. "Huohuo will definitely thank you properly next time! Definitely!"
Daziel chuckled softly at her earnest little expression.
Just then, a slightly stiff voice interrupted their interaction from the side.
"Daziel."
Xueyi, controlling the Golden Hourglass Soul Reaper, spoke hoarsely, "Are you truly certain you don't need treatment for your… hmm… kidney deficiency problem?"
Xueyi deliberately slowed her speech, drawing out the last word, speaking haltingly otherwise, but emphasizing the words "kidney deficiency" with perfect clarity, as if afraid Daziel wouldn't hear properly.
Hearing this, Daziel's smile instantly froze on his face.
He took a deep breath, replying somewhat awkwardly, "I don't need it, Judge Xueyi! Let me repeat, I really don't need it! My body is perfectly fine!"
Xueyi smiled, then said cheerfully, "Since that's the case, I shall wait and see. I hope you can prove it to me the next time we meet."
Daziel: ?
After bidding farewell to Hanya and the others, he bent down, gently and carefully lifted the still unconscious Guinaifen from the ground onto his back, and started walking away from Sui Garden.
Night deepened. A cool breeze blew through Sui Garden, dispersing the lingering Heliobus embers in the air and also blowing away the faint trace of weariness in Daziel's heart.
The soft feel of the girl's body on his back and her faint, sweet fragrance caused no ripples in Daziel's heart; his thoughts had already drifted far away to the Yichen Inn…
After all, Guinaifen's supple figure provides a unique experience, definitely top-tier! Although Guinaifen is only a 4-star unit in the game, Daziel is willing to give her a 5-star rating here! She's a masterpiece!
On the way to the Yichen Inn, Guinaifen, who had been slumped on Daziel's back, suddenly let out a soft murmur and slowly began to wake up.
She groggily opened her sleepy eyes, her eyelashes fluttering gently. Her consciousness was still a bit hazy. Her voice was soft and lazy, carrying the cute drowsiness of someone just woken up, along with a hint of confusion.
"Sugar Daddy, what… what happened to me?"
Daziel didn't look back, kept walking at a steady pace, and explained calmly and concisely:
"You were possessed by a ghost. But it's fine now, I drove it out."
"Possessed by a ghost?" Guinaifen's mind, still somewhat foggy with sleep, instantly snapped awake, as if doused with a bucket of ice water. Sleepiness vanished without a trace, replaced by a streamer's sharp professional instinct.
"Eh?! Such explosive stream content, and I didn't even go live?! This is a huge loss...!"
She slapped her forehead in annoyance, her delicate face scrunching up as if she had just missed out on billions of views, her heart aching so much it was hard to breathe.
Hearing Guinaifen's mind completely fixated on streaming, and feeling the girl's frustrated pounding on his back, Daziel couldn't help but shake his head helplessly.
"Still thinking about streaming? You should be glad you made it back safely, instead of worrying about trivial things like that."
Guinaifen, however, remained immersed in regret over the missed golden streaming opportunity. Her lips pouted high, her pretty face crumpled in visible frustration.
"That's true, but I was running around all day, scared stiff, and then I get possessed by a ghost… doesn't that mean I gained nothing from it? Totally wasted such great stream material! Eh… what a total loss, total loss!"
A faint smile played on Daziel's lips, a hidden glint of amusement in his eyes.
"What's the big deal? Later, I'll drop by your stream and send some gifts, donations, whatever. That'll make up for the lost revenue, won't it?"
Guinaifen's previously dull eyes instantly lit up at the mention of "donations."
"Ooh, Sugar Daddy is so generous!"
She immediately put on an extremely coquettish smile, her voice becoming even sweeter, carrying a slight probing tone and undisguised expectation.
"So...… what's the price?"
She deliberately drew out the sound, her tone lilting and full of suggestion, batting her large, watery eyes as if trying to entice him.
Daziel paused his steps slightly, a roguish smile spreading across his face. His tone was playful yet held an undercurrent of unquestionable dominance.
"Do you even need to ask the price? Later, present yourself properly. Serve me well, and you won't lack for gifts."
Guinaifen's pretty face flushed slightly. She gave Daziel a playful glare, her voice containing a coquettish mix of feigned resistance and invitation.
"Oh, stop it! Sugar Daddy just loves bullying me~ But… presenting myself might be a bit difficult… I feel like all my strength has been drained, I'm all limp… I can't manage any difficult positions… Maybe Sugar Daddy will have to do all the work himself~"
She deliberately feigned weakness, her tone alluring, the subtle provocation palpable.
Daziel clicked his tongue, smacking his lips slightly, seeming somewhat disappointed by Guinaifen's feigned weakness.
"Tsk, well that's no fun then…"
Guinaifen's eyes darted slyly, a mischievous glint flashing through them. A wicked smile formed on her lips as she lowered her voice, leaning close to Daziel's ear, her breath fragrant like orchids.
"Not necessarily~ I might be out of commission, but… isn't Sushang waiting for you back at the Yichen Inn?"
…
At the Yichen Inn, inside a certain cozily and elegantly furnished guest room, Sushang sat bored on the edge of the bed, her long, fair legs swinging gently. Her fingertips swiped aimlessly across her phone screen.
Dim lighting illuminated her delicate profile, casting soft shadows.
She kept refreshing her phone screen, looking again and again at the empty chat interface. Time ticked by, second by second. Weariness washed over her like a tide, and her eyelids began to feel heavy.
"Why isn't Master here yet…?" Sushang muttered softly, her tone carrying a hint of grievance and petulance. Her fingers slid unconsciously across the screen, her gaze beginning to blur, already unable to make out the content.
Just as she was drifting off, her consciousness gradually fading, the room door was suddenly pushed open from the outside, making a faint "creak."
Sushang jerked her head up, sleepiness instantly vanishing without a trace. Her bright eyes filled with delighted surprise.
A familiar figure that she had longed for entered her sight – it was the master she thought of day and night, Daziel.
"Master!"
Sushang called out in surprise, her clear, pleasant voice brimming with irrepressible excitement and joy.
Like an arrow released from a bow, her petite form instantly sprang off the bed. She quickly rushed forward, hugging Daziel's arm tightly, her soft body pressing against his arm, burying her head in his shoulder and nuzzling affectionately.
"Master, you're finally here! It's been so long since we last… did that kind of thing… Sushang missed you terribly…"
Her voice was soft, carrying a hint of grievance and coquetry, her tone petulant, as if complaining that Daziel had forgotten her.
It couldn't be helped. Just on the Express alone, Daziel had several 'targets' requiring his 'attention'. How could he possibly keep up with the Xianzhou side too?
Daziel could only offer Sushang an empty promise for now to calm her restless heart.
"Sushang, I'll come see you every few days… probably."
"Hmph, I don't believe you…!" Sushang turned her head away, clearly not falling for Daziel's ploy.
However, when Sushang looked up and noticed Guinaifen slumped limply on Daziel's back, looking utterly weak and exhausted…
The joy in Sushang's eyes was instantly replaced by wariness. Her gaze sharpened, her tone laced with a sour questioning note.
"Eh! Why is Little Gui so weak? Did you two already sneak off behind my back and do that kind of thing many times outside? Will Master even have any energy left later then…?!"
Her little mind instantly conjured various scenarios, jealousy surging within her, and her lips unconsciously pouted.
Daziel rubbed Sushang's head, explaining helplessly, "Nothing like that happened. Where did your thoughts go? We didn't do those things outside. Guinaifen just had bad luck today, got possessed by a ghost, and hasn't recovered yet."
"Oh… that's good then. Just possessed by a ghost, not sneaking around behind my back doing that kind of thing…" Sushang let out a long sigh of relief, her tense body relaxing. She patted her chest, looking greatly relieved, the jealous pout on her small face replaced by a returning smile.
However, just as the words left her mouth, she abruptly realized the implications of what Daziel had said. Her delicate face froze instantly, her voice shot up in a startled cry,
"Eh? Wait, possessed by a ghost?! Oh my goodness! Thank goodness I didn't go join the fun in Sui Garden today! I'm so smart! That's terrifying!"
"Tsk, Sushang, is our sisterly bond made of plastic?" Guinaifen rolled her eyes irritably, giving Sushang a weak glare, her tone dripping with sarcasm and deep helplessness.
"Weren't you just saying we'd share fortunes and hardships together, do everything together? It hasn't even been that long, and you've already changed your tune?"
Sushang scratched the back of her head sheepishly, chuckling with a cute, silly smile, sticking out her tongue embarrassedly.
"Hehe, business is business. Sisterhood is sisterhood, but life is important! Who knew Sui Garden was so dangerous, people getting possessed left and right? My life is more important…"
Guinaifen looked contemptuous at this. Her eyes darted around slyly, as if hitting on a fun idea. A wicked grin spread across her lips as she winked suggestively at Daziel.
"Eh, Sugar Daddy, aren't you disappointed Little Gui can't cooperate today? Rare opportunity! Let Sushang satisfy you properly! I'll guide her, guarantee she quickly masters the technique of pulling her legs over her head…"
Hearing this, Sushang's smiling face instantly turned deathly pale. She waved her hands frantically, screaming in terror,
"No… Don't! I'm not that flexible…! Street performing and stuff, I can only break stones on my chest! I don't have Little Gui's physique! Master, please don't listen to her! I really can't do it!"
She looked about to cry, her face crumpled, pleading desperately with Daziel, her watery eyes pitiful, full of fear and helplessness.
"Alright, that's enough!" Daziel watched the two women bantering and teasing back and forth in front of him, each more boisterous than the last. Feeling a headache coming on, he quickly raised his hand to stop them both.
"Don't worry, I'll handle both of you just the same!"
The next day, the first gentle rays of morning sun filtered through the gap in the curtains, casting dappled light on the floor and bringing a touch of warmth to the room.
Daziel was woken by the rapid pinging of phone notifications.
He rubbed his sleepy eyes, reached out from the warm bed, picked up his phone from the nightstand, and glanced at the message content—
[Hanya: Daziel, we have some leads regarding the whereabouts of those two Heliobi.]
[Hanya: It seems one has possessed someone… with a rather special identity. We can't fully confirm yet, so we need you to make a trip and investigate first. {Please emoji}]
Careful not to disturb the still sleeping Guinaifen and Sushang, Daziel typed a reply with one hand—
[Daziel: How special an identity? Someone even you Ten-Lords Commission people can't investigate directly?]
[Hanya: Mmm, because she's… the Vidyadhara, the Dragon Lady Scion of Medicus. Considering your relationship with the Dragon Lady, it's more appropriate for you to go. {Finger Heart emoji}]
__
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