Star Rail Impostor! - 361 - 370

Star Rail Impostor! - 361

--+--

The power of Remembrance temporarily rewrote the perceptions of the onlookers.

Under ‘Huohuo’s’ manipulation, though these people saw everything unfolding and understood that some sort of incident had occurred, they remained unhurried. 

It was as if they were merely watching some local roadside attraction, casually stepping aside to clear a path.

This mental distortion wasn't overly dramatic. Consequently, many people were still acting like curious spectators—holding up their phones to take photos or sending messages to friends and family. 

‘Huohuo’ didn't bother interfering; she trusted that Jing Yuan would be able to smooth over these minor details later.

"Phantylia, Emanator of Nanook... strictly speaking, I also carry power once granted to me by Nanook, which helped me through some difficult times."

‘Huohuo’ had somewhat complicated feelings regarding Nanook. 

On one hand, the Aeon had chosen to bestow power upon her at the very beginning, giving her the lifespan to survive and the strength to protect herself. She acknowledged that debt of gratitude. 

Because of this, she hadn't even harbored a killing intent when she moved against the Lord Ravager.

On the other hand, as someone who did not wish to see the world destroyed, she was inevitably destined to stand in opposition to Nanook, who sought the universe’s total annihilation. 

In the future, it wouldn't just be the Lord Ravagers—she might truly have to face Nanook THEMSELF in a fight to the death.

"......"

Phantylia seemed to want to say something, but in the end, nothing escaped her lips.

"I originally intended to turn a blind eye. After all, as an Aeon, it’s not appropriate for me to interfere so casually."

‘Huohuo’ stared at Phantylia. With a flick of her hand, a paper talisman appeared between her fingertips. She then struck a ritualistic pose, her lips moving in a silent incantation. 

Though the talisman looked utterly ordinary, Phantylia sensed a terrifying power within it—one capable of tearing her soul to shreds.

Phantylia panicked instantly. While her Heliobus nature allowed her to maintain her consciousness even if her form was split, would she even have a chance to survive if that talisman landed?

"Wait! Respected Aeon of Elation! I swear I will never set foot on the Luofu again! I beg of you, spare my life!"

However, Phantylia’s desperate plea only made ‘Huohuo’ chuckle.

"Still trying to play mind games with me even now? Oh, Phantylia, I truly don't know whether to call you ambitious or simply blind to the situation."

She paused for a beat before continuing. 

"To be honest, I really had no interest in interfering with your schemes. But you just had to fix your gaze on Qingque, and you just happened to wander right in front of me. She is my chosen proxy; you practically handed me the excuse to strike. You can only blame your own rotten luck."

As she spoke, the talisman at her fingertips was slapped directly onto the ball of flame.

Sizzle—

The flames that had been burning incessantly, radiating heat and Destruction, were instantly suppressed. 

Not only did the temperature drop to a point where it couldn't even boil water, but the power of Destruction was locked firmly within her form, rendered completely unusable.

"Wait, wait—I’ll do anything! I am a Lord Ravager, I hold so much intelligence! Spare me, I don't want to die yet!!"

Phantylia watched in horror as her body and power were sealed by a single slip of paper. 

That latent, unreleased power felt like a blade that hadn't yet left its scabbard, its hidden edge warning her: Do not even think about peeling this talisman off.

Hearing Phantylia’s terrified begging, ‘Huohuo’ gave the great Heliobus a light smile. Honestly, compared to Phantylia’s cowardly display, she actually preferred Celenova’s personality a bit more. 

Phantylia enjoyed the self-destruction of civilizations, yet she utterly loathed the destruction of herself. 

Then again, considering she was a Heliobus—a race notorious for their survival instincts—it was probably unfair to judge her by human values.

--+--

Meanwhile, across the street...

Qingque, who had been wondering how to approach Huohuo, was now completely speechless. 

Her eyes went wide as she stared at "Yuelong," who had suddenly transformed into a Heliobus. That woman she’d recently befriended was actually a massive Heliobus?!

As for the real Huohuo, her eyes were brimming with tears. If she weren't afraid that the sound of her crying would draw even more attention, she would have burst into loud sobs right then and there. 

What on earth was that Heliobus thing?! And why did she have to fight it right in front of so many people?!

Don't do such eye-catching things in public while wearing my face!!!

"Why, why, why!!!! There are so many people, waaaah... Not like this! From tomorrow on, the entire Xianzhou Alliance is going to recognize me! I won't be able to stay on the Luofu anymore!"

The moment Huohuo thought about Bai Ming using her face to suppress some random Heliobus in the middle of Exalting Sanctum’s busy district—with a massive crowd watching and people likely livestreaming it—her vision went dark. 

She nearly fainted again.

"No... I won't be able to show my face ever again. I wonder if Madam Xueyi would support my transfer to another ship to be a Judge there... waaaah."

Several times Huohuo wanted to run over and stop it, but every time she saw the layers of crowds, her legs felt like lead. 

She could only huddle miserably in a street corner, whispering her grievances, hoping her complaints would somehow reach ‘Huohuo’ through the air.

"Wait, wait, wait—Mr. Tail, help me!!"

"Huh? This involves me too? Sorry, can't help ya. Just accept your fate."

"Waaaah..."

Huohuo hid behind the wall, looking pitiful as she watched someone using her appearance to show off in front of the masses. 

She felt so much second-hand embarrassment she could have curled her toes right through the floorboards.

Over on ‘Huohuo’s’ side…

--+--

She wasn't paying any attention to what the real Huohuo was doing. 

She figured the girl was either crying or yelling "Mr. Tail, help," which was close enough to the truth.

‘Huohuo’ feigned reaching into her pocket, but in reality, she used the power of Permanence to instantly reshape a command flag. She held the flag like a dagger and suddenly slashed downward through Phantylia’s form!

Rip—

The weakened flames were sliced in two. 

The severed portion of the flame tried to erupt the moment it was freed from the seal, but it was drawn in by the command flag. 

It spiraled into the fabric like a fiery serpent, gradually staining the flag a deep shade of orange.

Under ‘Huohuo’s’ deliberate control, the power of Abundance flowed through the handle, merging with the power of Destruction and tinting the flag with a hint of gold. 

Under the influence of Equilibrium, the two powers were perfectly balanced.

Phantylia was shaken to her core. 

The power of Destruction could actually be integrated with Abundance to create something even more potent? To her, such a thing had only ever been a hypothesis; she never expected to see it fully realized. 

Even in this life-or-death moment, Phantylia’s will remained fixated on that flag, unable to look away. 

That was exactly what she had always pursued—a vessel that could withstand the power of Destruction!

But Phantylia quickly snapped back to reality as ‘Huohuo’ produced a strangely shaped gourd, aimed it at her, and barked a command:

"Get in!"

Before Phantylia could beg again, a massive suction force erupted from the gourd, swallowing her whole in one gulp.

"Phantylia, today I slice away half your form and spare your life. As for what happens next, that's none of my business."

"...Thank you for your mercy, My Lady."

Trapped inside the gourd, Phantylia no longer had the strength to speak. 

Having her body forcibly torn apart meant half her power had been crudely stripped away. 

Of course, the loss of raw strength was secondary—Phantylia’s "Aesthetics of Destruction" never relied on head-on combat anyway. What truly terrified her was ‘Huohuo’s’ attitude.

She couldn't tell if that "none of my business" was a promise or a threat. 

Would she really stay out of it? Did Phantylia dare to gamble? 

This time her life was spared, though she didn't know why the Aeon had held back. But there was no telling what would happen next time. Who knew if she'd be lucky enough to survive twice?

"Where is My Lady taking me?"

"The Shackling Prison. Or, I could send you back to Celenova and trade you for one of her avatars to be my little warm-up maid. What do you think?"

‘Huohuo’ offered a suggestion that, to Phantylia, sounded downright "diabolical."

"...I'll take the Shackling Prison."

Phantylia rejected the proposal without a second thought. 

If she stayed in the Shackling Prison, she might still find a way to manipulate things. But if she sold out Celenova while she was this heavily injured, how could she ever show her face in the legion again? 

Celenova was currently accompanied by that new Lord Ravager; if they came looking for an explanation, Phantylia wouldn't even have the strength to resist. She’d be crazy to give up their location.

"You really won't consider it?"

"Not at all. I have no idea where Celenova has been lately. If you don't believe me, look for yourself." Phantylia went so far as to incinerate that portion of her own memory. 

Everything else was negotiable, but betraying her comrades in this state was a line she wouldn't cross.

"How boring."

She had actually wanted to go find Celenova for some fun. It had been a while; she wondered how the restructuring of Celenova’s legion was going. There hadn't been a peep of news lately.

After sealing the gourd and handing it over to a nearby Cloud Knight officer, ‘Huohuo’ scanned her surroundings. 

A good portion of the people in the parlor were staring at her, and more Cloud Knights were arriving outside. 

However, due to the influence of Remembrance, the rushing soldiers didn't seem surprised or alarmed. It was as if they had just encountered a routine incident and were simply maintaining order.

To those watching these events unfold from a distance, however, the situation was a massive headache. 

Specifically, the fact that she was doing all this while wearing the face of a Ten-Lords Commission Judge was incredibly flashy. 

Now, not just the people of the Luofu, but many outside factions would remember the face of this green-haired foxian girl.

Among those watching, Jing Yuan found it the hardest to keep his composure. Especially when he saw the gourd containing a Lord Ravager being casually tossed to a random Cloud Knight officer.

Jing Yuan couldn't take it anymore; he stood up and started heading for the door.

That is a Lord Ravager! Can you please not be so casual about it?!

Even if you're too lazy to make the trip yourself, you could have at least held onto it for a few minutes—Fu Xuan is practically already there!

Did she really have to give him a heart attack like this?

--+--

Star Rail Impostor! - 362

--+--

'Huohuo' certainly didn't intend to just wash her hands of the whole affair and walk away.

However, she felt that for the time being—or at least for today—no one would be foolish enough to harbor any ill intentions before Phantylia was safely locked away in the Shackling Prison. 

If anyone truly lacked that much self-awareness, she would gladly show them exactly what happened to those who dared to provoke an Aeon.

With a sharp turn, she departed.

'Huohuo' wove through the crowd toward the opposite street corner to regroup with Qingque and the real Huohuo.

Yet, the moment she arrived, before she could even offer a greeting, Huohuo rushed up to her with tears welling in her eyes. 

Her small hands were clenched into fists, waving frantically in front of her. 

The poor girl was a flustered mess; she clearly wanted to speak up but lacked the courage. Faced with 'Huohuo', she could only stammer. 

The grand speech she had prepared in her head dissolved into a series of helpless squeaks and stutters.

"Waaaah..."

Huohuo had a mountain of things she wanted to say. But when she saw the other party actually lean in to listen, all her resolve vanished. 

Ultimately, she could only puff out her cheeks in a pathetic display of frustration, waving her little fists and staring at her double with wide, teary eyes as if she were throwing a silent tantrum.

Tail hadn't intended to pipe up at this particular moment. But Huohuo's spineless behavior—daring only to glare with those big eyes—was simply too much for him to bear. 

He had lost count of how many times he’d heard Huohuo muttering to herself; she’d rehearsed that little speech of hers at least eight hundred times. And now that the person was actually here, she’d gone mute.

What did that make all the muttering he’d been forced to endure? A testament to his excellent hearing?

"Gah, I can't take it anymore! You were buzzing in my ear for ages, and now that she’s right here, you can't squeeze out a single word?! You're just trying to torture me, aren't you?!"

"Ugh... I—I’m just scared..."

Huohuo crouched down, clutching her head in a defensive posture as she offered a pitiful rebuttal to Tail. It wasn't like she was doing it on purpose.

Just then, a hand reached out and gently patted Huohuo’s head. When she looked up, she saw 'Huohuo' smiling at her.

"Look on the bright side," she said. "Your popularity has skyrocketed. Given the work culture where you're from, they definitely won't be sending you out on ordinary field assignments anymore. Doesn't that mean you'll have to see ghosts a lot less often?"

"Huh? Wait... does it really work like that?"

Huohuo blinked, clearly struggling to grasp this peculiar logic.

"Pfft... Yes, yes, absolutely! This Great One reckons that makes perfect sense," Tail chimed in. "And considering the prestige of the lady standing in front of you, they probably won't even fire you. It’s practically perfect!"

"Is... is that how it works? Something feels a bit off..."

A look of pure confusion washed over Huohuo’s face as she tilted her head, looking first at Tail, then at Qingque, and finally back at 'Huohuo'. 

Her tiny brain was clearly having a hard time processing the turnaround.

"Of course it is! I'd kill to be in your position," Qingque added, her voice full of genuine sincerity.

While she didn't know exactly which department Huohuo worked for, she could piece it together from their earlier conversations. 

For a job that required secrecy, having your face exposed to the world while managing to keep your employment usually meant one thing: being banished to the logistics department. 

For someone like Huohuo, who hated being in the spotlight, wasn't that a dream come true?

"Alright, just think about it—no more dealing with those annoying ghosts. You can just slack off in the office with your favorite colleagues every day. Cheer up! In fact, let me teach you a game for slacking off at work."

"..."

Huohuo desperately wanted to say that even if she were transferred to paperwork, she wouldn't dare to slack off. Unfortunately, she didn't get the chance to refuse.

Qingque stepped forward proactively, smiling as she reached out to help Huohuo up.

"Let me introduce myself properly. I'm Qingque. Currently, I'm managing a business for the Boss. Not long ago, the Boss also used my appearance to get things done, so strictly speaking, we’re comrades in misfortune."

"Ah... ah, h-hello... I'm Huohuo. I recognize you... you're the owner of Celestial Sparrow Entertainment, Qingque."

Huohuo was nervous, but she quickly caught the key detail. This girl had also been mimicked by Bai Ming. But more importantly, she called Bai Ming 'Boss.' 

This meant the entertainment company that had suddenly appeared and risen to dominance was actually Madam Bai Ming’s property.

Incredible...

Both of them were so incredible. One had suppressed such a powerful Heliobus with ease, while the other was so young yet owned such a massive enterprise. 

Moreover, rumors said she was highly regarded by both Lady Fu Xuan and General Jing Yuan.

They were absolute titans!

Compared to a lowly nobody like herself, it was like comparing the bright moon to a flickering firefly—they weren't even on the same level. 

Speaking of which, a famous company like Celestial Sparrow Entertainment must make a staggering amount of Credits every month... word was that the Interastral Peace Corporation was practically tripping over themselves to invest.

Must be nice...

Would Bai Ming open a company for her too, so she could just lie around and count money? 

She’d heard Qingque was whisked away by Bai Ming directly. Perhaps she would be taken away from the Ten-Lords Commission in the same way, sparing her from having to write a resignation letter herself. 

Compared to the gloomy atmosphere of the Commission, a bright office building would be much better for her mental health.

It would be perfect! Then she could just stay indoors every day and do absolutely nothing.

Hehehe...

But then again, she probably couldn't handle being a boss. 

She wasn't eloquent like Miss Qingque. Even if she were given a company to run, she’d probably ruin it. If she ended up going bankrupt, she wouldn't be able to pay it back even if she sold herself.

Ugh... maybe she should forget it.

Huohuo’s expression shifted rapidly between joy and disappointment as she spiraled into these unrealistic fantasies.

Even without reading her memories, 'Huohuo' could guess from the strange looks on the girl's face that she was lost in some bizarre daydream. 

Qingque didn't mind; she understood that introverts often had the most vivid inner lives. Besides, Huohuo was adorable, so even her sillier antics came across as charming.

'Huohuo', however, wasn't going to let her off that easy. She raised a hand and gave Huohuo a light flick on the forehead to snap her out of it.

"Ow... wh-what was that for?"

"Snap out of it. What are you thinking about with that weird face?"

At those words, Huohuo realized how strange she must have looked immersed in her fantasies. Her face turned bright red instantly.

"N-nothing..."

"Fine. Here, this is for you."

'Huohuo' casually pressed the newly crafted command Flag into Huohuo’s hands.

"Eh? For me?"

Seeing something being handed over, Huohuo reflexively reached out to take the banner, which looked anything but ordinary. She had seen it clearly—this flag had been fashioned from a piece torn right off that massive Heliobus.

Before Huohuo could even process the gift, Tail, behind her, lost his cool.

"You're just giving it to her?!"

He stared at the banner as if it were some world-class delicacy. If it weren't for the seal, he would have lunged forward to devour it then and there.

"Mr. Tail! No snacking!"

"Hey! What do you mean?! I am a Great Heliobus, I don't need to 'snack'!"

"You were practically drooling just now."

"Liars! You're the one drooling! I was just surprised, alright? Surprised! I have zero interest in some random Heliobus from who-knows-where!"

Watching Tail bicker with Huohuo, 'Huohuo' thought for a moment before speaking up.

"So you're not interested? That’s a shame. I was thinking that for Huohuo’s sake, I’d let you have a little taste to strengthen yourself."

"Ahem—"

Tail’s grand boasts were cut short by a violent coughing fit. When he spoke again, his voice was noticeably softer.

"But then again... looking at it from another perspective..."

"Pfft..."

Qingque, standing to the side, couldn't hold back a laugh.

"Hey! Don't laugh!" Tail tried to intimidate her, but unfortunately, Qingque wasn't afraid of him—at least not in his current state as a literal tail.

Just then, 'Huohuo' lightly brushed her finger against the Command Flag. A wisp of golden flame was drawn out, dancing on her fingertip. She extended the flame toward Tail.

"Here. This bit is for you."

"What’s this? Just a tiny bit? That won't even get stuck in my teeth!"

If he wasn't so intimidated by her, Tail would have bitten her hand off by now. Was she playing with him?!

Huohuo saw that Tail was clearly annoyed and moved to comfort him, but then 'Huohuo' spoke with a smirk.

"I’m more worried that you won't even be able to stomach this much. If you can handle it, I’ll give you as much as you want. Don't say I didn't warn you, though—even if this thing is a Heliobus, it's not something you can just merge with on a whim."

"Ho? Challenging me, are we?"

Tail was suddenly intrigued. Since being split apart, he had been weak for countless years. He rarely got to eat anything, let alone another Heliobus to supplement his power. 

For a Heliobus, devouring their own kind was the fastest way to grow stronger. That was why he was so hungry for the fragments within that banner.

Tail believed that with his willpower, devouring a masterless fragment would be child's play. 

With a confident smirk, his flames expanded into the shape of a fox and swallowed the wisp of golden fire in one gulp.

As the modest power merged into his body, Tail looked triumphantly at 'Huohuo'.

"Hmph, watch closely, little girl. I'm going to swallow this trophy whole and—AAAAAAAGH!!!"

Mid-sentence, Tail suddenly felt a surge of incredibly pure Destruction intent erupt within him, accompanied by a blinding golden light. 

That refined power felt as if someone had poured the fire of a sun directly into his gut. Even as a Heliobus, Tail felt the agonizing sensation of being incinerated.

"AAARGH—IT'S BURNING! WHAT IS THIS?! GAAAAAH!!"

Tail let out a howl like a cartoon character, his usually steady flames thrashing wildly. Streaks of golden light flickered through his ghostly green fire.

Huohuo jumped in fright, looking frantically at her double.

"Don't worry. I only gave him a tiny bit. The burning will pass in a moment."

True to 'Huohuo's' word, after about ten seconds of screaming, Tail’s struggles weakened. He panted, his voice shaking with lingering shock.

"Wh-what kind of monster-crap was that? It nearly scorched my soul..."

"The destructive power of a Lord Ravager. Do you still want to eat?"

"???"

--+--

Star Rail Impostor! - 363

--+--

Whether it was Tail, Huohuo, or even Qingque, everyone stood frozen the moment those words left her mouth.

Tail was utterly shaken by the revelation that one of the Lord Ravagers was actually a Heliobus. 

No wonder he’d felt like his stomach was turning inside out after consuming just that tiny sliver—it had nearly burned him alive. It turned out that spark of energy carried the destructive might of an Emanator.

If that was the case, there was truly no way he could stomach it. 

This wasn't even a matter of strength anymore; it was the pure, unadulterated ruin of the Path of Destruction, something fundamentally incompatible with his very existence. 

Even if Tail were to swallow every other shard out there and merge into a Great Heliobus, he still wouldn't be able to handle this fragment. 

One wrong move with that concentrated power, and it would likely snuff him out for good.

As for Huohuo, her legs had already turned to jelly.

She couldn't stop thinking about the fact that another version of her—wearing her face—had beaten a Lord Ravager to a pulp right in front of everyone. 

Not only that, but she’d torn the entity’s body in half and handed the remains to her as a gift.

Setting aside whether a Lord Ravager would hold a grudge and come hunting her down, would people start thinking she was some kind of terrifying powerhouse who could just slap around Emanators? 

And... since this was the power of a Lord Ravager, how many people would start eyeing this flag in her hand once word got out?

Was this really something she was allowed to keep? Maybe it would be better to just hand it over to the authorities...

But then again, it was a gift from her other self. 

Wouldn't it be too cruel to just toss it away? If that other version of her found out, Huohuo feared she might face her own "judgment"—the kind that involved being split in half with a single palm strike.

Huohuo felt like the orange flag in her hand was a searing coal. 

She didn't dare hold it, yet she didn't dare give it to anyone else, either. If someone asked about it later, she wouldn't even know how to begin explaining.

In the past, whenever she faced a dilemma, Tail was always there to solve it. 

Huohuo had subconsciously grown to believe Tail could handle anything. But this was different. Just a tiny trace of that power had sent Tail into fits of agonizing howling. 

She couldn't even fathom the staggering level of power contained within this small banner.

And besides... who exactly was this other version of herself? 

The opponent was a Lord Ravager—a cosmic terror that ran rampant across the universe with no one to stop them. Why did she make it look so easy? 

If Tail’s reaction hadn't been so visceral and real, Huohuo wouldn't have even sensed anything particularly "Emanator-like" about the foe.

A torrent of questions flooded Huohuo’s mind, leaving her in a state of total mental chaos.

Qingque, meanwhile, was mostly dealing with the lingering dread. 

Lately, she had been meeting all sorts of people, both good and bad. But because she had the protection of the Xianzhou and the IPC—and the power bestowed upon her by ‘Huohuo’—she had managed to navigate some intense situations without any real harm.

But today’s events were a sharp wake-up call. She wasn't nearly as safe as she’d imagined. 

A life-or-death crisis had crept right up to her side, and she’d been completely oblivious.

That was a Lord Ravager. 

The thought that she had met that person so many times, played tiles with her, and even interacted with her true form on several occasions made her skin crawl. 

If that entity had harbored even a shred of ill intent toward her, she wouldn't be standing here so easily now.

Cold sweat prickled Qingque's back. 

She didn't for a second believe she could survive an ambush from a Lord Ravager. A being like that wouldn't come to the Luofu just for the sights; there was no way their meeting had been a mere coincidence.

Wait, had the Master Diviner and the Divine Foresight failed to divine this person’s presence? 

For some reason, Qingque felt a subtle, nagging suspicion. She even wondered if those two had noticed but purposely kept her in the dark.

"Alright, snap out of it! Don't just stand there dazed. If we don't move now, the 'NPC aura' I put on us is going to wear off. Don't blame me if I bolt and leave you behind."

‘Huohuo’ broke the silence, snapping them out of their trance as she pointed toward the crowd whose gazes were beginning to drift their way. 

The lingering power of Remembrance hadn't fully dissipated yet, so people hadn't swarmed them, but that wouldn't last much longer.

Qingque was the first to recover. At the mention of leaving, she immediately grabbed Huohuo’s small hand and spun around to run. 

This was a rare day off, and she wasn't about to waste it on some nonsensical trouble. As for the threat of a Lord Ravager’s revenge? Well, she still had her Boss’s metaphorical coattails to cling to.

When the time came, she’d just do a sliding kneel, grab her Boss's legs, and turn on the charm. 

There was no way her Boss would leave them hanging. And since Huohuo was so soft and cute, her acting spoiled would definitely be even more effective. 

She’d have to teach the girl how to do it properly—one of them on each leg. Her Boss wouldn't stand a chance!

Ever the optimist, Qingque quickly shifted her focus to exploiting her Boss’s kindness and threw her worries to the wind. Priority number one: enjoy the tiles!

"Move, move, move! Huohuo, I’m taking you somewhere quiet to rest, and then I’ll teach you how to play! I promise you’ll love it!"

"Wait—I, I don't know how—"

"Oh, hush! If you don't know, you learn. It’s a blast!"

While Qingque was dragging Huohuo off to find a place to play, Jing Yuan had finally made it to the tile shop in a hurry.

The moment he landed, the Lightning-Lord sensed something amiss and sent a warning to Jing Yuan’s mind. However, Jing Yuan simply sent a quick message to Fu Xuan and ignored the alarm, stepping into the shop.

As soon as he entered, he felt a strange sense of tranquility wash over him. The urgency of his travel and his anxiety regarding the Lord Ravager were instantly soothed.

It wasn't until he took the gourd from the Cloud Knights and moved away from the shop that his normal emotions returned.

"Truly a miraculous technique... though you’ve certainly handed me a difficult problem, Madam Bai Ming."

Jing Yuan looked at the gourd in his hand, feeling a headache coming on. Escorting a Lord Ravager to the Shackling Prison? By what merit did the Luofu’s prison deserve the "honor" of hosting such a guest?

Moreover, a truly heinous individual had already been confined to the lowest levels of the Shackling Prison for centuries. Did he really have to lock Phantylia in there too? 

Even with his renowned wit, the thought of pairing Phantylia with the creature at the bottom of the prison made him wince.

But if he were to transfer her to another Xianzhou ship, the journey would be long and fraught with potential disasters. Who knew what might happen? 

A Lord Ravager’s army could show up to blockade the Luofu tomorrow. If he actually tried to transport Phantylia off-world, things would get messy fast.

"But why wasn't she just killed?" Jing Yuan mused, puzzled. Given that person’s usual temperament, it didn't seem like her to hold back. 

It wasn't as if Lord Ravagers hadn't been slain before.

Just then, Fu Xuan’s voice reached him from a distance.

"In my observations, there appears to be a lingering entanglement between the Xianzhou Luofu and the Lord Ravager Phantylia. Furthermore, the Astral Express will establish a friendly relationship with the Luofu because of it."

"Master Diviner, you’ve arrived. But since when did your divination skills take such a leap forward?" Jing Yuan smiled as he turned to face the approaching Fu Xuan. 

He was genuinely surprised she could see matters concerning the Astral Express, considering they were still wandering on the other side of the cosmos. Since when could her third eye see that far?

"The General overestimates me. I see these things not because my power has grown, but because that Destiny’s Slave visited the Luofu."

Fu Xuan gave a helpless twitch of her lips. 

If she had the ability to observe the future trajectory of the Astral Express from such a vast distance, she wouldn't be the Master Diviner of the Divination Commission—she’d just go be Nous the Erudition. 

Even as an Emanator, that was beyond her. At most, she was nearly omniscient only within the confines of the Luofu.

"That said, Elio’s point was that the alliance between the Xianzhou and the Astral Express is the priority. The process itself is secondary. Therefore, the General doesn't necessarily have to follow his script to the letter."

Fu Xuan felt that the being known as Elio had intentionally leaked this information to her. Perhaps it was because she was an Emanator of ‘Huohuo’. 

If Elio had told anyone else, she might not have cared, but since the person exchanging intel with Elio was the one who granted her power, she couldn't simply ignore it.

"Your information is timely, Fu Xuan. I will give it careful consideration."

Jing Yuan didn't press for more details. If Fu Xuan hadn't volunteered them, it meant he didn't need to know. When it came to professional matters, she was an exceptionally reliable subordinate.

With that, Jing Yuan handed the gourd containing Phantylia directly to her.

"Master Diviner, I’ll leave the task of escorting this high-profile prisoner to you. Since she was captured by Madam Bai Ming herself, it’s only logical that you handle the transport."

"..."

Fu Xuan took the gourd and shot Jing Yuan a deeply unimpressed glare.

"I suspect the General simply wishes to continue slacking off and is using this as an excuse to dump his work on me."

Since her power had been bolstered, Fu Xuan had gained an even clearer insight into Jing Yuan’s habit of idling. 

Sometimes she got so annoyed she wished their positions were reversed just so she could use her rank to give him a piece of her mind.

"Ahem..."

Jing Yuan gave an awkward cough. He was one of the few who knew just how much Fu Xuan’s strength had increased. And because of that increase, his opportunities to slack off had dwindled significantly. 

Often, just as he was about to slip away from his duties, Fu Xuan would catch him red-handed and pin him back to his desk.

"The situation was urgent, and there’s still much paperwork left on my desk. If I personally made the trip to the Shackling Prison, I wouldn't be able to finish my duties today. I must trouble you to go in my stead. Besides, I could only trust such a vital mission to you, my Master Diviner."

"Hmph. You’d better mean that."

Fu Xuan huffed. Even if Jing Yuan was likely going to slack off the moment he got back, his logic for handing over the task was sound. 

She couldn't find a flaw in the reasoning, and she couldn't exactly berate her superior for something that hadn't happened yet. 

With one final pointed look, she turned and departed with the gourd in hand.

--+--

Star Rail Impostor! - 364

--+--

While Fu Xuan was busy escorting Phantylia away, word of what had transpired in Exalting Sanctum naturally reached the Ten-Lords Commission in short order.

After all... while 'Huohuo' had been busy veiling the perceptions of the onlookers, she hadn't done a thing to dampen their enthusiasm for a good spectacle. 

Consequently, video clips and heated discussion threads began spreading across the Luofu’s digital networks like wildfire.

Because this 'Huohuo' hadn't displayed any of the telltale signatures of the Ten-Lords Commission, the usual public opinion suppressors weren't immediately triggered. 

As a result, the web was currently abuzz with rumors that this foxian lady—who looked like she was nursing a serious case of sleep deprivation—might be a hidden expert from the General’s residence. 

Some even went as far as to claim she was a successor being groomed in secret by the Xianzhou Luofu.

All in all, Huohuo had become an overnight sensation.

In fact, because the incident involved a Lord Ravager, the news didn't just stay within the Luofu; it rippled outward into the wider cosmos. 

The name 'Huohuo' was now finding its way onto the desks of many powerful figures.

Elsewhere, even though the online chatter had nothing to do with the Ten-Lords Commission officially, the unmistakable image of Huohuo caught their attention regardless.

Hanya was visibly stunned when she reviewed the recordings.

Had Huohuo not mentioned that strange "other self" upon returning from her mission, Hanya would have been hard-pressed to tell the difference between the 'Huohuo' in the video and the real deal.

Actually, she still couldn't tell them apart physically; she simply knew the real Huohuo wasn't capable of such feats.

"Sister, what do you make of this?"

"Since Huohuo has caught that person's eye, it's her own stroke of luck... though, I must admit, I'm envious. To be chosen by that Lord..."

Xueyi’s voice drifted over from beside Hanya. Her tone was thick with envy for Huohuo and a deep, quiet yearning for 'Huohuo' herself.

Hanya turned to her sister. "We could actually use the imprisonment of the Lord Ravager as a pretext to request an audience. I don't think Lord Bai Ming would mind."

"..."

Xueyi hesitated, her heart clearly stirred. "...It feels a bit improper to do so for personal reasons."

"But we do need to seek that Lord's counsel on this matter anyway, don't we? Besides... I still haven't decided where to hold Phantylia," Hanya sighed softly.

She wasn't sure just how much that Lord trusted the Luofu’s Shackling Prison to think it could hold a Lord Ravager.

Formally requesting a meeting—or perhaps asking to accompany Fu Xuan or Jing Yuan—was perfectly reasonable. It just so happened that her sister had admired that Lord ever since the turmoil caused by Shuhu centuries ago.

This was a rare chance for a meeting; fulfilling her sister's long-held wish wasn't asking for much.

"..."

Xueyi nodded slowly. "I just wonder what kind of growth Huohuo will undergo."

"Have faith in her. She has the talent."

To rise to the rank of Judge within a few short decades was already an incredibly meteoric promotion.

--+--

Meanwhile, in an unknown sector of space.

Densely packed Voidranger legions, warships, and gargantuan, grotesque war machines occupied nearly the entire star system in various formations. 

The fleet had largely returned to its former scale, and with the added power of the Swarm, it was arguably even more formidable than before.

However, Celenova—who had been hiding away recently to bolster her legions—was far from satisfied. 

Or rather, she was feeling a bit lost.

She wasn't even sure what she was chasing anymore. 

The mere thought that her target for revenge had ascended to become a high-and-mighty Aeon made her realize that her path of vengeance was essentially a dead end. 

If their Paths were opposed, she might have had a sliver of a chance, but Bai Ming was now aligned with Harmony. She certainly couldn't count on that fellow Nanook to bridge that gap.

So, Celenova had been quite withdrawn lately. She had even stopped overseeing the "Great Lord-Slaying Army" expansion project. 

After all... trying to use numerical superiority against an Aeon was a bit of a stretch.

Today, however, the brooding Celenova received intel regarding Phantylia. 

Compared to the shut-in Celenova, Phantylia had clearly been much more active—active enough to go dancing through a minefield by stirring up trouble within the Xianzhou Alliance. 

Everyone in the universe knew by now that Bai Ming was on excellent terms with the Alliance.

Halfway through the shaky video footage, Celenova couldn't help but scoff.

"...Honestly, is her luck really that abysmal?"

Celenova was genuinely baffled. The Xianzhou Alliance was vast, and the Luofu was massive. 

How did Phantylia manage to pinpoint Bai Ming—who was clearly there on an incognito stroll—out of tens of billions of people? 

Stepping out for a walk and bumping straight into an Aeon... she didn't even know what to say to that kind of luck.

It was lucky for Phantylia that Bai Ming had ascended; otherwise, she definitely would have died right then and there. 

Back when she wasn't an Aeon, that woman never knew when to hold back when fighting Lord Ravagers.

"But being held on the Luofu... why leave Phantylia there?"

Celenova rubbed her smooth chin. Should she move to rescue her? She felt conflicted. 

In their previous collaborations, there had been a shred of "comradeship" between her and Phantylia. Not much, but enough to make her debate whether to lead her troops to demand her release.

"If I go now, I'll see Bai Ming, but... challenging an Aeon?"

It felt like a death wish. Not that Celenova particularly cared about dying—she was notoriously hard to kill.

As the video progressed to the latter half, showing Phantylia being sucked into a gourd, the woman in the video said a few words toward the vessel. Though the audio was muffled, Celenova’s instincts flared.

"...Wait. Did Bai Ming just say the name 'Celenova'?"

Celenova narrowed her eyes, sensing something was off. She had the system process the audio file and replayed it.

"...Celenova... a little maid to warm the bed..."

BANG!!

A pale fist punched straight through the equipment. Destruction’s flames incinerated the floating screen and the audio file along with it.

"BAI MING!!! I knew it! You really are a perverted god!"

Those shameful memories of being toyed with by Bai Ming, which she had tried so hard to bury, came rushing back. Celenova’s fair skin flushed several shades darker—purely out of sheer, indignant rage.

She truly felt the woman was a degenerate. 

Considering Bai Ming had kidnapped her before, taken photos, and made a habit of being "handsy" during the process, Celenova knew the "bed-warming maid" comment wasn't a joke. 

That woman really wanted her for that.

Yet, at the same time, that woman had genuinely tried to kill her during their past encounters. 

Even if she didn't succeed, the sensation of being slain wasn't something one easily forgot. Now that she was an Aeon, she still hadn't fixed that twisted personality of hers.

Celenova trembled with rage. And, perhaps, a tiny bit of fear. If that woman actually came looking for her and dragged her avatar off to warm a bed... she probably wouldn't even get the chance to self-destruct. 

The thought of the potential humiliation turned Celenova’s face even redder. She wanted nothing more than to string that woman up and beat her.

The most infuriating part was that she had zero chance of turning the tables. Not unless she became an Aeon herself, which, as a Lord Ravager, was practically impossible.

"Whew... don't get angry, don't get angry... Celenova, don't let her get to you... you can't beat her."

She closed her eyes and took several deep breaths, trying to settle her emotions. 

The power gap was simply too vast—there was no winning. Faced with the choice of exploding or being angry, Celenova chose to swallow her pride and just be miserable.

After about a system hour of self-regulation, she finally calmed down enough to think about her next move. 

If she had been hiding before out of an existential crisis, she was now wondering: if she resumed her usual path of following the Stellarons through the cosmos, would Bai Ming just drop out of the sky and snatch her up?

But she couldn't hide forever, could she? What would be the point of her existence? Nanook gave her life, and THEY could just as easily take it away. 

If she truly abandoned her duties, Nanook would probably "fire" her before Bai Ming even laid a finger on her. That was a guaranteed death sentence!

But if she went out... she felt she could hardly escape Bai Ming’s clutches. It was a total deadlock.

Retreat, and she’d likely be discarded by Nanook—which was as good as death. 

Advance, and she’d likely have an avatar captured by Bai Ming and subjected to "humiliating" experiences. However, considering what was said in the video, Bai Ming probably wouldn't kill her.

It seemed there was no way out. But if she was willing to endure some humiliation, the other party might actually be easier to talk to. 

If she led her army to the Luofu now to demand Phantylia's release, she’d have a legitimate excuse to get herself "captured." With just a small sacrifice of her dignity, she could defuse this ticking time bomb.

But... did she really have to yield to that woman?!

From an outsider's perspective, sacrificing a little bit of pride to be the constant companion of an easy-going Aeon was a miracle people would kill for. 

Celenova actually thought so too—if only the person in question wasn't the same Bai Ming who had humiliated her so many times!

"Curse it... of all people, why did Aha have to take an interest in Bai Ming?"

Celenova gritted her teeth in frustration. 

It was infuriating. That woman probably anticipated her dilemma and intentionally said those things to Phantylia in front of the cameras. She was using Phantylia to toy with her across the screen!

Despicable! Shameless!!

The thought that she might be falling right into the woman's trap made Celenova flush with heat again. 

But then she realized that with Bai Ming’s wicked, perverted personality, she might even be peeping on her right now as she struggled with the decision.

She forced her emotions back down. Celenova would rather die! She would jump into the edge of the Nihility before she ever yielded to that woman's tyranny!

--+--

A short time later.

Outside the Xianzhou Luofu.

Celenova’s legion arrived in the star system!

And she issued a formal notice to the Luofu: Hand over Phantylia.

--+--

Star Rail Impostor! - 365

--+--

Before the Antimatter Legion even arrived, Jing Yuan had already caught wind of their movements.

With an Emanator like Fu Xuan stationed on the Luofu, the ship was naturally adept at seizing the initiative. However, a question remained.

"Lady Fu, why do you think Celenova chose this specific moment to approach the Luofu?"

Jing Yuan stared at Celenova, who stood at the vanguard of the Legion just outside the Luofu’s perimeter, completely baffled.

"It’s not as if she doesn't know Madam Bai Ming is here with us, right? Even if she failed to recognize her, she should at least realize there's a powerhouse on the Luofu capable of suppressing a Lord Ravager with ease."

This truly had Jing Yuan stumped. For the life of him, he couldn't wrap his head around where Celenova found the nerve to lead an army here now.

Even if you discounted Fu Xuan’s status as a hidden Emanator, you still had 'Huohuo'—who had effortlessly subdued Phantylia—and an Arbiter General whose Lightning Lord was renowned for sheer martial prowess.

Where exactly are you getting this confidence from, Celenova?

Furthermore, she hadn't even brought along the rumored eighth Lord Ravager. 

Did she honestly believe she had grown so powerful that she could suppress an Emanator with one hand? That seemed a bit much. 

No matter how self-assured one might be, seeing 'Huohuo' pin Phantylia down in the middle of a busy downtown district without breaking a sweat should make anyone pause and consider the strength of their opponent.

Even if you took Nanook’s most infamously violent Emanator, Zephyro, or the Emanator of Remembrance closest to the Aeon, Demiurge, and put them in that same position, they wouldn't have been able to make Phantylia surrender so helplessly and casually. 

Celenova was formidable, sure, but she couldn't seriously think she was at the level where she could suppress Zephyro with her left hand and topple Demiurge with her right, could she?

Fu Xuan approached the front lines with unhurried steps, coming to a halt beside Jing Yuan. Her tone was colored with a strange edge.

"I have observed with the Matrix of Prescience, yet even I find her motives elusive. Celenova knows full well the Luofu harbors a powerful foe, yet the legion she leads is far from elite. It almost feels as though... she is intentionally seeking defeat at Madam Bai Ming's hands?"

"...Huh?"

Jing Yuan nearly lost his composure then. 

What did she mean, "intentionally seeking defeat"? Voluntarily delivering oneself to a rival Aeon? What, did she think that because Madam Bai Ming hadn't killed Phantylia, she would be spared too?

"The specific reasons involve the Aeons, so they are hidden from my sight. However, she hasn't come to start a full-scale war with the Xianzhou. Judging by the scale of her legion, she doesn't seem to have any real intention of rescuing Phantylia either."

Fu Xuan was actually having a hard time keeping a straight face herself. 

She had caught glimpses of certain images in her visions that she pointedly chose not to share with Jing Yuan. 

The very thought of Celenova—a Lord Ravager who sat high above the stars raining destruction—coming here specifically to lose so she could be forced into a maid outfit...

Fu Xuan’s face flushed slightly. The world was truly becoming an absurd place.

Besides, as Bai Ming's sole Emanator, even she didn't get to stay by her side constantly. How could a Lord Ravager born of Destruction earn the right to serve Bai Ming indefinitely, or even... warm her bed?

I haven't even had the chance to share a bed with my own deity yet!!

Was this fair? She was the one who arrived first!

Seeing the odd look on Fu Xuan's face, Jing Yuan guessed she’d seen something she wasn't telling him. But with an army at the doorstep, he didn't have the luxury of probing for details. 

Even if Fu Xuan claimed the enemy wasn't here to destroy the Luofu, his duty as General demanded he lead the Cloud Knights out to face them. It might be a mere formality, but it was a necessary one. 

Otherwise, people would think the Xianzhou Luofu was too terrified to even deploy its troops.

As Jing Yuan led countless starskiffs of all sizes into the sky, forming a battle array before the Antimatter Legion, Qingque and 'Huohuo' were aboard one of the vessels flying out from the Luofu.

As for the real Huohuo, she belonged to the Ten-Lords Commission. 

Although she had been hanging out with the two of them lately, it clearly wasn't appropriate for her to show her face in a situation like this.

Qingque watched the menacing Legion. Normally, this would be a high-stakes emergency, but she didn't feel a hint of tension. After all... there was an Aeon standing right next to her. 

There was no greater sense of security in the universe than that.

"So, Boss, are you going to step in this time?"

Qingque turned her head curiously toward ‘Huohuo’, who only offered a subtle, nuanced smile.

"I’ll watch for a bit. Celenova’s behavior is a little strange today..."

Before she could finish, Celenova’s gaze pierced through the ranks of the army and landed squarely on ‘Huohuo’. 

For some reason, the look Celenova gave her wasn't one of pure hostility. Instead, it held a trace of inexplicable grievance and a touch of... shame?

"..."

'Huohuo' fell silent. She couldn't quite read what Celenova was playing at today. 

What was with that look? What was the woman trying to do? And bringing such a small force—was she here for a picnic?

'Huohuo' swept a casual glance over the scale of the Antimatter Legion. It wasn't "small," per se, but compared to their previous clashes, it was strikingly meager. 

Many elite units were missing, and she could barely see any top-tier starships. The individual strength of the soldiers was a mixed bag, completely inconsistent with the usual elite standards of Celenova’s legion.

If the Eighth Lord Ravager hadn't been involved, she might have believed they simply hadn't had enough time to recover their numbers. But with the power of the Swarm at their disposal, claiming a struggle with mass-production was just laughable.

Something was wrong. Very wrong.

Celenova definitely knew she was here, yet she had come anyway. 

Why? What was she after? Surely she didn't come all this way to demand an explanation just because she’d teased her while capturing Phantylia? 

This woman wasn't some airheaded heroine from a slice-of-life romance novel. 

She wouldn't pull a stunt this abstract just to get her attention, would she?

For once, 'Huohuo' couldn't guess the motive. Not unless she went over and asked, or dragged her off to probe her mind with the power of Remembrance.

After a moment’s thought, 'Huohuo' decided to act. She was genuinely curious about what kind of scheme Celenova was cooking up. 

She couldn't possibly think that because she has so many avatars, she’s invincible and can just come here to taunt me, right?

With that thought, 'Huohuo' patted Qingque on the shoulder. "I'm going over to take a look. Look after yourself."

"Don't worry, Boss. This is just a clone; I won't die." Qingque puffed out her chest with total confidence. 

She knew she wasn't much of a soldier, but with her cloning ability, she was an expert at staying alive.

'Huohuo' gave a light chuckle. Then, with a single step forward and a surge of rising flames, she vanished from sight.

Meanwhile, Celenova led her forces closer to the Luofu fleet. 

Though she had come with the mindset of "sacrificing a clone for the sake of future operations," she had still put serious effort into planning this offensive to demand Phantylia’s return. 

Even if she believed the plan was doomed to fail, she felt that if she made it look too half-hearted, she would look like a woman who was just "giving herself away" for free.

If that happened, not only would she be unable to stand herself, but rumors might start circulating among the various galactic powers. That would be a true social death.

So, the force Celenova brought wasn't exactly small; she had just left most of her new elite units behind. 

This meant the Legion’s overall strength was certainly lower than it had been at Amphoreus. 

Of course, under normal circumstances, they would still have a chance in a head-on war against the Luofu of the past. After all, the Antimatter Legion’s ability to assimilate others was terrifying. 

But now? They were likely headed for total annihilation.

Celenova didn't care about the Legion’s losses. As long as the surface level looked convincing enough to prevent weird rumors, she was fine with it.

Her gaze quickly bypassed Jing Yuan and locked onto the green-haired Foxian girl on the ship behind him. 

Though she had no way of distinguishing truth from falsehood, the moment she met those eyes, Celenova felt a sharp intuition: This is Bai Ming!

So she really did show up.

Celenova suppressed the urge to charge in and start the fight immediately. 

Nominally, she was here to rescue Phantylia. 

Of course, the negotiations went terribly; the Luofu side had no intention of releasing the prisoner and was clearly itching for a fight, looking as if they wanted to bag a second Lord Ravager.

Celenova scoffed internally. They only dare to be this brazen because that bastard Bai Ming is here.

Just as Celenova was debating whether to actually make a move, a cluster of flames ignited before her. 

Right in front of both opposing armies, 'Huohuo' stepped out of the fire, approaching Celenova with a look of curiosity.

"Yo. If it isn't Celenova."

"..."

Celenova’s response was a pale, clenched fist. It was, of course, useless. 'Huohuo' easily swatted the punch aside.

"In such a hurry? Aren't you afraid I'll stuff you into the Shackling Prison too?"

"Hmph!"

Celenova let out a cold snort and remained silent, instead commanding the entire fleet to shift their target from the Luofu to ‘Huohuo’.

Naturally, it had zero effect. Every single attack transformed into harmless, spectacular super-fireworks, giving the people of the Luofu a grand light show.

Of course, 'Huohuo' wasn't the type to just take hits without striking back. 

After turning the barrage into fireworks, she snapped her fingers, dragging both Celenova and herself into a temporary pocket dimension.

The sudden disappearance of the commander caused the once-orderly Legion to fall into immediate chaos. This prompted some rather complicated expressions from Jing Yuan and the Cloud Knights waiting in formation.

As for Fu Xuan, she huffed, her eyes narrowing unpleasantly as she glared at the spot where Celenova had been. She spoke up to remind the General:

"General."

"Right. All units, hear my command!"

General Jing Yuan immediately summoned the Lightning Lord, issuing orders to the entire army. 

They charged toward the leaderless Antimatter Legion to finish the job!

--+--

Star Rail Impostor! - 366

--+--

On the other side.

Within a different dimension.

By the time Celenova came back to her senses, she realized her connection to the Legion had already been severed.

Without the Legion’s coordination, her strength took a noticeable hit.

Of course—

When facing 'Huohuo', whether her power was diminished or not didn’t really matter, because to her, it was all the same anyway.

'Huohuo' looked at the wary Celenova standing before her and put on what she thought was a friendly smile.

“Go on then. What exactly did you come to the Luofu for today?”

“Hmph. Obviously to rescue Phantylia. The mere Luofu dares to imprison a Lord Ravager.”

Celenova spoke with complete seriousness.

But to 'Huohuo', it sounded no different from pure nonsense.

“That might fool ordinary people, but even Jing Yuan wouldn’t buy it. And you expect me to? You’d better start talking honestly. Otherwise, when I dig straight into your memories, I can’t promise I won’t… accidentally tweak your cognition while I’m at it.”

'Huohuo' stared at her with ill intent.

It was the kind of look that suggested she’d start digging through her memories at the slightest disagreement—maybe even twisting her very perception.

Celenova’s expression changed.

Having her memories searched was one thing. It wasn’t the first time she’d embarrassed herself in front of 'Huohuo' anyway.

After enough times, you just get used to it.

But if her cognition were altered—given the other party’s abilities, she could follow the thread of her consciousness and warp every single one of her clones into whatever she wanted.

At that point, even the gods wouldn’t be able to save her.

Even ordinary Emanators of Remembrance would struggle to pull her back.

She had come here to offer herself up precisely to eliminate the risk of being targeted by an Aeon, sacrificing a bit of personal dignity in the process.

If her cognition got twisted now, that would be like delivering herself straight into the lion’s mouth.

“Cough… I… came to see you.”

A faint blush crept onto Celenova’s face, and even her tone turned awkward.

She had already decided on her goal beforehand, but actually saying it out loud—to her face—that she’d come to be her little bedwarming maid…

That was really hard to spit out.

“…?”

'Huohuo' looked at her reaction, and there was even a hint of horror on her face.

She blurted out instinctively, “Why is an old woman putting on the airs of a maiden?”

“…Bai Ming!!!”

Celenova’s face flushed red instantly at that expression and those words. In a burst of anger, she forgot herself completely—forgot she was facing an Aeon.

Her long leg lashed out like a whip, kicking straight toward 'Huohuo'!

Bang—!

Her well-proportioned ankle, all clean lines and strength, was effortlessly caught by ‘Huohuo’. The overwhelming force behind the strike, along with the tightly condensed flames and destructive power, were extinguished in an instant.

Through the unknown material wrapped around her skin, a faint warmth and texture could still be felt.

Her thumb unconsciously brushed lightly against the ankle.

'Huohuo' looked at Celenova, who had lifted her leg, her body’s lines and flexibility on full display.

“Just a joke. But that makes twice now.”

As she spoke her warning, she quietly sent her power of Remembrance into Celenova’s consciousness.

Mostly, she was just curious what exactly this girl was being so shy about.

For a split second, she even suspected that the Celenova in front of her might actually be Aha in disguise, deliberately coming to mess with her. Honestly, if it were Aha, that wouldn’t be out of character.

But very soon—

It was ‘Huohuo’s’ turn to blush.

Using her Remembrance powers, she made sure Celenova couldn’t see the way her pupils trembled violently. 

She hadn’t expected this at all. Just because of that one offhand joke, Celenova had made such a bold decision.

Good grief…

Just to avoid her personally going out to capture her, she’d actually come here on her own, asking for… closeness.

'Huohuo' felt like she’d underestimated just how much weight the title of an Aeon carried.

One sentence—and it had actually driven Celenova to come become her bedwarming maid.

But then again…

Being able to stay by an Aeon’s side and interact with one up close—who was really getting the better deal here?

After a moment’s thought, 'Huohuo' decided not to expose her.

She wanted to see Celenova say it out loud herself.

Heh, heh, heh—

A mischievous grin spread across her face.

Her hand pressed down slightly, forcing the captured leg back down.

“Well? Made up your mind? If you don’t start talking, I’m really going to take action. And when that happens, I might just drag you over, turn you into my Emanator, and send you off to save every world plagued by Destruction—have you spread Harmony far and wide.”

“…?”

Celenova’s lips twitched. Was that even something a person would say?

Making her—a Lord Ravager devoted to destroying Harmony—go around promoting it instead?

She’d rather die.

Absolutely inhuman!

“You…”

Of course, Celenova had no idea what 'Huohuo' had just done.

Grinding her teeth, she hesitated, unable to get the words out.

“Can’t you just look for yourself?”

Seeing her flushed face and the fact that she’d only managed to squeeze out that one line, 'Huohuo' barely held back her laughter.

“Are you sure? Not afraid I’ll tamper with you again?”

Celenova hesitated, her gaze flickering as she looked at her.

“You’re annoying, but you said ‘never more than three times.’ I’ll trust that you won’t do anything to me right now.”

“Oh? So my credit score’s pretty high with you, huh?”

'Huohuo' raised a brow, then immediately shook her head and refused outright, a wicked smile forming.

“But I refuse! Compared to just looking, I’d much rather hear you say it yourself~”

“…”

Her fists clenched.

Celenova felt the will of Destruction within her grow stronger from sheer frustration. After all this time, this woman was still just as infuriating.

As for 'Huohuo'—she was struggling not to laugh out loud.

That expression—yes, that one! The look of a cold, aloof goddess reduced to embarrassed fury!

Absolutely delicious.

Really, she should record this and let the whole universe enjoy it.

A sudden chill ran down Celenova’s spine.

She didn’t know why, but she felt like something very bad had almost happened just now.

She really didn’t want to say it.

She was certain this bastard was doing it on purpose—deliberately trying to see her in this humiliating state.

Deliberately forcing her to say those words, just to toy with her.

But—

The situation left her no choice.

If she surrendered, 'Huohuo' probably wouldn’t go too far. At worst, this body—and the Legion she brought today—would be completely wiped out.

She likely wouldn’t pursue her to the death. But that wasn’t enough.

With this woman’s twisted personality, even if she survived, she’d probably be toyed with endlessly in the future.

Celenova didn’t even know whether it was a good thing or a bad thing that this person didn’t like killing—but loved playing with her opponents.

So she took a deep breath, trying to steady herself.

After a long moment—

She finally made up her mind and spoke to ‘Huohuo’.

“I heard what you said to Phantylia. You wanted her to betray me, didn’t you?”

“Mm, yes~ Trade your information for her freedom. But she refused completely. Even burned away her own memories just to make sure I couldn’t find you.”

‘Huohuo’ paused briefly before continuing,

“And yet here you are, walking right up to me yourself. Doesn’t that make her imprisonment pointless?”

“Hmph!”

Celenova snorted, her impression of Phantylia improving a bit. At the same time, her opinion of 'Huohuo' sank even lower.

“I… I’ll be your bedwarming maid. In exchange, you let Phantylia go. How about it?”

“Of course not. That was the condition I gave Phantylia. She didn’t accept it, so it’s void.”

'Huohuo' had no intention of releasing her. Just because she appreciated Celenova’s looks didn’t mean she could accept what the two of them had done.

Besides, she’d already captured her—there was no way she’d just let her go.

But Celenova hadn’t expected to rescue Phantylia anyway. She knew she alone wasn’t enough to sway her.

Unless an Aeon personally intervened, there was no real chance.

So she settled for the next best thing.

“Then promise me this—whether it’s me or Phantylia, you won’t personally interfere anymore. You’re an Aeon. At least act like one.”

“Oh? You know exactly what you’re facing, and you still dare to make demands?”

Faced with ‘Huohuo’s’ question, Celenova lifted her chin instead.

“Yes. You’re an Aeon. No matter what I do, I can’t resist you. If you insist on interfering, then whether I fall today or tomorrow makes no difference.”

She was gambling.

Because with ‘Huohuo’s’ capabilities, if she truly decided to target her, there was no way out. So she might as well walk in on her own terms and take the gamble.

Bet that 'Huohuo', still lingering among mortals, still had enough humanity left.

Bet that she would keep her word.

If she won, she’d gain everything. If she lost… it wouldn’t be any worse than before.

'Huohuo' looked at her resolute, almost martyr-like expression and found it a little amusing, but also a little moving.

Not long ago, the two of them had been evenly matched.

Back then, Celenova would shout every day about wanting to kill her. And now, faced with a gap as vast as an abyss, she had completely changed her stance.

For someone as proud as Celenova, this decision must have taken a long time to make.

So 'Huohuo' reached out, lifting her chin with a finger, smiling softly.

“So you’ve really decided to be my little bedwarming maid?”

Celenova froze.

That surge of determination from earlier wavered instantly as shame and humiliation flooded back in.

“…Yes. I’ll do it.”

She ground the words out through clenched teeth.

And the satisfaction on “Huohuo’s” face was unmistakable.

Yes—this was it. That look of open disdain written all over her face, while her body still complied honestly!

Exactly her type.

--+--

Star Rail Impostor! - 367

--+--

Regarding the previous talk about 'Huohuo' having a little bed-warming maid, it was purely said for a bit of fun.

She wandered around all by herself; she didn't really need anyone to warm her bed anyway. Besides, even if she truly wanted that, she could just as easily go find Acheron, Herta, or Ruan Mei.

There was no need to go out of her way just to find Celenova.

So, strictly speaking, she had initially intended to refuse.

It was just that Celenova’s act of delivering herself right to the door, combined with her delicious sense of shame, was something ‘Huohuo’ simply couldn't resist.

But things being as they were, she might as well start by changing Celenova into a maid outfit.

With that thought in mind.

‘Huohuo’ lifted a finger and tapped it against Celenova’s chest. A surge of Imaginary Energy spread from her fingertip, reconstructing a black-and-white maid uniform over Celenova’s body.

A bit of an opening at the chest, a shorter hemline, and maybe some exposed shoulders for good measure.

Celenova’s face darkened instantly.

Especially when a small collar and a bow appeared around her neck, which was as slender as white jade.

Celenova’s chest heaved and trembled with rage; clearly, her state of mind was anything but calm.

Fortunately, ‘Huohuo’ didn't push things any further.

"Alright, that’ll do for now. It’s about time to head over. Do you plan on following me now, or should I settle you somewhere else first?"

"…Somewhere else."

Celenova hadn't forgotten that the entire Luofu was watching outside.

There were likely other factions lurking in the shadows as well. If she walked out looking like this, in front of everyone, her lifelong prestige would truly vanish into ash.

So, going out was absolutely out of the question.

Not even if she died!

"Fine then."

‘Huohuo’ shrugged. While teasing Celenova was entertaining, if she went too far all at once and drove Celenova to a point of total desperation where she just gave up on everything, what then?

That wouldn't be fun anymore.

Better to take it easy.

Slow and steady, until she got a bit more used to it.

And so, ‘Huohuo’ raised her hand and opened a wormhole:

"I’ll settle you in the Simulated Universe Space Station for now. You’re free to move around—I won't even care if you leave the station—but you are not allowed to change out of these clothes. Also, you know where the line is drawn."

"……"

Celenova nodded.

Wearing the maid outfit, she stepped through the wormhole and landed within the Space Station.

Celenova’s first instinct was to take the opportunity to cause some destruction, but that impulsive urge was quickly suppressed by her rationality.

She understood what ‘Huohuo’ meant by "the line."

To put it plainly, she was forbidden from acting on the will of Destruction; beyond that, the other party hadn't even restricted her freedom.

Celenova casually pulled up an input terminal on the station.

She realized then that it wasn't just freedom of movement—even most of the Space Station's permissions had been opened to her.

Aside from the Simulated Universe project content, she could browse everything else at will.

For a brief moment, Celenova even felt that following such a deity might be a pretty good choice, but she quickly snapped back to alertness, secretly warning herself not to fall for the enemy's sugar-coated bullets.

This person was deliberately giving her a show of force first, then a sweet treat, just to make her think they were a good person and let her guard down.

Celenova rubbed her face.

She didn't come here to enjoy herself; she came here to lull that Bai Ming person into a false sense of security.

She had to stay vigilant against every sugar-coated bullet thrown her way.

If a shell was thrown, throw it back; as for the sugar coating, it was best not to eat it either. Who knew when she might be stealthily undermined without even realizing it?

Since the other party was still elsewhere, she might as well use the time to adapt as quickly as possible.

She’d just treat this as a change of residence for a long stay.

After sending Celenova away, ‘Huohuo’ returned to the battlefield.

She found that under Jing Yuan's leadership, the Cloud Knights had crushed the leaderless Antimatter Legion at a very small cost.

Complete victory was only a matter of time.

Looking at Jing Yuan and Fu Xuan, she felt they even had the leisure to use this as a live combat drill to train the new generation of Cloud Knights.

Meanwhile, ‘Huohuo’s’ sudden return to the battlefield also drew the eyes of many.

After looking left and right and seeing no sign of Celenova, a burst of intense cheering even erupted among the Cloud Knights.

Morale on the Luofu side soared.

But by the same token, it meant Huohuo’s face was now etched into the hearts of countless Cloud Knights.

Though they actually knew this ‘Huohuo’ was likely Madam Bai Ming, who enjoyed transforming into others, the visual impact would ultimately affect memory and perception.

So, it was foreseeable.

In the coming period, the real Huohuo would experience a life of high popularity on the Luofu.

As for the real Huohuo herself.

Who, for once, was watching the battlefield outside the Luofu in real-time. By now, she couldn't even manage to wail or mutter to herself anymore.

She only felt a sense of despair.

The kind of despair where one is clearly socially anxious yet forced to bear the price of fame; it was obvious that in the near future, many strangers would likely take the initiative to strike up a conversation with her.

Just thinking about such a terrifying scene made Huohuo feel the life of a fox was bleak, and the road ahead was filled with despair and darkness.

This was great.

Forget going to Exalting Sanctum; from now on, aside from the Ten-Lords Commission grounds, she feared she’d be tormented by strangers just by walking down the street.

Tail behind her burst out laughing:

"Hahaha~ This is killing me! Now everyone on the Luofu is going to know who you are."

"I’m definitely going to die..."

Huohuo stared blankly at her other self showing off in front of the crowds.

She was so done with life that her voice didn't even tremble anymore.

It was a sense of hopeless despair that couldn't be remedied.

"I want to apply for a transfer to work on another Xianzhou ship..."

"Then go ahead and submit the application. You've been nagging about it for days but I haven't seen you apply once."

"Mr. Tail, save me!"

"You're beyond saving."

"Waaaah..."

Looking at Huohuo huddled in her chair crying, Tail thought for a moment, then suddenly cleared his throat and changed his tune:

"Cough, well, speaking of which, isn't this the perfect chance for you to build some courage? This is way more useful than staying home every day watching horror movies."

"Eh? But..."

"No buts. Besides, you wouldn't want to damage that person's reputation on the Xianzhou because of you, right?"

Tail chuckled, clearly wanting to tease Huohuo.

Of course, there might have also been a thought about helping Huohuo improve her cowardly nature.

Huohuo, however, began to seriously consider whether her social anxiety would truly damage the other's reputation.

Those passersby might mistake her for Madam Bai Ming.

If she explained herself clearly, it would be fine, but if she couldn't explain and just ran away without a word, it would definitely make some people think Madam Bai Ming was a cold and unapproachable being!

Yet, through their time together these past few days, Huohuo knew the other person was actually very gentle and easy to get along with.

Ugh...

Was she really going to be forced to train her courage?

Just the thought of talking to so many strangers made Huohuo feel afraid, but her sense of responsibility drove her; for the sake of Bai Ming's reputation, Huohuo couldn't make up her mind to run away.

Or rather, at the very least, she needed to be able to speak up smoothly when necessary instead of turning and running.

So, should she really push herself and try?

--+--

While Huohuo was still agonizing.

On the other side.

There wasn't much more to say about the battlefield outside the Luofu.

Although the Voidranger's individual combat capability was strong, the Luofu’s Cloud Knights were no pushovers either.

Do you understand the weight of having your head cut off, tied back to your neck, and having it grow back on its own?

It was only when hunting the Abominations of Abundance that they tended to fall into a disadvantage because their moral baseline was higher than their opponents'.

Now that they had a different opponent, the advantage of a body blessed by Abundance was becoming apparent.

Plus, with Jing Yuan and Fu Xuan overseeing things, ‘Huohuo’ simply went back to rest.

As for Qingque?

She had been snatched away to the flagship by Fu Xuan, losing her chance to slack off in the rear.

‘Huohuo’ received Qingque’s distress signal, but she took one look at Fu Xuan and only sent Qingque a comforting smile.

Then, ignoring Qingque’s accusing eyes, she departed alone.

She left Qingque behind, looking like life wasn't worth living as she was pinned down by Fu Xuan at the flagship’s command post, forced to learn from this rare practical experience.

By the time the Cloud Knights returned in triumph, night had already fallen.

After some thought, ‘Huohuo’ chose to go to Fu Xuan’s home to rest.

Although she had been staying with Qingque for the past few days, considering her act of "leaving her to her fate" today, if they met tonight, she’d likely be subjected to Qingque’s complaining all night long.

As for Huohuo, that girl was too shy; she wasn't comfortable living with others, and Celenova... though she said she was a bed-warming maid, there was no rush, and the look Fu Xuan gave Celenova earlier was quite obvious.

As a gentle deity, one naturally had to show a bit of favoritism toward one's own.

So after weighing her options, she went to Fu Xuan’s house.

Anyway, Fu Xuan had promised her that if she needed a place to stay, her home was always open, and she had even given ‘Huohuo’ a key.

Thus.

When Fu Xuan finally finished her work and returned home, she found an extra person in her house.

No, she should say an extra deity.

Fu Xuan’s mouth opened slightly, her expression unable to hide her surprise. She thought the other person would have taken Celenova to do... something.

After all, the other had been forced into a maid outfit, and it seemed like some sort of agreement had been reached.

Why was she at her house?

‘Huohuo’ walked out of the bedroom, having changed into pajamas, and waved at Fu Xuan:

"Welcome back. I thought you might not come home all night. Get some rest quickly."

"Uh... I—I’m back..."

Fu Xuan’s face turned slightly red.

Regarding a deity coming to her home and welcoming her back, Fu Xuan felt a very subtle emotion.

Moreover, the other person came out of her bedroom just now, didn't she?

Did she plan on sleeping together tonight?

Fu Xuan couldn't help but let her imagination run wild.

Sharing a bed with the person she admired?

That was something she hadn't seen through the Matrix of Prescience!

--+--

Star Rail Impostor! - 368

--+--

Fu Xuan stood at the doorway, staring blankly into space.

To 'Huohuo', the sight was both a little amusing and rather endearing.

She walked over and took Fu Xuan’s small hand, leading her into the house. Along the way, she even helped her slip off her shoes, leaving Fu Xuan to pad across the floor in her form-fitting white tights.

By the time Fu Xuan snapped back to reality, she realized she had already been ushered into the bathroom.

A change of clothes was ready and waiting; her long hair had been let down, and her hairpins were placed neatly to the side.

Looking at herself in the mirror, Fu Xuan’s face was flushed a deep crimson, her expression thick with bashfulness. Clearly, she was replaying the scene of how she had just been looked after by the person she admired so much.

"Ugh..."

The usually stern Master Diviner, faced with such a situation, couldn't help but let out a very girlish whimper as she crouched down and buried her face in her hands.

What on earth had she been doing?

Not only had she failed to treat 'Huohuo' with the proper gravity, but she had ended up being the one coddled instead.

Besides, Bai Ming was so gentle. To think she would actually come here tonight just to keep her company.

Fu Xuan didn't believe for a second that her visit was a mere whim. Since Bai Ming was the one who had granted her these powers, Fu Xuan assumed that any visions she saw through the Matrix of Prescience—and the emotional shifts that came with them—must be perceptible to 'Huohuo'.

Yet, she hadn't just tolerated Fu Xuan’s ugly jealousy; she had come in person to comfort her.

Compared to Bai Ming, Fu Xuan felt like a spoiled child throwing a tantrum just for a bit of affection. 

To be an Emanator and yet require the care of one's own Aeon... it was a total dereliction of duty!

Fu Xuan covered her face, feeling like she wanted to sink through the floor. To let the object of her admiration look after her like this—where was the decorum?

Fu Xuan, oh Fu Xuan, I don't recall raising myself to be this way!

But beneath the shame, an inexplicable spark of anticipation flickered in her mind: would 'Huohuo' come in to wash up with her?

Even though she knew it was a total pipe dream, her flustered mind reasoned that if Bai Ming needed it, helping her scrub her back or something could at least count as repayment for being looked after.

Unfortunately, judging by the pajamas 'Huohuo' was wearing, she had either bathed long ago or simply didn't need to. Either way, Fu Xuan's fantasies were unlikely to come true.

Unless, of course, Fu Xuan asked her directly.

Given how much 'Huohuo' cared for her, Fu Xuan felt that if she opened her mouth, the other would surely indulge her. She was just that kind of gentle Aeon.

But the more she realized this, the less Fu Xuan dared to speak. She didn't want to take advantage of Bai Ming’s kindness to crave more indulgence—especially not from the person she looked up to most.

She agonized over it until she finished washing and stepped out of the bathroom. Her small face, steamed red by the vapor, looked tender and delicate; if one didn't know her true age, she could easily pass for a girl in her early teens.

Dizzy and dazed, Fu Xuan returned to her bedroom. Seeing 'Huohuo' sitting in the reclining chair nearby, she suddenly blurted out:

"Are we... sleeping together tonight?"

'Huohuo' closed the book in her hands and turned her head to look at Fu Xuan, who had already sat down on the edge of the bed.

With her long hair flowing loose and having changed into light pajamas, Fu Xuan’s bashful expression made her look incredibly cute and green. 

Though she wasn't young by any means, it was obvious she had zero experience with romance. In fact, if you were looking for close friends, you’d strictly have to count her senior sister, Yao Guang, just to make the list.

Consequently, Fu Xuan didn't really understand how to manage this kind of physical distance.

Given her personality, she wasn't the type to suggest sleeping in the same bed. But the events with Celenova earlier that day, combined with the images she had seen in the Matrix, had been weighing on her mind all day.

Fu Xuan had a terrible impression of Celenova—an enemy who somehow got to stay by Bai Ming’s side. Coming home to find Bai Ming waiting for her, already in pajamas, had caused a rush of blood to her head, leading to that impulsive invitation.

The moment the words left her mouth, however, Fu Xuan regretted it. She realized how abrupt she was being. This was an Aeon, and she was merely an Emanator. 

Normally, shouldn't she give up her bedroom and go sleep in the guest room?

What was I thinking, inviting my own God to sleep with me?!

Even if Fu Xuan didn't view 'Huohuo' with traditional religious piety, but rather a pure admiration for a benefactor, the invitation was still somewhat inappropriate given their status.

"No, sorry, I'll go to the guest room—"

"No need. Let’s sleep together. I came here to hang out with you, after all."

'Huohuo' put down her book, rose from the chair, and walked over to Fu Xuan, pressing her back down onto the bed just as she was trying to leave. Then, she lay down right beside her.

Watching Fu Xuan turn stiff as a board, 'Huohuo' let out a chuckle. "Relax a little, or you won't get a wink of sleep tonight."

"..."

Fu Xuan pursed her lips, silently grumbling about exactly whose fault it was that she wouldn't be able to sleep. On the surface, she remained silent, staring up at the ceiling, not even daring to glance at 'Huohuo'.

But 'Huohuo' wasn't finished. Teasing someone as serious as Fu Xuan was far too much fun. And since they were in Fu Xuan’s home, no one would ever know about this side of her.

Compared to Celenova, 'Huohuo' was clearly much gentler with Fu Xuan. Of course, that didn't mean she wouldn't poke fun at her.

"Are you unhappy sleeping with me, Fu Xuan? From the way you were looking at Celenova today, I almost thought little Fu Xuan was jealous~"

Gulp.

Fu Xuan visibly overheated. Within moments, actual steam started rising from her forehead! It made 'Huohuo' burst out laughing.

"Oh, I forgot I'm in this form right now."

'Huohuo' acted as if she had just realized, but she didn't drop the act entirely. Instead, using the powers of Permanence and Elation, she constructed a new body layered over her current one.

In Fu Xuan's eyes, the Foxian girl lying next to her gradually grew taller, her hair lengthened and turned a divine, silvery white.

"You..."

"You're probably more used to this look."

Having temporarily reverted to her form as Bai Ming, she lightly brushed aside her falling white hair and looked Fu Xuan straight in the eye with a smile.

"I... I am more used to it..." Fu Xuan stammered, nodding. Her body remained stiff, paralyzed with nerves.

This time, Bai Ming took the initiative to move closer, narrowing the gap between them. Now that she was back in her original form, Bai Ming was no longer the same height or build as Fu Xuan. She could easily pull the smaller girl into a full embrace.

"So, can you tell me now? What was on your mind today?"

"...Don't you already know? I can't hide anything from you, can I?"

Fu Xuan felt a deep sense of shame, but through the filter of her affection, she didn't even realize she was being toyed with by a mischievous Aeon.

"I only guessed a little. As for your actual thoughts, how would I know? I'm not like a Memokeeper of the Garden of Recollection; I don't go snooping through people's memories and minds."

"..."

Fu Xuan swallowed hard and turned to look at Bai Ming, who was smiling right at her. That smile—pure and bright as moonlight—nearly sank Fu Xuan’s heart. 

Despite her admiration and respect, the impact of such raw beauty left a deep impression on her soul.

"...Yes. I was a little jealous. I'm a native of the Xianzhou, the Master Diviner of the Luofu's Divination Commission. I have to stay here; I can't follow in your footsteps. But Celenova is an enemy, yet she gets to stay with you from now on. It... it bothers me."

Out of trust, Fu Xuan bared her thoughts, however embarrassing they were. 

It wasn't that she couldn't leave the Luofu; if she truly resigned, the Alliance wouldn't force her to stay. What kept her there was the sense of responsibility and the values she had held since childhood. Becoming Bai Ming’s Emanator had been the real anomaly.

So, Fu Xuan wouldn't chase after Bai Ming across the cosmos. But that didn't mean she didn't want to. That was why she was unhappy.

She had expected to spend the night alone in an empty house, likely unable to sleep. She hadn't expected Bai Ming to show up and ensure she couldn't sleep for an entirely different reason.

Hearing this, Bai Ming smiled and reached out to pat Fu Xuan’s head.

"Celenova is just here to be a little maid. You are my messenger. They aren't the same thing at all."

"I know they're not..." Fu Xuan puffed out her cheeks. She knew the situations were different, but being unhappy was a feeling she couldn't control.

"Well, then again," Bai Ming said with a laugh, "you might be the very first Emanator to be so possessive of their Aeon."

As she spoke, Fu Xuan turned red—not just her face, but her neck, her shoulders, her entire being. She slowly raised both hands to cover her face and then wriggled her way under the covers, burying her head completely.

Fu Xuan had a vague inkling that she was being teased, but her bias made her think otherwise. She felt that because she truly had developed these strange, possessive feelings, she deserved the comment.

She hadn't even realized it until Bai Ming pointed it out. Now that it was in the open, Fu Xuan realized her mindset was definitely not that of a "normal" Emanator.

In a state of extreme mortification, she began to wonder if working so much overtime had finally caused her mind to become twisted and strange. 

Otherwise, why on earth would she feel this kind of attachment and possessiveness toward an Aeon?

--+--

Star Rail Impostor! - 369

--+--

Watching Fu Xuan alternate between turning beet-red and burying herself under the covers to escape reality, Bai Ming tried her hardest to stifle her laughter.

She didn't want Fu Xuan to completely shut down from the sheer embarrassment.

Raising a hand, she gently patted Fu Xuan's head to soothe her before reaching out to pull her into a firm embrace, closing her eyes to settle in for the night.

As for the Fu Xuan who had just been scooped up...

She was still busy fleeing from reality. By the time she processed what was happening, the window to refuse had long since slammed shut. 

All she could do was snuggle into Bai Ming's arms, torn between a secret flutter of joy and a tangle of inner conflict, wondering if she would actually manage to get any sleep tonight.

--+--

Meanwhile, at the Simulated Universe space station in Amphoreus.

Herta had accessed the puppet stationed here, preparing for the routine maintenance and data analysis of the Simulated Universe. 

Although she had been obsessing over the Elation Equation lately—and getting a bit competitive about it due to the sluggish progress—she still kept up with the maintenance of a project as vital as the Simulated Universe.

After all, the Simulated Universe was a crucial path toward understanding the Path of Elation, even if Herta absolutely loathed analyzing Aha's behavioral data.

However, the moment Herta controlled the puppet to open its eyes, she saw an existence in the main control segment that defied all logic.

Celenova? Wearing a micro-mini maid outfit with a cut-out over the chest?

The Lord Ravager was currently perched on a nearby chair, looking through what appeared to be research notes and reports left by other station researchers. Fortunately, none of them pertained to the Simulated Universe.

Herta's eyebrows shot up.

While she didn't know the specifics of what had transpired, she had a hunch this was almost certainly the work of that girl, Bai Ming. Just to be safe, Herta checked the station's permission registry.

The very last member added to the roster was indeed Celenova. Furthermore, her clearance was remarkably high; almost everything was open to her, save for the Simulated Universe sectors.

Herta's eye twitched.

Even if the Simulated Universe remained off-limits, allowing a Lord Ravager to loiter here so brazenly was beyond the pale.

"...What on earth is that girl doing now?"

Rather than anger, Herta felt a surge of speechless exasperation that almost made her want to laugh.

"Celenova. Why are you here?"

Hearing the voice, Celenova looked up and locked eyes with the Herta puppet staring her down.

"..."

Wasn't it said that Herta rarely came here in person and usually handled data remotely? Why did she have to run into her on the very first day?

Celenova's lip curled slightly. 

She knew that if she didn't provide a clear explanation, Herta would likely attack her on the spot. Even if this avatar were destroyed, there was no guarantee Bai Ming would stop breathing down her neck.

But if that happened, what would all her humiliation have been for?

She had already prepared herself for a long-term infiltration to study ways to deal with Bai Ming. If she exited on day one, wouldn't it be a total loss?

"Bai Ming captured me. She told me to be her bed-warming maid."

"..."

The puppet seemed to lose its connection for a split second.

--+--

Back at Herta's territory:

Clatter!

A fine teacup shattered into pieces on the floor. Herta's face went dark instantly.

"Heh... Heh heh... Fine, great. I look away for a few days, and she's already arranging bed-warming maids for herself!"

And if she was going to do it, she just had to pick a Lord Ravager. Herta felt her temper flare up in an instant.

Though she had never admitted it, nor gone out of her way to define their relationship—after all, Bai Ming had already ascended to the level of an Aeon while she was still just an Emanator, and Herta's pride made it difficult to initiate such a conversation—she had long since considered Bai Ming as one of her own, someone who would always be by her side.

Therefore, Herta was angry. Very angry.

So angry that the table in front of her was on the verge of being reduced to splinters. She was so incensed she couldn't help but let out a cold laugh.

If Bai Ming couldn't provide a reasonable explanation later, Herta would kick her to the curb, Aeon or not.

"Whew..."

She squinted and took a deep breath, forcing her emotions down for the moment. She was Herta, after all. Angry as she was, this wasn't enough to shake her core. 

With the maintenance of the Simulated Universe looming, she had no interest in rushing to contact Bai Ming to bicker about it just yet.

--+--

Back on the other side, after a brief moment of being dazed, the Herta puppet regained its link. Herta looked toward Celenova with a blank expression and gave a small nod.

"Fine. But you'd better behave. Don't go doing anything unnecessary."

"..."

Celenova remained silent, quietly withdrawing her gaze to focus back on the data in front of her. Since she was born of Harmony, she could clearly sense the emotions radiating from Herta.

Clearly, Herta was furious about her presence, but that anger wasn't directed at her—it was aimed at Bai Ming.

A small smile tugged at the corner of Celenova's heart. This was an unexpected harvest. Fine, go ahead and argue. Better yet, start a fight. It would be for the best if this little clique of Geniuses fell apart.

While Celenova was secretly praying for chaos, her surface remained calm and collected as she continued to study the records. 

Seeing that Celenova had nothing to say or do, Herta didn't bother with her further and dove straight into the routine maintenance work.

Even if Celenova was a dangerous individual, there wasn't so much as a single Legion unit here. 

Given the military strength present in Amphoreus, Celenova wouldn't be able to make waves even if she truly wanted to strike.

Screwllum, who was performing remote maintenance from Planet Screwllum alongside Herta, keenly sensed the shift in her mood.

"Inquiry: Has Madam Herta encountered another troublesome matter?"

If it were just a difficult problem, Herta wouldn't react this way.

"Hmph. See for yourself on the station," Herta snorted, not wanting to say another word.

Screwllum accessed the station's equipment and performed a quick self-check. He soon discovered the new entry on the permission list and, through the cameras, spotted Celenova.

"Lord Ravager Celenova? Why is she here? Could this be the handiwork of Madam Bai Ming?"

"Yeah, you guessed it. That brat brought her here!"

"...Deduction: Perhaps Madam Bai Ming has another objective in mind."

"Hmph! This genius can't be bothered with her! Let's continue, Screwllum."

Screwllum fell into a brief silence before offering a dry explanation. He could certainly think of many excuses and justifications; he could even calculate exactly which excuse would soothe Herta's anger.

But Screwllum chose not to intervene. Having been part of this small circle for so long, he could see certain things. 

The connection and feelings between those three were clearly a bit different from the bond they shared with him.

To put it in human terms, there was a romantic comedy unfolding between them. 

Herta was clearly angry because of those feelings. In such a situation, Screwllum judged that any interference from him would be inappropriate and likely counterproductive.

The only one who could truly appease Madam Herta was Madam Bai Ming herself.

Well, I should send Madam Bai Ming a message to give her a heads-up later.

Though he didn't quite understand it, experience suggested that if she stayed away for too long, Herta's anger would only fester. 

Screwllum trusted that Madam Bai Ming wouldn't do anything truly crossing the line—at the very least, she wouldn't project romantic feelings onto someone who was originally an enemy.

If it were Lady Acheron appearing here, Screwllum might have suspected as much. But since it was a Lord Ravager, he relied on simple trust; he believed there was nothing "extra" between Madam Bai Ming and Celenova.

That being said, looking at Herta's performance this time, she was clearly genuinely upset. It seemed Madam Bai Ming would likely have a rough time upon her return.

--+--

The next day.

Fu Xuan woke up very early. As a workaholic, she was long accustomed to a life of early mornings and late nights.

However, because she had been held in Bai Ming's arms all night—and while it wasn't exactly scandalous, they were certainly close—Fu Xuan was more concerned with how to crawl out of bed without disturbing her rather than feeling shy.

But no matter how Fu Xuan tried to use her Matrix of Prescience to find a way, Bai Ming would inevitably be startled awake and get up with her. 

The only alternative was for Fu Xuan to give up and choose to be late for work, waiting until Bai Ming woke up naturally.

"..."

Fu Xuan let out a tiny sigh.

Right then, the arm wrapped around her waist shifted. A slightly lazy voice drifted down from above her head.

"What's wrong? Sighing so much first thing in the morning."

Fu Xuan stiffened for a second before quickly relaxing again. She tried to pull away from Bai Ming's embrace and sat up to look at her.

"Apologies. Did I wake you?"

"It doesn't matter if I sleep or not. You're still worrying about that?"

Bai Ming reached out to adjust Fu Xuan's fallen shoulder strap. "It's about time for you to head to the Divination Commission, isn't it?"

"Yes. Regarding the Antimatter Legion's attack yesterday—although the Luofu didn't suffer much loss, there will still be a busy period ahead."

After saying this, Fu Xuan paused, looking as though she were struggling with something. She sat there in silence for a long while before finally asking:

"Will you... come back again later?"

Fu Xuan didn't harbor those kinds of intimate feelings for Bai Ming yet, but she had to admit that being in the same room as this being—who had saved her in so many ways—gave her an indescribable sense of peace.

"Probably won't come by often. Plus, I'll be busy with some things in a while; I won't be returning to the material world for a bit."

"Oh..."

Upon hearing this answer, Fu Xuan's eyes immediately cast downward, her face falling into a piteous, disappointed expression. But she quickly suppressed it.

"If you miss me, you can contact me whenever you want. Does your deity always have to be the one to seek you out?"

Fu Xuan's eyes widened. 

Why did those words sound so strange coming out of her mouth?

--+--

Star Rail Impostor! - 370

--+--

Fu Xuan firmly believed that Bai Ming was a god.

Because of that, out of respect and caution, she felt she shouldn't disturb her lightly—especially not for reasons as private and embarrassing as feeling lonely or craving company. 

As a qualified Emanator, what would it look like to be acting like a spoiled child toward one's deity every single day? It was simply unheard of.

But once the words left Bai Ming’s mouth, the narrative shifted. 

It suddenly sounded like Fu Xuan was the one bottling things up, forcing the goddess to take the initiative to come find her and soothe her loneliness.

Now it seemed like it was entirely her fault!

Was that right??

That couldn’t be right.

What kind of Emanator asks their god to come over and sleep beside them every night?

Yet, the logic in Bai Ming’s words actually seemed to hold water. It really did sound like the issue lay with her. Fu Xuan scratched her head, feeling her sense of logic becoming a bit of a muddle.

"Then... should I be the one to contact you first?"

"Mm, now you're getting it."

Bai Ming smiled and patted Fu Xuan’s head before climbing out of bed. 

If Fu Xuan was headed to the Divination Commission for work, Bai Ming certainly wasn't going to tag along. Besides, Screwllum had sent her a message last night.

Apparently, Herta happened to be at the Space Station for Simulated Universe maintenance and ran into the suddenly appearing Celenova. She was furious.

Regarding this outcome, Bai Ming admitted she had been a bit careless. Since those Geniuses almost never visited the Space Station, she had completely forgotten about it. 

Or rather, who spends every day worrying about what might happen in their own home in the future? 

She subconsciously viewed it as a safe house. Consequently, Bai Ming hadn't given a second thought to potential complications.

However, if it was a situation worth Screwllum sending a specific notification for... it seemed Herta really was blowing a fuse this time.

She just wasn't sure what the anger was directed at. 

Was Herta blaming her for dumping Celenova at the Simulated Universe station, or was she mad about the fact that Bai Ming had been teasing Celenova?

Hmm... hard to say.

Bai Ming didn’t deny that there was a certain ambiguous spark between her and Herta. 

Their relationship was certainly much closer than that of ordinary friends, and they’d shared some intimate moments. But strictly speaking, no explicit relationship had been established between them.

Of course, the fault lay with Bai Ming. 

For Herta, she had known Bai Ming—and been influenced by the various things Bai Ming left behind—for centuries. But for Bai Ming, she had only really known Herta for a year or two.

Herta had realized this disparity in emotional accumulation the moment Bai Ming returned. 

That was why Herta had said nothing. Later, Bai Ming rose to power with staggering speed. In a short span of time, she went from an ordinary Pathstrider to an Emanator, and even to the level of an Aeon. 

Before Herta could even attempt to make a move, the gap between them had widened to a degree that was difficult to swallow.

And Herta was an incredibly proud person.

She had personally witnessed Bai Ming go from a minor imitator all the way to her current heights. 

Herta understood the terrifying nature of Bai Ming all too well. Briefly playing the role of Nous in Amphoreus wasn't enough to make Herta accept the abyss-like chasm between them.

So, even as the atmosphere and distance between them grew smaller and smaller, Herta never breathed a word about taking things a step further. 

Herta wouldn't bring it up because of her pride and self-esteem; in the face of that, Bai Ming couldn't exactly ignore Herta’s sense of self and choose to shatter that thin veil between them.

Please. They were both high achievers. An intimate relationship was important, sure, but not important enough to justify crushing someone’s pride and self-respect.

As for Acheron, who was also close to Bai Ming, she remained hesitant to move forward because of the responsibilities she had burdened herself with.

Therefore... the point of Herta's anger couldn't exclude the maid outfit Celenova was wearing. But then again, this was Herta. Would someone like her really get angry over something like that—angry enough to demand an explanation from Bai Ming?

Bai Ming found it a bit hard to believe. She had always felt Herta wouldn't show such obvious emotional fluctuations over things like this.

Well, perhaps she was falling for a bit of a stereotype.

In any case, Bai Ming decided it was best to head back and see Herta. Now that she knew Herta was angry, she couldn't exactly stay out here flirting with other beautiful girls with a clear conscience.

The reason she hadn't returned last night was because Screwllum and Herta were still performing maintenance and upgrades on the Simulated Universe. 

According to Screwllum, they had also taken the opportunity to run a simulation related to Elation. 

Essentially, Herta was working seriously last night; showing up then would only have made her angrier for having her research interrupted.

That was why she waited until today.

After seeing Fu Xuan off, Bai Ming sent messages to both Huohuo and Qingque, letting them know she was leaving the Xianzhou and to contact her online if they needed anything.

Qingque was devastated. Because Bai Ming had been around lately, Qingque had used her as an excuse to take leave many times. Those ten or so days had been the happiest of her life. 

But with Bai Ming gone, she had no more excuses. She was about to return to the grueling life of a corporate slave, struggling just to survive.

Qingque practically begged Bai Ming to take her along. Unfortunately, she couldn't.

Huohuo, on the other hand, was much calmer, simply saying she’d be welcome to come back and play anytime. 

She also expressed great thanks for the command flag Bai Ming had given her; now, when she argued with Tail, she had a handy weapon instead of just relying on her clumsy tongue to talk back.

Looking at Huohuo’s reply, Bai Ming’s smile turned a bit subtle. She wondered what had happened yesterday to make Huohuo unable to resist using that flag to pick a fight with Tail.

Tucking her phone away, Bai Ming deactivated the character card transformation.

--+--

[Roleplay System]

[Name: Bai Ming]

[Lifespan: ∞ ]

[Transformable Characters: Big Herta, Acheron, Celenova, Jingliu, Ruan Mei, Sparkle, Hertatomb, Lors Ravager - Jingliu, Young Herta, Robin, Artoria, Cipher, Georios, Cyrene - Fuli (Charge: 25.5%), General of the Yuque - Qingque (Charge: 61.4%), Huohuo (Charge: 54.2%), Silver Wolf (Charge: 22.5%)]

[Available Pulls: 14 (53.2%)]

--+--

[Settlement Rewards: All of Huohuo’s exorcism talents; Extra Reward: Path Comprehension talent boost.]

--+--

There was plenty of time left on the Huohuo card—more than half, actually. Even so, in just half a month, the number of pulls had increased by one, and the next charge was more than halfway done.

As for the settlement rewards, the portion belonging to Huohuo wasn't much to write home about—better than nothing, but that was it. 

The extra reward, however, was direct: it enhanced her ability to comprehend Paths. To put it in layman's terms, it boosted her innate savvy.

The most immediate reaction was that the last remaining bit of the Equation of Permanence—the part belonging to Abundance—was instantly and smoothly understood by Bai Ming. 

She pushed her mastery of the Permanence Equation to 99%. Again, she left that final speck belonging to the Aeon’s will untouched, skipping over it entirely.

Not only that, the remaining parts of the Propagation and Abundance Paths, which had been difficult to grasp due to a lack of Path Equations, now seemed significantly easier to understand in Bai Ming’s eyes. 

This all-around enhancement left her very satisfied.

And now, Bai Ming was going to go for something big.

"Targeted Gacha!"

Bai Ming had been eyeing the Nihility Equation for a while. 

Now that she had settled the Permanence Equation, Nihility was naturally the next goal. 

If she could understand Nihility to a certain degree, she could liberate Acheron from that responsibility—or at least lighten her burden significantly so she’d have the energy to do other things.

Ten pull attempts vanished in an instant. In exchange, emerging from the golden light of the Express was the lazy silhouette of Hysilens, accompanied by the sound of the tide.

Helektra, daughter of the sea, representing the Ocean Titan Phagousa. 

However, whether it was the Titan’s symbol or Phagina’s preferences, everything leaned heavily toward Elation—yet the Ocean Titan ultimately represented Nihility.

Perhaps it’s because pure hedonism and banquets only provide fleeting joy. 

After the laughter fades, the emptiness and the ever-rising threshold for stimulation cause the spirit to plummet into nothingness. If one only understands the surface level of Elation, it is indeed easy to fall into nihilism and subsequent self-destruction.

In fact, from Bai Ming’s perspective, many of the young Masked Fools in the Tavern currently had a very one-sided understanding of Elation. 

This included the classic "Dichotomy Paradise," which had a tendency toward "pleasure for the sake of pleasure." 

This school of thought easily leads one toward Nihility, much like how the God of Banquets represents it.

She didn't know why Aha didn't step in to manage it. Surely THEY didn't expect Bai Ming to do it? 

She’d rather look after the Mourning Actors than provide ideological education to those empty-headed pleasure-seekers.

Forget it. Let Aha worry about it themselves.

Bai Ming brushed these thoughts aside. A new character card was in hand. She wasn't in a hurry to use it; she’d wait until she reached the borders of Nihility.

But before that...

"Time to see our Madam Herta~"

At the thought of Herta’s angry face, a gentle smile appeared on Bai Ming’s lips. 

Although she was a bit intimidated by the consequences of Herta's wrath, looking at it from another angle, there were probably very few people in this universe who could make Herta that angry.

Thinking of it that way made her feel a little bit happy.

With those thoughts in mind, Bai Ming quietly left the Xianzhou Luofu. She passed through a wormhole and arrived at Herta City.

However, she had previously been granted permissions that should have allowed her to land directly inside Herta City. 

This time, the exit of the wormhole was mysteriously blocked.

When Bai Ming emerged, she found herself standing outside Herta City, watching the magnificent, gargantuan city float before her.

"Huh... she even revoked my entry permissions? Looks like she’s truly pissed off this time."

Bai Ming scratched her head. She hadn't expected to be locked out entirely. It seemed the situation was indeed serious.

Of course, this kind of defense couldn't actually stop her. But out of politeness, Bai Ming didn't force her way in. 

Instead, she began to crack the protective layer in a very conspicuous manner, ensuring that Herta would definitely notice her presence.

--+--