Honkai Transformations - 81 - 90

Honkai Transformations - 81

--+--

Hu Tao circled Kiana, pacing from left to right. Her eyes gleamed with curiosity and excitement as she clicked her tongue in wonder.

"Except for the hair, the eyes, and the fact that you're just a tiny bit shorter than me... the resemblance between us is remarkably high!"

"Who are you calling short?!" Kiana instantly jumped up to shoot back.

"Everything about you is short~"

Hu Tao stood right in front of Kiana and raised her hand, gesturing from her own height over to the top of Kiana's head. Her lips curled into a delighted smirk. "See? There's such a big difference~"

Kiana, who was indeed a fraction shorter than Hu Tao, felt her face instantly flush crimson. She opened her mouth to argue further, but Mei gently pulled her back.

Meanwhile, Theresa quickly stepped forward to get between the two of them, tilting her head up to look at Hu Tao.

"He-hello," Theresa said, her voice soft and gentle, as if she were afraid of startling Hu Tao. She began to explain, "This is St. Freya Academy. It's not Fontaine, nor is it Liyue. Um... it might not even be the world you originally belong to."

"Another world?" Hu Tao looked down at Theresa and blinked. Suddenly, a spark of excitement and enthusiasm lit up her face.

"Is it like one of those scripts... where someone gets transported to another world, has to go through a series of trials and tribulations, becomes a world-saving hero, and only then can finally return?!"

Watching Hu Tao bounce with excitement, a sense of familiarity welled up within Theresa. She couldn't help but steal a glance at Kiana. Everyone else around them shared similar expressions, all wearing resigned smiles that seemed to say, Of course, another one.

"Her personality is almost an exact copy of Kiana's..."

Hearing those words, Hu Tao nearly burst out laughing.

Her own personality... ah, no, her current personality and Kiana's were actually worlds apart.

"It's not quite like that," Theresa said, shaking her head to clarify. "There have been others who came before you, but... it always plays out the same way. Exactly seven days after they arrive, they suddenly vanish and return to their own world, just as abruptly as they appeared."

"Seven days?" Hu Tao lowered her head slightly, counting on her slender, pale fingers. When she reached six, she realized she ran out of fingers on one hand and switched to the other to keep counting.

Once she finished, a relieved smile spread across her face. "That works then! I'll just treat it as a vacation~"

With that, she looked toward Theresa and the others, her eyes sparkling slightly. "So, do you guys provide free meals here? I can work for you in exchange! My name is Hu Tao! My specialty is helping people cross over to the afterlife! May they ascend to paradise early~"

"H-helping people cross over? Ascend to paradise?" Kiana felt a sudden shiver run down her spine upon hearing this. "Are... are you an assassin?!"

"Of course not." Hu Tao shook her head, fully prepared to pitch her business as the Director of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor to Kiana and the rest. But before she could speak, Bronya's voice suddenly cut in.

"Wait. Don't move."

"Oh?"

Hu Tao froze mid-motion and turned her head curiously to look over.

Bronya stepped forward, her gaze fixed intently on Hu Tao. More specifically, she was staring at the Pyro Vision hanging on Hu Tao's outfit.

"This... looks very similar to the Vision on Sister Ei."

"This?" Hu Tao glanced down, unhooked her Vision, and spun it deftly between her fingers. "This is my Vision. Raiden Ei? Hmm, never heard of her. Was she someone who came here before me?"

"She's the Electro Archon of Inazuma!" Kiana caught sight of the Vision as well, and her expression instantly grew animated. "Purple hair! Can shoot electricity! And—and she looks exactly like Mei!"

"Looks exactly like Mei..." Hu Tao followed the direction of Kiana's pointing finger.

There, she saw Raiden Mei looking back at her with a hint of nervousness.

"Huh... now that you mention it, she really does look a lot like the Statue of the Seven I saw when I visited Inazuma before!"

Hu Tao's eyes lit up. Feigning sudden realization, she stared at Raiden Mei with a look of curious delight. Then, she began to pace around Mei in circles.

"Wow, you really do look identical... Your world is truly fascinating! There's someone who looks just like me, and someone else who looks exactly like the Archon's statue!"

"That's because... our world shares a lot of connections with yours." At this point, Theresa couldn't help but swallow hard.

Her heart began to beat a little faster, and an unspeakable sense of anticipation and excitement surged within her. "For instance, you and Kiana are actually the same person, just in different worlds!"

"The same person in different worlds..." Hu Tao gazed at Kiana, the spark in her eyes growing even brighter.

"Setting that aside for a moment!" Kiana looked at Hu Tao and asked eagerly, "Have you really never heard of the Electro Archon's name being Raiden Ei?"

"Never heard of it," Hu Tao replied, shaking her head without the slightest hesitation. Watching Kiana's face fall into instant bewilderment, she continued, "I know of Inazuma's Electro Archon. Her title is the Raiden Shogun, and her divine name is Beelzebul. But the name Raiden Ei... I've never heard it once."

In the grand scheme of things, the name Raiden Ei was likely only known to those closest to her, like Yae Miko or the Traveler. The common folk of Inazuma mostly only knew her as the Raiden Shogun or Beelzebul.

"How can that be..." Kiana muttered, looking dejected and incredulous.

"Kiana..." Raiden Mei stepped forward, placing a comforting hand on Kiana's shoulder. She then looked at Hu Tao, her face clouded with worry. "Hu Tao, do you happen to know how the Raiden Shogun is doing right now?"

Hearing Mei's question, Hu Tao clipped her Vision back onto her waist and pondered for a moment.

So Mei and the others want to know about Ei's situation~

Hehehe~

At that moment, a playful, mischievous urge arose in Hu Tao's heart.

I'll tell them the truth first~ and then, I'll give them something a bit more thrilling~

"The Raiden Shogun, huh?" Her expression turned a bit solemn, adopting a touch of reverence fitting for a deity. "Things aren't looking too good right now. From what I gather, the people of Inazuma say the Raiden Shogun hasn't stepped foot outside Tenshukaku in nearly five hundred years."

"Five hundred years?!"

Upon hearing this, everyone's eyes widened in utter shock and bewilderment.

To them, Raiden Ei had only been separated from them for a little over a month. Yet now, hearing news from someone who hailed from the exact same place, five hundred years had already passed over there?!

"How... how could so much time have passed..." Kiana's face turned pale, her deep blue eyes filling with helplessness and confusion.

"..."

The others looked equally lost.

"If that's the case... it means..." Bronya murmured quietly, a trace of anxiety touching her face. "The flow of time in other worlds is inconsistent with our own."

She stopped there, but everyone present—who had already formed deep bonds with the characters Hu Tao had previously materialized as—felt their spirits sink.

This was especially true for Sin, who had only just 'parted ways' with Silver Wolf.

"Huh?!" Sin took a step forward, glaring furiously at Bronya. "What do you mean by that?! Are you saying that by the time Silver Wolf got back, five hundred years might have already passed for her?!"

Bronya shook her head gently. "It is merely Bronya's hypothesis. We lack sufficient data on the specific temporal flow to make a proper comparison."

"I don't believe it! It must be a fluke!" Sin gritted her teeth, clenching her fists tightly.

She couldn't accept it. She had only just parted with Silver Wolf, and the next time she heard about her—if she ever did—centuries might have already slipped away on the other side!

"Hu Tao, is there any other news?" Theresa pressed on, refusing to give up hope.

Feigning deep thought under everyone's intense gaze, Hu Tao continued, "Inazuma has been quite turbulent these past few years. For some reason, the Raiden Shogun decreed a Sakoku Decree. Now, outsiders can't enter Inazuma, and the locals can't leave."

"A Sakoku Decree..."

Even without asking, everyone understood what that implied. At this point, alongside their anxiety, an immense sense of confusion filled their hearts.

"And then there's the Vision Hunt Decree," Hu Tao added. "She began seizing the Visions of everyone in Inazuma, intending to build a massive statue and embed all the confiscated Visions right into it. Because of this, many lives have already been lost, and Inazuma has plunged into complete chaos."

At this point, Hu Tao wore a look of genuine pity.

"Furthermore, according to some refugees who escaped from Inazuma to Liyue, someone recently tried to challenge the Raiden Shogun to a duel before the throne.”

“The rule is, if you can withstand a single strike from the Shogun, you can make a demand of her. He probably wanted the Shogun to repeal the Vision Hunt Decree... but he failed, and he perished in the duel."

"The Vision Hunt Decree..."

Everyone's eyes instinctively fell upon Hu Tao's Vision. Meeting their gazes, Hu Tao cleared her throat and briefly explained what a Vision Hunt Decree actually entailed.

By the time they fully grasped how vital a Vision was to its wielder, everyone's expressions had turned utterly grim.

"Ei would never do something like that..." Kiana muttered, her face pale and her voice trembling with dismay.

In her mind, memories of her time spent with Raiden Ei began to flood back. Granted, Ei had been incredibly cold at first, even drawing her blade against Kiana the very first moment they met. But later on...

Kiana could never forget what Ei had softly whispered to her that night as she kissed her gently...

[You are the person Mei loves, and you love Mei as well. So... I can understand you, Kiana... But I also hope that when that day comes, Kiana, your eyes won't just see the physical resemblance I share with Mei, but that you will also... hold a place for me, for the person named Raiden Ei...]

How could Ei possibly do those things? There had to be a reason!

Kiana's gaze hardened with renewed conviction.

"Ei wouldn't do that," Kiana said, taking a deep breath. "She stayed here for seven days. I know what kind of person she is. She..."

Theresa chimed in, her voice incredibly soft. "At first, she was just like a puppet, calling Mei 'mother.' But later... she helped us fight Honkai beasts, and she took care of me when I was sick... She's a very gentle person. She would never be a god who locks down a nation, tears away what people treasure most, or kills indiscriminately..."

Oh dear...

Hearing their defense, a warm feeling blossomed in Hu Tao's chest. But seeing them all worked up like this still feels incredibly satisfying!

Ahem.

No, no, I am forging their mental fortitude! I am helping them grow! This way, when Kiana and the others face hardships brought by others in the future, they'll be able to handle it with calm indifference!

As for who is causing their current hardship? ...Well, let's not worry about that!

Hu Tao watched them, burying her cheerful demeanor and adopting a look of serious curiosity. She spoke up, "What was this Raiden Ei you all speak of actually like?"

"She was wonderful," Kiana said without a second thought. "The absolute best!"

"She... was still just a child," Raiden Mei added softly. In her memory, Ei had only just been born into awareness, and the moment she appeared, she had called Mei her mother without hesitation.

"A very gentle, reliable person who truly loved humanity!" Theresa declared with absolute earnestness.

"Is that so..."

Hu Tao nodded, looking at them as a sudden flash of hesitation crossed her face.

It's time to begin! The angst I've been cooking up since I took on this second identity!!! It's finally time to drop the hammer!!!

At this moment, Hu Tao did her best to suppress her inner excitement and the urge to jump around like a wild monkey. She let out a look of uncertainty and doubt.

"There's one thing... I only heard it through word of mouth, so I don't know if it's true or false."

The moment she spoke, everyone's expressions grew deadly serious and hyper-focused.

Though they didn't know what Hu Tao was about to say, an ominous premonition stirred in their hearts. Whatever Hu Tao was about to share next definitely concerned Raiden Ei!

"Roughly five hundred years ago..." Hu Tao took a deep breath, her face turning incredibly grave. "Right after that pitch-black cataclysm ended, a rumor began to spread across Inazuma... They said there were two Electro Archons inside Tenshukaku!"

Kiana's breath hitched, her eyes widening with intensity.

"The two Electro Archons looked completely identical. The people of Inazuma at the time couldn't tell who was real and who was an imposter."

As Hu Tao spoke, she fought with every fiber of her being to maintain her somber, serious face, but she felt the corners of her mouth desperately trying to twitch upward!!!

Hold it together!!!

"The two Electro Archons fought inside Tenshukaku. Lightning crashed down from the heavens, illuminating the entire Inazuma City! No citizen dared to draw near, and no one could tell which one was the true Archon."

"..."

Kiana and the others froze, their expressions completely locking up.

They knew that Raiden Ei was originally a puppet created by the Archon to withstand the erosion of time. Hearing Hu Tao's words, the pieces instantly clicked in their minds.

After returning to her world, Ei had, for some reason, erupted into a civil war with the Archon...

"How could this happen..." Kiana murmured under her breath, a profound sense of dread rising to a peak within her.

"And then?! What happened after?!" Theresa stared at Hu Tao, pressing urgently.

"Later, Yae Miko—the Archon's familiar and the Grand Narukami Shrine's Guuji—helped one of them. That one won. As for the other..."

At this point, Hu Tao looked at Kiana and the others, who were hanging onto her every word. A faint flicker of sympathy appeared in her plum-blossom, brownish-red eyes.

It made it look as though she knew the one who vanished was their dear friend and family member.

In reality, Hu Tao was just on the verge of bursting into laughter and could barely keep the lie going!

"The other one disappeared."

The laboratory fell into an oppressive silence, broken only by the rhythmic ticking and chiming of the monitors. A faint draft whispered through the vents, sounding like a distant, sorrowful sigh.

"The one who disappeared..." Hu Tao looked at everyone's rigid, dazed expressions. Her voice grew very quiet, tinged with feigned hesitation. "Word has it that she died. But some folks in Inazuma don't think so. While I was running errands and scouting clients over there, I overheard a few different theories."

"What kind of theories?" Kiana's voice sounded raw and dry.

"Some say that while the vanishing Archon fought the other, she did everything she could to protect the people. When the lightning struck down, she would use her own body to block it! She refused to let the stray lightning strike the streets below."

Hearing this, the room fell into a heavy silence.

Theresa and Himeko both recalled the advice they had given Ei during her time with them. They had told her to try living like a human, rather than acting like a mere puppet of a god.

Kiana's eyes began to brim with tears.

"Meanwhile, the other Archon—the one who remained—cared only about the battle, and her form seemed somewhat illusory." Hu Tao looked at Kiana, continuing softly, "Others say the vanishing Archon had a light in her eyes. Not the glare of lightning, but something else... something hard to put into words."

In an instant, the image of Raiden Ei flashed through everyone's minds—her gentle yet earnest gaze, and the stubborn way she always stood ready to call Mei 'mother.'

Seeing them plunge into a deep, agonizing sorrow—as if they had just received confirmation of a friend's passing—Hu Tao felt an absolute wave of euphoria wash over her.

It was so satisfying she felt like she could ascend to heaven on the spot.

Of course, the real Raiden Ei wouldn't recklessly attack the Raiden Shogun in the middle of Inazuma City.

But... if she ever transformed into the Electro Archon or a related character again down the line, Hu Tao could easily spin it by telling them that Ei's return from another world had drawn the attention of the Heavenly Principles.

And since Khaenri'ah, the last nation to draw that gaze, had been entirely obliterated, the Archon had locked blades with Ei to prevent Inazuma from facing a similar catastrophe. A flawless narrative loop!!

"So, a lot of people believe the one who disappeared was the true Electro Archon," Hu Tao stated, her face deadpan and serious. "They believe the true Archon was assassinated by Yae Miko and a fake imposter.” 

“For the past five hundred years, those who firmly believe this theory have been searching for her. Some joined the Resistance, some aligned with the Fatui, and others have gone searching through various ancient domains.” 

“Especially now, with Inazuma in total chaos from the Vision Hunt and Sakoku Decrees, the number of people convinced the current Shogun is a fake is only growing."

Theresa couldn't help but bury her face in her hands. Himeko silently raised her hand and placed it atop Theresa's head. She had intended to rest it on her shoulder to comfort her, but Theresa was simply too short.

"Is she... never coming back..." Kiana's voice was barely a whisper, thick with grief and bitter sorrow.

Hu Tao watched her. Seeing how Kiana had crossed the threshold of extreme grief into an eerie, quiet stillness, she paused.

Whoops, went a bit too far!!! She felt like she was looking at a premature version of Void Drifter Kiana!!

"Do you guys... happen to know something?" Hu Tao asked, playing the part of the clueless, curious onlooker.

"..."

Theresa remained silent for a moment, swallowing down the sharp grief tearing at her heart before she managed to speak through a strained, raspy voice.

"Raiden Ei... she told us before. She was a puppet created by the Electro Archon to fight against the erosion of time. Her sole purpose for existing was to rule over Inazuma after the Archon entered her body..."

"Huh?"

Hu Tao blinked, putting on a look of utter disbelief. "You mean... both Electro Archons were technically the true Archon?"

"Yes..." Theresa couldn't hold it back any longer; her voice broke into a heavy sob.

Tears began to stream down Kiana's face uncontrollably. The entire room was cast into a profound, suffocating gloom. Even Sin, standing amidst the crowd, went entirely quiet as she watched them.

"Why does it always end up like this..." Kiana choked out, her voice cracking with tears and resentment. "The other me... Kallen... and now Ei too..."

"Kiana..." Raiden Mei gently wrapped her arms around Kiana, drawing her into her embrace and letting her cry her heart out.

Oh, this is peak fiction...

Hu Tao felt a floating sense of pure bliss.

This was exactly the kind of drama she lived for!!!!! Leaving an indelible mark on their hearts, forging unbreakable bonds, and then dropping the news of her own tragic 'demise'!!!

The only pity was that she couldn't dramatically die right in front of their eyes.

Hahahahaha—!!!!

Though it was terribly wicked, Hu Tao truly felt like she had reached the absolute zenith of her life at this very moment!!!

"Wait a second..."

It was time to fix the damage. Hu Tao didn't actually want to watch Kiana lose her mind and go full Final Lesson mode right now; that would ruin the fun.

She looked at the grieving group, thought for a moment, and then her eyes lit up. She offered a bright smile.

"If this Raiden Ei you're talking about was meant to house the Archon's consciousness to resist erosion, and rule Inazuma in her stead... then is it possible that the Archon and your Raiden Ei are... well, actually one and the same right now?"

Kiana's crying hitched. Theresa snapped her head up to look at Hu Tao.

"Think about it! If Raiden Ei is the physical vessel for the Archon, it completely explains why the Archon's form looked illusory back then! And right now, the Electro Archon is still sitting in Tenshukaku, ruling over Inazuma!"

--+--

Honkai Transformations - 82

--+--

The moment Theresa and Kiana heard Hu Tao’s words, their expressions froze for a fraction of a second before breaking into sheer joy.

"That’s amazing! I knew Ei was going to be fine!"

But just as Kiana pumped her fist in celebration, Bronya’s expression turned complicated.

"Hu Tao," Bronya spoke up, her voice soft but tentative. "If Sister Ei has already merged with the Raiden Shogun—just like the original purpose she was created for—then..." She paused. "Why is Sister Ei issuing those kinds of decrees now that she's ruling Inazuma?"

The smile on Kiana’s face stiffened, replaced by a wave of shock and helplessness.

"I have no idea," Hu Tao said, shaking her head bluntly. "I’m not the Raiden Shogun. How should I know what’s going on inside her head?"

The spark that had just lit up in Kiana's eyes instantly died down.

Standing to the side, Theresa’s petite face went through a kaleidoscope of emotions—shifting from hope to confusion, and from confusion to a deep, nagging unease.

Still, at the very least, they now knew that Raiden Ei might still be alive.

"Though..." Hu Tao drawn out the word, dragging everyone's attention right back to her. "I suppose I can offer a guess."

She crossed her arms, a mischievous yet surprisingly serious smile playing on her lips. "You guys said that Raiden Ei was a puppet created by the Shogun to rule Inazuma in her stead, right?"

"Mhm!" Theresa nodded, her eyes locked onto Hu Tao.

"Well, there's the rub."

Hu Tao took off her hat and rested it on her knees, as if trying to let her head cool off. "What is the sole purpose of creating a puppet?"

"...To execute the creator's commands," Bronya answered after a brief silence.

"Exactly." Hu Tao nodded, looking around at the group with a hint of pity in her eyes.

That look sent a collective shiver down their spines.

"She does whatever her creator commands. That is her purpose as a puppet. But... this Raiden Ei you speak of developed her own free will. If that's the case, can she really still be considered a pure puppet?"

Kiana pursed her lips tightly.

"From what you've told me, Raiden Ei knew exactly what she was made for. But after she returned, the Shogun discovered that she had developed human emotions, becoming a person instead of the mere tool she was meant to be..."

Hu Tao turned around to face them fully, her expression turning dead serious, her eyes carrying a stark warning. "What do you think the Shogun would do?"

No one answered.

The silence hung heavy because they had all guessed the ending.

"How could she do that?!" Kiana gritted her teeth, her eyes burning with fury and indignation.

She couldn't accept it. She refused to accept it!

"Ei..." Himeko clenched her fists. She thought back to the conversations she'd had with Ei, how she had taught her to look at the world through human eyes.

And now, she had to face the reality that because of those very teachings, Ei might have been... by her own creator.

"There are two possibilities," Hu Tao said, holding up two fingers. "First, Raiden Ei’s consciousness was completely wiped out by the Shogun. As her creator and as a god, the Shogun would undoubtedly have that kind of power.

As for the second..."

Hu Tao lowered one finger. "Since Raiden Ei is just a puppet... if the Shogun could build one, she could easily build a second. The one sitting in Tenshukaku right now might just be a brand-new puppet, not the Raiden Ei you all know."

"No way!" Kiana’s voice flared so loudly it caught Hu Tao off guard.

"Ei told me herself!" Kiana yelled, her fists trembling. "She was crafted from the Shogun's very own body! How could there possibly be a second body?!"

Hu Tao didn't push back. She simply stared at Kiana, falling into a pensive silence.

Slowly, she put her hat back on, a thoughtful glint appearing in her plum-blossom eyes.

"...Well, that changes things."

"Changes what?" Kiana pressed, her voice laced with desperation.

"If the Raiden Ei you knew was just an ordinary puppet, the Shogun could have replaced her whenever she pleased," Hu Tao said, meeting Kiana’s gaze with a deliberately solemn expression. "But... if she was made from the Shogun's own flesh and blood, it's no longer a matter of replacement."

She paused for a beat, her voice dropping to a heavy, somber tone.

"It becomes a matter of purging."

Kiana froze entirely, her eyes clouding over with absolute shock and confusion.

Of course. How could she have forgotten? If Raiden Ei was made from the Shogun's own body, then reclaiming that body would be effortless for a god.

"It’s like an accidental ink smudge on a painting. You scrub away the parts that shouldn't be there, and what's left is still the original portrait..."

"You... you're lying!"

Kiana's voice was shaking.

Just as Hu Tao was about to lean in and study Kiana's despair, Mei's voice rang out, sharp and cutting through the gloom:

"Even if you scrub away the ink, a stain will always remain!"

"Oh?" Hu Tao turned her head in curiosity, meeting Raiden Mei's fiercely resolute gaze.

"Ei would never perish that easily. If that body is still standing, I refuse to believe she's gone. I know she's still in there, hidden in some corner of that body, fighting back with everything she has!"

Well said, Mei.

Looking at Mei, a wave of genuine amusement washed over Hu Tao.

She lived for moments like this—seeing people hold onto hope against all odds.

It actually made her quite eager for the future.

If she ever transformed into Raiden Ei again and had to play the part of an unfeeling god in front of them, watching them desperately try to awaken 'her' consciousness while 'she' swung her blade at them without a shred of hesitation... oh, how incredibly entertaining that would be!

Hu Tao let her imagination run wild.

Though, she also hoped that by the time that day came, Mei and the others would have grown strong enough to actually put up a fight against her.

Because knowing herself, she would absolutely go all out just for the fun of it.

Phew.

If I were in Honkai: Star Rail, I'd probably be walking the Path of Elation, and Aha would be watching me 24/7.

"Hu Tao."

By now, Theresa had caught Mei’s infectious confidence, and a spark of hope reignited in her chest.

However, as she looked at Hu Tao, her eyes were guarded.

"Thank you for sharing all of this with us... but how do you know so much?"

And there it is.

Hu Tao had fully anticipated this interrogation the moment she brought up the topic. Naturally, she already had a script ready.

Hu Tao blinked, enduring the suspicious and bewildered stares of the room. Suddenly, she broke into a bright grin, took off her hat, and spun it around her finger. "Because I’m a genius, obviously."

"..." Theresa rolled her eyes in sheer exasperation but kept her stern gaze fixed on Hu Tao, demanding a real answer.

It seemed she had pushed their buttons a little too hard just now.

Hu Tao sighed, plonking the hat back onto her head and straightening it out. "Alright, alright. I run the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor in Liyue. What kind of person haven't I crossed paths with?” 

“From Liyue to Inazuma, up north to Fontaine, down south to Sumeru... I've dealt with Adepti, the remnants of ancient gods, and all sorts of bizarre monsters. I pick up bits and pieces from everywhere.”

“After all, when you're sending people off to the afterlife, they always tend to spill the secrets they don't want to carry into the grave."

Listening to her explanation, the girls couldn't help but imagine some terrifying assassin syndicate operating across Teyvat... a group that gathered classified intel while putting people six feet under.

Still, Hu Tao's explanation left them with no room to argue.

But Mei wasn't entirely convinced. She looked at Hu Tao, her voice dangerously calm. "From the very beginning, you've been subtly guiding our thoughts to believe that Ei is dead. Why?"

"..."

Hu Tao turned her gaze toward Raiden Mei. Those violet eyes were calm and deep, but beneath that depth lay a storm of complex emotions.

Slowly, the playful, energetic grin faded from Hu Tao's face. She looked at Mei with a rare, unfiltered seriousness.

"So you caught on..."

Mei didn't offer a reply. She just held Hu Tao’s gaze, waiting for the truth.

The heavy silence actually made Hu Tao feel a bit of pressure.

Mei really has grown up.

She's already starting to look like her future Elysian Realm self.

Impressive.

Hu Tao met Mei’s eyes and let out a helpless sigh, as if conceding defeat. "Fine~ I admit it. I was intentionally leading you toward that conclusion."

"Why?"

Theresa’s voice tightened as she asked, utterly bewildered.

This was their very first meeting. Why would Hu Tao play mind games like this?

Theresa and the rest of the crew couldn't wrap their heads around it. Up until now, almost every visitor to their world had gone out of their way to help them.

Hu Tao looked at them, the corners of her mouth curling into a gentle, tragic sort of smile. "Because you all are good people."

"Good people?" Theresa blinked, her brain failing to make the connection.

"You really seem to view someone who only stayed with you for seven days as irreplaceable family," Hu Tao said, her tone gradually shifting from lighthearted to deeply solemn.

"But have you ever stopped to think about what happens now that she's back in Teyvat? Teyvat is a land ruled by gods. I don't know what the gods of your world are like."

Hu Tao looked each of them in the eye, her words carrying the weight of a genuine warning.

"But I do know that the Raiden Shogun is not a deity you can reason with. And the puppet she created—your Ei—developed her own ego and even turned against her five hundred years ago. So..."

Hu Tao slowed her words down, letting each syllable sink in. "What if your Ei really is gone for good? What will you do then? If Ei could cross over to your world, and now I have too... what’s to stop the Raiden Shogun from showing up here in the future?"

The moment those words left her mouth, Theresa and Kiana’s pupils dilated.

The air in the laboratory grew suffocatingly still. A crushing, indescribable weight seemed to settle over everyone's chest.

"What's your plan for when that happens? Will you declare war on a god, or will you beg her to give Ei back?" Hu Tao asked softly, counseling them.

"You might very well end up as the Shogun's enemies. And besides... if Ei truly considered you her family, she probably wouldn't want you throwing your lives away for her sake."

"No."

Kiana thought back to every memory she shared with Raiden Ei. She remembered Ei promising her all the things they would do together once she passed her makeup exams.

She remembered Ei’s final wish—asking Kiana to look at her, to see her as more than just a shadow of Mei. A fierce torrent of rage and determination surged within her.

"I’m going to get stronger! If that god ever dares to show her face here, I’ll rip Ei right out of her hands!"

"A god, huh?" Himeko let out a soft chuckle, her eyes igniting with a familiar, battle-ready fire. "I wonder how many rounds of the Hyperion's main cannons she can take."

"Ei is our family," Raiden Mei stated, her voice unnervingly calm, though a dangerous spark flickered deep within her eyes. "Even if it's a god, I won't let her get away with it."

Hu Tao looked at the trio. Though a faint, helpless sigh lingered in her eyes, she couldn't help but smile.

"See? That’s exactly why I said you're all good people," Hu Tao murmured softly.

By now, Theresa and the others felt they had absorbed enough world-altering information for one day.

"...Thank you," Theresa said quietly, offering a vague expression of gratitude. It wasn't entirely clear what she was thanking her for.

Perhaps a little bit of everything? Hu Tao mused internally.

"Thank me for what?" Hu Tao tilted her head with an adorably innocent smile. "I didn't really do anything. Just chatted with you guys for a bit~"

"Still, thank you..." Theresa replied softly. "Thank you for telling us all this. For letting us know what might be happening to Ei."

Hu Tao smiled, but then a massive yawn caught up to her, her eyes tearing up with sudden exhaustion.

"By the way... do you guys have a place where I can crash?" She started looking around the room. "I was wandering around Wuwang Hill all night... I’m completely wiped out. Can I please get some sleep first?"

"Ah! Right, of course!" Blushing slightly at her own lack of hospitality, Theresa nodded frantically.

The group didn't press her with any more questions. Instead, they escorted Hu Tao out of the lab and began walking toward the Valkyrie dorms.

Along the corridor, Theresa whispered quietly to Himeko, "Himeko, I’m planning to clear out that entire floor of the dorms. The other students will be reassigned to a different building so we can expand your living space. Your group will have that whole floor to yourselves."

"Yeah, it’s about time we did that," Himeko agreed with a small nod.

The rest of the girls listened but kept quiet.

Hu Tao, however, was quietly celebrating in her head.

Yeah, you better expand the dorms. If I keep unlocking more characters to transform into, you’re going to run out of beds for me to sleep in!

--+--

Honkai Transformations - 83

--+--

"Whew... whew..."

When she woke up from a bed that, despite being called a single, was more than spacious enough for two people to sleep comfortably, Hu Tao still felt a bit lightheaded.

"Mmph—!"

Sitting up, she stretched her arms out wide with a groan. Her Homu-patterned pajamas instantly clung to her curves, accentuating her shapely figure.

Even the fabric over her chest was stretched into perfect, smooth spheres by her soft, pudding-like curves.

"Honestly, sleeping all by myself in a big bed every now and then is pretty nice," Hu Tao murmured, yawning and stretching one last time before letting her gaze wander around the room.

She was completely alone in this room. There was no need to act exactly like the character she had transformed into the moment she opened her eyes.

This really is a great feeling.

Hu Tao yawned again, quickly tidied up the bedding, cracked the window open to let some fresh air in, and finally stepped out of the bedroom.

"Morning."

The moment she stepped out, Hu Tao nearly ran right into Raiden Mei. Mei already had an apron tied around her waist and looked like she was just about to go wake Kiana up.

"Hu Tao, go freshen up, and then come have some breakfast." Mei looked at Hu Tao, a gentle warmth softening her eyes.

In her eyes, Hu Tao was just Kiana from another world.

Except, Hu Tao hadn't been fortunate enough to meet another version of herself in that world.

Last night, aside from worrying about Raiden Ei, Mei hadn't been able to stop herself from reflecting on this.

She thought of Seele, and she thought of Silver Wolf, and a sudden realization dawned on her.

Perhaps the people gathered together right now wouldn't have been lucky enough to meet each other in other worlds the way they had here in the Valkyrie dorms.

"Alright~"

Hu Tao headed to the bathroom. Following the instructions Mei had given her the night before on how to use these modern appliances, she gave herself a proper wash.

By now, the toothpastes, toothbrushes, cups, and towels used by the previous characters she had transformed into had all been cleared away.

Hu Tao figured there must have been just too many of them.

So many that the bathroom shelves had probably been packed to absolute capacity.

'It looks like everyone is learning to adapt to this life too,' Hu Tao thought to herself with a hint of amusement.

Soon after finishing her morning routine, she sat down at the dining table with Kiana and the others to eat breakfast.

"Wow~ This is delicious!" Hu Tao took a bite of a sandwich. Her taste buds, which had been completely refreshed after her latest transformation, were instantly conquered by the flavor of Mei’s cooking. A look of pure bliss spread across her face.

Only, this time, she didn't hear Kiana’s boastful voice.

Usually at a time like this, Kiana would have proudly puffed out her chest and declared, 'Mei’s cooking is the best in the universe!'

"Right? Mei's cooking really is wonderful," Theresa agreed, nodding as she tried to liven up the atmosphere at the table.

Hu Tao glanced over at Kiana.

Kiana had heavy, dark circles under her eyes this morning. She was just picking at her breakfast listlessly, taking a bite here and there.

She had clearly stayed up all night. In fact, she might have pulled a complete all-nighter.

She had probably spent the entire night agonizing over the situation with Raiden Ei, crying her eyes out under her blanket.

Sigh.

Hu Tao felt a sudden pang of guilt, feeling like she was the one carrying a heavy sin here.

"Your cooking is almost on par with Xiangling's," Hu Tao remarked with a slight sigh of admiration after stuffing a piece of pan-fried mackerel into her mouth.

"Xiangling?" Her words piqued Theresa's curiosity. "Is she a friend of yours?"

"Mhm~" Hu Tao nodded, a bright spark lighting up her dark, plum-blossom eyes, as if she were recalling a particularly fond memory.

"Xiangling is one of my best friends in Liyue~ She's the head chef at Wanmin Restaurant, which is one of the most famous eateries in Liyue Harbor. Xiangling is incredible at cooking; she can make anything, and she can make anything taste amazing—provided you're brave enough to try it~"

Speaking of this, Hu Tao couldn't help but flash a nostalgic smile. "Once, Xiangling made a dish out of slimes, and I ate it without even realizing what it was."

"Slimes?" Theresa blinked, a look of confusion crossing her face. "You mean... those jelly-like monsters?"

"Yeah, exactly those. Do you have them here too?"

"No, in our world, they only exist in fantasy fiction."

"Oh~"

Hu Tao nodded, stuffing a piece of fried egg into her mouth, her cheeks puffing out as she chewed. "Xiangling can turn anything into a delicacy. She loves experimenting with new recipes, so she runs all over the world."

"She sounds like someone who truly loves culinary arts and deeply loves life," Theresa murmured, nodding gently with a trace of envy in her eyes.

"She really does."

Hu Tao nodded in agreement. Just as she was about to add something else, Kiana, who had been staring at her from across the table, asked in a somewhat raspy, low voice, "Hu Tao... I'm... I'm a bit curious. Why... why did you become an assassin?"

"An assassin?" Hu Tao froze. She turned her head, her eyes widening slightly as she took in Kiana's deadpan, completely serious expression.

Then, she couldn't hold it in anymore and burst into a fit of laughter. "Pfft—Hahaha!! An assassin! Hahahahaha!"

"Eh? You're not?" Kiana blinked. Realizing immediately that she had guessed completely wrong, a wave of confusion washed over her, and her face flushed with embarrassment.

Around the table, the others stared at Hu Tao as well.

They were actually quite puzzled themselves.

During Hu Tao's self-introduction yesterday, phrases like 'the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor' and 'sending people to eternal bliss' had sounded a bit too much like some underground assassination syndicate.

"Wangsheng..." Fu Hua spoke up softly, murmuring the word to herself. Watching Hu Tao laugh until she was practically out of breath, a flash of realization crossed her eyes.

"If... it doesn't mean an assassin, then... it must carry a different connotation entirely."

"What connotation?" Kiana turned to look at her, thoroughly confused.

"Ahem!" Hu Tao finally managed to stop laughing. She gave Fu Hua a nod of approval and validation before explaining, "It literally means sending people off~ When people die, someone has to guide them on their final journey, right?”

“And that's exactly what the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor does. From laying out the body to the burial, we offer a full, one-stop service. Fair prices, honest business, no cheating the young or the old~"

As she spoke, Hu Tao began counting down on her fingers, ticking them off one by one. "Chanting sutras, burning joss paper, crafting paper effigies, selecting auspicious burial plots, managing the entire funeral... we guarantee our clients depart in absolute comfort, without leaving a single regret behind~"

Listening to Hu Tao's explanation, Kiana’s mouth fell open, and she couldn't close it for a long time.

Except for Fu Hua and Yae Sakura, almost everyone at the table couldn't help but shiver, dark lines metaphorically appearing over their foreheads.

"S-Sending people to the afterlife, guiding them to eternal bliss... that's what you meant?" Kiana finally processed the words, looking distinctly uncomfortable.

"Of course."

Hu Tao nodded, speaking with complete, righteous confidence. "It's all to give people peace of mind. When someone passes away, they have people to send them off, people to chant prayers, and people to burn incense for them! Once they cross over, the dead rest in peace, and the living can move on without worry~ Isn't that exactly what eternal bliss is?”

“Besides~ our Wangsheng Funeral Parlor is a time-honored establishment in Liyue Harbor. Our lineage can be traced all the way back to before the Archon War!"

"The Archon War?" Hearing this new term, everyone's expressions shifted slightly.

"Mhm. But that was a very, very long time ago," Hu Tao said softly, her tone turning a bit more serious.

"Back then, the gods fought bitterly against one another. The hatred and resentment of the defeated gods refused to dissipate, turning into plagues that spread among ordinary mortals. That was how the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor came to be.”

“Though it was just a vague concept back then without an official name, the founders acted as mere humans when death threatened to completely consume the realm of the living. They pushed death back, maintaining the balance between Yin and Yang, and drawing a strict boundary between life and death~”

“The tradition has been passed down all the way to the present day, spanning seventy-seven generations~ And I am the current Director of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, Hu Tao!"

"The Archon War?" The first thing Kiana latched onto was that phrase. Her small face turned slightly pale as she asked, "What... what was that all about?"

"I don't really know."

Hu Tao shook her head, her playful smile fading a bit, replaced by a contemplative look.

"But I've read in old texts, and heard from some of the elderly spirits wandering around Wuwang Hill, that one of the reasons the Archon War started... was because the gods loved humanity."

"?"

Hearing this, everyone at the table looked utterly bewildered.

"Loved humanity?" Fu Hua looked at Hu Tao skeptically, questioning, "If they loved humanity, why did they fight each other? And why did the resentment of the defeated, dead gods turn into plagues that ravaged human beings?"

"The Director doesn't know the answer to the first question either," Hu Tao replied, shaking her head gently.

Even though she actually did know, a 'normal person' knowing that much would definitely arouse the suspicion of Fu Hua and the others.

"But as for the second question, I do know a thing or two." Hu Tao looked at their perplexed faces and smiled. "When they died... their hearts were filled with endless hatred and unwillingness toward the enemies who slew them. These negative emotions... would coalesce into miasma and demons. Once stirred up, they brought forth plagues and disasters."

As Hu Tao spoke these words, her gaze drifted subtly toward Yae Sakura.

Mhm~

She hadn't forgotten about Higokumaru.

Her current transformation could be considered a perfect professional match for this situation~

Furthermore, she had already picked up a faint, unsettling aura radiating from Yae Sakura.

Hu Tao's words shook Kiana and the others to their core.

They had never imagined that the humans of another world had endured such a cruel history.

The Archon War...

For an event to be explicitly labeled a war among gods, its sheer devastation was far beyond their imagination.

"Oh, by the way~"

Hu Tao's eyes suddenly lit up as she looked at Kiana and the rest, her tone turning eager and impatient.

"You guys must have this kind of business here too, right? If any of you ever need it, you can look me up anytime~ The services of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor will absolutely never disappoint you!"

"We don't need it!"

In the next instant, Kiana, Bronya, Mei, and Theresa shouted in unison.

"Eh?" Seeing their reaction, Hu Tao pushed further, seemingly unwilling to give up. "What about the future? You'll definitely need it eventually, right?"

"We won't need it in the future either!"

Dark lines practically etched themselves onto Kiana's face.

Left with no choice, Hu Tao dropped the subject, letting out a helpless sigh.

"It seems that no matter what world people are from, they don't like planning ahead. After all, as long as you're alive, there comes a day when you have to go. Preparing in advance isn't a bad thing."

"No preparation needed!"

Seeing that Kiana was genuinely getting worked up, Hu Tao finally stopped bringing up the topic.

Hahahahahahaha~

After teasing Kiana and the others, Hu Tao couldn't help but chuckle delightfully in her mind.

However...

Hu Tao’s gaze fell back onto Yae Sakura, a meaningful, playful glint flickering in her eyes.

Perhaps, before long, you all really will have need of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's services~

Should she just come clean and tell them right now?

After weighing the thought with amusement, Hu Tao decided against it for the moment.

She wanted to give Higokumaru a little surprise!

Besides, speaking up now might startle the snake in the grass and put Higokumaru on guard~

Once breakfast was over, the rest of the day passed without incident.

Hu Tao sat with Kiana and the others, playing video games and watching television.

Kiana and the group explained the things showing on the TV screen to Hu Tao, while occasionally asking her questions about the continent of Teyvat.

They all got along quite harmoniously.

It wasn't until night fell…

--+--

Inside Yae Sakura's bedroom.

Yae Sakura lay in bed wearing her cherry-blossom pink pajamas. Her eyes were tightly shut, but her brow was furrowed in a tight knot, indicating she was trapped in a nightmare.

Ever since returning from the Nine Realms...

Every single night in her dreams, Higokumaru would whisper temptations to her, using the reality of Kallen's past death over and over again to break her spirit.

Every night, she fought against Higokumaru entirely on her own, without a single moment of respite.

"Sakura..."

In the dreamscape, Higokumaru's voice dripped with malice and distortion. "You're tired, you're just too tired... Kallen is already dead... Hand your body over to me... Let me live in your stead... Let me... resurrect the Kallen of this world for you."

"No," Yae Sakura's voice was calm and unwavering. "Never. Don't even dream of it."

"Ha... what are you resisting for? You have no strength left~"

Higokumaru's voice filled with spite and mockery.

From the moment Yae Sakura returned from Jiuxian, Higokumaru knew her opportunity had arrived~

Yae Sakura had been far too careless. She had poured the entirety of her power into the Xuanyuan Sword during that incident, leaving her own reserves completely depleted.

Even though she had recovered quickly, Higokumaru had already seized that opening to quietly accumulate power.

And tonight, Higokumaru had no intention of waiting any longer.

She had originally planned to bide her time and gather strength for a little while longer, but Hu Tao's arrival had disrupted her plans.

Hearing Hu Tao talk about the Archon War, the duties of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, and noticing that final look Hu Tao had given Yae Sakura...

Higokumaru knew that Hu Tao had already discovered her presence.

"What are you still waiting for? Waiting for that shrine maiden to save you?" Higokumaru's tone carried a thick sense of satisfaction and triumph.

Without a shred of hesitation, she took all the lingering data from the viral Honkai Beasts that she had sensed on Kallen that day, and flooded it directly into Yae Sakura's consciousness.

And within that data, without exception, lay nothing but death!

The death of the viral Honkai Beasts, and the death of Kallen.

"She died a long time ago! It was only because of me! Because of our existence in this world that she was able to cling to life for seven paltry days! And the very moment she returned!”

“Hahaha! Kallen Kaslana had already thoroughly perished!!!"

--+--

Honkai Transformations - 84

--+--

EMPTY

It seemed the chapter was too spicy for ciweimao, so it got taken down…

Here’s what I can assume happened:

Higokumaru took over Yae Sakura, and now Hu Tao and Higokumaru are fighting(sensually?)

--+--

Honkai Transformations - 85

--+--

“Can’t stay on your feet anymore?”

Hu Tao could practically feel Higokumaru biting at her ear as she spoke, her voice twisted with madness and overflowing possessiveness.

She really couldn’t stay standing anymore.

Hu Tao had never imagined Higokumaru could be this starved for contact.

Then again… if she herself had been sealed away for fifty thousand years, she’d probably be even crazier.

But as Higokumaru’s fingers rubbed slowly against the fabric—

Hu Tao felt her entire body slipping out of her control. The pressure surrounding her still pinned her tightly in place. Unless she unleashed her ultimate move, she couldn’t move at all.

And she had absolutely no intention of doing that right now.

“Y-You… let go of me!”

“No.” Higokumaru’s lips brushed against Hu Tao’s earlobe, parting with every word. Each movement felt like she was about to bite it clean off—yet every time, she stopped just short.

“When you came looking for me… didn’t you think this might happen?”

“...Despicable! Pervert! Shameless!”

Hu Tao’s face burned bright red, her gaze drifting in and out of focus, especially when Higokumaru’s fingers suddenly pressed harder again.

The fabric nearly caved inward.

Hu Tao’s body tensed violently. In her hand, the Staff of Homa burst into flame for an instant, igniting together with her emotions.

“Hm…”

But with a pleased, almost delirious hum from Higokumaru, the flames on the Staff of Homa instantly died out.

“You got excited?”

There was laughter in Higokumaru’s voice. She felt like she finally understood the kind of joy Yae Sakura once experienced.

Not the distant pleasure that came through shared senses—but something real, something she was experiencing firsthand.

The satisfaction that came with it intoxicated her completely.

She didn’t even want to kill Hu Tao afterward anymore. Instead, she wanted to keep Hu Tao by her side at all times, dragging her out whenever she got bored.

The feeling was just too addictive.

“I didn’t—” Hu Tao’s voice trembled faintly.

Higokumaru didn’t bother arguing.

The events from fifty thousand years ago… and from five hundred years ago… had taught Higokumaru one thing with absolute clarity.

Actions spoke louder than words.

Her fingers slipped directly past the edge of the fabric.

Her head lowered slightly as well.

In that instant, it felt as though Hu Tao had suffered a devastating blow. Even though the invisible membrane still restrained her body tightly, she trembled violently, like all strength had been drained from her.

Critical damage state.

Almost there.

Reason slowly resurfaced in Hu Tao’s eyes. She began seriously studying the Higokumaru before her.

“Are you done yet?”

Higokumaru lifted her head. The section of clothing where she’d buried her face moments ago had already been soaked through with damp stains.

And in her eyes, Hu Tao’s face was completely flushed now—from her forehead all the way down to her neck, red like an overripe apple.

Yet the way Hu Tao looked at her now held seven parts sanctity, two parts rationality… and one part mockery.

“Not even close~” Higokumaru grinned viciously. Combined with those dark crimson eyes and that obsessive, frenzied stare, she looked exactly like a lovesick maniac.

“Five hundred years. How could this possibly be enough?!”

Her fingers pressed harder, digging deep into Hu Tao’s skin. Thick liquid, sticky like blood, immediately welled out, a horrifying sight to behold.

Hu Tao let out a muffled groan, her body shuddering faintly, yet her gaze only sharpened further.

The Staff of Homa flared up once more in her hand.

But after what happened earlier, Higokumaru only assumed the weapon was reacting again to Hu Tao’s shifting emotions.

“Can you feel it?”

Higokumaru reveled in every change in Hu Tao’s emotions, delighting in it with unmistakably warped pleasure.

“Your body can’t move… and your body is welcoming me… just like Yae Sakura did. You’re perfectly compatible with me entering you too~”

Yae Sakura?

Did that mean… theoretically speaking, her body could also be possessed by Higokumaru?

Amidst a turbulent, overwhelming wave of violation, Hu Tao was actually pondering a very serious question.

Namely, what would happen in seven days if Higokumaru completely possessed her body?

Pop!

With a crisp, sharp sound, the Staff of Homa flared to life. Cloaked in the sudden burst of flame ignited by that sound, the polearm struck down like a lightning bolt, smashing squarely onto the crown of Higokumaru’s head.

Higokumaru had just been about to raise her fingers, a twisted, ecstatic smile still plastered across her face, when her vision violently pitched into darkness.

"Secret Rite of Peace!!!"

Flames flashed blindingly within the bedroom.

Yet outside the window, the sky remained a fragmented expanse of dark crimson.

So flippant, so simple. Higokumaru, still immersed in the joy of victory, had been brought down in a single blow simply out of sheer carelessness—because her attention had been entirely consumed by something else.

"Phew... pant... Your technique is nothing special after all."

Hu Tao gasped for breath, staring down at the collapsed Higokumaru. Her eyes held none of the joy that usually followed a victory, only a lingering sense of dissatisfaction.

She licked her lips. Because her body was still recovering from being severely broken twice in a row, she was forced to plant the Staff of Homa firmly against the ground, leaning her entire weight onto it.

"Honestly... way too violent."

Hu Tao turned her head to look around the room, a hint of a complaint rising to her flushed, post-battle cheeks.

"It scratched so badly it hurts. Next time, can you please clip your nails first?"

As she spoke, she bared her teeth in discomfort, raising a hand to rub vigorously against the skin of her lower abdomen.

It was as if this was the only way to soothe the dull ache inside her stomach.

Higokumaru’s eyes were tightly shut as she lay on the floor, yet even so, a faint smirk remained on her face.

It looked as though she was the one who had won.

Furthermore, streams of ash-like residue from the scorching flames were continuously drifting off her body.

That was Hu Tao’s power, burning into her.

If Higokumaru were still awake, this burning effect would have been quickly extinguished.

But under the double assault of Hu Tao's heavy strike and the intense psychological gratification she had just experienced, Higokumaru had fallen into a deep, infant-like slumber.

Hu Tao squatted down slightly, not just because her legs felt weak, but out of curiosity.

She reached out and gently poked Higokumaru's cheek, attempting to rouse the other consciousness dwelling within the body.

"I know you can hear me. Mm~ right now, my power is purging the evil from this body. It's time for you to wake up."

As Hu Tao's voice trailed off, "Higokumaru's" eyelids trembled slightly.

Then, they slowly fluttered open.

The dark crimson eyes had reverted back to a clear, deep blue.

This meant Yae Sakura had successfully regained control over her body, though Higokumaru’s remaining power was still deeply rooted within it.

However, those eyes were filled with profound sorrow and grief.

"It seems she really did a number on your mind, huh?"

Hu Tao looked down at Yae Sakura, her voice maintaining its usual lighthearted tone. When Yae Sakura met her gaze, a deep, heavy sense of apology surfaced amidst the grief in her eyes.

In reality...

When Higokumaru had been doing those things earlier, Sakura had shared every single sensation.

Everything Higokumaru did, her surging emotions, and the thoughts in her mind—Sakura had felt them all.

"No need to apologize. I know what you want to say, but it doesn't matter."

Hu Tao tossed her hair back generously.

She actually had quite a bit of fun just now, especially the thrill from that final strike.

Lifting the Staff of Homa high! And then, bringing it down.

Hu Tao felt like she had never struck a head that made such a satisfying sound.

This caused the expression in Yae Sakura’s eyes to ease into a slight sense of relief, but soon after, they dimmed back into a deathly stillness.

She had learned everything from Higokumaru.

Kallen was dead...

The moment Kallen left this world, she had already...

In an instant, Yae Sakura felt as though she had lost her very reason for existing.

The grief and sorrow inside her were like wild beasts, savagely consuming her heart.

Hu Tao watched Yae Sakura. Even though she didn't know exactly how Higokumaru had manipulated her, seeing the bleak, hollow look in Sakura's eyes allowed her to guess where the problem lay.

Kallen.

Oh dear...

Now this was getting a bit troublesome.

"Hey, hey." Hu Tao looked at Yae Sakura, her expression turning serious. "You need to put some effort into fighting off that other will right now. Otherwise, your body is going to get snatched away again in a moment."

Hearing Hu Tao's words, a spark of life finally returned to Yae Sakura's eyes.

Then, she began to cooperate with Hu Tao's power, slowly extracting the residual strength of Higokumaru from her body, letting it burn away piece by piece.

However, the process was far too slow.

Watching this, Hu Tao's brow furrowed slightly. "Yae Sakura... at this rate, Higokumaru might wake up before you even finish purging her power."

She squatted down lower to look at Yae Sakura, the plum blossom on her hat brim tilting slightly downward.

Yae Sakura's eyelashes trembled, but she didn't speak.

She couldn't speak at the moment, but she knew Hu Tao was right.

Looking at the immobile Yae Sakura, a bold idea suddenly struck Hu Tao from within~

"I have a plan."

She took off her hat and set it aside on the nightstand.

"But, I need your consent~" As she spoke, Hu Tao locked eyes with Yae Sakura, a mischievous glint of a smile dancing in her gaze.

Yae Sakura met Hu Tao's eyes, a look of resolute determination appearing within her deep blue irises.

She agreed.

No matter what it was, she wouldn't refuse.

Because no matter what, she would never allow Higokumaru to break free from her consciousness and steal this body again.

"As long as you agree~"

Looking at the resolve in Yae Sakura's eyes, Hu Tao sighed softly in admiration.

Yae Sakura really was pure-hearted.

Or rather...

Her willpower was incredibly firm!

Willing to make any sacrifice just to seal Higokumaru away!

Hu Tao's fingers gently brushed against Yae Sakura's collarbone.

At this moment, Hu Tao felt she could somewhat understand Higokumaru and the others.

The collarbone really felt wonderful to touch~

As her fingers lightly rubbed against the bone, Yae Sakura's body shuddered slightly.

"It's afraid of me~" A spark of flame ignited on Hu Tao's fingertips, scorching Higokumaru's residual power within that localized area.

"My fire specializes in burning these types of things. But your body is blocking it, so the flames can't reach."

Hu Tao's hand slid down over the smooth, milky skin, stopping beneath the collar of the pink pajamas, right by the buttons.

"You have to let me in~"

Looking up into Hu Tao’s bright, earnest brownish-red eyes, Yae Sakura blinked softly.

She could feel Hu Tao's power aggressively burning away Higokumaru's energy, and by capitalizing on this growing advantage, she was slowly reclaiming full command of her body.

Furthermore...

As Yae Sakura gazed at Hu Tao, her eyes filled with a profound sense of guilt and remorse, because just moments ago, Higokumaru had used her body to subject Hu Tao to so much, yet Hu Tao was still entirely willing to help her right now.

"No need to thank me~" The corners of Hu Tao's mouth curved upward slightly.

She was starting to understand the thrill of teasing a good person.

Even under these circumstances, Sakura still chose to trust her unconditionally~

Hu Tao hooked her finger around the button and gave it a gentle flick, popping it open.

Beneath the unbuttoned collar, amidst the smooth expanse of pale skin, streams of ash-like fragments with glowing, charred edges began to drift out into the air.

This was proof that Higokumaru’s power was being burned away.

"Let me help you get it out~" Hu Tao shifted her leg and straddled Yae Sakura's lap. Looking down at her, a flash of eager anticipation spread across Hu Tao's brownish-red eyes.

"But… Yae Sakura... I was left pretty heated by her actions earlier too... Since you feel like you owe me... how about you take her place... and pay back some of that debt first~"

While Yae Sakura was still dazed by the words, Hu Tao had already leaned her head down.

--+--

An indefinite amount of time later, out in the hallway, Kiana was walking past Yae Sakura's bedroom door in her pajamas, letting out a wide yawn.

However, as she approached the door, her steps instinctively ground to a halt.

"Huh?"

Kiana tilted her ear toward the door, feeling like she caught a sound that didn't seem quite right.

But listening closely again, the bedroom seemed completely silent.

"Strange?" Kiana murmured under her breath. She had originally intended to head to the kitchen to grab a snack, since she hadn't eaten her fill during the day.

Knock, knock...

Feeling that something was off, Kiana gently rapped her knuckles against the wood.

"Sakura, are you still awake?" Kiana asked out of curiosity and a bit of concern. "I thought I heard some weird noises coming from your room. Is everything okay?"

Creak—

The door swung open a fraction of an inch, revealing the upper half of Yae Sakura's body.

Except Yae Sakura looked incredibly disheveled right now. The buttons of her pajamas were half-undone, exposing the upper curve of her smooth, pale skin.

Moreover, she was drenched in sweat, looking exactly as though she had just finished some incredibly intense, grueling exercise.

Yet the moment that subtle scent drifted into Kiana's nose, she didn't find it unpleasant at all. Instead, a sudden, inexplicable wave of heat flushed through her own body.

"W-What's wrong with you?" Kiana asked, her eyes instantly filling with urgency as she took in Yae Sakura's deeply flushed face, her trembling posture half-hidden behind the door, and her heavy, ragged breathing.

"I'm... fine." Yae Sakura's breath caught slightly, and she let out a sharp gasp.

It was as if she were using this brief pause just to catch her breath and rest, but that single gasp only caused her face to burn an even deeper shade of crimson.

Beholding her like this, Kiana's own cheeks flushed a light pink, a wave of confusion washing over her eyes.

"Are you... are you really okay?" Kiana couldn't help but press further.

Her gaze remained locked squarely onto Yae Sakura's face.

"Yes..."

There was a serious look in Yae Sakura's eyes, but the watery, strained expression—like she was desperately enduring something intense—caused a bizarre emotion to surge deep within Kiana’s heart.

"There's... still food... in the kitchen... Kiana."

Yae Sakura could tell at a glance that Kiana had come out late at night specifically to raid the kitchen.

After all, Kiana had eaten incredibly little during the day, having managed only two bowls of rice at dinner.

It just would have been much more convincing if her voice hadn't been trembling, interspersed with those sudden, frantic gasps for air.

"I... I... still have things to... ah!"

Yae Sakura suddenly gripped the doorframe, dropping her head as she let out a strange, muffled whimper before pulling the door shut.

Standing outside the closed door, Kiana's earlobes were burning red, her bright blue eyes wide with a mix of shock, embarrassment, and utter bewilderment.

"It's... it's over..."

Once the door was shut, Hu Tao looked over at Yae Sakura, who had her back turned while leaning heavily against the door, panting heavily and drenched in sweet sweat. Letting out a soft sigh of relief, Hu Tao stood up from the floor, lightly patting her own reddened knees.

"Thank you... Hu Tao..."

Yae Sakura turned her head slightly, offering a soft word of gratitude.

See? She’s even thanking me!

A surge of pure delight welled up inside Hu Tao.

Standing right behind Yae Sakura, she wiped her mouth, her lips thoroughly moistened and flushed a deep crimson.

"Don't mention it... I'm... quite satisfied myself. Now, Higokumaru's power has been completely wiped out... and that strange barrier has vanished as well."

Hu Tao glanced out the window at the night sky, sighing softly in appreciation.

Yae Sakura tried to squat down, nearly losing her balance in the process. With Hu Tao’s assistance, she silently pulled her pajama pants back up.

The continuous, ash-like fragments that had been drifting off her skin were gone.

Higokumaru had entirely vanished from her perception.

Yet Sakura knew that sooner or later, Higokumaru would return. But until that day came, she would likely have a very, very long time to properly rest.

Even so, just now, she and Hu Tao had crossed lines that definitely shouldn't have been crossed.

Yae Sakura turned around, looking at Hu Tao with a complicated gaze.

"Phew~"

Hu Tao adjusted her pajamas, meeting Yae Sakura's gaze with a brilliant, thoroughly pleased smile.

"Let's leave things here for tonight~"

"Mm..." Yae Sakura nodded. She needed time to process the reality that Kallen was dead.

She needed to think things over.

However, when she lifted her leg to walk toward her bed, her knees buckled from sheer weakness.

"Watch out!"

Hu Tao opened her arms, catching her without a moment's hesitation.

"Thank you..." Feeling the embrace of the slightly shorter girl, Yae Sakura nodded gently.

This wasn't the first time Hu Tao had bailed her out...

If it weren't for Hu Tao, Yae Sakura couldn't even begin to imagine what would have happened tonight, and despite everything Higokumaru had done to Hu Tao using her body, Hu Tao had still been willing to help her.

Even if the process of helping had taken a bit of an unexpected turn afterward.

But if it served as a small way to compensate Hu Tao...

"Get a good night's sleep, don't think about anything else."

Hu Tao spoke softly to Yae Sakura, her smile sincere. "I'll stay by your side for the rest of the night. If that Higokumaru tries anything again~ you won't be in any danger!"

"Alright..."

Yae Sakura knew she was still incredibly weak, so she didn't decline the offer.

Thus, Hu Tao supported her as they walked over to the bed. Once Sakura was settled in, Hu Tao climbed in beside her, wrapping her arms around her from behind.

Though Yae Sakura was highly unaccustomed to such intimacy, Hu Tao’s posture was unyielding.

"Sleep tight~" Hu Tao's hand slipped subtly beneath the hem of her shirt.

Yae Sakura didn't pay it much mind at the moment.

She closed her eyes, her mind still echoing with the words Higokumaru had spoken to her.

The waves of unusual sensations across her body forced her to temporarily push those thoughts aside. Her breathing gradually quickened, leaving her with no spare energy to focus on anything else.

Is Yae Sakura just giving up and letting it happen now? Hu Tao thought contextually with amusement.

It seemed the blow from Higokumaru, combined with the crushing realization that Kallen was dead, had driven her to a state of utter despair.

"The person you hold dear will one day cross paths with you again, no matter how long it takes." After a moment of thought, Hu Tao whispered these words gently into Yae Sakura's ear.

Of course, the sentiment might have carried more weight if her hand weren't resting exactly where it was.

Nevertheless, upon hearing Hu Tao's words, Yae Sakura's eyes fluttered open, her blue irises laced with a touch of confusion and searching hope.

"Kallen... ah..."

Hu Tao's reassurance had breathed a spark of new hope into her, even if her body couldn't help but tremble slightly beneath the touch.

--+--

Morning arrived in the blink of an eye.

When Hu Tao stepped out of her bedroom, she could practically be described as radiating pure refreshment.

Even the red marks on her knees had completely faded away.

"Good morning~"

The first person Hu Tao ran into was Kiana. However, Kiana had dark circles under her eyes, clearly indicating she had pulled another all-nighter.

"Morning."

Kiana couldn't suppress a yawn, offering a faint greeting before shuffling toward the bathroom.

"Kiana, staying up late is a terrible habit, you know."

Hu Tao smiled brightly, eyeing the dark circles.

"Yeah... I get it." Kiana’s face suddenly flushed—an instantaneous crimson bloom—and she instantly quickened her pace.

"Heheh~"

Hu Tao watched her retreating back, the corners of her mouth curving into a mischievous, teasing smirk, looking exactly like a prankster who had just pulled off a successful stunt.

Once she finished freshening up, she walked over to the dining table by the living room and slid into the seat right next to Yae Sakura.

"Morning~"

"Yes, morning."

Yae Sakura nodded gently, locking eyes with Hu Tao. Deep within her gaze, there remained a soft warmth, gratitude, and a lingering trace of guilt.

As Hu Tao looked at her, she noticed a tiny, subtle shift in Yae Sakura's appearance.

Her skin looked remarkably radiant, as though it had been thoroughly nourished, carrying a healthy, translucent flush. Her lips, however, were slightly swollen, looking distinctly as if they had been vigorously sucked on the night before.

Even the aura between her eyes had shifted.

She looked significantly more alluring.

In an instant, a wave of pride swelled inside Hu Tao's chest.

The flower I watered is blooming beautifully!

"Sakura, your complexion looks so much better today?" Theresa noted from across the table, staring at Sakura with curiosity.

"Does it?"

Yae Sakura's fingers paused slightly, a look of mild bewilderment crossing her features.

This airhead didn't really understand how these things worked.

"Mhm." Theresa assumed a serious expression, eyeing Yae Sakura's skin with a touch of envy. "Your skin is literally glowing. Did you start using some new skincare product?"

Nearby, Kiana abruptly buried her face straight into her breakfast bowl, her ears burning scorching hot.

"Kiana?" Raiden Mei looked over, thoroughly baffled by her strange behavior.

Hu Tao merely smiled, keeping quiet.

Yae Sakura let out a soft sigh, her eyes sweeping over everyone with a complex expression as she gently set her chopsticks down onto the table.

This single movement immediately signaled to Mei and the others that something was amiss. One by one, they solemnly set down their own utensils.

"Last night," Yae Sakura began, her voice soft and laced with gravity, "the entity coexisting within me... Higokumaru, the demon inside the box, lost control."

"What?!"

Theresa's eyes widened in instant shock, while Fu Hua and the others shifted into expressions of tense alertness.

Only Hu Tao remained perfectly relaxed.

Everyone had long been aware that within Yae Sakura resided the very culprit behind the tragedy of Yae Village five hundred years ago.

It was because of that entity that Yae Sakura had been torn apart from Kallen.

"She tried to seize complete control of my body," Yae Sakura explained quietly, a trace of lingering fear coloring her tone. "I couldn't hold her back."

"Sakura?"

Theresa’s voice strained with tension and worry.

Kiana looked entirely stunned.

Her mind flashed back to the events of last night, the sights she had witnessed...

So Higokumaru had lost control?

Was... was that really what it was?

"I'm fine now." Seeing the anxious, worried looks on everyone's faces, Yae Sakura shook her head gently before turning her gaze to the girl beside her, who was already wearing an immensely proud expression.

"It's all thanks to Hu Tao."

"?"

Kiana snapped her head toward Hu Tao, her eyes swimming with confusion.

"Humph-humph~"

Hu Tao whipped off her hat, spinning it deftly around her finger. "Allow me to introduce myself once more~ I am the Director of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. Our scope of business includes exorcising evil spirits, purging demons, and sending people off to the afterlife—a complete, one-stop service!"

With a theatrical flourish, she tossed her hat into the air, caught it perfectly on her head, and raised both hands to straighten it.

She looked entirely whimsical and incredibly adorable.

"It was just a walk in the park~"

"W-Why didn't you tell us last night?!" Theresa stammered, looking at Hu Tao in absolute shock.

"Because alerting you beforehand would have startled the snake in the grass~"

Hu Tao flashed a thoroughly confident smile at Theresa, continuing, "Yesterday, I noticed that the foul miasma on Yae Sakura had already spread across her entire body. It was a textbook sign of impending possession~"

"And since I’m only staying here for seven days, if I had informed you all in advance and the demon caught wind of it, she would have simply laid low~"

"Therefore, I had no choice but to take action completely on my own last night~"

Hu Tao spoke with utter righteousness. Hearing her explanation and seeing Yae Sakura nodding seriously in agreement, everyone finally breathed a collective sigh of relief.

"Thank goodness."

Theresa wore an expression of profound relief, though she still turned to Yae Sakura to add a word of caution: "You should still come with us to the clinic later for a checkup, just to make absolutely sure there are no lingering issues."

"Understood." Yae Sakura didn't object, nodding quietly.

However...

Kiana sat off to the side, sinking into a state of profound bewilderment.

So it was true. That demon had actually tried to steal Yae Sakura's body.

Which meant...

Last night, Hu Tao had been in Yae Sakura's room specifically to help her perform an exorcism?

The more Kiana thought about it, the more confused she became. In the end, she simply forced the thoughts out, shaking her head vigorously while feeling a mix of embarrassment and helplessness.

How did my mind even jump to those kinds of things... Seriously, I'm such an idiot!

"Kiana?"

Noticing Kiana's completely flushed face—looking as though she desperately wanted to find a hole to crawl into—Hu Tao decided it was the perfect opportunity to tease her.

"Are you feeling a bit under the weather too?" She smiled mischievously at Kiana, a wicked grin spreading across her face. "Why don't I take a look at you~ My healing skills are top-notch, you know?"

"Huh? N-No thanks, I'm perfectly fine." Kiana waved her hands frantically, declining the offer.

"Oh, alright~"

Hu Tao finally nodded, letting her off the hook.

However, beside her, Yae Sakura's expression dimmed once more.

She looked at the group, a shadow of profound sorrow sweeping through her eyes.

"Hm? Sakura, are you thinking about last night again?" Hu Tao turned to look at her, reaching out to gently place her hand over Yae Sakura's thigh, pinning her hand down.

She applied just enough pressure that her fingertips pressed a subtle, soft indentation into the tender skin of Yae Sakura's thigh.

"Yes."

Yae Sakura nodded, the grief in her eyes deepening.

"Sakura?" Himeko interjected, her brow furrowing with concern. "What happened?"

"Last night..." Yae Sakura's voice grew heavy and strained, "Higokumaru told me... the exact moment Kallen was about to return to her world, she... she died..."

The moment those words left her mouth, everyone at the table froze.

"What?!" Theresa's eyes flew wide in sheer disbelief as she cried out, "Kallen? She... she..."

Theresa couldn't bring herself to finish the sentence.

What a silly girl.

Hu Tao sighed inwardly, watching Yae Sakura fall right back into her spiral of despair.

Then, she looked intently at Yae Sakura, her voice firm and grounding: "Sakura, don't believe a single word a malicious spirit tells you. To achieve their twisted goals and steal someone's body, those foul things will fabricate absolutely any lie."

Yae Sakura turned her head, a glimmer of hope re-igniting in her eyes as she looked at Hu Tao.

"I've been dealing with spirits like them for a very long time; I know their tricks inside out." Hu Tao offered her a reassuring smile.

"Think about it, if Higokumaru were truly that certain... she would have told you the very instant she sensed the death of the person you care about, breaking your spirit and shattering your will right then and there~ She wouldn't have patiently waited and held onto it for this long."

The moment those words were spoken, the light in Yae Sakura's eyes instantly flared bright.

It was true. Given her understanding of Higokumaru, patience was absolutely not one of the demon's traits.

"So don't buy into her lies."

"...Mm."

Feeling her hand firmly squeezed by Hu Tao, a warmth welled up within Yae Sakura's heart, and she nodded gently.

"Thank you, Hu Tao."

"Heh, don't mention it~"

Hu Tao nodded earnestly, then looked at Sakura with a blooming smile. "When night falls, I'll give you another thorough treatment to purge any remnant trace of Higokumaru's foul energy from your body, just to see if anything is left over~"

"We wouldn't want any future complications~"

While Yae Sakura nodded in agreement, Kiana's face remained bright red.

Kiana felt like she had completely lost her innocence.

Ever since her mind had taken that wild turn initially, her entire thought process had become utterly warped.

Hu Tao noticed the shifting expressions on Kiana's face, feeling a tiny hint of helplessness herself.

It seemed she would have to find some time to have a proper, thorough chat with Kiana~

--+--

A short while later.

Everyone finished their breakfast. Those who had work went to work, and those with classes headed off to school.

Even Yae Sakura was dragged along to the clinic for her checkup.

Hu Tao had originally intended to tag along, but seeing that Kiana had no morning classes and would be staying behind at the dorms, she decided to stay as well.

"Wow, incredible! The games in your world are so much fun~"

She and Kiana were sitting side by side on the couch, intensely focused on a video game.

Initially, Hu Tao’s playstyle had been incredibly clunky. After all, using a brand-new body to pilot these games always required some time to redevelop the muscle memory.

"Hey, you're actually pretty good! You've only been playing for a bit, but you're already going toe-to-toe with me!"

It was rare for Kiana to find an opponent matched perfectly to her skill level, and she was having the absolute time of her life.

However, after a few intense rounds, Kiana caught a glimpse of Hu Tao's flushed face, bright with excitement. Inevitably, her mind flashed back to the sounds from last night.

Her cheeks flushed crimson.

She tried desperately to wipe the thoughts from her brain...

"Kiana, what's wrong?" Noticing her odd behavior, Hu Tao turned her head, her expression shifting into one of genuine concern and curiosity.

"Are you feeling sick, or did you catch a cold? Come, let the Director check~" As she spoke, she slid closer across the couch, her bright, delicate face rapidly expanding in Kiana's field of vision.

"Huh?"

Before Kiana could even process a reaction, Hu Tao’s hand had already reached out, resting firmly against her forehead.

Kiana shook her head vigorously, her gaze darting away guiltily. "No, I don't have a fever or a cold. It's... because of something else."

"Oh? Then what is it?"

Hu Tao initially put on a look of mild confusion, but then, a thoroughly suggestive, wicked grin slowly spread across her lips.

That exact expression caused Kiana’s brain to go entirely blank.

Once again, she pictured the image from last night... Yae Sakura’s heavily flushed face, desperately enduring something as she gasped for air.

"Kiana, you... saw that unusual expression on Yae Sakura's face last night, didn't you?"

"I... I..."

Kiana’s face turned completely crimson in an instant, her voice stuttering heavily. A crushing wave of guilt washed over her, looking exactly like a child caught red-handed doing something terrible.

"Sigh, it's only natural you noticed. After all, the commotion Yae Sakura and I made last night was indeed quite loud."

Hu Tao let out a soft sigh.

"Y-You two..." Kiana’s eyes went wide, her face burning scorching hot. Her expression was a chaotic mix of sheer shock, intense embarrassment, and total helplessness.

"What kind of wicked things did you think Yae Sakura and I were doing?"

Hu Tao’s face was now a mere matter of inches away from Kiana’s. Staring at the wicked grin on a face that looked remarkably similar to her own, Kiana felt her mind dissolve into utter chaos.

Instinctively, she felt something was off.

Hu Tao was totally playing her!

"The answer is~ exorcism!"

After thoroughly enjoying the spectacle of Kiana’s completely flushed, flustered state, Hu Tao finally sat back upright, entirely satisfied.

Kiana, however, was left with her face burning red, her earlobes completely scarlet.

"Ex... exorcism?"

Kiana blinked rapidly, murmuring the word in a daze.

"Exactly~" Hu Tao nodded, lifting her right hand with a teasing, triumphant smirk.

A bright wisp of flame flickered to life right on the tip of her finger.

"Fire?" Kiana stared at the flame in astonishment.

"That's right."

Hu Tao nodded proudly. "My Vision allows me to burn away all evil entities—well~ except for the ones the Director can't beat, of course."

"Fortunately, the demon inside Yae Sakura last night happened to be one this Director could handle~"

"So that's what it was..." Kiana nodded in sudden enlightenment, but as she looked back at Hu Tao, another contradiction struck her.

"Wait a minute! Then why was Sakura's expression so bizarre last night?"

"Heheh~" Hu Tao gazed at her, the distinct plum blossoms in her eyes seemingly softening into faint shapes of hearts, her smile growing increasingly suggestive and mysterious.

But she still...

Wanted to keep going.

Get a grip.

After splashing some cold water onto her face, Hu Tao took a deep, stabilizing breath.

If she proceeded to do those kinds of things to Kiana right now, it would probably be incredibly difficult to handle the aftermath~

So, what should the next move be?

Pondering the thought for a moment, a thoroughly delighted, wicked smile inevitably crept back onto the corners of her lips.

She already had a brilliant plan~

--+--

Honkai Transformations - 86

--+--

"Hehehehe~"

After finishing her shower, Hu Tao hummed a little tune to herself, feeling refreshed from head to toe.

At the moment, though, she only had a bath towel wrapped around her body. Her damp hair draped loosely down her back, giving her a look that was both innocent and beautiful. Combined with her petite frame—

She looked just like the cute girl next door~

"Y-you're done already?" Kiana, still sitting on the couch watching TV, froze for a second the moment she saw Hu Tao like that. A faint blush spread across her face.

"Mhm~"

Hu Tao nodded, then tilted her head toward the bathroom. "All done~ Your turn now, Kiana. I'll be waiting in my room."

"...Okay."

Even though she hesitated a little, Kiana still got up and walked over, but as she passed by Hu Tao, she couldn't help giving her a wary look.

"Hu Tao."

"Hm?" Hu Tao stopped and tilted her head at her with a puzzled expression.

"That whole evil-spirit cleansing thing you mentioned... does it actually work?"

"Of course it does." Hu Tao lifted her chin proudly. "The Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's been around for seventy-seven generations! I've dealt with more evil spirits than the number of Honkai Beasts you've ever seen."

Only then did Kiana purse her lips and push open the bathroom door.

The moment she stepped inside, though, she caught a scent lingering in the warm, humid air—something different from the body wash.

A delicate fragrance that sank straight into the heart.

It was Hu Tao's scent.

Kiana instinctively realized that, and her cheeks grew even warmer.

She felt embarrassed, but at the same time... she couldn't stop breathing it in.

Meanwhile, Hu Tao returned to her bedroom and gave Himeko and the others a phone call.

A little while later, a bunch of jars, bottles, and other supplies she needed were delivered outside the dorm, and she went to pick them up from the courier.

By the time Kiana finished showering and stepped out wrapped in nothing but a towel, Hu Tao had just carried the last of the supplies back into her room.

"Perfect timing."

The moment Hu Tao saw Kiana, her eyes lit up.

"C'mon, straight to my room."

Kiana nodded and took a deep breath.

"Wait, let me put some clothes on first."

"Hm? No need~"

Hu Tao grinned mischievously.

"No need?" Kiana stopped mid-step on her way toward her own room, her gaze instantly sharpening.

"Mhm."

Looking at Kiana now, Hu Tao couldn't help sighing internally.

If this had been the original game version of Kiana, she'd probably just cluelessly ask "why?" with a shy little expression on her face, but the current Kiana, after all the effort Hu Tao had spent "raising" her—and after repeatedly delivering news of the deaths of the characters she'd previously transformed into—had gradually matured.

"Not a single piece stays on."

"W-why?!" Kiana immediately started stammering, her face flushing bright red.

"Because~"

Hu Tao held up a glass cup and smiled brightly at her.

"The fire cups need to stick directly to your back. They won't seal properly through clothing. This is one of the most important parts of getting rid of the cold poison in your body~"

Listening to her explanation, Kiana vaguely recalled Fu Hua mentioning that Shenzhou did indeed have something called fire cupping.

"And there are other methods too for cleansing evil influences~"

Hu Tao picked up another scraping tool, her expression completely serious this time, leaving Kiana with no choice but to nod helplessly.

Still, she was embarrassed. Extremely embarrassed.

She even started hesitating again.

"If you're really too shy~ there are other options later."

Seeing Kiana's hesitation, Hu Tao smiled softly.

That reassurance calmed Kiana down a little.

"Okay."

She nodded.

If it meant figuring out what Hu Tao had really done yesterday—and confirming the suspicions in her heart—then sacrificing herself a little was worth it.

A moment later, though, as she followed Hu Tao into the bedroom...

Before Kiana could even ask what came next, Hu Tao had already turned her back to her and started taking off the clothes she'd just put on, one piece at a time.

"Wah?!"

Kiana instantly panicked, hurriedly covering her face with both hands. Her entire face turned scarlet as she peeked through the gaps between her fingers.

"Y-you! What are you doing?!"

"Taking my clothes off~"

Hu Tao looked at her with an amused grin, clearly trying not to laugh.

"If you're too embarrassed to undress by yourself, then this director will keep you company~"

"T-that's not what I meant!"

Watching Hu Tao continue stripping, Kiana's face turned red as an apple.

And yet...

Her eyes never moved away.

Hu Tao turned slightly sideways toward her, meeting Kiana's gaze directly.

The next second, Kiana's fingers snapped shut over her eyes.

"Pfft~"

Seeing her reaction, Hu Tao mercilessly teased her.

"What're you scared of? Haven't you ever bathed with other girls before?"

"W-who's scared?!"

Kiana immediately dropped her hands, her face burning red. She couldn't even tell whether she was angry from Hu Tao provoking her—or something else entirely.

And only then did she suddenly realize something.

Back when she'd covered her face just now...

The towel around her body had already fallen off. But all her attention had been focused on Hu Tao. Combined with how flustered and overheated she'd gotten, she hadn't even noticed the cool air against her skin.

"Waaahhh!!"

After a complete round of chaos and flailing...

Kiana ultimately accepted her fate and obediently lay face-down on the bed, completely naked.

Hu Tao stood beside the window, admiring Kiana's sleek, well-proportioned figure—especially the places that were supposed to curve.

Very satisfied, she nodded.

Even though she'd already seen far too much by now, she still remained true to her original passions.

"You! Are you done staring yet?!"

Kiana buried her face into the pillow and shouted at Hu Tao in embarrassment.

Only then did Hu Tao finally grin and nod.

"See? You're still shy after all~"

"Ugh! You're so annoying."

"Hey now, according to them, we're technically supposed to be the same person anyway."

After teasing Kiana for a few more lines, Hu Tao picked up a glass cup and spun it around her fingers before moving closer to Kiana's back.

"It'll hurt a little at first. Just bear with it~"

"Mhm."

Kiana had only just nodded when she suddenly realized something about Hu Tao's wording sounded suspicious.

Then, the next instant—

A burst of heat flared against her back.

"Mmgh!"

A tiny flame flickered at Hu Tao's fingertips before the heated cup pressed firmly against Kiana's skin, drawing a muffled groan from her lips.

It felt like something had bitten her.

"Does it hurt?"

Hu Tao's fingers gently brushed the skin around the cup, touching the slightly tightened flesh.

"...Not really. It's just... kinda tight."

What an incredibly questionable conversation~

The corners of Hu Tao's lips curled upward mischievously. She moved around Kiana, placing one cup after another onto her back.

And at the same time—Hu Tao herself was just as unclothed as Kiana.

Kiana's cheeks burned crimson as her gaze darted around awkwardly.

The feeling was strange. At first, she'd only wanted proof that something was off about Hu Tao, but now...

Somewhere deep inside, she found herself carrying a weird sense of anticipation instead.

And besides...

Hu Tao's body actually was a little different from hers.

As Hu Tao moved around beside her placing the cups, Kiana found herself getting quite the visual feast.

Hehe~

Hu Tao quietly snickered inwardly.

Of course she'd noticed Kiana's gaze.

Honestly, she'd deliberately been showing everything off in front of her, and the results proved it!

Kiana really was weak against beauty.

Though if it wasn't Mei—or Raiden Ei—there was probably an eighty percent chance she'd refuse at the final step. After all, Kiana wasn't as hopelessly gullible as Yae Sakura.

And at this moment, Hu Tao had finally fulfilled one of her long-held dreams.

Giving Valkyries fire cupping treatments!

Back before transmigrating here, she hadn't just been a shameless degenerate—she'd also spent an absurd amount of time online. Ever since then, she'd wanted to try giving the Valkyries cupping therapy on those beautiful backs~

Poor Kiana still had no idea what her back was going to look like afterward~

"What... are these?" Kiana's voice came out muffled, her face still buried in the pillow.

"Fire cups~"

Hu Tao gently ran a hand along the side of Kiana's back.

Clink~

Kiana's body instantly trembled from the stimulation, causing the glass cups to lightly knock together with a crisp ringing sound.

"W-what are fire cups exactly?"

"They're a Liyue technique where one that pulls all the dampness, cold energy, and evil influences out of your body~"

As Hu Tao spoke, she casually sat down on the edge of the bed.

And unfortunately for Kiana—that placed Hu Tao directly in her line of sight.

Those pale white curves—

"Does... does this really work?" Kiana shut her eyes instinctively, then opened them again.

"Of course~"

Hu Tao nodded seriously.

"This technique works especially well on people from outside Liyue because honestly, none of you know how to take care of your bodies properly."

About ten minutes later, Hu Tao finally began removing the cups one by one.

The purplish-red marks left across Kiana's back looked almost like rows of candied hawthorn skewers.

"...It actually does feel kinda weirdly comfortable?"

Kiana sat up from the bed with a relaxed sigh, stretching her back a little. Somehow, her body genuinely felt lighter.

"See~"

Hu Tao plopped herself down beside her and flashed a proud, confident smile.

The moment Kiana's eyes landed on her, though, she immediately looked away again.

"Alright then, no time to waste~"

Grinning mischievously, Hu Tao picked up the gua sha scraper and had Kiana lie back down on the bed.

Yes.

Lie down.

Kiana was still embarrassed, but by now she'd gradually become bolder.

Maybe...

She was getting used to it?

The thought amused Hu Tao greatly.

Then she started scraping the outer side of Kiana's thigh, one stroke after another moving upward.

Kiana immediately clenched her teeth.

"Hss... that hurts."

"Just endure it a little. Once the blockage clears up, it won't hurt anymore~"

Hu Tao's hands never stopped, scraping all the way from the outside toward the inner thigh.

The skin there was far more sensitive.

The instant the scraper touched it, Kiana jolted like she'd been electrocuted.

"Don't move~"

"T-there! That spot feels way too weird!"

"Which is exactly why it needs scraping."

Hu Tao laughed softly while holding Kiana's leg down and continuing.

Red streaks slowly surfaced across her skin, spreading upward from her knee all the way to the base of her thigh.

Especially when Hu Tao's knuckles brushed against the innermost area—Kiana's whole body suddenly tensed.

"Mmgh!"

But Hu Tao still didn't stop. She merely adjusted the angle and continued scraping elsewhere.

"Waaahhh!"

Whenever Kiana couldn't take it anymore and tried to jump off the bed, Hu Tao simply caught her and pressed her back down again.

"If you start something, you've gotta stick with it! If you quit halfway through, then all your earlier effort would've been for nothing~"

"N-no more scraping! I'm done!"

By now Kiana's entire body had turned bright red, not just from the pain, but also because Hu Tao kept accidentally brushing certain places, pushing her completely past her limit.

"Nope~"

At last, Kiana finally understood why Yae Sakura had worn that expression yesterday.

Right now, she looked exactly the same.

Sweat continuously seeped from her pores, her body trembling nonstop. She had the feeling that even if she managed to jump off the bed, her legs would be too weak to run away.

Hu Tao really hadn't lied to her at all!!

"Y-you bully!"

"I'm not bullying you~"

Hu Tao giggled happily, thoroughly enjoying the process of catching Kiana and pinning her back onto the bed every time she tried to escape.

Soon enough, every area that needed scraping had been thoroughly worked over.

The suspicious, wary look Kiana originally wore had completely transformed into teary-eyed grievance and fear—with a faint haze hidden deep in her eyes that was becoming harder and harder to suppress.

Between all the struggling, she'd ended up making plenty of physical contact with Hu Tao. Combined with the occasional brushes against sensitive spots during the scraping, her head had gradually become dizzy and muddled.

"All done~"

By the time Hu Tao finally let her go, Kiana was sprawled limply across the bed, drenched in sweat and gasping heavily.

She looked exactly like Yae Sakura had yesterday.

Hu Tao reached out and lightly touched the flushed red skin on her body, causing Kiana's oversensitive body to tremble again.

"Y-you... what are you doing...? No more scraping... no more..."

"Mhm~ We're already finished."

Hu Tao looked down at her with a devilishly wicked grin.

"Get some proper rest! Your recovery speed isn't as good as Yae Sakura's, so~ some of these marks might not disappear until the day I leave!"

"Huh?"

Kiana blinked blankly, still not understanding what Hu Tao meant.

Until Hu Tao pulled her off the bed and dragged her over to the vanity mirror.

And there—

Reflected in the mirror—

Her entire body was covered in alarming red marks.

"And this too~"

Standing beside her, Hu Tao gently turned her around so she could see her own back clearly.

Then—a panicked scream exploded through the dormitory.

"WAAAAHHHHH!! MY BACK! WHAT HAPPENED TO MY BACK?!!!"

--+--

Honkai Transformations - 87

--+--

“It’s from cupping therapy, you know~?”

Hu Tao looked at Kiana’s stunned expression and had barely finished speaking when faint voices drifted in from outside the dorm. Mei and the others were chatting together as they walked back.

“Ah, looks like Raiden Mei and the others are back.”

The moment Hu Tao turned toward the window, Kiana jolted all over. Seeing her reflection in the mirror sent a massive sense of danger shooting through her chest.

“O-oh no! I need to get dressed right now!”

Kiana spun around and bolted out of Hu Tao’s bedroom. But before she ran out, she still turned bright red and shouted at Hu Tao:

“A-and Hu Tao! Y-you should hurry and get changed too!”

“Okaaay~”

Watching Kiana flee in a panic, Hu Tao’s lips curled upward in delight.

This sneaky, secretive kind of feeling was actually pretty fun~

Before long, the two of them had changed clothes completely. But even after getting dressed, every patch of skin exposed on Kiana’s body was still flushed bright red. She looked so anxious she was practically on the verge of tears.

“Waaah, what do I do? I’m covered in red marks! It looks awful!”

“Relax, they’ll all fade in five or six days.” Hu Tao comforted her casually.

Right then, the dorm door opened, and Mei’s group returned.

“Kiana?”

The instant they walked in, everyone’s eyes landed squarely on Kiana, and they all widened in shock.

“Kiana?! What happened to you?!”

Theresa hurried over too. Seeing Kiana like this, she grabbed her hand anxiously.

“A-are you hurt? Who did this? Was there another attack?!”

“No, no!” Kiana waved frantically, only to tug painfully at the sore skin and the cupping marks on her back, making her grimace. “It was Hu Tao! Hu Tao helped me... helped me do this!”

Though when she said it, her tone carried just a tiny bit of guilt.

Everyone immediately turned toward Hu Tao.

“You... gave Kiana cupping therapy and gua sha?” Fu Hua asked hesitantly after glancing over the marks on Kiana’s body.

“That’s right~”

Hu Tao nodded proudly and waved her hand with complete confidence.

“An old Liyue remedy. Gets rid of dampness, drives out cold, improves circulation, relaxes the muscles~ Wanna try it too?”

“No thanks, no thanks!”

Theresa shook her little head so hard it looked like a bobblehead toy. Hu Tao watched her with sudden temptation rising in her heart.

She’d look super cute with twin ponytails…and the way they’d sway when she shook her head—maybe later she could even grab them...

“So that’s what happened...” Mei looked at Kiana’s mixture of embarrassment and guilt and couldn’t help laughing awkwardly.

“Ugh! Mei, you’re laughing at me!”

“Sorry... Kiana, I just can’t help it.”

With the misunderstanding cleared up, everyone stared curiously at Kiana, who now looked like a walking red lantern.

“I just wanted to see what it was like when Hu Tao exorcised someone... I didn’t expect it to turn out like this...” Kiana’s face burned scarlet, but there was no way she could admit that while Hu Tao was “exorcising” her, her hands had kept accidentally brushing against all sorts of sensitive spots.

And honestly...

It had felt really, really good.

That thrilling feeling where both of them clearly understood what was happening, yet neither of them said it out loud—it was way too exciting.

Especially having to silently keep the secret in front of everyone else.

“Exorcise? You had something evil attached to you?” Mei asked in confusion.

Kiana lowered her head, blushing harder.

“I-I just wanted to try it...”

“Try what exactly?”

Mei looked even more helpless now.

“There’s no way you’d have anything evil on you, Kiana.”

“True, she doesn’t.”

Hu Tao nodded seriously.

Kiana immediately snapped her head up, eyes wide.

“There wasn’t?! Then why were you talking about exorcising evil?!”

“I said I’d exorcise evil~” Hu Tao looked at Kiana with a delighted smile, the kind someone wore while teasing an idiot. “But I never said you had anything evil on you!”

“And you’d been worrying about it all day without daring to ask me directly, so I figured I’d help you relax a little while I was at it~”

Hu Tao grinned mischievously, looking incredibly pleased with herself.

Silly Kiana. If someone delivered themselves right to her doorstep along with a perfect chance to tease them and take advantage a little, how could Hu Tao possibly pass that up~

“Besides, cupping and gua sha are good for your health. They loosen your muscles and improve circulation, so there’s no downside at all. And~ this was personally done by the Director of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor herself. If it were someone else begging me, I might not even agree!”

Kiana’s face instantly turned even redder.

Right now, she felt unbelievably stupid.

She’d only wanted to find out what Hu Tao had done when she “exorcised” Yae Sakura, and somehow she’d ended up delivering herself right into Hu Tao’s hands.

Sure, it felt amazing…but the humiliation of having her intelligence completely outplayed still made Kiana furious.

“Alright, alright.”

Mei stepped in helplessly to smooth things over.

Nearby, Bronya looked at Kiana and sighed faintly, her tone unusually heavy.

“So... among all parallel worlds, the Kiana from our world has the lowest IQ?”

“WAAAH! BRONYA!”

Amid all the playful chaos, Kiana’s lingering suspicions finally faded away, and Hu Tao quietly relaxed too.

Later that night...

Hu Tao walked into Yae Sakura’s room and saw her sitting by the bed with a cup of tea in hand, quietly reading a book.

Hearing the door open, Yae Sakura looked up toward her.

“You came.”

“Mhm.”

Hu Tao casually shut the door behind her—and locked it too—before walking over and sitting beside the bed.

“Been waiting long?”

She looked carefully into Yae Sakura’s eyes.

Those azure eyes held almost no sadness now. They were unnervingly calm.

Hu Tao knew that kind of calmness well. It was the stillness that came after grief had reached its absolute limit, and somehow, seeing it made Hu Tao feel uncomfortable inside too.

Maybe...

Maybe she really should tone down her games a little.

“No.” Yae Sakura set down her teacup softly. “I just finished bathing.”

She wore a thin white nightgown. It was sheer enough that it didn’t look like she had anything underneath. Clear traces still lingered across the soft curves beneath the fabric.

And somehow, there was now a faint air about her like a grieving widow, yet mixed together with the lingering allure born from last night’s intimacy. Pure and seductive at the same time.

It was unbelievably enticing.

“You exorcised Kiana too?” Yae Sakura asked calmly.

“Mhm~”

Hu Tao nodded, her tone softening with a teasing edge.

“I just gave her some gua sha and cupping. But she seemed to enjoy it quite a lot~”

“I see.”

Yae Sakura nodded lightly before asking in a quiet voice:

“Then... are we continuing tonight too?”

That attitude made Hu Tao feel strangely unsettled.

Yae Sakura had changed so much.

Higokumaru... what exactly did you do?

Hu Tao sighed inwardly.

If she’d known things would turn out like this after pretending to be Kallen that time, she would’ve kept more distance from Yae Sakura. Now Sakura practically seemed traumatized.

“Of course.”

Hu Tao nodded gently.

Yae Sakura stood up at once and reached for the buttons on her nightgown, undoing them one by one.

At last, the robe slid from her body and pooled at the foot of the bed.

Under the lights, her skin looked almost luminous. Her chest was soft and full, while her waist narrowed sharply into her hips, delicate dimples faintly visible along the curve.

Hu Tao was still staring blankly when Yae Sakura suddenly moved. She pushed Hu Tao down onto the bed, leaned over her, and lowered her head with practiced familiarity.

“Mm—!”

A long while later, Hu Tao lay there dazed, her breathing still uneven.

Meanwhile, Yae Sakura sat beside her calmly wiping away the traces left behind.

...Was this normal?

Hu Tao turned her head slightly to look at Yae Sakura, huge question marks practically floating over her head.

What just happened?

Yae Sakura’s sudden initiative had completely caught her off guard.

“Get some proper sleep.”

After cleaning herself up, Yae Sakura lay back down and gently pulled Hu Tao into her arms, pressing a soft kiss against her cheek.

That only confused Hu Tao even more, but seeing the faint satisfaction lingering at the corner of Yae Sakura’s eyes, Hu Tao ultimately chose not to ask anything.

Oh well~

Honestly, she kind of liked this too.

Hu Tao shifted slightly, gave up thinking entirely, and buried her face straight into Yae Sakura’s chest.

What she failed to notice, however, was that as Yae Sakura lowered her gaze toward her, traces of dark crimson still flickered deep within those blue eyes. But unlike Higokumaru’s twisted madness, this crimson felt entirely different.

Hu Tao’s earlier guess had been right.

Learning that Kallen had already died after returning to her own time had truly shaken Yae Sakura to the core.

And now...

Everything Hu Tao had done with her last night temporarily filled the unbearable emptiness and grief left behind by hearing of Kallen’s death once more.

The words Hu Tao had spoken...

Had reignited hope inside her heart.

One traveler after another had appeared in their world, including Hu Tao herself.

By now, Yae Sakura had already met three people connected to Kiana.

So...

She believed that someday, somewhere in the future, she would see Kallen again, or perhaps hear from another traveler of a way to bring Kallen back to life.

Thinking that, Yae Sakura quietly tightened her embrace around Hu Tao.

“Mmph?”

The sudden squeeze nearly buried Hu Tao completely in her chest.

Hu Tao struggled slightly and looked up at her in confusion.

The crimson glow in Yae Sakura’s eyes had already vanished before Hu Tao noticed. Meeting her gaze, Yae Sakura smiled gently.

“Hu Tao... I don’t think that exorcism earlier was enough. We... should do it again.”

“? Mmph—!”

--+--

The next morning, when Hu Tao woke up, her head still throbbed faintly, and her whole body felt sore—as though she’d been through gua sha herself. Her skin was flushed red all over.

Yawning, she instinctively tried to snuggle back into Yae Sakura’s embrace—only to suddenly realize something strange was wedged between them.

Something... person-shaped.

Hu Tao’s brain froze.

And whoever it was felt tiny and soft, curled up in her arms while happily suckling against a squishy chest pillow.

Hu Tao trembled slightly and instinctively pulled the blanket down.

Yae Sakura woke at the same moment. Her blue eyes sharpened instantly as she sensed the existence of a third person between them.

Staring at the small creature pressed against her chest—with pink hair and fluffy fox ears, shorter than Yae Sakura’s but still adorable—Hu Tao’s mind descended into total chaos.

“Mmnh!”

When the little creature squirmed again, Hu Tao finally couldn’t take it anymore. Blushing furiously, she carefully lifted her out of her arms bit by bit.

Only then did she look up at Yae Sakura with a bewildered expression.

“Did we... somehow have a child overnight?”

Yae Sakura sat up and looked down silently at the little fox girl for a moment before speaking softly.

“It’s Higokumaru.”

“Higokumaru?” Hu Tao widened her eyes dramatically and looked down at the adorable creature in her arms, unable to resist poking her cheek.

“Mmmnya...”

Higokumaru yawned without waking up. Instead, she opened her mouth slightly and treated Hu Tao’s finger like a pacifier, softly sucking on it instinctively.

I’ve got a...

Nope, never mind.

“She already existed inside my body. But after you purified her, she transformed into this form and temporarily separated from me.”

Yae Sakura reached over and gently took Higokumaru from Hu Tao’s arms, faintly frowning.

“Now... perhaps calling her Higokumaru is no longer appropriate.”

“Then... what should we call her?” Hu Tao looked at Yae Sakura’s serious expression with mixed emotions and obvious softheartedness, while also quietly feeling relieved.

“For a second, I thought we really had a kid together.”

Yae Sakura’s expression shifted subtly.

The trace of cold hostility that had begun forming toward Higokumaru suddenly vanished.

“And she’s so cute... there’s no way I could bring myself to seal her away.”

Hearing that, Yae Sakura finally made her decision.

“From now on... we’ll call her Higokumaru(绯玉丸). The goku(玉)  meaning jade. And... I’ll keep watch over her.”

(T/N: …I just realized I’ve been using Higokumaru this entire time despite the evil version being localized as Hellmaru… I don't have the time to go back and fix them all since I only got the text from another TL)

“That sounds pretty nice~”

Hu Tao’s eyes lit up happily at those words.

Meanwhile, Yae Sakura gazed at Hu Tao with a soft, unwavering focus.

To her now, Hu Tao’s existence—and the future arrivals yet to come—had already become inseparably tied to Kallen in her heart.

She would keep waiting forever...

Until the day she saw Kallen again, or found a way to bring her back. But Hu Tao had absolutely no idea what Yae Sakura was thinking.

She was simply enjoying every bit of affection and cuddling she got with the Valkyries~

--+--

Honkai Transformations - 88

--+--

"What?! You two had a child in just one night?!"

In the living room, Kiana stared in utter disbelief at Higokumaru, who was cradled in Yae Sakura's arms and sported the exact same fox ears as her.

Right beside her, Mei’s face darkened. She raised her hand and gave Kiana a swift, though gentle, smack on the back of her head.

"Ow! That hurt!" Kiana instantly clutched her head with both hands.

"Stop talking nonsense, Kiana," Mei said, lowering her hand as she turned to look at Hu Tao, a hint of confusion in her eyes as well. "Hu Tao... who is she?"

"This is Hellmaru," Hu Tao said, looking back at Kiana and the others with a mix of earnestness and pride. She continued, "Two nights ago, didn't I stop Hellmaru from taking over Yae Sakura's body? Well, last night, I helped Yae Sakura clear out the very last remnants of Hellmaru’s power lingering inside her~"

As for how it was cleared out, don't worry about the details~

The point is, it’s gone.

"And then, when we woke up this morning, this cute little thing was lying on the bed." As she spoke, Hu Tao reached out and gently poked Higokumaru's soft, squishy cheek.

"Oh, so that’s what happened..." Kiana let out a sigh of relief.

For a second there, she genuinely thought Hu Tao and Yae Sakura had somehow managed to produce a child after spending just two nights together...

If that were possible, then what she and Hu Tao did yesterday...

"Hey Ki-a-na~ Are you thinking about something highly inappropriate right now?" Hu Tao noticed Kiana's expression, and a smirk naturally crept onto her face, her eyes flashing with a knowing look.

This threw Kiana into a fluster, and she stammered, "No! Of course not!"

"Her name is Higokumaru now." Yae Sakura looked down, gazing at Higokumaru’s face, which bore a faint resemblance to her own sister's. Her voice grew incredibly soft. "Her power is completely gone, and her past memories have likely been wiped away too... So, I want to keep her by my side."

"Are you certain she won't turn back into the demon from the box?" Theresa asked gravely, looking at Yae Sakura with a serious expression.

"...I don't know." Yae Sakura shook her head gently.

"If that's the case, Sakura, and you still want to keep her around, you'll have to bring her in for regular checkups."

"I understand. Thank you, Principal." Looking at Theresa, Yae Sakura nodded and thanked her softly.

It was clear she knew Theresa was giving her permission to keep Higokumaru.

"So that thing that almost took over Sakura's body..." Kiana couldn't help but look at Higokumaru with curiosity. "It turned into this tiny little thing? She's so small..."

"Yeah, she really is small, just like a little fairy," Hu Tao chimed in, admiring her.

Higokumaru’s current tiny and adorable appearance perfectly hit the aesthetic sweet spot for the Valkyries. She was essentially the size of a little chibi doll.

"Mmm..."

Surrounded by everyone, Higokumaru let out a massive yawn, looking like she was just about to wake up.

"She's... waking up..." Kiana stood to the side, her eyes widening slightly as she watched in suspense.

Does she still have her old memories? Hu Tao wondered curiously as she peeked over. Although Yae Sakura had said Higokumaru wouldn't remember the past, she still had her doubts.

A moment later, Higokumaru opened her eyes, revealing a pair of teal eyes just like Yae Sakura's.

However, her gaze was completely dazed and misty with sleep. She gave a big, forceful stretch before struggling to sit up in Yae Sakura’s lap.

"Whoa!" The instant she saw the large circle of people crowding around her, her eyes went wide with panic. "W-Who are you people?!"

With that, she hurriedly looked up at Yae Sakura, who was holding her.

The moment she saw Yae Sakura, Higokumaru froze. The pair of fox ears on her head, which had flattened against her skull in fear, slowly relaxed back into a comfortable position.

"Big sis!"

"?"

The moment Higokumaru called Yae Sakura that, Hu Tao saw the soft, serious expression on Sakura's face freeze, replaced by a look of sheer confusion and shock.

"And you, big sis!" A split second later, Higokumaru noticed Hu Tao, calling out with a look that was a bit puzzled but incredibly joyful.

"Eh? I'm a big sis too?" Hu Tao pointed a finger at her own nose, a bit surprised but finding the title highly amusing.

"Uh-huh!" Higokumaru nodded vigorously.

It was clear that even though she remembered absolutely nothing, she possessed an innate, natural affection for both Yae Sakura and Hu Tao. On the other hand, she was a little shy around Kiana and the rest, though it didn't take long for her to warm up to them.

"Wow! This is delicious! And this one too!"

After Mei prepared a spread of delicious food, everyone watched as Higokumaru hovered back and forth over the dining table. Just like in the games, she could float!

"She's so cute..." Kiana said wistfully, watching Higokumaru's gluttonous display.

"Bronya... also thinks Higokumaru is as cute as Homu..."

"It really is unbelievable..." Himeko murmured under her breath, her eyes glazed over as she stared at Higokumaru.

"Hmm? Himeko, what did you say?" Theresa turned to her, curious.

"Nothing." Himeko snapped out of it, immediately shaking her head with a soft chuckle. "I was just thinking that we seem to have welcomed another bottomless pit into the dorms. I have no idea how someone so tiny can eat as much as Kiana."

"You gotta eat big to be strong!" Kiana replied, completely unbothered.

Meanwhile, Hu Tao locked eyes with Himeko, her mind racing. She had faintly caught Himeko's murmur just now, and seeing the look in Himeko's eyes confirmed her suspicions.

Himeko likely assumed Hu Tao could purify Honkai energy and wanted help purging the Honkai corruption from her own body.

After all, when they brought back those two Xuanyuan Swords last time, neither Ji Xuanyuan nor Dark Ji Xuanyuan had become her Stigmata. They didn't even have bodies anymore, and the Honkai energy they had awakened while alive had naturally vanished with them.

Right now, those two Xuanyuan Swords were still resting on the Hyperion, soaking up energy in the vault specifically meant for Divine Keys.

Unfortunately...

Hu Tao felt a pang of helplessness. She really didn't have a way to completely cleanse the Honkai energy from Himeko's body. At most, she could use some thaumaturgical methods to help temporarily suppress it.

"Can I pet your head? Hehehe~" By now, Kiana could no longer contain herself around Higokumaru.

She reached out, wanting to touch the fox ears on top of Higokumaru's head. But the moment her fingers brushed them, Higokumaru's soft ears twitched.

Sliding past Kiana's fingertips, Higokumaru turned her head to give Kiana a wary look and floated a little further away.

"She just woke up, so she's still a bit wary of everyone," Yae Sakura said gently, watching the interaction.

Right after that, Higokumaru picked out a few roasted chicken drumsticks from the feast and flew excitedly over to Hu Tao.

"Big sis! This is super tasty!" She offered one to Hu Tao, and after Hu Tao took it, she handed another to Yae Sakura. Then, she flew back to grab a third one for herself and plopped right down between the two of them, happily munching away.

"It kinda feels like she's treating the two of us like her parents~" Hu Tao remarked to Yae Sakura out of curiosity, taking a bite of her drumstick.

Yae Sakura remained quiet, eating her chicken leg without a word.

Once Higokumaru stuffed herself full, she began floating around the living room, exploring every nook and cranny with curiosity. Kiana and the others followed close behind her the entire time.

By the time evening rolled around, having flown all over the place the entire day, Higokumaru’s energy was completely spent. She curled up in Yae Sakura's arms and fell fast asleep.

"From now on, she's an official member of our academy!"

"Awesome!"

Watching Theresa, Kiana, and the others completely captivated by Higokumaru's cuteness, Hu Tao couldn't help but smile.

Just then, right beside her, Himeko suddenly spoke in a low voice, "Hu Tao, are you free tonight?"

"Hmm?" Hu Tao turned her head curiously and nodded. "Yep~ The Director is always free. Why, is there something you need my help with?"

"Yes." Himeko nodded, looking at Hu Tao as she said softly, "I'd like to ask you to perform an exorcism on me, too."

By this point, Yae Sakura had already carried Higokumaru back to their room.

When Kiana overheard Himeko's words, her eyes widened slightly, and a blush crept up her face. She instantly remembered the sensation of Hu Tao's fingers repeatedly brushing against her during her own "cleansing"...

"An exorcism?" Theresa looked at Himeko, freezing for a moment before the realization hit her. She turned to Hu Tao, her gaze turning incredibly serious. "Hu Tao, if your abilities can purify Higokumaru, then... can you... can you also purify the Honkai Energy inside Himeko's body?"

"I don't know about that~" Hu Tao replied without hesitation, shaking her head. Then, looking at the two of them, she flashed a bright smile and said cheerfully, "But I can certainly try~"

"Great, then I'll leave it to you." Theresa’s expression was visibly excited now.

To them, finding out that someone could actually purge the Honkai energy that was actively corroding a Valkyrie's body was a monumental revelation.

Kiana’s face burned redder the more she listened. Fortunately, aside from Hu Tao, who was intentionally teasing her with her gaze, no one else noticed her odd behavior.

Wow, looks like Kiana is still wanting more? Hu Tao thought amusedly to herself before turning to Himeko. "Go take a shower first. Once you're done we'll get right to it~"

"A shower?" Himeko blinked, slightly squinting.

"Of course~ exorcisms require a strict protocol." Hu Tao nodded, a serious expression settling onto her adorable, smiling face. "Not only do you need to bathe and change into fresh clothes, you also need to wash your hands and burn incense."

She counted the rules on her fingers, but by the end of it, she let out a helpless sigh. "But you guys don't have an incense burner here, and we're an entire world away from Teyvat anyway. The Adepti and the Lord of Geo probably wouldn't hear me, so we'll skip that part."

Hearing this, Himeko nodded, her expression turning a bit more solemn. She turned toward the bathroom. "Alright, I'll go wash up."

While Himeko was in the shower, Hu Tao began pulling various materials out from her surprisingly deep pockets. Among them were Taoist talismans given to her by Chongyun, along with a few other bizarre ingredients.

Once she had everything prepared under everyone’s curious gazes, she headed toward her own room, making sure to leave them with one final instruction: "Once Himeko is done with her shower, send her straight to my room."

"Will do." Theresa nodded, but watching Hu Tao’s cheerful stride, she couldn't help but ask out of curiosity, "Hu Tao, can we watch the exorcism process?"

"Of course~" Hu Tao dragged out the syllable, before immediately shutting it down without a shred of hesitation: "Not a chance~"

"Eh? Why not?"

"Because an exorcism cannot be disturbed. It needs absolute quiet." After saying that, Hu Tao glanced over at Kiana. "Plus, we need to give the patient some privacy, right~?"

"..." Kiana nodded silently, her ears turning bright red.

Back in her room, Hu Tao happily hummed a tune as she began arranging the space according to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor secret arts she had mastered after her transformation. Crucially, she drew the curtains tightly shut.

Not long after she finished setting up, Himeko gave a soft knock on the door and walked in after receiving permission.

"You're here." Hu Tao eyed Himeko, who was already dressed in clean clothes, and raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Yes." Himeko nodded and stepped inside. Behind the open door, a row of small heads poked in curiously.

They immediately caught sight of Hu Tao's room, which had been arranged to look rather eerie and dark.

"Eek~" Kiana immediately spotted the neatly made bed.

Theresa noticed the white candles lit in the corners of the room.

Bronya cast a puzzled look at the drawn curtains.

As for Sin Mal... she had been ransomed back by Anti-Entropy this morning, so she wasn't even there.

"Alright, out you go, out~" Hu Tao walked over to the door and pushed Kiana and the others' heads back out. "Don't worry, once I'm done with Himeko's exorcism, I'll let her out!"

Hearing those words, Kiana’s expression turned incredibly bashful, especially when Hu Tao locked eyes with her playfully right before the door clicked shut.

"So, what do I do next?" Himeko asked, standing in the room and looking around with curiosity.

"First, you need to take off all your clothes and lie down on the bed, of course."

"Take off my clothes..." Himeko blinked. She didn't look embarrassed, just thoroughly confused.

"Naturally." Hu Tao nodded, walking over to the bedside table to stir a liquid concoction she had just mixed together. She turned back to urge Himeko, "Hurry up~ otherwise, this potion is going to dry up."

"Alright." Though Himeko didn't quite get the logic, she nodded, stripped off her clothes piece by piece, and lay down on the bed.

Hu Tao's eyebrows shot up slightly as she took in Himeko’s full figure—her toned, athletic stomach without a hint of excess fat, and her long, shapely legs. Then, she reached out to check Himeko's pulse.

Visible currents of fiery red energy began to flow between the two of them. As much as Hu Tao enjoyed a bit of mischief, right now, she wanted to diagnose Himeko's actual physical condition first.

After a brief examination, Hu Tao's expression turned incredibly grave.

"Your condition is terrible, Himeko. Your body has been completely riddled with holes by this force you call Honkai Energy. And... you must usually feel like your body is pushed to its absolute limits, right?"

Himeko froze upon hearing her words, a complex look flitting across her beautiful face before she gave a gentle nod. "Yes, indeed. But... it can't be helped."

"Because you're a Valkyrie. Your world doesn't have gods, so you can only rely on this power—which is a lot like the Abyss—to strengthen yourselves and fight the Honkai." Hu Tao sighed softly.

She picked up one of the talismans Chongyun had given her and pressed it against Himeko's lower abdomen. The talisman flared to life instantly.

Even though Teyvat and the Honkai universe belonged to entirely different worlds, the talisman carrying Teyvat's elemental laws was still triggered by Hu Tao's own power the moment it touched Himeko's body.

A sudden, freezing chill flooded into Himeko's veins, making her shiver involuntarily.

"What is this?"

"It's a talisman that can temporarily slow down the flow of Honkai energy inside you. I didn't get very many of these from Chongyun, you know," Hu Tao explained softly.

At the same time, she dipped a calligraphy brush into the potion she had mixed earlier and began painting intricate, mystical patterns across Himeko's skin.

Those smooth brush tips, soaked in medicinal solution, slid across Himeko’s skin and left thin red streaks in their wake.

Even Himeko couldn’t help but feel a strange mix of comfort and itchiness where she’d been marked.

“What… are you doing?” she asked.

“Drawing sealing imprints~” Hu Tao replied without stopping her hand.

She continued tracing intricate patterns across Himeko’s skin. “They can slow down the erosion of Honkai energy in your body, but that’s all they can do~ The next time you go into battle, they’ll disappear.”

“That alone… is enough.”

A hint of relief surfaced in Himeko’s eyes as she looked at Hu Tao.

“Hu Tao… this method of yours… could you teach it to us? Schicksal still has many Valkyries who need something like this—to ease their suffering and slow the Honkai’s corrosion on their bodies.”

“Of course,” Hu Tao said without hesitation.

At that moment, she lightly pressed the tip of the brush against Himeko’s chest, making her let out a muffled sound as a faint blush crept across her face.

“If the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor’s secret arts can flourish in another world too, I wouldn’t mind at all.”

“I’ll promise you,” Himeko said seriously, completely unfazed by the interruption. “This knowledge will never become a privilege for the few.”

“That’s good then.”

Hu Tao nodded. After finishing the final strokes, she formed a hand seal and drew upon the power within her Vision, completing the final step of the exorcism seal on Himeko’s body.

In an instant, the red patterns across her skin shimmered with light—then slowly faded, as if sinking into her body itself.

“Ugh!”

Himeko, who had barely reacted while the markings were being drawn, suddenly stiffened. A suppressed groan escaped her lips.

“How is it~?” Hu Tao asked with a playful smile. “Now that the force eroding your body has been suppressed, how does it feel to suddenly be at ease?”

“It’s… it’s amazing!”

Himeko panted heavily, beads of sweat forming across her body.

She sat up from the bed, flexing her hand. Her golden eyes lit up with excitement.

“My body… it’s never felt this good before!”

After sensing her condition for a moment, she looked straight at Hu Tao.

“How long will this seal last?”

Hu Tao thought for a moment. “If you don’t use Honkai energy in combat, about half a year.”

Himeko smiled in satisfaction after hearing that.

“That’s enough. Thank you, Hu Tao… This technique… it can help Schicksal’s Valkyries live longer. Even those retired seniors might finally get to live normal lives.”

“No need to thank me,” Hu Tao replied with a nod.

Then, looking at Himeko’s body, a mischievous grin crept onto her lips as she raised her hands in a playful clawing gesture.

“If you really want to thank me… how about letting me have a good feel of your—”

“Hmm?”

Himeko blinked, then, noticing Hu Tao’s expression—so similar to Kiana staring at Mei—she couldn’t help but smile.

It was obvious Hu Tao was only teasing. She wasn’t actually going to do anything.

But—

A faint smile curved on Himeko’s lips as she straightened her back. “Alright, If you want to, I’ll let you touch all you like~”

“…Huh?”

Hu Tao froze for a moment. Her expression stiffened as if she’d tried to prank someone, only to realize things had slipped out of her control.

“You only get one chance,” Himeko added with clear amusement. “You can touch whenever you feel like it~”

“I… I won’t hold back then…”

Just as Himeko thought the joke would end there, Hu Tao’s hand was already resting on her chest.

The sudden contact—right after her body had been relaxed and its sensitivity heightened—sent a strange, overwhelming sensation through her. Himeko’s body tensed instinctively.

“Mm! W-wait a second…”

“This feels pretty nice~” Hu Tao said, clearly delighted at having ‘caught’ her prey.

She had been looking for an excuse to mess around like this anyway.

She hadn’t expected Himeko to be this easy to tease.

“Mm! W-wait…”

Himeko hadn’t anticipated things escalating like this at all, but her body had already gone soft, strength melting away.

And more importantly…

She was the one who had agreed to it.

A mix of helplessness and amusement rose in her heart.

It really seemed like this “Kiana from another world” still had the exact same personality as the one she knew.

And yet…

When Hu Tao’s palm brushed across her, a strange, faint heat quietly began to rise in Himeko’s heart as well.

--+--

Honkai Transformations - 89

--+--

Himeko collapsed right onto the bed, unable to hold herself up, gasping for air as her face burned a deep shade of red.

The flush spread all the way from her cheeks to the tips of her ears, and even down her neck and collarbones, where a tempting blush lingered.

Beads of sweat slowly slid down her forehead, tracing the sides of her face before soaking a small patch of the pillow beneath her.

In that instant, the stimulation she had just experienced was simply too intense…

So that was Himeko’s sensitive spot.

Hu Tao looked down at her with a faint glint of satisfaction in her eyes, mixed with something a little more restless—something almost predatory.

“Himeko’s… soft spots really do feel nice~”

Himeko finally recovered her senses a little and shot Hu Tao a slightly annoyed glare.

But in her current softened, disheveled state, there was no real threat behind it. If anything, it only made Hu Tao’s fingers twitch again, unable to resist giving her another light squeeze.

“Hmph.”

Only after Himeko let out a muffled sound did Hu Tao finally let go, looking satisfied as she pulled her hands back. Then she smiled and said casually, “Alright~ get up and put your clothes on. There are still people waiting outside.”

“You little brat…”

Himeko pushed herself up with a body that still felt weak and a little unsteady, then looked down briefly before turning another irritated glance at Hu Tao.

Hu Tao, however, remained as carefree as ever.

But when her gaze swept over Himeko again, there was still that faint, predator-like look in her eyes that made Himeko feel her strength drain away just a little more.

“Next time… I’ll deal with you.”

Himeko’s cheeks only grew redder. It was hard to tell whether it was anger… or something else entirely.

She had never been treated like this before.

And yet, as she felt the lightness in her body—like a burden she had carried for far too long had finally been lifted—she couldn’t help but let out a small, relieved smile.

“…Thank you, Hu Tao.”

“No need to thank me~” Hu Tao said as she tidied up the things by the bedside, especially the candles in the corner of the room.

They weren’t really necessary, but she had simply wanted to recreate the atmosphere of those “tomb-opening” scenes from The Lost Tomb, where Zhang Qiling and the others worked—it made everything feel more immersive~

“That’s just how we do things at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. If you can help someone, you help them. Besides—” Hu Tao paused, her eyes drifting back toward Himeko still sitting on the bed. A satisfied smile curled at her lips. “I didn’t come out of this at a loss either~”

Himeko shook her head with a faint smile at the sight of her, though an indescribable emotion flickered in her heart.

"Little brat. Who knows, maybe if you come looking for big sister tonight, I'll show you a really good time~"

Driven by a streak of stubbornness, and perhaps a lingering sense of satisfaction from her newfound lease on life, Himeko teased Hu Tao.

But the moment the words left her mouth, Hu Tao’s eyes instantly lit up. "Alright, you said it, no backing out!"

"..."

Himeko’s expression instantly froze. A rosy blush crept up both sides of her cheeks. She shot Hu Tao another glare before hastily pulling her clothes back on, piece by piece.

When she finally stood up, her legs were still a little weak.

"Hu Tao."

"Hmm?"

"That seal... will it really hold for half a year?"

"Yup~" Hu Tao nodded with absolute certainty. "Half a year, not a single day less."

Only then did Himeko nod softly. Unable to suppress the joy spreading across her face, she walked over and pulled the door open.

The light from the living room flooded in, a bit piercing to the eyes.

Himeko blinked against the brightness before stepping out slowly.

In the living room, Kiana and the others caught the sound of the door opening. They immediately sprang up from the sofa, dropping whatever they were doing to rush over.

"Himeko!"

Theresa called out the moment she saw her, but stopped short when she noticed that Himeko’s skin seemed to be practically glowing.

It wasn't just the reflection of the living room lights; it was a healthy, radiant flush blooming from within, looking thoroughly nourished and full of vitality.

"Theresa." Himeko met her gaze, her golden eyes incredibly bright and clear, the corners of her lips curled into a subtle, satisfied smile.

Her entire aura exuded a relaxed, lazy warmth, like someone who had completely let go of a heavy burden.

It was like a rebirth.

Looking at Himeko like this, Theresa nearly dropped the bitter melon juice she was holding.

"Himeko... you?"

"What is it?"

Himeko walked over to her, lightly crossing her arms as her gaze swept over everyone in the room.

"You look so different!"

"Heheh~" Hu Tao sauntered out of the room, her own face carrying a faint flush.

Meeting the curious stares of Kiana and the others, a proud, confident grin spread across her face. "So, how is it? This director's secret exorcism technique is pretty amazing, right?"

"Did it... did it actually work? This is wonderful!" Theresa couldn't contain her excitement.

"Hehe~" Hu Tao chuckled proudly.

Then, her eyes drifted over the crowd and landed on Kiana. The white-haired girl was staring blankly at Himeko’s satisfied expression, seemingly putting two and two together.

As if feeling her gaze, Kiana instinctively turned her head, and their eyes locked.

The very next second, Kiana averted her gaze like lightning, her cheeks burning a deeper crimson.

Hmm~

Looks like someone who has already tasted that particular flavor is getting a little restless now.

Hu Tao even felt a sudden urge to stage a little late-night raid on Kiana’s room tonight~

That would definitely be hilarious!

However, in the very next instant, a gaze that made her skin crawl landed squarely on her.

Hu Tao instinctively looked over and locked eyes with Yae Sakura.

For some reason, when Yae Sakura’s sapphire eyes met hers—calm, unreadable, and utterly devoid of ripples—Hu Tao felt the same urge Kiana just had to snap her gaze away instantly.

"And that's not all," Himeko continued, speaking to Theresa. "Hu Tao told me she’s willing to share this technique with us."

"Really?!"

Theresa instantly turned to Hu Tao, her eyes gleaming with excitement.

"O-Of course."

Biting the bullet, Hu Tao shifted her gaze away and said seriously, "If this technique can be of use to you all, this director is naturally happy to lend a hand~"

Whoa!

Yae Sakura's stare just now was terrifying!

She felt like she was about to be sliced into ribbons!

"Take this."

Hu Tao reached into her robes and pulled out a thread-bound ancient text, handing it over to Theresa.

"T-This is it?" Theresa cradled the ancient manual in her hands, growing more excited by the second. "Are you really giving this to us?"

"Of course. When this director gives her word, it's set in stone!"

After Hu Tao nodded, Theresa eagerly rushed off toward the lab with the secret manual in hand. As the successful test subject of the technique, Himeko naturally followed along.

Before leaving, she reminded Hu Tao and the others to get some good rest.

But just before she walked out, she caught Hu Tao’s smiling gaze—one that practically screamed, 'I'm coming to find you tonight, so you better leave the door unlocked'—and Himeko couldn't help but feel a rush of bashful annoyance.

"Phew, it’s been a busy day, and I am a little tired~"

Hu Tao stretched thoroughly before heading toward her own room.

"I’m going to sleep first! Don't stay up too late, you guys~"

With that, she slipped into her room and shut the door behind her. After tidying up the room completely, Hu Tao collapsed onto her small bed and fell into thought.

She figured Himeko probably wouldn't be coming back tonight~

Should she actually go pull a midnight raid on Kiana~

It felt like there was a chance with Kiana tonight.

Hu Tao recalled how easily Kiana got flustered, her cheeks flushing red.

And back when she was helping her with the gua sha therapy, even when she intentionally yet casually brushed against her sensitive spots, Kiana had remained entirely compliant and silent.

Sigh~

After a brief deliberation, Hu Tao gave up on the idea.

"Since when did my moral standards drop this low?" Hu Tao raised her hands and slapped her cheeks firmly. "Back then, I just wanted to get close and cuddly with the Valkyries."

Better to sleep early. Tomorrow morning, she’d wake up a reformed person.

As Hu Tao closed her eyes, her consciousness gradually drifted into darkness, sinking into a dream where she was cuddling with Mei and the others...

Click—creak—

The sound of a window opening echoed in the quiet room.

"Huh?"

Hu Tao snapped her eyes open and sat up instantly, looking toward the window with high alert.

Then, she watched as Yae Sakura stepped gracefully through the open window and into her bedroom.

"Eh?" Seeing it was Yae Sakura, Hu Tao let out a small sigh of relief. For a second, she thought a clone of the First Herrscher had ambushed her.

"Is something wrong? Why did you come through the window?" Hu Tao blinked in confusion, questioning her, but she quickly noticed that in the dim moonlight, Yae Sakura’s eyes were shimmering with a peculiar light—one that gave Hu Tao a distinctly bad feeling.

An uneasy sensation of being cornered by a predator washed over her.

"Sakura... Sakura, say something. You're acting like this, and it's kind of scaring me." Hu Tao silently pulled the blanket up over herself, watching the approaching Yae Sakura with a pitiful, helpless expression.

Yae Sakura didn't offer a single word. She walked barefoot across the floor.

Her toes pressed against the wooden panels, making faint, barely audible creaks.

She didn't stop until she reached the edge of the bed.

"Sakura?" Hu Tao’s back tensed up.

Don't tell me... she was heading toward a tragic, bad ending scenario?

Please, no!

Yae Sakura leaned down, planting her hands on either side of Hu Tao’s body, trapping her in place.

This completely dazed Hu Tao.

Moreover, Yae Sakura’s long hair cascaded down, tickling her cheeks.

"I'm a little... unhappy," Yae Sakura said, her voice so soft it made Hu Tao’s heart tremble.

"About what?" She swallowed hard, playing dumb in hopes of cutely defusing the situation, but in the next instant, Yae Sakura lowered her head.

Hu Tao’s body stiffened completely.

Very quickly, like someone savoring a sweet dessert, her lips were forced open.

"Wait—"

Hu Tao tried to protest with a muffled whimper, but Yae Sakura’s hand had already moved to her sleepwear.

The buttons, which had been undone who knows how many times today, snapped right off and clattered into the far corner of the room.

"Sakura... mmm..."

The night deepened, and time flew by in a blur.

Hu Tao felt like she was riding a rollercoaster in a dream.

Her consciousness would crest to a dizzying peak one moment, only to plunge violently into a breathless valley the next, leaving her entirely spent.

Her voice mirrored the ride, transitioning from sharp gasps to a low, ragged whisper.

It wasn't until the sky began to pale with the first hint of dawn that Yae Sakura finally, mercifully let her go.

"Hah... hah..."

Lying flat on the bed, Hu Tao stared blankly at the ceiling, panting heavily. Her long hair was sprawled wildly across the sheets, damp with sweat, clinging to her skin.

Slowly, her consciousness drifted back into the dark.

Meanwhile, Yae Sakura sat on her knees, gazing down at the exhausted girl beneath her. Her sapphire eyes still held a faint, lingering gleam in the early morning light.

--+--

A long time passed.

Hu Tao felt something nuzzling against her chest.

She was having a dream that someone was stealing a bite of her panna cotta.

After a long while, she finally reacted, blearily opening her eyes.

She looked down to find Higokumaru, who had appeared out of nowhere at some point, curled up on her chest. The little creature was half-asleep, unconsciously nibbling away.

Whatever... let her eat. It’s normal for a kid to have a sweet tooth.

Hu Tao glanced groggily at her side. Yae Sakura was already long gone.

Outside the window, the sky had brightened completely.

The alarm clock on the nightstand showed it was just fifteen minutes until seven-thirty.

That was usually the time Mei called everyone down for breakfast.

"Mm..."

When Higokumaru’s nibbling suddenly grew a little more enthusiastic, Hu Tao trembled slightly. She carefully sat up, moving Higokumaru onto the pillow beside her and tucking her under the blanket.

It was only then that Hu Tao noticed something.

The bedsheets had been changed, and her body felt clean, as if she had been wiped down.

She must have been sleeping like a log to have completely missed it.

"Wow..."

Hu Tao raised both hands to cover her face, which was rapidly turning bright red. She truly hadn't expected Yae Sakura to be so incredibly wild when she lost her composure.

Gulp...

Hu Tao couldn't help but swallow hard, a mix of deep satisfaction and the thrill of discovering a new toy flashing through her eyes.

That was honestly...

Way too good.

If possible, she wouldn't mind doing it a few more times!

"Sigh~"

With a satisfied exhale, Hu Tao stood up and changed into a fresh set of clothes, but as she looked back at Higokumaru, she felt a wave of confusion.

What was up with Higokumaru anyway...

Why did she always end up on her bed in the morning, constantly treating her like a snack?

Oh well~

If she likes it, she can go right ahead.

Knock, knock.

A gentle knock sounded at the door, followed by Mei’s voice from the hallway.

"Hu Tao, time to get up for breakfast."

"Oh~ alright, I'll be right out!"

Hu Tao called back and finished getting dressed.

The rustling of her clothes woke Higokumaru up. The little creature looked over at Hu Tao sleepily, rubbing her eyes.

"Big sis, mmm... yawn~ Why am I here? Wasn't I just eating?"

"..."

Hu Tao gave her a helpless look. "Silly Higokumaru. Yesterday while you were eating, you fell asleep mid-bite~ It's already the next day now. Time to get up for breakfast."

"Eh? Really?!" Hearing this, Higokumaru’s face instantly lit up with pure joy. "Awesome! I get to eat again!"

As Higokumaru got up, she flew excitedly over to Hu Tao’s side, beaming. "Big sis, big sis! I think I dreamed about eating some super delicious buns just now!"

"Is that so?"

Hu Tao looked at her, smiling without a word. "Higokumaru, next time you dream, don't just settle for buns. Treat yourself a little better since it's a dream anyway~ Eat something pricier."

"Uh-huh~"

"Like~ some abalone! That stuff is really expensive, and super delicious too."

--+--

(T/N: The hell is wrong with this mc? She too down bad.)

--+--

Honkai Transformations - 90

--+--

It was only during breakfast that Hu Tao finally realized what she had said to Higokumaru earlier.

I am an absolute monster!

Higokumaru is literally the size of a toddler right now, and I actually said those things to her!

Deep down, Hu Tao began to wallow in a pit of self-reproach and guilt.

But then another thought struck her…

Wait, Higokumaru’s actual age is well over fifty thousand years old…

Just like that, Hu Tao’s heart filled with joy all over again.

"Hu Tao, you look… a little different from yesterday?" Kiana was staring at Hu Tao, a look of sheer confusion written across her face.

"Different how?" Hu Tao asked, mildly surprised.

Kiana studied her face for a good while before saying, a bit blankly, "I can’t really put my finger on it, but it feels like you're… prettier?"

"Well, I’ll just take that as a compliment~" Hu Tao beamed, a smug, self-satisfied smile gracing her lips.

Watching her, Kiana couldn't help but recall the scene of Himeko leaving Hu Tao's room last night. At the time, Himeko had also carried that exact same aura—satisfied, lazy, and radiating something utterly indescribable from the very marrow of her bones.

Could that be the actual effect of a real exorcism? Kiana wondered curiously.

As she thought about it, she inadvertently shifted her back, pulling at the marks left behind from her cupping session. She instantly grimaced, baring her teeth in pain.

Looking back at Hu Tao, a wave of resentment washed over her.

Why won't you give me a real exorcism!

I want to become prettier too!

Hu Tao easily caught the deep grievance lingering in the depths of Kiana's eyes. As their gazes locked, the butterfly-shaped plum blossom imprints in Hu Tao’s eyes seemed to quietly shift into the shape of hearts.

"Kiana."

"Hmm?"

Kiana, who was currently munching on a simple breakfast, looked up. Meeting Hu Tao’s intensely sultry gaze, she froze. A faint, burning blush crept up her earlobes.

"If you still want to try an exorcism later, I wouldn't mind helping you out~"

Even though Kiana remembered how agonizing yesterday’s 'exorcism' had been, staring into Hu Tao's eyes—which practically twinkled with hearts—made her own heart skip a beat. A sudden warmth began to spread through her body.

She looked at Hu Tao, whose demeanor had turned incredibly alluring, and thought back to how Himeko had looked last night, looking as though she had been entirely reborn.

Kiana's heart began to flutter with anticipation.

Right then, however, Hu Tao noticed that Yae Sakura’s aura beside them had suddenly grown rather gloomy. This realization only made Hu Tao's inner delight soar.

Yes… Just like that~

She was acting playful in front of Yae Sakura entirely on purpose. The goal was to ensure that when night fell, Yae Sakura would climb through her window again to teach her a thoroughly stern lesson~

The mere thought of it made Hu Tao reflexively press her thighs together, her breath turning long, shallow, and alternating between ice-cold and burning hot.

After finishing breakfast, before Kiana could even muster a response, Hu Tao decided she wanted to head back to her room to catch up on some sleep. Just as she turned, the front door was suddenly pushed open.

"Hu Tao!"

"Oh? You're back?" Hu Tao turned her head and saw Theresa and Himeko walking into the dorms. Theresa had heavy dark circles under her eyes, but a joyful smile was plastered across her face, completely impossible to suppress.

"Yes!"

Theresa clutched a stack of documents in her hands, happily jogging into the dorm. She threw her arms straight around Hu Tao’s waist, yelling excitedly, "That book you gave us yesterday! The secret techniques recorded inside are already being analyzed by the Science Department!"

"They said it's highly promising! That kind of energy circuit can be integrated into Artificial Stigmata to optimize them! If it succeeds, it will be an astronomical help to the Valkyries!"

"Mmm~" Hu Tao nodded, a genuine smile of delight breaking across her face. "I'm just glad I could help."

Hu Tao hadn't forgotten the lore mentioned in the game: most Valkyries without Natural Stigmata could only live until they were twenty-three before being forced to retire.

But retirement didn't mean they got to enjoy the rest of their lives in peace. Because their bodies had long been overdrawn by the Artificial Stigmata, they would only survive a few short years in human society before Honkai corrosion triggered all kinds of terminal illnesses, leading to a miserable death.

Even in one of the manga chapters, Himeko had once told Fu Hua that if she ever turned into a Zombie, she hoped Fu Hua wouldn't show her any mercy.

Hu Tao felt that out of all her many transformations, this might just be the most meaningful one yet.

"Hu Tao," Himeko said, looking at her with a gaze filled with profound gratitude, her voice trembling slightly with irrepressible joy and emotion. "The Research Department is planning to run tests tonight on a few Valkyries who are on the verge of retirement. If it succeeds, it's estimated to slow down the rate of Honkai corrosion by about 60%."

At this point, Himeko’s voice shook. "Because of this, they’ll be able to live for several more years! The active Valkyries can also serve for much longer. And those who have already retired… can enjoy their lives much more comfortably, and with dignity."

Hearing this, Kiana and the others couldn't help but erupt into excitement. They crowded around Theresa, grabbing the documents from her hands to look through them.

"Can it really reduce it by that much?"

"It can! And when paired with Schicksal's medical technology, the results might be even better!"

Even Bronya couldn't help but flash a rare, joyful smile.

However, Hu Tao's brow furrowed slightly. She gazed at the celebrating crowd, her expression flickering through a complex shadow of emotions. Listening to Himeko and the others, she suddenly remembered an anime she had watched a long time ago.

In that anime, there was a female character who possessed the power to instantly heal the wounds of soldiers on the battlefield. Even if they lost limbs or were on the brink of death, she could save them in the blink of an eye.

From that character to the soldiers themselves, everyone initially thought it was a blessing from heaven and were overjoyed.

Until later, when those soldiers died one by one on the battlefield, completely stripped of their chance to retire due to injury. In the mouths of those very soldiers, that female character eventually became a demon.

Hu Tao suddenly felt a chilling similarity between herself and that character. Especially just now, when she heard Himeko say that the Valkyries would be able to serve for several more years, a wave of absurdity washed over her.

"Hu Tao, aren't you happy?" Kiana noticed Hu Tao had gone quiet. Curiously, she walked over and sat down beside her.

"I am happy," Hu Tao sighed softly. "I just… didn't expect this."

"Didn't expect what?" Kiana tilted her head, looking puzzled.

In her eyes, the alluring aura Hu Tao had carried a moment ago seemed to have vanished. Yet, somehow, she looked even more beautiful now, carrying a strange, magnetic pull.

"It's just…" Hu Tao paused, turning to look at Kiana with a complex gaze. "I thought this technology would make their lives a bit more comfortable after retirement. I didn't expect… it would just mean they have to fight in the war for a few more years."

Kiana froze, remaining silent.

"My original intention," Hu Tao said softly, "was that by bringing this out, the Valkyries here could have an easier time after retiring. They could plant flowers, raise cats, and bask comfortably in the sun. But I didn't expect… you all still want to keep fighting."

The atmosphere in the dorm plunged into a quiet stillness.

Himeko walked over and sat down directly across from Hu Tao. Her voice was calm, her gaze soft and intensely focused as she looked at her.

"It's not that we want to fight, Hu Tao. It's just that… we're used to it. From the day I became a Valkyrie and stepped onto the battlefield, I knew I could never truly let it go. The Honkai is still here, the Herrschers are still here, and all those things that shouldn't exist in this world are still out there."

Hu Tao met her gaze, staying silent.

Of course she knew all of this. It wasn't like she was some naive saint. She just couldn't shake the feeling that because she had introduced this technology, some Valkyries who might have enjoyed a peaceful, ordinary life after retirement would now have to serve for several more years.

If those people ended up dying because of it, it would make her feel miserable—as if their deaths were somehow tied to her actions.

"Besides," Himeko chuckled softly. As if reading Hu Tao's mind, she reached out and gently patted her head. "To have us sit at home in retirement while watching others risk their lives? We just can't do it."

Himeko summarized it perfectly: "It's not that we don't want to rest. It's that we can't rest."

Hu Tao stared at Himeko for a long time before she softly asked, "What about you? Do you want to keep fighting too?"

She already knew Himeko's answer, but she wanted to hear it with her own ears.

"Of course. My sword hasn't rusted yet," Himeko smiled, nodding with absolute certainty.

Hearing this, Hu Tao looked at the unyielding determination in Himeko's eyes, then glanced around the room at Kiana and the others. Their expressions carried the exact same resolve, mixed with a faint, underlying worry for her.

It seemed they were worried she would blame herself and wallow in guilt over this.

"Hmph."

Hu Tao let out a soft snort, a sudden wave of relief washing over her heart.

"Fine then. Keep fighting. Fight until the Honkai is completely wiped out."

She stood up and stretched lazily. She felt her body grow lighter, and her demeanor shifted from the previous sultry laziness back to her usual carefree, untamed, and entirely natural self.

"That's enough~"

"What's enough?" Himeko asked, looking at her with confusion.

"The answer I wanted. It's enough." Hu Tao looked at Himeko, a bright, liberated smile gracing her eyes. "I just hope these things really end up helping you all."

With that, Hu Tao began to skip away, humming a whimsical, self-composed tune as she headed toward her bedroom.

"I'm going to take a nap~ Yep, don't wake me up unless the world is ending!"

"Alright, sleep well, Hu Tao~"

Back in her room, Hu Tao collapsed onto the bed by herself and let out a massive yawn.

Unlike this morning, it felt as though she had been hit with a massive purification spell. Her eyes were entirely clear and crystalline.

Moreover, she realized that compared to the physical satisfaction from before, this current feeling was vastly superior.

It was the kind of fulfillment where just thinking about it made her want to burst out laughing—the kind where even when she was old and gray, lying in a nursing home, recalling today’s events would still make her chuckle to herself.

I am so damn amazing!

Hu Tao peacefully closed her eyes and drifted into a deep, heavy sleep.