Stelle had just woken up when she received the news of Huohuo's disappearance.
After frantically @-ing Huohuo in the group chat to no avail, Guinaifen suggested seeking out Xueyi to clarify the situation.
Soon after, the group finally rendezvoused with Xueyi.
Xueyi glanced at them. "Looks like everyone's here. The underworld agents who were supposed to report to Huohuo said they haven't seen her today.
Let's cut to the chase—I don't know where Huohuo has gone. But by gathering here, we can at least piece together some clues. You all are close to her—do you recall anything unusual about Huohuo yesterday?"
"Tail," Stelle said the name. "She was thinking about Tail."
Guinaifen nodded in agreement. "Miss Huohuo was working with us, and besides fulfilling her duties, she was also searching for clues about Tail.
Could it be that today, Huohuo suddenly got a lead on Tail? With her personality, she'd definitely go after it."
Xueyi nodded thoughtfully. "But Huohuo didn't come to you or me. That's unusual.
Given her personality, if she got a 'clue,' she'd likely seek help. But… if she didn't mention anything to any of us, there's only one possibility."
"Could it be?" Stelle voiced a possibility. "She had a reason to act alone."
"Hm," Sushang added, her mind unusually sharp. "Maybe someone used news about Tail to deceive her and told her 'you have to go alone.' Sounds like a trick some kidnapping scoundrels would use."
Xueyi exchanged glances with the group. "Cirrus… the only one who could know Tail's whereabouts is Cirrus, who failed to achieve its goal because of Tail's integration."
"Exactly!" The group nodded in unison, determined to confront this cunning creature!
The next moment, Xueyi led the three members of the ghost-hunting squad, charging forward with fierce momentum.
Cirrus, however, seemed utterly unconcerned, even stifling a laugh.
"Look at that, a few buzzing insects coming at me all fierce and mighty. Ask what you want to ask."
Guinaifen's eyes blazed with anger. "Huohuo's gone missing, and you, you vile thing, must know something, don't you?!"
Cirrus crossed its arms. "You lot are so disunited, completely unaware of your own companion's departure, and yet you come to hassle me?"
Stelle glared at Cirrus fiercely. "You lured her with Tail's whereabouts."
Xueyi first calmed the group's heated emotions, then looked at Cirrus coldly.
"The Ten-Lords Commission may not be able to eradicate heliobi completely, but we have plenty of ways to deal with them…"
"Your methods? I've seen them all, hehe," Cirrus said, putting on a mock aggrieved expression, utterly infuriating. "A villain like me, holding hostages' lives in my hands, can't withstand your threats."
The next moment, it flashed a wicked smile.
"Let's lay it all bare—this matter does involve me."
Sushang: "I knew it!"
"While you all were unaware, one day that girl came to me…" Cirrus even mimicked Huohuo's voice.
"'Do you know where Tail went?'"
It was startlingly lifelike.
[Yaaa, I'm ready to go down with Cirrus, it's too infuriating!]
[Calm down, it's just a show, don't get so worked up.]
[Exactly, it's just a web series, don't let your emotions take over.]
"I gave her a little hint, and her little brain naturally started piecing things together," Cirrus continued.
"Of course, no matter how she searched, she found nothing. So she came back to beg me several times. You didn't see her face—so scared yet so desperate to ask. Hilarious!"
Finally, Cirrus clutched its stomach, laughing maniacally.
[Calm down, my foot! I'm ready to take Cirrus down with me. Is this even a person? No, is this even a heliobi?]
[Sigh, young people getting so immersed in a web series? So impulsive! I'll just sip my hot tea.]
Cirrus looked at the group's clenched fists and continued, more serious now. "Later, I got tired of her pestering, so I said, 'Tail's been shattered like me, turned into a little spark that remembers nothing.'"
Cirrus couldn't hold back its grin. "You didn't see her face go pale with fright, hahahaha!"
[Damn, that burned my mouth! You wretched thing, I'm eating lemons for Cirrus!]
"Don't bully Huohuo!"
"Feeling bad for her? I didn't torment her too much," Cirrus went on, unfazed. "I told her, 'Tail's hiding in Cloudford right now, planning to escape the Xianzhou on a starskiff.'
I also told her that the Ten-Lords Commission is currently rounding up heliobi. If she asked for your help, even if she found Tail, it'd be locked away in a prison. Clearly, she believed me…"
Xueyi's tone grew angrier. "You're lying. You couldn't possibly know where Tail really is."
"Whether I know or not is one thing, but in Cloudford, my kin are waiting for her, hehehe!"
Stelle stomped her foot hard. "How could Huohuo fall for it so easily?"
"Didn't I fool you too?" Cirrus laughed. "Hahahaha. Have some faith in your friend. Maybe Huohuo's perfectly fine. Maybe she's already tamed that heliobi. Maybe if you hurry to Cloudford now, you'll find her?"
"Jerk!" Guinaifen looked anxiously at Sushang and Stelle. "Let's get to Cloudford and find Huohuo!"
Xueyi: "Looks like paperwork will have to wait. I'm coming with you."
The next moment, the scene showed Huohuo lying on the ground.
Stelle rushed to lift her, but Xueyi stopped her.
"Stay calm. Let me take a look."
Xueyi carefully examined Huohuo's condition. "No response. Her consciousness has likely been hijacked by a heliobi."
Stelle gently set Huohuo down. "Should we try using the 'Harmonious Flame Bell'?"
Xueyi shook her head. "This isn't an illusion woven by a heliobi—it's sealed off her five senses,completely isolating her from the outside world. In this state, even the flame bell, which can merge with illusions, is useless.
This isn't something the Alchemy Commission's medics can handle. I'll take Huohuo back to the Ten-Lords Commission to see what can be done.
For now, the ghost-hunting squad's mission must be put on hold."
[Huh?]
[Huh?]
[No way!]
The other three weren't saddened by the squad's suspension—their only concern was Huohuo's safety.
After much pleading, Xueyi revealed a way to save Huohuo.
"There is a way. We can have another heliobi help us expel the one that's taken over Huohuo's mind."
"But how could a heliobi possibly help humans? Wait…" Guinaifen suddenly realized something. "Miss Xueyi, you mean…?"
Xueyi pulled out the Lunar Gourd from her sleeve.
"Tail… it's actually been sealed in here."