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******
Late at night.
Guinaifen promptly started her live stream, capturing her own charming self alongside Sushang within the frame.
"Hey fam, after a long break, Little Gui is finally back with a stream tonight."
"Don't forget to use those lucky fingers for gifts, likes, follows, and shares!"
[Numby: What's for Dinner Tonight?: A bit disappointed; thought it was another broadcaster.]
Guinaifen: "??"
[Lady Herta: Oh, it's you again. How boring. Logging off.]
Guinaifen: "???"
[Follow Little Gui, Thanks Meow: Little Gui is adorable too! Don't talk about her like that.]
[Watching Diting + Howling Friend: Click here for Diting videos—cute, high-quality, and affordable.]
[Little Fox's Benefactor: Kind words foster goodwill; harsh words wound hearts.]
[Playing with Fate: That's right, Little Gui's streams are great as they are.]
[Cold Legs Sis: Without any tricks up your sleeve, who'd gift you anything?]
[Watching Nanook + Cold Legs Uncle, Howling Friend: Exactly, broadcaster, you need to step up your game.]
Unpleased, Guinaifen pointed at the camera. "Without any tricks, who'd gift you anything?"
"Hey, Cold Legs Sis, it seems you're all teeth, always yapping nonsense."
"Last time I tried something daring, biting a lighter got me banned for a month."
"They even deducted my earnings—all that money, gone. What was the point?"
[Cold Legs Sis: Ha ha ha...]
Angry, Guinaifen slammed her hand on the table. "Still laughing? If I chop off my head, what gifts would you give then?"
"Biting that lighter led to a one-month ban, and over seventy thousand Credits were deducted. No gains, just losses—and not even a lighter left!"
"I lost money, got banned, and had over seventy thousand Credits stripped away!"
Sushang hastily interjected, "Gui, don't stoop to her level."
Guinaifen huffed indignantly, "Fam, Little Gui here is a positive and lively streamer. Do you really think I care about those measly gifts?"
"Of course not, anyone who has watched Little Gui's streams knows she only asks for free, small gifts."
"You can say Little Gui isn't pretty."
"And even claim that Little Gui streams infrequently, lacking dedication..."
"But you cannot deny that Little Gui delivers on content."
[Numby - What's for Dinner Tonight] tipped 500 SC, comment: Don't let others sway you, Broadcaster.]
[I Really Don't Want to Inherit the Family Business] tipped 10,000 SC, comment: Cold Legs Sis clearly harbors ill intent, purposely stirring things up.]
Guinaifen clasped her hands together and hastily expressed gratitude, "Thank you both for your generous tips."
"At midnight tonight, Little Gui and Shangshang will explore Xianzhou Luofu's most terrifying paranormal site—the Fyxestroll Garden."
"Now, surely you can't say Little Gui lacks engaging content, right?"
[Cold Legs Sis: Heard it's incredibly scary at Fyxestroll Garden. Does the broadcaster have the courage for it?]
With a confident expression, Guinaifen replied, "Well, you're greatly underestimating Little Gui."
"If you ask who's the bravest on Xianzhou Luofu, it's undoubtedly Shangshang and Little Gui."
"At midnight tonight, don't miss our rendezvous."
In the Netherworld's interrogation room...
"Sampo Koski, how long have you been aboard the Luofu Immortal Ship?" Lady Xueyi pressed her thin lips together, expressionlessly gazing at the man before her.
Sampo scratched his head with a sheepish grin. "Lady Xueyi, you might not be aware, but Magistrate Su is actually my good buddy, old pal Sampo here."
"We share an incredibly strong bond, practically unbreakable."
"Surely this minor issue isn't enough to warrant summoning me to the Ten-Lords Commission?"
Xueyi replied slowly, "Generally speaking, fraud cases indeed do not fall under the jurisdiction of the Ten-Lords Commission Judges."
"However, your actions have been truly egregious. Since your arrival on Luofu, instances of fraud on the immortal ship have exploded."
Sampo fell silent.
Hanya began enumerating Sampo's offenses, "Impersonating a beautiful fox spirit to swindle money from outlanders."
Looking utterly innocent, Sampo retorted, "I even called him 'dear brother,' and he willingly spent money on me—it was entirely voluntary."
Hanya continued with the charges. "Impersonating the Vidyadhara High Elder and sending mass texts to deceive numerous unsuspecting outlanders, tricking them into transferring you money."
Sampo nodded repeatedly. "That's true, I did impersonate the Vidyadhara High Elder, but as I mentioned, it was meant as a loan."
"Once I become the Vidyadhara High Elder, the fifty thousand Credits they lent me would be repaid hundredfold."
Hanya's gaze remained icy. "Additionally, there is your collaboration with members of the Sky-Faring Commission's merchant guild."
"Together, you sold expensive mystery boxes for fifty thousand Credits each, claiming potential winnings up to one million Credits."
"But those who purchased them found their mystery boxes stuffed with mere paper currency..."
Sampo chuckled sheepishly. "Lord Hanya, can you just confirm if any box contained ten million Credits?"
"There were also cases," Hanya replied, "where individuals received feces in their mystery boxes."
Sampo turned serious. "My lords, Judges, this goes too far. I would never commit such outrageous acts."
"In business, we must speak business. How could old Sampo deceive his customers?"
"Since it's related to the defense trial, I have every reason to suspect my good buddy Su Jinyan is behind this," Sampo continued. "Please bring him here for questioning as well."
Xueyi replied mildly, "Accusing the envoy maliciously incurs additional penalties."
Sampo coughed twice. "I've already informed my dear friend Su Jinyan; he'll ensure justice for me." He added defiantly, "Until my good friend Su Jinyan arrives, Old Sampo reserves the right to remain silent."
Xueyi and Hanya exchanged glances, their expressions somewhat peculiar.
Just who gave you the confidence to believe A-Yan would protect you?
Shortly thereafter, Su Jinyan pushed open the door and entered.
Grasping at what felt like a lifeline, Sampo eagerly exclaimed, "My dear brother, you're finally here! On this Xianzhou Luofu, poor old Sampo has no one to rely on but you."
"With you here, I have nothing to fear anymore. Come, tell these two Judges if old Sampo did anything wrong or not."
Sampo proudly straightened his posture, staring directly at Xueyi and Hanya.
F*ck! Before coming to the Xianzhou Luofu, I was constantly pursued by Silvermane Guards due to fraud.
Now, even on the Xianzhou Luofu, I'm being chased by Ten-Lords Commission Judges for the same reason?
Isn't joining the Xianzhou Luofu f*cking pointless then?
No worries, my influential buddy Su Jinyan will stand up for me.
Su Jinyan glanced at the charges presented by Hanya. "Fraud? Quite severe in nature, it seems?"
Hanya explained, "In truth, Sampo's fraud amount wasn't particularly high."
"However, its impact was exceedingly detrimental. On the Xianzhou Luofu, some have already begun imitating Sampo's methods."
Sampo pondered for a moment. "Old Sampo here has always been imitated but never surpassed," he mused. "Looks like I should start offering fraud training courses."
"But perpetrating fraud isn't sustainable in the long run. Selling courses and reaping quick profits from unsuspecting victims is far more lucrative, wouldn't you agree?"
Su Jinyan asked, "According to Xianzhou's laws, what should be the judgment?"
A sudden sense of foreboding washed over Sampo. Would my good buddy really throw me under the bus now?
Xueyi responded, "As an outlander, Sampo Koski's crimes do not constitute any of the Ten Unforgivable Offenses."
"In accordance with Xianzhou's laws, he should be extradited for trial or punishment on Jarilo VI."
Sampo hastily interjected, "Alright, let's go with that. Old Sampo willingly returns to Jarilo VI to serve his time."
Hanya shook his head slightly. "Has Big Sister forgotten? The Xianzhou Alliance and Jarilo VI have no established diplomatic relations."
"Therefore, he must still face punishment under Xianzhou's laws—handing him over to the Realm-Keeping Commission for detention and forfeiting all ill-gotten gains."
Sampo fell deep in thought. With his abilities, even if detained by the Realm-Keeping Commission, escaping would be a breeze.
Su Jinyan sighed. "Xueyi, Hanya, you may not fully understand..."
"Sampo, he's my best friend..." Su Jinyan trailed off.
Hanya remained silent, momentarily at a loss for words.
"A-Yan," Xueyi hesitantly asked, "do you intend to be lenient with him?"
"But it's fraud; wouldn't that be inappropriate...?"
Su Jinyan's expression turned serious. "No, I mean he must face severe punishment!"
Sampo looked puzzled.
Rubbing his chin, Su Jinyan huffed, "I, Su Jinyan, am impartial and without blemish on my record."
"How could such a lifetime of honor be tarnished by old Sampo's actions?"
" precisely because you're my best friend that I must punish you harshly, or others would talk."
Sampo reminded him, "Uncle, I'm not just your friend, but also your nephew—we're family!"
"Families should support, assist, and protect each other."
"What if Aunties see this? What might they think? Would they feel—"
Xueyi interrupted, "I have no objections."
In a soft voice, Hanya added, "...Me neither..."
Sampo fell silent, unsure how to respond.
With firm resolve, Su Jinyan declared, "Sampo, all the illicit gains from your fraud on Xianzhou must be returned.
"And as a gesture of friendship, I won't imprison you."
"Even if we imprisoned you, you'd find a way to escape."
"As your punishment, you'll perform one month of community service on Xianzhou Luofu."
"How much will I be paid?" Sampo asked.
Su Jinyan glared at him. "It's unpaid."
Sampo's expression fell. "Ah? No salary?"
Su Jinyan retrieved a small booklet and stamp from his pocket, handing them to Sampo. "For now, I'm temporarily sealing your Elation fate path; you are no longer a fate traveler."
"You must strive to do as many good deeds as possible, gaining recognition from others." Su Jinyan continued, "Every time you perform a commendable act, have the person you've helped stamp this booklet once."
"When you collect thirty stamps in this booklet, your punishment will be lifted."
"Otherwise, I will permanently deprive you of your Masked Fool identity and seal off your Elation fate path."
Sampo was taken aback. "That's quite a harsh punishment, Uncle. You sure don't treat old Sampo like an outsider."
Su Jinyan responded calmly, "Additionally, don't even think about cheating; I have ways to verify compliance."
"I can't control your scams outside, but remember whose territory Luofu is under. To be fair, I'm far more lenient with you than I am with Sparkle."
Sampo hastily nodded. "Uncle, rest assured. Starting today, Old Sampo promises to turn over a new leaf and reform my ways."
Shortly after Sampo's departure, Su Jinyan received a message from Little Gui.
[Little Gui Guinevere: Shangshang and I have already boarded the star ferry, heading straight for Fyxestroll Garden!]
[I heard there's been severe ghost activity at Fyxestroll Garden lately. Wonder if it's true.]
[Lady Fu Xuan's Dog: Where did you get a star ferry?]
[Little Gui Guinevere: We borrowed it from Miss Tingyun, of course. Fyxestroll Garden is so far away; we'd die from exhaustion running back and forth.]
[Sigh, Little Gui, I'm feeling conflicted—hoping to find something interesting yet fearing we might encounter real ghosts.]
[Lady Fu Xuan's Dog: That place is incredibly eerie. Not only are there ghosts, but I've also heard about zombie outbreaks there.]
[Little Gui Guinevere: Z-zombies?!]
Sushang sent Su Jinyan a separate message as well.
[Sushang's Sole Account: Jinyan-gege, could there really be zombies at Fyxestroll Garden? I-I'm quite scared.]
Suppressing a chuckle, Su Jinyan replied with an image of someone bitten by a dog.
[Lady Fu Xuan's Dog: Look, just like this.]
[When bitten by a zombie, two bloody holes appear on the victim's body.]
[Their complexion quickly turns pale, their body stiffens, and they'll leap up to bite others too.]
[Sushang's Sole Account: What should we do if bitten by a zombie?]
[Lady Fu Xuan's Dog: You must apply uncooked rice to the wound, both externally and internally.]
[Trim your nails often and grind your teeth diligently; moreover, soak for at least two hours in a bath of glutinous rice to neutralize the corpse poison.]
[Shangshang's Sole Account: If I just bathe directly in a vat of glutinous rice, would I then be immune to zombies?]
Xueyi had also seen Su Jinyan's message and shook her head slightly.
"A-Yan, don't spread such nonsense."
"Has there ever been a zombie incident at Fyxestroll Garden?"
"The supposed haunting is merely a baseless rumor concocted by Xianzhou Luofu's populace."
"As our superior, a Judge should exercise greater caution in speech and conduct to avoid causing public panic," Hanya explained.
"It goes like this," she continued. "Due to the resurgence of the World Tree, the Artisanship Commission's Good Fortune Furnace sustained minor damage. This allowed the trapped demonic entity known as Heliobus to seize its chance and escape, taking up residence in Fyxestroll Garden. Recently, my sister and I have been relentlessly pursuing and capturing the escaped Heliobus. Somehow, someone stumbled upon the area, spreading rumors that led the people to believe Fyxestroll Garden was haunted..."
Su Jinyan frowned. "A Heliobus escaping from the Good Fortune Furnace?"
"And you still haven't captured it after all this time? Come to my room later—I must address your dereliction of duty as Judges."
Xueyi lightly bit her teeth, pausing before responding, "It's not due to negligence on our part. If blame must be assigned, let it rest solely upon me."
Hanya looked puzzled.
Xueyi continued, "A-Yan, as you well know, the Good Fortune Furnace was damaged and requires time for the Artisanship Commission to repair it."
"Heliobuses are cunning, adept at concealing themselves, and they often prefer parasitizing intelligent beings to evade capture."
"The Judges and Yin Messengers exerted great effort to establish the preliminary form of the 'Form Binding Evil Repelling Array' within Fyxestroll Garden, intending to trap these fiends."
"Once the Good Fortune Furnace is fully repaired, all remaining Heliobuses can be apprehended."
Su Jinyan suggested, "I propose allowing Huohuo to face this situation and build her courage. What do you think?"
Xueyi hesitated slightly, "Huohuo?"
Hanya nodded gently, "Although Huohuo tends to be timid, she possesses genuine skills nonetheless."
"Her only flaw is indeed her lack of bravery."
"A-Yan, if you have any ideas, please share them. Both Big Sister and I will support your plan," Xueyi encouraged.
"But Huohuo's courage does seem quite limited," Xueyi said with uncertainty, "and she is exceptionally fearful of Heliobuses."
"Are you suggesting that Huohuo should undergo growth and transformation through this ordeal?"
Su Jinyan nodded. "I want to see if, when faced with her companion's peril, Huohuo can summon unparalleled courage."
"If she truly accomplishes this, it would prove that Huohuo is not as timid and fearful as others perceive her to be."
"I believe Huohuo can do it," Su Jinyan affirmed.
With these words, both Xueyi and Hanya understood Su Jinyan's intentions.
Hanya cautioned, "A-Yan, we Judges have our own methods to deal with the Heliobus."
"But Huohuo is different; what if after losing her tail, other Heliobuses exploit her vulnerability? How could we prevent that?"
Xueyi pondered for a moment before responding, "Typically, applying moderate violence without causing permanent harm to the host..."
"...would lead to the host's physical incapacitation. Unable to sense their emotions, the Heliobus naturally departs to seek another prey."
"But wouldn't that deepen Huohuo's feelings of self-blame?"
"A-Yan, is your plan foolproof?" Su Jinyan reassured Xueyi and Hanya.
"I've completely subdued Phantylia; handling other Heliobuses will be even easier."
"Huohuo's body invaded by a Heliobus? I would never allow such a thing to happen."
Mentioning Phantylia brought some awkwardness to both Xueyi and Hanya. If not for their little sister inadvertently falling under Phantylia's enchantment that day, none of those events would have unfolded...
Hanya suddenly asked, "Big Sister, speaking of which, isn't it time to check on Phantylia's seal at the isolation quiet room?"
Xueyi paused briefly before inviting Su Jinyan, "A-Yan, would you like to join us?
"Phantylia is a high-ranking Heliobus, exceptionally skilled at manipulating minds," Su Jinyan said with a serious expression. "I'm concerned she might try to bewitch our little sister again."
"That sounds reasonable. Let's go together then," replied Xueyi. "With me present, Phantylia wouldn't dare make any rash moves."
Xueyi and Hanya tacitly understood each other, without explicitly stating their concerns.
As soon as they entered the isolation quiet room where Phantylia was confined, Hanya's gaze once again turned disoriented—she had been "bewitched" by Phantylia once more.
"My apologies, A-Yan, Phantylia has bewitched my mind again." Hanya bit her lower lip, her tone filled with guilt, feeling utterly helpless.
Su Jinyan's face flashed with anger, sharply rebuking, "Damned Phantylia! With me here, how dare you attempt to bewitch Hanya? You clearly show no respect whatsoever!"
Inwardly, Phantylia protested, Wait, why am I always blamed? This time, it wasn't my doing. Her lips twitched, thinking, If you fancy Su Jinyan, just say so directly. Playing these blame-shifting games - how amusing can it be?
In the darkness of night at Foxgrave Mound within Fyxestroll Garden, a faint light flickered from a nearby thatched hut.
A chilling wind swept around Sampo, causing him to shiver as he muttered to himself, "Doing good deeds..."
"What constitutes a 'good deed'?"
"Well, old Sampo here helps lonely and bored otakus by warming their hearts online, and they reward me with money. Isn't that a form of doing good?"
"Woof! Woof! Woof!"
Abruptly, agitated barking echoed in the distance, raising Sampo's alertness.
Out in this desolate wilderness, where could these dogs be coming from?
As Sampo scanned his surroundings, searching for the source of the barks, a ferocious Quimuwolf suddenly lunged from the shadows. With a howl, it bit down hard on Sampo's leg.
Shocked, Sampo kicked the dog away, cursing, "Damn it, what kind of rabid mutt is this?"
"Hey folks, am I experiencing what they call 'a fallen tiger being bullied by dogs'?"
Despite being kicked aside, the Quimuwolf remained undeterred and leaped again, latching onto Sampo's wrist.
Sampo grimaced in pain, anger surging through him. Without hesitation, he swung his fist forcefully at the Quimuwolf.
"You think old Sampo is easy prey? Do you seriously believe just because I'm not a Masked Fool anymore, you can push me around?"
Although Sampo's Elation fate path had been sealed, his strength as a cultivator persisted, making him naturally unafraid of such a mere Quimuwolf.
With just one punch, Sampo struck the Quimuwolf squarely on its nose.
Blood instantly gushed forth, leaving the wolf's nose crooked to one side, as if opening a condiment shop filled with salty, sour, and spicy flavors spilling out simultaneously.
The force of Sampo's blow rendered the Quimuwolf unable to rise, and it cried aloud, "Well hit!"
Shocked, Sampo exclaimed, "Has this Abundant Evil Creature gained sentience? Damn it! And you dare to respond!" Without hesitation, he raised his fist again and aimed for the Quimuwolf's eye socket near the brow.
This strike caused the Quimuwolf's eyelid to split open, sending its eyeball bursting forth like a burst dye store, releasing hues of red, black, and purple all at once.
The owner of the thatched hut seemed fearful of Sampo and dared not step forward to intervene.
Still enraged, Sampo landed another punch, rendering the Quimuwolf motionless on the ground, unable to move.
If only the flesh of Abundant Evil Creatures weren't so unpalatable; otherwise, he would have slaughtered this wolf and roasted it for a meal today.
Sampo pulled out a butterfly knife and swiftly ended the Quimuwolf's life.
From within the Quimuwolf's body, a faintly glowing green Heliobus emerged and darted into the shadows, yelling, "Escaping, escaping..."
Stunned, Sampo watched the now-dead Quimuwolf lying on the ground. He grabbed the Quimuwolf by the neck and walked towards the dimly lit thatched hut.
Standing before the straw hut was a stone tablet inscribed with: "Foxgrave Mound Management Office."
Knock, knock, knock.
As Sampo rapped on the door, it swiftly opened to reveal a young foxfolk maiden.
"Sir," she asked hesitantly, "may I inquire who you are...?"
Sampo bluntly questioned her, "Are you the manager of Foxgrave Mound?"
The foxfolk maiden gently nodded. "Yes, I am the manager. May I ask what brings you here?"
Sampo's eyes began to redden, tears welling up as he tossed the dead Quimuwolf onto the ground.
"You've been seriously negligent!"
"This Abundant Evil Creature suddenly appeared out of nowhere and bit me—hurts like hell!"
"How will you compensate for this? If there's no restitution today, old Sampo will take this straight to the Realm-Keeping Commission."
The foxfolk maiden repeatedly apologized, "I'm sorry, truly sorry, sir. This was indeed our oversight."
As she spoke, the foxfolk maiden produced a thick stack of Credit notes made from folded bills.
"Here, please accept this small gesture. I implore you not to escalate matters further."
Unsuspecting, Sampo counted the Credits—it amounted to roughly half a million.
"Hold on, is that all you're offering?"
"And look at my house, there's still half a bag of flour and some bread left, right? Give those too!"
Adhering to his principle of taking advantage whenever possible, Sampo planned to demand additional compensation from Foxgrave Mound's manager.
"Eh?" the fox girl responded, taken aback.
Sampo, still simmering with anger, said, "Well, it's just lucky that it encountered me, old Sampo. Any ordinary person would've been killed."
Apologetically, the fox girl acquiesced, "Alright, alright, you can take it all."
Carrying half a bag of flour and stuffing the thick stack of Credit bills into his pocket, Sampo limped away.
Oh man, folks, this is truly satisfying.
Although I got bitten by an Abundant Evil Creature today, being able to extort some Credit as compensation makes it worth the trip for ol' Sampo.
Watching Sampo's disheveled figure depart, Sparkle couldn't help but cover her lips and burst out laughing.
How has old Sampo fallen so low? Struggling against mere low-tier Abundant Evil Creatures—pathetic indeed.
"Who could possibly be a caretaker at Foxgrave Mound? Has he lost his marbles?"
"Now, should I go find my dear friend next or transform into a ghost to tease Little Gui'zi first?"
At Fyxestroll Garden.
As Sushang gazed at pictures of zombies biting humans, she couldn't help but tremble with fear.
"Um, Little Gui, this is too scary. Shouldn't we just turn back?"
"Jinyan-gege said that if someone gets bitten by a zombie, they'll also turn into one," Guinaifen reassured her.
"Sushang, we're almost at Fyxestroll Garden; we can't give up without even trying," she continued. "Besides, all fears stem from insufficient firepower."
"If a zombie really does come to bite you, you could easily beat it down."
Sushang shook her head wildly. "I can't, I can't do it!"
"Zombies are inherently dead beings, unable to feel pain. Even if I pummel them, it wouldn't be effective."
While conversing, the star ferry smoothly docked at the Fyxestroll Garden landing point, and its cabin doors automatically opened.
"We have arrived near your destination. Please unbuckle your seatbelts and collect your belongings." The sweet, synthesized female voice echoed from the star ferry's jade divination tablet.
This high-end star ferry was equipped with intelligent autopilot, ensuring even a fool could safely reach their destination.
The bone-chilling cold wind hitting them made both Guinaifen and Sushang hesitate, considering turning back.
"Didn't Jinyan-gege promise to accompany us? Where is he?"
"I'm not sure. It's not midnight yet, maybe we arrived too early."
Feeling frightened, Guinaifen raised her selfie stick, pointing the camera at herself, and spoke shakily:
"Fam, right now, Little Gui here finds herself at Luofu's most terrifying paranormal hotspot—the Fyxestroll Garden."
"Please like, follow, and share, fam, to give Little Gui some courage!"
Sushang's lips trembled as she said, "Fam, I've heard there are ghosts...and z-z-zombies..."
"Do-do...do you think it's true?"
Guinaifen retorted, "With such a timid heart...what happened to protecting me, huh?!"
Sushang's beautiful eyes quivered, her voice shaking more intensely; "How can cloud rider sword techniques fend off intangible beings?! Ah!"
"Did something just run past us?"
[Tail's Little Follower: Don't scare me! Surely there aren't such things in Fyxestroll Garden.]
[Little Guize's Sole Supporter: Little Gui's got some real courage! I heard someone recently died horribly in Fyxestroll Garden, it was gruesome.]
[Posting Under Real Name: In this day and age, can people still believe in such superstitious nonsense? Let's not spread or trust these rumors.]
[Cold Legs Girl: Broadcaster, no joke - Fyxestroll Garden truly has zombies.]
[I was just there moments ago, being chased all over by zombies. It took great effort to escape.]
[Undefeated Swordsman 123: Little Gui, quickly look up at the sky.]
A cluster of eerie green will-o'-the-wisps suddenly approached the two girls, swooping down with a cry, "My death was so tragic!"
Guinaifen and Sushang screamed simultaneously.
Sushang's eyes rolled back, fainting from sheer terror.
"Let's go, hurry up—we can't stay here any longer!" Guinaifen's face turned pale as she gripped the unconscious Sushang, dragging her back towards the star ferry.
[Diting + Howl Addict: Ha ha ha, top-notch entertainment value! Who says Little Gui doesn't know how to create drama?]
[Today's Dumpster Diving: How dare you not bring me along for such fun?]
[Punklorde's Silver Wolf: Wait, Little Gui, did you notice a dark shadow inside the star ferry?]
Already anxious, Guinaifen's heart skipped a beat upon reading Silver Wolf's comment.
"Shangshang, wake up quickly, hurry!"
Terrified, she dared not look towards the back of the star ferry and persistently nudged Sushang, finally managing to rouse her.
"Is this heaven...?" Sushang murmured groggily.
Just then, a deep male voice resonated from the rear of the star ferry: "I've been waiting for you both for so long; you've finally arrived..."
"Ahhh!!!!"
Guinaifen and Sushang screamed again.
Sampo nearly went deaf from their shrieks.
[Diting Listener + Howler: Holy sh*t!!! There's something creepy on the star ferry!]
[Cold Legs Girl: Judging by that voice, it must be a ghost who died tragically years ago!]
[Posting Under Real Name: Why does this voice sound so familiar to me?]
[Numby's Daily Meal: Little Gui's paranormal adventure is really delivering! If this isn't scripted, it's truly maximizing the show's impact.]
[Tail's Little Follower: Hang in there, Little Gui. I'm immediately rallying help for you guys.]
Sampo shouted, "Wait, hold on, what are you two screaming about?"
Sushang's beautiful eyes welled up with tears. "My name is Sushang."
"Sampo?" came a puzzled response.
Guinaifen, visibly frightened, said, "I'm Guinaifen, but you can call me Little Gui."
Sampo remained speechless.
Sushang began to babble nervously, "If you've done no wrong, fear not the ghostly knock at your door."
"Please don't haunt us, vengeful spirits; Jinyan-gege will seek justice for us."
Feeling utterly helpless, Sampo sighed, "Ladies, it's just old Sampo here."
"We're all friends, why be so afraid?"
Taken aback, Sushang turned towards him. "Mr. Sampo? What brings you here at such a late hour?"
Sampo waved his hand dismissively. "Ah, never mind that. I arrived at Fyxestroll Garden quite early, and now I was just about to leave, wasn't I?"
"You see, I got bitten near Foxgrave Mound—it's made walking quite difficult."
"On my way back, I spotted this star ferry docked here. Assuming nobody claimed it, I thought of taking it away."
"But who knew this darn thing still requires fingerprint and iris verification?"
Neither Sushang nor Guinaifen fully processed what Sampo had said; they only caught the crucial three words.
"You were bitten?!" Sushang asked tremulously.
Sampo extended his bitten arm. "Yes, out of nowhere while walking, suddenly got bit—what bad luck, right?"
Swallowing hard, Sushang examined the wound on Sampo's arm.
Immediately, Sushang hastily pulled out her phone and examined the image Su Jinyan had sent her.
It was an exact match—Old Sampo indeed had been bitten by a zombie.
Guinaifen stammered, "R-re-really, someone can get bitten by that thing...?"
Sampo nodded. "Yes, it scared me quite a bit at the time," he said. "As I walked along, suddenly one of those—"
Sushang quickly interrupted, "Stop! Please don't say any more; I'm already terrified!"
Sampo's gaze turned peculiar. "Wait, you're afraid of this? Aren't you a Cloud Knight?"
Shivering, Sushang replied, "Of course I am! Just because I'm a Cloud Knight doesn't mean I can't be scared. The mere thought is spine-chilling."
"Little Gui, hurry up and pilot the star ferry away."
Sampo fell silent, taken aback. For a Cloud Knight to openly admit fear of Abundant Evil Creatures, Luofu seemed destined for doom sooner or later.
Guinaifen cautiously moved forward slightly.
"Xiaohu, Xiaohu, initiate the star ferry with destination Miss Tingyun's mansion," she commanded.
Upon receiving the voice instruction, the star ferry began its activation sequence.
Unperturbed, Sampo continued speaking to himself, "Let me tell you, these things are pretty rare nowadays."
"You hardly ever see them on the Xianzhou Luofu anymore; I have no idea where this one came from."
"It was incredibly vicious. It didn't even need provocation—it just lunged and bit me right away."
"It-it-it... It might have just been living there naturally," Guinaifen stammered.
How could this zombie not be rare? Anyone who saw it would find it extraordinary.
Zombies were rarely encountered on the Xianzhou Luofu anymore. However, those at Foxgrave Mound in Fyxestroll Garden—were they foxfolk zombies perhaps? And biting someone upon sight? Isn't that purely instinctual for a zombie...
Sampo seemed puzzled. "Really? Seems like you know more than old Sampo here."
Sushang couldn't dare meet Sampo's gaze. "Um... Jinyan-gege told me once, in situations like yours, applying sticky rice to the wound is essential."
"Not only should it be applied externally but also consumed internally. Regularly trim your nails and grind your teeth, and you must soak in a bath of sticky rice for at least two hours," she added.
Sampo frowned. "Ah? That sounds awfully troublesome. Isn't it just a bite from some beast?"
Sushang nearly burst into tears. "Please don't dismiss it as trivial. If the poison takes hold and spreads throughout your body, it could be fatal."
Guinaifen hastily nodded in agreement. "Yes, yes, indeed! If you want to die, don't drag us down with you."
Just as Sampo was about to respond, his expression suddenly turned menacing.
No, something isn't right... There seems to be an issue with that piece of bread I ate earlier...
Sushang, fearful, shuffled forward nervously. "Mr. Sampo, are you about to turn into a walking corpse?"
Taken aback, Sampo gritted his teeth and replied with a hiss, "Relax... Don't worry, old Sampo here isn't that lacking in substance.
"At least wait until we disembark from the star ferry for any... er, business."
"Just get the star ferry moving faster," he urged.
Sushang anxiously pressed him, "What does this have to do with substance? Hurry up, Little Gui, or Mr. Sampo really might undergo a major transformation!"
Terrified, Guinaifen hastily commanded, "Don't change inside the star ferry; we'll all be doomed then!
"Little Fox, Little Fox, quick! Hit the brakes!"
The star ferry abruptly screeched to a halt.
Due to inertia, Sampo lurched forward, crashing headfirst into the half-bag of flour he had swindled earlier.
Slowly, the cabin door opened, letting in a piercing gust of frigid wind.
Sushang and Little Gui involuntarily shivered together.
Sampo gradually lifted his head, his face covered in flour, appearing ghastly white as if observing a memorial rite.
"Pfft—" With a resentful expression, Sampo spat out a puff of flour.
To Sushang and Little Gui, however, it looked exactly like a zombie absorbing lunar essence after its transformation.
"Aaaaaahhhhhh!!!"
The two girls hastily unbuckled their seatbelts and stumbled out of the star ferry as fast as they could.
Wait, surely they don't think I actually pooped my pants in there, do they? Sampo couldn't bear the thought of his lifelong reputation being ruined in an instant.
Hastily hopping off the star ferry, he limped and hopped behind them, relentlessly pursuing.
"I really didn't have an accident! Please let me explain!"
"Help! Help us!!!"
Sushang and Little Gui glanced back at Sampo hobbling after them, nearly losing their wits with fright. They ran even faster.
Seeing this, Sampo knew it was no good. These girls clearly had a severe misunderstanding about old Sampo here; I must clear things up with them. He hopped more urgently, closing the gap from behind.
"Aaaaaahhhhhh!" screamed Sushang.
"Eeeeeeeeekkkk!" shrieked Little Gui.
As they fled, the two girls abruptly skidded to a halt.
In front of them, another zombie suddenly appeared.
"Ughh..."
Sushang's eyes rolled back, and she fainted instantly.
Guinaifen swiftly bit her index finger and drew a talisman in mid-air.
"Heavenly spirits, earthly spirits, summon the cloud rider marshal forth!
"In haste, by decree, Little Gui beseeches possession."
[Posting Under Real Name: Don't...]
[Brightidol Online: Wait, hold on, don't get too excited.]
With a commanding shout, Guinaifen invoked, "I beseech The Divine Foresight Jing Yuan, Vidyadhara High Elder Bailu, and Envoy of the Ten Lords Su Jinyan to possess me!"
In the next moment, a bewildered apparition of Su Jinyan materialized behind Guinaifen.
Sparkle, playing the zombie, stuck out her tongue guiltily and retreated hesitantly.
Oops, how did Little Gui attract these ghosts?
Sampo's pupils contracted, also hastily stepping back.
No, they're about to emerge—I need to find a place to hide quickly.