Guinaifen's livestream.
The screen currently displayed the interface of the "Luofu Miscellany" website—albeit a simplified version. The background had switched to a dark theme, with little ghosts occasionally popping up and floating around, giving it a somewhat darkly humorous vibe.
In the game, Guinaifen declared: "The Ten-Lords Commission must remain covert, but I don't have to. My mission is to aggressively grow my follower count."
Huohuo chimed in: "Right! Once we have more followers, we'll get more requests to investigate paranormal cases."
"Since I just registered, my follower count is still low. Based on my experience on other platforms, once it grows, tons of people will come forward with reports of supernatural incidents."
The in-game version of herself grew increasingly animated as she spoke.
"My take is—'operating in secrecy' and 'exposing the supernatural' aren't mutually exclusive. In fact, they're two sides of the same coin."
"We can omit the victims' names, focus on our heroic ghost-subduing exploits, capture some intense battle footage, and slap on a sensational title... like, say— 'Afraid of Ghosts? "100%" Cloud Knight Beauty Encounters Spirits on a Night Stroll—Watch How She Makes Monsters Regret It in 3 Seconds!'
"We'll frame our hunts for the Heliobus as a series of eye-catching, entertaining videos. People will start questioning whether such events are real, and the panic will fade in no time!"
Watching her in-game self spin such a silver tongue, the real Guinaifen nearly applauded herself.
What a genius idea!
The ghost-hunting team's decision to recruit her was clearly their wisest move yet!
With Guinaifen's strategy confirmed, the investigation into the first paranormal case swiftly began.
[Not for the Faint-Hearted! I Ran Into a Ghost in the Golden Alley!]
Guinaifen skimmed the post:
"Let me share what happened when I chased after Lady Bailu during her latest escape. I followed her into an empty alley and stupidly asked, 'What are you doing here?' She pointed into the alley and said someone was there. Then I heard a child's laughter—sometimes close, sometimes far away—super eerie! Next thing I knew, Bailu vanished right beside me, and all I could hear were multiple versions of her voice inviting me to play hide-and-seek... I bolted immediately. Can anyone explain this?!"
After reading it, Guinaifen couldn't help but laugh.
"Tch... Isn't this just a side quest from the game?"
"Why's it written like it actually happened?"
For a moment, she wondered—was she playing a game or browsing a forum?
Still, the post was intriguing. If this happened in real life, Guinaifen might've hesitated. But this was a game—and she was playing as the Galactic Batting Champion!
No matter what ghosts or demons showed up, she'd just swing her bat at them!
---
Alchemy Commission.
Jing Yuan, Dan Heng, Jingliu, and Blade sat on one side.
Across from them sat Bailu.
The chair was designed for adults, so her feet dangled in the air. She instinctively wanted to swing them but restrained herself upon seeing the four solemn faces before her, forcing herself to adopt a mature and composed demeanor.
"So here's what happened. This lady was just out for a stroll when the Dragon Elders saw the story in Honkai: Star Rail and learned about Dan Heng's existence. They even sent assassins after me!"
"Luckily, that dashing young man stepped in to save me, or this little life of mine would've been—poof—gone!"
Bailu vividly recounted her recent ordeal.
When she mentioned how the Dragon Elders had mobilized their full force to assassinate her, Jingliu's hand trembled slightly. A surge of killing intent erupted uncontrollably.
Bailu yelped.
"Whoa! Easy there, lady! Those assassins all failed—not a single one survived!"
Realizing her lapse, Jingliu quickly reined in her aura.
"My apologies. Hearing about those who sought to harm you... I lost my composure for a moment."
Bailu stroked her chin, studying Jingliu with curiosity.
"You're... surprisingly nice?"
"Even though we just met, you care this much about me?"
Blade suddenly spoke up.
"Bailu... is there anything you want right now?"
Dan Heng's eyes flickered with surprise.
Even Blade's tone had softened when addressing Bailu.
In this moment, he no longer seemed like the deranged, obsessive Stellaron Hunter—but more like a reticent yet kind-hearted uncle next door.
Not just Jingliu... even Blade...
Why were they both so gentle toward Bailu?
Almost as if... they felt guilty and wanted to make amends?
Dan Heng recalled the question Blade had asked him earlier—
"That little girl, Bailu... how did she come to be...?"
During his companion mission, he and Bailu had worked together to repair the Arbor's seal.
In that moment, Bailu had murmured:
"Hmm... It's like a tide washed through my mind. I felt enormous—like all of Scalegorge Waterscape was resonating with my voice."
Putting all the pieces together, the answer was clear.
Long ago, Dan Feng had attempted the Dragonvista Rain Magic to revive the dead and reshape flesh.
And the one he sought to revive... was none other than Baiheng, one of the legendary High-Cloud Quintet.
But he failed, creating instead a mindless draconic abomination that rampaged through Scalegorge Waterscape, nearly destroying it.
Though the abomination was slain, it did not truly perish.
The Vidyadhara reincarnate.
And so did that dragon.
It was reborn as a new Vidyadhara—one who inherited a fraction of the dragon's power.
That child... was Bailu.
Realizing this, Dan Heng's breath hitched.
His lips parted slightly.
So that's why.
Jingliu and Blade must see Bailu as Baiheng's reincarnation.
That's why they treated her with such warmth and gentleness—why they acted as though they owed her something.
But as Dan Feng's reincarnation, Dan Heng didn't want them to keep viewing Bailu as Baiheng.
She was a new soul.
She might share ties with Baiheng, but she wasn't her.
Bailu was Bailu.
Unique in her own way.
Young but remarkably perceptive.
Dan Heng had already sensed this during the "The Dragon Returns Home" mission.
---
"What I want most right now...?"
Bailu found Blade's question odd but still pondered it seriously.
"Hmm... Right now, I really want to see the content of Honkai: Star Rail !"
"There's this super popular streamer called Guinaifen, right? Let's all watch her livestream together!"
"Very well," Jingliu agreed immediately, glancing at Jing Yuan.
Without hesitation, Jing Yuan adjusted the Jade Abacus and pulled up Guinaifen's livestream.
The three of them seemed to treat Bailu like the team's darling—though Bailu herself remained oblivious, assuming they were just being polite.
She didn't overthink it.
After all the tension outside, she could finally enjoy the game openly!
The moment the stream loaded, a voice spoke:
"Look over there—two people in Alchemy Commission uniforms. They're probably searching for the Dragon Lady."
"With her vanishing into thin air, they must be at their wits' end. But when gathering intel, we'd better keep our identities and the Heliobus possession under wraps... No need to stir panic."
Bailu gasped, then grumbled indignantly:
"What's going on?!"
"Why is someone after me in the game's story too?!"
"Is it really that wrong to sneak out for fun? Can't I stay out a little longer?!"
To be continued…
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