"No wonder I kept smelling a familiar beastly stench. It wasn't my imagination after all."
Jiaoqiu glared at Modu and the borisin before him, then commanded with authority, "Moze, act!"
Xueyi also raised her weapon. "You two, don't let these monsters get close!"
In an instant, Moze was enveloped in a shadowy aura, vanishing into the darkness.
Xueyi and Moze fought fiercely, but they were outnumbered and struggled to keep up. A couple of borisin broke through, charging toward the sealed gate.
"Guard the gate! Don't let them through!"
At Xueyi's shout, Moze darted forward like a specter.
But he was too late.
The gate slowly creaked open, and a powerful aura surged forth.
Moze was thrown back several meters by the force.
From within came the sound of a beast chewing…
The next moment, a sharp claw gripped the edge of the gate.
Jiaoqiu sensed the danger. "Run!"
Xueyi's eyes widened as a massive werewolf emerged from the darkness.
Without hesitation, she charged forward.
Bang—
Dust filled the air!
A breeze cleared the haze, revealing Xueyi's puppet body shattered to pieces.
Hoolay dispatched the judge in a single blow.
Crouching beside Xueyi, he picked up her immobilized form like a small toy, crushing it with ease as if a child breaking a figurine.
Then, like discarding trash, he tossed her aside.
"I've waited… too long… My first meal upon regaining freedom is the flesh of my kin. How tragic."
Modu, wagging his tail, approached Hoolay slowly. "It's been a while, Warhead. We've come to bring you back to the pack."
[This oppressive aura is intense!]
[Jing Yuan~ Why does this keep happening?]
[Oh no, the Luofu's in trouble again! Wait, why did I say again?]
[My Xueyi figurine!]
[Is Xueyi dead?]
[Not dead. Her body's a puppet, replaceable. It doesn't count as death.]
[But it still hurts, right?]
[Phew, I thought they were going to feed me another knife!]
[Poor Xueyi…]
[This scene is so brutal. No wonder I heard chewing sounds earlier—was she eaten?]
[So? Where's Jingliu? Jingliu, save the day!]
——
Hoolay's voice was steady and hoarse. "How many times has the Azure Hill spun since my last hunt? Dulan's cub! Tell me your name!"
Modu bowed respectfully. "Great Hoolay Khan, enemy of the foxians, hunter of all beings. I'm but a humble strategist of the Rhino Dog Pack, perhaps one of the least significant offspring of your bloodline. My name is Modu.
It's been… at least seven hundred years since you led our clan across the starry hunting grounds. Seeing you as cunning and sharp as ever fills me with boundless joy."
[Hold on, hold on! Is this referencing some civilization?]
[The Turkic Khaganate. They did have a Borisin Khan once.]
[Is it the Huns?]
——
"Seven hundred years… Seven hundred years, and why has Dulan's cub grown to look like this?" Hoolay's eyes flashed with fire. "Answer me, Modu. Why do you resemble our most despicable slaves and enemies—the foxians?"
"I was tasked with freeing you from this vile prison. It was fated by Sain Jiyaa. To do so, I had to swallow the potion, don the skin of a lowly beast, and use deception to counter their hypocrisy."
"If you have an escape plan, then tell me, how do we leave this endlessly vast sky ship?"
"My brothers and I will seal the prison's gates, trapping the jailers inside. That'll buy us some breathing room.
Those disguised like me will prepare a ship for your escape. Per the plan, we have two hours to get out.
Originally, I planned to execute your rescue tomorrow, but they intend to transfer you to the Yaoqing Xianzhou for detention. I had to seize this opportunity to set you free."
Hoolay roared, "A bold but brainless plan, fool! Even with a ship, our chances of escape are slimmer than a foxian slipping through my claws!"
"To save you, we had no choice! The angel of the Eternal Master said, 'Only your return can end the borisin's long division.'
Every brother on this mission is ready to sacrifice themselves—as long as it ensures your escape."
[Bro, there are three Arbiter-Generals outside. Can Hoolay even handle that?]
[Jingliu alone gave Hoolay physiological trauma. Three generals? Haha, I don't know how this plays out.]
[Why didn't they rescue him earlier, only acting when this 'angel' spoke?]
[No idea.]
——
Hoolay pondered for a moment, seeming to grasp everything. "A weakling like you, surviving by cunning, showing near-foolish bravery in this plan. You'll get your wish… All of Dulan's cubs will get their wish."
"Then, my lord, we should go."
"Before we leave, give me one of those potions you took."
Modu's body trembled. "You… You'd don the skin of a lowly beast? It insults your great status…"
"Idiot, greatness means nothing without freedom! Once we're out, I'll need a disguise that's less suspicious."
"As you command."
Hoolay's gaze shifted to Jiaoqiu. "That foxian slave—is he my meal?"
"No, he's an envoy from the Yaoqing Xianzhou. Please restrain your claws for now; he's valuable as a hostage. Bring him, and let's go!"
——
Meanwhile, Stelle, Dan Heng, and Hanya realized the prison's situation had spiraled out of control.
"Lady Hanya, the guards in each sector are regrouping. Those mechanical enemies are roaming, injuring many of our comrades.
Worse, those iron wolves have broken cages, freeing prisoners! We've requested outside aid, but all communications are blocked."
A Shackling Prison guard reported the current state of affairs.
Hanya made a snap decision. "Preserve our strength first. Prioritize subduing lone prisoners and jailbreakers. By the Ten-Lords' decree, those attempting escape or aiding it may be killed without restraint."
Another Aurum Alley reaper brought worse news. "A quarter-hour ago, the 'Prison-Breaking Wheel Key' mechanism was activated. It seems Lady Xueyi and the Yaoqing envoys entered the prison's depths for a visit. Given the communication blackout, the intruders' target is likely there."
Hanya's expression darkened. "We absolutely cannot let that beast escape its cage!"
…
Hanya sprang into action, leading Stelle and Dan Heng.
Along the way, they encountered enemies, but with a judge and two Nameless, the foes were quickly dispatched.
Finally, they reached the bottom of the Shackling Prison.
What greeted them was the sight of the gate wide open.
In a corner, Stelle spotted Xueyi.
Stelle struggled to speak. "Xueyi… she's here."
Dan Heng's gaze shifted, and he sighed helplessly, offering comfort. "Miss Xueyi died heroically… Miss Hanya, please accept my condolences."
But Hanya seemed unfazed. "Condolences? I have none."
Noticing Stelle and Dan Heng's confused looks, she explained, "You misunderstand. By the grace of the Ten-Lords, my sister became a mechanical body centuries ago. After 'death,' her 'soul' returns to the Karma Hall's archives. It's routine for her.
Though I don't like seeing her treat her body so carelessly, as if it's a replaceable part. But…
Right, have you found any casualties that might be the Yaoqing envoys? One is a foxian in ornate clothing, the other in a dark robe, looking like a desperado."
[I'm only relieved once the officials confirm it, lest it feels like a scam.]
[That statement puts me at ease.]
[Sobs, I'm a Xueyi fan. Doesn't anyone care?]
——
Dan Heng thought carefully. "No, aside from borisin remains, I didn't see any foxian-like bodies here."
"So, the jailbreakers and Hoolay have taken the Yaoqing envoy hostage.
This is the worst-case scenario. With a hostage, the guards are likely powerless against them. If anything goes wrong, the relationship between the Luofu and Yaoqing Xianzhou… could be irreparably damaged.
We must rescue the envoy, escape, and send word outside. As long as there's a sliver of hope, we cannot give up!"
Suddenly, Hanya's gaze landed on a mechanical bird.
"What did you find, Miss Hanya?"
Before Hanya could respond, the damaged bird spoke. "Han… Hanya…"
Stelle's eyes widened. "A cyber ghost!"
"Re… restore…"
Hanya nodded. "It's my sister. Her soul, ever dutiful, hasn't returned to the Karma Hall yet. At this critical moment… her 'death' has become our intelligence advantage."
Hanya began inspecting the bird's circuits. "Let me see. The damage isn't too severe. If we fix it, my sister can temporarily inhabit it."
She got to work with ease, and with Stelle, who'd learned a thing or two from Siluva, they quickly repaired the bird.
"Hanya! I-I-I… I'm back!"
"Welcome back, sister." Hanya paused. "I don't know what expression to make here. Happy? Tears of joy? Forget it, I'm used to you returning in all sorts of forms."
[Damn, this line makes me want to laugh and cry at the same time. What's going on?]
[Just smile, it's fine.]
[I feel oddly bad for them. It seems these sisters died super early, probably during their time.]
[The Xianzhou? That was centuries ago, wasn't it?]
[Their backstory is pretty tragic. There's a subtle knife-like vibe.]
——
Stelle still couldn't believe it. "A cyber ghost!"
"It's… just… a temporary measure. This thing… can't hold… all of me…"
Hanya steered the conversation back on track to avoid Stelle derailing it. "Sister, what did you see 'after death'?"
Though stuttering, the bird provided clear, concise intel for the trio.
Dan Heng clicked his tongue. "One Yaoqing envoy escaped? The other was taken hostage and is fleeing upward?"
"Besides the borisin… there are… other… intruders… invisible…"
Hanya frowned. "Invisible intruders? What does that mean? How many conspiracies are tangled up in this?
Sister, I need a favor. The jailbreakers have cut all internal and external communications in the Shackling Prison. Right now, you're the only one—or bird—who can leave unimpeded. You must deliver the message outside."
"I… understand. Little sister… take care. You and I… are different, after all…"
The bird flapped its wings, shakily flying out of the Shackling Prison's depths, plunging into the dark tunnels.
Manipulated by outside forces, the Luofu Xianzhou's long-imprisoned great evil, the borisin Warhead Hoolay, broke free and began a slaughter.
The situation in the Shackling Prison hung by a thread. The trio's only option was to close the prison's gates before Hoolay could escape.
On their way to the upper levels, they encountered the "invisible intruders" Xueyi had mentioned.
Fortunately, Moze emerged from the shadows in time to aid them.
Moze appeared as if materializing from the prison's dark corners, yet seemed like he could vanish at any moment.
This "desperado in a dark robe" from Hanya's description stood before them.
Though his cold face showed no expression, Stelle somehow read a silent "you guys finally showed up" in his blank gaze.
"The Luofu's prison management is truly deplorable…"
Stelle, slightly annoyed, retorted, "You already said that."
"It's the truth. Saying it again changes nothing. The Luofu's prison management is truly deplorable…"
[Haha, Moze, still a walking machine.]
[He's as humorous as ever.]
[Does his family know he's this funny?]
——
"At least two groups of jailbreakers with different origins have broken in—wolf cubs and these mara-struck soldiers." Moze continued, "This stealth technique… it's quite similar to the 'Wind Veil' mastered by the Vidyadhara under the Yaoqing's 'Lord of Skywind.' Any leads?"
Dan Heng didn't respond, remaining silent.
"No idea? Fine, now's not the time to swap assassin tips. I'm Moze, and my friend is in the head wolf's hands. I planned to escape and report this, but now it seems…"
Moze paused. "I must admit, the Luofu's prison is designed to be quite complex."
[Who just said it'd be a piece of cake?]
[Oh, so he got lost, huh?]
[This is killing me, haha.]
[Hahaha, Moze has this indescribable humor.]
——
Hanya vowed to rescue Jiaoqiu, but Moze, having just been at the scene, poured cold water on the idea. "I'm the Yaoqing general's guard, not his. I've seen that giant wolf fight, and I'm clear-headed enough to judge. Trying to save him is as good as throwing your life away."
The scene shifted to Dan Heng, with six little dots appearing above his head, as if saying, "Want me to transform for you?"