Happy readings~
Chapter 171: How fast can Bailu run? This is the power of the new High Elder!
Guinaifen initially thought this commission would be a walk in the park.
All she had to do was defeat the Heliobus possessing Bailu and seal it away with the exorcism mirror. Simple, right? Even now, she clung to that optimistic thought.
Down on the landing below the stairs, Bailu's voice rang out, firm and resolute.
"I just want to go out and play! What's so wrong with that?"
"Why do I have to live my life according to how adults say I should?"
The two Bailus were playing together, innocent and carefree. They weren't exactly hurting anyone.
And yet…
"I'm sorry," Guinaifen muttered. "But I'm a ruthless player!"
As she drew closer, Guinaifen broke into a full sprint, hoping to catch Bailu off guard.
But Bailu was faster. In an instant, she launched herself forward, rocketing several meters away!
As she fled, she didn't forget to voice her heart's desire: "The adults always say: 'Don't be so playful now, you can play when you grow up.'"
"But I've seen those Alchemists Commission adults. They don't have time to play at all!"
"Stop chasing me!"
"Can't you just let me have some fun for a little while!"
She actually has a point! Guinaifen thought. I can't even argue with that logic!
Nevertheless, Guinaifen didn't slow down. She kept sprinting, pushing her limits.
But something felt off.
That figure ahead… Bailu's little legs were moving way too fast!
Forget her legs—even her arms were swinging like they had turbochargers attached. Guinaifen couldn't close the gap at all. The distance between them grew so wide that Bailu even had the audacity to stop and wait for her!
Little Gui took a sharp breath. Her blood pressure was rising.
She clenched her fists. Every time she hit a corner, she hugged the wall as tightly as possible.
Speed on the turns is the only speed that matters!
And so, after a series of sharp bends, she was finally on the verge of catching up to Bailu at the final turn!
A fire of victory flickered in Guinaifen's eyes.
She was close!
She almost had her!
However, just as she pulled level with Bailu, the High Elder performed a sudden, perfectly timed brake and U-turn!
A notification popped up on the screen:
[ Bailu anticipated your attempt to corner her. As long as she runs fast enough, she can do whatever she wants. ]
Guinaifen's jaw dropped.
She immediately switched to Dan Heng • Imbibitor Lunae.
Her expression turned solemn and grave.
"Family," she said to her viewers. "The nature of this situation has changed."
"This isn't just about the mission anymore. This is a battle for my dignity!"
"When I catch you, Lady Dragon, you're in for a world of hurt!"
…
"She's tilted! The streamer is tilted!"
"Bailu's little legs are seriously moving too fast, aren't they?"
"How else do you think she manages to escape the Alchemists Commission every single time?"
"I can see it now—Little Gui is going all out!"
"As expected of the future High Elder!"
…
Little Gui let out a shout: "CLOUDHYMN ROAR!!!"
She tapped Imbibitor Lunae's Technique.
With a sudden spin, she surged forward, enveloped in a mist of water!
Imbibitor Lunae's Technique was widely recognized as the ultimate tool for map exploration. During the dash, he could even navigate corners with incredible speed.
Little Gui was pushing herself beyond her limits today. She hadn't hit a single wall. Every turn was executed with surgical precision, weaving through the narrow alleys.
But!
Even then!
She still couldn't catch up to Bailu's short legs.
Meanwhile, Bailu and Azhu didn't hold back their "grand declarations."
Azhu: "Adults always say their lives are harder, but isn't that strange?"
"Weren't adults children once, too?"
"Why do they have to compare who has it harder with their past selves?"
Bailu chimed in, "Exactly! Exactly!"
"Why do they always tell me things I don't understand and can't relate to?"
"I just want to go out and play!"
Imbibitor Lunae was frantically spamming Cloudhymn Roar in the back, while Bailu was practically flying in the front.
The scene was unintentionally hilarious! The viewers in the chat were losing their minds.
…
"Bailu: 'Is this all the current High Elder can do?'"
"Dan Heng, you're not very 'dragon' at all."
"Even among High Elders, there is a gap in power."
"This is the strength of the new High Elder. Feeling the pressure, old man?"
…
Guinaifen was stunned.
"I'm almost out of Skill Points! You've really run dozens of laps without even stopping?"
"Your speed… I acknowledge it!"
Just then, Sushang's voice rang out in the game: "Close that door ahead… then she'll have nowhere else to run but that way…"
Guinaifen had been driven by her competitive spirit at first, but realizing that Bailu's energy was seemingly infinite… she had to resort to this tactic.
Door closed.
Path blocked.
Finally, after some strategic maneuvering, they successfully herded Bailu into the formation at the dead end.
Trapped within the array, Bailu cried out, "Let me out! I don't want to be locked up here!"
Huohuo tried to explain, "Lady Bailu… please stay calm. You've been possessed by a Heliobus. Your thoughts and feelings aren't entirely your own."
"Lies! All lies! I've never had any playmates growing up. I finally found one today, and you're trying to take it away…"
This scene left Guinaifen feeling a bit uneasy. The chat was flooded with comments.
…
"Closing the door? That's playing dirty!"
"Her face is all red from crying. She looks so heartbroken."
"So cute…"
"She just wanted to play! What did she do wrong?"
"The main thing is Bailu is locked up most of the time. She's lonely."
"You might have lost Azhu, but you still have me, Bailu!"
…
Bailu was sobbing uncontrollably.
Then, a figure suddenly appeared.
Azhu stepped forward in front of everyone. To save its friend, it had come even though it knew it was a trap.
"…Adults really are despicable, taking away even the rare moments of joy a child has!"
[ Hehe! I'm pretty despicable, aren't I? ]
Guinaifen's face flushed. Watching this unfold from a third-person perspective, she felt like a total villain! The guilt was overwhelming.
Azhu continued, "I wanted to bring you all into a happy, free world of children. But since you insist on being such killjoys… don't blame Azhu for using violence to talk to you!"
"Violence. Only violence is the language you adults understand and speak, right!? Just like every time you 'discipline' a child!"
In that moment, Guinaifen felt like she was the true antagonist.
[ Exorcism Art designated for this battle… ]
With the help of the Exorcism Art, the battle was over quickly.
Azhu clutched its head and said, "Ugh, I'm sorry, Alu… I-I was disciplined by the adults. I can't play with you anymore…"
"Azhu… didn't we pinky-promise never to go back with the adults? Adults can break their word, but is it okay for children to do it too?" Bailu said, her voice trembling with hurt.
"But I have no choice. No matter how long the game lasts, there's always a moment when it has to end."
"Still, I had a lot of fun today. Let's play again next time!"
Guinaifen whispered, "There won't be a next time… Huohuo, please."
"Azhu, the next time we meet… will probably be a very long time from now…"
"Our lives are very long. Looking at it that way, it won't be as long as you think~ I have to go with these adults for now!"
As Azhu was sealed into the teal gourd, Guinaifen let out a sigh.
To be honest, this ghost-hunting mission wasn't as thrilling as she had imagined. Instead, it left a bitter taste in her mouth.
"It's just like that one time you played as a kid… no one knew it would be the last time…"
…
"Looking at Little Gui's expression, it seems she has a story of her own?"
"When I was a kid, I loved making plans to play with friends, even if I knew there might not be another chance. I'd still wait…"
"But by the next time they meet, Bailu will probably have turned into a boring adult too…"
"I'm unfriending everyone. This is too much."
" I came here to play a game, why are you doing this to me!"
" I came here to laugh, not to cry!"
"Let Azhu go!"
"Whether Azhu is a bad Heliobus or not, wouldn't Bailu know best!?"