Why am I the one being won over?

After listening to Guinaifen's account, Sushang pondered carefully for a moment and then sincerely gave her own evaluation.

"Scam tactics... what kind of talk is that? It's just an exaggerated description used to attract attention and enter the live stream. With just a little embellishment, it doesn't count as scam at all! Besides, there's no cost to clicking into the live stream, and viewers will leave on their own if they feel uncomfortable."

"Little Gui, this doesn't seem like 'just a little' at all..."

Regardless of what kind of education you received in the first half of your life—science, magic, faith, or whatever else—when a third-rate internet celebrity sends you spam messages claiming she encountered ghosts or monsters in some abandoned garden, any normal person's reaction would be to report, block, and mute them.

"There's nothing I can do about it! Everyone's tired of my acrobatic performances. If I don't come up with some new livestream content, my career as a livestreaming entertainer will be over! Can you Sushang bear to see me reduced to the streets, becoming a clown biting a lighter to attract attention?!"

Imagining that future scene, Guinaifen covered her forehead in anguish.

But that's pretty much your usual image, Sushang couldn't help but complain in her heart.

If it weren't for Guinaifen's exceptionally beautiful face and slender figure, she probably would have been relegated to a comedic role long ago.

"Forget it, instead of just daydreaming here, why don't we go to Fyxestroll Garden tonight? Maybe we can find some interesting topics to talk about!"

Not wanting to be troubled any longer, Guinaifen suddenly stood up, clenching her fists as if she had made up her mind. Sushang clapped her hands and exclaimed "Oh oh oh!" in admiration.

"Little Gui, you'd better be careful tonight. I've heard news about Fyxestroll Garden from other senior Cloud Knights members recently. They say it's not peaceful at night, and there might be some petty thieves causing trouble. I know you're very skilled, Little Gui, but it's best to be cautious in this situation."

"Hmm? It's okay, you're here, aren't you? Could it be... you've forgotten what you promised me last time?"

A sinister smile appeared on Guinaifen's face as she planned to drag Sushang into the mess. However, Sushang immediately shook her head and refused, denying that she had ever promised Guinaifen refusing to go with her no matter what.

This is probably a little-known secret known only to Sushang herself.

In fact, she is terrified of all kinds of ghost stories, and often gets so scared by them that she doesn't dare to go to the toilet that night.

Faced with Sushang's ruthless objection, Guinaifen remained unperturbed and said calmly, "If you come with me tonight, Little Gui, I'll go with you to find Bai Jun, how about that? The reason? Just say I want to play with him."

"Little Gui, how... how did you know?!"

When Guinaifen revealed the object of her affections, Sushang's face instantly flushed slightly.

"Of course! Sushang, you practically wear your longing for someone on your sleeve. Sigh, but I'm not much better off. But Bai Jun has his own life to live, and we can't keep bothering him all the time. My family keeps urging me to bring Bai Jun over for dinner again; it's driving me crazy."

Guinaifen seized upon Sushang's momentary hesitation, immediately moving close to her and transforming into a witch luring a virtuous young woman into the abyss, constantly whispering enticing words in her ear.

"I've done my research on Fyxestroll Garden beforehand, and I know its layout perfectly. There's no chance of getting lost. All I need to Sushang have you come with me to take some photos; nothing will happen at all~"

"But... but..."

Sushang was still somewhat worried, her expression hesitant.

"Sushang, aren't you Cloud Cavalry? Protecting innocent citizens is your duty. How can you bear to let a delicate woman like me go to Fyxestroll Garden alone?"

"I... I..."

Guinaifen increased her bets, causing Sushang to waver drastically.

"In that case, I'll arrange for you to meet Bai Jun and have a romantic dinner with him."

"Deal made, it's a deal."

Guinaifen, torn between her feelings, pulled out her trump card, Sushang instantly changed her mind.

Guinaifen regretted making such a boast—looking at Sushang Chang, whose whole body seemed to be burning with fierce fighting spirit and whose eyes were shining, Gui Naifen suddenly regretted making such a promise. Whether she could keep it was another matter, but Guinaifen thought that if there really was such an opportunity, perhaps it would be better for her and Bai Jun to have dinner together first?

Since things had already gone too far to turn back, the first generation of the Ghost-Hunting Squad, which was flimsy, full of holes, and each member harbored their own secrets, was formed.

Chapter 175 Can we form Ghost-Hunting Squad for a lifetime?

As the entire Luofu slumber in the darkness of night—

The Prison of Deep Seclusion, which the Xianzhou native called "Yama's Underworld," was still brightly lit. The endless spiraling columnar staircase disappeared into the darkness beyond sight, dotted with faint green lights. One by one, the lights went out and were lit again. The lighting devices in the corridor were like candlesticks, with dark green flames flickering uneasily.

Unlike the devastating situation it suffered from the bombardment of the enemy's cannons some time ago, leaving it almost exposed in the Scalegorge Waterscape, the first three levels of the Prison of Deep Seclusion have been largely restored to their original state after intensive reconstruction and repairs.

Having learned from the previous experience, the materials and structure are now even stronger, capable of withstanding even greater external impacts. Centered on the huge suspended area in the central underground, the various passages extend in all directions like blood vessels. They are geometric works of art meticulously constructed under extremely precise calculations, making one marvel at the ingenuity of the builders.

The brand-new gate is called "Long Residence), and the surrounding area is shrouded in darkness. Needless to say, several military officers are always on duty at the main gate, and this time was no exception. A male and a female military officer took over the shift from the personnel on duty.

Suddenly, a woman's sigh rang out from the central hub suspended in mid-air, followed by another cold, emotionless voice.

"The Shence Mansion sent today's divination report from the Divination Bureau, which roughly indicates that something has happened at Fyxestroll Garden, requiring the judges and military officers of the Ten Lords Bureau's Office to provide their usual assistance. Alas, I can't escape the fate of working overtime..."

"I understand. Then I'll go and inform Huo Huo. We'll take her on this mission. After all, Huo Huo has already been promoted to judge, and we don't have much more to teach her. We'll just guide her through the process a few more times, and then it will be time for her to take charge on her own."

As Xue Yi turned to leave, Hanya suddenly grabbed the hem of her clothes, looking somewhat conflicted.

"No, sister, let me do it."

Xue Yi turned around, her cold and delicate face revealing no change in emotion, but her silence was enough to indicate that she agreed.

The two walked side by side out of the central area of Prison of Deep Seclusion, through the newly built corridor, and around several corners, until they arrived at Huo Huo's room. Unlike the rooms assigned to them when they were underworld officials, the judges now had their own rooms, which were much larger and more comfortable than before. Then, Hanya gently knocked on her door.

"Huo Huo, are you there?"

"Lady Hanya? Please wait a moment, I'll be right there--"

As they were talking, the sound of rustling clothes came from inside the room, and bare feet made a series of thumping sounds on the floor. As the door opened, Huo Huo, dressed only in loose clothes, stood tremblingly in front of Hanya and Xue Yi.

"Huh? What's Lady Xue Yi doing here?"

"It's alright, Huo Huo, you don't need to be so reserved. Now that you and I are both judges, there is no longer a difference in status between us. It is only natural that you should change your attitude towards us. You should adapt as soon as possible, and at least stop being so panicked as you are now."

Xue Yi interrupted Huo Huo, pointing to her current appearance and indicating that she should hurry back to her room to get ready.

Faced with her senior's well-intentioned reminder, Huo Huo blushed immediately. She still spoke in her usual soft and tidy tone, quickly returning to her room to tidy her clothes. After a while, Huo Huo had transformed back into a judge, opened the door. Seeing her current appearance, Xue Yi nodded slightly.

"Huo Huo, are you alright now? Can you tell me what happened to you a few days ago?"

The Hanya, who had been silent since earlier, hesitated and stammered for a long time before finally speaking.

"I... I'm fine. Thank you for your concern, Lady Hanya..."

"Little sister, you've upset Huo Huo again! You're so naughty, go apologize quickly."

"Sister, sister! But, but I just wanted to show her some concern. After all, she looked like that a few days ago. As her senior, if I didn't do something, wouldn't I be letting her down...?"

When the topic came up, Huo Huo shook her long, unbound Jade -green hair, sighed sadly with her head down, and looked pitiful. In front of her, Hanya and Xue Yi were whispering to each other, their shoulders close together. Xue Yi's words revealed a hint of teasing, while Hanya blushed and quickly retorted.

The reason I say this is because Huo Huo, who came back from Fyxestroll Garden a few days ago, must have suffered some kind of blow. She looked so listless and gloomy that it was unbearable to look at her. It was as if she was facing an insurmountable flood or ferocious beast, and her ideals and beliefs had been irreparably destroyed.

Not only the other judges of the Ten Lords Bureau, but even Hanya and Xue Yi were somewhat frightened by her appearance, and consciously kept their distance from her for those few days.

In fact Huo Huo was aware of her own situation, but she couldn't very well say that she had seen a white-haired Foxkin steal her beloved Lord Bai Jun away, could she? Moreover, she was completely unable to overcome her inner grief and dared not face her true thoughts. Huo Huo felt ashamed and sad about this.

Ashamed of not knowing how to express her feelings for Lord Bai Jun, the ridiculous and absurd "desire" that arose deep in her heart was undoubtedly a "poison," making her feel both inferior and envious.

The most painful thing was that, faced with the woman Lord Bai Jun, she couldn't even muster the will to resist. And compared to that handsome and beautiful Foxkin so brazenly expressed his love, how insignificant she was!

Several days passed in a daze, and now, the lingering pain of longing in her heart has finally eased somewhat. Huo Huo also feels that she should adjust herself, adapt to the life of a judge as soon as possible, and then when she sees Lord Bai Jun again... she can confide in him... or at least exchange a few words with him!

Feeling her burning cheeks, Huo Huo trembled and lowered her head again, as if steam was rising from her head.

Xue Yi and Hanya, who witnessed Huo Huo's entire episode, stared at each other in disbelief, completely unaware of what Huo Huo was imagining. They just felt that their little fox sister seemed a bit delusional, and that it would be better to take her to see a doctor next time.

They sighed, not wanting to delay the mission any longer, and dragged Huo Huo to Fyxestroll Garden. During the trip, when discussing the mission, the Shence Mansion officials explained that the situation stemmed from unresolved issues from some time ago.

In other words, the Buli person destroyed the Furnace of Creation near Fyxestroll Garden, allowing large numbers of Suiyang to escape and commit evil deeds. Although the situation was handled promptly and properly at the time, there were probably some who escaped, or perhaps the Furnace of Creation malfunctioned again.

Based on their years of experience, Hanya and Xue Yi judged that this chaos was most likely caused by Suiyang, who had escaped during the last commotion.

"Huo Huo, from which direction did you cleanse the Suiyang last time? Was there anything strange during that time?"

"Last time, it was Lord Bai Jun who handled everything. I... I didn't help at all; I was just following behind him. Even if there was anything strange about it, I can't put my finger on it. I'm sorry..."

The words uttered by Huo Huo caused Xue Yi and Hanya to fall silent simultaneously. The two seemed lost in some memories, one of them blushing slightly and muttering something softly. The other, however, pursed her thin lips expressionlessly; those who knew her well knew this was proof that Xue Yi was happy.

Thus, the three of them arrived at Fyxestroll Garden in a subtle silence. They quickly assigned tasks, with each of them responsible for a direction, and began their search and investigation.

"My God, the situation here is even more outrageous than I imagined..."

Observing the dim and eerie atmosphere around her, Guinaifen couldn't hide her excitement as she took photos to commemorate the occasion.

Listening to Guinaifen chattering away beside her, seemingly brimming with inexhaustible courage and energy, Sushang admired her for the first time. At the same time, she couldn't help but sigh, it really wasn't easy for an online streamer to make a living. She had to resist the urge to run away in such a gloomy place and keep taking pictures like a reporter covering a murder case.

In most horror movies, the protagonists always recklessly barge into haunted gardens without a care in the world or how many people are around. If they had stopped to think things through, none of the subsequent events would have happened—and Guinaifen is one of those reckless characters.

Along the way, Guinaifen dutifully told Sushang about the history of Fyxestroll Garden's abandonment... and took many eerie photos. In a daze, Sushang felt as if she had seen the scenery around here again and again, like a picture playing repeatedly in front of her eyes, and subconsciously felt a chill run down her spine.

Sushang immediately stopped in her tracks, drew the Xuanyuan Sword from behind her, and cautiously surveyed her surroundings with trembling legs.

"Little Gui, I don't know if it's just my imagination, but after walking for so long, why do I feel like I'm going in circles? Could it be that the rumors circulating online are true...?"

"Ah, it's alright, because we were just circling around the outskirts of Fyxestroll Garden anyway."

"Little Gui, didn't you say you knew the route?!"

Guinaifen's face was covered with a bright and clear smile. She gave a thumbs up and explained it this way, which unsurprisingly drew a barrage of complaints from Sushang.

Fyxestroll Garden is a classic ancient garden, divided into an inner courtyard and an outer courtyard with an interlocking structure. The boundary between the two is quite simple: the buildings form a gray area between them. To put it simply, after seeing the gray and white walls and walking through the winding entrance, you will see the inner courtyard, which consists of several deep courtyard buildings following the square and regular architectural system.

The two were still wandering around the lush, overgrown, and desolate outskirts of Fyxestroll Garden.

In other words, in order to find more compelling visuals, it's time to delve deeper.

"Of course I know the route of Fyxestroll Garden. I only took a few detours to take more photos. Don't worry, don't worry, let's go into the inner courtyard of Fyxestroll Garden now." Guinaifen said confidently, "There won't be any mistakes," as she began to lead Sushang deeper into the garden.

Soon, the two, their shoulders huddled together, came to see the landmark building—a gray-white wall that had now lost most of its plaster. After walking along the main road through the long, winding entrance, an atmosphere far colder and more gloomy than the surrounding area instantly enveloped them.

"Little Gui, why are your legs shaking?"

"Aha ~ Sushang, don't joke around! How could I possibly be scared!"

There was no way Sushang could be mistaken. She could clearly feel Guinaifen's body, which was tightly wrapped around her shoulders, trembling slightly. Upon closer inspection, she could also see that Gui Naifen's long, slender legs, clad in black stockings, were shaking. Moreover, Jade Omen, who had been taking pictures everywhere just moments before, was now tucked into his pocket.

Sushang couldn't help but roll her eyes at Guinaifen, thinking that all that boasting was just her bluffing.

Although both of them were a little scared, adhering to the idea that since they were already there, they decided to take a short stroll around to make the trip worthwhile—yes, just like the minor characters in a horror movie who are killed off as soon as they appear.

"Hahaha, this is nothing serious at all. There are no ghosts or monsters; it's just idle worry."

After briefly strolling through the inner courtyard for less than a few hundred meters, Guinaifen, finding herself unharmed, seemed to want to lift her spirits or perhaps find a good reason to leave later. With renewed courage, she supported her slender waist and, in a trembling voice, uttered a series of boastful words.

"Little Gui! You, behind you!!!"

"What's there? Sushang, don't scare me!!!"

A strange, eerie dark green flame flashed past behind Guinaifen. Xuanyuan Sword Sushang, who witnessed this, trembled with fear and instinctively raised her Xuanyuan Sword, aiming it at Guinaifen. As a result, Gui Naifen also fell into inexplicable terror. After confirming that there was nothing behind her, Guinaifen complained loudly.

Just as Sushang rubbed her eyes, thinking that the scene she had just witnessed was just her imagination—

A strange green flame appeared behind the two. Perhaps sensing its presence, the two, their bodies stiff with fear, slowly turned their heads, their eyes widening instantly. Their expressions underwent a series of astonishing changes in a flash: confusion, astonishment, fear, chaos, and then—

"Help! There's a ghost! Aa...

"Waaaaah! Don't panic, you two, I'm not a ghost!"

Guinaifen and Sushang let out a scream that startled Huo Huo, who nearly jumped out of her skin. The two turned pale and huddled together, trembling. It wasn't until Huo Huo explained for a long time that the two finally came to their senses and realized that the other was a cute Foxkin- girl, and the green flame they had seen earlier was just the blue lantern she was carrying.

"I understand now. So you two wanted to film some ghosts and monsters for video footage. However, I need to correct you that there are no ghosts on the Xianzhou. This is absurd superstition. As residents of the Xianzhou, we should not believe or spread rumors."

Upon learning of Guinaifen and Sushang's situation, Huo Huo crudely imitated Lady Xue Yi's manner, softly and sweetly admonishing the two. She then suggested taking them out of Fyxestroll Garden for their safety. The two, who were worried about how to get out, were overjoyed and deeply moved.

"Miss Huo Huo, you are such a kind person!"

"Yeah, yeah, they're practically angels! Are all Foxkin this kind of person?"

"Wow, such nice people!? Hehe... Thank you so much, this is the first time anyone has ever praised me like that."

Huo Huo, who was powerless against praise, was quickly flattered by the two, her face flushing slightly. Although she was feeling a little smug, she did not forget her duty and immediately led the way for them to leave Fyxestroll Garden.

Huo Huo saw the guests off all the way, and was about to lead the two away from the Fyxestroll Garden when a strange and eerie strong wind suddenly blew up halfway, and fog spread everywhere. When they turned around, the three of them found that they were standing at the starting point again for some reason.

"Aha, am I dreaming again? Sushang, pinch me hard and wake me up from this dream."

"Um... Miss Huo Huo, no, Your Honor, what exactly is going on?"

In their memory, this strange situation was known as "being trapped in a ghost wall." Not only Guinaifen, but Sushang was also quite frightened. They quickly placed their hopes on the kind-hearted judge beside them, hoping that she could calmly comfort them and then easily solve the problem.

"Ugh, could this be the legendary 'being trapped in a maze'?"

Huo Huo's legs trembled, and a line of cold sweat silently trickled down her cheek. Then she looked at Guinaifen and Sushang with pleading eyes, as if asking them for help on what to do.

"Who exactly is the judge here?!"

"Waaah, I'm so sorry!"

Faced with the pitiful Huo Huo, Guinaifen and Sushang couldn't help but complain loudly. Although Huo Huo was indeed very cute, this was obviously too unreliable!

Knowing that she could only break the current situation herself, Huo Huo swallowed hard and kept telling herself that she was now the judge and could no longer be afraid. She had to do everything she could to save the two good girls around her. However, no matter how hard Huo Huo tried, the fog around her did not dissipate at all. On the contrary, it seemed to be getting thicker and stronger.

Left with no other choice, Huo Huo had to cling to her Tail and cry out for help.