Why Am I the One Being Pursued?

P.S.: There'll be more this afternoon. I'll try to hit ten thousand words.

Do You Want a Tail?

For the first time in his life, Bai Jun experienced what it felt like for a starskiff to plunge into the Sea of Stars. If a plane crash was the ultimate challenge to one's body, then falling into the Sea of Stars was undoubtedly an immense torment for both body and mind. It was simply more outrageous than discovering halfway through a helicopter ride that the pilot was Zobayan.

And the signal in the Sea of Stars was terrible. If not for a kind passing starskiff, who knew how long they would have drifted there tonight.

After being towed back into the realm, Bai Jun's face was pale. He covered his mouth, nearly vomiting up last night's dinner.

Xue Yi, on the other hand, felt no discomfort at all due to her mechanical puppet body. After notifying her colleagues at the Ten Lords Bureau, she walked over to Bai Jun and lowered her eyelids halfway. This was the expression she used to show concern—unfortunately, the craftsmanship used to create her body was not refined enough, making her look sleepy instead.

"Apologies. I remember learning how to operate all sorts of vehicles while slumbering in the coffin, but for some reason today..."

As she spoke, she reached out and awkwardly patted his back, thinking it might make him feel better.

Bai Jun could read the apology in her movements and expression. But then again, he had not really cared in the first place. His pale face was only due to starskiff sickness. He curled a finger and flicked Xue Yi's forehead.

"There's no need to apologize for that. You, on the other hand—your mechanical body has taken so many heavy hits already. Why did you still come out here?"

"I am a judge of the Ten Lords Bureau. This is my duty. Why, then, were you here?"

"I... Sigh. Just something to do because I couldn't sleep at night. It had nothing to do with anything else..." Bai Jun quickly realized that Xue Yi was changing the subject. He asked again, "Don't change the subject. You knew you couldn't beat that guy, so why did you come out here to die?"

Xue Yi pressed her thin lips together slightly and lowered her gaze to the ground. "That man is familiar with the structure of mechanical bodies. Every time, he specifically strikes my most delicate parts. But I have recorded his techniques. If I study them repeatedly, I will eventually find a way to counter them."

"Do you think reality is a game you can challenge over and over again?"

Hearing her describe life and death as though she were reloading a save point in a game, as if she were talking about damage to some irrelevant object, Bai Jun sighed. He stepped forward and took her hand. "Your skills are beyond question, but you really need to take better care of yourself."

"Tell me, can you still feel my body temperature now?"

He moved closer and pressed her cold hand against the side of his face.

The white-clad judge's expression did not change, but ripples rose within her heart. Clearly, she could not sense temperature. Clearly, she should no longer feel emotions. Yet her soul kept telling her... So warm.

"Probably not. Look, your soul has been transferred through too many different puppet bodies. That will only make the rejection between the two grow stronger. If you don't want to disappear one day in the future, then please cherish yourself more."

Xue Yi did not answer his question. She merely stood there blankly. Feeling the coldness in her palm, Bai Jun was overcome by an inexplicable sense of helplessness. He knew this was just the kind of person Xue Yi was. No matter who tried to persuade her, it would be the same.

"I... I understand..."

Just as he was about to release Xue Yi's hand, he heard her quietly agree. At the same time, her cold hands suddenly cupped Bai Jun's face tightly. Just as she had once treated her younger sister, her fingertips gently and carefully wiped away the dust from his face.

"There is dust on your face."

The white-clad judge stared unblinking at Bai Jun. A smile suddenly appeared on her face, which had lacked humanity all day long. The softness she revealed surprised Bai Jun.

This seemed to be the first time he had ever seen Xue Yi smile since meeting her.

"It looks beautiful. It would be nice if you smiled like this more often." Bai Jun did not hold back his praise as he smiled and took her hand again.

"Is that so... You truly are greedy." Xue Yi complained softly, but the tenderness at the corners of her eyes could not be concealed.

"Hmm, in exchange, how about I make you a new pair of arm guards? The material on these is a little too poor." Bai Jun tapped the armor around her wrist with his fingers. It produced a hollow knocking sound. No wonder her mechanical body was damaged so often.

"I will wait."

Soon, a rustling series of footsteps came from nearby.

A group of the little underworld attendants Bai Jun had seen earlier on Idlecloud Street hurried over with green lanterns in hand. The only difference was that the child leading them had been replaced by a green-haired girl with large fox ears and a timid expression.

When she saw Xue Yi, she happily waved the flag in her hand and shouted as she jogged over, "X-Xue Yi! Sorry I'm late!"

Before she could take more than a few steps, her left foot accidentally tripped over her right. Her body lost balance, her steps stumbled, and her petite form traced an elegant yet helpless arc through the air. With a thud, she achieved the grand feat of falling on level ground, while the paper talismans in her arms scattered everywhere.

"Huo Huo, you ought to be more composed."

There was some helplessness in Xue Yi's tone toward this junior. After all, Huo Huo's reckless nature had not started just a year or two ago.

"Waaah... Sorry, Xue Yi, I-I messed up again." Huo Huo's tearful eyes landed on Bai Jun beside Xue Yi, and she instantly realized she had embarrassed herself in front of an outsider. Her pretty face turned bright red. The fingers covered in bandages nervously twisted the hem of her clothes as she lowered her head, too afraid to look up.

Bai Jun naturally noticed Huo Huo trembling on the ground. Setting aside how adorable she was, the most eye-catching thing was the large, fluffy fox tail behind her... Wait, why was her tail on fire?

As though it sensed Bai Jun's gaze, the green flames on Huo Huo's fox tail seemed to burn even brighter.

Just as Bai Jun was hesitating over whether to ask what was going on, a rough, magnetic, vicious voice suddenly rang out. "Kid, what are you staring at? Watch it, or this lord will eat—Huh? Wait, why do you smell so familiar?"

Bai Jun looked around in surprise, but he could not find any trace of a man. After thinking for a while, he finally turned his gaze back to Huo Huo—or, more precisely, to the tail burning with fierce green flames.

"You are...?"

"I am a famous member of the Suiyang race—"

Before the tail could finish its introduction, Huo Huo interrupted through tears. "Tail! He's Tail!"

After giving the underworld attendants their assignments, Xue Yi returned to Bai Jun's side and briefly introduced her junior.

"Several decades ago, my younger sister discovered Huo Huo while on patrol. Huo Huo was about to be devoured by a Suiyang. Seeing that she was young and weak at the time, while the Suiyang was no ordinary one, my younger sister had no choice but to write a talisman in her urgency and seal the Suiyang onto Huo Huo's tail. Huo Huo now serves as an underworld attendant and is a junior to both my younger sister and me."

"I see..."

Tail broke free from Huo Huo's embrace and impatiently shouted at Bai Jun, "Kid! Why do you carry that one's aura?"

There was no question about it. As the most powerful fragment of Ignamar, the leader of the Suiyang, Tail was more familiar than any other Suiyang with that incomparably majestic, deeply nostalgic aura—the leader of the Suiyang, Primordial Suihuang.

And this white-haired kid actually carried the Suihuang's aura!?

No. It had to confirm whether this was merely a bluff.

The green flames belonging to Tail rose and expanded without end. In an instant, they lifted the panicked Huo Huo into the air like a hot-air balloon, carrying her above Bai Jun.

With a bang, the flames went out. Huo Huo immediately screamed as she fell from the sky. Bai Jun reacted swiftly and caught her in a perfect princess carry, without repeating the mishap that had happened when he caught Sushang last time.

However, this was Tail's plan. While Bai Jun's hands were occupied catching Huo Huo, Tail immediately pressed itself against his face like a pervert, making loud sniffing noises.

That was right, this was Tail's plan. It was extremely simple. It merely wanted to properly smell Bai Jun's aura and confirm that its judgment was correct.

"Not bad, not bad! Looks like the Suihuang really approves of you."

"Argh, what are you doing!?" Having an extremely hot, oversized tail slapped across his face was not a pleasant experience. If he were not still holding this girl named Huo Huo, Bai Jun would have shaved it bald just like those Dragon Masters.

"Hahaha, don't mind it, don't mind it! This lord just likes you!"

Tail seemed as happy as someone putting on new underwear on New Year's morning. In comparison, Huo Huo, who lay in Bai Jun's arms with a crimson face and spirals in her eyes, looked much more pathetic.

"How embarrassing! How did this lord end up stuck with such a useless little girl!?" Tail scolded in frustration.

"W-What? All you do every day is throw your weight around! Whenever something happens, I have to solve it myself! Who exactly is useless here!?" Though Huo Huo was soft-hearted, her tongue was not soft at all. She immediately launched a sharp counterattack.

"Oh, you're still talking? This lord will eat you!"

"T-Then eat me! I've had enough of this life already! Besides, aren't you vegetarian...?"

"Fine, fine, fine. Kid, do you want a Tail?" Unable to argue with her, Tail turned and pressed itself against Bai Jun again.

"I refuse." Bai Jun rolled his eyes. He truly could not be bothered getting involved in Huo Huo and Tail's argument. Besides, he could tell that Huo Huo possessed a sharp tongue completely at odds with her soft, sweet appearance.

At that moment, the long-silent Xue Yi suddenly stepped forward, lifted Huo Huo out of Bai Jun's princess carry, and said expressionlessly, "Huo Huo, the fiends of the Medicine King's Legacy have already been apprehended. Quickly take the corpses back to the Ten Lords Bureau and report in. Do not linger here."

"Yes! S-Sorry, Xue Yi!" Huo Huo had always held Judge Xue Yi and Judge Hanya in great respect. Hearing Xue Yi's order, she shuddered all over and ran off with her flag without a second thought.

Tail seemed to see through something. It let out a teasing whistle at Xue Yi, then did not forget to shout at Bai Jun, "Kid, if you change your mind later, remember to call me! This lord can switch sides and join you anytime! Hahahaha!"

"Huo Huo is somewhat reckless in daily life. Do not mind her." After watching Huo Huo leave with the underworld attendants, Xue Yi turned around and saw Bai Jun's trembling hand.

"Why is your hand shaking?"

"Ah, I just put too much force into it during the fight earlier. That guy's fists were really powerful." Bai Jun casually clenched his fist. It was only a strained muscle; one night of rest would fix it... assuming he did not get a fever from the Suihuang and end up unable to sleep tonight.

Xue Yi blinked her beautiful crimson eyes, then moved closer to Bai Jun. Under his puzzled gaze, she slipped a hand into his clothes.

"...Miss Xue Yi, what are you doing?"

"Do not panic. Your body is not mechanical. For the sake of your health, I should inspect whether you are injured."

Xue Yi kept an expressionless face as her hand naturally explored beneath his clothes. She was even more perverted than a pervert. Beneath the black hair on her forehead, the judge's eyes gleamed brightly, and her expression reminded Bai Jun of a predator that had caught the scent of blood.

"Uh, there's no need to inspect me. I'm not hurt... Hey, don't, don't touch me! Don't lift my clothes either!"

"Let me see!"

"No!"

As the two engaged in this friendly interaction, Hanya finally arrived after handling matters at the clinic.

When she hurried over in eager anticipation, the first thing she saw was her most beloved sister tearing at Bai Jun's clothes.

Smack—!

The first thing to break the silence was the sound of Hanya's writing brush accidentally falling to the ground.

Looking as though his heart had turned to ashes and he could feel neither joy nor sorrow for the rest of his life, Bai Jun struggled to lift his head and cast a pleading look toward Hanya.

Caw! Hanya! Hurry and save me!

Xue Yi's powerful puppet body, hardened through countless refinements—no, it should be said, through countless modifications—could absolutely play with him anytime, anywhere.

Absolutely. Effortlessly.

"Younger sister, you came at the right time. Come and lend me a hand." Xue Yi spoke before Bai Jun could, and the reason it was called an invitation was because she intended to share the prey.

On one side was her most beloved elder sister. On the other was the best friend she had made in nearly a hundred years. Toward the former, she felt respect and devotion. Toward the latter, she felt admiration and trust, as well as many emotions buried deep in her heart that she could not speak aloud...

Placing both upon opposite ends of a scale meant confronting two utterly different emotions pulling against each other.

Bang! The shackles of reason used to restrain and suppress her feelings shattered completely at that moment. Hanya followed her heart and made the correct choice.

"Bai Jun? (No concern.)"

"..." Bai Jun's young heart seemed to have died a little.

P.S.: This was what I promised for the afternoon. Tomorrow will still be 8k+.

"Favor of the Sun"

After dealing with all that, the clock was already pointing to 21:12 by the time Bai Jun returned home.

He kicked his shoes aside, tossed his coat onto the sofa, set his longsword against the wall, then flopped directly onto the bed like a drained battery. He curled himself into a ball, buried his face in the soft sheets, and did not want to say a word.

Normally, the first thing Bai Jun always did upon getting home was take a comfortable hot bath, then make something to eat, because that helped him recover from fatigue more quickly.

But today had been utterly exhausting. He did not want to do anything now. He only wanted to sleep properly.

Beep...

At that moment, the Jade Omen made an ill-timed sound. The glow from its lit screen made him sigh irritably. Without thinking, he casually turned it off, then lay back down and stared blankly at the ceiling.

The happiness brought by the soft pillow and warm quilt could not lull him to sleep. On the contrary, whenever he closed his eyes, a mass of dark crimson flame appeared in his vision, flickering within the depths of his consciousness and making him even more irritated.

Bai Jun turned over. The strands of moonlight spilling through the window reminded him of fragments from the past.

His relationship with Primordial Suihuang could be traced back to the time he had stayed in Zhuming. Back then, he had studied the craft of forging weapons under Huai Yan. Due to an accident, he had inadvertently come into contact with the flame deep within the Forge Palace.

It pulsed and changed endlessly, like a talking heart. Every wisp of light throbbed like surging rapids, or like fury suppressed since ancient times. It snapped and growled, trying to burrow into his consciousness.

In an instant, countless scenes swept past like pages blown across the ground by the wind, flooding into his sea of consciousness.

—A "tree" beyond the limits of sight hung down from the heavens, its branches piercing the starry sky.

—In the vacuum, ships that spewed the light of suns and moons chased streaks of fire like flying fireflies, rushing toward ever-changing flesh, along with humanoid birds spreading their wings...

—From the communication earrings came the screams before cloud carriages and starskiffs crashed: "Protect the Xianzhou!" "May the Cloud Knights triumph!"...

—A golden giant hundreds of meters tall strode forward, extending arms of cold iron to grapple with a monstrous beast covered in countless eyes, sharp teeth, gelatinous flesh, and blood.

The flames roared like this, ringing beside his ears. When Bai Jun came back to himself, Huai Yan had already saved him. Though he had luckily avoided possession, a small remnant flame called Primordial Suihuang had been left deep within his soul.

Now that he thought about it, his situation was quite similar to Huo Huo's. The only difference was that his relationship with the Suihuang was less one of symbiosis and more a struggle for control.

Fortunately, by making use of the demonic blade forged for him by Lord Yanting, he had gained the upper hand in that struggle. Over time, Bai Jun could now even actively use the power of the Suihuang's remnant flame within him. Put more simply, it was like the relationship between a tailed beast and its jinchuriki.

But the Suihuang was clearly not as easy to talk to as a tailed beast. The price of that power was having part of his vitality taken away. If he used it too many times, he might very well drop dead on the spot.

"Seriously... What a pain. My life is right here. Take however much you want." Bai Jun muttered to the Suihuang, putting on the attitude of a dead pig unafraid of boiling water. He closed his eyes and completely gave up.

But unlike before, after waiting for a long while, he felt no discomfort at all. Instead, waves of soothing warmth rose from deep within his body.

"Wait..."

Bai Jun seemed to remember something. He abruptly sat up and hurriedly opened the system interface for "Noble Moral Acclaim."