Ark Simulator, Don't I Have No Physical Form?

Hoshiguma gave a soft snort and pushed the sword sheath open three inches with her thumb, "Then let's go watch this show."

The curtains of Naniwa House swayed in the night breeze, and the steam from the oden condensed into white mist in the cold air. Hoshiguma sat in the far corner, rhythmically tapping the bamboo skewer filled with fish cakes with her fingertips.

"Would you like some more soup, sir?" the owner asked, wiping his sweat.

Hoshiguma shook his head, glancing at the street corner out of the corner of his eye—a woman in black was walking unhurriedly past an izakaya, the snake tattoo on her wrist faintly visible on her sleeve. Ling's footsteps were light, yet she deliberately crushed a few pieces of rubble, as if giving directions to someone.

[Moe Moe Xiang is at the sewer opening thirty meters behind.] Su Rui's light dust outlined a vision-like image in Hoshiguma's eyes, [She picked up a kitchen knife for self-defense.]

The steam from the hot soup blurred Hoshiguma's expression. She suddenly stood up and slammed a few coins on the table. "Keep the change."

After turning two dark alleys, Hoshiguma's boots stepped on sticky blood. Moe Moe Xiang was huddled in a corner piled with fish baskets, her pink hair covered in fish scales, her kitchen knife pointed at the approaching shadowy figure.

"Get out! Get out of here!" Her voice trembled with tears. "My cousin works for the Lungmen Guard Department!"

Ling's black robe gleamed with an eerie blue light under the moonlight. She raised her hand and threw three shurikens, but deliberately missed two of them. The last one grazed Moe Moe Xiang's cheek and embedded itself in the wooden box—severing the hair tie that bound her hair.

As the pink hair ribbon fluttered down, Hoshiguma's green hair lit up like will-o'-the-wisps at the alley entrance.

"Mifune's reach is really long." Hoshiguma's scabbard pressed against Rei's back. "He doesn't even spare his idol?"

Ling's body stiffened slightly, and the snake tattoo suddenly glowed red. Her black robe fluttered without wind, and two poisoned kunai slid out from her sleeves—but she froze in place the moment she turned around.

Hoshiguma's sword remained unsheathed, but something even more terrifying was reflected in Rei's pupils—silver dust suspended in the air was coalescing into the shape of a wolf's head, its amber eyes coldly fixed on her.

"Tell Mifune," Hoshiguma's voice was soft, "That forging my sword will incur interest."

Ling's Adam's apple bobbed, and she suddenly flung out a smoke bomb. In the exploding gray smoke, her figure slithered into the sewer like a snake, leaving behind only a bronze plaque engraved with three scales.

Moe Moe Xiang sat blankly amidst the pile of fish baskets, a kitchen knife clattering to the ground. She looked up at Hoshiguma, tears suddenly welling up in her eyes. "There's something in the handle of the knife..."

Hoshiguma bent down and picked up the broken sword, her fingertips tracing the hidden compartment at the hilt. A faint Originium fluctuation traveled from her fingertips, and Su Rui's light dust immediately enveloped the blade—embedded in the hidden compartment was half a charred land deed, the land ownership certificate for the central mining area of Smithing Town.

"Interesting." Hoshiguma put the broken sword back into his robes and reached out his hand to Moe Moe Xiang. "Can you walk?"

The idol's trembling hand touched her palm, feeling something icy cold— Hoshiguma's gauntlets were covered in night dew, yet they were more reassuring than any warmth.

"That... that older sister..." Moe Moe Xiang sobbed, pointing to the sewer, "She could have killed me just now..."

Hoshiguma's green hair brushed against the idol's shoulder, the silver dust at the ends gently wiping away the bloodstains on her face. "Because someone wants to use you to deliver this to me."

The clock tower in the distance chimed with the midnight bells. Suddenly, Moe Moe Xiang tugged at Hoshiguma's sleeve. "Have I... gotten myself into a really big mess?"

The night breeze carried the aroma of oden through the alleyway. Hoshiguma looked at the girl who was trembling with fear but still clutching the evidence tightly, and suddenly remembered himself ten years ago, just as stubborn.

"A bigger problem than getting involved with me?" She gently patted Moe Moe Xiang's head. "None."

The kitchen of Naniwa House was filled with the aroma of bonito broth. Moe Moe Xiang was huddled behind the rice bin, while the broken knife hummed in her arms.

"Come out," a cold voice came through the door. "Give me the knife and I'll let you go."

"Liar!" Moe Moe Xiang grabbed the chili jar. "Those Mifune Faction are all bad guys!"

The woman in black sighed, "That knife will attract..."

"A ghost--!" The idol's scream was interrupted by the sound of the door being broken down.

Hoshiguma leaned against the doorframe, silver dust swirling in her green hair like stardust. "So noisy."

The chili jar in Moe Moe Xiang's hand fell to the ground with a "thud": "Ghost Sister?"

Ling's figure vanished instantly, leaving only three silver darts arranged like arrows on the window frame, pointing towards the emergency exit.

"The sword." Hoshiguma reached out, and the light dust, like threads, probed towards the broken sword.

Moe Moe Xiang suddenly hugged the knife tightly. "I found this in the haunted house..."

"My house isn't haunted." Hoshiguma's fingertips touched the hilt of his sword, and the rust crumbled away, revealing the engraved character "Hoshi" underneath.

Suddenly, light dust enveloped the blade, and the buzzing stopped abruptly.

Su Rui's energy surged through Hoshiguma's consciousness: [The ancestral sword is weeping.]

"Shut up." Hoshiguma flicked the blade, sending ripples of light spreading outwards. "Old buddy's been sleeping too long."

Moe Moe Xiang stared blankly as the rust faded, revealing the wavy blade edge gleaming in the moonlight. "It was... getting hot just now..."

Steam drifted into the kitchen, Hoshiguma's green hair brushed against Moe Moe Xiang's shoulder. "What else does Mifune want you to get?"

The idol suddenly pulled out a muddy key. "He said... this is the key to the treasure..."

The light dust suddenly exploded into starlight! Blood seeped from the three scales on the key handle, and Su Rui's anger swept over like a cold tide.

Hoshiguma's demon horns gleamed coldly in the mist. "That's the mine key I buried under the cherry tree."

[It's going to rain.] The light dust gathered into the shape of a rain cloud and gently touched the tip of Hoshiguma's ear.

She reached out and caught a wisp of silver dust. "Let's go."

As Moe Moe Xiang clutched Hoshiguma's clothes, a speck of light quietly slipped into her palm, condensing into a tiny silver bell earring.

In the depths of the night fog, the snake tattoo on Ling's wrist lit up and then went out, like a sigh that no one could hear.

The lights of Naniwa House cast a warm yellow glow through the mist. Moe Moe Xiang huddled beside the rice bin, her fingers tightly gripping Hoshiguma's clothes, her eyes fixed on the faintly glowing silver bell at her waist.

"Um..." Moe Moe Xiang's voice was still trembling with tears, "Ghost Sister, who was the person chasing me just now?"

Just as Hoshiguma was about to answer, her phone suddenly vibrated in her pocket. She pulled it out and saw the screen automatically switch to the voice assistant interface, where a line of text slowly appeared. "[Let me do it.]"

"Hey, you..."

Volume 16, Chapter 897: The Cellphone Talked

Before Hoshiguma could stop her, a clear male voice came from the phone's speaker. "Ms. Moe Moe Xiang."

The sound was like moonlight on a winter night, carrying a reassuring coolness. Moe Moe Xiang's eyes widened instantly, and she even forgot to cry, "Wow! My phone has come to life?!"

Hoshiguma's ear tips felt slightly warm. Of course, she knew that Su Rui was using a voiceprint simulation program—he often used this method to remotely command when on missions with the Lungmen Guard Department. But now, as the voice came from her palm, it inexplicably reminded her of the warmth of Su Rui's whisper in her ear on a snowy night.

"I'm Hoshiguma's partner." The text on the phone screen flashed in sync with the voice. "You can call me Su Rui."

Moe Moe Xiang's curiosity instantly overcame her fear. She brought her phone closer, her pink hair brushing against Hoshiguma's hand. "Your voice is so beautiful! Like a prince from an anime!"

Hoshiguma slammed her thumb down and turned off the screen. "Enough, brat."

Are you jealous?

New text flashed on the lock screen, visible only to Hoshiguma. A few wisps of silver dust suddenly burst from her green hair, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. Moe Moe Xiang, however, thought the phone was broken and reached out to poke it, "Huh? Why is the screen black?"

"Don't touch it!" Hoshiguma snatched the phone back, her fingertip accidentally brushing against the voice call button.

Su Rui's low laughter came from the speaker, making her palms go numb: [I'm here.]

This simple word carries an intimacy that only Hoshiguma can understand. Ten years ago, on the snowy plains of Syracuse, when she was surrounded by thirty mercenaries, it was these same two words that came through her communicator.

Completely oblivious to the subtle tension, Moe Moe Xiang cupped her face and exclaimed, "Mr. Su Rui is so gentle! He's completely different from Sister Bell!"

Hoshiguma's demon horns gleamed coldly under the lamplight. "Say one more word, and I'll throw you back to Mifune."

The idol immediately covered her mouth, but her eyes couldn't help glancing at the phone. Su Rui seemed amused, and the phone screen lit up again: [Miss Moe Moe Xiang, could you describe the details of finding the knife?]

"It was in that collapsed ghost... uh, big house!" Moe Moe Xiang gestured, "The knife was stuck in the stone under the cherry blossom tree, and when I pulled it out..." She suddenly lowered her voice, "I heard the knife crying."

Hoshiguma's fingers tightened suddenly. Her ancestral sword could indeed "cry"—it was a resonance produced by a special forging process, which only those with the Oni Clan blood could hear.

Ripples spread across the phone screen: [What did Dao say?]

"It sounds like something..." Moe Moe Xiang imitated a trembling voice, "'Run!'"

The kitchen suddenly fell silent. Hoshiguma's green hair moved without wind, the silver dust clinging to the ends taut like a bristling beast's tail. Su Rui's anger transmitted through the consciousness link, making her temples throb.

"Mifune disturbed the mine." Hoshiguma's voice was colder than a blade. "He's going to detonate the Originium vein."

Before Moe Moe Xiang could react, her phone suddenly floated in front of her, and Su Rui's voice, unusually serious, said, "Please give me the keys."

The little idol obediently handed over the muddy key. The moment the key touched the screen, silver dust enveloped it as if it were alive, and the bloodstains on the three-scaled pattern were gradually swallowed up.

"Wow, that's amazing..." Moe Moe Xiang's eyes sparkled. "Is Mr. Su Rui an electronic spirit?"

Hoshiguma snatched the phone back. "It's mine."

The moment those words left her lips, Yin Chen suddenly wrapped around her neck in the shape of a collar and gently tightened it. Hoshiguma then realized what she had said, and her ears instantly burned.

Moe Moe Xiang tilted her head. "Ghost Sister's face is so red..."

"It's steam!" Hoshiguma pointed rudely at the bubbling oden pot. "Go eat your dumplings!"

My phone vibrated in my palm; a new message popped up: [Yours.]

Two simple words, yet they made Hoshiguma's fingertips tingle slightly. She recalled many nights like this—on the rooftop of Lungmen, on the snowfields of Syracuse, under the eaves of the Wenyue Estate —when Su Rui would always silently declare ownership.

Moe Moe Xiang suddenly exclaimed, "Isn't Mr. Su Rui the one from the movie ' The Silver Moon Legend '...?"

"Shut up, eat your dumplings." Hoshiguma pushed a whole box of oden in front of her. "Dare you tell anyone about tonight's events...?"

"So you're going to have my cousin treat me to jail food?" The little idol grinned, biting her bamboo wheel. "Okay! But..." She glanced at her phone, "Can I say one more word to Mr. Su Rui?"

Hoshiguma's green hair exploded. "Don't even think about it!"

The phone suddenly floated into the air, and silver dust formed a line of light in the air: [Thank you for your courage. The earring is a gift.]

Moe Moe Xiang touched her earlobe in surprise—a silver bell earring had appeared there, jingling softly with her movement. When she looked up to thank him, Hoshiguma was already heading towards the door with the broken sword, silver dust swirling in her green hair like a tail, and she angrily pulled her phone back into her pocket.

As the fog thickened on the street, Hoshiguma's fingertips traced the casing of her phone. "Don't attract unwanted attention."

Yin Chen peeked out from her collar and gently bit her collarbone: [Only you.]

The morning mist drifted through the streets and alleys of the Smithing Town. Hoshiguma's green hair swept across the damp brick walls, the ends of her hair clinging to tiny water droplets. Moe Moe Xiang followed behind her, her fingers tightly gripping the hem of her clothes, glancing back every now and then, as if Mifune's men might rush out from behind at any moment.

"Ghost Sister..." Moe Moe Xiang's voice was very low, "Are we really going to my house?"

Hoshiguma didn't turn around, only giving a soft "hmm". Her gaze swept across the shadows on both sides of the street, and Su Rui's light dust spread out in front of her, capturing all the movements within a hundred meters.

[Safe.] Su Rui's voice echoed in her mind, [The people from Mifune are searching the Naniwa House; they won't expect us to move in the opposite direction.]

Moe Moe Xiang's home is a small apartment on the edge of the Smithing Town, a temporary residence arranged for her by her agency. Normally, this place is always crowded with fans and paparazzi, but at this moment it is unusually quiet.

"The key." Hoshiguma reached out her hand.

Moe Moe Xiang hurriedly pulled out her keys from her pocket, her fingers still trembling slightly. "Sister Ghost, are those people really not coming after us?"

Hoshiguma took the key, her fingertips inadvertently brushing against Moe Moe Xiang's palm. The little idol's hands were icy cold, her palms covered in cold sweat.

"No," Hoshiguma's voice was calm. "They think you're still on the run."

The key was inserted into the lock, and the door clicked open. Moe Moe Xiang's apartment wasn't big, but it was very clean. The sofa was piled with plush toys, and there was a half-finished cup of milk tea on the coffee table.

"I... I'll go get you some water!" Moe Moe Xiang rushed to the kitchen, but tripped on the carpet and almost fell.

Hoshiguma reached out and put her hand on her shoulder. "Sit down."

Moe Moe Xiang obediently sat on the sofa, nervously twisting the hem of her clothes. Hoshiguma looked around, her gaze lingering on several hidden corners—cameras, listening devices, and a miniature transmitter hidden in a vase. Mifune's people had obviously been here before.

Volume 16, Chapter 898: Changing to the old equipment

[All signals blocked.] Su Rui's light dust spread silently, enveloping the entire apartment in an isolation barrier. [They could only see old images playing on a loop.]

Hoshiguma walked to the window and drew the curtains. Moe Moe Xiang sat on the sofa, staring at her intently, as if afraid she would suddenly disappear.

"Ghost Sister..." Moe Moe Xiang whispered, "Um... where is Mr. Su Rui?"

Hoshiguma lightly swiped her fingertip across the phone screen, and Su Rui's voice came through the speaker. "I'm here."

Moe Moe Xiang's eyes lit up instantly. "Mr. Su Rui! You're really in the phone!"

The phone screen lit up, and Su Rui's text appeared: [Miss Moe Moe Xiang, please describe the exact location where you found the broken knife.]

"It's in that collapsed house!" Moe Moe Xiang gestured, "There's a big cherry blossom tree in the backyard, and the knife is stuck in a crack in the stone under the tree."

Hoshiguma frowned slightly. That was the backyard of her old house. The cherry blossom tree was planted by her when she was a child. Under the tree was buried her and Su Rui's "time capsule"—a key, a few coins, and a note with a wish written on it.

[Mifune's goal is the mine key.] Su Rui's words flashed on the screen: [He needs your bloodline resonance to activate the Originium Vein.]

Hoshiguma tapped her fingertips lightly on the hilt of her sword. "So he forged my sword to lure Moe Moe Xiang into digging for the key?"

[correct.]

Moe Moe Xiang was completely confused. "What key? What mineral vein?"

Hoshiguma didn't explain, but simply looked at her. "After you touched that knife, did you feel anything strange?"

Moe Moe Xiang tilted her head and thought for a moment, "It's just... when I have the knife in my hand, it feels a little warm, like..." She hesitated for a moment, "... like it's talking to me."

Hoshiguma's pupils contracted slightly. The ancestral weapons of the Oni Clan do resonate with bloodlines, but Moe Moe Xiang is just an ordinary person, so she shouldn't have this feeling.