"We Heliobi were originally carefree beings. It was only through contact with humans that we caught the disease of humanity-"
"-It's all humanity's fault. Their emotions and desires were so intense that we can never return to our former pure, untainted state of mind."
"Right, blaming everyone else for your own gluttony." Zhang Xiu's cutting remark hit Fuyan right where it hurt.
"Shut up!" Fuyan's spirit fire flared even higher.
"Fine, fine, I'll shut up. Keeping my mouth shut now."
Unfortunately, its flames were essentially intangible energy, or Zhang Xiu would have used them for a barbecue.
"Whew... So I want my freedom back! I want to return beyond the heavens." Fuyan abruptly turned toward Mr. Tail. Realizing he was a crucial part of its plan, it dropped the foul mouth:
"Mr. Tail, you don't want to reunite with the fragments, but you don't want to spend your whole life as a tail either. Why not return beyond the heavens with me?"
Mr. Tail couldn't be bothered with it and offered only one reply: "You talk a prettier tune than you sing."
Seeing that it was trying to win Mr. Tail over, Huohuo immediately made her position clear, even as Yaoshi rubbed her little face:
"You nasty thing! Don't even think about scheming. Mr. Tail is sealed by the judges of the Ten-Lords Commission. He can't escape... and you're not getting away either!"
Fuyan couldn't be bothered to say anything else. It simply dispelled the illusion, its eyeball dissipating as it retreated into Zhang Xiu's body to rest.
Once the illusion lifted, the door beside them opened as well. The timid Huohuo doubled over in fright at the creak it made:
"Waaaaah! That door over there opened by itself!"
"What's there to be scared of? Isn't that perfect timing? Come