Chapter 252: Wandering Garden Startled Dream (Twenty‑One)

The three anxiously sought out Han Ya, and after explaining their purpose, Han Ya's usually expressionless face also grew overcast.

Aimlessly searching certainly won't work; the group decided to first look for Fu Yan.

Faced with everyone's questioning, Fu Yan openly admitted that Huo Huo had indeed come to ask it for clues about the Tail; it turned the tables, using the Tail's information to lure Huo Huo to Flowing Cloud Ford, but there was no Tail there—only other Year Yang lying in wait for Huo Huo to walk right in.

"You must have faith in your friend! Perhaps Huo Huo is safe and sound, perhaps she easily subdued that Year Yang, perhaps if you rush to Flowing Cloud Ford now you might still find her?"

Fu Yan gave a sinister, sneering laugh; although its appearance was thoroughly punchable, now was not the time to deal with it, and Xing and the others rushed nonstop to Flowing Cloud Ford, where they indeed found Huo Huo collapsed on the ground at the ford.

Huo Huo didn't look faint, yet showed no reaction; Han Ya deduced her consciousness had been seized by a Year Yang, just like Bai Lu and Fu Xuan and the others.

Han Ya intended to take Huo Huo back to the Ten Kings Office, where they have ways to draw out that Year Yang.

But Gui Nai Fen was anxious as burning, and hurriedly asked, "Miss Han Ya, please honestly tell me, does the Ten Kings Office have any way?"

"..."

After some thought, Han Ya slowly produced a moon-viewing gourd from behind her: "Let another Year Yang help us exorcise the demon and drive out the thing that has possessed Huo Huo's mind."

"But… how could a Year Yang possibly be willing to help humans?" Gui Nai Fen suddenly realized, eyes widening: "Wait—what do you mean, Miss Han Ya?"

The Tail leisurely emerged from the gourd.

"The Tail… is actually kept here by me."

——

Ne Zha: The Devil Boy Churns the Sea

Nezha kicked over the stone table beside him, his crimson eyes fixed dead on the firmament, his teeth grinding audibly.

"The Ten Kings Office clearly knows where the Tail is, yet they pretend ignorance! They've let Huo Huo be schemed against by that scum Fu Yan!"

Ao Bing stood silently to the side, his sleeve brushing lightly as a thread of clear water condensed from nothing into a pillar, steadying the table about to tip. He lifted his gaze to the firmament, gently shook his head, and said, "Nezha, Miss Han Ya, as a judge of the Ten Kings Office, must have her reasons."

"Consideration?!" Nezha snorted, "That's just silent farting! Consideration means saying nothing while watching Huo Huo panic like ants on a hot pot, running everywhere? Being taken over by other Year Yang?!"

"Huo Huo previously lacked confidence, always thinking she joined the Ten Kings Office only because of the Tail, but now that the Tail has disappeared, for her this is both a test and an opportunity to restore her confidence." Ao Bing gazed at the firmament, his voice like wind brushing a cold pool: "Such opportunities are few; perhaps Huo Huo will have only this one in her lifetime."

"Moreover… Nezha, you must trust the Ten Kings Office's methods." Ao Bing spoke softly, "Even if you don't want to trust the Ten Kings Office, trust the Tail, trust the affection they've cultivated over many years."

"Do you think the Tail is the sort of Year Yang that would meekly hand Huo Huo over to other Year Yang?"

"... That's quite a roundabout thing to say."

"Is that so?" Ao Bing gave a light smile, "As long as you understand."

——

"What… what?!" Gui Nai Fen involuntarily raised her voice a few notches.

"Little girl, don't look so startled." The Tail still wore its usual unperturbed smile.

"Startled?! Huo Huo couldn't eat or sleep thinking of looking for you, and now some nasty thing has taken advantage of her absence!" Su Shang glared at the Tail with reproach.

"You fiery bun! What on earth is going on?" Gui Nai Fen, still dazed from shock, looked blankly at Han Ya: "Could it be that Miss Han Ya, you've known all along?"

Han Ya explained that all rogue Year Yang must be sealed, which is not only regulation but also the Tail's own request.

Recalling that night's experience, the Tail felt its consciousness about to fragment, as if in a revolving lantern seeing its own past. It had thought that after escaping it could change bodies and enjoy some freedom, but——

"It was lucky to have met me." Han Ya continued.

The Tail rolled its eyes: "Damn my luck, running into this female ghost……" Han Ya lowered her gaze, and he promptly corrected himself, saying, "I mean the judge!"

Back when the Tail was around, Huo Huo despised it in every way, complaining how much she hated her former life. At this point the Tail gloated with a hehe: "Heh, not cherishing this mighty superior of mine, when lost she'll wail and regret it forever. I just wanted to hear her cry. So in anger I let this female ghost… the judge put me into this gourd."

Han Ya gave the Tail a chance to restore itself; it needn't return to the gourd, but instead go back to Huo Huo—provided it drives out whatever is inside her.

"I say, we're practically old colleagues—just leave it to me, old man!"

——

Congratulations on a beautiful world.

In the tavern, Aqua suddenly leapt from the wine barrel, her blue hair tracing an arc in midair. She pointed her right hand at the light screen in the sky and let out a monkey-like screech.

"Oh oh oh I get it!" Aqua's mouth formed a little circle, an expression of sudden realization: "Isn't this exactly Kazuma's attitude toward this goddess?"

Kazuma lay limp on the bench like a salted fish, merely lifting an eyelid lazily at the words: "Huh? You worthless goddess who isn't even a mascot, what nonsense are you spouting?"

Aqua raised her shoulder‑length hair with her right hand, putting on an "I understand you" look, and chuckled: "Hmph, Kazuma, if I ever……"

"I'll throw a party to celebrate." Kazuma cut her off, casually tossing the leftover apple core precisely into Aqua's open mouth.

"Pff—" Aqua sputtered, choking on the core, stamping her feet in anger: "You… you…"

But immediately she had a flash of insight, crossing her hands in a prayer pose, a sly light flickering in her eyes—something not befitting her: "I've got it, Kazuma. You're definitely saying this because you're afraid of losing me! This is classic tsundere, right? Good grief, you're so not candid… When the day comes that the demon lord's army drags me off……"

"I'll help you pack." Kazuma yawned.