Chapter 201: Huo Huo

Bai Hang was startled, and instinctively tried to politely decline: "No, no, you're a guest, how could I let you …"

"The final key person."

Xi Tong, who had been quietly sipping tea, suddenly set his cup down and calmly reminded her, his voice not loud but clearly reaching Bai Hang's ears.

Bai Hang's words got stuck in her throat.

Right! Huo Huo!

The Judge from the Ten Kings Office!

Because she was exhausted last night and Sai Fei Er's sudden appearance, she almost forgot this last one!

She sharply turned to Sai Fei Er, her gaze landing on the golden long boots that wrapped her thighs, and recalled the ghost‑like speed with which she had caught breakfast before, as well as the description of her abilities…

A thought flashed through her mind like lightning.

"Since that's the case …"

Bai Hang quickly adjusted her expression and, from her small pouch, carefully pulled out a palm‑sized, finely crafted Dark Red Brocade Pouch.

The pouch was sealed with special silk thread, revealing nothing about its contents.

"Then I'll trouble you to deliver something."

Bai Hang handed the pouch to Sai Fei Er.

"Oh?"

Sai Fei Er took it curiously, weighed it in her hand, then brought it to her nose and sniffed—no particular smell.

"What is this? Who is it for?"

"I'm not sure exactly what it is."

Bai Hang shook her head, speaking truthfully, "This is a request from Black Curtain Lady, one of the items that must be delivered to the 'key person.' As for who to give it to …"

Xi Tong spoke again at the right moment, and somehow produced a sheet of paper, handing it over.

On it, clear lines and concise text marked the target information:

Target: Huo Huo. Ten Kings Office Apprentice Judge.

Primary activity area: Ten Kings Office internal offices, and its independent residence (also office) located in the Back Alley behind the office.

Residence traits: slightly heavy yin energy, often a ghostly aura (due to the nature of the work), doors usually closed. Personality assessment: extremely timid, easily startled, but highly responsible.

Attachment: detailed location map and suggested contact time slots (e. g., early‑morning shift handover gaps).

The information is so detailed it feels as if one has personally stepped on the spot.

Sai Fei Er scanned it quickly, her blue cat‑like pupils growing more interested: "Ten Kings Office? Judge? Sounds fun! It's just delivering something, that simple?"

"Yes, that simple."

Bai Hang nodded, emphasizing, "Just deliver it, place it where she can see it, no need for face‑to‑face handoff, and don't disturb her. Return immediately after delivering."

She didn't want Sai Fei Er to scare that supposedly rabbit‑timid Judge into a panic, or clash with the Ten Kings Office guards.

"Got it! Quick and decisive!"

Sai Fei Er grinned, showing her little tiger teeth.

She packed the pouch and the data sheet together, then made a move that made Bai Hang's eyelids twitch—

Sai Fei Er produced, from somewhere unknown, an ancient coin whose edges shimmered with a faint golden light, and flicked it into the air with her thumb.

The coin spun in the air, tracing a golden arc.

Just as the coin reached its apex, about to begin its descent—

"Swish!"

Sai Fei Er's figure vanished from the spot without warning, like a pencil line erased by an eraser!

As if she had never sat there eating breakfast or chatting.

The stone bench before Bai Hang and Xi Tong was empty, leaving only a half‑cold cup of tea, proving it wasn't an illusion.

Bai Hang: "……"

Although she had mentally prepared, witnessing that speed still gave her an inexplicable dizziness.

She instinctively looked at Xi Tong.

Xi Tong lifted his cup, took another sip, and lightly remarked, "Very efficient. Estimated time: 2 seconds."

Ten Kings Office, Huo Huo's residence and office.

The lighting here seems naturally dimmer than elsewhere, the air scented with aged files, with a faint chill lingering.

The room isn't small, but it's packed with tall filing shelves and pending paperwork, making it rather cramped.

The windows are tightly shut, the curtains drawn tightly, and only the desk lamp provides limited illumination.

Huo Huo sat at the desk, hands propping her cheeks, her light‑blue long hair slightly disheveled over her shoulders, and the pair of light‑blue Fox Ears atop her head drooping listlessly.

In front of her lay a sheet, neatly filled with writing, its top heading being—

Resignation Application.

She no longer knows how many times she has written, revised, and stared at it.

As an Apprentice Judge of the Ten Kings Office, tasked with capturing evil spirits, the job is enormously stressful for her.

She is naturally timid, fearing darkness, ghosts, sudden noises, and anything beyond ordinary comprehension.

Each time she files, passing through those supposedly 'not very quiet' areas, she feels the hair on her Tail stand on end, her heart pounding as if it might burst from her throat.

(I… I really don't belong here…)

Huo Huo said this to herself for the 108th time in her mind.

(Every time she's frightened and hides, then has to trouble the seniors to find her… every time she resolves to be brave, but as soon as something happens she …)

She looked at the reasons she listed on the resignation for being 'incapable,' and her nose felt slightly sour.

Submit it, admit her incompetence, and leave this place that makes her feel like she's sitting on a bed of needles every day…

But a faint voice still echoed deep in her heart:

The Ten Kings Office's work always needs someone to do, and those evil spirits also need handling; can she really just walk away? Will she cause even more trouble for others?

Entangled.

Unparalleled entanglement.

Courage rose like a tide, just gathering a little, only to be shattered by the reefs of self‑doubt and fear.

(Today... I must hand it in today!)

She clenched her little fist, cheering herself on.

(I can't go on like this! Even if I'm mocked, even if…)

Just as she inhaled deeply, mustering the greatest courage of her life, her trembling fingers reached for the resignation letter, ready to place it into an envelope—

"Hehe~"

A crisp, giggling laugh of a girl rang in her ear without warning!

"Wuwaaa—!!!"

Huo Huo's whole body hair stood up instantly!

Scalp tingling, mind blank, extreme terror made her like an over‑scared rabbit, leaping violently from the chair; the sudden motion caused the chair to flip backward with a "clang"!

She staggered backward, landing hard on the floor, her pale teal eyes bulging with fear, complexion deathly white, lips trembling, even a scream stuck in her throat, only managing a wheezing "hoho".

Almost at the same moment—

"Plop."

A dark‑red silk pouch seemed to materialize out of thin air, dropping onto the desk before her and even giving a slight bounce.

"What's wrong?! Little coward!"

A violent, low growl roared suddenly from behind Huo Huo—more precisely, from the blue Flame tip on her Tail that had stood up straight from sheer terror—!

It was the Sun of Ages she had sealed in her Tail—Weiba Daye!

Ordinary scares never rouse this ill‑tempered "tenant," but Huo Huo's out‑of‑body reaction clearly triggered his alertness.

Huo Huo, after Weiba Daye's roar, regained a bit of composure, yet fear remained undiminished; she scrambled backward, pointing at the pouch on the desk and the empty space ahead, voice trembling: "Ghost, ghost… a female ghost! Laughter! And… something… suddenly fell, fell down!"

"Female ghost? Nonsense!"

Weiba Daye's voice grew even more irate, and a cluster of cyan‑blue Flame erupted from his Tail, "This is the Ten Kings Office! Which short‑sighted wandering soul dares to run into the Judge's house and run amok?! Got bored of living and want me, Weiba Daye, to chew you up as a snack, huh?!"

He may usually berate Huo Huo as a coward, but in crucial moments his sense of authority and protection over his territory remains strong.