Chapter 562: Just This?

A Xing stood beside the giant horse and glanced at the surrounding Monkey Horde.

Many.

Very many.

Big ones and small ones, fat ones and thin ones, surged from all directions, densely surrounding her into a circle.

In those black eyes there was no malice, only a strange excitement, as if watching a good show.

Jiaoshou stood at the front of the Monkey Horde, wearing that white coat.

It stared at A Xing for a few seconds, then suddenly smiled.

"Interesting," it said, "another one who broke in."

A Xing said nothing.

She simply took off the Top Hat, brushed her hair casually, then put the hat back on.

Jiaoshou squinted.

It sensed a familiar aura on that Mystic Card—those were the job cards it had collected before.

Rider, Caster, Lancer, all on this ash‑haired girl.

"Will you hand yourself over, or shall I act?" Jiaoshou asked.

A Xing tilted her head.

"Act?"

Her tone was flat.

Jiaoshou's smile froze for an instant.

It raised its hand and swung violently!

"Up!"

The surrounding Monkey Horde moved instantly!

Those little Monkeys surged like a yellow tide, leaping to pounce on A Xing!

The Giant Monkeys stepped heavily, circled around from the side, their massive fists raised high!

A Xing stood in place, unmoving.

Just as the first little Monkey was about to pounce on her face—

The Pink Horse behind her moved!

The giant horse's two hind legs sprang up, standing upright like a human!

Its front hooves lifted high and swept fiercely at the charging Monkey Horde!

"Bang—!!!"

Several little Monkeys were kicked straight up, tracing parabolic arcs in midair before crashing into the monkeys behind!

The giant horse landed, its expression still the same dull look, but its four hooves struck the ground, muscles taut, like a moving wall of flesh.

It blocked in front of A Xing, letting out a whinny toward the Monkey Horde—still that horse call tinged with a strange scent.

A Xing patted its neck.

"Good horse."

She drew the Flame Gun from behind.

Golden flames burned along the barrel, the scorching heat warping the surrounding air.

A Xing gripped the gun and stepped forward.

Then she charged into the Monkey Horde!

Flame Gun swept horizontally!

Golden flames exploded, flinging several little Monkeys straight up!

They landed on the ground, still sparking, rolling around trying to extinguish the fire, screaming "Jiaojiao" in agony!

A Xing did not stop.

She moved like a gray lightning, darting through the Monkey Horde.

The Flame Gun flipped up and down in her hand, each swing raising a spray of golden flame!

Those little Monkeys could not get close; before touching her they were repelled by the flames!

A Giant Monkey charged from the side, its massive fist crashing down!

A Xing sidestepped, and the Flame Gun thrust into the Giant Monkey's abdomen!

Golden flames spewed out from the wound!

The Giant Monkey let out a wail, staggered back a few steps, and crashed to the ground with a thud.

Another Giant Monkey lunged from behind!

A Xing did not turn around.

She merely swung casually—

The Top Hat suddenly emitted a faint glow, and an invisible Barrier unfolded behind her!

The Giant Monkey's fist struck the Barrier, producing a "Bang" thunder, the whole fist trembling numb!

It stared blankly at the Barrier, and before it could react, A Xing had turned and pierced it through the chest with a single shot!

"Boom—!"

The Giant Monkey fell.

A Xing stood in the center of the Monkey Horde, surrounded by a ring of fallen monkeys, the golden flames on the Flame Gun still burning.

The Top Hat sat steadily on her head, its brim covering half her face, leaving only a faintly upturned mouth visible.

She lifted her head and looked at Jiaoshou.

"Just this?"

Jiaoshou's mouth twitched.

It waved its hand, and more Monkeys surged up!

Perspective shift.

Bai Hang walked down the street, with people coming and going around.

Everything seemed perfectly normal.

But Bai Hang kept feeling that something was off.

She slowed her pace, tilted her ear to listen to the surrounding conversations—

"The weather is really nice today, Jiaoshou."

"Yeah, what shall we eat tonight, Jiaoshou?"

"How about curry, Jiaoshou?"

"Sounds good, Jiaoshou."

Bai Hang's eyebrows knit together.

She turned her head toward the convenience store next door, where a few people lined up at the checkout, and the cashier was cheerfully greeting customers:

"Welcome, Jiaoshou! Need a bag, Jiaoshou?"

"One, please, Jiaoshou."

Bai Hang: "......?"

She took a few more steps forward, passing two female high school students chatting:

"Did you watch yesterday's episode, Jiaoshou?"

"Watched it, watched it! The male lead is so handsome, Jiaoshou!"

"Right, Jiaoshou! I think so too, Jiaoshou!"

Bai Hang stopped, staring blankly at their retreating backs.

(What is happening?)

(Why does everyone add "Jiaoshou" after speaking?)

She scratched her head, subconsciously opening her mouth to say something, but swallowed the words again—she didn't want to become like that herself.

"Lancer."

She lowered her voice, whispering to the air, "Do you think this area is a bit strange? I mean… these people?"

Jing Yuan's voice came from beside her, his tone Calm with not a ripple:

"There's nothing strange, Jiaoshou."

Bai Hang was stunned.

She slowly turned, looking at the figure beside her strolling leisurely—Jing Yuan, who at some point had shed his ethereal form, his white hair shimmering softly in the sunlight, a smile on his face as he looked at her.

"You… what did you just say?"

Jing Yuan tilted his head: "I said there's nothing strange, Jiaoshou."

Bai Hang's mouth twitched.

"Lancer, are you copying their speech?"

Jing Yuan gave a slight smile, a hint of mischief flashing in his golden eyes:

"Just kidding."

Bai Hang: "......"

She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself.

"Lancer, this kind of joke isn't funny at all."

"Sorry."

Jing Yuan withdrew his smile, his gaze sweeping the passersby who spoke with the "Jiaoshou" suffix, his expression turning serious.

"It really is off. This phenomenon reminds me of something."

"What thing?"

"Meme Virus."

Bai Hang was momentarily stunned.

Meme Virus—she had heard of it.

It is a kind that affects Cognition, capable of altering the senses of the contaminated toward a particular thing into another form.

Words, music, videos—all are transmission media.

In Xianzhou's records, she had seen similar cases—someone who, after hearing a song, became a different person; someone who, after watching a video, began uttering strange words.

And now…

"You mean these people have been infected with Meme Contamination?"

Jing Yuan nodded: "It appears so. However, for now it's only a mild effect, no substantial harm yet."

Bai Hang watched the passersby still chatting and laughing, feeling a chill in her heart.

She was about to ask something else when, from afar, a sudden intense Magic Wave erupted!

"Boom—!!!"

Bai Hang jerked her head up, looking toward that direction—

Yuanban Family.