Chapter 976: Maze Amusement Park

Heimu withdrew her gaze from the few figures before her and refocused on the hovering screen only she could see.

Qingque and Yao Guang walked side by side on the dark‑red branches, their ash‑white hair and silver‑white hair occasionally lifted by the same gust, like two ribbons of contrasting colors briefly intertwining in the gloom.

Yao Guang turned his face slightly to speak with Qingque, a teasingly elusive smile at the corner of his lips, while Qingque wore an embarrassed expression as if teased into wanting to leap from the tree.

Heimu's mouth twitched slightly, and her fingers unconsciously rubbed the lace trim on her cuff.

The atmosphere between the two, how to put it, was oddly inexplicable.

An absurd thought flashed through her mind: could this turn into a love triangle?

Heimu choked on the thought and quickly shifted her gaze to another screen.

Fu Xuan was still standing at the prow of the flagship Star Chariot, conversing remotely with Jing Liu.

Her expression was taut, her pink‑purple bun immaculate, yet the knuckles gripping the rail turned white, revealing inner burning.

Jing Liu stood on the ice platform, a black Eye Mask covering half his face, his voice coldly echoing back.

Heimu watched Fu Xuan's forced composure and sighed inwardly.

Grand Diviner was probably thinking only of that ash‑white figure, yet had to maintain a businesslike demeanor—truly hard on her, though it seemed she might be a bit too natural‑headed now.

Heimu turned off both screens, raised her hands and gently patted her cheeks, letting the stray thoughts disperse.

What mattered now was Wei Er Wei's maze.

She looked forward again.

Pa Duo was circling Ying, the tri‑colored chubby cat's paw pads pressing the dark ground, Tail held high, the tip drawing a proud wavy line.

She spun while clicking her tongue, her heterochromatic round eyes shining astonishingly in the dim green light.

"Ying sis, what's with this? How did you blink and become a schoolgirl again? Look at that uniform, that bow—I've never seen you wear such a cute outfit before!"

Pa Duo's speech was rapid, like a machine‑gun.

Ying stood in place, her gray‑purple eyes lowered, her gaze sweeping over her white long‑sleeve stand‑collar uniform, pausing at the red bow at the collar.

Her expression was subtle, as if Pa Duo's words had struck a point she herself could not explain.

After two seconds of silence, she gently said, "Don't call me sis; in this look, you calling me that is even stranger."

"Then it's even more fitting to call me sis!"

Pa Duo got excited, lifted a forepaw, the whole cat‑person sprang up, the short stubby Tail thumping the ground, "Ying sis, do you know your current look is even fresher than when we first saw you! We're wondering if someone secretly applied a filter to you!"

"Filter…"

Ying was left speechless by the word and simply turned her face aside.

A Bo Ni Ya stood a short distance away, her light‑golden brown hair spilling from beneath a sheer veil, shimmering faintly in the dim green light.

Her miniature loli body stood quietly there, a black‑and‑white nun uniform hugging her petite shoulders, the high‑slit long skirt covering legs clad in black thigh‑high socks.

A faint smile curled her lips, ice‑blue pupils gently watching Pa Duo and Ying's interaction.

When Heimu passed by, A Bo Ni Ya slightly lifted her face, the veil fluttered, revealing a tiny teardrop mole at the corner of her eye.

Heimu nodded at her, saying nothing more.

Ying heard Heimu's footsteps, turned, and naturally shifted half a step toward Heimu.

Pa Duo immediately "pat‑pat" ran over, her cat paws making soft pattering sounds, circling around Heimu's feet for most of a turn before stopping slightly ahead, Tail held high.

"Madam, you finally arrived; this place is getting weirder by the minute."

Pa Duo tilted her round head upward, voice lowered as if fearing someone might hear, "Did you see that thing up ahead?"

Heimu looked in the direction her Tail tip indicated.

The narrow maze corridor opened up at its end, black high walls receding into the distance, revealing a vast space.

Dim green light slanted down from above, illuminating an entire amusement park.

It sat silently there, like a massive set that had grown from the earth.

The entrance arch was absurdly tall, colorful strings of lights forming a rainbow, each bulb lit, yet the light was so cold it turned blue, warping the words "Welcome everyone to the Happy Maze Amusement Park" on the arch.

A few cartoon animal signboards lined both sides, a bear's mouth stretched to its ears, a rabbit's eyes tilted in the same direction.

Wind blew out from within, a cool gust brushing faces.

The whole park was intact, the floor clean, the rides shiny, yet it gave people goosebumps.

Heimu stared for a moment, unable to stop thinking, "What is this, a horror amusement park?"

She touched her chin.

Heimu rapidly recalled the strange tales she'd read before transmigrating: a sign at the entrance listed a dozen bizarre clauses that made readers break into sweat, violating any would summon filthy things.

The scene was so familiar that she even wanted to shake Wei Er Wei's shoulder on the spot and ask, "Did you also read those posts?"

"The situation isn't great."

Ying spoke, her finger already resting on the hilt of the red‑black long blade at her waist.

Heimu noticed her breathing had become shallow, her whole body like a bow drawn to its limit.

"That's not really the case."

A Bo Ni Ya took two steps forward, her miniature stature making her steps especially light.

She stopped before a rabbit signboard with its head cocked and mouth crooked, looked up and said, "Wei Er Wei's touch permeates everywhere here; she loves setting the stage beautifully before inviting guests in."

"Can we refuse the invitation?"

Pa Duo's ears drooped into airplane ears, her voice tinged with obvious timidity.

She edged closer to Heimu's feet, Tail unintentionally looping around Heimu's calf, "Madam, shall we take another route? This park looks like it loves to eat cats."

Heimu looked down at her, seeing the tri‑colored cat curled into a ball, its Tail still tightly hooked onto her, as if fearing being abandoned.

She bent down, pinched the soft flesh on Pa Duo's rear neck, her fingertips sinking into the fluffy fur.

Pa Duo squinted from the pinch, a garbled purr bubbling from her throat.

"It's too late to take a detour now."

Heimu stood up straight, stepped toward the amusement park entrance, and said, "I sense Hua, Kesi Mo and Kaluoer are all inside; this place separates the few of us and deliberately set up this big scene up front, clearly inviting us into a trap."

"So shall we still go in?"

Pa Duo's voice rose a pitch.

"We've already come."

Heimu gave those four words, then stepped toward the entrance.

The short boots on the ground made a light "tap" sound.

The sound spread through the open front area, echoing, as if another her were stepping at the same time in the distance.

Sakura didn't hesitate and followed.

Her footsteps barely made a sound, and her pink hair left faint light trails in the dim green illumination.

A Bo Ni Ya lightly lifted the hem of her skirt, her calf clad in black thigh‑high socks flickering in and out from the high slit, staying behind Sakura.

Pa Duo froze in place for half a second, then bolted after them, muttering nonstop, "We're risking our lives to go into the haunted house with the sisters!"