『 [ "Now, let us speak of that Yaoqing Foxian General you serve." ]
[ "Mok Tok said she came for me, which means she will hunt me down herself." ]
[ "Before the hunt begins, I must understand my opponent." ]
[ "You may refuse, and show me your backbone." ]
[ "Or you can cooperate a little, and save us both some time, healer." ]
Hoolay wanted to learn about the Yaoqing General, Feixiao, through Jiaoqiu.
[ "Heh, I refuse!" ]
After hearing Hoolay's words, Jiaoqiu sneered and shook his head.
Seeing this, Hoolay frowned.
He then extended a finger and, with a speed too fast to be seen, tapped Jiaoqiu on the shoulder.
An immense pain instantly surged throughout his entire body.
Jiaoqiu's face turned deathly pale, leaving him almost unable to stand.
[ "Ugh…" ]
Jiaoqiu clenched his teeth tightly, refusing to let out a scream of agony. 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Yanqing: "That damn Hoolay actually laid a hand on Mr. Jiaoqiu!"
Welt Yang: "I faintly heard the sound of bones shattering."
Welt Yang: "That finger strike just now has likely caused severe damage to Mr. Jiaoqiu's skeletal structure!"
Feixiao: "How dare he do that to one of my people!"
Feixiao: "He will pay back this debt with interest!"
Furina de Fontaine: "Mr. Jiaoqiu is so pitiful…"
Furina de Fontaine: "That strike must have hurt incredibly badly, right?"
Lumine: "Judging by the painful expression on Mr. Jiaoqiu's face, it's no ordinary pain."
Lumine: "That detestable Hoolay just couldn't help but reveal his true nature!"
Paimon: "Ooh, so pitiful! Won't someone save Mr. Jiaoqiu?"
Jiaoqiu: "How is this pitiful?"
Jiaoqiu: "It is merely physical pain. It won't break me."
Moze: "Hmph, at least you're still alive."
Moze: "Suffering a little is indeed nothing in comparison."
Jiaoqiu: "Why do you sound like you're talking so lightly of it?"
Jiaoqiu: "You're not the one suffering!"
Moze: "Don't get worked up. I'm merely stating a fact."
Moze: "After all, being able to stay alive in the hands of the Warhead is already no easy feat, is it not?"
....
『 [ "Very well. You are not so foolish as to attract others' attention with a scream." ]
[ "This way, no one else will throw away their lives in vain." ]
[ "The next time you refuse, I will crush those hands you use to save lives, then your kneecaps, and then your spine…" ]
[ "I will break you apart inch by inch, leaving only that clever tongue of yours, until you decide to speak." ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Hanabi: "Splendid!"
Hanabi: "Is a tense and exciting torture session coming up next?"
Hanabi: "Hurry up, hurry up! I can't wait to watch!"
Stelle: "Director Hanabi, tone it down a bit. Can you really stomach such a graphic scene?"
Stelle: "How does this even fit the Elation?"
Hanabi: "Eh?"
Hanabi: "You have a point~"
Hanabi: "This indeed doesn't fit the Elation."
Hanabi: "In my imagination, if Jiaoqiu were to turn the tables and inflict exactly what Hoolay just said back onto him, now that would be Elation indeed~"
Silver Wolf: "A plot twist, huh?"
Silver Wolf: "Thinking about that scene is indeed quite amusing."
Hu Tao: "Though I'd love to see such a scene too, unfortunately, Mr. Jiaoqiu is clearly no match for Hoolay."
Hu Tao: "He can't pull off such an unprecedented turnabout."
Furina de Fontaine: "So, should Mr. Jiaoqiu fabricate some lies to deceive Hoolay next?"
Furina de Fontaine: "Otherwise, he's really going to lose his life this time!"
Lumine: "Hoolay isn't that easy to fool."
Lumine: "He should be able to tell what's true and what's false."
Feixiao: "It's not like I have any unspeakable secrets."
Feixiao: "What's the harm in telling Hoolay?"
Feixiao: "The moment he attempts to defeat me by understanding my weaknesses, he has already lost!"
Mavuika: "Well said! General Feixiao is truly worthy of being the bane of the Borisin!"
....
『 [ "…I can tell you everything about her. But, an answer for an answer." ]
Enduring the immense pain, Jiaoqiu began to negotiate terms with Hoolay.
[ "What delusion makes you think you are in any position to bargain with me?" ]
Hoolay raised an eyebrow, looking at Jiaoqiu with an unfriendly expression.
[ "You can torture me until I speak, or… you can save us both some time, Warhead." ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Boothill: "Hahaha, nice!"
Boothill: "Throwing that old dog's words right back at him! Brother Jiao, I respect you as a real man!"
Himeko: "Does Mr. Jiaoqiu want to use this opportunity to deepen his understanding of the Borisin, and thereby cure the Moon Rage?"
Himeko: "It's a risky move."
Welt Yang: "Indeed… Under normal circumstances, if Mr. Jiaoqiu tried to bargain with Hoolay like this, his end would be miserable."
Welt Yang: "But right now, time is of the essence for Hoolay. He must save time."
Welt Yang: "Therefore, he might not necessarily refuse Mr. Jiaoqiu."
Stelle: "But the problem is, even if Jiaoqiu learns the truth, what then?"
Stelle: "After revealing such a secret, wouldn't Hoolay just kill him to silence him?"
Stelle: "That seems almost certain, doesn't it?"
March 7th: "What if Mr. Jiaoqiu gets rescued immediately after learning the truth?"
March 7th: "Wouldn't that be perfect?"
Jiaoqiu: "I have no guarantee of success."
Jiaoqiu: "But I must try."
Jiaoqiu: "The me in the video must be thinking exactly that right now."
....
『 [ "There is a question that has always puzzled me." ]
[ "Why is it that after seven hundred years of torture, you are still alive and well?" ]
[ "A Borisin should not possess such longevity…" ]
[ "Nor should they have such a stubborn capacity for regeneration." ]
Jiaoqiu posed his question.
[ "Is this why the Yaoqing Xianzhou wants to take me away?" ]
[ "To some, I am a hostage to hold." ]
[ "But to others, they want the secret within me—" ]
[ "I still remember, in the early years of my imprisonment, the Foxians came and went…" ]
[ "They drew blood and marrow from me, hoping to decipher the cause of Moon Rage, to rid themselves of their fear of the Borisin, and to become masters of their own lineage." ]
[ "Alas, they could not comprehend the secret, and could only inflict upon me the most vicious tortures they could devise." ]
[ "Some pursue power to destroy their enemies, while others pursue power only to become their enemies…" ]
[ "Jiaoqiu, which one are you?" ]
[ "Ah, I see!" ]
[ "The healer of the Yaoqing, you are the most pathetic kind of person—you pursue power to share it with others, to use it for good." ]
[ "Then let me tell you the answer you seek." ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Paimon: "Pursuing great power and using it to do good and help others—how is that pathetic?!"
Lumine: "Paimon, he is an evil being. To the wicked, acts of kindness are naturally things to be despised."
Boothill: "That's why I never waste my muddle-fudging breath on these big-time villains!"
Boothill: "What do they know about justice? What do they know about mercy?"
Boothill: "In the time it takes to talk to them, I'd have already sent them to meet their maker a hundred times over."
Stelle: "Spot on."
Stelle: "When you see garbage like this, just whack them to death with a bat."
Stelle: "No need for words."
Stelle: "Too lazy to speak, and they don't deserve to hear it anyway."
Silver Wolf: "Wait, is this Hoolay's brain short-circuiting?"
Silver Wolf: "Doesn't he know that villains die from talking too much?"
Silver Wolf: "He's actually willing to speak and reveal his own secret?"
Silver Wolf: "I have a feeling this is setting up his eventual downfall."
Furina de Fontaine: "So how exactly is Hoolay so much stronger than other Borisin?"
Furina de Fontaine: "I recall that while other Borisin are also quite fierce, their vitality isn't nearly as absurd as his."
Hu Tao: "Whether it's the Borisin at the very beginning of the video or those in the Shackling Prison, they all die if their vitals are hit."
Hu Tao: "But with Hoolay, it seems like the only way to kill him is to throw him into a star?"
March 7th: "With such powerful regeneration, I'm starting to wonder if he's an Emanator of Abundance."
Dan Heng: "No, an Emanator of Abundance is far more ridiculous than him!"
Dan Heng: "Hoolay's case must be a gift of Abundance's power, but he hasn't reached the level of an Emanator."
Dan Heng: "Only this can explain why the secret within him cannot be deciphered."
Dan Heng: "Because the power of a Path is non-reproducible by nature."
Mualani: "Then let's listen to Hoolay's self-exposure."
Mualani: "Let's hear how he obtained this power."
....
『 [ "In ancient legends, the Borisin progenitor, Duran, was unsatisfied with his limited life and strength. He desired to rule the sky and become the master of the stars." ]
[ "To this end, he sacrificed countless Borisin and Foxian lives, infusing them into the spring water bestowed by the Master of Immortality. Driven by genetic sorcery, a miracle was conceived within the water—the Lunar Embryo." ]
[ "After climbing onto the moon's birthing bed, Duran obtained from it what he had dreamed of: a heart shaped like a crimson full moon." ]
[ "Duran cut open his own chest and replaced his heart with this crimson moon." ]
Hoolay spoke slowly, recounting a tale.
[ "Heh, don't try to fool me with myths!" ]
Jiaoqiu believed Hoolay was tricking him, unwilling to reveal the truth.
[ "The Ambrosial Arbor is also an absurd myth." ]
[ "Yet you Xianzhou people know it to be absolutely real." ]
[ "This moon heart has beat within the bodies of Borisin Warheads for generations." ]
[ "For the ritual by which the Borisin determine their Warhead is precisely for the successor to cut open the chest of the predecessor, consume this divine flesh, and let the strongest possess it!" ]
[ "Devouring—this is the true essence of how life continues and thrives." ]
[ "It condenses the life essence of the prey we devour, making us stronger and stronger!" ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Dr. Veritas Ratio: "Tsk, how very Borisin."
Stelle: "Uh… so after all that, it's actually a privilege exclusive to the Warhead?"
Stelle: "The progenitor of the Borisin actually used the power of Abundance to conduct research, and ended up creating a heart that's basically a perpetual motion machine?"
Stelle: "Is that why the Borisin Warhead is so strong?"
Furina de Fontaine: "No wonder the Borisin rapidly declined after losing their Warhead, and never elected a new one."
Furina de Fontaine: "Is it because this lunar heart is still inside Hoolay, so they couldn't choose a new leader?"
Paimon: "That heart is so amazing."
Paimon: "Does whoever gets it implanted become immortal?"
Lumine: "I don't think it's that simple."
Lumine: "I doubt just anyone can host that thing."
Stelle: "I'm a bit curious. Is my Stellaron power bank stronger, or is this heart stronger?"
Stelle: "If you gave this heart to me, with a Stellaron plus an Abundance heart, wouldn't I ascend straight into an Emanator?"
Hotaru: "Stelle, don't put strange things inside your body!"
Silver Wolf: "My goodness, a Stellaron isn't enough for you, and now you want to host the power of Abundance too?"
Silver Wolf: "Aren't you afraid the powers will clash and blow you up?"
Madam Herta: "This kid's situation is special. She might not actually blow up."
March 7th: "So the research direction of the Foxian healers who came to examine him before was completely wrong?"
March 7th: "Wouldn't it have been better if you guys had researched his heart sooner?"
Jiaoqiu: "It's not that simple. This is the most important heritage of the Borisin."
Jiaoqiu: "Without Hoolay's consent, this so-called Crimson Moon heart would likely never truly reveal itself."
Jiaoqiu: "Heh, I didn't expect that the Borisin myths were actually true."
....
『 [ "During seven hundred years of torture, I once thought all hope was lost. But now, this heart beats once more." ]
[ "Very well, now it is your turn to tell me… everything about this Feixiao." ]
Hoolay finished his story and looked at Jiaoqiu.
At this moment, in a corner outside the building, Moze, who had tracked them here, discovered this situation.
[ "Jiaoqiu… I found you." ]
Looking at the situation in the courtyard, Moze's gaze gradually grew serious.
The scene shifted. Two hours before the Luminary Wardance, inside Stargazer Navalia.
Feixiao had brought Yanqing and Stelle here.
[ "General, though I shouldn't question your instructions." ]
[ "But if I heard correctly, you said you have already obtained firsthand intelligence on the Borisin?" ]
As they walked, Yanqing couldn't help but ask Feixiao out of curiosity.
[ "Indeed. My subordinates are searching for clues at every moment." ]
[ "Moze, what is the current situation?" ]
Feixiao nodded to Yanqing, then opened the communication channel.
[ "General, before Jiaoqiu completely lost contact, I captured his jade abacus signal. It shouldn't take long to find their whereabouts." ]
Moze's voice came through very clearly, allowing everyone present to hear.
[ "In that case, shouldn't we immediately rendezvous with him and wipe out the Borisin together?" ]
[ "Why have we come to Stargazer Navalia instead?" ]
Yanqing was somewhat confused.
[ "It seems your general only taught you swordsmanship, but not how to hunt." ]
[ "There's an old saying among the borisin: 'In the forest, the hunter may easily become the hunted.' While we may call ourselves the hunters now, chasing them blindly will only make us become the prey. ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "General Feixiao makes a good point."
Stelle: "But we aren't in a forest right now."
Stelle: "So, I don't think Hoolay can beat us."
March 7th: "Hey, the forest is just a metaphor!"
March 7th: "It's not literal!"
Furina de Fontaine: "Great! Mr. Moze is so reliable; he actually found Mr. Jiaoqiu's location!"
Furina de Fontaine: "Now Hoolay won't be able to run rampant for much longer!"
Fu Xuan: "It is not that simple."
Fu Xuan: "Hoolay deliberately chose to hide in a busy urban area. His purpose is to use the surrounding civilians as hostages."
Fu Xuan: "To carry out an arrest, we must find a way to ensure the safety of the citizens."
Yunli: "But those Borisin have disguised themselves as Foxians. How can we find them one by one to protect the citizens?"
Yanqing: "Difficult, difficult, difficult!"
Yanqing: "Their disguises are practically seamless. While finding them one by one isn't impossible…"
Yanqing: "The energy and time required would not be short."
Yanqing: "And we happen to be very short on time!"
....