Chapter 195: Succubus Fu-fu, the Enchanted Sui Xi and Cersia
Bai Fu greeted Herbert with a cheerful smile, and then they went their separate ways.
There was still an hour until the appointed time, and neither Bai Fu nor Herbert had any interest in staying together longer.
Why torment themselves?
Better to spend the time strolling around nearby!
The Tide Civilization and Sea Lion System were vastly different. The Sea Lion System was governed by the Star Web Commonwealth, an alliance formed by multiple civilizations. Due to various historical issues, the Star Web Commonwealth controlled only about three-fifths of the Sea Lion System. In contrast, the Tide Civilization was a single-civilization system, with over 95% of its territory under its sole control.
This high level of unity, along with certain geographical advantages, enabled the Tide Civilization to develop far better than the Sea Lion System.
One could tell just by looking at the traffic through Sailport. As long as Bai Fu raised her head, she could see ships flying overhead nonstop. This kind of extraordinary bustle was unheard of in the Star Web, but it didn’t feel overwhelming.
The Tide Civilization had its own aesthetic ideals, which were reflected in every aspect of life, including architecture, clothing, and cuisine.
As she wandered through the urban areas connected to Sailport, seeing the elegant fusion of ancient style and modern technology in its exquisite buildings and roads, Bai Fu felt utterly refreshed and at ease.
“If I remember correctly, the head of the Holy Choir of the Holy Blessing Cult, Sui Xi, is a Tide native, right? Why isn’t she staying in the Tide Civilization, and instead ended up in the Holy Blessing Cult of the Sea Lion System?”
Hiye explained, “I’ve heard about that. Before joining the Holy Blessing Cult, Sui Xi was a trainee idol at an entertainment company in the Tide System. But just before her debut, an accident occurred. Everyone in her idol group died—except her.”
“All of them died?”
Excavation‑Princess, who was trailing behind Bai Fu, widened her eyes. Like a kitten discovering a ball of yarn, she eagerly aimed the in-game recorder at Hiye.
The nearby players also quieted down and gathered around.
“Yeah, it was a big deal back then. That idol group had already gained quite a following in the Tide System even before their debut. Fans were really looking forward to them taking the scene by storm. Who would’ve thought…” Hiye’s mouth twitched, “They’d be storming the scene before even debuting—just in the literal sense.”
Excavation‑Princess asked, “Was it Sui Xi who killed them?”
Hiye shook her head. “No, it was someone else. That person killed the others, and then Sui Xi killed her.”
“?”
Bai Fu blinked. That intense?
“Is it possible the killer was ordered by Sui Xi, and she eliminated her afterward to cover it up?” Excavation‑Princess asked again. In the suspense films she had watched, this trope was quite common.
Hiye chuckled. “It’s not that complicated. Given the Tide Civilization’s level of technology, reconstructing the crime scene was easy. Sui Xi was only ten years old back then. She couldn’t have hidden anything. Anyway, after that incident, Sui Xi’s idol career came to an end. She stayed in a forensic agency for a long time, then was transferred to a psychic therapy center. While she was there, the Holy Blessing Cult noticed her and recruited her.”
Excavation‑Princess nodded thoughtfully. She had a hunch this backstory was key to the main plot. It seemed necessary to interview Sui Xi.
After wandering the surface city for another half hour, the group finally headed to the hotel booked by the Holy Blessing Cult.
“Is that the Void Valkyrie and the Savior Saint Bai Fu? Welcome to Sailport.”
“What, the Void Valkyrie and Savior Saint Bai Fu?”
“Where, where? Let me see!”
The moment they reached the hotel entrance, a group of people excitedly crowded around.
As a selectable character in the Cosmic Web, Hiye had become well known throughout the various systems of the Initial Gate Galaxy Cluster years ago. And recently, Bai Fu had gained fame not just in the Sea Lion System but also in the surrounding systems.
Part of it was because Bai Fu was simply beautiful—even more so than many celebrity idols. The other reason was that all the major forces in the Initial Gate Galaxy Cluster had been cracking down on the Secret Tower lately. When the Secret Tower frequently made headlines, Bai Fu, who had slapped them across the face twice at Sky Lake Star and the Stellar Graveyard, naturally gained fame riding that wave.
Fame brought many benefits, but also quite a few inconveniences. Like now—their path was blocked.
“Please make way, everyone. We’re just here for tourism, no special missions.”
Fortunately, the hotel manager appeared in time to disperse the crowd.
Even as they reached the hotel room door, Bai Fu could still hear someone calling out behind her.
“Savior Saint, Savior Saint! Are you and the Void Valkyrie really a couple?”
Bai Fu wiped sweat from her forehead.
“Looks like we’ll need better disguises for the mission. Otherwise, we’ll be recognized before we even get close.”
She reached out and knocked gently on the door. Seconds later, it suddenly opened. Elron greeted them with a broad smile. Beyond him, they could see Herbert and Sui Xi already inside the room.
“Welcome, welcome.”
Elron warmly ushered them in. Excavation‑Princess, trailing behind, had stars in her eyes.
That’s Fu-fu for you—absolutely radiant!
Once everyone was seated, Elron got straight to the point and began detailing the mission.
“You’re not worried about leaking information by discussing this here?” Hiye asked in surprise.
Elron replied, “Don’t worry. This hotel belongs to the Holy Blessing Cult. There’s no safer place in Sailport. Besides, the Secret Tower’s hidden outpost isn’t located here, so there’s no danger.”
Hiye nodded and dropped the subject.
Elron continued.
According to him, the Secret Tower’s hidden base was in District Nine of the Tide System. On the surface, it appeared to be a subsidiary lab of a pharmaceutical company, but it was actually a covert base for Secret Tower operatives.
The mission this time was to raid that base. Capturing someone alive was ideal, but if that failed, they had to at least retrieve data from the site.
As he spoke, Elron tapped his wrist-mounted communicator.
A blue light spread, and moments later, a three-dimensional map of the secret base appeared within the glow.
“Once the fighting starts, the commotion will inevitably draw the attention of the Tide Civilization. We have to complete the mission before their security forces arrive. I’ve chosen the time of their shift change. Even so, we’ll only have thirty minutes at most.”
Elron adjusted the 3D map with his hand and explained the plan.
“Once the operation begins, Savior Saint Bai Fu, your team will assault the main entrance. Herbert’s group will hit the rear. Don’t hold back—strike hard. Leave the task of capturing targets and retrieving data to us.”
Bai Fu nodded, having no objections to the plan. What puzzled her was how the Holy Blessing Cult had even learned the location of the Secret Tower’s hidden base. The Tide Civilization had investigated for so long without success—how did the Holy Blessing Cult, not even based here, get this intel?
“Could it have been extracted from Sean when he was captured?”
If that were the case, then the base might be a trap. After all, if Sean was already caught, there was no way the Secret Tower would leave the bases he knew about untouched.
Elron said, “That’s not it. I can’t disclose the source of our intel, but rest assured—it’s accurate.”
In truth, the location was foreseen by the force backing the Holy Blessing Cult using their precognitive abilities. But that wasn’t something Elron could tell Bai Fu.
Bai Fu nodded half-believingly.
When Elron declared with absolute certainty that nothing would go wrong, it was hard not to associate his words with setting up a flag. Clearly, she needed to stay vigilant. The world was such a wonderful place—just researching experimental methods with Yulia was already full of joy. She had no desire to die young.
Next, Elron began to explain in detail the internal structure of the secret base.
Bai Fu listened quietly, while Excavation‑Princess, who wasn’t interested, sneaked over to Sui Xi.
“Sui Xi-jie, can I ask you a few questions?”
Sui Xi lifted her head, glanced coldly at Excavation‑Princess, then lowered it again.
This did not deter Excavation‑Princess at all. As an UP content creator, her thick skin could be described as city-wall-tier. She persistently asked Sui Xi why she joined the Holy Blessing Cult and what her thoughts were on the Tide Civilization.
But no matter how she asked, Sui Xi remained silent.
With no other choice, Excavation‑Princess had to give up for now. She didn’t collect any useful information. Maybe her favorability rating wasn’t high enough yet—she’d try again after the mission.
Just as she turned to leave, Sui Xi’s voice came from behind.
“Why do you follow Bai Fu?”
Huh?
Excavation‑Princess immediately turned back. Was this a hidden plot trigger?
“Of course because Fu-fu is the pro… protagonist! Yes, I mean Fu-fu shines like the protagonist.”
“Shines like the protagonist? That’s your reason?”
Disappointment surfaced on Sui Xi’s face. She wasn’t interested in Bai Fu—because, in her eyes, Bai Fu was no different from any other mundane person. But she did find the Players intriguing. The Players had a collective resurrection ability, a trait that excluded them from the category of the mundane.
“Of course, that’s not the only reason. Fu-fu is cute—well, that’s not the point. The point is Fu-fu is a good person. I was the first Undying One to meet Fu-fu. I followed her from that small settlement all the way here. I dare say no one knows Fu-fu better than I do…”
Excavation‑Princess recounted Bai Fu’s heroic deeds with animated expression, thinking they might move Sui Xi. But Sui Xi only felt increasingly disappointed.
That’s it?
She interrupted, “Have you ever considered switching sides and following me?”
“What?”
Excavation‑Princess doubted her ears. She looked at Bai Fu, then at Sui Xi.
Sui Xi said, “They can’t hear us now. You follow Bai Fu because of her kindness, right? But such kindness can’t fundamentally change the world. If you want to truly change the world, why not consider my path? That path…”
She was just about to describe the world she envisioned, but Excavation‑Princess cut her off instead.
“Though I appreciate your invitation, I refuse!”
Her expression was solemn.
She sensed that Sui Xi’s identity was special, but no matter how special, she would never abandon Bai Fu to follow her.
What a joke. She had gone from a mocked, unknown UP creator—one who always guessed wrong—to a top-tier, viral star just by clinging to Fu-fu’s leg. Now she was supposed to leave Fu-fu for another NPC? Even if that NPC were the true protagonist of the game, no chance.
Loyalty, alright?
She would rather lick Fu-fu’s toes than accept even a single candy from any NPC trying to lure her away!
Sui Xi stared blankly at the righteous-faced Excavation‑Princess.
She had been rejected—and quite promptly. The other party hadn’t even bothered to listen to the future she hoped to paint.
It made her angry, but also curious.
Did Bai Fu’s kindness really hold such appeal? Or was there something about Bai Fu she herself didn’t yet understand?
For the first time, she became interested in Bai Fu.
“If you refuse, then let’s pretend I said nothing.”
With that, Sui Xi lowered her head and stopped acknowledging Excavation‑Princess.
Excavation‑Princess didn’t mind. She returned to Bai Fu’s side, head held high like she’d just won a battle.
Soon, the pre-operation meeting concluded. Under Elron’s lead, everyone donned special disguises. They then left the hotel through its underground passage, heading straight for District Nine of the Tide System.
…
At the same time, in District Nine of the Tide System, inside the underground training ground of Laboratory 013, a subsidiary of Conno Pharmaceuticals.
Cersia sat silently inside a virtual training pod. Her eyes were closed, and beads of sweat kept seeping from her forehead. A short distance away, several onlookers murmured.
“Who is the Night Mother fighting?”
“No idea, but it’s probably an S+ rank Psionicist. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be under this much pressure.”
“If only I could one day be promoted to S+ rank or even Disaster rank.”
“Keep dreaming.”
“Why do you think HQ sent the Night Mother here? Honestly, I’m more afraid of her than I am of people from the Tide Civilization.”
“Fear or not, we have no choice. Once this mission is done, we won’t have to deal with her anymore.”
The Secret Tower operatives shook their heads helplessly.
Not long ago, they received orders from higher up. They were to deliberately leak their whereabouts to the Tide Civilization through a spy embedded in it, luring the Tide forces to launch an assault.
Though the exact reason wasn’t disclosed, internal intel revealed two primary objectives behind this plan. The first was to divert attention and create an opportunity to assault the Holy Blessing Cult, seize the True Spirit Pillar, and eliminate the captured Sean. The second was to use this lab as bait to ambush Psionicists from the Tide Civilization in retaliation for their previous strikes on the Secret Tower.
To ensure success, two S+ rank Psionicists were dispatched—including that universally loathed monster, Night Mother Cersia.
“I’ll go check how far the Tide Civilization has advanced.”
One Secret Tower operative left, while the rest continued guessing who Cersia was battling. But no matter how vivid their imagination, none could have guessed that her opponent in the virtual simulator was Bai Fu.
Ever since that bathtub encounter where Bai Fu ignited her whole body in a blaze, Cersia had been venting daily by using a simulated Bai Fu in the virtual trainer.
Sometimes she would knock down the simulated Bai Fu and sit on her, slapping left and right.
Sometimes she’d unleash her full power, left hand and right hand delivering rapid blows until simulated Bai Fu was gasping for breath.
Sometimes she’d tie simulated Bai Fu up and trample her in various ways with her feet.
Beating someone up should’ve been a great way to vent, but aside from the first couple of days, the more she vented, the more empty she felt. The fire in her body not only didn’t subside—it burned hotter by the day.
She actually knew the reason. It was because she wasn’t beating the real Bai Fu—only the virtual one.
But what could she do?
Her mind was already filled with Bai Fu. Whether or not she beat the simulated Bai Fu now, she would still feel empty. But at least after beating her, the emptiness felt slightly less severe.
Ten minutes later, looking down at the simulated Bai Fu beneath her who had been beaten into immobility, Cersia sighed helplessly.
“Where are you, the real one?”
Now she regretted it.
She shouldn’t have acted so hastily against Bai Fu last time. She should have waited until she had completely captured Bai Fu’s heart before slowly torturing her. Unfortunately, regret was now too late.
“Exit!”
Cersia exited the virtual simulator without a shred of reluctance. These data-generated Bai Fus didn’t even compare to a single finger of the real Bai Fu.
After leaving the simulator, she took a shower, hoping to cool her restless and burning body—but it didn’t help.
Coming out of the bathroom, still irritable, she grabbed a passing Secret Tower operative.
“Where are the people from the Tide Civilization?”
Right now, perhaps only a real battle, real pain, could stop her from thinking about Bai Fu.
The captured operative showed a bitter expression. “They haven’t arrived yet—they’re still on the way. It’ll take another twenty or thirty minutes.”
“That long?”
“Travel takes ti—”
Boom!
Before the operative could finish, a violent explosion suddenly roared from directly above the laboratory.
An enemy attack?
A surge of energy burst from Cersia’s body. The Secret Tower operative enveloped in it felt as if he’d fallen into boiling oil, his whole body tormented.
“How’s that possible? The people from the Tide Civilization couldn’t have arrived this fast!”
Impossible?
But it was already happening!
Cersia couldn’t waste time thinking about it. She immediately dashed upward from the underground. As she moved, the other S+ rank Psionicist sent by the Secret Tower—Tonglu—also sprang into action.
Since the enemy had already struck, there was no need to keep hiding.
Time to send the Tide Civilization to their grave!
Bang!
Under the impact of her terrifying qi surge, all obstacles in Cersia’s path were crushed. Seconds later, she blinked into place at the front entrance of the laboratory.
“Tide Civilization, with me here today, your plan ends in failure!”
Cersia hovered in mid-air, coldly gazing at the group currently fighting the Secret Tower operatives.
They were all equipped with special protection, clad in uniform gear, and wearing custom masks. For the moment, it was impossible to determine their origins.
At her shout, everyone paused.
“It’s the Night Mother!”
The Secret Tower operatives were instantly uplifted.
Cersia’s gaze swept from left to right and suddenly stopped when it landed on a woman in high heels.
Wait.
That scent of flesh—that familiar, bewitching scent of flesh… unmistakable!
Cersia’s pupils turned a conspicuous shade of pink. “Bai Fu, it’s you!”
A sharp screech tore through the night sky.
What—Bai Fu?
The Secret Tower crowd exchanged confused looks.
Bai Fu was speechless.
The operation had begun, and she hadn’t expected to remain anonymous the whole time. But things were unfolding far beyond her expectations.
Cersia?
No way, sister, why are you here? Fine, you’re here, but how can you instantly see through my disguise? I haven’t even used a Prayer Card, nor any signature skills.
Could it really be a trap?
Good thing she came prepared.
But for the Advancement Knowledge in the mission rewards, she still had to complete this quest.
So what if Cersia was blocking her way? This was a perfect chance to test Cersia’s strength. With her current power, even if she couldn’t win, she could still escape.
As Bai Fu geared up for battle, Cersia was also getting excited. A current of electricity surged through her, filling her with an unprecedented sense of pleasure.
After days and nights of longing, she had finally conjured up Bai Fu.
This time, she would never let Bai Fu escape!