468: Relevant major

This operation was too subversive, too unbelievable; it made people unable to even associate it with this aspect, which could be called the perfect concealment.

"But what is It after?" Chen Yu asked, puzzled, her brows furrowed.

"Even if It can accumulate wish power, this amount is merely a drop in the bucket for a Ninth-Rank Great Demon; it won't be of much use."

Shang Wan Ning said, "Little by little, the pile grows; constant dripping wears away the stone. For an eternal existence, time is the least valuable thing."

"Besides, the Candle Dragon has always favored such bright and vivid attire; streaming is just a way to satisfy its own hobby."

Chen Yu was stunned, suddenly recalling the Candle Dragon avatar at the Succubus Bar, who had been freeloading off young ladies while looking completely justified.

…It seemed, actually quite reasonable.

Perhaps those "Human World Guides" that His Majesty had stuffed into the avatar back then really did open some kind of novel door for the Candle Dragon.

So, her eyes rolled, and an idea popped up: let Star send a private message to It on Douyin.

Both are masters of cross-dressing; they might actually have a lot in common.

Upon hearing this, Shang Wan Ning reached out and ruffled Chen Yu's soft white hair, nodding gently.

(￣y▽￣) ~ * Covered her mouth and giggled.

At the west end of the Underworld Market, the children's clothing section.

Plastic mannequins were dressed in gaudy children's clothes, with "Long Life" and "Top of the Rankings" embroidered on their chests. Price tags hung on the racks, marked not in money, but in incense points.

Star squatted in front of the shelf, holding a navy blue jacket in his hand, his fingertips carefully tracing the seams.

He was wearing an oversized gray hoodie today, his hair tied in a small bun at the back of his head, his face clean and simple, without a trace of makeup.

The way he squatted there looked just like an ordinary parent picking out clothes for their child.

"Is this one okay?" he turned his head and asked softly.

You Wu stood to the side, his ghost messenger uniform collar loosened by two buttons, sleeves rolled up to his forearms, holding a five or six-year-old boy in his arms.

The child was lying on his shoulder, reaching out with his small hand, trying hard to reach a ragdoll dangling by the shelf.

"The material is a bit stiff." You Wu freed one hand and gently touched the jacket, "Anan's skin is delicate; I'm afraid it will chafe."

Star clicked his tongue and carefully hung the jacket back.

"Let's keep looking."

He stood up and walked to the next shelf, You Wu following half a step behind with the child.

The boy's name was Anan, picked up from beside a trash can a few years ago.

At that time, his fate was shattered, and he had almost crossed the Bridge of Helplessness. It took Star and You Wu three years to slowly nourish him with soul power, bit by bit, to bring the child to his current state.

The child didn't like to talk much and rarely smiled, always quiet. Only his eyes were clear and bright, and when he looked at people, he was so focused it felt like he was looking into their very soul.

Star picked up another off-white jacket with a front opening.

"How about this one? It's pure cotton, feels soft."

You Wu reached out and stroked the fabric carefully, "This one is suitable."

"Then we'll take it." Star folded the clothes neatly and turned toward the counter.

An old ghost sat behind the counter, wearing reading glasses, slowly clicking away on an abacus. Star handed over the clothes, and the old ghost lifted his eyelids to glance at them, "Six hundred and twenty incense points."

Star pulled out his salary card and tapped it gently on the POS machine.

"Beep." The payment was successful.

The old ghost put the clothes in a plastic bag and handed it over. Just as Star was about to turn around, he saw someone standing at the entrance of the children's clothing section.

White hair, red eyes, dressed in black.

It was Chen Yu.

She had her hands in her pockets, head tilted as she looked over. Seeing Star look her way, she lifted her chin slightly, acknowledging him.

Star paused. You Wu also caught sight of Chen Yu; his brows furrowed imperceptibly, and his grip on the child tightened slightly.

"Lord Prefectural City God." He spoke, his tone respectful yet distant.

Chen Yu walked over, her gaze sweeping past You Wu and landing on Star's face.

"Star, there is something I need your help with." Her tone was much gentler than usual.

Star didn't answer immediately, first handing the plastic bag to You Wu, "You take Anan back first, I'll be there soon."

You Wu didn't take it, looking at Chen Yu with calm eyes, "I don't know what important business the Prefecture City God has? Can it be explained here?"

"It's an official matter from His Majesty, it's urgent." Chen Yu added, her voice still calm.

Hearing the words "His Majesty," You Wu's expression tightened. He didn't say anything more, silently taking the bag while his other hand steadily supported Anan.

"Come back early, Star." He instructed in a low voice, a hint of undetectable concern hidden in his words.

"Mm, don't worry." Star replied softly.

You Wu turned and left with the child. Anan lay on his shoulder, his little head turning back, waving his small hand at Star.

Star smiled and also raised his hand, waving gently at him.

After the figures of the man and the child disappeared at the end of the shelf, Chen Yu spoke, "Star, shall we find another place to talk in detail?"

Outside the Underworld Market, there was a snack street, selling all sorts of things to satisfy the cravings of cultivators.

Fried grasshoppers hissed, steamed perch wafted with freshness, braised rabbit heads were red, shiny, and oily... It sounded absurd, but the aroma kept drilling into one's nose.

Chen Yu found a stall selling "soup herbal tea," sat down on a plastic stool, and took a small peach wood rattle-drum from her Storage Ring, placing it on the corner of the table.

"A little toy for Anan, I forgot to give it to him just now."

Star sat opposite her, seeing the rattle-drum, a trace of warmth flashed in his eyes, and he nodded, "Thank you for your trouble, Lord Prefectural City God."

"You're welcome." Chen Yu waved her hand, took out her phone from her pocket, lit up the screen, and pushed it over.

"Take a look at this first."

On the screen was a recording of the "Candle Shadow Shaking Red" livestream.

The crimson skirt trailed across the ice-sculpted and jade-built palace, that face languid and distant, yet in the movement of her eyes, it seemed to hide an abyss.

Star lowered his head to look closely.

After just a few minutes, he raised his head, his tone firm, "This streamer is not right."

"As expected, Star has a sharp eye." Chen Yu retracted the phone, straightforward. "His Majesty suspects that she is an avatar of the Candle Dragon."

Star wasn't too surprised.

He had hung out on Douyin; what kind of monsters and demons hadn't he seen?

Men with dirty feet pretending to be cute girls, non-human forms forcing filters... but a Ninth-Rank Great Demon personally acting as a streamer was truly a first.

"I wonder what instructions His Majesty has?" His attitude remained respectful.

"It's not for you to make direct contact, but to ask you to help advise." Chen Yu pulled up another document, which contained detailed data on the "Candle Shadow Shaking Red" account:

Donation records, fan interactions, streaming time slots, IP fluctuations... densely packed.

"His Majesty has already sent people to monitor it remotely, but some details cannot be seen through data alone."

Chen Yu pointed to the screen and explained, "For example, the changes in her style of dress, her micro-expressions during the stream, her habits in word choice when interacting with fans... these are things only an insider can appreciate. You have been a female streamer, you must be clear about the tricks of the trade."

Star understood instantly.

His Majesty did not want him to have direct contact with the Ninth-Rank Great Demon, but only to provide insights from the perspective of a peer in the capacity of a "consultant."