Keqing looked around and finally spotted Luya seated at the counter.
Just as she was about to approach him, Luya suddenly felt a tremor—He quickly stood up.
It turned out a card in his pocket had begun to shake.
He hurriedly pulled it out.
[Lost Ghostling]
This was a card Luya had pulled yesterday from Hu Tao's exclusive pack.
He had meant to sell it to her, but too many little things came up, and he forgot…
The moment he pulled it out, the white ghost on the card seemed to come alive—Flying straight out of the card, becoming real, letting out little "hoo-hoo~" sounds.
"Hoo hoo~"
The ghost floated to Hu Tao's side, startling her!
She could feel it…
This ghost was different from the others.
This one... was alive, not a vengeful spirit!
Hu Tao asked it:
"What are you?!"
Ghostling: "Hoo-hoo, hoo~"
Hu Tao's eyes lit up: "I see. From now on, you'll follow me!"
The spectators, however, looked confused.
"What's Hall Master Hu muttering to herself about?!"
"Is she talking to herself now..."
"Yeah, this is..."
"Maybe she's too busy with work, so her mind's a little off..."
"Lock her in a room and she'd still play by herself all day~"
But unlike the others, Keqing could see it clearly—Hu Tao was speaking to a little white ghost!
Zhongli and Xingqiu, too, could see the ghostling conversing with Hu Tao.
"Could it be... only those with Visions—or gods themselves—can see it?!"
Luya immediately considered that possibility… After exchanging a few words with Hu Tao,
The [Lost Ghostling] floated quietly behind her, saying no more.
After the brief exchange, Hu Tao continued her Main Phase, successfully activating [Wangsheng Funeral Parlor].
Her confidence was at its peak now.
On Zhongli's field, there was only one Set monster in Defense Position, one face-down, and one card in hand.
His Life Points were a flickering candle—just 2000!
Meanwhile, Hu Tao still had four unused cards in hand and her powerful Field Spell, [Wangsheng Funeral Parlor].
She looked at a Spell in her hand with a sly smile.
[Painful Choice]
The artwork showed displaced refugees, forced to make agonizing choices—no matter what, it seemed wrong...
With this card, Hu Tao could instantly send Skull Servants and Kings of the Skull Servants into her Graveyard.
"I activate a Spell!"
"[Painful Choice]!"
"Make your choice, Zhongli..."
"Pick one card from the five to add to my hand—the rest go to the Graveyard."
As the Spell resolved, five ragged refugees appeared before Zhongli, gaunt and starving, each holding a card.
They were:
[Skull Servant] [King of the Skull Servants] [King of the Skull Servants] [King of the Skull Servants] [Zombie Master]
Zhongli scanned the five cards, and a gold coin appeared in his hand. The refugees' eyes glowed with greed at the sight of it.
Zhongli now had to pick one card for Hu Tao to add to her hand.
"Whoa, Hall Master Hu's Spell is insane?!"
"She just dumped Skull Servants and Kings straight into the Graveyard..."
"King of the Skull Servants can Special Summon itself from the Graveyard by banishing Skull Servants or Kings!"
"Her Deck is way too strong!"
"What will Mr. Zhongli choose..."
"For him, it really is just like the card's name—"
"[Painful Choice]."
"No matter what he picks, Hu Tao gains..."
"Zhongli's only hope is in his Set card!"
"In any case, I'm never betting again!"
...
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