The Hell Coach was a bus that had once taken Bai Zhi to the Underworld.
Everything he had learned on that unexpected trip pointed to the existence of a bigger mystery. He was looking for information about it because it was likely related to the endless waves of supernatural entities that were showing up in greater numbers than ever, and he had to know more.
Searching for "Hell Coach" did return at least one result on the Players' Forum, as Bai Zhi had hoped, but the things it described were completely different from his experience.
Th search had returned a post about how to beat a Game known as "Hell Coach" that had appeared in the North American region. Apparently, the game was at 95% Extraction and several North American groups were vying to be the first to Extract it.
Bai Zhi was disappointed to find that all the post had to offer was a detailed analysis of which North American organization would be most likely to finally gain control of the Game.
Of course, such a post was undoubtedly useful for anyone involved in those circles, but as far as Bai Zhi was concerned, it couldn't have been further from his goal.
The frustration of not getting what he wanted spurred Bai Zhi to make his first how-to post on the forum.
[ Speed leveling! 100% guaranteed working strategy! Fastest way to reach Level 10 in one week! ]
The Strategy: Eliminate 100 neutral creeps or resolve 100 supernatural incidents.
...It did not take long for Bai Zhi's post to be reported, and his account suspended for three days.
"Tch, losers."
Bai Zhi's lips twitched with his characteristic disdain for authority.
"Y'know, I distinctly remember that fake campus belle saying she was going to look for me once I got back. Why haven't I heard from her, huh?"
As he looked toward the balcony, Bai Zhi remembered something, and he placed his Wall-nut card in the sun to let it charge, looking thoughtful as he did.
"...Come to think of it, killing a supernatural entity should get me lots of coins, right? Might even get rare loot, if I'm lucky... Well, I sure look forward to meeting them soon. It's basic courtesy to honor one's word! Even if they're a supernatural entity..."
As the hands on the clock struck midnight, Cheng Qi logged in to a certain streaming platform, as scheduled, making a beeline for a certain channel.
Cheng Qi was a fine arts student, and his favorite way to pass time was browsing such platforms. With the recent boom in online creators making a name for themselves, it was easy to find interesting streaming content.
For example, a few nights ago, Cheng Qi had found a channel dedicated to exploring old, abandoned hospitals live on stream. The atmosphere of spine-tingling horror they were able to maintain throughout their show was highly realistic, and he suspected that there must have been a team of professionals behind it.
The episode he had watched even featured an incredibly well-made monster that leaped out of the shadows at the last minute. The thrill of that was soon surpassed by the scene when the cameraman pretended to fumble the camera and crawl away, while the camera kept rolling, showing epic footage from its cleverly placed angle on the floor!
Cheng Qi was impressed by how the actors they'd hired really committed to their role, unlike the average pretty boy personalities he usually saw on TV, up to and including getting covered in ketchup. If he didn't know better, he would have said it was a trailer for an upcoming horror movie.
Alas, he logged on the same time next day only to find that the channel had been suspended, on the grounds that it was too gory and would "have a corrupting effect on the youth".
There had been much wailing and gnashing of teeth.
Still, good things come to those who wait, and 2 days ago, he found another god-like channel on the platform. This channel streamed every night at midnight, but instead of showing their face, the host only ever showed their drawing arm while they spoke in a cute girly voice which, incidentally, had Cheng Qi completely smitten.
In such turbulent times, being able to watch enraptured as someone making art on a simple, clean surface could be said to be a rare treat, and only being able to see the host's arm and hear their voice made the experience purely about the art, even lending it a certain sacred quality.
For these and several other reasons, it did not take the channel long after their debut to amass a large following of loyal viewers. To the streamer's credit, they demonstrated considerable patience, answering each and every one of the questions raised by the casual viewers as they worked diligently on the drawing.
Cheng Qi was sure the streamer was a beautiful woman. After all, her arm was visibly exquisite, and with such a cute voice, could there be any doubt?
He loved everything about the channel, except the fact that the streamer never once showed her face. The only things that ever showed up on screen were her drawing arm and her canvas.
Cheng Qi had never considered himself someone with a hand fetish, because he had, in fact, always been a foot fetishist, but he just couldn't help falling for that arm.
Of course, it wasn't about having this or that fetish—he was simply thirsty.
Just as Cheng Qi was muttering to himself how he wished his beloved streamer would show her face, her familiar, cute voice came from his screen, just as it had in previous streams.
But today was Cheng Qi's lucky day—perhaps she had seen the chat messages he had sent yesterday, because today, she announced, was the day that she would finally be doing a face reveal.
...Is she going to be a studious type? A young girl dressed all in white with long, flowing dark hair? Or a graceful, elegant lady dressed in traditional costume?
Cheng Qi stared fixedly at the screen as his imagination ran wild, not daring to even blink.
The screen jerked a few times as the streamer adjusted the camera, and as the familiar voice announced that she was going to start drawing, the camera started zooming out.
Cheng Qi watched every second intently, but suddenly, his expression froze.
On his screen, drawing away on the canvas, was a disembodied arm...
