Within Tingyun's sea of consciousness, the battle between her and Phantylia grew increasingly fierce. It had escalated from the two of them blasting each other from a distance, to using their fans as deadly weapons in close combat, and had finally devolved to the current state of pulling ears and tearing out hair...
It was hard to imagine the mental journey these two had undergone...
One was the former Sky-Faring Commission attendant, now a Nameless of the Astral Express, the very embodiment of beauty and grace.
The other was a Lord Ravager once feared by countless beings, her aesthetic of destruction considered a divine art by innumerable followers of Destruction.
And yet, these two individuals were now, within this space of consciousness, beating each other up like common shrews from the marketplace, using the most instinctive and efficient moves possible.
"You low-life! You non-human thing who only knows how to use despicable tricks!"
Tingyun viciously pulled on Phantylia's ear, her legs locking Phantylia's left arm as she used her body weight to press down relentlessly!
"You! You're just a little fox mooching off others! Without him and me, you wouldn't be where you are today! You're the biggest thief of all!"
Phantylia, not to be outdone, went straight for the kill, sinking her teeth into Tingyun's glossy, smooth tail, while her free right hand yanked viciously at her beautiful hair!
"Nghh!!!"
"Hmph!!!"
Within the sea of consciousness, neither was willing to lose to the other, and so they remained locked in a stalemate.
Outside, Wende watched the Yin and Yang energies, which were no longer rotating but remained in a 50/50 balance, and fell into deep thought.
Who had granted Phantylia such dense Yin energy? In this universe, besides the people close to him, was there anyone else who could use the power of Yin and Yang?
Peeling back the layers of illusion, Wende could only guess at one possibility: Equilibrium. After all, Yin and Yang were, in essence, a manifestation of balance. Adding that to what Phantylia had said earlier...
Wende felt a chill run down his spine... and then...
Then he shot a glare at Jingliu, who was currently slipping a hand down his back. Don't pull these little stunts when he's trying to think! Don't you have a clue how cold your hands are!?
"How is Tingyun?"
Seeing Wende getting slightly ruffled, Jingliu appropriately withdrew her hand and asked calmly.
"Very... quiet?"
Wende gazed at Tingyun's serene sleeping face and said with uncertainty.
Is she really quiet... he thought with doubt, looking at the two stagnant powers locked within her body.
The stalemate continued for half an hour. Tingyun lay quietly on Wende's lap for half an hour. And that bad woman Jingliu leaned directly against Wende's side, adding to the fatigue of his already sore leg...
Inhaling the faint, fresh fragrances coming from both sides, Wende's face was numb. Ah... I'm tired. I want to sleep. Can I just lean on someone for a bit?
But after carefully considering the consequences of leaning on Jingliu, he decided against it. It was better to be tired than to have what was left of his dignity ruined here...
"Ngh..."
Resting on Wende's lap, Tingyun's long eyelashes trembled slightly. She slowly opened her golden eyes and looked at Wende's numb expression, a flash of confusion in her eyes. Then, realizing the situation, a blush crept onto her little face.
"Hm? You're awake. How do you feel?"
Wende supported the back of Tingyun's head, helping her sit up slowly to prevent her from suddenly fainting due to mental exhaustion.
Jingliu, who had been leaning on his shoulder, also opened her crimson eyes, looking at Tingyun with concern.
"Benefactor... Sister Jingliu..."
Feeling the care in their gazes, a warm smile bloomed on Tingyun's face.
"Don't worry, I'm fine. After an arduous and exceptional battle with that Phantylia, I ultimately emerged victorious..."
As she said this, a worried look returned to her eyes.
Although she had won the battle in the end... Phantylia hadn't disappeared. She remained within her body, but seemed to have fallen into a dormant state, posing no further threat.
Tingyun told them this, and a contemplative look returned to Wende's face.
A dignified Lord Ravager... got 1v1'd in her consciousness by my gentle, delicate little fox?
If Phantylia could hear Wende's thoughts, she would surely erupt in a stream of curses!
You call this hair-pulling, face-slapping, biting, and kicking "shrew" gentle and delicate? While she herself was much the same, at least she wasn't human...
How despicable! To act so pitiful in front of the person she likes!
Fortunately, Phantylia was currently unconscious. That's right, she had been literally choked unconscious by Tingyun. Otherwise, the battle wouldn't have ended so quickly.
Although Phantylia was a Lord Ravager, when it came to hand-to-hand combat, she was no match for Tingyun, who had spent years as a traveling merchant! Phantylia's experience was in possessing bodies! Tingyun's was in physically haggling with business owners from other regions!
"How does your body feel now?"
Wende circulated his Chaos energy through Tingyun's body while asking her softly.
"My body feels fine. In fact, I feel a bit stronger than before."
As she spoke, Tingyun even made a small fist at Wende, looking utterly adorable.
"Mmm..."
Wende withdrew his Chaos energy. He indeed hadn't detected any abnormalities. The Yin and Yang within Tingyun's body seemed to be more balanced, no longer the case of dominant Yang and weak Yin... No wonder she felt stronger...
"Wait!"
Wende seemed to remember something. He then, to Tingyun's tilted-head confusion, took Jingliu's slender wrist. He closed his eyes, and his Chaos energy once again circulated through her.
"Huh?"
Wende's brow furrowed tightly. It was just as he thought. The Yin and Yang in Jingliu's body had also been harmonized. It was no longer the case of dominant Yin and weak Yang...
When did this happen? Was it when that pure white knight turned into specks of light?
"Well now, everything is in equilibrium, I suppose."
Releasing Jingliu's wrist, Wende spoke with a sense of helplessness.
Although it was a good thing that their Yin and Yang were harmonized, he couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't quite right.
"Wait a minute. Your Yin and Yang are balanced now, and you're still teasing me with your cold hands?"
Wende seemed to have another realization. His violet eyes widened. He gently took Jingliu's hand and felt a warmth he had never felt from her before. He looked at her with a complaining gaze.
"Hehe, wasn't it just to keep you on your toes?"
Jingliu chuckled lightly. Seeing Wende's adorable expression, her own features softened with affection.
"And thank you, Benefactor, for taking such good care of me while I was unconscious~"
Seeing this, Tingyun couldn't help but smile knowingly. She gently leaned against Wende's other side, unconsciously forming a two-sided cheese sandwich with Jingliu.