Feixiao rested one hand on her hip while the other pinched her chin, giving Sylvester a half-smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
Hiss~ She's clearly smiling, so why does it feel so suffocating?
Sylvester, standing barely a few dozen centimeters away from the foxian beauty, found himself strangely tense.
As someone who considered himself a normal man, he had never once been cornered by a girl demanding answers about his relationship with another girl.
After all, he wasn't the protagonist of some harem anime. No way would anyone actually run into love-triangle drama every single day.
Still, with a clear conscience, Sylvester had no reason to look guilty under Feixiao's questioning gaze.
Of course, that didn't mean everyone else understood his state of mind.
Take Yanqing, for instance.
"H-hold on, Shopkeeper Sylvester and Miss Qingque…?" the boy stammered.
Though still technically a minor, he wasn't entirely clueless about the private matters between men and women.
In a hyper-digitalized civilization like the Xianzhou, even the most sword-obsessed lunatic couldn't avoid pop-up ads with "broadening their horizons."
But because he knew only the bare minimum, the moment someone discussed such things in real life, it landed on him like a critical strike.
Yanqing's face flushed bright red. His adolescent mind, the most vivid processor of imagery, instantly rendered the implications into scenes—colored with an abundance of pink bubbles that soon flooded his consciousness.
"No, no, no! Absolutely nothing of the sort!"
A firm shout cut through the air. Before Yanqing's thoughts could slip any further into unspeakable territory, Sylvester decisively intervened.
Yanqing might be precocious, mature beyond his years, but corrupting a minor—that was a crime far too heavy to bear.
And besides, Sylvester was completely innocent. He hadn't gained a thing, yet was about to be smeared with scandal? That would be an outrageous loss.
Not that he cared much about outsiders' opinions, but still—baseless rumors were best avoided.
He coughed lightly, then said with solemn seriousness, "Actually, I just sent Qingque out on official business. I stayed in her place for a bit, that's why her scent lingers on me."
"Ah, I see."
At those words, Yanqing's vivid imaginings vanished like smoke. Though his rank wasn't high, as Jing Yuan's close disciple and a rising star of the Luofu, he held considerable standing. He also knew full well about Sylvester's honorary general title.
So, he easily accepted the explanation.
"Really?"
But Feixiao wasn't so easily swayed. If such a simple excuse could erase suspicion, then had the Yaoqing victories really come from brute force alone? Impossible. Her mind was just as sharp as her blade.
So, she studied him carefully, suspicion written plain on her face.
To her, the excuse was too flimsy—exactly the sort of thing anyone would say after being caught red-handed.
Yet Sylvester stood tall and declared, "Of course it's true! Even if you don't trust me, you should trust in Qingque's dignity. We've only known each other a few days—how could we possibly be that far along? And even if you don't trust her dignity, at least believe in human limits. If that kind of thing had happened, would she really be up this early? No way—she'd be snoring away right now!"
"You… do have a point."
Feixiao rubbed her chin, thinking it over, and reluctantly conceded.
Indeed, his connection to the Divination Commission's treasurer was far too recent. And Qingque herself—Feixiao knew a little about her. A hidden genius of the Divination Commission, she had no interest in rank or riches. That was why she remained inconspicuous.
For such a shrewd girl who feared trouble, to be conquered so quickly, then rise early to work? It clashed completely with the image Feixiao held of her.
Still, if one really nitpicked—Sylvester had plenty of curios. Who was to say he didn't possess one that could alter personality?
"What if Shopkeeper Sylvester has some sort of mind-control curio, and hypnotized Miss Qingque…"
Sylvester and Feixiao both turned sharply to stare.
Feixiao was shocked that Yanqing had actually said it aloud.
Sylvester was shocked that this supposed future sword master had such wide-ranging thoughts. Give that theme to the right artists, and they'd fill at least twenty-four pages with it.
Realizing his blunder, Yanqing hurriedly tried to cover it up. "Uh, that was just from something I read recently. In the story, the villain used that trick against the protagonist, but then got defeated. It just slipped out because I'd been reading it…"
Damn it, damn it. My thoughts were all scrambled earlier, and I blurted something I shouldn't have. They won't figure it out… right?
His heart pounded.
He didn't usually care much for public opinion, but if rumors like "Luofu's foremost sword prodigy secretly spies on—" spread, he'd have no face left to show.
Feixiao said calmly, "You'd do well to read fewer of those frivolous books. You're still young—focus your energy on practicing the sword."
Hearing that, Yanqing let out a sigh of relief.
To him, Feixiao's opinion mattered far more than Sylvester's. If this powerful general looked down on him, it could cast a shadow over his dream of becoming Sword Champion—and worse, disappoint Jing Yuan. That was a weight he couldn't bear.
Feixiao neither scolded nor comforted him further. Instead, she walked straight into the shop's lounge.
In truth, she didn't think it was a big deal. In the largely male world of the military, if she couldn't handle a stray remark like that, she'd never be able to lead. And Yanqing was just a boy in his awkward years. She hadn't taken it to heart.
But as a strict teacher figure, she hoped he would set such distractions aside.
Sylvester, meanwhile, had no such lofty reflections.
His expression shifted into the same half-smile Feixiao had worn earlier. Catching Yanqing's eye, he raised a thumb in mock approval.
Kid, you've got potential.
Yanqing froze, his face turning green. The relief he'd just felt was swept away.
W-what does he mean? Is he telling me to keep it up? Or is this some kind of signal?
Hey, hey! Say something! Don't just smile—this really matters!
But Sylvester, as if oblivious, clasped his hands behind his back and wandered back behind the shop counter.
Ah, what a strange world. In an instant, my own embarrassment is transferred onto someone else.
Yanqing, think of this as training for your composure. If you can withstand this, you'll wield your sword with a calm and undistracted heart.
After all, those who know no shame are invincible.
At that thought, Sylvester rubbed his nose. Maybe I went too far…
Eh, whatever. It was just a thumbs-up. Kids joke around like that all the time.
He shook off the matter, sliding a hand across the display counter.
"Today's trash cans are all unopened. Please, the two of you—take your pick."