Ten days after the Seventh Eruption. Shenzhou.
Near Shenzhou's Mount Taixu, a girl in a cloak carefully surveyed her surroundings before finally letting out a sigh of relief.
About ten days ago, Wendy had willingly become a Herrscher under the Honkai's influence. Even now, she could feel her Herrscher Core operating.
However, after being defeated and injected with something by Leo Ash, Wendy naturally wouldn't let the Herrscher Personality control her body upon waking up.
Once the Valkyrie side of her was conscious, she decisively left Schicksal HQ.
Even after everything that had happened, Wendy still believed that most of her seniors at Schicksal were fighting for the future of humanity.
But no matter how hard everyone worked, with the Schicksal Bishop himself defecting to the enemy, all their efforts would just be led astray by that bastard Otto!
Realizing this, and feeling the God of Honkai still supporting her, Wendy decisively used her remaining power to escape Schicksal HQ.
To be honest, she had to admit she benefited from the Honkai during this operation.
The after-effects of the shot Leo Ash gave her were too strong. If the Honkai hadn't been supporting her core, Wendy wouldn't have even had the strength to get out of bed, let alone escape Schicksal HQ.
As for her legs, they had healed the moment she became the Herrscher of Wind.
The reason she couldn't walk was that the Gem of Desire was stored unstably within her body.
Now that the Gem of Desire had reformed inside her, her legs had naturally returned to a state where she could run freely.
And now, unable to trust Otto any longer, Wendy made a decisive choice in her moment of desperation.
If Schicksal was no longer viable, then she would check out the other organizations.
As for why Wendy didn't choose to go to Anti-Entropy—wasn't it obvious? Could an organization where a creep like Cocolia managed to climb to the top be trusted?
With no other choice, Wendy could only come to Shenzhou, which seemed to have grown stronger recently.
Although Shenzhou's overall strength was inferior to Schicksal, Anti-Entropy, or even the recently revealed World Serpent, it currently had one advantage.
According to the information Wendy had gathered before leaving, the former Far East Branch Valkyrie, Fu Hua, had attacked Schicksal HQ immediately after becoming a Herrscher.
Anyone else who didn't know Otto's true nature would probably just think, 'This woman must be controlled by the Honkai.'
But for Wendy, who knew Otto's true colors, Fu Hua's act of harming her Schicksal comrades wasn't exactly praiseworthy, but it was at least understandable.
Moreover, based on the news she received before being attacked by World Serpent, Fu Hua had a good relationship with the S-rank Knight of the Far East Branch, Leo Ash.
Having been injected by Leo Ash, Wendy could sense that he hadn't held much malice towards her at the time.
One could even say that while stopping her rampage, Leo Ash had also used that method to help her suppress the Herrscher Personality within her.
Plus, Leo Ash was Rita Rossweisse's adoptive brother.
Wendy, who also trusted her senior Rita, naturally had great faith in Leo Ash due to all these reasons.
And Fu Hua had a good relationship with Leo Ash, had fought Otto, and even though she was a Herrscher now, she didn't seem intent on causing destruction.
The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Fu Hua had beaten up Otto and was now in Shenzhou, having become a high-ranking member with some control over Shenzhou's anti-Honkai forces, and she even had a good relationship with Leo Ash.
In Wendy's eyes, this meant she could at least trust her a little.
With this in mind, Wendy, now approaching Mount Taixu, raced towards the place where the 'Immortal Red Kite' resided as fast as she could.
However, as she reached the entrance of Mount Taixu, Wendy suddenly saw someone.
Someone she had only met once but definitely did not want to see at this moment.
Ten days ago, Wendy, who had despaired after Otto sided with World Serpent, had seen a certain Valkyrie in Abyssal City.
That Valkyrie had been wearing a mask to hide her face, so Wendy couldn't see her features.
But even if the other party didn't show her face, as long as one had enough information, her identity could still be determined.
After comparing her figure, voice, and the intensity of her Honkai Energy, Wendy immediately confirmed the other person's identity.
Damn it, it's that lapdog who's always with Otto!
Why is she here—could it be that my movements have been discovered?
At that moment, Wendy felt her Herrscher Core, which had been dormant, begin to spin wildly again as the God of Honkai provided support.
How strange. The God of Honkai's support stopped the moment I entered Shenzhou.
But now, at a time like this, It's starting to grant me power again?
Wendy might be young, but as a genius who was evaluated as a 'future S-rank Valkyrie', she was no fool.
Once she realized that the Honkai would only assist her for Its own purposes, Wendy would not act on Its temptations.
It's giving me power, hoping I'll use it here and fight this Valkyrie?
Then I absolutely will not do as you wish!
Calm down. The person in front of me doesn't seem to have noticed me.
Perhaps her being here is just a coincidence... That's right!
She said she was the grand-disciple of the Immortal Red Kite, and after Fu Hua came to Shenzhou, news of the 'Immortal Red Kite's appearance' spread. So, Senior Fu Hua is the Immortal Red Kite...
—This girl, as Senior Fu Hua's grand-disciple, is actually acting as a dog for Otto???
If she didn't know that impatience would ruin the bigger plan, Wendy would seriously consider launching a sneak attack right now and taking this woman down with her.
"Eh, you're not letting me in again?"
"My apologies, Miss Li."
Looking at the troubled young woman before him, the Shenzhou martial artist guarding the foot of Mount Taixu spoke politely to Li Sushang.
"But the Immortal said that without her command, no one is allowed to see her."
"This is for your own good—that's what she said."
Hearing the martial artist's words, Li Sushang could only sigh helplessly before saying to him.
"Alright then. If possible, please inform my Grand Master of my visit."
"We certainly will."
Watching the other person leave, Wendy, who had overheard everything, decided to take a step forward.
"Young lady, you..."
Seeing Wendy clad in a cloak, clearly disguising her identity, the martial artist was about to refuse her.
But at that very moment, a voice suddenly appeared in his mind.
[Let her in.]
Part of the reason Fu Hua was regarded as the 'Immortal Red Kite' by Shenzhou's current leadership and martial artists was not just her incredible fighting ability, but also this ability to speak directly into people's minds, which they saw as a sign of her being an 'Immortal'.
And now that the Immortal had given an order, those guarding the mountain would naturally obey Fu Hua's command, sending one person to lead Wendy up the mountain.
"Eh???"
Li Sushang, who had only taken a few steps, turned around in surprise when she didn't hear a refusal from behind her.
Upon seeing that Wendy was not only not stopped but was even being escorted up the mountain, Li Sushang asked with a hint of displeasure.
"What's going on? Didn't you say Grand Master told everyone not to look for her?"
"Well... the Immortal just told us that this young lady is her guest."
Seeing the man's awkward expression, Li Sushang felt that he probably wasn't lying, which only made the situation feel even stranger.
Hearing the girl's dissatisfied words from behind, Wendy couldn't help but lower her voice and say to Li Sushang irritably.
"If you want to see the Immortal Red Kite, how about you start by not being a dog for that monster?"
"Those who aid a tyrant are not qualified to see the Immortal."
"You—"
Looking at the cloaked Wendy who had lowered her voice, Li Sushang, still not recognizing who she was, was about to chase after her.
But at that moment, the other martial artists on site all moved to block Li Sushang's path, speaking to her with troubled expressions.
"Miss Li, the Immortal's orders must be obeyed. Please don't make things difficult for us."
"...Fine, I understand."
Faced with the group blocking her, Li Sushang couldn't just draw her weapon and send them flying.
She was here to see her Grand Master, not to pick a fight.
These people were her Grand Master's subordinates. If she beat them up now and forced her way through—wouldn't that be a slap in her Grand Master's face?
In Li Sushang's eyes, her grudge with her Grand Master, Immortal Red Kite, should have been settled after their battle five hundred years ago.
The Immortal Red Kite was not a petty person, so she wouldn't avoid seeing her over old matters from five hundred years ago.
So...
Could it be that the reason that girl gave is the real reason my Grand Master won't see me?
Recalling the scene she had witnessed that day, Li Sushang, forced to leave, felt her doubts grow even larger.
In Li Sushang's eyes, the man she called Raksha, Otto, was supposed to be a good person who would fight Herrschers to save the world, even if he was betrayed by his squinty-eyed ally.
But at that time, seeing Otto's other ally summon several demonic beasts had indeed planted a seed of doubt in Li Sushang's heart.
In a way, the reason she returned to her homeland of Shenzhou after that battle was because she hoped to get some information and an evaluation of Otto from her Grand Master.
But now, after leaving Mount Taixu, Li Sushang realized something she had never noticed before.
If Raksha and my Grand Master were on good terms, why would my Grand Master establish a new faction at a time like this, dividing the forces fighting against the Honkai?
Thinking from this perspective...
In my Grand Master's eyes, is Raksha really not a good person???
I'll let it go for today. Since Grand Master doesn't want to see me right now, I can see her in a few days.
Although I am indebted to Raksha, that doesn't mean I'm a member of Schicksal.
Shenzhou is my homeland, after all. Dealing with any demonic beasts that might appear here is something I should be doing anyway.
Once she sees my performance, Grand Master will probably acknowledge the person I am now.
When that time comes, I'll visit Grand Master again.
After I've proven myself...
—Grand Master should be willing to see me then.
..
Mount Taixu Summit
At the summit of Mount Taixu, Fu Hua sensed Wendy being brought to her and opened her eyes.
"Immortal, the guest you invited has arrived."
"Thank you for your hard work. Please go back down the mountain. As for the others, unless you hear my summons, please do not bring anyone up."
"Yes."
Arriving at the summit, Wendy looked at the woman before her and felt that she...
—Just by opening her eyes, she radiated an incredibly terrifying pressure.
Wendy could even sense that this pressure wasn't directed at her.
Even so, just seeing her filled my heart with fear.
Noticing Wendy's fear, Fu Hua tried to adjust her state and spoke softly to her.
"Wendy, I've heard about you."
"For you to come to Mount Taixu to find me, you must have already seen something behind the scenes."
"Yes!"
Hearing her calm words, Wendy didn't dare to be slow, immediately replying to Fu Hua.
"Immortal Red Kite—"
"You can just call me Fu Hua."
"Alright, Fu Hua... Senior."
Hearing the other party see right through her, Wendy naturally didn't continue to hide anything, instead telling the woman before her what she had seen in Abyssal City.
However, after she finished speaking, she saw Fu Hua's eyes suddenly turn crimson.
"That bastard Otto, he really dares!"
"He knew the Stigmata Project would threaten all of humanity, yet he still helped World Serpent release Kevin?!"
"I was wondering how Kevin could get out while Su was watching over the Sea of Quanta. So it wasn't Su slacking off, but Otto who did this."
After saying this, 'Fu Hua' suddenly looked at Wendy and said.
"I know you're not happy with Otto either, so now—how about this."
"You'll become my disciple, and I'll teach you the Edge of Taixu to control the Honkai Energy within you."
"With your talent of 'being on the verge of promotion to the fourth S-rank' and your status as a Herrscher, your speed in mastering the Edge of Taixu should be very fast."
"After you finish your training, we, master and disciple, will find that bastard Otto, and then..."
"—I will personally smash his damn head in to avenge your senior brother, Leo Ash!"
"Once he's dead, all our problems will be solved. So now..."
"—Good disciple, why don't you start by calling me 'Master'?"
..