Sylvia felt that this Tarot deck she'd won in a lottery was actually pretty useful.
Both the readings she did for herself and for Dan Shu had turned out accurate.
After parting ways with Dan Shu at Synwood Pavilion, Sylvia strolled through the streets, mulling over her next steps.
She wondered what the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus would think about Phantylia now that she'd given Dan Shu a bit of a scare with that divination.
This was only the beginning—she still had to put in more effort to really pry them apart.
The power of the Heliobus that Acheron had brought was even handier than Sylvia had imagined, which inevitably made her turn her schemes toward Phantylia.
Although she hadn't wanted Acheron to go picking a fight with Phantylia before…
Mostly because Acheron was always so recklessly straightforward—she'd probably just charge in alone, blade in hand.
That wouldn't do. It wasn't about strength; Sylvia just couldn't rest easy.
If she could lure Phantylia out now, with Jing Yuan and the Lightning Lord backing them up on the Luofu, Sylvia could seize the chance to land a blow on Phantylia.
With the power of Acheron's blade, tearing away half of Phantylia's strength and devouring it herself… that should be feasible.
Between Acheron's slash and the Lightning Lord's might, it ought to be enough to severely injure Phantylia—at least before she taps into the Ambrosial Arbor.
Hmm.
Then, once Phantylia was badly wounded by her and Jing Yuan, she could ask Acheron for help capturing and dealing with her.
That would also satisfy Acheron's desire to do something for her!
After all, sometimes accepting someone's kindness is a kindness in itself.
Acheron was still in that stage where her emotions were gradually reawakening—it wouldn't do to keep rejecting her kindness forever.
As strong as Acheron was, she was rather clumsy when it came to expressing her feelings.
It really felt like she'd try to pluck the stars and moon from the sky if Sylvia asked.
Just capturing one Heliobus had sent her rushing back to see Sylvia—that alone gave Sylvia a sense of Acheron's mindset.
Heck, Acheron had trusted the intel on the Heliobus based solely on Sylvia's word.
Honestly, that made Sylvia a little worried. How could she be this gullible, believing everything Sylvia said?
So much so that Sylvia felt even if she'd rejected Acheron's proposal back then, Acheron would probably still end up targeting other major Heliobi later.
The main issue was that Sylvia didn't really want Acheron going all out.
Acheron's power came from Nihility—the more she used it, the more it would stain her. Even if the side effects were suppressed now, who could guarantee that the ring she'd been given would hold up forever as the shadow of Nihility deepened?
So, Sylvia had to pull some strings behind the scenes.
Having Acheron strike a heavily weakened Phantylia would be much safer.
Then she could comfortably stay by Acheron's side and cheer her on without a worry.
Unless Phantylia was severely weakened first, Sylvia truly didn't dare let Acheron face a full-strength Emanator.
Better safe than sorry.
If anything really happened to Acheron, Sylvia would regret it for the rest of her life.
But she couldn't say that to Acheron's face, so she had to scheme a little in secret.
For now, she'd start by trying to win Dan Shu over.
After that, she'd use Fu Xuan to get a connection with Jing Yuan.
Sylvia didn't expect a few words to change Dan Shu's mind.
For Dan Shu, the most important person in her life was already gone. The only thing keeping her going now was hatred.
Turning around someone like that was undoubtedly difficult.
Sylvia was just testing the waters—after all, she wasn't from the Xianzhou nor was she a Vidyadhara, so she had the leisure for this.
Her main target was Phantylia, and the quickest way to reach her was through Dan Shu.
She was going to take Phantylia for all she was worth.
--+--
As she walked, just as Sylvia was thinking of heading back to play some Celestial Jade with Qingque, she passed by a narrow alley and found a well-dressed Xianzhou native blocking her path, leading several Cloud Knights.
Before Sylvia could even speak, a few of the kids she'd taught a lesson earlier popped out from behind the adults.
"It's her! That… that lowly outworlder! She… she used some monster's dark magic on us and even said she'd kill us! Dad, arrest her and send her to the Ten-Lords Commission for execution!"
The lead child clutched the well-dressed man's coat, trembling as he accused Sylvia of these 'crimes.'
Maybe his father's presence gave him courage, suppressing the psychological shadow Sylvia had left on him.
Now, the cocky arrogance of someone who'd gained the upper hand, along with his resentment toward Sylvia, radiated off the child without restraint.
As for the lead Xianzhou man, he exuded an intense, unmistakable disdain for outworlders.
You didn't even need to sense his emotions—his haughty, contemptuous gaze said it all.
"Don't be scared, little treasure. Daddy will get justice for you."
The man patted the child's head, then glared furiously at Sylvia and barked:
"Audacious outworlder! You attempted to harm Xianzhou descendants, publicly wielded monstrous dark arts—the evidence is irrefutable!"
"Recently, the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus have been sowing chaos on the Xianzhou. I suspect you are one of their spies, seeking to steal the secrets of longevity! Men, seize her!"
"Yes!"
One Cloud Knight in particular eagerly stepped forward, raising his weapon as if to act immediately.
As this Cloud Knight moved, he revealed another child hiding behind him.
It was the very kid who'd been shouting 'My dad's a Cloud Knight!'
"Dad! Kill this outworlder! She said the Cloud Knights are all bullcrap, that they're just the Divine Providence Commission's lapdogs! She insulted the Xianzhou—she must be a spy!"
"Yeah, yeah! I heard it too! She said the Cloud Knights are all useless! Told us to go ahead and call for backup!"
The two kids went back and forth, getting more and more worked up, their claims growing wilder by the second.
"Silence! The Cloud Knights are conducting official business—this unruly noise is unacceptable!"
The lead man's face tightened. He snapped at the children, and they fell silent. The kid pouted, snorted arrogantly, and declared:
"Hmph… I'm going to be a Cloud Knight commander like my dad someday. I won't waste words on a lowly outworlder like you. All of you, arrest her now!"
The other Cloud Knights frowned beneath their helmets, but they raised their weapons and began advancing step by step, pressing toward Sylvia.
Sylvia was honestly amused.
Was she really running into such a cliché—beat the small ones, and the old ones come seeking payback?
She didn't remember this follow-up happening in the game.
But then again, the Trailblazer was the General's honored guest back then—this guy probably didn't dare cause trouble.
At that thought, Sylvia's expression turned grim.
Eerie green flames instantly erupted into a monstrous beast that tore up from the ground.
Then, with a piercing shriek, it swallowed everyone before her in an instant!
"Ahhh—!!"
Screams filled the air as a scalding hot wind and a crushing force from above slammed everyone to the ground.
Sylvia tread over the flames, stopping before the lead man and looking down at him with disdain.
Thud—
Her foot became a blur. The man was sent flying back with a heavy thud, smashing into the nearby wall before collapsing to the ground with a groan.
"Pathetic.If all Cloud Knight commanders are like you, then there really is no hope."
Just then, the flames parted before a blade. Two figures—one empty-handed, the other holding a sword—stepped into the inferno one after the other.
"Sylvia is correct. This one will advise the General to investigate this matter thoroughly and give you a proper account."
Fu Xuan, followed by a visibly displeased Yanqing, had arrived on the scene at just the right moment.
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.