Sylvia observed Robin's proactive approach, thinking to herself that the singer had likely tapped into her brother's resources to dig up information on her.
And clearly, they hadn't found anything useful.
All they could've uncovered was her sudden appearance beside Acheron, the chance encounter with Tingyun, and her current temporary stay on the Luofu.
Beyond that? Sylvia's origins, past experiences, sources of intelligence—all of it remained a mystery.
Without a doubt, this cast an aura of intrigue around her.
"Oho~ So eager?"
Sylvia hadn't expected Robin to take the initiative like this, even going so far as to visit the Xianzhou in person.
Then again, it made sense—the other party probably assumed Sylvia knew a lot about Penacony's affairs and was likely coming to feel her out.
Heck, there was even a chance Penacony's traitors might be connected to Sylvia in some way.
Still, the response came faster than she'd anticipated. She thought they'd leave her hanging for a while.
Was Robin in a hurry?
Sylvia pondered this as she typed out a reply.
[Sylvia: Of course. I'll be staying on the Xianzhou Luofu for the next month. You're welcome to visit anytime, Miss Robin.]
[Robin: Understood. I'll arrive in a week. I look forward to learning from you then, Miss Sylvia.]
"Seems like she's in a rush… Too bad I haven't finished going through the storyline yet," Sylvia murmured to herself.
She hadn't been around for the later parts of Penacony's plot, but with the earlier chapters and some analysis, she could still piece together plenty of intel.
Hmm… Bluffing Robin a little in exchange for an invitation shouldn't be too hard.
She'd just have to watch out for her "big bro" Sunday—guy was probably a sis-con through and through. No doubt he'd set up a few traps for her once she set foot in Penacony.
[Sylvia: Then I'll await your arrival.]
Compared to their last exchange, things felt noticeably cooler. Robin was probably still full of suspicion toward her.
Yet she dared to come meet Sylvia in person anyway—was that recklessness, or was she just that well-prepared?
Putting her phone away, Sylvia stretched on the spot.
It was getting late, and after a moment's thought, she decided to head over to Starskiff Haven.
--+--
Hadn't seen that sly little fox Tingyun in a couple of days—no idea if she was working right now.
Passing by the teahouse Tingyun loved, Sylvia took a moment to order some snacks and a small packet of tea leaves for her.
She hadn't reached out to Tingyun these past few days either. If she dropped in unannounced now, given Tingyun's temperament, she'd probably have a few complaints ready.
Just as she reached the entrance of the Sky-Faring Commission…
Before Sylvia could even step inside, she spotted that little fox walking out, her ears twitching slightly.
The moment their eyes met, Tingyun's own widened in surprise. Then, with a few quick, light steps, she trotted over, her tail swaying gently as she approached Sylvia, a worried look in her eyes.
"Are you alright, Benefactor? They didn't give you too much trouble, did they? This humble one just heard about it from Lady Yukong and was about to go demand justice on your behalf."
Catching a whiff of that uniquely alluring scent of Tingyun's, Sylvia smiled and replied,
"What trouble could there be? Once Master Diviner Fu Xuan and Yanqing showed up personally, the rest didn't really involve me."
Hearing this, Tingyun still seemed uneasy, as if worried someone had mistreated Sylvia. She tugged lightly at Sylvia's sleeves, checking her over while circling her a few times.
Only after Sylvia lost count of how many times Tingyun's fluffy tail had swatted her face did the fox lady finally stop.
Adopting a deliberately teasing tone, she said, "Benefactor, you're certainly in high spirits. Even after such a big incident, you still have the heart to come here for a stroll and some tea. So, who's the lucky girl you've bought these tea snacks for?"
Her voice carried a mix of delight and a hint of reproach. She hadn't said it outright, but Sylvia could read the complaint in those enchanting eyes clearly enough.
She was miffed that Sylvia hadn't come to see her these past few days.
That something had happened and Sylvia hadn't even reached out—she'd only learned from Lady Yukong that someone from the Cloud Knights had crossed paths with her.
"Ahem…"
Sylvia cleared her throat softly. Just as I thought.
She quickly held out the items in her hand and said with a smile,
"That's exactly why I came to the Sky-Faring Commission to find you. I bought all this for you."
At that, Tingyun snapped her folding fan open with a crisp 'pat,' hiding half her face behind it, then leaned in close to Sylvia.
"If you say things like that, Benefactor, this humble one might just take you seriously."
"What's there to take seriously? It's the truth."
As she spoke, Sylvia pressed the items into Tingyun's arms, then gently pushed the fan aside to reveal Tingyun's slightly blushing face.
"I was afraid I'd disturb you while you were busy with work, that's all."
"My, my, Benefactor sure knows how to make excuses."
Closing her fan, Tingyun deliberately pouted, then tapped Sylvia's cheek with the tip of the fan.
After shooting her a mock-stern look for a moment, she finally straightened up and said, "Since you've come all this way to see me, why not come to my place for a while?"
"Sure, sure! I was just wondering how to kill time anyway."
Sylvia cheerfully followed, only to earn a displeased glance from Tingyun.
"Oh, Benefactor, you… Weren't you just playing cards with that little diviner from the Divination Commission every day? And now you say you don't know how to pass the time? Were those sweet words earlier just to fool me happy?"
"How could that be? Even playing cards gets old after a while. Otherwise, why would I trek all the way out to Starskiff Haven today?"
"Mhm~"
Tingyun turned her head away and hummed playfully, a smile curling on her lips. Then, with a soft 'thump,' her tail swatted Sylvia's arm before she led the way into the Sky-Faring Commission.
As the department overseeing aviation and foreign trade, the Sky-Faring Commission was always bustling.
Everyone was busy—even Tingyun, who'd recently been "grounded" by Yukong, had a mountain of documents piled on her desk.
Still, she'd organized them neatly, leaving just enough space for a cup of tea.
Tingyun took charge of brewing the tea, while Sylvia laid out the snacks on the table.
As steam rose and the fragrance of tea filled the air, Tingyun suddenly asked,
"By the way, what exactly happened today, Benefactor? How did you end up clashing with those people?"
"Well…"
Sylvia accepted the cup of tea Tingyun handed her and briefly recounted the incident.
Even mild-mannered Tingyun couldn't help furrowing her brow as she listened.
"That's really… But in the end, the Master Diviner herself showed up. It seems the Xianzhou holds you in high regard, Benefactor."
Tingyun didn't dwell on negative emotions for long, moving on from the unpleasant topic almost immediately.
Sylvia understood what she meant but explained with a smile,
"It's not me they value—it's probably Acheron. But never mind me, are you safe lately, Tingyun?"
"What danger could this humble one possibly be in? But I'm truly touched that you're so concerned about me, Benefactor."
Tingyun's radiant smile completely dispelled the uneasy atmosphere.
--+--
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.