Sylvia was finding it hard to describe how she felt. In other cases, there was at least some kind of connection involved.
But this time? Straight-up ripping a move from someone else's skill set and slapping it onto her.
How absurd, and she even had to sing it herself.
Yet this ability could actually buff herself, and Sylvia couldn't help but covet it.
She already suffered from a fear of insufficient firepower. Now, with a harmless buff-stacking power right in front of her eyes, how could she resist using it?
Frankly, Sylvia couldn't.
But just imagining this damn greatsword not only blasting music during fights, but specifically her own singing version…
Sylvia nearly blacked out at the thought. That mental image was simply too horrifying to dwell on…
It felt like scoring a piece of gear with amazing stats but a design so bizarrely ugly it made your eyes hurt.
Maybe from now on, she should just fight incognito, wear a mask or something.
At least she could pretend it wasn't her.
Just as Sylvia was wrestling with the choice between social suicide and raw power…
Her phone buzzed with a new message.
[Qingque: You there? You there? Heard you pulled off something huge again yesterday. The Master Diviner gave me a day off, so I'm coming to see you!]
[Sylvia: That's a surprise. Fu Xuan was actually willing to give you time off?]
Even though she already knew the reason from Fu Xuan herself, Sylvia couldn't resist teasing a little when the moment came.
[Qingque: Honestly, it's all thanks to your massive clout. Lately, she's had me pulling overtime every single day. But today, right on the dot, she let me go home—all so I could come visit you.]
Qingque saw the situation clearly. The only reason she could leave so early today was because she was essentially representing the esteemed Diviner Fu Xuan herself in visiting Sylvia.
[Qingque: Hey, girl, since you have such pull with the old… ahem, with Diviner Fu, how about tomorrow you just say you need me for something and we go play some tiles?]
Seeing Qingque seize the opportunity so eagerly, Sylvia couldn't help but chuckle.
Was it a testament to Fu Xuan's all-seeing foresight, or was Qingque's personality just that transparent to her?
If Qingque knew all her little schemes were already predicted by Fu Xuan, she'd probably be sweating bullets every time she tried to slack off in the future.
[Sylvia: Makes no difference to me. Just remember, if you get caught, you're the only one who'll get an earful from Fu Xuan.]
[Qingque: Ah, what's one more time? If I don't get to play soon, I swear I'm gonna get Mara-struck! I'm too young and pretty to end up in the Ten-Lords Commission!]
Qingque sounded dead serious, but Sylvia just found it hilarious.
Somehow, watching someone else grind away as a corporate drone while you could sleep till you naturally woke up… that was a particular kind of bliss.
Alright, alright, that's sinful. She shouldn't take such glee in another's misfortune.
Sylvia reflected on this for a moment before replying.
[Sylvia: Speaking of which, how's the Exalting Sanctum today? I saw online that a big area was cordoned off, and most shops are closed. Are the tile parlors still open?]
[Qingque: Open? Of course they're open! Tile parlors aren't just in the Exalting Sanctum. There's a branch over in the Starskiff Haven too. We'll just play there tomorrow, same difference.]
[Sylvia: Alright then. Tomorrow, I'll go ask Fu Xuan to lend me 'you'.]
[Qingque: Pfft, the way you put that sounds so weird. But thanks, girl!]
[Qingque: Woo-hoo! Tile time!]
[Qingque: Gotta go now, the starskiff's about to dock. Wait for me, I'm bringing you some goodies!]
With that, Qingque went offline.
Sylvia didn't even get the chance to tell her not to buy too much.
Remembering she had also ordered some snacks, she figured there'd probably be way too much food later.
--+--
Qingque arrived just as the snacks and bubble tea Sylvia had ordered were delivered by a clever delivery bird.
Opening the door, Sylvia greeted Qingque and reached for the delivery box.
"Whoa, whoa, let me get that—"
Seeing this, Qingque quickly took two steps back, scooped up the items herself, and then walked inside.
"The patient should be resting. What did you buy, anyway?"
As she carried the stuff, Qingque chattered away. Sylvia followed behind with a smile.
"Just some food and drinks. Things you like."
"Hehehe, you shouldn't have! I'm supposed to be the one visiting you. Look, I brought stuff too."
After placing the delivery on the table, Qingque scratched her head sheepishly and set down the care package she'd brought along.
But then, Qingque gave Sylvia a thorough once-over, even leaning in for a closer look.
"Girl, if I hadn't caught a whiff of medicine, I'd never have guessed you were hurt. You look fine!"
"Took some medicine prescribed by the Alchemy Commission's little dragon lady. Feeling much better today."
Qingque nodded, relieved. Sylvia being okay was what mattered most.
That massive slash scar in the sky over the Exalting Sanctum… just looking at it was terrifying.
Pictures of that scar had spread across the entire Luofu overnight.
Everyone was guessing who made that cut. Some said it was the General, others said an enemy, and some even suspected the esteemed Diviner Fu Xuan herself.
"Quick, tell me what actually happened yesterday! Who slashed the sky? Good heavens, that was one insane strike. The whole area's cordoned off by the Cloud Knights now."
"I thought you made it a point to stay out of trouble. Since when did you get so gossipy?"
Sylvia took the Immortal's Delight tea Qingque handed her, shooting her a puzzled look.
Qingque, however, defended herself righteously.
"Come on, the whole Luofu is talking about this now. A little gossip won't hurt."
Sylvia thought about it and had to admit she was right. So, she gave a rough summary of yesterday's events.
Qingque's expression shifted through a whole spectrum of astonishment as she listened.
"That… that was you? Good heavens, are you on the same level as our General now? What kind of friend have I gotten myself?"
With an exclamation, a good third of the Immortal's Delight in Qingque's hand vanished in one go.
"You're exaggerating, seriously."
Sylvia couldn't stand people singing her praises to her face and waved her hands dismissively.
"Keep it up, and I'm throwing you out."
"Hehe, don't be like that, girl. I came all this way to play tiles with you today."
Qingque made a zipping-her-lips motion, then grinned.
Immediately, she pulled out her portable mini tile table and a set of Celestial Jade tiles.
"Just the two of us?"
"What, two people can still play! We'll make do. Just let me get my fix, or I swear I'll turn Mara-struck tonight!"
"Looks to me like you've caught a case of the 'cutesy groans'."
Sylvia rolled her eyes. Bouncing with energy like that was a far cry from being Mara-struck.
"Alright, alright, girl. Let's save the talk for the game table."
Qingque beckoned, ready to roll the dice. Sylvia reached out and stopped her hand.
"Hold on, let me ask if a friend wants to join."
Sylvia opened Silver Wolf's chat window on her phone, asking if she had time to come over and try a Xianzhou-native game.
Admittedly, Firefly would probably be more enthusiastic, but for rounding out a player count, Sylvia preferred calling Silver Wolf.
And Silver Wolf was quick on the uptake. Hearing there was a game, she immediately projected an avatar over.
Then she saw the tile table, and her virtual face fell.
Silver Wolf: "(???)"
--+--
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.