Bailu's tone shifted abruptly, and she returned to her usual self.
"But they're just dreams. They couldn't possibly be real, right?"
Everyone fell silent at her words. The atmosphere grew heavy.
Herta, too, recalled the foxian girl who had crashed her starskiff into Herta Space Station several Amber Eras ago. Baiheng had been the first. No wonder Bailu had seemed vaguely familiar when they first met.
Herta warned coldly,
"Never pilot a starskiff again. Just stay on the Luofu. And don't even think about growing taller. Understood?"
Bailu turned to look at Herta, her expression indignant.
"Why not?! I want to grow tall too! Look at you, then look at me. It's not fair!"
"Bailu, I'm just offering friendly advice. Are you really going to ignore a genius's advice?"
"No! I won't listen! I refuse to listen! I will grow tall!! I won't let any of you look down on me anymore!"
Ruan Mei gently stroked Bailu's head and soothed her,
"Bailu, calm down, alright? Here, have this pastry."
Ruan Mei offered Bailu the remaining half of the dragon-eye pastry. Herta stood nearby, a flicker of envy in her eyes—gone in an instant.
A healer suddenly approached Lingsha.
"Chief Cauldron Master, Yanqing and a girl named Yunli are here to see you."
"Hmm? Everyone, I'll return shortly."
Herta crossed her arms casually.
"Slow walk won't be seen out."
Lingsha gritted her teeth. This was her home, and this Herta was telling her "slow walk won't be seen out."
Was her personality always like this? Had she never faced any consequences in this world?!
Wait. She was a genius among geniuses. She had the strength to be arrogant.
If she had that kind of power, that bastard Taoran could never have driven her master away. She could have sent him to reincarnation long ago.
At this thought, Lingsha couldn't help but sigh deeply. Ultimately, strength ruled.
As Lingsha stepped outside the pavilion, she saw Yanqing and Yunli confronting each other in the distance.
"You? Yanqing, I could take on ten of you!"
"Hmph. Arrogant. If you've got the skill, settle it right here."
"Ha! Who's afraid of who?! Me and Old Iron have never been afraid of anything!!"
Lingsha was already in a bad mood after dealing with Herta. Now she had to deal with Yanqing and Yunli.
Her expression darkened as she stared coldly at the two.
"Can you two stop being so noisy?"
"Sister Lingsha, it's this guy who's being rude! This flying sword—he can't protect it!"
"Who's being rude?!"
"Sister Lingsha, don't stop me. I need to teach this guy a lesson!"
"Fine. I, Yanqing, accept. Chief Cauldron Master Lingsha, please don't interfere."
Lingsha made a half-hearted attempt to mediate.
"This isn't appropriate."
But her mood might improve by watching a sparring match. At this thought, she added softly,
"However, this is the Alchemy Commission. Rest assured, no matter what injuries either of you sustain, we can heal them."
"But remember: stop at first blood. Don't cause fatal harm."
Bam.
Before Lingsha could even finish, Yanqing and Yunli had already leaped into the air.
A cold light flashed. Sword beams and flying shadows crossed—then Yunli's Old Iron and Yanqing's flying sword were intercepted mid-air by Feixiao, who had just arrived. She caught them with her bare hands.
Both were stunned.
"Wh—what?!"
Feixiao looked at Yanqing and Yunli with casual composure.
"You two. The Luminary Wardance arena is the place to settle who's stronger. This is the Alchemy Commission. Don't harm innocent bystanders."
Lingsha stepped forward.
"You must be Feixiao, the Merlin's Claw General."
"Yes. You're Lingsha, the Luofu's new Cauldron Chief? I've heard Elder Huaiyan mention you and your master."
Lingsha looked toward the two people behind Feixiao.
"And these are?"
"Moze and Jiaoqiu. My adjutants."
"Ah. And what brings you here?"
Feixiao scratched her head with a helpless smile.
"I came to find the current Vidyadhara Dragon Lady, Bailu, to check on an illness of mine. But after asking several people, no one knew where she was."
"Oh? What a coincidence. Bailu happens to be visiting me. Please, follow me."
"Everyone else, please wait here a moment."
Feixiao nodded to Moze and Jiaoqiu. Yanqing and Yunli, meanwhile, still refused to concede to each other.
"I'm stronger!"
"No, I'm stronger!"
---
When Feixiao entered the pavilion, she instinctively glanced at Ruan Mei and Herta.
Herta was gazing out at the ancient sea. Ruan Mei was embroidering a sleeve pendant. Feixiao sensed that these two were no ordinary individuals.
"Bailu, this is Feixiao, the General of the Yaoqing."
Bailu looked up at Feixiao.
"You have a very serious illness."
"Oh? Little Bailu can tell at a single glance?"
"Inspection, listening, questioning, pulse-taking. I'm very familiar with it. Here, let me take your pulse."
Feixiao sat down on a stone stool. Minutes later, Bailu shook her head slightly and sighed.
"Sigh. Just as I thought. I can't cure this illness of yours either."
Feixiao smiled, unbothered. Then she couldn't help but ask,
"'Either'? Someone else has an illness that little Bailu can't cure?!"
Bailu lowered her head, lost in thought.
"It was that person wearing the blindfold last time. Her condition is even more severe than yours. She's cold—like she's not even alive."
"But the moment I saw her, I felt something indescribable. Like a reunion. But that was the first time I'd ever met her."
"My thanks for your trouble. I still have important matters to attend to. I'll come back another time to chat properly."
"No problem."
Before stepping out of the pavilion, Feixiao cast one last glance at Herta and Ruan Mei.
These must be the genius VIPs Jing Yuan mentioned. Wait... My master's surviving notes mentioned Yu Qingtu.
And Ruan Mei and Herta should know Yu Qingtu.
Feixiao turned back and sat down in front of Ruan Mei.
Herta immediately stepped in front of Ruan Mei.
Feixiao sensed a hint of hostility—but not like an Abundance remnant enemy. More like... a wolf guarding its food?
"Ahem. Madam Herta?"
"What?"
"I mean no hostility. You can rest assured."
Herta closed her eyes, crossed her arms, and replied coolly,
"I don't know you. And I don't know the Yaoqing."
"What about Yueyu?"
(A/N: Yueyu was the previous General of the Yaoqing and Feixiao's master.)
Herta instinctively looked at Ruan Mei.
"Don't know her either. But Ruan Mei might know something."
Ruan Mei set down her unfinished sleeve pendant.
"We met once. Briefly."
"Once?"
Ruan Mei hesitated for a moment before answering.
"Yu Qingtu probably knows her better."
Feixiao produced a fragmentary document—a remnant left by Yueyu.
"Can this be restored?"
Herta and Ruan Mei both looked at it. The power of the Hunt still lingered on its surface.
"Yes. But even restored, only Yu Qingtu or Yueyu herself can decipher it."
"Any other attempts might destroy this remnant entirely."
Feixiao stared at the document in silence for a moment, then asked,
"Yu Qingtu. Where is she?"
Herta and Ruan Mei both shook their heads.
"Very well. Thank you for your trouble."
Feixiao took back the remnant, rose, and left.