Magic hammers rained down on Lingsha as more and more Alchemy Bells materialized around her. At first, she held her ground, but as time wore on, she realized the Herta puppets were far more numerous than she had ever imagined. An endless tide. Overwhelming.
One puppet was nothing. Tens of thousands? A different matter entirely.
Her Alchemy Bells warned her to stop. To apologize.
"Why should I apologize? What did I do wrong? I won't give in!"
Herta Ninety-Nine watched her, struck by how much she resembled Silver Wolf. She waved a hand, and a screen flickered to life, replaying Silver Wolf's descent: from arrogance to despair.
Lingsha's jaw tightened. So Silver Wolf lost. But that didn't mean she would.
"Give up," Herta Ninety-Nine said coldly. "I have other matters to attend to."
Lingsha refused to yield, though doubt crept into her expression.
Bam.
Her Bells began to fade. "We've done what we can. When your Path recovers, we'll return."
Herta Ninety-Nine looked down at her. "Surrender. It will be easier."
Lingsha closed her eyes and poured everything into one final burst, burning the surrounding puppets to ash.
The survivors hesitated.
Herta Ninety-Nine frowned. She had hidden this much power?
A voice echoed from above.
"Stun her: one million credits, ten thousand Stellar Jades."
"Make her submit: ten million credits and one hundred thousand Stellar Jades."
"Make her swear to stay away from Ruan Mei: Deputy Science Chief of Herta Space Station."
The puppets' hesitation vanished. They surged forward, hammers raised.
Lingsha, already drained, watched them come. If only I had listened to my master. Learned more of the martial way. Studied the Path with greater care.
She understood now. Facing these thousands was impossible. Facing Herta herself would be a death sentence.
She had met Emanators before. None of them had felt like this.
Bam.
She was buried under a tide of magic.
I give—
The words never left her lips.
Regret flooded through her. She had admired Ruan Mei—shared interests and a potential kindred spirit. Nothing more. And now she was here.
Herta Ninety-Nine watched and turned away.
---
The next morning, on the Xianzhou Luofu, Ruan Mei dressed with care. A plum-blossom hairpin, a pale green robe—she looked more ethereal than ever.
Herta wore her usual hat. Her usual clothes.
Ruan Mei blinked. "For Fu Xuan and Qingque's wedding? You're wearing this?"
Herta crossed her arms, unbothered. "I look perfect in anything."
Ruan Mei glanced at her and walked toward Changle. If this is how she dresses for a wedding...
The wedding grounds were a vision of red silk and candlelight. Guests smiled and chatted, waiting for the ceremony to begin.
Yunli, dressed in festive robes, stood apart, lost in thought. The candy should be good. I hope there's a lot of it.
Ow! She clutched her head. "Who—"
She looked up and found Ruan Mei's cool gaze.
"Madam Ruan Mei! Madam Herta! You're here for the wedding?"
Ruan Mei nodded. Herta's expression was less welcoming. "You ran into her again."
"It was an accident!"
Yunli reached for Old Iron before Herta's cold stare stopped her cold. Grandfather said not to provoke them.
"My fault. I was thinking about candy. Lost in thought."
Herta smirked. "What happened to 'don't underestimate a young woman'?"
Yunli looked away, mumbling. "I said that to her. Not you."
Herta opened a [Mirror]. "Want to visit Herta City? Cauldron Chief Lingsha is there. You could keep her company."
Yunli's blood ran cold. She had no idea what Herta City was, but if Lingsha was there against her will—
She spotted Yanqing across the grounds. "Yanqing! We never finished the Luminary Wardance!"
She leaped, Old Iron raised. Yanqing barely had time to draw his blade.
"You're causing a scene at someone's wedding?!"
Their blades clashed. The guests, who had been waiting for the ceremony to begin, now had a better show. Someone started cheering.
"A rematch of the Luminary Wardance! Worth every credit!"
"Go Yunli! Go Yanqing!"
Even Qingque, one of the brides, paused to watch, her floral arrangement forgotten.
"Old man, you hired performers? Good atmosphere!"
Her father cuffed her lightly. "Stop watching. Take your flowers and go get your Grand Diviner."
Qingque rubbed her head and started toward the Divination Commission, the cheers of the crowd fading behind her.