In Vraeth, Liwei and Luowei had a rather uncomfortable dinner. Between Dongfang Jun's compliments and the greedy gaze his son kept directing at them, Liwei was on the verge of exploding, a vein bulging on her forehead as she struggled to contain herself.
"So, the Black Blood Sect..." Dongfang Jun remarked. "I thought they'd stopped doing that sort of thing."
"Just a few worlds," Luowei replied indifferently. "Back then, they used to destroy hundreds in a single day."
"They shouldn't have touched that one," Liwei added.
"Mmm." Luowei nodded.
"Why didn't your sect finish them off? There are rumors, you know..." Dongfang Jun paused, avoiding Liwei's sharp glare. "Just a comment, don't take it personally. Everyone knows better than to provoke the Primordial Essence Sect, but since you usually make a more... definitive example out of people, the fact that that sect is still around has people talking."
"We don't spare anyone," Liwei shot back. "Master didn't spare anyone. They don't deserve it." She rose from her seat and, though her tone was more restrained, her gaze was anything but friendly. "If you'll excuse me, I'm finished. We'll stay a little longer to digest this very... very heavy meal, and we'll be leaving tomorrow."
She turned sharply and called out:
"Come on, Luowei."
Her sister rose a little more gracefully, though the same underlying intensity lingered beneath the surface.
"Excuse me."
Dongfang Jun watched them leave carefully. Once they were gone, he released a bit of his pressure toward his son.
"It seems you still don't understand. I warned you to behave."
Dongfang Ye frowned. Pulling his gaze away from the direction the two women had disappeared, he looked at his father as best he could. The pressure made it difficult to move.
"I didn't do anything," he protested.
"You think they didn't notice the way you were looking at them? I'd like to believe I taught you better than that. Do you even know where those two women are from?"
"I only heard their names. How am I supposed to know?"
"The Primordial Essence Sect. Didn't you hear that?"
The younger man didn't seem to understand at first. Then, after a moment, his eyes widened in realization, and cold sweat immediately formed on his forehead.
"I understand," he replied in a serious, submissive tone, though a faint spark of resistance still lingered in his eyes.
Meanwhile, Liwei and Luowei were being escorted to their rooms by a group of servants. Once they arrived, Liwei turned around and ordered them to leave before entering the room that had been prepared for her.
Luowei glanced between her own door and her sister's before hesitantly stepping into Liwei's room.
Inside, Liwei looked ready to explode all over again, as though she might march back and destroy the entire banquet hall along with the Immortal Emperor's face.
"You know he didn't actually say anything wrong, right?"
Liwei frowned.
"Anything wrong? He dared question Master's decisions! Besides..."
Her eyes grew uncertain, concealing something. But it was something Luowei, all of their sisters, and Cassian knew very well.
An exhausted sigh escaped Liwei as she sat down on the bed.
Luowei approached slowly and sat beside her. Liwei rested her head against her sister's shoulder for a moment before Luowei finally said:
"Even so, why did you accept his invitation in the first place?"
As if those words had wiped away everything from moments earlier, Liwei immediately sprang to her feet, brimming with excitement.
"Obviously to see if they lied to us! Maybe they're hiding some of them and only told us otherwise to cover it up. And if that's the case..."
A twisted smile of pure delight spread across Liwei's face as she summoned her armor. Her eyes gleamed with intense bloodlust.
Grabbing her sister's hand, she pulled her off the bed and pushed her toward the balcony.
"Let's go!"
"Wait, wait. Change back into something normal first."
Liwei glanced at her armor, hesitated for a moment, then looked at her sister as though she had just come up with a brilliant idea. Her battle armor vanished, replaced by a far more discreet black robe. The same happened to Luowei.
"Now let's go!"
...
Back in the small town of Delvin, we returned to Astrid Wyrne, who was currently going by the name Vera.
Although she tried to avoid talking too much with the townspeople, it was impossible when she had to visit almost every day to buy supplies.
"Bellamy, you don't have to help me. I can manage on my own."
"No, I want to help," the young man insisted with his usual warm smile.
Astrid looked at him uneasily. She knew all of this was because he had managed to see her face that day...
With a resigned sigh, the two headed toward the outskirts of town, where Astrid's house stood.
But the moment they arrived, alarm flashed through Astrid's eyes.
The door was open.
She was certain she had locked it before leaving...
Bellamy didn't notice the change in her expression. Instead, he joked:
"Looks like someone forgot to close the door."
Astrid wasn't amused.
"Vera?" he asked uncertainly.
Astrid took the things Bellamy had been helping her carry and replied quickly:
"Bellamy, I really appreciate the help, but I have some things I need to take care of. See you later."
The young man remained standing there in confusion, watching her hurry away carrying everything herself.
Inside the house, Astrid stepped in with slow, cautious movements.
Part of her couldn't help hoping that it was him. After all, he was the only one who knew where she was.
At the same time, she knew that was wishful thinking.
The most likely answer... was something else.
And she wasn't wrong.
A figure dressed in black suddenly appeared.
The two regarded each other warily, while silence reigned within the cozy little house.
...
"Master!"
"Master!"
Arms crossed, Adela continued calling out without giving up. When she got no response, she walked over and started tugging on his arm, trying to pull him out of bed.
"What is it, Adela? Just let me sleep a little longer."
"You've been like this for an entire day. At this rate, Elara's coronation will arrive and you still won't have moved from this bed."
Cassian reluctantly rolled over.
"Is there even anything important to do?" The apathy in his eyes made it clear how little he wanted to get up.
"Far too much. Selyne Astaford wants to see you, little Bethany has been coming to visit, Rosalind has as well, Sylvia still hasn't woken up..."
That last part instantly woke Cassian up.
"She still hasn't woken up?"
But Adela didn't answer.
Cassian frowned in irritation.
What is Fengyue doing?
It clearly wasn't a life-threatening injury if it had been treated properly.