Sylvester turned to Feixiao. "Sister Fox, would you mind telling me your name?"
"No need for formality, little brother. I am Feixiao, of the Yaoqing." She answered with casual grace.
Little brother? Do all these big sisters like talking this way?
Sylvester nodded appreciatively. "Martial might pierces the heavens, killing intent soars to the firmament. The wise cannot rest, their heart leaps toward the sword. A fine name—truly poetic."
"Enough with your nonsense. If you've got Curios, take them out already. Don't waste our time. And you—little influencer—why are you just standing there? Turn the stream back on!"
"I'm not streaming for someone like you. Bleh." Guinaifen shot back, pulling a face at Skott.
"I don't think a livestream would hurt." Feixiao's tall boots tapped the floor twice, the sound steady and reassuring. "After all, this concerns the safety of the Master Diviner."
"What do you say?"
She turned her head, a radiant smile blooming across her face—reflected clearly in Sylvester's eyes.
A strange charm coiled in his chest.
As a Foxian, Feixiao was already stunning; coupled with the tempered sharpness of a soldier, her beauty cut like a blade—aggressive, irresistible.
Her allure was just like the title of TheGreatGeneral; conquering hearts was easier for her than picking something up.
Her striking features humbled any stray wicked thought, while the snowy fur of her ears tipped with azure lent her a vibrant spirit.
Most breathtaking of all was the attire—clearly the work of some genius designer.
A crisp white military coat layered over a dark green half-length cheongsam.
The cloud-pattern embroidery hugged close, tracing every muscle line down from neck to waist, drawing Sylvester's eyes to a perfectly placed Vision-like gem.
Yes… the Vision Hunt Decree was truly an evil policy.
Yet there was one disappointment. Sylvester tilted his head, searching, but found no sign of the fluffy, luxurious tail he had so longed to see.
Could concealing the tail be a common Foxian technique? Or was it that bothersome Borisin bloodline of hers…?
"Ahem." Fu Xuan's light cough yanked Sylvester out of his drifting thoughts.
A flicker of embarrassment—his last shred of public decency—reminded him this was hardly the place.
"I agree with Feixiao. Livestreaming is necessary."
"Thank the bow of the Arbiter… At least you remember your duty," Fu Xuan said darkly.
Sylvester lifted his chin, pretending ignorance.
He had no idea his greatest secret was already being pried open, thread by thread, exposed to danger.
Watching the exchange, Feixiao's lips curved in amusement.
She mocked Skott's foolishness and pitied Fu Xuan's blindness.
And she was glad the stream hadn't yet begun—otherwise, Sylvester's carefully built mystique would have crumbled on the spot.
But they were wrong. Dead wrong.
Jing Yuan had once suspected Sylvester of being the Emanator of Elation. Now she knew that wasn't the case.
In fact, he likely wasn't even that powerful at all.
She had realized it the moment Fu Xuan collapsed. Sylvester's frantic expression had betrayed him.
Clearly, he had no means to heal her, not even the ability to assess her wounds at arm's length. In a crisis, such genuine panic could never be feigned.
Until now, Sylvester had always appeared shrewd and composed.
Reading people's hearts at a glance, selling priceless Curios without hesitation, with a grandeur that made everyone assume he must be formidable.
But in Feixiao's eyes, he was clever at best—his true strength left much to be desired.
And that only made him more intriguing.
His secrets were fascinating.
Still, his outrage at Skott and his defense of the Xianzhou's honor were genuine. He posed no threat to the Alliance.
Feixiao judged this with the same confidence with which she judged his lack of strength.
Just then, as Sylvester chatted lightly with Fu Xuan, an icy dread crawled down his spine.
Strange… it's summer, isn't it?
He turned—only to meet Feixiao's emerald eyes. That same dazzling smile from earlier now chilled him to the marrow, every pore screaming danger, urging him to run.
It was as though he were prey on an open plain, and the beauty who moments ago enchanted him would swallow him whole.
What went wrong? Where did I slip?
"Miss Feixiao, do you have something you wish to ask me?" Against his better judgment, he voiced the question, craving a direct answer.
"No, nothing at all." She only tilted her head, smiling sweetly.
Then that means there is something…
Sylvester swallowed hard. Fu Xuan, kitty… save me.
"Enough! Are you stalling for time? Hah—hoping I'll just give up if you delay? Don't be naive!" Skott's grating voice cut through once more.
Yes, Skott. That's perfect. Keep talking.
Sylvester exhaled in relief, composure flowing back into him.
He glanced at Feixiao again—the crushing pressure had vanished without a trace.
An illusion? No… a challenge. She's declaring war on me, vowing to unearth every secret I've buried.
Their eyes locked—black against green. Sparks flew, clashing in silence.
So, this is the Yaoqing soldier's way… a duel, one-on-one.
"Feixiao," Sylvester said quietly. "May I ask for your help in what comes next?"
Her lips curved. "Of course. Naturally, I'll help."
And you have no choice but to accept.
"Skott! Watch closely. You're about to see how a Curio that could shake the cosmos slips right through your fingers!" Sylvester's tone was the same cool dismissal he had used when rejecting the Jade Abacus.
Skott adjusted his shades with a scoff. "Heh. I'm watching."
"Don't worry, everyone. Master Diviner is simply fatigued. She's already recovered." Guinaifen restarted the Jade Abacus stream.
The tiny Curio Trash Can shop once more connected with the whole cosmos.