Yaoqing Envoy Residence.
Within the classical wooden building filled with the scent of sandalwood, the sound of running water in the bath suddenly stopped. The door handle turned softly, and a tall foxian woman stepped out—wrapped in a towel, slippers tapping lightly on the wooden floor.
In the rising mist, her twin fox ears twitched sharply, scattering beads of water. Droplets that hadn't yet dried slipped from her damp hair, traced the smooth curve of her neck, glided over her delicate skin, and rolled down to her graceful arches—each shimmering trail of moisture making her radiate with a peculiar allure.
Feixiao exhaled in satisfaction.
Indeed, there was nothing more delightful than a hot bath after morning training.
She glanced back at the clock—nine thirty sharp, to the second.
But she felt no pride in such precision; after all, this had been her daily routine for decades. To not be punctual would have been strange.
By the time she reached the dressing room, the moisture on her skin had completely evaporated. Her form flickered, and in the blink of an eye, she was dressed in her daily attire as the Vanquishing General.
A deep green qipao-style fitted top beneath a white military coat; tight shorts; and a pair of asymmetric high-heeled leather boots—one long, one short.
Stepping out of her private courtyard, she entered the front hall.
She spoke into the air. "Moze, has Jiaoqiu come out yet?"
A flash of violet light flickered in the air. From the shadows of the hall emerged Moze, his voice calm and emotionless. "Not yet."
Feixiao looked toward the kitchen not far away and muttered to herself, "What in the world is that guy up to?"
Shortly after she began her morning routine, he had returned here with a grave expression. Without saying a word, he locked himself inside what looked like a kitchen—but was actually a sealed chamber—and activated the security barrier. He hadn't came out since.
That was an obvious case of impulsive madness. Feixiao knew Jiaoqiu's mental burden all too well, and she also knew he had visited that trash can shop earlier that morning.
Could it be that he'd obtained some special Curio—something that triggered his obsession? That would be bad. He might even… do something foolish.
Arms crossed, Feixiao frowned at the kitchen door, worry creeping into her eyes. She wanted to storm in and check, but as soon as she took one step forward, she restrained herself.
Pressing a finger to her temple, she closed her eyes and murmured, "No, no… can't be reckless. If he's brewing some kind of poison in there and I barge in by force, he might slip and send himself to the afterlife."
"Besides, that Sylvester fellow has a silver tongue. Even for my sake, he wouldn't just let Jiaoqiu's obsession spiral out of control. And worst case—if Sylvester's words fail to untie the knot—he's still more than capable of keeping Jiaoqiu's emotions stable."
Clang!
Just as Feixiao's thoughts were racing, the kitchen door suddenly opened with a clatter.
Jiaoqiu stepped out, pushing a food cart, looking relaxed and refreshed.
He smiled pleasantly. "Oh, General Feixiao, you've finished your morning exercises? Seems I've come out at just the right time."
"Jiaoqiu, you… you're all right?" Feixiao's sharp eyes scanned her subordinate's face, searching for any clue.
He looked far too normal—completely different from the tense state he'd been in earlier.
In fact, there was even an air of ease about him…
Almost as if he had been carrying a boulder on his back for years, and had finally set it down.
Could it be… his mental knot had truly unraveled?
Jiaoqiu replied with casual grace, "What could possibly be wrong with me? I merely obtained a few Curios this morning, had some enlightening thoughts, received a bit of guidance from Shopkeeper Sylvester, and figured a few things out. Gained some… abilities, you could say."
So that's it.
Feixiao nodded to herself in understanding.
Jiaoqiu hadn't said it outright, but the meaning was crystal clear—his obsession was gone, and the one who had resolved it… was Sylvester.
That man really worked fast! She couldn't help thinking his honorary general title was utterly wasted—she should have recommended him as an honorary alchemist under the Alchemy Commission instead. With that talent for psychology, he could have trained a whole division of battlefield trauma specialists. Maybe he could even sweet-talk a few Abundance spies into confessing with therapy alone.
"So, what's all this then?" Feixiao asked, tilting her chin toward the cart. Her doubt wasn't completely gone.
If his mind was at peace now, why had he been in such a rush earlier?
And besides—it wasn't exactly mealtime.
Jiaoqiu flicked his feather fan and gave a mysterious smile. "General, please summon General Jing Yuan immediately. I have a token of goodwill to offer."
"You're inviting him… to lunch?"
Feixiao blinked, more confused than before.
What was this supposed to be? Asking another commander to eat, and having her make the invitation? That wasn't flattery—that was just weird.
She half-joked, "Don't tell me you're thinking of defecting?"
"Of course not." Jiaoqiu shook his head, then said seriously, "General, have you ever thought about it? What if—with medicine alone—you could make a mid- or high-level Pathstrider directly attain Emanator-level strength?"
"Of course I have! Jingliu's [Samsara Elixir] did exactly that. And those nine life cycles are especially—" Feixiao began automatically, but mid-sentence, a chilling realization struck her.
Her eyes widened. "Wait… you mean to say you've found a way to mass-produce such an elixir?"
Even the usually stoic Moze, standing straight and silent, reacted visibly.
In a flash, he appeared beside them, fixing his gaze on Jiaoqiu. He didn't speak, but his meaning was clear.
What kind of Curio did you find? Tell us—now!
Under their intense stares, Jiaoqiu smiled faintly and uttered two calm words. "Indeed so."
"Hu~ ha~" Feixiao took a deep breath, too stunned to speak.
Then she snapped into command mode. "Moze! Quickly—go to the Seat of Divine Foresight—no, to Central Starskiff Haven! Bring Jing Yuan here at once. He should be receiving Lady Herta from the Genius Society. Tell him that no matter what he's doing, he must drop it and come here immediately… for a meal!"
"Yes, General!" Moze replied crisply, transforming into a bolt of violet lightning and vanishing into the distance.
Jiaoqiu calmly pushed the food cart toward the table, beginning to set things up.
He hadn't told Feixiao everything.
Silently, he touched the three small vials hidden in his sleeve—formulas derived from the highest-tier prescriptions of the Spirit Butterfly Alchemist.
He hadn't had time to refine them into proper pills, so they remained preserved as reagents.
The first vial was a potent healing agent.
The second—an elixir that could forcibly enhance one's power.
And the third… even he dared not speak of lightly. A terrifying poison—so dreadful that without the counterbalancing fragrance of the [Aromatic Silk Beauty], he wouldn't dare to even think of it.
Even the Spirit Butterfly Alchemist herself might have feared it.
Such a thing… could no longer be described as sinful against heaven.
Once used—it would be enough to make his name cursed for all eternity.