Moze's words took everyone by surprise.
The time they had felt inside was far longer than that. Could an Aeon truly alter the flow of time? Or was that place… special? Detached from the universe itself?
The doubt flashed through their minds but quickly faded. Not understanding an Aeon's power—that was perfectly normal.
Feixiao shook her head, pushing the thought away and feeling a flicker of relief that they had returned just in time.
Two generals of the Xianzhou and a Master Diviner had vanished under broad daylight—if Moze had reported such news to the other Xianzhou vessels, it would have caused an uproar. Phantylia, the Borisin, and those within the Xianzhou Luofu who opposed Jing Yuan would have pounced immediately. Had they been detained for several days, Luofu, robbed of its leaders and strength, might not have survived the ensuing storm.
Jing Yuan secretly wiped cold sweat from his brow. Thankfully, Aha hadn't noticed that…
Did THEY truly not notice?
His brow furrowed tightly. The more he thought about it, the more he was shaken by the terrifying implications.
Even Jiaoqiu had been forcefully summoned—why was Moze the only one left behind?
Because of his speed! And because he didn't carry enough weight to stabilize Luofu's upper command! If Feixiao, Fu Xuan, and Jing Yuan all vanished, Moze would, out of duty, immediately alert the Six Charioteers and seek Marshal Hua's aid.
And then, adding that to…
He turned his gaze toward the mask in Fu Xuan's hands, and suddenly, everything connected in his mind.
So that was it. He had once wondered—when would that mask finally be activated? The Aeons' lives were infinite, but could Aha really possess such patience?
Of course not!
When a grand idea forms in one's mind, who could resist the urge to intervene, to nudge it forward, rather than simply watch it unfold from afar?
THEY had descended personally!
If THEY detained them until Luofu plunged into chaos, until it teetered on the brink of annihilation, and then released them—would they still have any choice left but to use the mask to save the situation?
There would be only one path before them—to use the mask!
Luofu would survive by a narrow margin, the crisis averted. But Aha would still witness the "rebellion" of Luofu's people against Lan, savoring the amusement THEY desired—even if it was born from necessity.
Jing Yuan turned to look at his companions who had faced the Aeon alongside him.
Feixiao's eyes darted uneasily. Fu Xuan quietly wiped the sweat from her brow. Beneath Jiaoqiu's feather fan, his tightly knitted brows trembled.
Clearly, they too had pieced together the truth—and the danger behind it.
Had the Reignbow Arbiter not intervened midway, could they really have escaped unscathed?
No wonder. Just as Fu Xuan became an Emanator, before they had time to offer proper thanks to the Reignbow Arbiter, they were sent back in haste.
The Arbiter hadn't said a single word, yet every move was to save Luofu from disaster.
Aha's smile might have seemed carefree—but every word THEY spoke hid a deadly trap.
As that realization sank in, a wave of dread crashed over the group, leaving their hands and feet weak.
Even one as steadfast as Feixiao could no longer remain composed.
Aftershock—that creeping fear that follows once danger has passed—pierces the human heart more deeply than the threat itself. Because it strikes when one's guard is down.
She could face death without flinching, but could she maintain that same battle-hardened focus while soaking in a hot bath? Impossible.
Fu Xuan held the mask in her hands, her emotions a swirling storm.
Dealing with the Lord of the Exalting Sanctum… there was truly no way to be too cautious.
"What exactly happened?"
Moze, though not adept at reading others' expressions, couldn't ignore the unease that painted their faces. Even a fool would have sensed something was wrong.
He wasn't incapable of empathy—just bad at guessing motives. But this… this was too obvious.
Especially with General Feixiao—fearless, unrepentant, invincible—even in the most perilous battles, when annihilation loomed, she had never shown such pure fear.
How could this be?
"The Reignbow Arbiter… has shown boundless grace to our Luofu," Jing Yuan said sincerely. Exhaling deeply, he felt the weight in his chest ease at last.
"Moze," Feixiao added, "you have no idea—you almost became the pawn of the Joyseeker."
"?"
Me? The Joyseeker's pawn?
Used by an Aeon? Do I even deserve that kind of attention?
Moze stared blankly, a storm of question marks whirling in his mind.
He had no ties to Elation whatsoever—how could he possibly be a "pawn"?
Jiaoqiu stepped forward and said, "Moze, you don't even realize what you missed."
He then recounted their ordeal—how Aha had taken them.
Moze listened carefully.
When he learned that they had met Aha face-to-face, his usually calm expression cracked into visible astonishment.
When he heard that Aha had granted Fu Xuan the role of Emanator of Elation, his face twisted with mixed envy and worry. For him, serving as any Emanator would mean following his general through life and death. But for Fu Xuan—inheriting the mantle of General of Luofu—such a gift might well ruin her future.
And when he heard that the Reignbow Arbiter had appeared, halting Aha, he finally exhaled in relief.
Upon learning that Fu Xuan had received both the Aeon's mask and the Arbiter's recognition, Moze's heart filled with nothing but pure envy—and regret.
You all went to meet an Aeon—and didn't bring me?! Just because I was on watch duty?! If I'd known, I wouldn't have hidden with that invisibility technique!
Meeting an Aeon! He might never have such a chance again in his life!
But when he heard of the Elation Aeon's scheme, cold sweat dripped down his forehead.
Just as the General had said—he had nearly become Aha's pawn.
Had THEY truly detained the others, he would have had no choice but to inform the Six Charioteers. The spark of chaos in Luofu… would have been lit by his own hand.
At this moment, he could only give silent thanks that the Reignbow Arbiter had arrived in time. Had Aha succeeded, even if the Xianzhou were spared, he would have borne the guilt forever.
He muttered in remorse, "Moze, you almost caused a catastrophe."
He had been this close to rushing to the Seat of Divine Foresight. Ten more seconds, and he wouldn't have noticed that the generals had returned safely. At best, he would have been charged with false reporting.
"Don't blame yourself too much," Feixiao said, patting his shoulder comfortingly. "After all, it never happened. Whatever horrors there were—the Reignbow Arbiter has already buried them in the past."
"The Reignbow Arbiter above…" Moze murmured in heartfelt prayer.
Jiaoqiu, trying to shift the mood, spoke up. "Let's take a look at the third test tube. If the Joyseeker hadn't intervened, this would have been the potion I was most interested in."
He carefully picked up the final test tube, his movements far slower and more deliberate than before.
It was clear that this particular concoction held far greater weight in his mind than the previous two.
Feixiao and the others exchanged curious glances.
Especially Fu Xuan, who had drunk the second vial herself.
Could there really be something even greater than what had made her an Emanator?
Surely it wouldn't summon yet another Aeon?
Everyone's expressions turned grim. If Aha were to return once more, they truly couldn't bear another round of chaos.