["Seizing the opportunity while the deer was weakened, the group intensified their assault. After striking it down once more, the Abundance Ambrosial Deer finally didn't revive. Its body transformed into a flurry of ginkgo leaves, dissipating into the heavens and earth."]
["'General Jing Yuan said the Ambrosial Arbor is an extraordinary marvel of immortal sorcery…' Welt sighed in awe. 'That deer appeared no different from an ordinary creature, yet even fatal wounds could heal instantly. I finally understand why the Xianzhou people follow the Hunt to eradicate the Abundance.'"]
["'An undying creation, if left to spread unchecked, would completely collapse the ecosystem of an entire world—'"]
["'Mr. Yang has keen insight, but eight thousand years ago, our ancestors, as envoys seeking medicine, couldn't foresee the hidden dangers,'"]
["Master Gongshu sighed, 'Perhaps some realized it and rejected the gifts of the Plagues Author, but as an entire civilization, could they truly resist the temptation of immortality?'"]
["'How ironic. The wise lie buried beneath the earth, while the foolish live on forever…'"]
["After a moment of lamentation, Master Gongshu once again expressed his gratitude to the Astral Express crew and promised to lead them to the entrance of the Alchemy Commission's delve."]
["However, just before setting out, Tingyun suddenly sent a message."]
["Tingyun: By the way, Benefactor, did you see earlier? When the deer stomped its hooves, branches and vines sprouted from the ground out of nowhere."]
["Stelle: Those things… they must be the roots of the Ambrosial Arbor, right?"]
["Tingyun: I noticed the fruits forming on those branches were golden and radiant, just like those mentioned in Xianzhou mythology. It's said that in ancient times, the Xianzhou's ancestors gained immortality by consuming the divine fruits granted by the Ambrosial Arbor."]
["Tingyun: If this young lady ate one of those fruits, I wonder if I could gain a limitless lifespan like the Xianzhou people…"]
["Tingyun: Benefactor, aren't you tempted by such an opportunity?"]
"Ehh?! Miss Tingyun… could she be with the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus?!"
Stark wore an expression of utter agony. If Tingyun was aligned with the Abundance, it meant she would eventually stand against Stelle. A charming fox-eared lady like her—he really didn't want to see her exit the stage!
"Considering Miss Tingyun was personally appointed by the general… I must say, the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus are quite skilled. No wonder they've managed to lurk in the Xianzhou for a thousand years without being discovered," Frieren said.
Frieren paused for a moment. "From Tingyun's words, it seems she's trying to tempt Stelle into eating the fruit. But this is the Xianzhou—surely the general wouldn't stand idly by if someone consumed it, right?"
"I say, Frieren, is there a possibility…"
Stark suddenly leaned in toward the group, speaking in a conspiratorial tone. "What if this is all part of the general's plan? What if he's already uncovered Tingyun's true identity and is waiting for her to slip up around Stelle?"
"I don't think that's likely…" Frieren said, rubbing her chin. "From our perspective, we've only just learned of Tingyun's intentions. Even the general doesn't have the ability to peer into someone's heart, does he?"
"Besides, placing a member of the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus near Stelle is far too risky. What if Stelle actually listened to Tingyun and ate the fruit?"
This hypothesis wouldn't hold for March 7th, Dan Heng, or Welt, but considering Stelle's unpredictable thought process… Frieren genuinely believed she might do it.
She didn't doubt that Stelle might harbor a longing for immortality. If she ate the Ambrosial Arbor's divine fruit, it would probably just be out of curiosity about its taste…
["Stelle: Of course I'm tempted. So… does Miss Tingyun have… one saved?"]
["Tingyun: If I said I did, would Benefactor want to share it with me?"]
["Tingyun: But I understand Benefactor's intentions. Unfortunately, the deer has turned to ash, and not a single fruit of the Ambrosial Arbor remains."]
["Stelle looked up at Tingyun, and the foxian girl seemed to understand implicitly, responding with a radiant smile. Her lips curved slightly, her eyes bending into crescent moons."]
Bleach
"She's taken the bait, huh."
In a convenience store in Karakura Town, Kisuke Urahara lounged on a sofa, pursing his lips.
…With that fox lady's cunning mind, shouldn't she be the one setting the hook for Stelle?
Yoruichi suddenly burst into laughter. "You think Stelle's playing the long game to catch a big fish, but I have a feeling she doesn't have that kind of scheming in her."
"Miss Yoruichi, have you ever gone fishing?" Urahara suddenly asked.
"Fishing? Why the sudden question?" Yoruichi thought for about three seconds. "I did some back when I was with the Second Division… What's that got to do with Stelle?"
"Before fishing, people often scatter bait in the pond to attract fish nearby. It's called 'chumming'—a technique many fishermen in the living world have perfected."
"In my view, Stelle's behavior is similar to chumming. By expressing a longing for immortality through Tingyun, she's trying to draw out more members of the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus."
"…After all, Stelle is an honored guest of the general. It'd be a shame not to seize this opportunity," Urahara said, producing a white paper fan from nowhere and flashing a confident smile that suggested he'd already seen through everything.
"There's that layer to it?" Yoruichi narrowed her eyes, adopting a cat-like expression. "But, Kisuke Urahara… what if Tingyun isn't with the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus?"
"You haven't forgotten what Jing Yuan said, have you? …There's another Emanator-level figure in the Xianzhou right now, and it's the one who brought the Stellaron here."
["But at that moment, another message came through. This time, it wasn't from Tingyun but from Dan Shu, the chief alchemist of the Alchemy Commission, whom Stelle had contacted earlier."]
["Dan Shu: Stelle, I've made preliminary progress in analyzing the pharmacology of [Dragon's Coiling Leap]. Come to Arborview Pavilion in Changletian when you have time to discuss it."]
["Why does it have to be now… Stelle scratched her head, feeling conflicted."]
["The most urgent task at hand was to head to the Alchemy Commission to put out the fire, but the Dragon's Coiling Leap was critical intelligence related to the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus, equally pressing."]
["'Stelle, what's wrong?' Welt asked, having overheard Dan Shu's voice message."]
["Stelle explained how she had gone undercover with the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus and obtained the formula."]
["'Hmm…' Welt pondered for a moment before saying, 'Stelle, you should go meet Dan Shu first. March and I will clear out the monsters on the way to the Alchemy Commission. We're about to enter the Alchemy Commission, and the chief alchemist likely knows some details about the situation there.'"]
["Given the complex circumstances in the Alchemy Commission, if Stelle could gather some intelligence from Dan Shu, it would be highly valuable. Splitting up wouldn't delay them too long either."]
["'Got it,' Stelle nodded, replying to Dan Shu's message before hurrying off to Arborview Pavilion in Changletian."]