Stargazer Navalia
A faint smile graced Fu Xuan's lips as she ended the call with Anming, her mood noticeably lighter.
So light, in fact, that she nearly forgot about the half-dead Mara-struck soldier trembling before her.
"Passphrase?"
"Yaoshi... the Merciful..."
The soldier gasped out the words, his voice ragged. Fu Xuan's smile deepened.
"Correct."
A flash of violet—the soldier's head hit the ground before his body did.
Fu Xuan flicked the blood off her blade.
"No reward, though."
"L-Lady Fu Xuan! T-This isn't procedure!"
Huohuo clutched her little flag, her socked legs shaking like leaves. A speck of blood dotted her cheek.
Five hours. That's how long they'd been at this. Huohuo had lost count of how many "disciples of Yaoshi" had met the same end.
Was... was this how passphrase checks worked?! So hardcore!
"Procedure?" Fu Xuan sheathed her sword. "I am procedure."
She knelt, severing a ginkgo-laden branch from the corpse and tucking it into a prepared pouch. Her eyes burned crimson—yet her movements were methodical, calm.
Anming was alive. That brought her joy... and terror.
"Lady Fu Xuan, I'm just... a trainee judge. Those documents are way above my clearance..."
Huohuo's voice trembled. Stealing from the Ten-Lords Commission? Even the thought made her tail puff up.
"Then I'll have you promoted."
Fu Xuan stood, cupping Huohuo's face with a porcelain hand.
"I won't harm you, Huohuo."
She needed the Ten-Lords' records on death—something the Master Diviner couldn't openly request.
Jing Yuan was already suspicious. Until Anming arrived, she couldn't afford more mistakes.
Huohuo wanted to cry. Lady Fu Xuan, have you seen your eyes lately?! Sure, these were traitors—but her goal had to be bigger than that.
A mint-green pill appeared between Fu Xuan's fingers. Before Huohuo could protest, it was pressed past her lips.
"I-Is this poison?!"
"..."
Fu Xuan ruffled Huohuo's hair, regret flickering in her gaze.
Just a mint candy. Her favorite. Since when did sweets not work on children?
Anming used to feed her candied hawthorns. Those moments had been perfect. Did Huohuo hate sweets?
With Qingque gone, she needed an unassuming ally—one who could access the Ten-Lords Commission unnoticed.
Huohuo sucked on the candy, convinced it was her last meal. Why did I ever go to the Divination Commission?!
"Pause the operation."
Fu Xuan's whisper faded into the shadows.
"Understood. Awaiting your signal."
Sunset dyed the clouds outside Stargazer Navalia—just like that dawn, so long ago.
With her samples secured, Fu Xuan cleaned the scene and led Huohuo back.
Along the way, she bought the foxian a candied hawthorn skewer.
If she and Anming had had a child... would they be Huohuo's age by now?
No matter. There was still time.
By the time they reached the Divination Commission, the bloodlust in Fu Xuan's eyes had faded entirely.
Huohuo licked her treat, studying Fu Xuan. Did she really not fear being exposed?
That deal with Tail couldn't be her concern... right?
Divination Commission
Fu Xuan sat before blank stationery, unmoving.
A bird sang outside. Spring was coming.
Her long pink hair swayed in the breeze as she finally picked up her brush.
This was the fate she'd chosen.
Belobog, Snow Plains
"Done?"
Liuying approached with three ice pops, handing one each to Qingque and Anming.
She'd given him space to call Fu Xuan—another kindness.
"Mm."
"She took it well, then."
Liuying nibbled her pop, flinching at the cold. Her puffed cheeks were adorable.
"Too well. It's... unsettling."
Anming frowned. The Fu Xuan he remembered had been gentle beneath her resolve.
This one? Just as determined—but ruthless. She'd cut down anything in her way.
Qingque, ever the tactician, vanished the moment Liuying handed her the ice pop.
Some men were just trouble. Good thing her heart belonged to mahjong.
Humming, she scrolled the Luofu forums—only to overheat at the comments.
I'll show them a Sword Sovereign!
"After the Stellaron... you'll leave, won't you?"
Liuying stared at the snow.
Anming warmed her hands in his. "You could come with us. The Express would love you."
"I envy the Nameless sometimes. Seeing the universe like that..."
She smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes.
"But I'll stay with the Stellaron Hunters for now. There are... things I need to figure out. And you have the Luofu."
"I'll miss you."
"Me too."
Liuying raised her phone, grinning. "Call me every day, okay?"
She glanced at his "Liuying's Dog" ID and giggled.
Silly Anming. He wasn't a dog—he was her everything.