Lord Bailu was unmistakably in a foul mood.
She had made it perfectly clear—no more confinement in the sterile, suffocating medical room. All she wanted was a simple walk outside, a breath of fresh air, a moment to stretch her legs. She was no villain plotting dark deeds or sinister schemes; so why was she constantly watched with such suspicion and vigilance?
It was maddening.
And to make matters worse, Bailu hadn't grown an inch since those two small horns had sprouted atop her head. The reason was painfully obvious: those insufferable Vidyadhara Elders had their eyes glued to her every move, monitoring her like a hawk. How could any child grow taller when she was trapped indoors, forced to stay still, deprived of the freedom to run and explore?
Her frustration boiled over.
Turning sharply, she scowled toward the looming silhouette of the Alchemy Commission. That simple act lifted some of the weight pressing on her chest, and even the large tail swishing behind her seemed to flicker with newfound energy.
Why dwell on the past now that she had escaped?
Her thoughts quickly shifted to brighter things—candied haws, savory smoked meat burgers, sweet milk tea... What would she feast on first? Bailu's eyes sparkled as she glanced around, mouth already watering at the mere thought.
She hadn't been outside in so long.
Every outing brought new discoveries. Shops shifted their offerings; new desserts appeared like fleeting dreams, and the candied haws now came in tantalizing new flavors. Yet, because her excursions were secret and her pockets nearly empty, she could only gaze longingly, her stomach aching with hunger and envy.
How cruel fate was!
Bailu stomped her small foot in frustration, forced to stare at those tempting treats from afar. The medical staff who had helped her slip away couldn't meet her again anytime soon. They were caught up in their own burdens.
Though many whispered she was a noble little Vidyadhara, Bailu felt like a delicate fish trapped inside a glass bowl, endlessly circling without a chance to leap through the mythical Dragon Gate. Was that all her life was to be?
Pouting, she found refuge in the Synwood Pavilion, settling down with her short legs dangling, swinging back and forth in petulant discontent.
Unaware, Felicity and Fu Xuan approached quietly.
Earlier, Fu Xuan had spotted Bailu's furtive escape and immediately sensed trouble.
The Xianzhou Luofu was in turmoil, an extraordinary time fraught with dangers, and Bailu's special status meant that any incident involving her could unleash unbearable pressure from the highest authorities.
Fu Xuan had initially considered asking the nearby Realm-Keeping Commission for help. But after calculating carefully—counting on her fingers, as was her habit—she realized the Realm-Keeping Commission was likely stretched too thin, overwhelmed by the chaos spreading through Luofu.
The Realm-Keeping Commission at the Exalting Sanctum was just a branch, after all. With so much upheaval demanding emergency response, rescue, and order maintenance, their hands were full.
Naturally, Fu Xuan's eyes settled on Felicity.
"Ahem."
She cleared her throat, drawing Felicity's attention. Pointing earnestly at the sulking Bailu, she said,
"The moment we've been waiting for is here. Do you see that little Vidyadhara girl? Your mission is to retrieve her and ensure she's well cared for. Most importantly—do not let her slip away."
In theory, Bailu should be under the watchful eye of medical staff from the Alchemy Commission. But right now, there was no sign of anyone from that faction nearby.
Fu Xuan had heard whispers that the Alchemy Commission was under quarantine, and guessed Bailu must have slipped out before the lockdown took full effect.
Due to Bailu's status, Fu Xuan couldn't simply detain her. Besides, Fu Xuan herself was slated to apprehend Kafka soon and didn't have the time to babysit a rebellious dragon girl.
So, reluctantly, she passed the responsibility to Felicity.
Since the Arbiter-General had ordered Fu Xuan to keep Felicity close, it made sense to entrust the little dragon girl to her care.
Felicity turned her gaze toward Bailu and was struck dumb for a moment. The tiny dragon girl's pout and sparkling eyes tugged at something warm inside her. She debated silently whether to reconsider the task at all.
How utterly adorable.
Nodding with a confident smile and a playful thumbs-up to Fu Xuan, Felicity strutted toward Bailu like she owned the world.
Fu Xuan's concern deepened. Despite her own mastery of divination, she couldn't help but follow closely.
"Hey, kid," Felicity began, voice sweet and casual, "I heard you want some candied haws. Lucky for you, I've got plenty. I don't really care for them, so how about I treat you?"
Fu Xuan blinked, her mind scrambling. Felicity's words were almost a perfect caricature of a strange aunt coaxing an innocent child—an almost comical tableau of innocent seduction.
Yet Bailu was no fool. Despite her playful nature and frequent sneaking out, she was educated enough to see through any obvious tricks.
Fu Xuan's thoughts stumbled to a halt as she watched Bailu take the offered candied haws with a beaming smile, softly murmuring,
"This is Xianzhou Luofu! Don't judge it by how it looks from the outside, little sister."
"Eh? Short-lived? Me?"
Felicity blinked, quickly abandoning the topic. Instead, she reached out and gently patted Bailu's little head.
"My name's Felicity, but you can call me Sister Feli."
Bailu, mid-bite, looked up with innocent confusion.
"My home is pretty big…"
"...Isn't this child trafficking?!" Fu Xuan finally blurted, losing her patience. She nudged Felicity aside and forced a kindly smile at Bailu.
"Healer Lady, do you still remember me?"
"Of course! You're the Master Diviner. Whenever you work overtime, the sugar for the eye-brightening herbal tea runs out fast..."
Fu Xuan's cheeks flushed as she was about to reply, but Bailu cut her off.
Clutching the gourd hanging from her waist tightly, candied haws in one hand, the little dragon girl took a fierce bite, stared wide-eyed, and said with mock menace,
"If you're helping those Realm-Keeping folks arrest me, then no more herbal tea next time, okay?"
Backing behind Felicity, Bailu found refuge in the elder sister's presence. Felicity wasn't perfect, but she was far better than the dull, boring place Bailu had escaped from.
"Of course not."
Fu Xuan waved her hands helplessly, a smile tugging at her lips. With the Alchemy Commission sealed off, even if Bailu were caught, she couldn't be sent back. Letting her roam a little wouldn't cost anything—and besides, Bailu was always generous with her sugar. A little freedom was well deserved.
Producing an elegant cloth pouch, Fu Xuan placed it carefully in Felicity's hands.
"Take care of the Healer Lady. Have fun at the Alchemy Commission. Spend as much as you need, but charge it to the Sky-Faring Commission's account."
She counted off a few final instructions on her fingers, the Omniscia on her forehead flickering with a faint glow.
After a brief pause, she sighed and grew serious.
"I have urgent matters to attend to. Go ahead and look after the Healer Lady. Don't let her wander into trouble."
As long as she stays within the bounds of the Exalting Sanctum, there shouldn't be any real problems.
…Or so one would hope.
--+--
T/N: Diddy?