"Lord Bailu, I've told you already—this time, follow my instructions exactly. You drew too much attention using your abilities, and we still have business left unfinished."
The woman, clad in attire reminiscent of a medical officer, planted her hands firmly on her hips and sighed with exasperation. Her eyes then narrowed sharply as they landed on Felicity, who stood protectively behind Bailu, radiating a quiet but unmistakable hostility.
"And—who might she be?" Banxia demanded, suspicion thick in her voice.
"She's Sister Felicity!" Bailu piped up from her hiding spot behind Felicity, a playful smirk tugging at her lips.
"When you weren't around just now," Bailu continued, peeking over Felicity's shoulder with a mischievous glint, "she took me out to eat, drink, and have fun in Exalting Sanctum. So, where exactly were you?"
Banxia's expression twisted in frustration. "This... Lord Bailu, you know better than anyone how fragile my condition is. If there are Ten-Lords Commission agents in the square, I will—"
Banxia shook her head sharply, cutting herself off, before redirecting her wary gaze at Felicity.
"Enough. Let's get to the point, Lord Bailu. I don't trust her. You must come back now."
"Fine." Felicity nodded with a cheerful certainty, as if her agreement was a foregone conclusion. Without hesitation, she scooped Bailu up, letting her settle comfortably on her shoulders, then spun on her heel and strode away.
"Huh?" Bailu and Banxia echoed in stunned disbelief.
"How dare you be so presumptuous? Put Lord Bailu down this instant!" Banxia's voice cracked with outrage, fingers jabbing fiercely at Felicity.
Bailu opened her mouth to protest, but the sudden height made her gape in awe, eyes sweeping the surroundings. From this vantage, she spotted several figures moving hurriedly through the square, scanning the crowd with purpose.
A doctor from the Alchemy Commission.
"Hey! You two, stop fooling around! They're from the Alchemy Commission! Help me hide them, quick!" Bailu whispered urgently, pressing a hand to Felicity's head.
Felicity blinked, confusion flickering in her gaze. Fu Xuan had tasked her with taking good care of Bailu, yet the situation had abruptly shifted: now a doctor from the Alchemy Commission was here, apparently on the hunt.
Something was wrong.
Her glance flicked to Banxia, who had noticeably softened, her usual wariness replaced by an almost desperate hope that Felicity would ease the tension, if only for a moment.
"No." Felicity's refusal was quiet but unyielding.
She had been told to take Bailu out for enjoyment, not to hide or run. At worst, she could confront whoever came and pin the blame on Fu Xuan if needed. She was nothing if not confident in her own genius.
Resolved, Felicity stepped forward boldly, startling Bailu so much that the younger woman immediately curled closer, burying herself in Felicity's hair with her tail clinging tightly along Felicity's back.
"No, you..." Banxia's voice trembled behind them, hesitating before she slipped away into concealment instead of following.
Felicity calmly marked Banxia's life force, then approached the Alchemy Commission doctor. Before she could speak, he cut in, his tone rushed and anxious.
"Little sister, please stay. I have questions."
"Don't worry—I'm the one who should be worried." Felicity's voice held an amused edge.
"I'm not in a hurry... Actually, I'm anxious—very anxious! Please just hear me out, alright?" The doctor waved his hands as if warding off interruption, his words tumbling out faster.
"There was a woman in Alchemy Commission robes, about your height, heading toward the ferry. Did you see her?"
A soft nasal sound came from Bailu, perched atop Felicity's head. Tentatively, she lifted her face and whispered, "Are you really only here to arrest her?"
The Alchemy Commission physician's eyes suddenly sharpened, catching Bailu's question off guard. "Eh? Lord Bailu? What are you doing here? No—"
He froze, suspicion flashing in his gaze.
"I was focused on the traitor named Banxia," he explained quickly, "I never expected to encounter the Healer Lady herself. Hehehe..." His laugh was off-kilter, unsettling.
Felicity's annoyance flared beneath her calm exterior. Narrowing her eyes, she spoke softly but firmly. "You're not truly from the Alchemy Commission either, are you?"
She had long suspected something was off about Banxia. The blessing of Abundance she carried was dangerously close to overpowering her soul—on the verge of falling into Mara's grasp. The doctor before her was no different. His Abundance was unusually strong, though not yet corrupted, but his mind showed clear signs of instability.
"What?" The doctor blinked, misunderstanding her implication. Then, lowering his voice, he muttered, "Sanctus Medicus is merciful, and the Ambrosial Arbor is giving birth..."
A cryptic phrase, undoubtedly code.
Felicity tilted her head, trying to decode the rhythm, but no meaning surfaced. The disadvantage of lacking formal education gnawed at her.
With a resigned sigh, she raised a single finger, and a faint shimmer of Abundance danced before the doctor's eyes.
The Merciful One has shown their compassion, so why should I pretend otherwise? If I remain standing idle, won't all kneel before me?
The doctor's mouth dropped open in shock. Though the moment was fleeting, he clearly felt the subtle power of Abundance—a power reserved for the elite "Disciples of Sanctus Medicus." For a lowly agent like him, merely wielding a fragment of their technique was a triumph against the Mara's corruption.
His knees buckled beneath him, and he fell to the ground in a humble bow, whispering, "Long live the Merciful Medicus."
Seriously? Felicity rolled her eyes, waving him off with a slight impatience. "Stand up. Now, tell me—why arrest that woman?"
"...Your Excellency, you truly don't know?" The doctor's suspicion returned, but without hesitation, he pulled out a crumpled bundle from his pocket and handed it to her.
"This concerns leaking secrets. Here are the orders from my superiors. Read them, and you'll understand."
"Fine, leave now." Felicity took the papers and flicked a dismissive hand. When the doctor had finally disappeared, she gently patted Bailu's small legs resting on her head.
"Bailu, are you alright?"
After a long pause, Bailu sighed softly, voice tinged with sadness. "Sister Felicity... you're not really one of the secret Disciples of Sanctus Medicus, are you?"
From her prime vantage point, Bailu had sensed the heavy breath of the Blessings of Abundance. Suddenly, she feared that this kind sister—who had treated her to pleasure and shielded her from danger—might have other, deeper intentions.
Too bad.
"Of course not," Felicity replied, shaking her head gently. "I've only been in Luofu less than a day. How could I have joined the Disciples already?"
Her gaze flicked once more toward the life force of Banxia she had tracked earlier.
"But that can't be said for the girl who spirited you away."
Bailu fell silent again, the weight of the revelation sinking in.
Felicity patted Bailu's legs comfortingly before turning toward the place where Banxia hid.
The Disciples of Sanctus Medicus? What kind of order is that? Never heard of it.
--+--