Ilena: Did I Arrive Too Early?

Qiu Tu could come and go freely from the Wine Pool, so Qing E naturally needed no introduction.

Or rather, as Ilena's assistant, she was actually the direct superior of these maidservants.

Thus, upon hearing her instructions, the maidservants standing at the entrance to greet her exchanged glances. None of them dared stop her, and they immediately stepped aside.

Qing E did not notice the somewhat strange expressions on the maidservants' faces. She strode into the Wine Pool Courtyard.

Watching her retreating figure, one of the maidservants at the entrance hesitated before stepping forward, intending to call her back and report that Qiu Tu was currently in the Wine Pool.

But just then, another maidservant beside her hurriedly reached out and pressed down on her arm.

Held back by her companion, the maidservant was clearly confused.

She could not help looking at her companion, her eyes filled with puzzlement.

Yet her companion merely lowered her head and gave a slight shake.

The two were obviously close. Seeing her companion signal her, the maidservant gave up on making her report. She lowered her head as well and stood there quietly.

Only after Qing E had entered the courtyard and the two could no longer hear her did the companion of the maidservant who had wanted to report let out a long breath.

She looked at the maidservant and asked in a low voice, "What were you trying to do just now?"

The maidservant replied softly, "I wanted to report that Your Excellency Qiu Tu had just entered the Wine Pool."

As she spoke, she grew even more confused. "Did I do something wrong?"

Her companion lowered her voice. "Of course you did."

The companion quietly explained, "You were only just transferred to serve at Her Excellency's side. You clearly don't understand the rules yet."

"For servants like us, the most important thing isn't being clever. It's being stupid."

"No matter when, don't look, don't listen, and don't ask."

"The same goes for matters concerning Her Excellency. Unless Her Excellency asks herself, don't take it upon yourself to remind her."

Hearing that, the maidservant was plainly still confused. She could not help asking, "Why?"

The more senior maidservant shot her an annoyed glare. "Didn't I say not to ask questions?"

Hearing her companion's words, the newly promoted maidservant hurriedly said, "Oh," and fell silent.

Seeing her like that, the senior maidservant sighed softly. In the end, she still softened and explained,

"Because... you have no idea whether Her Excellency truly doesn't know, or is deliberately pretending not to know."

She gave an example. "Take tonight's matter."

"After Your Excellency Qing E arrived at the Wine Pool, she didn't ask anything and simply went inside."

"If she knew Your Excellency Qiu Tu was in there and went in on purpose... if you reminded her and tore away that last veil, should she go in or not?"

"If you say nothing and simply do your own job, then whatever happens afterward has nothing to do with you. But if you say the wrong thing, you might bring disaster upon yourself."

"So when serving these great figures, if they ask, you must tell them everything you know. But if they don't ask, you must make sure not to listen, not to look, not to ask, and not to speak."

Upon hearing the more senior maidservant's words, the maidservant who had just wanted to report immediately showed a look of realization.

She gratefully glanced at her companion, sincerely thanked her, and resumed standing respectfully at the entrance.

The other maidservants serving at the entrance had clearly heard their conversation as well, but there was no reaction on their faces. They merely stood there calmly, not looking, not listening, not asking, and not speaking.

This rule was clearly part of the workplace code for these divine maidservants. Moreover, Qing E had not expected Qiu Tu to dare enter the Wine Pool ahead of time to wait for Ilena, so she did not ask about him.

Thus, under the maidservants' care, she changed into a translucent bathrobe and entered the Wine Pool area, half-concealed within its folds.

At that moment, the Wine Pool area was blanketed in White Mist. Decadent music mingled with soft singing and sensual dancing, making it seem both like a fairyland and a place of corruption.

However, Qing E had served Ilena for many years and had seen such scenes countless times. She paid them no mind and walked into the Wine Pool on her long legs.

As the fragrant liquor gradually submerged her ankles, calves, thighs, and waist, half her body sank into the golden liquid. Then she felt her way toward the silhouettes within the White Mist.

Though Qiu Tu had not fought often and his practical combat ability was only average, he had offended too many people. As a result, he was always exceptionally alert.

Even though the Wine Pool's vapor could block Mental Power, he still clearly sensed a woman approaching him.

And in his mind, the only person who could freely enter the Wine Pool was naturally Ilena, with whom he had arranged to meet.

So, when the woman came within his reach, he unhesitatingly swept out an arm and pulled her into his embrace. "You're here?"

As he spoke, Qiu Tu's hand naturally landed on the woman's chest.

The instant his hand touched her apple-sized breast, he froze. Huh? This doesn't feel right.

At that moment, accompanied by the splash of liquor, the woman in his arms let out a clearly restrained cry.

Hearing that familiar voice and seeing the beautiful face emerge from the White Mist before him, Qiu Tu finally realized that he seemed to have hugged—and touched—the wrong person!

"Qing E?"

"Lord Qiu Tu?"

As the two whispered in startled voices, they stared at each other wide-eyed in one another's arms, both utterly bewildered.

Meanwhile...

Outside the Wine Pool, Ilena arrived slowly in a plain-colored outfit.

The mission Mitchell had assigned her this time was clearly rather troublesome. Even with the energy of a Garrison God King, there was a trace of fatigue in her eyes.

Seeing Ilena arrive, the maidservants all knelt and greeted her. "Your Excellency~"

Ilena waved casually, her gaze, like Qing E's before her, falling upon the Wine Pool steaming with the scent of liquor.

Then she looked at the maidservants at the entrance and asked, "Did Qiu Tu come, or did Qing E come?"

Hearing her question, the senior maidservant hurriedly curtsied and answered with her head lowered, "In reply to Your Excellency... both God King Qiu Tu and God King Qing E have arrived."

"God King Qiu Tu arrived first, and God King Qing E arrived afterward."

She faithfully followed the advice she had given the newly promoted maidservant: say what should be said, and do not say what should not be said.

After all, if a superior was truly interested, she would ask herself—just as Ilena was doing now.

And sure enough, upon hearing the senior maidservant's words, a trace of surprise appeared on Ilena's carefree face.

She said, "Qiu Tu and Qing E are both inside? Are they bathing together?"

The senior maidservant lowered her head. "This subordinate does not know. This subordinate only knows that both God King Qiu Tu and God King Qing E changed into bathrobes and entered the Wine Pool."

Upon hearing the senior maidservant's words, a strange expression appeared on Ilena's face.

As the World Master of the Wine God Kingdom, her authority within this world was supreme. Thus, the Wine Pool's vapor could block Qiu Tu and Qing E's Mental Power, but it could not block hers.

So, through the authority of the World Master, she easily saw what was happening in the Wine Pool—and naturally saw Qiu Tu and Qing E embracing each other!

For that instant, even Ilena, who was usually so laid-back, could not help clenching her hand.

The feeling was much like that of a wealthy woman who enjoyed both men and women, returning home to find her boy toy and her kept beauty rolling around in bed together.

At that moment, Ilena did not even know whether she should be angry or consider it twice as exciting.

Or perhaps... she had actually arrived too early?

After standing stunned at the entrance for two seconds, Ilena finally came back to her senses. She gave the senior maidservant a faint nod and walked into the Wine Pool.

After entering the Wine Pool Courtyard, Ilena changed into a gauzy bathrobe in the changing room and headed toward the Wine Pool.

Perhaps because they sensed someone else entering the Wine Pool, Qiu Tu and Qing E, who had just been embracing, quickly separated.

Over the years, Qiu Tu had done things far more excessive than what had happened tonight. So although he felt somewhat awkward, his expression did not change in the slightest.

Compared with him, Qing E was clearly much less experienced.

Perhaps because she felt she had stolen Ilena's man, Qing E's complexion was visibly unnatural. It was her first time doing something that weighed so heavily on her conscience. She kept her head lowered, continuously smoothing her hair with her hands.

Seeing this, Ilena did not expose the ambiguous affair between them.

She still wore that lazy expression as she said, "I didn't expect you two to arrive so early."

Ilena had probably only said it casually, but to Qing E, it sounded like criticism.

So Qing E hurriedly explained, "Your Excellency, I thought you had arrived first, so I..."

At that point, Qing E likely felt that she sounded like she was trying too hard to hide the truth, so she swallowed the rest of her words.

Unlike her, Qiu Tu was far more natural. He calmly picked up where Ilena had left off.

He smiled. "Of course I came early. After all... I have quite a few questions I want to ask Your Excellency."

As he spoke, Qiu Tu flashed from the Wine Pool to its edge.

Seeing Qiu Tu wearing only a pair of shorts, and looking at his sturdy yet well-proportioned body, a hint of appreciation appeared on Ilena's face.

She ignored Qing E and naturally walked to the platform beside the Wine Pool. She lay down, pressing her bamboo-shoot-like breasts flat against the stone. Only then did she say, "Go on. What do you want to ask?"

After the previous massage, Qiu Tu and Ilena now had an incredible tacit understanding.

Thus, as soon as Ilena lay down, Qiu Tu naturally walked over, crouched beside her, and placed his hands on Ilena's silky, milk-like skin.

"I want to ask about the plan Heaven's Way and our Temple have this time."

Ilena was extremely intelligent. Though she lay lazily on the stone platform, her mind had not slackened in the slightest.

Hearing Qiu Tu's words, Ilena crossed her hands beneath her chin, closed her eyes, and said lazily, "The fact that you were able to come see me means you made it out alive from Mo Se Your Excellency's place."

"Didn't Mo Se Your Excellency explain these things to you?"

Qiu Tu could not help smiling. "He did. But... I would rather hear it from Your Excellency."

Ilena slightly opened her eyes and glanced at Qiu Tu, seeing straight through his thoughts. "What? You don't trust Your Excellency?"

Qiu Tu and Ilena's relationship had not reached the point where they trusted each other completely, but they were already very close. Therefore, Qiu Tu did not hide anything from her and said directly,

"It isn't that I don't trust you. I simply think there may have been some omissions."

Hearing Qiu Tu's words, Ilena closed her eyes again and pondered for two seconds before speaking. "I'll pretend I didn't hear what you just said."

"I'm only clearing up your doubts today because you 'begged me bitterly.' And since you are carrying out the mission to rebuild the intelligence network, it is reasonable for you to want to understand the current situation. That is why I'm telling you."

Qiu Tu knew that this was Ilena's condition.

So, while straddling Ilena and massaging her shoulders, he gave a slight nod in agreement.

Seeing Qiu Tu agree, Ilena opened her eyes and said, "It is only natural that you want to understand Heaven's Way."

"After all, it is the most powerful secret weapon of our Order Path. It is precisely because of this secret weapon that the Order Path ranks among the foremost of the Six Great Paths."

"The function of this secret weapon is quite simple: it changes the World Rule of a region."

"Changes the World Rule of a region?" Hearing Ilena's words, Qiu Tu narrowed his eyes.

He felt that coming to wait for Ilena tonight had indeed been the right choice.

Because the very first piece of information Ilena revealed differed from what the Ink God King had said.

This clearly proved that Qiu Tu's suspicion had been correct: the Ink God King had obviously not fully trusted Qiu Tu. Although he had protected Qiu Tu and supported him in certain matters, he had deliberately concealed other things from him.

Meanwhile, as Qiu Tu and Ilena exchanged information while he massaged her, a question mark slowly appeared above Qing E's head as she stood in the Wine Pool: ?

Wait... have they forgotten about me?

Qiu Tu is massaging her now. Should I be doing something too?