But it was obvious that no matter how the power of the Path of Abundance affected the Abundance Aeon, how could it possibly influence Yaoshi's blessing?
Not only had she failed to recover her human form, but because of Kiana's healing, her injuries were recovering at a bizarre speed. If Uncle Yang had not been suppressing her from the side, she probably would have lashed out and hurt someone long ago.
"So it seems I'm not the chosen one?"
Kiana waved her hand and said dejectedly.
Actually, Kiana thought that since she possessed Cecilia's bloodline, perhaps she also had a constitution that carried Holy Blood. Maybe she was like the chosen one in those books: others could not cure a Mara-struck body, but she could.
Seeing Kiana looking somewhat disappointed, March 7th hurried over to comfort her.
"Don't be sad. It isn't your fault. You did your best."
"?"
Kiana felt that March 7th might have misunderstood something. She scratched her cheek awkwardly, unsure whether she should tell her what she was actually thinking.
Before long, following the route, they saw Tingyun confronting three Mara-struck soldiers.
Although the Cloud-to-Guard on Tingyun's side had the advantage in numbers, people could die, be injured, and feel fear.
Even though courage and perseverance were human virtues, flesh and blood could not contend with the practically immortal existence of Mara-struck bodies.
At that moment, Tingyun had fallen into a stalemate. The Cloud-to-Guard had protected her and brought her this far, and they had not been far from returning to the city, where more reinforcements would be available.
Yet they had been blocked here, just one step from their destination. Tingyun's soft tail and ears drooped helplessly. Just as she gathered the resolve to fight to the death and see whether she could break through, she heard footsteps coming from behind.
Tingyun felt as though her heart were about to leap out of her throat.
How she wished a prince would descend from the heavens and appear before her, saving her from danger.
When she turned around, however, she discovered that the newcomers were neither Mara-struck soldiers nor Cloud-to-Guard soldiers, but a group of strangers.
"You..."
Tingyun was just about to call them over for help when she saw Kiana among the group and froze for a moment.
"We can talk later."
Without anyone needing to give an order, March 7th had already drawn her bow and nocked an arrow.
In that instant, countless arrows tore through the air, tracing perfect arcs as they shot toward the distant targets.
The power of Formless Ice contained in the arrows locked down their movements. Before they could completely break free of the restraint, the others instantly dealt with them.
It happened to be one opponent per person. The farthest was pierced through by the Void Lance, the one in the middle was devoured by a pseudo-black hole, and the nearest was sent flying by Stelle's bat, landing on the ground with his life or death unknown.
"Miss Tingyun, the Mara-struck bodies have been eliminated, but we do not know how many dangers may still be nearby."
"The situation is not optimistic. Please return to the Ship Lord's Department with us as soon as possible."
The battle had only just ended when several Cloud-to-Guard soldiers urged Tingyun to leave, without considering Kiana and the others' feelings at all.
Fortunately, the group was not so petty. Besides, the soldiers were right: the situation here was indeed dangerous. Even a Pathstrider could easily die facing Mara-struck soldiers if they were not skilled in combat.
"I know, I know. What are you rushing for? I haven't thanked these benefactors yet. Leaving just like that would be terribly rude."
Tingyun was not in a hurry. Her earlier worry had vanished completely, and after such an emotional roller coaster, she remembered what she had just been thinking.
Unfortunately, the three people who came were neither princes nor accompanied by seven-colored clouds.
However...
Thinking of this, Tingyun looked toward Kiana, making Kiana feel somewhat uncomfortable.
The Fox Clan had been regarded since ancient times as symbols of beauty capable of bringing ruin to a nation. Tingyun, in particular, was one of the most beautiful among the Fox Clan. Even without deliberately showing off, she possessed a natural, alluring charm.
It was not only men who were attracted to her—even women were drawn in.
March 7th was feeling exactly that way. But when she saw Tingyun gazing "affectionately" at Kiana, while Kiana stared back at her as if her soul had left her body, March 7th felt her jealousy boil over.
"Hmph."
March 7th stepped behind Kiana, blocking their lines of sight. When she saw Tingyun lift her fan to conceal the smile at the corner of her mouth, March 7th hurriedly whispered to Kiana behind her:
"Kiana, don't let that bad woman fool you. That fox spirit in front of us doesn't look like a good person!"
Not a bad woman.jpg
"What are you trying to do?"
"Cough, cough!"
Tingyun had also heard March 7th's words. March 7th always liked lowering her voice and whispering to her companions, but the subjects of those conversations were never ordinary people.
She only lowered her voice instead of hiding it, which made every occasion extremely awkward.
This time, though Tingyun inwardly cursed, she could only smile and express her gratitude to the people before her.
The Cloud-to-Guard soldiers behind her said nothing, simply standing quietly at Tingyun's back.
March 7th's words were somewhat insulting, but it could not be helped. Not to mention those outside the Xianzhou—even within the Xianzhou, many people held such stereotypical impressions of the Fox Clan.
Even though the Fox Clan made up a large proportion of the population, that could not change the fact that they were naturally beautiful and easily became the characters in the stories told by scholars.
"I am Tingyun, a trade envoy of the Luofu Ship Lord's Department. May I ask the honored names of my benefactors?"
Hearing the goodwill in Tingyun's words, and seeing that she had placed them in the position of benefactors, March 7th could no longer continue targeting her.
She introduced the members of their pioneering journey to Tingyun.
"I'm March 7th. This is Uncle Yang—no, Mr. Welt Yang. And beside me is..."
Before March 7th could finish, Stelle directly took out her bat, struck a rather chuunibyou pose, and announced to the people before her:
"I am the Galaxy Baseballer."
"Sorry, this child is Stelle. She's a little mischievous."
Stelle looked at her mouth, which had been sealed with pink tape, then cast a pleading look toward Kiana, who was still behind March 7th.
This was not ordinary tape.
Earlier, to stop Kiana from saying random things, Himeko had asked Asta for a large supply. Almost everyone had received some, though unfortunately it had not been very effective on Kiana.
Now, however, it seemed they had discovered a new use for it.
But Kiana's eyes remained fixed on Tingyun. She was curious whether the Tingyun before her was the real one, or whether she had already been replaced and was actually Phantylia, the Great Lord of Destruction.
"Benefactor, why are you looking at me like that?"
"Because I want to."
Tingyun: ?
March 7th: ?
Kiana's single sentence made Tingyun's thoughts freeze for an instant. She remembered the portrait and information the general had once sent over.
There was no way she could connect Kiana with the person in that portrait—the one favored by the Lord of the Bow, whom he wanted to recruit and even make his Emanator.
"Benefactor, may I have the honor of learning your name?"
"Oh, my name is Kiana."
"Kiana?"
"Mm."
"Benefactor, the general has been waiting for you for quite some time. I never expected to encounter you like this, nor for you to save us. I have nothing with which to repay you..."
"Then you can only offer yourself to me?"
"Then I can only offer myself to you."
After Tingyun finished speaking, she froze completely. She had not expected Kiana to pick up her words.
She had originally intended to say that she could only show the benefactors around the Xianzhou Luofu, but Kiana had abruptly taken the conversation in another direction.
Yet when she looked at the White-haired ball of fluff before her, perhaps moved by a private impulse, Tingyun revealed a coquettish smile and slightly bowed toward Kiana.
"May I ask what you think?"
This time, it was Kiana's turn not to know what to do. If this was the real Tingyun, Kiana genuinely wanted to activate charge mode immediately.
But what if the Tingyun before her was actually Phantylia in disguise?
"Hey, Phantylia can transform into any appearance. That might not be bad either."
The thought had only just appeared when Kiana was brought back to reality by a sharp pain. March 7th's expression had darkened slightly. Although she was smiling, one hand had moved to her waist and was pinching her soft flesh.
Seeing this, Tingyun seemed to have been possessed by a mischief-maker, abandoning her former beliefs and joining the Path of Elation.
Ignoring the Cloud-to-Guard soldiers behind her and the benefactors before her, she also came over, looking as if she were competing for Kiana's affection. Compared with March 7th's puffed cheeks, Tingyun's expression was clearly more pitiful and endearing.
Noticing that March 7th's gaze had grown unfriendly, Tingyun finally stopped teasing them.
"Benefactor, don't look at me like that. Although I am a member of the Fox Clan, I am not one of the fox spirits mentioned in all those strange tales. I would never seduce someone else's wife."
"Wait, what did you say? I'm not—what wife are you talking about..."
Tingyun seemed to understand why the followers of Elation enjoyed playing the fool so much. They were willing to risk self-destruction just to watch the fun.
Teasing this young girl was truly entertaining.
"Then, benefactors, please leave this place with me first. Although the soldiers who fell to Mara have been defeated, this place is still unsafe. Please return with me, and we can complete the remaining procedures along the way."
On the road, March 7th could no longer contain her curiosity. She asked Kiana about the question troubling her, now that Kiana was no longer staring at Tingyun.
"Kiana, Tingyun just said that the general has been waiting for you. Don't tell me you know the general here?"
Uncle Yang also pricked up his ears when he heard them. He was curious about this as well. After all, Tingyun had originally seemed ready to ask why they had appeared there, since the port currently had no one to receive them because of certain changes.
But after seeing Kiana and hearing her name, Tingyun's attitude had changed instantly. She set everything else aside, completed the procedures as quickly as possible, and obtained official authorization to enter the Xianzhou Luofu.
"I don't know either."
It was not that Kiana did not want to explain. She genuinely did not know. After arriving, she had spent her time idling around the Herta Space Station. After boarding the train, let alone knowing Jing Yuan, she had not had the slightest connection with him.
While the two whispered to each other, the group had already reached the ferry terminal, where several vessels were moored.
"It really wasn't easy getting here. I've rubbed off quite a bit of my tail fur. Alas, my beautiful tail..."
Tingyun's words stirred Kiana's memories. She thought of her time on the Herta Space Station and the days spent cleaning fur.
Of course, the fur in question did not belong to Kiana, but to Peppy. Sometimes Kiana even wondered why Peppy had such a thick coat. He shed so much every day—how had he not gone bald?
Thinking of this, Kiana's gaze once again drifted toward Tingyun's fluffy, soft, clearly well-cared-for tail, as well as the fox ears that occasionally twitched while Tingyun spoke.
"Fortunately, although unexpected incidents kept happening along the way, nothing went wrong during the final stretch.
"Benefactors, look. This is the vessel I mentioned."
Tingyun then noticed that Kiana's gaze had fallen on her ears and tail, repeatedly scanning them up and down.
Even though she carefully tended to her tail and ears every day, what had happened earlier, combined with Kiana's gaze, still made her worry. Could her tail or ears have somehow become disheveled?
"Benefactor, why are you staring at my private parts? Is there something wrong with my tail or ears?"
"Benefactor, why are you staring at my private parts? Is there something wrong with my tail or ears?"
"Cough, cough."
What the hell did she mean by "private parts"? The sentence nearly made Kiana choke.
Fortunately, her little wife, March 7th, hurried over and gently patted Kiana's back, helping her catch her breath.
"It's nothing. I just remembered something."
"You frightened me, benefactor. I thought the battle had injured your tail."
Tingyun suddenly acted coy, and Kiana felt as if her heart had been struck hard. No wonder fox spirits were always portrayed as calamities in every scholar's writings.
Even so, countless people still pursued them eagerly.
No wonder one of the Kaslana ancestors had caused a devoted man a lifetime of suffering over a single "fox spirit."
Otto: Are you insulting me again?
Yae Sakura: Heh. Mere Otto is no match for me. With just one rice ball, Kallen will fall into my arms. I win!
Suddenly, Yae Sakura's ears appeared in Kiana's mind, and the words slipped out before she could stop them.
"Aren't fox ears supposed to be long? Like this."
Before you continue