"Saintess!"
The moment she stepped outside, a crowd of cultists led by Wu Lie surrounded her.
"What's going on outside? Why are there so many powerful [Chaos] beings?"
"Yeah, yeah—and there's even a giant battleship. It looks alive!"
"They've completely surrounded us, even at the entrance. We can't get out at all. Don't tell me they're planning to..."
Everyone spoke over one another, making Xu Xiaoan's head throb.
"Silence!"
Everyone immediately fell quiet.
Xu Xiaoan swept a cold gaze over them. The crowd lowered their heads, not daring to meet her eyes.
Seeing this, Wu Lie stepped forward and asked, "Young Lord, is it... friend or foe?"
"That one has no hostile intent for the time being."
Xu Xiaoan shook her head and walked out along the path the crowd had made for her.
"I'll go speak with it again. Stay here and wait!"
"Yes!"
On the terrace, Chu leaned against the railing, propping her cheek on one hand as she gazed listlessly at the distant Mist and battleship.
When Xu Xiaoan emerged from the hall, Chu seemed to sense her presence. She turned her head and smiled. "Finished tidying up?"
"Mm."
Xu Xiaoan walked to her side, expressionless, as though she had merely done something insignificant.
Yet the smile on Chu's face suddenly faded. "Those two should have been the first humans here to convert to [Chaos], right? They were fairly useful tools too. Why kill them?"
Xu Xiaoan glanced at her, as if she had expected the question all along.
"They were loyal to 'Father,' but they only saw me as a vessel for His descent, imprisoning me like a captive. Wasn't that overstepping enough to warrant death?"
Hearing this, Chu narrowed her eyes slightly and nodded in full agreement.
"If that's truly the case, they deserved to