Maybe It Really Is a Love from a Past Life? (Continued)

"Your identity is quite well-known in the Great Yan. If we act rashly, we might alert the enemy."

"... That shouldn't be the case."

Maria shook her head slightly. "Within the Great Yan, there are probably very few people who know my identity."

Maria's intention was to illustrate that her story is so ancient that few people know about her nowadays, and she is mostly regarded as a historical figure.

But...

Kal'tsit, Lamaline, and Tricia exchanged glances, their expressions gradually becoming subtle.

They made their judgments at almost the same time.

Maria should never be deployed unless absolutely necessary!

Hundred Stoves, inside the Directorate of Celestial Observation.

The Directorate of Celestial Observation was a very subtle organization established by the Great Yan.

Unlike other departments, it doesn't require highly specialized skills or a clean background; their only requirement is... keenness.

As the Great Yan's early warning agency for Catastrophes, their function is to guard against anything that might bring disaster to the Great Yan and to make preparations in advance.

It was also thanks to them that the Great Yan was able to turn the tide and return to stability more than once during Catastrophe.

Although they lacked the ability to effectively mobilize any department, they were among the few departments that could communicate directly with the emperor and report their work.

At that moment, a girl who looked no more than ten years old was staring wide-eyed at the sky in astonishment.

A moment later, she suddenly turned her head and looked at Hundred Stoves, which was bustling and noisy in the night.

The bright red lights flickered, outlining the joyful faces of everyone present.

But... inside the Directorate of Celestial Observation, the girl could see the shape outlined by that slightly uneasy color.

That was... a dragon made of lights!

"Accident?"

The girl subconsciously considered it, but only for a moment before decisively giving a negative answer!

Impossible!

According to the Ministry of Revenue's plans, such a scenario was unlikely to occur.

And...

Looking at the ground, the girl's eyes seemed to pierce through layers of rock and soil, her expression solemn.

"Did something trigger you?"

She remained silent.

Behind him, the guard raised a lantern, looking somewhat surprised.

"Old Celestial Master, what are you doing here?"

The guard looked puzzled, clearly confused by the other person's appearance.

But the girl, who was respectfully addressed as the Old Celestial Master, had a furrowed brow.

"No, the positions of the stars are wrong, as are the flow of energy... and all those recent events... No, something's definitely not right!"

"The Old Celestial Master?"

The guards felt a chill run down their spines as they watched the girl chattering on and on.

He could only say that he had been fortunate enough to see this mysterious being a few times, but had never had any direct contact with it, so he naturally didn't know what it was all about.

The girl quickly gave her answer.

"Go and inform the Imperial Guards!"

As she spoke, she immediately turned around.

"I want to see the Emperor!"

The next day, at noon.

A cool, aloof beauty dressed in turquoise sat quietly on a chair to one side, her tail swaying slightly, looking somewhat impatient.

Meanwhile, Shu and Nian were chatting and laughing nearby.

"It's been a long time since I've eaten out..."

As he spoke, a rare look of curiosity appeared on his face as he gazed at the brightly decorated streets.

"There are too many shops in Hundred Stoves; it's definitely different from the Great Wilderness."

"Hey, Sister Shu, you should get out more often. What are you doing cooped up in the Great Wilderness City all the time?"

Nian seemed quite happy, chatting and laughing with the other person.

When faced with Nian's words, Shu simply chuckled and shook his head.

Clearly, she still has no intention of leaving the Great Wilderness.

Nian knew her older sister's personality; her words were just a joke.

The emerald-green sunset quietly watched the two people in front of it, its calm eyes occasionally glancing to the side.

Although they were supposed to be out for a meal, it was clear that Great Yan was quite wary of them.

The seats around them were all full... This was certainly not just because the store was doing well... She could clearly feel the scrutinizing gazes of these people occasionally falling back on them.

Without a doubt, these people are official personnel of the Great Yan.

Xi was getting a little irritated.

She hated the feeling of being constantly stared at.

Her light green tail swayed slightly, a silent protest.

Nian and Shu, who were standing nearby, also noticed this, but one of them was focused on the hot pot that was about to be served, while the other was making some remarks.

"It's been so many years since I've had such a relaxed get-together with my sisters... I wonder if my older brother and sister will come."

As he spoke, Shu's heart was still with his family.

Aside from the very beginning, their Sui Family seems to have never been fully gathered together.

Meanwhile, Nian was all smiles.

"Opportunities will come eventually; there's no need to dwell on this one or two moments."

Her philosophy is to live in the present.

"You're quite insightful."

Shu shook his head helplessly as he looked at Nian's grinning face.

Meanwhile, Xi, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly spoke up.

"Sister Shu..."

"Um?"

Shu turned her head and looked at her usually silent younger sister.

"You... you saw that woman, aren't you going to say anything to her?"

Xi spoke softly, but her words revealed a slightly complicated state of mind.

Clearly, she still cares about Maria and Millet.

Her words startled the two people present. Nian was somewhat confused, not knowing what Xi was talking about.

On the contrary, Shu quickly realized who her little sister was talking about.

Only...

"Is there anything else to say?"

Shu smiled, his face showing only relief.

"I just wanted to say thank you to her..."

"And now, that's been achieved."

When the Daemon invaded the Great Wilderness, it was Maria who stepped in and helped them resolve the crisis in the Great Wilderness City.

And she was one of the biggest beneficiaries... After all, in a sense, she was the only one among her siblings who had broken free from the constraints of age.

Such kindness was beyond what she could possibly repay; a simple "thank you" was one of the few things she could do.

But this answer clearly did not satisfy Xi; her brows drooped slightly, and she looked somewhat worried.

Meanwhile, Nian was holding chopsticks.

"Oh... so you're talking about Maria?"

"..."

Xi glanced at Nian, snorted, and said nothing.

Nian didn't mind at all, and continued talking with a smile.

"To be honest, I don't quite understand either, Xi. Do you want Sister Shu and Maria to say something?"

Nian truly couldn't understand Xi's strange inner turmoil.

Based on the story she heard from Sister Shu, Maria did indeed pay a heavy price to save the Great Wilderness City, as well as Sister Shu and the others.

But such gratitude cannot be explained by mere emotions.

Rather, it's more accurate to say that their Sui Family isn't ungrateful; they will do everything in their power to help Maria whenever she needs it.

With such a foundation, there's no point in saying anything more, is there?

What exactly is Xi struggling with?

"I just..."

Xi spoke up somewhat indignantly, but seeing the questioning looks on her two older sisters' faces, the words she had just uttered stuck in her throat.

A moment later, she turned her head away angrily, unwilling to answer.

Shu and Nian exchanged a glance, then smiled knowingly.

Clearly, they were already used to Xi's behavior.

But Xi, unwilling to accept defeat, certainly wouldn't let it end like that.

After thinking for a few moments, she also slightly lowered her fingers to the table.

Unbeknownst to either of them, a drop of jet-black ink slowly dripped from their fingertip.

On the ground, it suddenly transformed into a strange black creature.

A-Yao, a pet in Xi's painting.

After creating the other, Xi did not hesitate.

She decisively gave the other person a look.

A-Yao was also clever; he crept stealthily under the table toward Nian's wagging tail.

She wants A-Yao to make the year end!

Unfortunately, before she could carry out her plan, Shu noticed something amiss.

She smiled helplessly, and slowly stretched out her slender legs, separating the two people moving under the table.

"..."

Xi looked up and could only see Shu's smiling face.

"No, you can't."

She spoke in a tone that was half warning and half persuasion.

After a few moments of silence, Xi waved her hand, and the little A-Yao turned into ink and disappeared from the spot.

You weren't there at the time.