Appraisal

"Go back and get some rest. Si Ying and I will patrol tonight. I'll contact you if anything comes up."

Shen Bai had already repaired most of the smashed wall. Under the power of the Tailor, it would be very sturdy, with no need to worry about it collapsing.

Shen Bai tightened the last few stitches and said to Liu Yiyi and Huo Qiuliang behind him:

"Those two could've waited until tomorrow, but you insisted on coming. Otherwise, you would've been resting ages ago."

Huo Qiuliang spread his hands helplessly, indicating his innocence.

Liu Yiyi didn't care. She smoothed the little braids on her head and said:

"All right, Master Tailor Shen, stop nagging. Delays invite trouble, understand? What if someone came to rescue them tonight?"

Shen Bai ignored Liu Yiyi's banter and merely waved Huo Qiuliang toward his car.

As Huo Qiuliang walked, he said:

"In all those years of records, I've never seen a Curtain-Caller rescue their own pawns..."

Liu Yiyi stretched and looked at Huo Qiuliang, who had already reached Shen Bai's car.

"You really know how to slip in a remark. Fine, let's call it a night. See you tomorrow."

With that, Liu Yiyi swung a long leg over her motorcycle, gestured to the two of them, and rode away with a not particularly loud rumble.

Huo Qiuliang got into the car with Shen Bai, and they left the Old Factory.

In the car, Huo Qiuliang asked Shen Bai.

"Shen Bai, what do you think of the three newcomers?"

Shen Bai focused on driving, his eyes on the road ahead.

"They're good. Better than I expected. They all have decent abilities."

"What about their personalities? Give me your appraisal."

Huo Qiuliang tugged at his seat belt in the passenger seat. Its overly tight restraint made him a little uncomfortable.

Shen Bai thought for a moment and said:

"Han He is very decisive. He made up his mind to join the first time he was asked. And according to Yiyi, he's special too. He can skip the Tenth Art... maybe because he's talented enough? So his insights are enough to advance him directly? In any case, he's steady enough. That's something the Hunter lineage has in common."

Huo Qiuliang shifted in his seat. His Staircase clashed badly with the Hunter, and he wasn't quite used to this new, classic Hunter.

We'll still need to work on getting along, Huo Qiuliang thought, then asked:

"What about the others?"

"...There's no need to say much about Hu Zihao's character. The Curtain-Caller has already given us the answer. He's upright, but his thinking is rather simple. A lot like Yiyi," Shen Bai said calmly.

"Oh, come on! Shen Bai! You know perfectly well who I want to hear about most, but you're saving him for last. Stop keeping me in suspense."

After Shen Bai went through two people in a row without mentioning Shi Yu, Huo Qiuliang said it outright.

Huo Qiuliang was indeed most interested in Shi Yu.

Both his Staircase and his judgment were truly remarkable.

Shen Bai glanced at Huo Qiuliang and smiled.

"You must've tried to trick him into talking yesterday. Don't forget you're going to be punished."

Huo Qiuliang's expression froze at Shen Bai's words, and then he began to wail theatrically.

Amid Huo Qiuliang's wailing, Shen Bai slowly began:

"Shi Yu's Staircase is very interesting... We all know that the more abstract a Staircase is, the higher its ceiling. Even setting aside the Gifted himself, his Staircase alone is worth cultivating."

At this point, Shen Bai shifted the conversation:

"Besides, the boy himself has plenty of potential. He's willing to think, and his assessments of problems cut straight to the heart of things... though we can't rule out his Staircase playing a part. And from what we've seen so far, of the three newcomers, he should be the one better able to take the initiative."

They were nearly at Huo Qiuliang's destination, so Shen Bai slowed the car a little.

"Han He... is too quiet, and he's hiding things too. Hu Zihao doesn't think enough. Shi Yu is weaker than them, but also more attentive. Someone who asks questions and communicates is just what's needed to connect the other two. I have a feeling having Shi Yu around will save me a lot of worry."

As he finished, the car came to a smooth stop, right at Huo Qiuliang's destination.

"All right, that's pretty good. In this gathering place of exiled freaks, having a normal person join us is a rare blessing. It's good that he can take some of the burden off you too, Shen Bai."

Huo Qiuliang pressed the seat belt release and turned to Shen Bai as he spoke.

But Shen Bai shook his head.

"Don't say that, Xiao Liang."

Huo Qiuliang grinned.

"All right, Shen Bai, I'll head back first. Let's start praying right now that the higher-ups don't pull anything, okay?"

Without waiting for Shen Bai's reply, Huo Qiuliang waved and ran off.

Shen Bai watched his retreating figure and sighed, then stepped on the accelerator and drove away.

Shen Bai had his window open, and the cool night breeze slipped into the car through the gap. Before he had driven very far, a wisp of wind swirled into his ear.

"Shen Bai, I see you."

It was He Siying's voice.

Shen Bai wasn't surprised. The Wind Language Staircase was a Staircase of wind and sound. He Siying could communicate with the wind to perceive everything outside, and naturally, she could also have the wind carry her voice far away.

He didn't reply, merely raising his head slightly.

Tonight's moon wasn't quite full. The incomplete moon gave off a parched, withered yellow glow in the sky, without even a wisp of cloud around it-tomorrow would probably be bright and sunny.

And on a rooftop illuminated by the faint moonlight, Shen Bai saw a figure standing there.

The county town wasn't entirely without pedestrians late at night, but He Siying had no reservations. Looking at the sparse pedestrians and vehicles on the main road, she took a deep breath and leaped from the rooftop.

In an instant, gravity made its presence known. The girl's petite figure began plummeting from high above, hurtling downward without the slightest resistance!

Whoosh-

Yet this bold and dangerous act failed to draw anyone's attention. Everyone overlooked the figure plummeting through the air.

He Siying wore a large white cloak. Unlike Liu Yiyi's long, slender one, which resembled a narrow robe, He Siying's cloak was broad and supple, flapping in the wind as she fell.

Master Tailor Shen's proud creation-Hidden Wings.

To ordinary people, anyone wearing Hidden Wings had no sense of presence at all, as though invisible.

He Siying felt the clamor and sounds of countless winds and watched her figure pass downward through the reflections in the tall building's glass. At that moment, she felt like a free bird.

Only when she neared the third floor did He Siying gently turn her wrist. Countless threads of wind immediately wound toward her, and the gathering vortex instantly produced enormous yet gentle resistance. Amid that strong wind, He Siying turned her body, hovered steadily in midair, and began descending slowly. She guided the wind, and the wind blew her toward Shen Bai.

Tap.

Watching He Siying land steadily, Shen Bai curled a finger. A thread pulled open the car door beside him, and He Siying bent down and slipped into the passenger seat.