Dan Heng picked up a bottle of water and handed it to Caelus—he really couldn't stand watching Caelus humiliate himself any longer. "Drink some water."
Caelus took a sip, swished the clean water around in his mouth, and tried hard to rinse away the residual clay stuck inside, but that bitterness refused to be washed away so easily…
At that moment, the Earth Beast beside them let out a "bzzz bzzz wuu" sound.
The Earth Beast emitted a mocking cry. Now you've not only earned its ridicule, but you still have to keep up your duty of feeding it…
"Hahaha…" Castorice covered her lips and laughed elegantly. "Looks like there was a little mishap. No worries—there's plenty more feed… go grab another piece."
Caelus picked up another piece. This time he didn't put it in his own mouth—he handed it to the Earth Beast.
And surprisingly, the Earth Beast cooperated with Caelus's gesture. For a moment, one person and one beast—or rather, one non-human and one beast—got along remarkably well.
Even Castorice, standing to the side, showed an envious expression. "It seems it really likes that. You and the Earth Beast get along so well. I'm genuinely envious."
Caelus turned back to look at Castorice. "Don't you want to try petting it?"
"Me?" Castorice instinctively glanced at her own hands. "No need… it's fine…"
Dan Heng picked up on something subtle and spoke politely. "Miss Castorice, is there some concern holding you back? We're newcomers here and hope to close the distance with everyone through our actions."
"You've misunderstood. By helping Okhema, you've already shown ample goodwill. I simply…
am not very good at 'contact.' Whether with people or with these children. Please don't take it to heart."
"Understood." Dan Heng turned to Caelus, who was still playing with the Earth Beast. "Take a photo of the Earth Beast too. Creatures like this aren't common elsewhere."
Hearing this, Castorice—perhaps to dispel the earlier awkwardness—voluntarily offered to take photos for them.
Caelus: "You really don't have to force yourself."
Castorice shook her head. "It's not forcing. Image-capturing is one of my hobbies."
"Then that works. Thank you for the trouble."
"No trouble at all. Please place the image-recording device on the ground."
Caelus took out the camera, about to hand it over. "On the ground?"
Dan Heng noticed Castorice seemed to have some difficulty. "Just do as she says for now."
Caelus nodded, set March 7th's camera on the ground. Castorice bent down and picked it up.
[This feels like foreshadowing.]
[Probably related to Castorice's ability. Back then Aglaea also said the Chrysos Heirs possess extraordinary power, but they also carry flaws.]
Castorice held the camera and examined it closely. "Such a pretty color… it feels… very cute. Aperture, sensitivity, preset filters… Though the appearance is different, the inner workings are the same. No problem."
The next moment, she directed the two. "Please stand in position. Like that—perfect. I hope you like it."
Click—
Castorice had taken the photo. She gently placed the camera back on the ground. You bent down and picked it up.
Dan Heng and Caelus looked at the photo. It was… black and white?
[Voice and visage preserved!]
[Hahaha, gotta say—it really looks like Caelus actually died.]
[I'm completely dumbfounded.]
[Look at how wide both Caelus's and Dan Heng's eyes got in an instant.]
— —
Dan Heng asked with some confusion, "Just curious… is there a particular reason for using black-and-white?"
"Ah… sorry, it's just personal preference. I like black-and-white photos. If you mind, I can retake it."
"No need. This is fine."
"I'm glad I could help." Castorice gave a slight bow. "Then I'll take my leave. Please continue enjoying time with the Earth Beast."
With that, she quietly departed alone.
Dan Heng stared at the black-and-white photo, wanting to say something but hesitating. "…"
Caelus rubbed his chin. "So the 'script' even arranged a substitute photographer?"
"…That line sounds like something a Stellaron Hunter would say.
Miss Castorice… should we call her reticent? Not quite. She's just hard to read.
Even when we first met, she seemed very averse to physical contact…
These Chrysos Heirs all have such distinct personalities. Compared to them, Phainon is probably the most normal one."
Just then.
Both Dan Heng's and Caelus's phones rang at the same time.
At some point Tribbie had added the three of them to a group chat.
She notified the two to come to the bathhouse in the Marble Sky Palace—Aglaea had prepared a big surprise.
The two felt they had explored enough for now and headed to the bathhouse together.
…
Not long after.
Before the two even entered the bathhouse, they heard many citizens standing at the entrance chattering away.
Though the environment was noisy, some words still made their way into the duo's ears.
Dan Heng furrowed his brow. "Rosy-Hued Heavenly Maiden… debate arena…"
Not only that—even Caelus's gossip senses were piqued. "Now I'm kinda curious too."
"I've got this subtle bad feeling… it's not what I think it is, right? Let's go take a look."
Dan Heng approached the citizens who were talking. "Excuse me. We didn't mean to eavesdrop, but the debate arena you just mentioned… we'd like to know more about it."
"Hm? With those outfits, you two are…?"
"We're warriors from afar. We took part in Okhema's defense battle earlier."
"So it's the two brave warriors! My apologies for the disrespect! I didn't expect you to be interested in city gossip too. Of course—no problem. Please take out your slates. I'll teach you how to connect to Okhema's Myriad Veil Network."
Snap.
The two were instantly added to a new chat group.
The group was named "Rosy-Hued Heavenly Maiden Discussion Group."
The chat content was mostly about a person called "Outer Realms Explorer" who was spreading word of the outer realms everywhere and claiming to have seen the "Rosy-Hued Heavenly Maiden"!
However, the other citizens in the group were scoffing, calling the person full of nonsense!
Apparently provoked by the keyboard warriors, the explorer declared that even if it cost his life, he would prove the existence of the Rosy-Hued Heavenly Maiden.
"This is bad!" Caelus and Dan Heng said in unison.
"That guy who took our photo—Damionis… it has to be him. He opened the album back then and saw the photos March 7th took before."
With Dan Heng's reminder, Caelus did recall that the whatever-Nos had frozen for a second while taking the photo. "Now March 7th has become a heavenly maiden."
Dan Heng was clearly anxious. Knowing the agreement Caelus had made with Aglaea, he had to find a way to stop this from spreading.
[Sorry, this part made my blood pressure spike!]
[This doesn't really make logical sense!]
The bathhouse was packed with citizens—finding one person wasn't easy. Dan Heng suggested asking around while searching.
But once they started asking, they realized almost everyone in the bathhouse was muttering about legends of the Rosy-Hued Heavenly Maiden.
It was as if March 7th had genuinely once been a deity of Amphoreus.
After searching fruitlessly for a while, a sudden shout came from high up.
"Rosy-Hued Heavenly Maiden! From the outer realms—!!"
Damionis was standing on a high point of the bathhouse, shouting at the top of his lungs.
But the next moment, several burly men rushed out to try and grab him.
Dan Heng let out a heavy sigh of relief. "Damionis—it really is him! Let's hurry and catch up."
…
After a tense and thrilling chase, Dan Heng and Caelus arrived at a place called the Garden of Life.
Surrounded by two guards, Damionis backed away step by step. Finally, he pulled out a jar and declared he would ride this thing and fly into the sky!
What followed was a baffling, blood-pressure-raising sequence!
Despite everyone's attempts to dissuade him, Damionis showed no sign of backing down. He was dead set on flying skyward.
Ultimately, left with no choice, and to save a life, Caelus had no option but to reveal the truth—the outer realms really do exist!
[So what's the necessary connection between saving someone and telling him the truth?]
[The handling here is really weird!]
[This makes me so uncomfortable. First time seeing the protagonist this stifled.]
[Dan Heng is Vidyadhara, so he places great value on life.]
[Isn't this guy's behavior basically moral blackmail?]
[Can't this world have photo-editing tech? There are a hundred ways to handle this, yet they chose the one that generates the most comments.]
— —
In the end, before Damionis could finish speaking, the guards dragged him away.
However, the kind-hearted guards said they would try to make amends—go find the Veritas Lion's Mouth and feed it some juicier rumors. Perhaps that could drown out this wave.
After thanking the guards, Dan Heng and Caelus hurriedly arrived before a lion's head statue.
After some attempts, the Veritas Lion's Mouth spoke. "Roar roar roar! Look who's come to visit this lion!
Isn't it Okhema's new friends—the two brave warriors from afar? Pleasure to meet you, roar roar roar!"
"Your information network seems quite impressive." Dan Heng asked knowingly—clearly fishing for info.
"Didn't anyone tell you? This lion is Okhema's clairvoyant and clairaudient. Nothing that circulates in the streets escapes my ears and eyes."
Once Dan Heng confirmed the Veritas Lion's Mouth had the capability, he made his request. "We'd like to ask for your help. Right now, a rumor called 'Rosy-Hued Heavenly Maiden' is spreading widely through the holy city…"
"Roar roar roar! Brave warriors, I'm afraid I can't assist with that. A rumor? I don't think so. As long as the citizens enjoy it, what does truth matter? But you two seem so wary… is there perhaps another reason behind it? Care to share?"
Caelus clicked his tongue. "How does this lion eat gossip for breakfast?"
"Don't let it fool you—this lion loves nothing more than the buzz of chattering mouths."
At that moment.
Mydei appeared behind the Express duo. "Just like a few days ago, when someone slandered my clan's honor, your attitude was to let it slide, wasn't it?"
The moment the Veritas Lion's Mouth saw Mydei, its tone immediately softened. "Oh—oh roar, roar roar! Isn't this—His Excellency Mydei! How… how have you been lately?"
"A lion's face, yet cowardly as a soul-lost hyena. You and your brothers will do anything for amusement—even tolerate the despicable act of fabricating history without the slightest bottom line."
"How—how can you call it fabrication? At most it's… uh… artistic processing! Artistic processing!"
"Shut up!" Mydei roared, then clenched his right fist. "Do as these two say, or… I'll crush you into iron filings with my bare hands."
[Mydei is actually really cool.]
[Such a strong contrast to first impressions.]
[This is where miHoYo excels.]
The Veritas Lion's Mouth hurriedly spoke up. "Oh roar! I—I understand! This lion will figure something out right away! I guarantee to all you lords—from this moment on—you won't hear the four words 'Rosy-Hued Heavenly Maiden' again!"
Ultimately, with the Veritas Lion's Mouth's "cooperation," the rumor gradually died down…
— —
Facing Mydei's assistance, the two were deeply grateful.
But Mydei was tsundere—he just happened to dislike the situation, that's all.
Before leaving, however, he warned the two to be careful around Aglaea.
Watching Mydei's departing figure, Dan Heng knew things were far from over. "That scantily clad Chrysos Heir has quite the eccentric personality too. But regardless, this matter is settled for now. Prepare yourself—we're going to the meeting."
On the way to meet Aglaea, they ran into Tribbie, who had been waiting.
Under her guidance, the Express duo finally met with Aglaea.
During the conversation, it was mentioned that Nikador seemed to have returned to Castrum Kremnos.
But contrary to the duo's expectations, Aglaea appeared completely unaware of the Rosy-Hued Heavenly Maiden affair. She remained very warm and presented them with a gift.
It was a private bathhouse—the very room assigned to Dan Heng and Caelus.
The space was extremely spacious, with excellent natural light and plenty of room.
Caelus and Dan Heng were quite satisfied with their new lodgings.
"About ready? Finally—one last special gift." Aglaea interrupted their continued inspection of the room.
She walked to a basin of water in the room.
Thanks to his sensitivity to water, Dan Heng knew this was no ordinary object. "This is… a washbasin? It looks like some kind of ritual implement."
Caelus felt a sense of déjà vu. "A smaller Pool of Dreams?"
Aglaea gave a slight smile. "It is not an ordinary washbasin, but a ritual vessel held by the Chrysos Heirs. Now I bestow it upon you two. You have already learned something of Amphoreus's history and of the 'holy city' Okhema. And now… I wish to let you witness with your own eyes the journey of the Chrysos Heirs."
Dan Heng couldn't help asking, "Witness… how should we understand that?"
"In ancient times long past, the Chalice of Plenty—Phagousa—concealed the origin of the world within her waves. The ancient 'Ocean' priests discovered that place. They built barriers with spirit water to protect it from external intrusion, yet they also left a single passage.
That is the ritual basin before you. Dispel stray thoughts, moisten your face with the spirit water in the basin. When you open your eyes again, you shall witness… the 'Vortex Heart of Creation'—the great sanctuary that harbors the original divinity of the twelve Titans, and the promised land where the oracle declared the miracle of creation would descend."
Caelus instantly perked up. "I can't wait to see it…"
"As a first attempt, I shall guide you in the descent. Close your eyes, hold your breath; shut out sound, let my whispers fill your world. Scoop a handful of clear water, hold your palms before your chest, feel the gentle flow slipping between your fingers…
Sink down. Do it once more. Let the spirit water submerge your wrists. Familiarize yourself with its temperature, its touch…
Spread your ten fingers. Now lower your head and seek your own palm. Feel the spirit water soaking your features… drifting… sinking… descending… touching bottom."
Hearing this, Caelus and Dan Heng immediately followed every step precisely.
At this moment, the camera cut to Aglaea. A faint, almost imperceptible smile curved at the corner of her mouth.