Chapter 160: Warning: A "Menace" is born! The last hope of the Preceptors!
Mobile Gaming Hall, High-end Area.
Beside Bailu.
Two young companions sat on their respective stools.
They were watching the ongoing companion mission—[ Just Like the Morning Dew ].
According to Sister Bai, this was the High Elder's companion mission.
The young boy and girl stared with wide eyes.
In their impression, the High Elder was a child about the same age as them; the only difference was that she had a pair of dragon horns and a tail. In other aspects, she shouldn't be much different.
However.
In the current plot.
Facing the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus who had come knocking on her door.
Bailu stood with her hands on her hips, striking back without mercy: "Pah! Supplement your big fat head! You're just a medicine jar in need of a lesson. Watch this lady smack you with my tail until your own parents won't recognize you!"
The little girl covered her mouth in shock.
"Eek!"
"Bailu is so fierce!"
"Yeah."
The little boy sniffled and chimed in.
"Just as fierce as Sister Bai."
The two of them completely failed to realize.
That this "Sister Bai" they had recently met was very likely the Bailu in the story.
Bailu continued to focus on the plot.
She really wanted to know now.
Whether her self in this mission would ultimately help Banxia fulfill the promise of seeing her beloved.
They bypassed the Cloud Knights.
And arrived at the final destination.
However.
At that moment, Banxia's mara-struck transformation erupted.
Flesh and armor fused together.
Her voice became coarse and blurred.
When she appeared before Bailu and Stelle, she was already in the full form of a Mara-Struck Soldier.
The boy and girl jumped in fright.
To them, seeing this scene was no different from watching a horror movie.
One hid to the left of Bailu, the other to the right.
Squinting their eyes as they peered at the screen.
Seeing Sister Bai's solemn expression.
The two secretly marveled in their hearts.
As expected of Sister Bai!
To see such a scene and still remain unfazed, even becoming more serious and focused than before.
They really hadn't picked the wrong boss!
Banxia's voice came through indistinctly: "Has the mara… begun to break out? This is truly… sudden."
"But, I still remember him… and you all…"
"Is it Lady Bailu's treatment taking effect? Thank you, if not for you…"
Bailu, however, said: "Don't thank me! …It's my lack of ability… I couldn't keep you as you were."
"The mara-struck condition has always been incurable. That I can still speak with you while you're lucid is already a miracle."
"Little sister, remember what I said before? If that time comes…"
"Go, while I still have my senses."
Finally.
They reached the destination.
But the cautious Scumbag NPC insisted that Banxia come alone.
The protagonist and Bailu had no choice but to step aside temporarily.
The sound of a man calling for help came through.
"MONSTER— MONSTER—!"
"HELP— HELP—!"
Rushing to the scene.
Scumbag NPC must have seen that the mara-struck monster had fled, leaving only Banxia at the scene.
"I… can't go on…"
"Do… do it. Don't forget… the promise!"
Bailu sighed.
As she entered battle, she muttered to herself: "Even at a time like this, she's still thinking about the promise."
"It seems Banxia really loves this man."
It was Seele's turn to act.
She directly activated her Ultimate.
"Disappear among the sea of butterflies…"
It fit the current atmosphere perfectly.
Up until now.
Bailu thought this mission was just like [ To the Faint Star ], a story of undying love.
Her heart was deeply moved.
Even the rims of her eyes began to redden…
Although she was still young and had never been in love.
That didn't stop her from empathizing with the characters in the plot.
After catching up to Scumbag NPC ahead.
Two options appeared.
[ The mara-struck monster just now was Banxia. ]
[ Banxia had things to do and didn't come. ]
Bailu thought for a moment.
She decided to choose the first one.
In Bailu's view.
The tragedy had already happened; there was no use dressing it up with lies.
When he went back to look for Banxia, he would surely find out the truth.
At that time, he might feel even more regret and pain.
Scumbag NPC lamented: "That woman Banxia… how could she turn into such an ugly thing?"
"Ugly? Are you just too sad, finding it hard to accept for a moment?"
Scumbag NPC shook his head.
What he said next.
Directly stunned Bailu and her young companions!
"In other words, she changed her clothes, so nothing can be searched from that mara-struck monster's body."
"Dammit, she left nothing behind. That wretched woman played me!"
"Lover?"
"That was just her wishful thinking; I never considered such a thing. No way, did you all think I was her lover too?"
"Absurd! We've all been deceived. You should go to that wretched woman…"
The little girl asked sadly: "Waaa… Sister Bai, how can this man be like this?"
"Adults' feelings are just complicated. This man approached Banxia solely for his own benefit; he's an absolute scumbag!"
"Don't let this lady meet him in reality. If I do, I'll beat him until even his own mother won't recognize him!"
What Bailu didn't know.
Was that because of this companion mission, Scumbag NPC, who was supposed to be deported back to his home, was attacked midway.
Some indignant players felt that beating him up in the game wasn't satisfying enough.
They found this person in reality.
He had been severely beaten and was currently paralyzed in a hospital…
After calming her emotions.
Bailu looked at the clock on the wall.
There was still some time left.
She turned and asked her two companions what plot they wanted to see next.
"I want to see the Dragon's!" the boy said excitedly.
"I—I want to see the big sister's story!"
"Then play Rock-Paper-Scissors. Whoever wins, we'll watch theirs," Bailu said fairly.
The boy grinned.
He won.
He was almost drooling.
"Imbibitor Lunae Dan Heng… Dragon Dan… Hehe, so cool!"
"I want to become a cold and handsome man like Dan Heng in the future!"
Bailu glanced at the grinning boy.
She shook her head.
"Then you probably have a very long way to go."
"Dan Heng's plot… let me look for it."
"Found it, it's this one!"
Among the messages.
Bailu found the message sent by Dan Heng.
[ I wonder if you have time lately? ]
[ There is something I wish to invite you to join me for… ]
[ I want to meet the current High Elder of the Luofu's Vidyadhara. ]
[ I want to inquire about some past events, to better understand what I can do next to make amends for my past life. ]
[ Accept mission—[ The Dragon Returns Home]? ]
Seeing this description.
Bailu's heart suddenly skipped a beat!
The current High Elder—
Wasn't that her!
Who would have thought!
That she would actually appear in Dan Heng's companion mission?
This lady is truly busy.
I have a part in everything!
Following the mission guidance, they arrived at the Exalted Shrine's Ruomu Garden.
When they met Dan Heng, he was speaking with a Vidyadhara woman.
Bailu took one look at this person.
The corners of her mouth curled up slightly!
"Isn't that Huanxi!"
"The maid who's currently supervising me…"
"She's probably searching all over the streets for me right now."
Thinking of this.
Bailu hurried through the plot.
Play a bit more before getting caught!
They heard Huanxi say: "The process of Lady Bailu becoming the High Elder was neither compliant with regulations nor her own wish—it was the result of the previous High Elder Dan Feng's willful actions. His arrogance and arbitrary decisions caused the Luofu's High Elder succession to be severed."
"The Preceptors heard news of Master Dan Heng's return and were unsure whether it was a blessing or a curse. But everyone is speculating that the Luofu's High Elder inheritance may be recovered and unified once more, which is a cause for celebration."
"Whether it's selecting another talent according to clan rules, or… or having you resume the position, there is room for maneuver in everything."
"However, if Master Dan Heng leaves everything to be inherited by Lady Bailu, it will likely cause a huge stir, and it will be of no benefit to her."
[ I don't think she wants to be the High Elder very much either. ]
"I was chosen as a maid twelve years ago. I accompanied my mistress daily for medical studies and training, witnessing her countless escapes and her countless resentful captures."
"By the common standards of the Xianzhou, a child like her should lead a happy and free childhood. But as a High Elder who holds an empty title, Lady Bailu is heavily restricted, with no freedom to move as she pleases."
"I feel deeply for her and have the audacity to ask you, Master, to consider this child's well-being."
Viewing this scene from a third-person perspective.
Bailu's heart couldn't help but stir.
"Huanxi is actually quite good to me…"
"It makes me feel a bit guilty, being out for so long and making her worry all the time…"
"Hmm… I'll go back after finishing this mission."
The little girl asked in confusion: "Sister Bai, what are you saying?"
"Ah, nothing, nothing. Let's keep watching the plot."
…
Vidyadhara restricted grounds.
Aside from a group of Preceptors, there were other Vidyadhara clansmen who opposed Bailu being honored as the High Elder.
They were all gathered here.
On the screen before them.
Was the completed mission [ The Dragon Returns Home ].
A Preceptor elder spoke: "This is a once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity, and our only opportunity."
"The reincarnated Imbibitor Lunae has appeared in the Alchemy Commission, while the High Elder Bailu has snuck off to Aurum Alley."
"Capture Imbibitor Lunae. Through him… we can replicate the [ Transmutation Arcanum ]."
"Then secretly eliminate the High Elder…"
"In this way, the power of the new generation's High Elder will be completely in our hands!"
Although they had watched the plot.
They did not believe that the current Dan Heng had nothing to do with the previous life's Imbibitor Lunae!
Even less did they agree that Bailu possessed something unique!
This was a deep-seated notion, perhaps even an obsession…
Of course.
There were also some elders and Vidyadhara clansmen who, after watching the plot, let go of the obsession in their hearts.
They chose to withdraw.
Those who remained could even be said to have a touch of paranoia in them.
"Huanxi has already taken action… although her identity as an assassin was exposed at the end of this plot."
"But for now, this fact should not have been revealed yet. There is still time."
"Her status as Bailu's maid still has some value."
"The rest of you, follow me."
"The power of the Imbibitor should be the extent of his strength. With the support of our Vidyadhara secret arts, we will surely be able to take down this traitor!"
"If he personally reveals the [ Transmutation Arcanum ], he can be spared some pain."
"If he really is like in this plot and claims he doesn't know…"
"Then he can only become our experimental subject…"
"After all, the power of the High Elder is above all else."
"This is the meaning of our lineage's existence!"