"The Disciples of Sanctus Medicus… it still exists?"
Jingliu stood by the railing of the Stargazer Navalia, her gaze cast toward the ancient immortal ruins scattered across the Luofu.
In her memory, the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus had been uprooted long ago. Yet now, there were still those on the Xianzhou who continued to worship Yaoshi, the Plague Author.
They must not have lived through the disasters once brought forth by that corrupt divinity's power.
"It's like treating an illness," Bailu murmured, listlessly kicking her small legs as she sat on a stone bench.
"Even if the sickness is cured, there can still be after-effects. And it doesn't mean the sickness will not recur again."
"The symptoms are nor obvious." she continued.
"Which is the most troublesome, because people start believing they're already immune to it."
She hadn't expected it at all. The Banxia who had always visited Alchemy Commission to play with her—who shared snacks and sweets with her had been part of the Medicine King's Heirloom all along.
A traitor. One who had been by her side the entire time.
"Hey now—don't look so down. Smile."
Daichi cupped Bailu's cheeks and used his thumbs to push up the corners of her mouth.
"Think of it this way. Because of you, Banxia exposed herself. She's now in the custody of the Cloud Knights and the Ten-Lords Commission. We'll soon learn everything about the hidden branches of the Sect."
"The threat concealed inside the Xianzhou was forced into the open because of you. That means you're the great physician who cured the Luofu's hidden illness."
"Uuuuuuu…"
Bailu didn't resist. After a few seconds of sniffling, her expression shifted into something small and proud.
"Hmph! I am the Alchemy Commission esteemed Dragon Lady, after all. Something like this is nothing!"
She hopped down from the bench, spirit restored, and scampered away.
Daichi watched her go and sighed.
"She really is easy to comfort."
[She's still just a child, after all.]
"But Bailu was born seven hundred years ago," Jingliu replied, arms crossed.
"Has she still not taken her adulthood certification?"
"Maybe our Dragon Lady simply enjoys her youth and has no plans of growing up yet."
A familiar voice approached from the side.
Jing Yuan, wearing his usual composed smile, strolled into view.
Jingliu gave him a sidelong glance.
"Is it handled?"
"The interrogation has been left to the Ten-Lords Commission," Jing Yuan said as he casually took the seat Bailu had just vacated.
"Along with that medic boyfriend. This time, Dragon Lady has done us quite the favor—she helped uncover the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus. Truly, a great physician who healed the Luofu's internal wound."
"A physician who's kept locked in Alchemy Commission and the Scalegorge Waterscape, used as a bargaining tool by factions of the Vidyadhara and the Alchemists?"
"I've been working to stabilize Alchemy Commission." Jing Yuan sighed.
"As for the Scalegorge Waterscape… well, she is the Vidyadhara's Dragon Sovereign."
He exhaled, weary.
"And if you must blame someone, blame Dan Feng. It all goes back to him anyway."
"You certainly passed that blame quickly," Jingliu muttered.
"We'll discuss Bailu later."
Her expression sharpened.
"You already had suspicions about the Sect, didn't you?"
Jing Yuan chuckled softly as his eyes followed Bailu's departing figure.
"Fu Xuan and I have been watching them for a long time. But they were cautious—too cautious. There was nothing we could do but wait for them to slip."
"And now that they have, the Seat of Divine Foresight can finally act."
Daichi tapped his chin thoughtfully.
"So what you're saying is… you all just weren't doing anything until now?"
"Ahem—that absolutely not what I meant!"
Jing Yuan waved it away, expression returning to seriousness.
"With Banxia as our thread, we can trace the entire network and pull the Sect up by the root."
"Against those who revere the Plague Author," Jingliu said coldly.
"There is no need for patience."
"You speak as though it were still the old days, Master."
Jing Yuan leaned back, eyes weary.
"This era is not the same. The Six Charioteers are tangled and divided. We don't know how deep the Sect has infiltrated. If we act hastily, we risk driving them to desperate retaliation against civilians. So we can only investigate quietly."
In the past?
In the days when he trained under Jingliu, when the five heroes of the Cloud Cavalry still held the skies, the Xianzhou had hated the Plague Author with every breath in their bodies.
Back then, the ships were ravaged by the Abominations of Abundance; countless people were displaced and ruined.
Hatred was not enough. So how could anyone worship the cause of their suffering?
What kind of madness was that?
—————————————————
Meanwhile, inside Alchemy Commission.
"Lady Danshu."
A dan-cultivator approached the woman in ceremonial alchemist robes and whispered softly:
"The traitor Banxia has been captured by the Cloud Knights and the Ten-Lords Commission."
He read aloud the coded message he had received.
Danshu expression soured immediately.
Of all times—of course it would happen now.
Just after she finalized her pact with that being.
Fate was merciless.
"How troublesome."
A sphere of golden flame flickered silently into existence beside her.
"Phantylia…"
Though blind, Danshu turned her head toward it. Her sight was gone, but her other senses had become sharper—tracing sound and presence came easily.
"It seems our collaboration risks interruption." the flame whispered, voice intoxicating and serene.
"Tell me—do you still possess the means to reach our goal?"
"We accelerate the plan."
Danshu voice was firm. "Is the item prepared?"
"We can provide it at any time. But given your circumstances—are you certain you can proceed?"
"Do not underestimate what we have prepared over all these years."
Danshu snorted, full of grim confidence.
"Where is it?"
"Go to Cloudford Pier. Seek a golden-haired foreign merchant. He carries what you require."
"Very well."
Danshu inclined her head.
"Once it is done, we will awaken the Ambrosial Arbor."
"And I will, in turn grant you the blessing of Abundance. Eternal life made manifest."
The voice echoed softly through the room.
Then the flame vanished—
Leaving no trace behind.