Mobile Game Pavilion, VIP Section.
Beside Bailu sat two little companions, each perched on their own stools, engrossed in the ongoing story quest—[Evanesce Like the Morning Dew].
According to "Big Sis Bai," this was the Dragon Maiden's companion quest.
The two children—a boy and a girl—stared wide-eyed at the screen.
In their minds, the Dragon Maiden was just a kid like them, except with a pair of horns and a tail. Otherwise, she couldn't be that different, right?
But now, in the quest's storyline…
Faced with a follower of the Abundance's secret teachings who had come knocking, Bailu planted her hands on her hips and fired back without mercy:
"Pah! Pah! Pah! 'Rejuvenation' my foot! You good-for-nothing medicine addict—I'll whip you with my tail ten times till even your parents won't recognize you!"
The little girl gasped, covering her mouth.
"Eek!"
"Bailu's so scary!"
"Yeah…" The boy sniffled in agreement. "Just as scary as Big Sis Bai."
Neither of them realized that this "Big Sis Bai" they'd recently met might very well be the Bailu from the game.
Meanwhile, Bailu herself was intently following the quest.
She really wanted to know—did the in-game version of herself ultimately help Banxia fulfill her promise to reunite with her beloved?
After sneaking past the Cloud Knights, they arrived at the final destination.
But then—
Banxia's Mara-struck transformation erupted.
Flesh fused with armor. Her voice grew rough, distorted.
By the time she appeared before Bailu and Stelle, she was already a full-fledged Mara-struck soldier.
The two children recoiled in fright.
To them, this scene was no different from a horror movie.
One hid behind Bailu's left side, the other behind her right—peeking at the screen through squinted eyes.
Seeing "Big Sis Bai's" solemn expression, they marveled inwardly:
As expected of Big Sis Bai!
Even faced with something this terrifying, she doesn't flinch—if anything, she looks even more focused!
We definitely picked the right big sister!
Banxia's garbled voice came through:
"Has... the Mara taken over? How... sudden..."
"But... I still remember him... remember you all..."
"Was it Lady Bailu's treatment that worked? Thank you... if not for you..."
Bailu cut her off:
"Don't thank me! It's... it's my fault... I couldn't keep you as you were."
"The Mara is incurable. The fact that I can still speak to you clearly now... is already a miracle."
"Little girl, remember what I told you before? If it ever came to this..."
"Go. While you still have my senses."
Finally, they reached their destination.
But the cautious Liang Mu insisted Banxia come alone.
The protagonist and Bailu had no choice but to step aside.
Then—a man's scream pierced the air.
"M-Monster—!!"
"H-Help—!!"
By the time they rushed to the scene, Liang Mu had likely seen the Mara-struck Banxia and fled, leaving only her behind.
"..."
"Do it... Don't forget... your promise..."
Bailu sighed.
Entering combat, she muttered:
"Even now... still clinging to that promise."
"Banxia must've really loved this man..."
When Seele's turn came, she activated her ultimate without hesitation.
"Let me release you..."
It fit the moment perfectly.
Up to this point, Bailu had assumed this quest would be like [To: the Faint Star]—a tale of undying love.
She was deeply moved.
Her eyes even began to redden...
Though she was still young and had never experienced romance herself, that didn't stop her from empathizing with the characters.
After catching up to Liang Mu, two dialogue options appeared:
[That Mara-struck monster was Banxia.]
[Banxia was busy and couldn't come.]
Bailu thought for a moment, then chose the first option.
In her view, the tragedy had already happened—no amount of sugar coating would change that.
If Liang Mu later went looking for Banxia, he'd uncover the truth anyway.
And by then, his regret and pain might only deepen.
Liang Mu sighed.
"Banxia... How could she turn into such a hideous thing?"
"'Hideous'? Are you just too heartbroken to accept it?"
Liang Mu shook his head.
What he said next left Bailu and her little companions utterly stunned.
"So she changed clothes? Then there's nothing left to loot from that Mara-struck corpse."
"Damn it! Nothing left at all—that bitch tricked me!"
"Lover?"
"That was all her wishful thinking. I never considered such a thing. Wait, don't tell me you thought I was her lover too?"
"Ridiculous! We were both conned—you should be blaming that damn woman...!"
The little girl whimpered, "Wuwu... Big Sis Bai, how could this man be like this?"
"Adult relationships are complicated! This guy only got close to Banxia for his own gain—a complete scumbag!"
"If I ever see him in real life, I'll beat him till even his own mother can't recognize him!"
What Bailu didn't know was that because of this companion quest, Liang Mu—who was supposed to be deported back to his hometown—was ambushed midway.
Some outraged players felt that beating him up in-game wasn't enough.
They tracked him down in real life.
Currently, he's hospitalized with severe injuries... paralyzed.
After calming down, Bailu glanced at the wall clock.
There was still some time left.
She turned to her little companions and asked what they wanted to watch next.
"I wanna see Dan Heng's story!" The boy exclaimed excitedly.
"I-I want to see the big sister's quest!"
"Rock-paper-scissors. Winner picks." Bailu declared fairly.
The boy grinned—he won.
He was practically drooling.
"Imbibitor Lunae Dan Heng... Dragon Dan... So cool!"
"I wanna grow up to be as cool and aloof as him!"
Bailu glanced at the boy's goofy, gap-toothed smile and shook her head.
"You've got a long way to go."
"Dan Heng's quest... Let me find it..."
"Here it is!"
Among the messages, she found one from Dan Heng:
[Do you have time soon?]
[There's something I'd like to discuss with you...]
[I wish to meet the current Imbibitor Lunae of the Luofu's Vidyadhara.]
[I want to learn about the past, to understand what I can do now to atone for my previous life's sins.]
[Accept the quest—[The Dragon Returns Home]?
Reading this, Bailu's heart skipped a beat.
The current heir to Imbibitor Lunae—
That's me!
No way!
I'm actually in Dan Heng's companion quest too?
This lady's busy! Showing up everywhere!
Following the quest's guidance, they arrived at the Synwood Pavilion.
Dan Heng was there, speaking with a Vidyadhara woman.
The moment Bailu saw her, her lips curled into a smirk.
"Isn't that Huanxi?"
"My caretaker maid..."
"Probably searching all over for me right now."
Thinking this, Bailu hurried through the dialogue—
She wanted to enjoy the quest before getting caught!
Huanxi's voice came through:
"Lady Bailu's ascension as Imbibitor Lunae's heir was neither by tradition nor her own will—it was the result of the previous sovereign, Dan Feng, acting unilaterally. His arrogance disrupted the Luofu's 'Imbibitor Lunae succession.'"
"The Dragon Elders have heard of Lord Dan Heng's return. None know whether it bodes well or ill, but many speculate that the Luofu's Imbibitor Lunae lineage may soon be restored—'a joyous occasion.'"
"Whether by selecting a new candidate per tradition... or by your lordship reclaiming the title, there is room for change."
"But if Lord Dan Heng leaves everything to Lady Bailu, it will only invite turmoil—and bring her no benefit."
[She doesn't seem to want the role either.]
"This humble servant was chosen as a maid twelve years ago. Day after day, I've accompanied my lady in her medical training, witnessed her countless escapes—and countless reluctant retrievals."
"By the standards of the Xianzhou, a child like her should have a carefree, happy childhood. But as an Imbibitor Lunae in name only, Lady Bailu is tightly controlled, with no freedom to speak of."
"It pains me deeply. I implore you, my lord—think of this child."
Seeing this from a third-person perspective, Bailu felt a pang in her heart.
"Huanxi... really does care about me..."
"Now I feel a little guilty for sneaking out so long and making her worry..."
"Hmm... I'll go back after finishing this quest."
The little girl tilted her head. "Big Sis Bai, what are you saying?"
"Ah, nothing! Let's keep watching."
---
Vidyadhara Sacred Grounds.
Dragon Elders, along with other Vidyadhara who opposed Bailu's status as Imbibitor Lunae, had gathered.
On the screen before them was the completed quest—[The Dragon Returns Home].
An elder spoke:
"This is a once-in-an-era opportunity—our last hope."
"The reincarnated Imbibitor Lunae has appeared in the Alchemy Commission, while the Dragon Maiden Bailu has snuck off to the Golden Alley."
"Capture the Imbibitor Lunae. Through him... we can recreate the [Dragon Transformation Art]."
"Then, quietly eliminate the Dragon Maiden..."
"Thus, the power of the new Imbibitor Lunae will be entirely in our hands!"
Though they'd seen the quest's story, they refused to believe that Dan Heng bore no connection to his past life as Dan Feng.
Nor did they acknowledge Bailu's unique qualities.
This was a deeply ingrained belief—almost an obsession.
Of course, some elders and clansmen, after finishing the quest, had let go of their grudges and withdrawn.
Those who remained were, without exception, driven by stubborn fixation.
"Huanxi has already made her move... Though in the quest's ending, her identity as an assassin was exposed."
"But for now, that truth remains hidden. There's still time."
"Her role as Bailu's maid still holds value."
"The rest of you—come with me."
"The power of Imbibitor Lunae... That must be his full strength. With our Vidyadhara secret arts, we will surely capture this traitor!"
"If he willingly reveals the [Dragon Transformation Art], we may spare him some suffering."
"But if he truly knows nothing, as the quest suggests..."
"Then he'll become our test subject."
"After all, the Imbibitor Lunae's power is paramount."
"This is the very purpose of our lineage!"
To be continued…
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