"Finally, we've reached the Black Root of the Arbor."
"This whole journey has been nothing but assassins, Alchemy Commission medics, and Dragon Elders..."
"All trying to stop Dan Heng from moving forward."
"This quest is really something."
Bailu couldn't help but sigh.
The tangled conflicts between different factions were giving her a headache.
They were just here to repair the Arbor's seal and, incidentally, check up on her.
How did things get so complicated?
This Imbibitor Lunae title was nothing but trouble...
Meanwhile, the little boy beside her was thoroughly enjoying himself.
"Fighting! Awesome!!"
"I don't really get what's happening in the story, but Dan Heng pushing forward against all odds is just too cool!"
Bailu paused, then nodded.
He was right.
Sometimes, overthinking things was pointless!
At this moment, in the game, Bailu and Dan Heng arrived before the Black Root of the Arbor.
"Wow! This is incredible! So this is the 'Arbor'?"
Bailu—her in-game self—sounded like a wide-eyed child, gasping in awe.
"Mm. The duty of the Luofu's Imbibitor Lunae is to form this seal, using draconic power to suppress the Arbor's roots," Dan Heng explained.
Her in-game counterpart sighed.
"No one ever told me any of this. Seems the elders knew all along that I wasn't cut out for this position."
"If I'm so unqualified, why did Dan Feng choose me back then?"
Dan Heng replied, "That's part of why I came to the Scalegorge Waterscape—to seek answers."
"The Imbibitor Lunae is the Vidyadhara closest to the path of 'Permanence.'"
"According to records, the succession ritual requires a secret rite called the 'Dragon Transformation Art' and a sacred relic known as the 'Dragon Heart.' Once completed, the previous sovereign undergoes molting rebirth, while the new sovereign manifests their draconic form."
"But Dan Feng's ritual failed. His power remained within me... yet somehow, it also created you."
"I hoped that by repairing the Arbor's seal, we might trigger some memories—yours or mine."
Bailu's expression grew serious.
She had a vague feeling...
This part might be connected to her own origins.
Who would've thought Dan Heng's companion quest would hold such unexpected revelations?
Now, Dan Heng began reconstructing the seal.
A black-and-white pearl hovered above his palm as he chanted softly:
"'To halt the Arbor's revival, to bury the Plague Author's curse.'"
"'Waters of the ancient sea, by the Imbibitor Lunae's command, suppress this root.'"
"Strange... This is different from when we undid the seal. Why isn't it working?"
The camera zoomed out.
At the bottom of the screen, Bailu—her in-game self—mimicked Dan Heng's gesture, pointing forward.
"'To halt the Arbor's revival, to bury the Plague Author's curse.'"
Suddenly, as if triggered by some mystical resonance—
A light flashed from the gourd at her waist.
At the same time, a radiant glow burst forth ahead.
Their voices rang out in unison:
"'Waters of the ancient sea, by the Imbibitor Lunae's command, suppress this root!'"
Watching this, Bailu's jaw dropped.
She never expected...
She had this kind of talent?
She could actually repair the Arbor's seal just like Dan Heng?!
It was like those storytelling tropes where the protagonist suddenly comprehends some profound technique—
And now, it was happening to her.
The little boy beside her gasped in admiration.
"Whoa! So cool!"
"Dan Heng's awesome! Dragon Maiden Bailu's awesome too!"
"No wonder she's the future Imbibitor Lunae!"
"This scene... they kinda look like father and daughter!"
"Pfft—!"
Bailu's proud smile instantly vanished.
Just because she was a little short didn't mean she looked like his daughter!
At most, they could pass as siblings!
In the game, Dan Heng also seemed stunned.
"You... did it! No external validation is needed—this alone proves you're the true Imbibitor Lunae."
"Did you remember anything while reconstructing the seal?"
Her in-game self replied:
"Hmm... It was like a tide rushing through my mind. I felt enormous, like the entire Scalegorge Waterscape was echoing my voice, resonating with me."
"Hehe, fun! Dan Heng, teach me more tricks. Maybe I'll remember something else!"
"Wait... do you sense that? Someone's approaching!"
No sooner had the words left her mouth than a group of Abundance followers appeared behind them.
"Stelle, protect Bailu."
"No, I'll protect you! With me here, not a scratch will touch you!"
It was clear—
After mastering the seal-restoring technique, she was brimming with confidence.
Just as Bailu was about to unleash "Azure Dragon Purges the World"—
A commotion erupted outside the Mobile Game Pavilion.
The owner walked in, followed by a woman who stopped right in front of Bailu and the kids.
Bailu looked up.
The woman sighed.
"Lady Bailu... Do you have any idea how much effort it took to find you?"
Bailu chuckled awkwardly.
"Huanxi..."
The pavilion owner's jaw nearly hit the floor.
"Wait... you're actually the Dragon Maiden?!"
"I—I totally misjudged! My apologies, ma'am from the Alchemy Commission! I had no idea she was the real Bailu! Thought she was just roleplaying!"
Huanxi smiled faintly.
"No need for apologies. But I must take Lady Bailu with me now."
"Of course, of course!" The owner laughed nervously.
His pavilion was meant for Luofu kids anyway—most adults had their own phones and didn't need to come here.
It wasn't exactly a formal business.
Bailu stuck out her tongue sheepishly.
"Sorry..."
Turning to her two bewildered companions, she added:
"You've got about half an hour left... The rest of the playtime is on me. Enjoy!"
Huanxi took Bailu's arm.
Her voice was calm, almost detached.
"Lady Bailu, this time... I'm not alone. Other colleagues have come as well."
"They all wish to personally escort you... home."
Because of the earlier quest storyline, Bailu had no reason to doubt Huanxi.
She didn't even consider the deeper meaning behind those words.
Instead, she laughed.
"Sorry for making you all work so hard, Huanxi!"
"I promise I won't sneak out for a whole month—no, a whole week after this!"
As Bailu and Huanxi left the pavilion, the two kids slowly snapped out of their daze.
The little girl whispered in disbelief:
"So... Big Sis Bai was actually Bailu from the game?!"
"That's amazing!"
The boy, meanwhile, was practically vibrating with excitement.
"I'm switching my main from Dan Heng to Big Sis Bai!"
Glancing at the screen, he saw the quest wasn't over yet.
He immediately took Bailu's seat and resumed playing.
On the return journey, they encountered several more waves of assassins.
The boy eagerly controlled Imbibitor Lunae Dan Heng, wiping them all out.
When they reached the Hall of the Exalted, a familiar face was waiting.
The boy asked, "Isn't that Huanxi? The one who just took Big Sis Bai away?"
"Yeah! Earlier in the story, it said she's Bailu's maid."
"Huh. So the game matches real life."
Approaching Huanxi triggered a dialogue.
Huanxi: "To think those assassins would dare invade the sacred Scalegorge Waterscape, pursuing you relentlessly... Rest assured, my lady, I will report this to the elders and ensure they're eradicated."
"Thank the stars you're all unharmed. Had anything happened, I would have failed in my duties."
But then—
Dan Heng suddenly challenged her:
"Assassins? We never mentioned being pursued by 'assassins.' How did you know, Lady Huanxi?"
Huanxi faltered.
"W-Well, we were already attacked once at the dock! I... I feared they might target you all again!"
Bailu's tone grew suspicious.
"But according to you earlier, those assassins were only after Dan Heng... Yet the ones we faced in the ruins were targeting me."
Huanxi fell silent.
Then, her lips curled into a chilling smile.
"Ah... What a shame. If nothing happens to you three, then I, as your maid, have indeed failed my duty."
"In my view... the Vidyadhara need only one Imbibitor Lunae."
"As for the weak, unworthy one who stole the title... she should be removed."
"Lady Bailu... Our master-servant bond ends here. Farewell."
[Enter Battle]
The two children froze.
They exchanged glances—
Horror dawning in their eyes.
"This... this means..."
"The maid who's been with Big Sis Bai... Huanxi is also an assassin?!"
"And she's planning to kill Big Sis Bai?!"
"She just... took her away..."
Beads of cold sweat formed on their foreheads.
Two seconds later—
They screamed in unison:
"OH NO! THIS IS BAD!!!"
"Big Sis Bai—Bailu's been taken by an assassin!"
"THE DRAGON MAIDEN IS ABOUT TO BE KILLED!"
To be continued…
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