"Cough, cough, cough~!"
Wiping the corner of her mouth, Bailu had no time to care about the milky white liquid on her clothes. She opened her eyes wide, her face filled with astonishment.
"What? What did you say?"
"Sister Dan Shu is the Head of the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus... how is that possible!?"
Bailu found it hard to believe.
As a veteran healer of the Alchemy Commission, Bailu naturally knew Dan Shu. Not only did she know her, but they were also very close.
Putting personal relationships aside, the situation in the Alchemy Commission was starkly different from the other five Commissions. The previous Head Alchemist, Yunhua, had been exiled due to involvement in political struggles. The water ran deep behind that incident, involving disputes among the Vidyadhara and the Xianzhou high command.
Without a Head of Commission, the Head Alchemist was one of the highest-ranking authority figures in the entire Alchemy Commission. How could she be part of the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus?
"Shh~"
Moonscar placed a slender, tender finger against her lips. Seeing this, Bailu immediately covered her mouth with both small hands, though her face remained frozen in shock.
"As a Cloud Knight, I wouldn't spout nonsense. Since I've said it, I naturally have substantial evidence."
"Ah, this..."
Bailu slowly sat down and sighed sorrowfully like a little adult, her expression complex.
"To think Sister Dan Shu is actually a bad guy from the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus..."
Speaking of personal friendships, Bailu had very few close friends within the Alchemy Commission, and Dan Shu barely counted as one. Every time she sneaked out and was caught by Sister Dan Shu, the woman would turn a blind eye, occasionally even helping cover for her, only telling her to be careful and come back after playing for a while.
"Is there a possibility that she let you out to play not out of kindness, but because she craves your body?"
Moonscar narrowed her almond eyes slightly and spoke softly.
"Huh? C-Craves my body?"
Bailu's small face was blank, looking utterly bewildered.
Wait, now that she mentioned it, Bailu seemed to have heard some people in the Commission mention that Sister Dan Shu used to have an unusually close female friend.
Could she be a lesbian?
Bailu's small face changed colors rapidly.
"Look at this."
Moonscar took out her phone, opened a memo, swiped rapidly with both hands for a moment, and then turned the screen towards Bailu.
"Is this... a prescription?"
Seeing the text on the phone, Bailu was stunned for a moment, but when she carefully browsed the content, her pupils suddenly contracted.
"L-Living extraction of Vidyadhara marrow as a medicinal primer?"
On that prescription, a line clearly wrote: Take 1 tael of Vidyadhara marrow (must be extracted from a living subject).
"Is the guy who wrote this prescription crazy?"
Bailu's anger gauge maxed out instantly, her small hands clenching involuntarily.
The core element that allowed the Vidyadhara race to reincarnate and be self-sufficient was the Vidyadhara marrow. Even in the case of unnatural death, as long as the Vidyadhara marrow remained intact, they could reincarnate into an egg normally. Conversely, losing the Vidyadhara marrow meant complete death!
It must be known that the Vidyadhara cannot reproduce sexually; one death means one less of them forever!
Moreover, the torture and pain during the process of extracting marrow from a living subject far exceeded that of a normal human having bone marrow extracted while alive.
Although Bailu was just a decorative High Elder—a patriarch in name only who didn't manage clan affairs—seeing someone use Vidyadhara marrow as a medicinal primer still filled her chest with rage.
"This is a prescription I obtained during my investigation of the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus. They claim this pill can grant longevity and enhance talent and strength."
"Actually, it does indeed have obvious effects."
Moonscar smiled, her eyes curving into crescents as she said words that made Bailu sweat profusely:
"You are the Vidyadhara High Elder. The Vidyadhara marrow in your body is fundamentally different from that of ordinary Vidyadhara. Dan Shu is the Head of the Medicine King's followers. Do you still think she let you out to play out of kindness?"
The clever and quick-witted Bailu reacted instantly, her small face turning pale as a sheet, as if she had fallen into an ice cave.
"She... she she she implies she wants to send someone to catch me, and then eat me?"
"Mmhmm~" Moonscar chuckled and shrugged.
Bailu's expression changed drastically. She jumped up, crouched down with her head in her hands, and cried out loudly:
"Waugh! Don't! I'll never sneak out again!"
Her little life was still a tiny bit more important than freedom. She was still young; she didn't want to die yet—
"No, I can't! I'm going back to the Commission right now!"
The next moment, Bailu churned her little chubby legs and ran outward, only to be grabbed by the back of her collar by Moonscar—the grip of destiny. She was lifted up, her small legs running in circles in mid-air.
"Hey, calm down a bit."
Moonscar pressed Bailu back into her seat.
"Did you forget what I said? Dan Shu is the Head of the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus. Who knows how many members of the Alchemy Commission have joined them? Aren't you just going there to feed yourself to them?"
Even with Vidyadhara handmaidens following Bailu, if Dan Shu wanted to launch a sneak attack on Little Bailu using her identity as the Head Alchemist, the success rate would be over eighty percent.
The reason she hadn't made a move all this time was that the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus were afraid of the crazy retaliation from the old geezers of the Vidyadhara. But once the Ambrosial Arbor was revived, that wouldn't necessarily be the case anymore.
"That's right!"
Bailu's whirlwind-like small legs stopped, her face still pale. "Then what should I do?"
"Wait, since you investigated Dan Shu's identity, why didn't you report back to the General at the Seat of Divine Foresight and have Dan Shu arrested?"
Bailu tilted her small head up to look at Moonscar.
If they arrested Dan Shu and thoroughly investigated the Alchemy Commission, she would be safe!
"Because there are people from the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus in the Seat of Divine Foresight too." Moonscar spread her hands.
Mr. Gin had gained Dan Shu's trust, and Caelus had a better understanding of the Disciples' infiltration of the Xianzhou. Trust was one thing, but Dan Shu hadn't told Caelus the detailed situation of every undercover agent.
The fewer people who knew, the less risk there was.
If they informed Jing Yuan and he sent troops to besiege the Alchemy Commission, they might be able to inflict heavy damage on the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus, but whether they could completely eradicate this malignant tumor... was an unknown variable.
Accidents and changes could occur during the process, and mainly, it wouldn't be 'Elation' at all!
"Huh? Even the Seat of Divine Foresight has them?"
Bailu was dumbfounded.
"Seeking longevity and foresight is human nature. Human interactions are full of struggle and jealousy. Even Cloud Knights are people with desires, aren't they?"
In terms of rhetoric, what Sushang was saying right now was absolutely pardonless treason. After all, seeking longevity was the chief of the Ten Unpardonable Sins of the Xianzhou.
Although the Xianzhou didn't often punish people for speech, if someone truly discussed this topic publicly, a trip to the Realm-Keeping Commission's prison would be inevitable—especially since she was a Cloud Knight.
"Then what do we do next?"
Bailu had no appetite to eat anymore.
"Bailu, you are relatively familiar with the interior of the Alchemy Commission. First, go with me to scout the situation."
Moonscar patted the big pillows on her chest:
"Don't worry. With me here, I can absolutely guarantee your safety."
"Okay! Leave it to this Lady!"
Bailu also patted her completely flat board.
How could the child-like Bailu refuse such an interesting thing as raiding the home base of the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus?
Although she was a little afraid, this was to fight against the bad guys plotting against the Vidyadhara race. This wave? This wave was bound to be a path of proving her Dao through medicine! Eliminating harm for the people.
She believed that Sister Sushang would definitely be able to protect her!
Guinaifen, on the other hand, was numbly eating the Nine-Eyed Octopus Tentacles, chanting silently in her heart: You can't see me, you can't see me!
"Little Gui."
The smiling voice made Guinaifen shudder. She covered her ears:
"I... I didn't hear anything!"
She couldn't help it. Even with Little Gui's fearless personality, she was sitting on pins and needles right now.
Damn it, look at what her best friend was saying!
The Head Alchemist of the Alchemy Commission, one of the Six Commissions, is the leader of the Abundance remnants.
There are moles inside the Cloud Knights and even the Seat of Divine Foresight. Is... is this something a small Outworlder like me should be listening to?
Although she and Shangshang had a deep sisterly bond, this was a life-threatening matter!
Listening to the conversation between Shangshang and Bailu, Guinaifen could clearly feel Shangshang's 'abnormality'—the change in temperament and aura.
She began to suspect that what Shangshang said earlier about getting a boyfriend was true.
They say being in love can change a person's personality.
Guinaifen had always believed this, but she didn't expect to see such an obvious example in her best friend.
"I said it doesn't matter if you hear it."
Moonscar chuckled and spoke, "Do you want to come with us?"
Guinaifen was not a powerless ordinary person. Although she wasn't a Pathstrider, if she got serious, she probably had combat power comparable to an ordinary Cloud Knight.
She wouldn't be a burden, and her acrobatic skills might come in handy.
"I... I'll pass." Guinaifen shook her head like a rattle drum.
Are you kidding? I, Little Gui, am just a street-performing Outworlder. It's good enough if I can solve the problem of food and clothing. My brain would have to be short-circuiting to get involved in this kind of thing!
"Shangshang, you have to be careful!"
If it were the old Shangshang, Guinaifen certainly wouldn't think she could execute a secret mission. But this Shangshang, who was suspected of being in love these past two days, had inexplicably become reliable.
"Alright. I was thinking that if you participated, and if there was a big harvest afterwards..."
"You might become famous in one fell swoop and become the top dog in the streaming world."
"The Seat of Divine Foresight would also record a great merit for you, which could offset crimes and pardon your brother."
Using Shangshang's identity, Moonscar really treated Guinaifen as a best friend; naturally, she would think of her when there were benefits.
"Great merit? Pardon!"
Little Gui, who was playing ostrich a second ago, suddenly raised her head upon hearing this.
Although the Xianzhou took pity on their family and spared her brother Lancelot from the death penalty, settling their family on the Luofu and allowing them to make a living...
The death penalty was avoided, but living punishment was inescapable. As a Star Pirate who hijacked Xianzhou merchant ships, Brother Lancelot was still locked up in the Xianzhou prison.
The other siblings who indirectly participated in the interstellar piracy were pardoned because their crimes were lighter and Brother Lancelot took the blame with all his might, but their identities were stained.
There were many jobs they couldn't apply for; they could only sell manual labor and do some low-level menial work to survive.
"Shangshang!"
Completing a face-change in less than a second, Guinaifen was moved to tears. She suddenly lunged at Moonscar, hugging her best friend tightly.
"Really?"
"Shangshang! I love you to death!"
As expected of her best bestie!
Because her past was truly unbearable to look back on, Guinaifen had only confided the details of her past and current situation to her best sister, Shangshang.
A tight embrace. Two pairs of slimes deformed under the pressure.
Guinaifen felt the sensation against her chest and paused for a moment.
When did Shangshang get so big?
Could it be because she got a boyfriend and developed further? As an internet celebrity, Guinaifen had heard the theory that being kneaded by a lover for a long time could make them bigger.
She didn't expect it to be true?
However, now was not the time to consider the size of pillows!
"Please, you must take me with you!"
Little Gui, who was already extremely talented in acting, began to gradually discover her talent after acknowledging Caelus as her master. She feigned the shy gratitude of a maiden, holding Shangshang's tender hand.
"If you can get the Xianzhou to pardon my old brother... in the words of the Xianzhou, Shangshang's great kindness cannot be repaid, so this little woman is willing to give her body to you!"
"Okay~!"
Moonscar smiled beamingly.
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