"...So, you just came to be an undercover agent wearing a Cloud Knight uniform and armor?"
Stelle carefully studied the righteous-looking Cloud Knight "undercover agent" before her, suddenly feeling like her brain wasn't quite keeping up.
"Hey, this is the highest level of infiltration! You don't understand. For their line of work, it's most reassuring to have someone from an official organization on the inside as a contact. And aren't I just that!" the "undercover agent" said, patting his chest before lowering his voice.
"I can see you're full of righteous spirit. You must be from the Astral Express, right? I've heard about you at the Divine Foresight Residence."
As he spoke, the Cloud Knight stealthily passed his copied scriptures to Stelle.
"You're copying too slowly. I've been at it for half a day. Take these for now, it's exactly five thousand repetitions."
Stelle glanced around and saw that the bubble-brained members of the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus weren't paying attention. She casually took the scriptures from the "undercover agent" and stuffed them into her coat.
"Only one of us can get out of here now. You're skilled in combat. Take the intelligence and get out, then come back and rescue me," the "undercover agent" said, giving Stelle a thumbs-up.
"Ah, this..."
..................
"Mmm..."
Wende's ears twitched. He closed the shopping guide in his hands.
"March, stop reading. There's movement inside."
Patting March's shoulder, Wende shifted his gaze slightly toward the small courtyard.
"Ah? Oh, oh, I got it."
Pulled from her novel by Wende, March nodded as if waking from a dream. She mentally bookmarked the page she was on and, with some reluctance, set aside the novel she was about to finish.
"Uncle Yang, come on, stop looking!" March called to Welt, who was still carefully browsing the antiques section.
"Mm, don't worry. I'm paying attention at all times," Welt replied, flipping a page in his guide.
"Err... is he really reliable?" March looked speechlessly at the mesmerized Welt. What was so great about some bracelets and teacups?
"Mmm... the sounds inside are getting louder, and there are more footsteps," Wende said, closing his eyes to sense the Yin and Yang energies within the courtyard. Stelle's Yang energy had collided with another, slightly weaker Yin energy. The remaining people, with their overwhelmingly strong Yin energy, must be the "Planters" of the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus.
"Clang..."
"Something's wrong. It sounds like a fight has broken out."
Wende frowned. That weak Yin energy was clashing with Stelle's Yang, but for some reason, the Planters weren't joining the fight. They were just watching from the sidelines like spectators.
"A fight's broken out? Then we should hurry and help!"
March was about to draw her longbow to support Stelle, but Wende grabbed her hand.
"March, don't be hasty. The situation inside seems a bit off," Wende said, pulling March back and shaking his head.
It was less like a real fight and more like the two of them were putting on a play. Wende could even sense that Stelle's aura hadn't fluctuated at all, while the other Yin energy had suddenly collapsed to the ground.
"Mmm... okay."
Seeing Wende's unusual expression, March could only remain seated, though her gaze kept drifting toward the novel she had set aside.
"Since there's nothing major happening... reading a little shouldn't be a problem, right?"
Wende focused his energy on the courtyard, completely oblivious to March, who had already started slacking off beside him.
"Huh? Why are they chatting now?" Wende watched, puzzled, as several people started conversing with Stelle.
A short while later, the tightly shut gate of the courtyard opened. Stelle walked out alone, carrying a Cloud Knight on her shoulder.
"?"
Wende tilted his head in confusion. What kind of act was this now?
"March... March?"
Wende wanted March to check on the situation in the courtyard. He called her name softly but got no response. He turned his head to look.
He saw March holding the novel, still reading with great relish. Seeming to sense Wende's gaze, she quickly closed the book and hid it behind her back, looking at Wende with an awkward expression.
"Sigh..."
Wende shook his head helplessly. He told March to keep a close watch here while he and Welt went to see what Stelle was up to.
"Uncle Yang, let's go."
"Mm."
Welt put away his guide and followed Wende.
Even if the streets are empty, carrying a Cloud Knight through them like this... is that really okay?
Seeing two figures trailing behind Stelle, Wende and Welt exchanged a look.
These must be the people the Planters sent to supervise Stelle.
It seemed they couldn't reveal themselves just yet, or Stelle's infiltration plan would be ruined.
..................
"So, the Trailblazer is really just carrying a whole-ass person and running around Changle?" Sister Guoguo complained as she steered the Trailblazer toward the mission marker.
[A neighborhood girl has come of age, with the strength to uproot mountains and overwhelm the world.]
[That Cloud Knight big bro is really dedicated. He was carried around the whole way and didn't make a sound, just like a dead man.]
[Is it possible that the Trailblazer, for the sake of realism, actually knocked him out?]
[As expected of Gray Peony, truly ruthless!]
[So what's with the name Gray Peony anyway? Are all the names in the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus based on the character's color scheme!?]
[Hello, my name is Chinese Photinia.]
[Alright, alright, that's at least the name of a Disciples of Sanctus Medicus leader.]
[That... has a bit of a strong smell.]
[More than just strong, it practically echoes the Path of Abundance. It has the... smell of life!]
[I get it now. The Lord of Healing is actually a Chinese Photinia that became a spirit!]
[You had better mean 'became a spirit'.]
[Wait, how come I don't get it?]
[Kids shouldn't get it!]
..................
They watched as Stelle carried the unconscious Cloud Knight on a grand tour of Changle. It was practically a victory lap. Even the two tails following her couldn't take it anymore and ran off.
Sensing that the tails behind her had disappeared, Stelle finally put the Cloud Knight on her shoulder down.
"Blegh!!!"
The first thing the Cloud Knight did after being put down was run to a nearby vase and vomit a rainbow.
"Err... are you okay?" Stelle asked, scratching her head in embarrassment as she spoke softly to the Cloud Knight.
"Blegh... I'm fine... just a little motion sick... blegh!"