"Hm? What's going on over there?"
"No idea. Looks… weird."
"Wait, I think I recognize that person—wasn't that the Ursus Viscount who got into a conflict with Officer Chen in the slums over the Infected?"
"A noble? From Ursus?"
"Yeah, and rumor has it they're infected too."
"An Infected person became a Viscount in Ursus?!"
"Who knows…"
"No, no, no—more importantly, why would an Ursus noble be in Lungmen… like that?"
"Uhhh… maybe it's an Ursus tradition?"
"Nope. We Ursus don't have anything like that," came the curt voice of a broad-shouldered Ursus man, interrupting the Lungmen locals before they could say anything else that might further distort public opinion of his homeland.
But even he found himself baffled as he turned to get a better look at the woman they were talking about.
Why in the world was the Infected Viscount of Ursus… walking through downtown Lungmen holding a glowing salted fish on a stick?
Absolutely shameful. An embarrassment to the empire.
Meanwhile, under the weight of every single pair of eyes around her, Talulah's face had gone beet red. She tugged awkwardly at the high collar of her coat, trying to hide how flushed she was. But it was hopeless. She had no choice but to hold the iron rod upright, the cursed fish mounted like a banner at chest height, its eerie purple glow shining forward—pointing the way.
"Damn that damned Year Beast Agent! I swear, when I find you—I'm gonna kick you in the ribs a hundred times! No—a thousand times!"
Talulah grumbled to herself, pulling her hat lower, though she knew it was pointless. Her get-up—long coat, high collar, hat pulled down—wasn't hiding anything. People recognized her instantly. She had become far too famous in Lungmen these past few weeks.
At a nearby café, not far behind her, Chen Hui-jie and the others were doing their best not to burst into laughter.
Even the ever-considerate Amiya was trembling with effort, shoulders shaking as she stifled her giggles.
They couldn't laugh—not openly—because they all knew: every few minutes, Talulah would glance back, just to see if her so-called friends were mocking her.
If she did catch them laughing, there would absolutely be consequences—physical and emotional.
"Ah, Talulah just turned into that alley," Amiya whispered urgently. "Let's follow her!"
Chen drained her cup of tea in one gulp, picked up her red-bladed Chi Xiao sword, and headed after her.
But as they neared the mouth of the alley, a voice suddenly called out behind them:
"Chen Hui-jie."
She stopped in her tracks.
From the shadows, a pink-haired Zalak woman stepped out. Behind her stood a cluster of dark-cloaked bodyguards—Wei Yenwu's private militia.
"The Chief ordered me to find you."
"Old lines. You still using those?" Chen replied coolly.
Lin Yuxia tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, pink eyes glittering.
"Well then, I suppose your response will be just as old."
"Exactly."
"Understood."
Lin Yuxia inspected her nails with disinterest. Just as Chen was about to move on, the pink-haired woman spoke again, voice colder this time:
"This isn't just some local matter anymore. What's happening has already reached Baizhao's desk. Be mindful—your actions won't just affect Lungmen now."
"…Got it."
That curt reply earned a scoff from Lin Yuxia, who turned away. But just as Chen stepped forward—
—a small flare darted through the air and landed neatly in her hand.
"Call me. Anytime."
And with that, Lin Yuxia was gone.
Chen stared at the flare, then muttered with a chuckle,
"Stupid rat."
"C'mon, c'mon, if this stupid thing actually works, we've gotta be really close!" Talulah shouted excitedly.
She was running now, her hat lost somewhere behind her, but she didn't care. The glowing fish in her hand now radiated intense violet light, clearly signaling they were nearing their target.
Just behind, Chen frowned as she stared down the alley they were sprinting toward. Something about this path… felt familiar.
Wait... isn't that—
"There! Just ahead!"
Talulah's shout snapped her back to the present.
Everyone broke into a run. If their hunch was right, once they exited this alley, they'd be standing right in front of Xi's hiding place.
"I'm definitely sensing that little sister of mine," said Plush Nian, her ears twitching. "Weird though. Normally, even if she hides inside a painting, I can still feel her. But this time? It's like she's completely blocked me. What's she hiding?"
"No time for questions—just move!" Talulah shouted over her shoulder.
The alley's end came into view. She picked up speed, bursting out with a triumphant yell, imagining the scene ahead: an empty street, an old mural on the wall, Xi standing solemnly before it—just like some ancient martial arts film from Yan.
But instead—
She stumbled out into a bustling street packed with holiday shoppers.
People turned, startled by the sudden appearance of a white-haired woman yelling from an alleyway… holding a glowing fish aloft like some kind of bizarre street performer.
Talulah froze.
A stunned passerby—directly in her path—met her eyes.
"…Huh?"
"…Huh?"
The awkward silence stretched between them for two excruciating seconds.
"Tai Gu Square," Chen said calmly as she caught up. "No wonder that alley felt familiar. I chased a perp through here once—same exact turn."
She chatted briefly with the stunned bystander, got them moving, then returned to Talulah's side with a shrug.
Talulah's face was frozen in pure anguish.
"So… many… people… how the hell am I supposed to find her in this?!"
This wasn't just any market street. This was Lunar New Year Eve. Crowds. Like trying to find one flower petal in a river.
"Don't bother looking."
A calm, reliable voice cut through the noise.
Everyone turned.
Ling was walking up from behind them, balancing a lantern on her shoulder, a faint smile on her face. She extended a hand and pointed.
"There. The target's not even trying to hide anymore."
What?
The group all followed her finger to the heart of Tai Gu Square.
And there, surrounded by a loose ring of curious onlookers, was a small painting booth. A low table, some stools, a flag stuck beside it with calligraphy that read "Shape and Bone, Portraits and Soul."
A portrait vendor. In this day and age? Highly unusual. Suspicious, even.
But as they watched, the onlookers around the stall seemed to lose interest all at once. Quietly, naturally, they began walking away—as if the booth had vanished from their minds entirely.
A strange, unnatural forgetfulness.
And as the crowd dispersed… a clear path opened up straight through the square.
At the center sat a figure behind the booth, beaming with a warm, gentle smile.
"Portraits, anyone?" the figure called. "I can do all your faces."
Though she was far, her voice rang clear in their ears.
"You—are you Xi?" Amiya asked cautiously.
"No," Plush Nian interrupted, ears pinned back. "That's not Xi. She doesn't have my sister's scent. Who are you?"
The booth owner chuckled and slowly removed her wide straw hat.
As the hat came off, her long pink hair spilled free, cascading to her waist.
Pink eyes—mischievous, probing—locked onto Amiya.
"Well, well… It's been quite a while, hasn't it? Don't you think… Amiya?"
Amiya's voice trembled.
"…Pr… Pretsis."