Early the next morning, Herta stood before her wardrobe, selecting the perfect dress for her date with Ruan Mei.
The first was a white gown, long sealed away by "magic."
Its fabric was embedded with countless crystal-clear gemstones. Intricate patterns spread across the surface, like twinkling stars converging into a radiant galaxy in the night sky.
A pure bow adorned the back, its silk ribbons cascading down to the hem, lending an air of immaculate elegance.
"Hmm? This one was a gift from Yu Qingtu last Amber Era. I've never worn it. Let's try it on."
Herta held it up, gave it a quick once-over, and slipped it on. She studied her reflection in the mirror.
With confident composure, she gently smoothed a strand of hair and mused, "I'm still so perfect. If Idrila were still around, I might even be a double Emanator by now."
But the moment the gown began to slip, the self-praise on Herta's face was replaced by a visible scowl.
Even with padding, some things couldn't be changed.
"Damn it!! Did Yu Qingtu design this to Ruan Mei's measurements?!"
Herta hurled the white gown back into the wardrobe and changed into her usual violet dress, donning her most familiar magic hat.
"This one suits me best."
---
When Herta arrived at the platform, Ruan Mei immediately noticed something different about her.
More precisely, Herta was wearing light makeup. In all the time Ruan Mei had known her, this was a first.
Though naturally flawless, she was still perfect, padding aside.
"How long have you been waiting?"
"Five minutes."
Herta crossed her arms, eyes shut tight with proud aloofness. "Next time, I'll come ten minutes early."
Hearing this, Ruan Mei smiled faintly.
"Then I'll come fifteen minutes early?"
"I'll come half an hour early!"
Ruan Mei said nothing. She simply turned and stepped onto the skiff. Herta always insisted on having the last word in such matters; if this continued, they might end up arriving a year early.
Herta followed close behind, instinctively sitting across from Ruan Mei and turning to gaze out the window at the stars.
But every so often, her eyes would flicker toward Ruan Mei.
"Oh, Herta. Wisteria Cake and the others have already departed for the Luofu ahead of us."
"Ah? They went to the Luofu too? Why?"
Ruan Mei poured tea and offered it to Herta. Her usual cool detachment was tinged with a rare warmth.
"These little ones might grow tired of staying in the space station forever. I thought it was time they saw something of the outside world."
Herta took a quiet sip of tea, then looked up at Ruan Mei.
"You've changed."
Ruan Mei paused, the cup in her hand freezing mid-air.
"Ruan Mei, in the past, you would have left them to their own devices. You called it giving them freedom."
Ruan Mei did not argue. She simply turned away, mirroring Herta's earlier gesture of gazing out the window to avoid her eyes.
"Ruan Mei, did this change happen after you saved that foxian?"
Ruan Mei shook her head slightly.
"Every life deserves respect and understanding. Perhaps I was simply too cold before. But... people can change, slowly."
Herta was silent for a moment. She picked up a pastry from the table and offered it to Ruan Mei.
"Then when will you understand me?"
Ruan Mei accepted the pastry with a gentle smile.
"Then when will you walk the path of ascension and become an Aeon?"
Herta waved a hand dismissively.
"Forget it, forget it. Whenever we start talking about Aeons and Paths, we end up going in circles. Let's change the subject."
"By the way, do you know anyone on the Luofu?"
Ruan Mei set down her pastry and looked at Herta.
"No. But the Swordmaster of Cangcheng is an old acquaintance."
"Cangcheng? That already-fallen Xianzhou?"
"Yes."
Herta thought for a moment, then pressed further.
"She's still alive?"
Ruan Mei closed her eyes.
"Missing. But she had a disciple, Jingliu, who still lives. Though she has fallen to mara and her six souls are scattered."
Herta sighed helplessly.
"Ah, the long life of the Xianzhou natives is beyond me. That's the blessing of Yaoshi, the Abundance. My research on rejuvenation is useless to them."
As they spoke, the skiff had already warped to the outskirts of the Xianzhou Luofu. A cold, mechanical voice echoed around them.
[Welcome to the Xianzhou Luofu. Please proceed through inspection in an orderly manner, then pass through the Jade Gate.]
At the Sky-Faring Commission, Yukong was reviewing trade records between merchant guilds. Her mind drifted to an image of Tingyun as a child.
[Innocent and bright-eyed, she had looked up and asked Yukong.]
["Master Navigator, how many worlds can the merchant guilds visit?"]
[Yukong gently stroked Tingyun's foxian ear and smiled down at her.]
["Little Tingyun, we can conduct normal trade with any world formally connected to the Xianzhou alliance."]
["But the cosmos is vast, and dangers lurk everywhere."]
["Mm! I understand now."]
"Master Navigator! Master Navigator!! The General is here!"
The urgent call of a colleague snapped Yukong back to reality. She looked up to see Jing Yuan's holographic projection standing nearby, a gentle smile on his face.
"General Jing Yuan?"
"Master Navigator Yukong, no need for formalities."
"Fu Xuan, who is currently at the Yuque explaining matters to the Alliance, has sent word. Genius Society members #81 and #83, Ruan Mei and Madam Herta, will soon be visiting the Xianzhou Luofu."
Yukong blinked. She had heard of these two, but never encountered them in person.
"Are they here for the Stellar Flare Spectacle as well?"
Jing Yuan shrugged casually.
"We don't know yet. But both have always been friendly toward the Xianzhou, aiding us many times against the remnants of the Abundance. Please treat them as honored guests."
"Understood."
Jing Yuan couldn't help but yawn.
"Ugh. With the Grand Diviner back at the Yuque, my workload has returned to normal. Elder Yan, Feixiao, Ruan Mei, Herta... and the Stellar Flare Spectacle."
"When will my days of leisure return?"
With that final sigh, Jing Yuan's holographic projection vanished.
Yukong instinctively reached for her jade abacus to contact Tingyun.
"Tingyun, the honored guests from the Genius Society, Ruan Mei and Madam Herta—"
Yukong caught herself. She silently set down the jade abacus.
Tingyun was gone now. Lost to Phantylia, her fate unknown.