Qingque leaned close to Fu Xuan and whispered.
"Grand Diviner, back at the banquet... I think people got the wrong idea."
Fu Xuan closed her eyes slightly and pouted.
"So what if they did? Do you think I'm afraid of being misunderstood?! And Qingque, take a look—how does this hairpin suit me?"
Qingque studied the hairpin in Fu Xuan's hair carefully, then casually smoothed out a wrinkle on Fu Xuan's collar.
"This is the one I gave you last time, isn't it? If you like it, I'll buy you another next time."
"Ahem. I understand. And I will return the favor in kind. Mutual courtesy—that's how respect is maintained."
No sooner had Fu Xuan spoken than she reached out to take Qingque's hand.
Herta returned with Immortal's Delight and mille-feuille rolls. Both she and Ruan Mei stopped in their tracks, gazing into the distance at Qingque and Fu Xuan.
Stare—stare.
Sensing their gaze—a mix of surprise and envy—Fu Xuan blinked. Then she coughed, grabbed Qingque, and hurried away.
Herta and Ruan Mei exchanged glances. Ruan Mei spoke softly.
"Herta. Hand me the Immortal's Delight."
Herta snapped back to reality and quickly handed it over.
"Here. Honestly."
"Oh, Ruan Mei. Fu Xuan just said something about 'mutual courtesy' and 'respect is maintained.'"
"In Xianzhou culture, what does that mean?"
Ruan Mei's expression remained calm, perfectly composed.
"You're a genius among geniuses. Do you really need to ask the meaning of those words? Or are you hoping I'll say them to you?"
Herta froze. Her brow furrowed. She quickly turned away, feigning composure.
"Don't read too much into it. I was just curious. But... you did give me that coat earlier. I'm already wearing it."
"Well... what do you think?"
She half-turned, still trying to look casual and indifferent. But the expectation in her eyes—the silent plea for praise—was unmistakable.
Ruan Mei stepped forward. Herta instinctively stepped back.
"You?"
"Ah? What?"
"Stand still. Understand?"
"Oh."
This time, Herta didn't retreat. Ruan Mei gently smoothed the wrinkles on Herta's coat.
"Not bad at all. Matches your talent perfectly."
Herta beamed. She smugly flicked her bangs and declared with confident composure.
"Of course! Look who's standing before you."
"Possessing both beauty and talent—if Idrila hadn't disappeared, I'd surely be an Emanator of Pure Beauty. Madam Herta."
Ruan Mei sighed softly.
Herta blinked. Her self-praise came to an abrupt halt.
"What's wrong?"
"Know thyself. And thy limitations."
Herta crossed her arms casually.
"I do know myself. That's why I praise myself so openly and confidently."
Ruan Mei stared at her, speechless.
"I meant—you could stand to be a little modest."
Herta half-closed her eyes and waved a hand, utterly unrepentant.
"Modest? Fine, fine. I am now the great, beautiful, talented, and modest Madam Herta herself."
Ruan Mei replied flatly.
"Whatever makes you happy."
Bam.
A passing floppy-eared foxian went flying.
Ruan Mei turned. There, on the ground, clutching her forehead, was Huohuo—seventy percent timidity, thirty percent fear, tears welling in her eyes.
"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!"
Ruan Mei studied her. Mr. Tail isn't with her.
Wait. That Heliobus that just flew by... was that him? She set the thought aside and reached out to help Huohuo up.
But Herta, with a mere thought, used a [Mirror] to teleport Huohuo back to her feet.
Huohuo blinked. In all her years, she had never experienced spatial teleportation.
She clutched her clothes, fear and unease in her eyes. Tears threatened to spill. She stammered,
"D-did I just... experience some kind of ghostly phenomenon? How did I suddenly stand up?!"
Herta stepped forward and examined her.
"This is magic."
"You're a foxian? A floppy-eared one? Rare on the Xianzhou. And dressed like a judge from the Ten-Lords Commission."
Huohuo looked up at Herta, terrified.
"Y-you... hello. I'm Huohuo. I'm... I'm a newly promoted judge at the Ten-Lords Commission."
"Is Madam Herta so terrifying?"
Huohuo quickly shook her head.
"Then is this Madam Ruan Mei terrifying?"
Huohuo shook her head again.
"No, no, it's not that. I was in a hurry. It's dark. I accidentally bumped into you. I'm so sorry."
Herta replied calmly.
"Accidentally? Sorry is enough?"
Huohuo timidly stepped back.
"Madam Herta, I... I did something wrong. This is my breakfast money for the month."
She held out a few crumpled, dusty credits. Herta could see at a glance that this newly promoted judge wasn't exactly well-off.
"I don't need that. Where's your family?"
At these words, Huohuo burst into tears.
"I... I don't have a family. Because of... certain things, I was abandoned when I was little."
Herta had only asked casually. She hadn't expected this.
She stepped forward, trying to use a tone that didn't quite belong to her—a rare attempt at comfort.
"I may not always have... what you'd call empathy. But I do have compassion."
Huohuo still looked terrified, unable to meet their gaze.
Ruan Mei cast a cool sidelong glance at Herta.
Herta understood. She had to prove she had compassion.
"Little Huohuo. Out so late—must be Ten-Lords Commission business. Is there anything I can help with?"
Huohuo kept crying. Minutes later, Mr. Tail returned.
"Huohuo! What's wrong? I told you to keep your distance so I could track that Heliobus!"
Seeing Huohuo's state, Mr. Tail puffed up.
"Oh ho! Who bullied you?! Let me handle this! No one bullies you but me!"
He flew in front of Huohuo and glared at Herta and Ruan Mei.
Then he sensed it—their Path power was on par with Jing Yuan's. They matched the description of those two legendary geniuses.
His bluster vanished. Smiling nervously, he stammered,
"W-well... geniuses of the Erudition Path... lovely weather we're having."
Then he quickly turned and whispered to Huohuo.
"You've got to be kidding me! Huohuo! How did you manage to provoke these two?!"
(T/N: Huohuo is super cute; I really want to touch her tail. She was also the only time I spent money on HSR to get her to E1, but somehow got 2 in 1 ten roll so now I have her E2.)