Herta stared daggers at Lingsha. Lingsha met her gaze with a smile that wasn't quite a smile.
"Little one, I'm speaking with Madam Ruan Mei. Don't you think you're being a bit rude, blocking the way like that?"
Herta bristled. Little one? As if she were so much older.
She glanced at Lingsha. Fine. Maybe she was. But Ruan Mei had said she liked small ones.
Herta crossed her arms and looked away. "Noisy insect."
Lingsha laughed behind her hand and walked past her to Ruan Mei. "Madam Ruan Mei, I'd like to invite you to the wedding with me tomorrow."
Herta's brow twitched. She produced her magic key and rapped Lingsha on the head.
Lingsha froze, stunned by the blatant disregard for dignity.
Rap.
Another blow. Her vision swam.
"Herta, three strikes and—"
Rap.
She was cut off before she could finish. Lingsha stamped her foot, summoning her Alchemy Bells. Herta waved a hand—and sealed them all.
"You dare strike a Six Edict of the Xianzhou? I could report you to the Cloud Knights!"
Herta laughed. "Report me? Tell your master. Tell Jing Yuan. Tell Hua herself—I'd still hit you."
Rap.
Another crisp blow. Humiliating. Lingsha's eyes welled.
"You're impossible!"
Herta grinned. "No, I'm just someone who kicks people when they're down."
A handkerchief embroidered with plum blossoms appeared, dabbing at Lingsha's eyes. Herta's smile vanished.
Lingsha looked up at Ruan Mei and smiled through her tears.
"You're still so kind, Madam Ruan Mei." She turned to Herta, her smile widening. "What a difference between geniuses."
Herta's face darkened. Lingsha pressed on. "Don't be angry, Madam Herta. Life has its ups and downs—"
Herta grabbed her and shoved her through a [Mirror]. "She's visiting Herta City. Three days. Any objections?"
Ruan Mei said nothing. She didn't want to end up there herself.
"Good." Herta turned away and contacted her puppets. "We have a guest. Make her feel welcome."
Herta #3156: Understood.
Herta #33: Great Madam Herta, your will be done.
Herta Ninety-Nine: We'll take good care of Cauldron Chief Lingsha. She'll leave with a new appreciation for you. Like Silver Wolf.
---
The puppets moved in, magic hammers raised.
Lingsha stepped back, scanning the endless sea of Herta faces. A nightmare given form.
She forced a smile and produced her finest medicine. "I have pills. Rare fruits. For all of you."
Herta Ninety-Nine examined them. "Not bad. Any more?"
This one was different, Lingsha realized. Someone she could reason with. "Yes. But I'll need to return to the Luofu first."
Herta Ninety-Nine shook her head. "Tomorrow's the wedding. Madam Herta and Ruan Mei will attend together. You wanted to invite Ruan Mei alone. That's an insult. No one insults Madam Herta and walks away."
She held out her hand. Lingsha gave her more medicine. "How much more?"
"Send me back, and you'll get it all."
Herta Ninety-Nine's smile turned cold. "No. We keep you here, and I keep it anyway."
"You promised—"
"I never promised anything. Did I?"
Lingsha's chest tightened. This one was worse than Herta herself.
"I'm not even human," Herta Ninety-Nine said. "I'm a puppet. And if I don't do this, we'll all be punished." She turned and walked away.
The others closed in, magic hammers raised.
Lingsha rose to her feet, summoning her Alchemy Bells. "You think the Cauldron Chief only heals?"
The Bells exploded into the crowd, sending puppets flying. The damage was far worse than anything Silver Wolf had managed.
Herta Ninety-Nine frowned. "Stop this. Or today's Silver Wolf is tomorrow's you."
Lingsha smiled. "Why would I stop? My Bells will protect me."