"Neighbors?!"
Fu Xuan lowered her head and fell silent for a moment.
Herta pressed again. "Fu Xuan, who exactly are the neighbors of this estate?!"
Fu Xuan sighed helplessly and finally admitted, "Helmsmaster Yukong."
"And?"
"And Cauldron Chief Lingsha."
Herta's brow furrowed. No matter what, she couldn't seem to avoid this woman Lingsha on the Xianzhou?
She shot Fu Xuan a cold glance that made her feel as if she had fallen into an icy abyss. "Hmph, Fu Xuan, are you deliberately trying to make a fool of me, the great Madam Herta?!"
Fu Xuan quickly waved her hands. "No... no, it's just that this was the only estate left that met your requirements."
Herta immediately summoned her magic key. "Go find Lingsha. Tell her to move out. I don't want to see her. Understand?!"
Fu Xuan felt like crying but couldn't. She didn't know what to do. To become the next Luofu General, she needed the support of Genius Society members Herta and Ruan Mei. On the other hand, Lingsha was one of the Six Edicts, and her support would be a crucial vote for her candidacy. Moreover, behind Lingsha stood her master, the Vidyadhara, and she had close ties with the High Elders of the Fanghu and the Zhuming.
Difficult. She couldn't afford to offend either side.
After much internal deliberation and divination, she still couldn't find a satisfactory answer.
"Madam Herta, you know I'm at a critical stage in becoming the next Luofu General. I cannot afford to offend Cauldron Chief Lingsha. Could you perhaps take one step back—no, half a step back?"
A cold smile spread across Herta's face. "Oh? Half a step back?"
"Yes. Madam Herta, just half a step back. After all, Cauldron Chief Lingsha no longer has any memory of you or Madam Ruan Mei."
Herta advanced step by step, magic key in hand, while Fu Xuan could only offer a helpless, wry smile as she retreated—until she could retreat no further.
She looked up at Herta. In that moment, she felt that Herta was somehow taller and more distant than even Jing Yuan. Her cold gaze radiated an indescribable danger.
"Grand Diviner, have you never heard that the great, unparalleled Madam Herta never compromises with anyone, nor does she understand the meaning of 'taking a step back'? After all, she only knows how to strike faces and pursue victory. Understand?"
"Forget it. I won't make things harder for you. Go get Lingsha. I'll talk to her myself."
Fu Xuan breathed a sigh of relief, quickly stepped back, and hurried off to Lingsha's residence.
---
Half an hour later, Fu Xuan returned with Lingsha.
Lingsha looked confused, staring at Herta and Ruan Mei with a puzzled expression. She felt she should know them—especially Herta—as if there were some unresolved grudge. But she could find no relevant memories, though an undeniable fear remained.
"Grand Diviner, are these the Genius Society members who wanted to speak with me?"
"Yes. This is Madam Herta, and this is Madam Ruan Mei. Cauldron Chief Lingsha, please have a proper discussion with them."
"Discuss? There's nothing to discuss. I've lived in that estate for nine Vidyadhara reincarnation cycles. My diaries from each cycle are all stored there. I cannot move out."
Seeing Lingsha's firm refusal and her turn to leave, Fu Xuan, not wanting to displease Madam Herta, quickly pleaded with Lingsha to stay and talk.