In the grand hall at the center of the Moon Lake Tribe, voices rose in heated quarrel.

"We should abandon those useless people—they're dragging the tribe down!"

The hoarse voice of the Great Elder thundered with dissatisfaction.

"Impossible. They are all members of the Moon Lake Tribe. I will not leave them behind,"

the Moon Lord replied firmly, her tone carrying the weight of authority.

"If this continues, our tribe will collapse sooner or later!" the Great Elder barked.

"With me here, the Moon Lake Tribe will not fall." The Moon Lord's gaze was steady, her voice confident.

The Elder sneered. "How long can you last? Don't forget—without a new generation of water awakeners, we'll soon have no source of water. Yue Feiyan is a fire-type awakener. What will happen if the next generation follows her path?"

The Moon Lake Tribe's lifeblood was the water ability passed down through the Moon Lords. In every era, the tribe relied on their Moon Lord's gift to sustain them. On rare occasions, three generations of water awakeners had appeared together, and during those times the tribe had flourished like never before.

But now, Yue Feiyan, heir to the title, had awakened as fire. It left the tribe staring into an uncertain, waterless future.

"Isn't there still the crystal fish?" The Moon Lord's tone softened as she spoke. "I personally sought out Bloodbeard and brought it back."

In the past, she couldn't leave the tribe for fear of exhausting its water source. But desperate times forced desperate choices.

"You're still clinging to that hope?" The Great Elder slammed his cane against the floor. "News came this morning—the crystal fish Bloodbeard held has been stolen!"

The words struck like lightning. The Moon Lord's composure faltered. The crystal fish is gone? If true, the decline of the Moon Lake Tribe would begin under her rule.

"When did this happen?" she asked gravely.

"This morning," the Elder spat, his face lined with fury. "We must act now. Drive out the useless ones and begin strict water rationing!"

The Moon Lord pressed her fingers to her forehead, weary. "Let me… think on it." She waved her hand tiredly.

The Elder's eyes narrowed. "Hmph. I only hope the Moon Lake Tribe does not perish under our watch." With a cold snort, he stormed out.

---

At the entrance, fiery red hair caught the light.

"Mother! I'm back!" Yue Feiyan rushed in, only to stop short when she saw the Elder's stormy expression.

"Big Elder," she greeted respectfully.

The old man sighed, shaking his head, then left without a word.

"Every time he sees me, he sighs…" Yue Feiyan muttered, her lips pouting, her crimson eyes dimming with sadness. Of course I know why. But what can I do? I'm just a fire awakener…

---

"Feiyan, come in."

"Yes, Mother."

She slapped her cheeks to perk herself up, then entered with a bright smile, clutching the Starlight Tea she had hidden away.

Inside, the Moon Lord sat wearily upon the main seat. "Well? What did you learn about those three outsiders?"

"The leader is named Luciel. He claims to be from Black Tortoise City and came here searching for someone," Yue Feiyan said, moving behind her mother to massage her temples.

She carefully concealed the part about trading Starlight Tea. She wanted to sell it first before confessing.

"If Black Tortoise City is truly as he claims, then it must be a great city indeed," the Moon Lord mused.

"Do you believe him?" Yue Feiyan asked.

"Half true, half false. Words alone cannot reveal the whole picture. As long as they're not here to cause trouble, let them be."

At that, Yue Feiyan brightened and produced the cloth bundle. "By the way, I traded something with Luciel—Starlight Tea."

The Moon Lord raised her brows, intrigued. "Tea from the sacred tree of Black Tortoise City? The one that supposedly prolongs life?"

She unfolded the cloth. Ordinary dry leaves lay inside, though larger than most.

"Heehee, just try it," Yue Feiyan said, preparing the tea with practiced ease.

When the Moon Lord lifted the cup, her eyes widened. In the steaming water, the tea leaves unfurled into dazzling specks, glowing faintly like starlight.

Before tasting it, she was already half convinced.

One sip—

Her body relaxed, her eyes narrowing in pleasure. The pain that plagued her temples eased.

"Mother, how is it?" Yue Feiyan asked nervously.

"Excellent. If drunk often, it may truly prolong life." The Moon Lord marveled.

Yue Feiyan's eyes lit up with relief. "I fought long and hard to get a box from him!"

The Moon Lord gave her a sharp look. "What did it cost you?"

"…One hundred high-grade beast spars," Yue Feiyan whispered.

"What!?" The Moon Lord bolted upright. "Say that again?"

"One… hundred…" Yue Feiyan shrank her neck, bracing herself.

"You wasteful girl! Do you want me to beat some sense into you?" The Moon Lord's forehead throbbed with veins as she reached to grab her daughter.

"Ah! But you liked it too—it even soothed your headache!" Yue Feiyan laughed, slipping away nimbly and darting toward the door. "I'll bring back more tonight!"

The Moon Lord could only sigh helplessly, staring at the starlit tea in her hand. She sipped again, silently.

---

Should we move? Should we abandon Moon Lake and search for a true water source?

The thought haunted her. Yet the elders clung stubbornly to tradition. She herself was bound, chained to the tribe, forced to condense water daily like a prisoner.

How she envied her daughter—free of that burden, free to live beyond the tribe's cage.

"It would be wonderful if life in a great city were possible," she murmured. But she knew the truth: with her alone sustaining the tribe's water, a city was an impossible dream.

Unless… the crystal fish.

---

Her thoughts were broken by the pounding of boots.

A guard hurried in, bowing low. "Moon Lord, a message just arrived. Bloodbeard will appear in the Moon Lake Tribe tonight."

"Double the patrols," the Moon Lord ordered sharply.

"Yes!" The guard ran off.

The Moon Lord's brows furrowed. Why would Bloodbeard come here now?

Suddenly she remembered the Elder's words. The crystal fish was stolen… Could it be the thief has come here?

Her eyes flashed. If so, she could use her power to sense the crystal fish's energy once it activated within the tribe.

She rose to her feet. "I must find it before Bloodbeard does."

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