Squeak—

The door opened.

Standing before Luciel was a woman of about twenty-seven or twenty-eight, graceful and composed. Beside her stood Yue Feiyan, looking a little dazed.

"Lord Luciel, won't you invite me in to sit for a while?" The Moon Lord spoke with an elegant air.

Her shoulder-length hair shimmered like aquamarine, and her eyes, also water-blue, glistened with charm.

"Please, come in." Luciel smiled gently and stepped aside.

"Excuse me." The Moon Lord's lips parted gracefully as she walked inside.

…As Yue Feiyan passed by Luciel, she leaned close and mouthed silently: I don't know why my mother came to see you.

Luciel gave a subtle nod, then sat leisurely across from the Moon Lord.

The door closed softly behind them as a maid withdrew.

"I wonder what brings the renowned Moon Lord here?" Luciel asked directly.

He quickly reviewed everything he had done that day, wondering if he had slipped up somewhere.

The Moon Lord replied with quiet elegance: "I came to discuss the crystal fish."

"Crystal fish? Do you mean the ones from Black Tortoise City?" Luciel asked, smiling faintly.

He glanced at the red-haired girl standing obediently beside the Moon Lord. Seeing her stunned expression, he immediately understood Yue Feiyan's confusion.

"I can feel the condensation of water," the Moon Lord said mysteriously, the corner of her lips lifting in confident elegance.

Any intelligent person would understand what she implied.

"So that's it…" Luciel's black eyes flickered with realization. He finally understood why she had come.

Hu Liyue let out a quiet breath, her body relaxing as she also caught on. She gently patted Mino's tense hand to calm her.

The Moon Lord frowned slightly. She hadn't received the reaction she expected. Instead, she sensed subtle changes among the three people before her—though she couldn't quite understand why.

"Today, someone brought me news," she continued, brushing a lock of blue hair behind her ear. A faint smile curved her lips. "They said Bloodbeard has come to the Moon Lake Tribe."

"Oh? Bloodbeard dared to enter your tribe? Isn't he afraid you'd kill him?" Luciel asked, genuinely surprised.

He hadn't expected Bloodbeard to survive the trap he'd set, let alone track them all the way here. Clearly, Bloodbeard had help from someone skilled in tracking.

The Moon Lord's aqua-blue brows knit together. Yet what unsettled her most was Luciel's face—calm, unshaken, giving away none of the panic she had anticipated.

If he really had stolen the crystal fish with Bloodbeard, the mere mention of discovery should have left him flustered. But instead, he looked completely composed.

Hu Liyue's silver eyes widened in disbelief, her lips parting slightly.

Luckily, her mask concealed her expression from the Moon Lord, or else much would have been revealed.

Mino, meanwhile, was already a bundle of nerves, her little hands twisting at the hem of her clothes as her face scrunched in fear.

"Lord Luciel," the Moon Lord pressed on, "the natural ability to condense water belongs only to awakened individuals… or to water spirit beasts. Just a short while ago, I sensed water condensation here."

"You think I've hidden a crystal fish?" Luciel raised his voice in mock surprise.

"Yes." The Moon Lord's confident nod left no room for doubt.

"I think you may have misunderstood," Luciel replied, expression wry. He hadn't expected her to detect the water element so keenly.

"Misunderstood?" The Moon Lord's eyes glimmered with amusement as her lips curved. "I know my senses are not wrong. I draw water every day—I can clearly feel every fluctuation in the Moon Lake Tribe."

Luciel nearly choked. This woman… She's turned her water affinity into something practically obsessive, sensing even household water use?

"Don't you believe me?" The Moon Lord lifted her chin slightly, elegant and resolute. She meant to show him she had already uncovered the truth.

"No, I believe you," Luciel said softly, shaking his head.

He didn't dare underestimate her abilities, though sometimes coincidence could play tricks.

"Rest assured, I have no intention of taking the crystal fish." The Moon Lord folded her hands gracefully on the table, showing no hostility.

"I—" Luciel began to explain.

"I can reduce the cost of water manipulation to one-fifteenth," she cut in, her tone serious.

She had no intention of threatening him with Bloodbeard. That matter was his to handle.

Instead of more words, Luciel simply lifted his palm. A ball of water, clear and shimmering, condensed and hovered above it.

"..."

The Moon Lord's beautiful face froze in astonishment, her lips parted in speechlessness.

"The same awakening ability as Mother…" Yue Feiyan murmured under her breath, dazed.

Luciel dropped the water sphere into a wooden barrel nearby and said calmly, "What you sensed earlier was likely my ability."

"…My apologies. I didn't realize you were also a water-element awakener. I was too hasty." The Moon Lord quickly regained her composure, her grace as a leader shining through.

"It's fine," Luciel answered politely with a smile.

But the Moon Lord's mind was already spinning with a new idea. She batted her long lashes and asked sweetly, "Lord Luciel, may I ask you a personal question?"

"You may." Luciel was slightly surprised. He had thought she would leave in embarrassment.

"Do you plan to stay in the Moon Lake Tribe for long?"

Half-squinting her charming eyes, she tucked a lock of hair behind her ear and said teasingly, "If so, I could marry my foolish daughter to you."

"…Huh?" Luciel and Yue Feiyan both froze, staring at her in shock.

"Absolutely not!" Mino exploded first, leaping up. "This red-haired woman can't marry Master Luciel!"

"Yes, yes—our master still has tasks to complete! He can't stay in the Moon Lake Tribe!" Liyue also panicked, waving her hands, completely flustered.

The Moon Lord's aqua eyes darted curiously between the two girls and Luciel, thoughtful.

Meanwhile, Yue Feiyan was stunned. She frowned slightly. Red-haired woman? They mean me?

"My silly daughter, what do you think of marrying Lord Luciel?" the Moon Lord teased.

"Mother, don't speak nonsense!" Yue Feiyan's cheeks burned crimson.

"And you, Lord Luciel? My daughter may be a little silly, but she's quite capable."

She deliberately shifted the pressure onto Luciel.

Luciel rubbed his chin as if considering. "If you ask me, I think… it might be worth a try."

"Ehh?!" Liyue and Mino cried out in disbelief.

"It seems my daughter is more attractive than I thought," the Moon Lord laughed softly, seeing through Luciel's playful response.

"Mother, enough!" Yue Feiyan's whole neck flushed red. She threatened in embarrassment, "If you keep talking nonsense, I'll complain about you!"

The Moon Lord coughed gracefully, eyes sparkling with amusement.

"Hmph! You started it," Yue Feiyan muttered, lips pouting.

"Well, that's enough fun for today." The Moon Lord finally rose to her feet, still composed.

Her test had failed once again. She had only wanted to see if Luciel intended to remain in the tribe, but with three flustered girls around, she learned nothing.

At the doorway, she turned back, her smile coquettish. "I was only joking about marriage. But Lord Luciel, you really should think about it."

"Of course. I'll consider it carefully," Luciel replied with a gentle smile.

"Oh…" The Moon Lord sighed inwardly as she gazed at his serene expression.

She had hoped to secure a water awakener for her tribe, but her plans slipped away again—all because her daughter lacked charm.

"Mother, enough! Time to go back to sleep." Yue Feiyan, red-faced, dragged her mother's arm.

"Don't rush, I'm not sleepy yet."

"You didn't sleep well today. That's why you're saying so many ridiculous things!"

"I was only thinking of your future. If you don't find a husband soon, you'll grow old before you know it."

"Mother!" Yue Feiyan wailed in protest.

"Ahem, and don't go around shouting your mother's name so rudely!"

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