The streets were quiet on the way back to the inn.

Occasionally, a patrol team passed by, torches in hand. They glanced at Luciel and his companions, but after recognizing their attire, quickly stepped aside without a word.

Liyue had been holding back, but at last she asked, "Luciel, why didn't you agree to become the Moon Lord?"

Luciel chuckled softly. "I was wondering when you'd finally ask."

Instead of answering directly, he posed a question of his own. "Tell me—what do you think are the benefits of leading the Moon Lake Tribe?"

"That's obvious." Liyue tilted her head, silver hair swaying. "You'd never have to starve, you'd have protection, and there's plenty of water to drink."

Mino piped up, raising her hand like a child. "But we already have all that on Little Black Tortoise's back."

Liyue paused, then her eyes widened in realization. That's right. What others dream of, we already possess.

Luciel stretched lazily. "See? You already know the answer. No need for me to say more."

Liyue pursed her lips into a small smile.

"Luciel, when are we going back to Little Black Tortoise?" Mino asked sweetly. She had been gone less than a day, but already longed for home.

"We'll see tomorrow. Don't worry." Luciel's dark eyes glimmered with thought.

Just then, Liyue stopped walking. Her voice dropped. "Luciel, I want to go find my companion now."

She had originally planned to meet Yu Feier after nightfall. But unexpected events had dragged on, and now it was nearly midnight.

"Do you want us to come with you?" Luciel raised a brow.

"Hm?" Liyue hesitated, then shook her head. "No. Her place is small. Bringing two people might cause trouble."

"Alright. Be careful, then." Luciel's tone was gentle but firm.

"Yes." Liyue nodded obediently.

"We'll head back first. Come join us soon," Luciel said, then took Mino with him toward the inn.

Liyue lingered, watching their silhouettes fade into the night before turning into a narrow alley.

Her aqua eyes glowed faintly—her "Eagle Eye" talent was active, scanning for marks her companion might have left.

Since drinking Angel's Tears, the "Virtual Ghost Infection" had been stabilized, and using her ghostly talents no longer worsened the erosion.

"…Did that scatterbrained Yu Feier forget to leave marks again?"

The "Team of Four" had their own coded symbols—simple carvings or patterns left on walls, corners, or dust to say I'm here, I've left, safe house nearby, and so on.

But after circling the area, Liyue found nothing. Not even an obvious long-distance mark.

A cold thought struck her. "Don't tell me… she hasn't left her hiding place since the last time I came?"

Her expression hardened. If that's true, something might have happened.

She darted through the darkness, crossing from the slave quarter to the citizens' district, slipping into another alley unseen.

"Bah."

A quick strike knocked out the few vagrants sleeping there. She pressed against the wall, brushing aside dust until her fingers found a hidden board.

Carefully, she lifted it.

"You Feier? Are you inside?" she whispered down into the opening.

Silence.

"…Did she really leave without marking it?" Liyue frowned.

After a moment's hesitation, she slipped into the narrow tunnel, closing the board behind her. She tugged a rope, releasing a cascade of dust that concealed the entrance once more.

Immediately, a strange odor filled her nose.

"Ugh… what's that smell? Did that scatterbrain blow something up again and forget to clean?"

Holding her breath, she pushed aside a blackout curtain.

Bright light spilled over her—and there she was.

A familiar figure, blonde hair scattered like gold threads, slept with her face pressed against a messy worktable.

Liyue exhaled in relief. "So she just fell asleep."

The room was filled with clutter—bowls, barrels, crates—piled high with who-knows-what. Only Yu Feier understood their value.

"At least twenty days like this… doesn't she get bored?" Liyue muttered.

She draped a discarded animal pelt over her companion.

"Hm?" Yu Feier stirred, golden eyes cracking open. Half-asleep, she swung a fist.

"It's me," Liyue said quickly. The punch halted a hair's breadth from her nose.

"Oh. It's Little Yueyue…" Yu Feier blinked in a daze.

Then she rubbed her eyes, staring suspiciously at the clean, well-dressed figure before her. "Wait—who are you? My Little Yueyue could never be this tidy. Or this pretty."

"…Really?" Liyue sighed, tugging off her mask with a pained look.

"Oh! It really is you!" Yu Feier's stern face melted instantly. With a joyful cry, she leapt up and wrapped Liyue in a hug.

"Wait—ugh." Liyue stiffened. A pungent stench clung to her companion.

"Wow, Yueyue, you smell so good now. Soft, fair, and fragrant!" Yu Feier squealed, rubbing her cheek against Liyue's like an overexcited animal.

"…Ohhh…" Liyue's expression twisted as she let herself be smothered.

This confused woman really loved doing this.

"Alright, enough!" Liyue shoved her back, glaring. "You've been hiding down here this whole time, haven't you?"

"I haven't been hiding. I've been researching medicine for the Virtual Ghost infection," Yu Feier replied seriously, as if that excused everything.

"How many days has it been?"

"Twenty-three," Yu Feier answered instantly.

"…Figures." Liyue sighed. "For someone so scatterbrained, you remember numbers frighteningly well."

"Numbers are easy," Yu Feier said earnestly.

"Why do I even try…" Liyue rubbed her temples.

She glanced around at the cramped, overflowing space. "Why hole up here? Don't we have other safehouses?"

"Too much trouble. I don't want to move everything," Yu Feier pouted.

"And food? The jerky and water here should've run out long ago." Liyue's eyes narrowed.

"Oh, I dug a tunnel into the house above us. I grab food from there." Yu Feier pointed proudly at a hole in the dirt wall.

"…Huh?" Liyue froze. Above them… wasn't that the home of a small hunting team leader?

"So how often did you steal?" she asked, dreading the answer.

"Not often. Just three times," Yu Feier said proudly. "Every three days, every six days, and then after eight. He couldn't stop me. Did he think I'd be dumb enough to go every day?"

Liyue pressed a hand to her forehead. "So you cleared out everything in three trips."

"Of course. Why waste time?" Yu Feier nodded matter-of-factly.

"…That poor man." Liyue fell silent for a moment of pity.

"Poor? He was so noisy, yelling every day. Annoying." Yu Feier scowled. "I couldn't even concentrate on my experiments."

Liyue rolled her eyes. "And you have no idea why he was making noise?"

"Mm… no idea." Yu Feier blinked innocently.

Liyue could only groan. She had been gone barely ten days, and already this confused blonde had caused such chaos.

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