At the same time Yelena and Yiweite were returning to the Sword Saint Mansion after delivering their quest at the Adventurer’s Guild.
In the cheapest inn in Antal City, in a room where even the window wouldn’t close properly, the air was stifling.
Kate and Sylvia sat side by side on the creaky wooden bed frame, their faces filled with inexpressible, complex emotions.
The steaming air of the canyon, the thunderous sound of the Colossus crushing rocks underfoot,
the helplessness felt before death—it all replayed endlessly in their minds, becoming an unforgettable nightmare.
Ai Sha curled up in a corner, her back to them.
In the dim light, she used a piece of linen cloth to wipe her Holy Sword over and over again.
Her movements were stiff, even stubborn.
Several new scratches on the blade were even more visible under the faint glow.
The room was silent except for the rustling sound of cloth rubbing against metal—a grating noise.
“Sigh…”
A soft sigh broke the suffocating silence at just the right moment.
It was Mi La.
She walked over carrying a few broken clay cups and poured lukewarm drinking water into each one.
Her face wore a carefully crafted expression of pity—neither exaggerated nor cold. She was a born performer.
“Lady Yelianna and the others are indeed formidable. They solved a problem alone that none of us could handle. It’s just that…”
She paused deliberately, her gaze sweeping over Kate and Sylvia before she delivered her words like a hooked line.
“It’s just that Lady Yelianna’s style is just like Miss Yiweite’s, isn’t it?”
“I’m afraid… she doesn’t think much of our Holy See’s Hero.”
The words were soft, but they struck the core precisely, piercing the fragile pride they had been clinging to.
Mi La’s words had a magical effect. They didn’t express direct resentment but acted as a catalyst,
turning the humiliation, jealousy, and resentment already present in Kate and Sylvia’s hearts into twisted malice.
“Right!”
Kate jumped up from the bed as if her tail had been stepped on. She moved so abruptly she almost knocked the cup out of Mi La’s hand.
“She’s humiliating us. It has to be deliberate! She deliberately cooked in front of us, deliberately flirted with Yiweite.”
“And that inexplicable ability! She just wanted to see us look pathetic, to laugh at us!”
With Mi La’s little nudge, every move Yelena made in the canyon became a deliberate show of superiority and mockery.
Even the aroma of the food became a bitter mockery of their incompetence.
Sylvia gripped her staff tightly. The crystal at its tip emitted a faint cold light.
“Lady Ai Sha, we can’t stay silent anymore! The Asteria Family has always been at odds with our Holy See. They’re blatantly provoking us!”
“We must report to the Cardinal immediately and have them judge their arrogant behavior!”
“Enough!”
Ai Sha suddenly turned her head from the corner and barked.
She furrowed her delicate brows slightly and said in a weary voice:
“If it weren’t for Yelena saving us, it would have been disastrous back then! Without the Healing Talisman, my injuries would have been much worse.”
But this defense felt weak at this moment.
She couldn’t forget the warmth of the talisman pressed against her chest, nor Yelena’s parting words: “You still have teammates you need to protect.”
What did that mean?
Was it a reminder, or was she mocking her for not being able to protect her teammates?
Ai Sha’s heart was torn by this contradiction.
Kate and Sylvia were stunned by her rebuke for a moment, then felt even more wronged and angry.
The room fell into the previous silence again, but the air was heavier now.
Mi La lowered her eyelids, hiding the gleam of pride that flashed in her eyes.
She stepped back to the side, quiet, like a true maid maintaining a casual state of attendance,
as if the instigating words she had just spoken had nothing to do with her.
Ai Sha’s gaze shifted from her two agitated teammates and accidentally landed on Mi La.
At that moment, the corner of Mi La’s mouth curled up—very quickly, very subtly.
So fast it felt like an illusion.
Ai Sha’s heart sank.
A malice similar to that of a cultist seemed to want to be detected by her, but then it vanished.
…
…
The next day at noon, Sword Saint Mansion.
Because of the unexpected little incident last night, the two had slept until noon and were now enjoying a simple moment of leisure.
Yiweite lay casually on the soft velvet sofa, her mouth wide open, waiting to be fed.
Yelena used the newly acquired “Silver Flame Chef’s Blade” to cut up a pile of fruit.
This top-tier kitchen utensil’s property gave ordinary fruit the emotional energy unique to a chef, making it taste excellent.
She picked up a piece of cut cantaloupe and stuffed it into Yiweite’s mouth.
Then she pinched Yiweite’s cheek.
“You’re this grown up and still need me to feed you. Aren’t you ashamed?”
“What’s there to be ashamed of? This is our brilliant squad leader showing care for a teammate.”
Yiweite chewed the cantaloupe and answered vaguely.
Yelena ignored her and turned her head toward the maid Anna, who had just pushed open the door and was walking in from a distance.
This loyal retainer, dressed in a black-and-white maid uniform with a character quite like a machine, was now approaching out of breath.
In her hands were a pile of large and small bags—packaged gift boxes that looked expensive.
“Anna, what are you doing buying so much stuff?” Yelena asked curiously.
“Reporting, Lady Yelianna. These are various pregnancy preparation items I prepared for you. Also, the big thing in my hands is a baby crib that needs to be assembled.”
“Anna, take it all back. Return it.”
Yelena showed a deceptively kind expression, with two “井” characters popping on her forehead, as she issued the order to the maid Anna.
In fact, a Nine-tailed Celestial Fox could make the dream of two women come true…
“But aren’t the two ladies’ love progress about to enter the next stage?”
“Who told you that?”
Yelena asked in a cold tone, then heard Anna’s answer.
“The servants of the Sword Saint Mansion are all talking about it. I think after last night, the two ladies’ development should be getting faster and faster, so I went ahead and…”
“Take. Them. All. Back!”
Yelena’s face was red with anger, and she raised her voice several notches, wearing an expression that brooked no argument.
“Yes… Lady Yelianna…”
Anna sighed. The trouble of running around was minor, but she felt very disappointed.
She had no choice but to comply, carrying the things out to return them.
Watching Anna’s retreating back, Yelena pouted and said to Yiweite:
“Did you ask her to do that?”
“No! Absolutely not! I can swear!” Yiweite panicked and held up two fingers in a vow gesture.
Yelena adjusted her helpless expression and turned to discuss the serious matter with Yiweite.
“Did the mansion’s spy have any news yesterday?”
“That maid Mi La is definitely a high-level expert. Her disguise skills are also impressive.”
Yiweite took a small bite of the apple Yelena had cut, then continued.
“There are all kinds of tricks hidden in Mi La’s words and actions. If we let her stay by Ai Sha’s side, it’s bound to cause big trouble. What do you think?”
“No rush.”
Yelena shook her head, a hint of cunning flashing in her eyes.
“The fish hasn’t taken the bait yet. Reeling in now will snap the line.”