Idle and itchy-fingered, Tangxue tested her space magic; it stuttered like a new kite in the wind, yet space still folded under her touch like silk.

At the roots of the great tree, elf guards only flicked her a surprised glance; their hands stayed calm, like leaves unmoved by breeze. A prickle of wrongness rose. She coughed twice and offered a greeting. The two big-sis guards dipped their chins, quiet as moss.

'Did they recognize me?' Suspicion pooled like dusk under eaves. 'No way. Even I wouldn’t recognize this face; besides my little sister, no one should.'

'Blue hair, blue eyes—sea written in my bones like tide-marks. From what I heard, water affinity’s almost gone on the continent.'

'Don’t tell me…the whole Elf Clan already knew I’d come?' Heat slid to the corner of her mouth as Qingsheng Tangxue smiled; the answer ripened like fruit.

'So that beastman shaman dragged me here on purpose…and the priestess too. Fine. Since I’m here, I won’t slink off like a damp cat.'

'Worst case, I vent here—call it revenge for Dreamsound.' The thought thudded like a drum in rain.

Farther in, an elf big sis in a formal gown greeted her with a voice soft as wind through needles. "Hello, former Hero. Should I call you Qingsheng Tangxue, or Ling Yehan?"

"What—?" The shock slammed her chest like cold surf. Why did they all know?

"Pfft~ relax, Lord Ling Yehan. Not many know. I’m the Clan Chief’s confidant—secretary, really—so she told me. If you want to see the Chief, head for that spatial gate. I’d guess leaders of the top races know too."

"..." Silence hung like fog between trunks.

"Oh—no, most people don’t know… ahaha." The golden-haired big sis tucked a secret away like a blade in satin. But Tangxue’s eyes drifted to her gown instead.

White and sheer, with deeper panels over vital places like shadows at dusk; the rest was a veil of half-light. From afar it looked simple; up close, the patterns gleamed like frost filigree, each line tender and precise.

"Um… little sister Tangxue?" The gold-haired big sis waved a hand, light as a petal, before Tangxue’s eyes.

"What is it?" Wariness pricked like thorns; Tangxue narrowed her eyes and stepped back one pace.

"Sorry, sorry~ did you zone out? Want me to explain again?" She dipped a small bow, apology like dew on grass.

Tangxue shook her head. "No need. I heard you. Why’d you switch to calling me that name?"

"Because you didn’t respond to ‘Lord Ling Yehan’… I thought you preferred the feminine one."

"I. Do. Not!" The denial flared like a spark in dry pine.

The more Tangxue explained, the deeper the misunderstanding tangled like vines. Face flushing cherry-red, she ignored the elf big sis giggling like branches in a spring breeze and stepped into the portal. On the other side waited the Elf Clan Chief’s private pocket space.

Inside, the young, beautiful Chief sat on a branch, sipping tea brewed with red blossoms; the steam curled like morning mist. She turned toward the gate and smiled. "You came, Qingsheng Tangxue."

"I don’t recall we’ve met—before or now." Calm as still water, Tangxue closed her eyes a beat, then sat by a stone table under a peach tree. She lifted the cup poured for her; warmth touched her lips. The taste was fresh, lightly bitter, then sweet as a faded petal.

"We’ve met, and yet we haven’t." Her laughter was a bell in a grove.

The Elf Clan Chief straightened; her long, sleek legs swung in the air like willow fronds. When Tangxue saw her bare feet, dislike rose like a wrinkle in glass; she stepped back with the teacup.

"I’m drinking. Does an elf lady think that’s polite?"

"Sorry~ but I’m not carrying any dirt." She sprang down, toe first, landing as light as a green leaf. As she claimed, even kissing soil left no stain on those lily-pale feet.

Elves don’t age in their looks; even after millennia, they’re still fresh as dew at dawn. The golden-haired girl clasped her hands behind her back, hums skipping like birds, head swaying side to side in a gentle rhythm.

"My name is Hualuo Jingqing. If ‘Elf Clan Chief’ feels awkward, just use my name."

"Isn’t calling you by name a bit rude?"

"…Why?" Hualuo Jingqing’s brows lifted like rising moon.

"Because you’re way older than me. Calling an elder by name is rude."

"But you don’t treat me like an elder." Huaruo Qingqing couldn’t help it—her laugh burst like a brook over stones, hand covering her lips.

"Alright, little one, what do you need from me? If it’s just sightseeing, you wouldn’t come this deep."

"…I came to… borrow the World Tree’s Evergreen Fruit."

"Borrow?" Huaruo Qingqing’s face twitched, then laughter shook her like blossoms in wind. "Haha… little one, do you know what you’re asking?"

"Mm?" Tangxue blinked, fog settling like dusk—she had no idea what was so funny.

"The Evergreen Fruit wilts quickly once it leaves the World Tree. Its name says ‘evergreen,’ yet it’s more delicate than any fruit in the planes. So your ‘borrow’ has only one use." Her look cut gentle and deep, like moonlight through water.

"Then… what can I trade?" Tangxue’s confidence thinned like smoke; even an outsider knew the Evergreen Fruit was priceless to elves. But it was the only thing that could help her.

"Mm, let me think?" Huaruo Qingqing tilted her head, truly pondering, then smiled at her like sunlight on leaves. "Ten Mermaid Tears, maybe?"

"…" Silence fell, heavy as rain.

"Then… the core of Demon King Jiuqi?"

"???" Bewilderment buzzed like bees.

"Hahaha~ I’m teasing you. Those things don’t help me or the elves. If you truly want it, it’s yours."

Without fuss, Huaruo Qingqing reached into the air like plucking a star; a round fruit appeared in her palm, glowing with a soft, green light of life. It was small enough to nestle fully in her teen-sized hand.

"Here—the Evergreen Fruit you asked for. Reminder… its shelf life is very short. Ten minutes after picking, it’s useless."

"! " On hearing that, Tangxue didn’t hesitate; she popped the fruit into her mouth like a drop of spring. It melted at once—no time left for second thoughts.

"…Why do I feel… nothing?"

"Normal. It’s a divine thing." Hualuo Qingqing’s tone was even, like still lake. "The Evergreen Fruit greatly boosts mental strength—even gods feel its edge. But, little one, do you know its side effect?"

"I don’t…" A dizziness spread like mist; Tangxue clung to her head and sank onto the stone chair.

"Amnesia."