Back to Aileaf’s potion—undiluted, a single sip snuffs out reason, like moonless fog rolling over the mind.

It hits instantly, and it burns through stamina like dry leaves in a blaze.

It doesn’t work on me, but Spring Tide, you probably couldn’t stand it.

I know. It heightens sensation yet drains strength; if you drink the raw stuff, even high-rank cultivators can’t last long, like candles in a gale.

They finished and both turned their eyes to Cerqin, twin lanterns swinging toward her.

What? Why’re you staring at me?

So why are you perfectly fine?

I dunno…

It wasn’t that nothing happened; in heightened body sense, Cerqin’s resistance was no weaker than Silver Luan’s, like bamboo bending without breaking.

My tolerance in this area’s pretty amazing, you know~

You were loud enough to wake bells; without the Love God’s power, who knows how many times you’d have fainted…

That’s not the same! And I wouldn’t lose it anyway, okay! If it feels good, I’m allowed to shout, right!

Silver Luan watched Cerqin protesting with teeth and claws; the tip of her tail climbed Cerqin’s leg like ivy on stone.

Cerqin tensed at once; her voice shook like a tight bowstring.

Silver Luan, what are you doing? There are people here…

In the Sanctuary’s cafeteria, plenty of Nuns still ate, steam curling up like morning mist; most staff of Divine Officer and above took meals in their rooms.

With the Holy Maiden of Spring Tide here, the three drew many gazes, eyes pricking like stars on silk.

Silver Luan looked at Cerqin, puzzled, brows arched like willow leaves.

You fold from the lightest touch, like snow under sun…

That’s not the same!

Alright, alright. Save it for the room, like rain held behind eaves.

Spring Tide shot Cerqin an amused glance. Silver Luan relented, withdrew the tail from the door, and flicked off the damp, like dew shaken from a leaf.

Cerqin exhaled in relief; a hint of grievance flickered in her eyes, dusk pooling under eaves.

Silver Luan, you’re getting more and more pervy…

Mm…

Silver Luan’s face went stiff, frost spreading over clay.

You of all people have no right to say that. And why do you think I turned out like this? Her eyes narrowed, blades wrapped in silk.

…

Sensing danger, Cerqin bolted like a rabbit from grass.

She’d barely taken a few steps before she ran into a warm embrace—soft as cloud—not Silver Luan’s, but Spring Tide’s.

Eh? You can block me now? Too much~

Mm. We’re about done eating. Let’s head back to the room, like a stream easing downhill~

Spring Tide hugged Cerqin and spoke to Silver Luan as she rose, chairs scraping like low waves.

Cerqin couldn’t escape this bout of trouble, stormclouds rolling close.

Next morning, clear-headed and refreshed, Cerqin crawled from bed; sunlight lay like silk on the sheets. She cast a cleansing spell, then dressed.

Silver Luan still slept hugging her tail; Spring Tide had already vanished, the room quiet as a pond.

She pushed the door to get food and found Qianli outside, hand raised to knock, like two birds meeting mid-air.

Qianli?

Ever since both got punished after that hunt, their bond had warmed, frost melting at dawn.

You got up late… eaten yet? The anti-bandit squad’s forming, banners flapping like wings.

Oh right, we’re raiding bandits today, drums waking in the chest.

For mid-rank practitioners, skipping a meal or two isn’t much; bodies hold like tempered steel.

Mm, give me a sec. I’ll wake Silver Luan, quick as a sparrow hop.

She shut the just-opened door and turned to the deeply sleeping Silver Luan; a fox’s grin curled at her lips in moonlight.

Hugging her tail, only the sides of her butt showed, hills hidden under a broad blanket of tail.

Cerqin found her angle and swung a full palm, a fan cutting air.

Smack!

Rise and shine, sleepyhead! Her voice rang like a bell.

With a yelp, Silver Luan sprang up and stared at the culprit, dumbfounded like a cat startled by thunder.

Cerqin had long wanted to try that; she rubbed her hands, words tumbling like beads before Silver Luan recovered.

We’re going out to purge bandits. Baili already came to push us, orders like arrows at our backs.

…

Cerqin figured this way she wouldn’t face instant payback, like tossing a stone then ducking behind a wall.

Silver Luan squinted and showed a dangerous look, the kind Spring Tide favored—smile like a blade under silk.

Her Sixth Rank recovery dulled the sting behind her; she snared Cerqin with her tail as she tried to flee, like a serpent looping a branch.

She stepped in and lifted her by the waist, picking up a bundle of reeds.

The door eased open a crack, moon peeking from clouds; Silver Luan’s face appeared.

Waiting outside, Qianli froze at that stern look, like a sparrow meeting a hawk.

Miss Silver Luan?

The squad’s assembling. Mm… how long till departure? Time sifted like sand.

Uh… We need to meet other factions early, so there’s an hour… Mm… please be quick, Miss Silver Luan.

Silver Luan nodded, satisfied, a cat smug after a catch.

Plenty!

Click.

The door shut again. A soundproof ward sealed the room, secrets boxed like incense; Qianli didn’t know what happened, though she could guess a little.

Cerqin, that’s so you… Her sigh floated like smoke.

Inside, Cerqin lay tossed on the bed, hugging herself like a curled hedgehog.

Um… I didn’t mean it.

You just couldn’t hold back, right? Her voice pricked like a needle.

Mm… I was wrong! I won’t dare again, petals scattering in a flurry.

Cerqin swallowed and stammered, throat knotted like a reed.

You’re not mad… right?

Mm… As if I’d get mad over this. But you’re bold~ I suddenly get Spring Tide’s fun, laughter slipping like wind under a door.

Cerqin’s heart eased, a stone set down.

Well, it’s getting late… let’s go join the squad, sun sinking toward the ridge.

If you take the lead, we can finish sooner~ bait dangling like a silk thread.

Mm…

Helpless, Cerqin turned and arched back toward Silver Luan by the bed, a willow bending to wind.

An hour later.

Cerqin and Silver Luan left one after the other, swallows from a nest. Qianli had waited to guide them to the rendezvous.

Seeing their flushed faces, she asked nothing; she only sent Cerqin a look of admiration, lacquer-bright.

Cerqin felt baffled under the gaze, mist veiling the path.

In a mere hour it was impossible; the desire they’d stirred stayed dammed, a tide held behind a gate.

Stamina, thanks to their abilities, didn’t flag; but that unmet ache thudded, drums beating behind a closed door.

Especially since Cerqin was the bullied one, a kite tugged by rough wind.

The torment was exquisite, honey laced with pepper.

Silver Luan, you didn’t do that on purpose… did you? Her eyes searched like lanterns in dusk.

What are you talking about?

Silver Luan tilted her head and smiled sly as a fox; it clearly said she had.

Waaah, Silver Luan, you’ve gone bad!

The three soon joined the Sanctuary’s anti-bandit force; the Guardian Cavalry moved under Baili’s full command, banners rolling like waves.

Why so slow, cutting it close… Her voice flashed, sharp as a blade.

Baili looked to Qianli. Qianli waved, reeds swaying in a breeze.

Sorry, Sister Baili. We got delayed, rain smoothing the dust.

Mm, something sudden came up, a pebble in the path.

Silver Luan felt a touch of embarrassment; she’d kept a whole group waiting an hour, face warm as clay by a kiln.

Mm~ no problem. Timing’s fine. I’m in charge, but Miss Silver Luan outranks me; no need to be so polite, words polished like oiled wood.

That sounded like a complaint, a thorn under velvet.

Looking for a beating? Her brow lifted like a drawn bow.

Eek!

Qianli shrank her neck at once, turtle into shell.

Baili didn’t mind; straight-laced, she’d only said it offhand. She ordered the knights to mount, and they set out, hooves drumming like rain.

Cerqin and Silver Luan shared a horse and rode at the rear, twin leaves on one stem.

Sister Baili’s mad, haha~

And whose fault do you think that is!

Heh heh~

Though the factions would split outside the city, they still had to meet to plan and divide search ranges, maps spread like rice paper.

At the south gate, Baili, Qianli, Cerqin, and Silver Luan entered a large room inside the wall, stone cool as shade.

Dozens of faction leaders had gathered, voices buzzing like bees.

The city lord’s office chaired it; they aimed to split areas and share intel, seals stamping like crimson suns.

This purge is huge. Did that many prisoners get out? The scale rolled in like a flood.

Cerqin looked puzzled; Silver Luan tilted her head. Since arriving in Northfort, they’d stayed mostly in their room, windows shut to the weather.

Sitting nearby, Qianli explained, voice steady as rope.

They say at least a few thousand ran, locusts scattering on the wind.

That many…? Eyes widened like moons over water.

How many are joining the purge?

Looks like over a thousand too, numbers stacking like bricks.

Silver Luan frowned, ripples tightening on a pond.

That big?

She swept the room again; every leader was at least Fifth Rank, auras dense like stormclouds. This wasn’t a job for common bandits.

Word is, among the escapees are several strong Fifth Rankers and many Fourth Rank. They want them handled fast before chaos erupts, so they pulled urgent support from all city factions, a net cast wide before the squall.