Sylvia remained silent. Jing Yuan's promise was... intriguing.
Dan Shu's current state clearly showed a spirit that had all but given up. Such a condition undoubtedly meant she was teetering on the edge of mara-struck.
If Phantylia's plans truly failed, if the Ambrosial Arbor was sealed once more, and Dan Shu's hope was utterly extinguished... the probability of her fully succumbing to mara was not low.
Then again, if Dan Shu took that medicine of hers, completely restored her congenital blindness and gained control over the mara... that would also be a form of death.
Dan Shu wasn't foolish. She had likely seen through Jing Yuan's open scheme, yet she had accepted it anyway.
Probably, she also knew this was her only chance.
Or perhaps Dan Shu was simply clinging to the last shreds of her will, wanting to bring a conclusion to her own absurd life?
Sylvia wasn't Dan Shu. She couldn't know what Dan Shu truly thought.
But she figured her own guess probably wasn't far off.
"You've already guessed General Jing Yuan's scheme, haven't you? It makes sense, of course. You, young friend, likely understand my affairs better than anyone."
Dan Shu smiled as she poured Sylvia a cup of tea, the clear, delicate fragrance wafting from the cup she then placed before her.
Sylvia looked at the tea but didn't reach for it. Instead, she sighed with feeling. "General Jing Yuan certainly lives up to his title as the Divine Foresight."
Dan Shu could hear the complex emotion lacing Sylvia's tone. It was a bit odd, but she spoke anyway.
"I imagine you've only seen Jing Yuan's lazy, carefree side. But as a Xianzhou general, he has never hesitated to be ruthless when the situation demands it."
"I suppose so."
Ever since that last time, when Dan Shu hadn't demanded the Stellaron from her, Sylvia hadn't given much thought to what expression she should wear if they met again.
Her feelings towards Dan Shu had always been rather complicated.
"Hmm~ Are you worried this humble one might have drugged the tea, to take revenge on you, young friend?"
"You jest." Sylvia chuckled and shook her head. Of course she wouldn't admit she was actually a little worried.
After all, in the story, this person had also given Stelle a pill without any explanation.
Although Sylvia now had the power of Permanence within her, such medicine likely wouldn't affect her anyway.
Dan Shu didn't press the point, instead continuing on her own.
"Back then, when I was secretly brought before the Seat of Divine Foresight and saw Jing Yuan and Master Diviner Fu Xuan, I truly thought I would be facing a judge from the Ten-Lords Commission directly."
"But Jing Yuan's disposition of my case was far beyond my expectations. It was only under my persistent questioning that Master Diviner Fu told me of your... evaluation of me."
Dan Shu took a sip of tea. Her calm tone seemed to gain a trace of something else.
"I was deeply astonished. I never imagined that at this point, the one who showed genuine concern for me would be you, young friend, whom I've known for such a short time."
Faced with this candidness, Sylvia shook her head. "You're exaggerating. Wasn't that precisely the purpose of you taking me to see that little girl?"
Hearing Sylvia's rebuttal, Dan Shu actually laughed. Then, she let the topic drop.
"Phantylia intends to use the Stellaron to revive the Ambrosial Arbor, then use the Arbor's first fruit to forge herself a physical body. She is... very impatient now."
"..."
Sylvia paused. So soon?
She had thought Phantylia would lie low for a while.
But judging by the result, the severely wounded Phantylia seemed to have other worries, worries pressing enough for even Dan Shu to sense her urgency.
But still... reviving the Ambrosial Arbor. Even if Jing Yuan was dealing with Phantylia, he shouldn't agree to such a mad method of self-harm, should he?
It was a tactic that would leave both sides devastated. Phantylia was severely wounded now. There was no need at all.
"General Jing Yuan accepted this plan?"
"... I only told him that Phantylia intends to bring a Stellaron to the Luofu, seeking the Ambrosial Arbor."
Dan Shu paused, then calmly, without much inflection, revealed her little scheme.
She had omitted the part about 'reviving the Arbor using the Stellaron.'
Reporting ninety percent of the truth while hiding that one crucial detail was clearly Dan Shu's form of revenge against Jing Yuan.
Whether Jing Yuan could see through it or prepare accordingly was obviously not Dan Shu's concern.
Just...
"Why tell me something so important? Aren't you worried I'll tell Jing Yuan?"
"The task of activating the Stellaron to revive the Arbor... Phantylia won't entrust it to me. Even if Jing Yuan has me detained, it will be useless."
Dan Shu shook her head. After explaining the situation, her tone suddenly shifted.
"The final Elixir of Immortality requires the Arbor's revival to complete. When that happens, I will be able to see. Phantylia will come then as well. Young friend, will you be there?"
Sylvia had a feeling Dan Shu was trying to confirm whether she would be on the Luofu when the time came.
It was as if... she was looking forward to Sylvia bearing witness.
Sylvia found she couldn't quite grasp Dan Shu's thoughts anymore.
It seemed that ever since she and Jing Yuan had severely wounded Phantylia ahead of time, Dan Shu's mindset had diverged from the one in the game.
But Sylvia was never one to enjoy psychoanalyzing others. If she couldn't guess, she'd just wait and see.
Dan Shu's blindfolded eyes were fixed straight on Sylvia, as if she would keep staring until she got an answer.
"I'll be there."
This time, Sylvia picked up the still-warm teacup and took a small sip.
"This humble one understands. When the time comes, I shall welcome your arrival. I have heard... that the Ambrosial Arbor is said to be quite beautiful."
"Then you might just get a chance to see it for yourself."
Sylvia gave a slight shake of her head. It seemed the Luofu's Stellaron crisis would still erupt, and the Astral Express would likely still come.
Dan Shu had personally admitted she wasn't responsible for activating the Stellaron, and she didn't know who was.
That left only one person Sylvia could really suspect: Luocha.
Could it be... that the Arbor's revival was really Luocha's doing?
In the original story, Luocha had turned himself in, claiming he was responsible for the Stellaron.
Many players didn't buy it, and even in the story, Jing Yuan himself had his doubts.
Sylvia had always thought Luocha's coffin contained Jingliu, and that he probably wasn't the one who brought the Stellaron.
As for who exactly brought that Stellaron and who activated it, the game never said.
It might even have been Phantylia herself, for all anyone knew.
Who could say?
Sylvia certainly couldn't figure it out.
"Indeed. I shall see all that I wish to see, and see it clearly. It's just... I may have to disappoint your kindness, young friend. I may not be able to secure justice for those born with deficiencies after all."
Dan Shu spoke these words to Sylvia with a calm that felt like a last testament.
By now, even Sylvia could very clearly sense that aura of resignation, of impending death, surrounding Dan Shu.
She had little desire left to live.
Jing Yuan and Fu Xuan had probably seen it long ago.
After finishing her tea, Dan Shu rose from her seat. She pushed a small box of tea leaves she carried with her towards Sylvia.
"These are my most beloved tea leaves. Please accept them as an apology for failing your expectations."
With that, Dan Shu turned and left.
"Until we meet again, young friend Sylvia."
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.