"Oh? So eager? Did you miss me that much?"
Feeling Aether's fervent embrace, Fei Xiao could not help patting his head as she asked softly.
"Every day you were gone, I thought of you."
Aether hugged Fei Xiao tightly, burying his face in her silver-white hair and deeply inhaling her faint scent.
"Mm, I missed you too."
Fei Xiao's pretty face flushed slightly as she hugged Aether and replied gently.
"Oh my, you two have only been together for less than a month, and you're already this close. Tsk, tsk, tsk…" Jiaoqiu teased as he watched, hiding half his face behind his feather fan.
"Moze, cilantro!"
Fei Xiao shot Jiaoqiu a glare, then called out to Moze standing nearby.
"Yes, General."
Moze responded and once again chased Jiaoqiu around with cilantro.
"Alright, let's talk business first. These are the gifts I prepared for you. They're mostly antiques and such. You can decide what to do with them." Fei Xiao released Aether and pointed toward the Star Skiff being unloaded nearby.
Aether turned to look and froze.
"An entire container? What did you bring?" Aether was dumbfounded. Sorting through a whole container would keep him busy for a long time.
"Not enough? If it's still not enough, I can get more…"
"Enough, enough. This is already plenty." Aether waved his hand and quickly pulled out his phone to call his subordinates.
"Black Tiger Ah Fu, Er Dai, Sunglasses Kid, Wa Long, hurry over and handle the cargo."
…
"Fei Xiao, why did you come back so quickly? Did something happen?"
As they walked, Aether asked curiously. Fei Xiao's reputation as a Great General was built on swift victories. Because of this, she often campaigned abroad for long periods, resolving wars in a single expedition.
Yet this time, she had returned after just one battle. Something was clearly wrong.
Although Aether and Fei Xiao were now a couple, he knew she would never confuse personal feelings with duty. This could only mean an unexpected development.
"Yes. There's a situation, and it's confidential. I need to speak with General Jing Yuan in person." Fei Xiao's expression was solemn.
"I understand. Wait a moment."
Aether nodded, grasping the seriousness of the matter. Without further delay, he took a box from his pocket and handed it to her.
"This is a newly refined calming medicine, improved with better efficacy. There are twelve bottles inside. Keep them safe."
Fei Xiao did not stand on ceremony. She had Jiaoqiu accept it on her behalf and then hurried toward the Divination Commission.
"War is like this. Things are unpredictable. Many soldiers do not return whole after going to battle. The peaceful lives of the Xianzhou people depend on them." Jiaoqiu patted Aether's shoulder, trying to comfort him when he noticed Aether's silence.
"I know. I just…" Aether forced a smile. "Never mind. I'll be leaving now. I won't disturb you any longer."
…Divination Commission.
"You're here. Don't rush. Sit down and tell me the details." Jing Yuan sat upright in the General's seat and raised a hand to signal Fei Xiao to sit.
"The situation is urgent, so I'll be brief." Fei Xiao shook her head, her expression grave as she spoke clearly.
"An Emanator of Abundance has secretly infiltrated the Xianzhou."
!!!
Jing Yuan's expression changed drastically, shock flashing through his eyes. He quickly composed himself and asked, "Is the information reliable?"
"It is reliable," Fei Xiao replied with a nod.
"Do we have any further clues?" Jing Yuan pressed.
"No. We don't know which Emanator it is, which Xianzhou they infiltrated, or how long they've been here." Fei Xiao's voice was heavy.
"At a time like this…"
Jing Yuan rubbed his temples, a headache forming. The Luofu was already plagued with unresolved internal issues, and now there was news of an Emanator of Abundance infiltrating the Xianzhou.
Hundreds of years ago, the Emanator of Abundance, Shuhu, had led the Abominations of Abundance in an invasion. The Luofu had nearly exhausted all its strength, barely achieving a tragic victory.
Jing Yuan had personally witnessed the terror of an Emanator of Abundance. They were nearly immortal, impossible to destroy no matter how many times they were struck down.
An Emanator was the strongest existence below a Star God, second only to a Star God itself.
An Emanator of Abundance, on top of their already terrifying power, also possessed the healing and vitality of the Path of Abundance.
The Long-Lived Species of the Xianzhou were born from the blessing of Abundance. Even ordinary Long-Lived Species could live for thousands of years without decline. An Emanator of Abundance, an existence close to a Star God, would be even more horrifying.
"For now, investigate secretly. Since that Emanator hasn't launched an invasion, they likely haven't achieved their goal yet, or they have other plans. In any case, we must not alert them." Jing Yuan spoke slowly after a long silence.
"I understand. I'll immediately return to Yaoqing to handle this matter. If I encounter that Emanator of Abundance, I will personally slay them, so the Emperor's Bow need not fire." Fei Xiao nodded, her eyes filled with resolve.
…
"What? The news leaked? Did you eat shit to grow up?"
Aether exploded in fury, smashing the stone table beside him with a single palm.
"My lord, please calm your anger. We have guarded this secret carefully and have absolutely not leaked anything." Several Followers of Abundance knelt trembling before him, scarcely daring to breathe.
"Xianzhou profanity!"
Aether cursed, shaking stone fragments from his hand.
He had just learned that news of his infiltration into the Xianzhou had leaked and had already reached Fei Xiao. It was unclear who had revealed it.
In the past, Aether might have slipped away quietly, hidden for years, faked his death, or abandoned this identity entirely.
But now, he had someone he cared about.
He had Fei Xiao.
Aether could not simply walk away anymore.
The fact that the information had leaked and reached Fei Xiao filled him with rage.
It was unlikely that his subordinates were responsible. They were handpicked, loyal, and meticulous. Such a mistake was beneath them.
That left only one possibility.
Someone who had recently interacted with him, knew his true identity, and was not an ally.
"…Phantylia."
Aether ground out the name through clenched teeth.
"That bitch. I gave her face, and now she thinks I won't fight because I'm weak?"
"My little ones, heed my command!"
Aether stood, raising his hand as his voice rang out.
"Investigate the whereabouts of the Emanator of Destruction, Phantylia. Leave nothing unchecked. I'm going to prepare a very special gift for her."