"Someone's coming… shall we go down?"

From atop the towering wall of the Black Tortoise City, Yue Qinlan gazed into the dusty distance. A small group of figures stood below, half-hidden by the shadow of the giant tortoise's shell.

Luciel followed her gaze, eyes calm.

"Mm. Let's go down."

"Wait." Yue Qinlan turned, her lips curving into a soft smile. "Let me handle this. You, as the lord of our city, shouldn't lower your status for trivial receptions."

Her voice was pleasant, yet firm—gilded with that gentle authority only she possessed.

Luciel blinked, slightly puzzled.

She could tell at a glance—he was not used to the posture of leadership.

To him, rules of formality were still little more than troublesome decorations.

But she, as one of the earliest members of Black Tortoise, could not allow their lord to appear too casual.

There were certain things—dignity, poise, respect—that had to be guarded.

Luciel smiled faintly. "Alright, I'll leave it to you then."

He had learned that in this vast world, eyes were everywhere.

Every gesture from him could ripple outward, carrying the weight of his title.

"Mother, let me come with you," Yue Feiyan said anxiously, tugging at her sleeve.

"No," Qinlan replied softly. "The other side is also a woman. Let Wei Geng and the others accompany me down instead."

"Yes, madam," the guards answered in unison.

"Be careful," Luciel said. He lifted one foot slightly, and the ground trembled beneath them. From the wall's edge, a great slab of stone extended outward, forming a wide platform that hovered like a silent beast.

"Don't worry." Qinlan stepped gracefully onto it, her robes fluttering.

Wei Geng and his men followed, encircling her protectively as Luciel guided the stone platform downward, smooth as a falling feather, until it landed before Yi Liyi and her group.

---

Yi Liyi stiffened.

She had seen the woman descending—elegant, composed, eyes full of calm intelligence.

Even before Yue Qinlan spoke, Yi Liyi already felt the difference in bearing.

"We are from the City of Black Tortoise," Qinlan said warmly. "We mean no harm."

Her tone was light, graceful, like a breeze stirring dust.

The woman opposite—green-haired, weary-eyed—relaxed slightly.

"I see… may I ask the purpose of your arrival?" Yi Liyi exhaled, her tension easing a little.

"We only wish to make friends with Shifou City," Qinlan replied. "Perhaps conduct a few exchanges—supplies, food, materials for daily life."

"Trade?" Yi Liyi blinked, caught off guard.

The other side's voice was so calm, so pleasant—it was hard to sense any malice.

Her heart, tight until now, loosened slightly.

"Yes. Our city has traveled far. Some of our provisions ran short along the way." Qinlan's tone remained gentle, neither humble nor proud.

Yi Liyi hesitated. "I… I'm not authorized to decide such things."

"Then," Qinlan smiled, "perhaps you could invite those who can decide. We'll wait, and everyone may discuss at ease."

Yi Liyi bit her lip, uneasy. "I'll have to speak with the other hosts of the tenth floor first."

"Of course."

Qinlan gestured lightly, her manner gracious, every movement polished as silk.

Yi Liyi nodded, stepped back, and turned away with Cheng Mao and her followers, heading toward the city gates.

---

Inside Shifou City, the mood was tense.

"Trade? Entertain them?" Waldo frowned deeply, fingers drumming against the table.

"That's what she said," Yi Liyi replied, her voice restrained.

"No, we can't trust them so easily," another protested. "How do we know they're not hiding something?"

"What if they poison the food?" someone else added.

"Indeed—we must be cautious."

The room filled with murmurs. Most of the hosts hesitated to accept any invitation.

Finally, Waldo raised his hand. "We'll accept their banquet," he said slowly. "But we bring our own food. We eat nothing they provide."

It was a compromise wrapped in suspicion.

He glanced toward the looming shadow of the ancient giant beast outside.

If they refused entirely, and the visitors took offense, the city might not survive the night.

A thin smile crept across Waldo's lips—cold, calculating.

"Yes," he said again. "We'll attend on our own terms."

"That's fine by me." The others nodded, comforted by the illusion of control.

"Then go inform them," Waldo said to Yi Liyi. "Tonight, outside the city gates. Tell them that's the arrangement."

Yi Liyi bowed slightly. "Understood."

---

Once again, she led Cheng Mao and her people back to the shadow of the giant tortoise.

Yue Qinlan was waiting, hands folded gracefully in front of her.

Her eyes brightened at the sight of Yi Liyi's return.

"How did the discussion go?" she asked with a faint smile.

"They agreed to the banquet," Yi Liyi answered. "We will bring our own food. The location is outside the city."

"No problem," Qinlan replied, lips curving into a quiet smile.

In truth, she was relieved—they would save plenty of food this way.

"Then I'll return first," Yi Liyi said, bowing slightly. "See you tonight."

"See you tonight," Qinlan echoed.

She watched as the group departed, then raised her hand toward the tortoise.

The ground vibrated.

With a low hum, the rock platform began to rise, lifting them smoothly back toward the wall that crowned the creature's shell.

A soft thud sounded as she stepped off the stone and onto the wall beside Luciel.

---

"How did it go?" Luciel asked, his expression easy.

"They've agreed," Qinlan reported. "A banquet tonight, outside their city. Everyone will bring their own food."

Luciel chuckled. "Cautious people."

He turned toward the girl with the rabbit ears.

"Then, for our side, prepare a proper meal. We must at least appear generous before our guests."

"Leave it to me!" Mino chirped, her voice crisp and clear.

She spun around and dashed toward the stairs, calling out,

"Xiaolan! Let's start dinner prep now!"

"Coming!" Wei Youlan's cheerful voice followed as she hurried after her.

Luciel leaned against the parapet, watching the bustle below. His gaze lingered on the far horizon—on the walls of the Tenth-Floor City.

"I wonder if Liyue has reached there yet," he murmured.

More and more people were gathering outside that city now.

If she was among them… would she see him?

Would she come back?

"Shall we send someone to look for her?" Qinlan asked softly.

Luciel shook his head. "No. They wouldn't find her."

He knew the white-haired girl too well.

If she wanted to hide, no one—not even Wei Geng—could find her.

All he could do was wait.

Wait, or send a shining beetle to follow the faint trail she might have left.

---

"Can we go down for a stroll?"

Yue Feiyan raised her small hand, her ruby eyes glittering with curiosity as she peered toward the distant city.

Luciel laughed. "Sure—but you might not come back once you go down."

"Huh?" Feiyan blinked in confusion.

"Foolish girl," Qinlan sighed, half-amused, half-annoyed. She reached out and pinched her daughter's soft cheek. "You're not afraid they'll catch you and interrogate you?"

"T-that hurts~!" Feiyan whined, wrinkling her small nose.

Qinlan let go but didn't soften her tone. "Tenth-Floor City will have watchers. If you go down now, they'll tail you—or worse."

Feiyan pouted, rubbing her face.

She wasn't dumb; once her mother spelled it out, her mind connected the rest.

"Then I won't go," she muttered. "Just don't pull my face again, or it'll turn into an 'i'-shape."

"You really do have a brain for decoration only." Qinlan exhaled sharply.

"I just don't know which day someone will trick you away."

"I won't be tricked!" Feiyan protested, puffing her cheeks.

"Quiet now," Qinlan said, a faint smile flickering through her irritation. "Stay put for two days. When the time's right, if you still want to visit the Tenth Floor City, I'll send Xiao Cai with you."

Luciel had his own plans.

He wanted the trade completed first—no unnecessary tension, no premature fights.

Once the transaction for the fierce-beast spars was secured, then, if conflict came, at least they wouldn't lose the deal.

"Alright! Then I'll ride a big lizard into the city later!" Feiyan's eyes sparkled with excitement.

Qinlan closed her eyes, sighing. "Completely lacking in elegance…"

She pressed her hand to her forehead, feeling half helpless, half amused.

The girl reminded her too much of her younger self—reckless, wild, untamed.

Though, truthfully, there was no blood between them.

She still remembered when Big Sis had brought this child back from somewhere unknown, saying only that she was fate's trouble.

And yet, after all these years, Yue Feiyan laughed and smiled in ways that mirrored her own reflection too well.

---

Night was slowly descending over the endless desert.

The Black Tortoise shifted, its shell gleaming faintly under the setting sun.

From the city of Shifou, torches were already being lit—small, flickering, like wary eyes watching through the dusk.

The banquet was set to begin.

And somewhere, beneath the gentle hum of the tortoise's breath, the faintest whisper drifted across the sand—

something about trust,

and deception,

and who, in the end, was really being cheated away.

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