Night had fallen over the Moon Lake Tribe.

Inside a quiet inn, Luciel was meeting with Lu Chuan.

"Count the beast spars yourself," Lu Chuan muttered, reluctantly handing over a heavy bag.

Luciel accepted it without opening. "No need. I trust your word." He weighed the bag in his palm, his eyes flicking briefly to the bright handprints on Lu Chuan's cheeks. He could guess where those had come from.

"Can… can I have the Starlight Tea now?" Lu Chuan asked stiffly.

Earlier, when he mentioned Starlight Tea to his grandfather, he was slapped across the face. He still didn't understand what had enraged the old man. Thankfully, his grandmother doted on him—enough to secretly give him beast spars for the trade.

"Here." Luciel handed over a box.

Lu Chuan carefully cracked it open, inhaled the faint fragrance, then hugged the box tightly to his chest. Without another word, he left.

"Heheh." Mino suddenly giggled.

"He must've been beaten at home," Liyue said, lips curved in a small smile.

"Anyone who can pull out one hundred and fifty high-grade beast spars must belong to a powerful family," Luciel said thoughtfully, "maybe an elder with real influence."

Still, the trade was complete. He slipped his hand into the bag of spars.

> [Ding! Energy object detected. Convert into evolution points?]

Transform.

> [Ding! Conversion successful. Evolution points gained: 15,000.]

Luciel's heart leapt. Fifteen thousand! Enough to raise a domesticated beast to level five—with five thousand points still left over. Once he collected the red-haired girl's payment, his total would surpass twenty-five thousand. Two level five beasts would be within reach.

A knock interrupted his thoughts.

"Who?" Liyue's voice turned sharp, hand already near her bow.

"It's me, Yue Feiyan!" The fiery voice of the red-haired girl rang from outside.

Luciel opened the door. Yue Feiyan stepped in with her maid, handing over another bag of beast spars. Her eyes darted curiously around. "I saw Lu Chuan leaving just now. Why did he look so miserable?"

"He also came to trade Starlight Tea. He had a slap mark on his face," Luciel replied as he accepted the bag.

"Oh… that explains it." Yue Feiyan gave a small, knowing nod. "Probably one of his old-fashioned elders scolded him."

Luciel blinked, realizing just how pitiful the boy's situation was. He offered Feiyan her own box of tea without pressing further.

"The person you're looking for—I've already sent people out. If they have a mutant trait, we should have results tomorrow." Her eyes softened as she cradled the box. "Mother's headaches may finally ease with this tea."

"Thank you," Luciel said sincerely.

Feiyan smiled, then leaned closer, eyes glimmering. "Luciel, tell me more about Black Tortoise City."

"What do you want to know this time?" he asked, amused.

She tilted her head. "Does Black Tortoise City ever run short of water?"

At once, Liyue shot him frantic winks, silently begging him not to reveal too much.

Luciel ignored her signals and answered calmly, "No. We have a crystal fish."

Liyue slapped a hand to her face. Why are you saying that here of all places?!

Feiyan's eyes widened with envy. "A crystal fish… how wonderful. If only our tribe had one."

"Doesn't your Moon Lake Tribe have its own water source?" Luciel asked, puzzled.

"My mother creates all the water for the tribe, alone," Feiyan said quietly. "It's too much for one person."

Her red eyes dimmed. She had been expected to inherit that burden, but fate had branded her fire instead of water. Since childhood, she had seen the disappointed looks, seen her mother collapse from exhaustion yet still rise the next day to condense water for everyone. That was why she yearned for the outside world—to find something that could free her mother.

Luciel stared, dumbstruck. "Your mother condenses water… for the entire tribe, by herself?"

Feiyan nodded bitterly. "Ever since Grandmother passed away, she has borne it all alone."

Luciel exhaled slowly. "That's… incredible." Stupid, perhaps. But admirable.

Feiyan's pride flickered beneath her sadness. She forced a smile, stood, and said, "Well, I'll see you again tomorrow."

"Take care," Luciel said, watching her leave.

When the door shut, he sighed. "It seems everyone has their own burdens to carry."

"Luciel, how could you expose the crystal fish like that?" Liyue hissed, yanking off her mask. "Don't forget—we're in the Moon Lake Tribe!"

Luciel raised his hands innocently. "What? I don't even have the crystal fish on me."

"You—!" Liyue choked, lips tightening. She turned away, pouting.

Luciel chuckled, raising his hand. A ball of water shimmered into existence on his palm.

Liyue turned back, stunned. "That's… water?" She reached out, fingers trembling as they brushed the cool surface, sending ripples across it.

"It's real," she whispered.

"Of course it's real. What else would it be?" Luciel teased.

"I thought it was an illusion…" She blinked rapidly, overwhelmed. Each time she thought she understood his powers, he revealed another awakening ability.

"Wow! Luciel, when did you learn to condense water?" Mino gasped, her blue eyes round, rabbit ears quivering.

"Just yesterday," Luciel lied smoothly. Some secrets were better kept hidden. Mystery, after all, only added to a man's charm.

"Can… can we drink it?" Liyue asked, lips dry.

"Of course." Luciel held the orb forward. "Just sip it directly."

"Gulp…" Liyue leaned in, pink lips parting as she drew in the water. Her slender throat bobbed as she swallowed.

"I want some too!" Mino copied her eagerly, sipping from the other side.

Luciel's eyes widened as the water ball shrank, their faces inching closer and closer. Wait—are they going to… kiss?

But no. The orb vanished before that happened, leaving only flushed cheeks and shy glances.

"So full!" Mino patted her stomach, satisfied.

"It tastes the same as normal water," Liyue said, licking a stray drop from her lips.

"Really? I think it's a little sweet," Luciel said after finishing the last sip himself.

At once, Liyue's face went scarlet. "You—you drank from the same—!" She fumbled, twisting her hands.

"Sharing water… that's embarrassing," Mino whispered, ears folding together. The rabbit girl now understood things she hadn't before—like the rumor that drinking from the same mouth could make a child.

Luciel only smiled solemnly. "I don't waste water."

Just then—knock, knock.

The three froze.

"Who is it?" Liyue quickly slipped her mask back on, bow in hand.

A calm, elegant voice answered from beyond the door. "It is I, the Moon Lord. I wish to meet the owner of the crystal fish."

"Moon… Moon Lord?!" Liyue's face drained of color. She grabbed Luciel and Mino, pulling them toward the window.

"Go. I'll hold her off." Her voice was low, urgent. "Luciel, take Mino and run."

They reached the window, but Luciel placed a steady hand on her shoulder. "No. Trust me. I'll handle this."

"B-but—!"

He flicked her forehead lightly, smiling. "It's fine." Then, before opening the door, he brushed his fingers across Mino's pale cheek, calming the trembling rabbit girl.

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