"Did you save a Foxian from the Xianzhou?"
Since Phantylia wanted to destroy the Xianzhou—
She naturally wouldn't act as crudely as the other Lord Ravagers.
She had her own aesthetics of destruction.
So she definitely had long-term plans.
In fact, even before the Antimatter Legion invaded Herta Space Station—
She had already attacked the Whistling Flames Merchant Guild.
According to the original plot—
Ruan Mei should have already saved Tingyun by now.
"…"
Ruan Mei looked at Su Ran in surprise.
He even knew about that?
"Not long ago, I found a merchant convoy that had been attacked by Destruction. So I went to take a look and happened to save one person."
As for everyone else—
Ruan Mei couldn't care less.
She wasn't that kindhearted.
The reason she saved the Foxian—
Was simply because she was curious about Foxians as a species.
"Name your price. Give her to me."
The moment Su Ran thought of Tingyun—
He thought of Ningguang.
Asta was a rich heiress herself—
But she couldn't teach Ningguang much.
Tingyun, however, could become Ningguang's teacher.
As for people from the IPC—
He didn't trust them.
Not even Topaz.
No matter the situation—
She would always find ways to pull him toward the company.
But Tingyun?
She was trustworthy.
And Su Ran also knew—
If Tingyun learned who he really was,
She'd definitely try her best to befriend him too.
She might even whisper in Ningguang's ear constantly—
Trying to improve his relationship with the Xianzhou Alliance.
In behavior, she might be similar to Topaz or Jade.
But compared to the IPC—
The Xianzhou was far more trustworthy.
"If you like her, I can just give her to you."
Ruan Mei wasn't particularly interested in getting something in return.
Saving that Foxian had just been a whim.
Even wanting to modify her had only been a passing thought.
But since Su Ran wanted her—
Ruan Mei didn't mind giving her away.
"Free things are usually the most expensive…"
If he just accepted her favor—
Repaying it later would be troublesome.
"No need to repay me."
Ruan Mei wasn't particularly scheming.
She had no intention of leveraging this for future gain.
"No. He has to repay you!"
The moment Ruan Mei said he didn't need to—
Herta immediately objected.
Ruan Mei still didn't understand what this meant.
Clearly, Herta had the closest relationship with Su Ran.
So why was she suddenly not siding with him?
"Because he's only allowed to freeload off me. No one else gets that privilege!"
Ruan Mei withdrew her gaze.
At this point—
She genuinely felt Herta's brain might be malfunctioning.
What kind of people were these?
"If you really insist on repaying me, then just give me something you think I'd actually find useful."
As for why she didn't directly state her true goal—
That was because it was far too ambitious.
Its value was nowhere near comparable to a single Foxian.
She worried that bringing it up rashly might make Su Ran dislike her.
Her humanity was thin—
But precisely because she was so rational,
She could see the situation more clearly than most.
"Alright. Then when the time comes, I'll give you the Lord Ravager trying to wreck the Luofu as repayment."
"…Mm. I like that gift."
A Lord Ravager as an experimental specimen?
That really was a pretty excellent return gift.
Ruan Mei was very pleased.
An Emanator of Destruction—
While not as fitting for life sciences as an Emanator of Propagation—
Was still fundamentally a living being.
So naturally, Ruan Mei was interested.
"…Wait, are your return gifts always this generous?"
Herta was stunned.
Sure, she liked the idea of Su Ran only freeloading off her—
But casually gifting an Emanator of Destruction as repayment?
Wasn't that way too extravagant?
She was already regretting what she said.
If he only freeloaded off her—
Wouldn't she be the one losing out?
That "repayment" looked absurdly valuable.
"It's just a convenient favor. Besides, I can't think of anything else to give her."
It wasn't like Su Ran could offer himself up on an autopsy table for Ruan Mei to study.
"You've never been that generous with me!"
Herta didn't get jealous easily.
But this time—
She really was jealous.
"Not generous enough? I gave you access to the teleportation device, and access to the equivalent exchange machine…"
"…Fine. I take it back."
The moment he listed those two permissions—
Herta instantly realized she really had gotten far more than Ruan Mei.
Both of those inventions were outrageous.
Way more valuable than some Lord Ravager.
Now—
It was Ruan Mei's turn to feel a little sour.
Even though she and Herta were both geniuses—
She had never gotten nearly as much from Su Ran.
For the first time—
She actually felt a little envious of Herta.
Soon after—
Herta generously used the teleportation device in front of Ruan Mei,
And the three of them were instantly transported to Ruan Mei's residence.
They were here to collect Tingyun's bod—
…her person.
Under Ruan Mei's lead—
Su Ran and Herta finally saw Tingyun lying unconscious.
Even at a glance—
It was obvious the Foxian had suffered severe injuries.
Her body was covered in multiple burns—
Each carrying traces of Destruction's aura.
Su Ran reached out and gently touched Tingyun's fox ears and tail.
The texture was clearly far inferior to Yae Miko's or Kitsune Saiguu's.
There were obvious rough, hardened patches—
Scars left behind by flames.
For a Foxian who loved beauty so much—
Who likely spent every day grooming her fur—
Seeing her tail reduced to this…
Would probably make her cry for ages.
Except—
Tingyun didn't even have the chance to cry.
She had already fallen into deep unconsciousness.
Without treatment—
She might never wake up.
"Though she's been burned in plenty of places, you can still tell this little fox is quite beautiful. You really picked up a bargain."
Herta looked Tingyun over with great satisfaction.
"Besides, I've heard plenty of stories about fox spirits repaying kindness."
With the skills of the three of them—
Restoring Tingyun's appearance wasn't difficult.
The life-saving favor belonged to Ruan Mei—
But Ruan Mei had no interest in a Foxian's gratitude.
And now—
Su Ran was the one taking her away from Ruan Mei.
That was also a life-saving favor.
"Got anything to say?"
Herta poked him.
"She's really pretty."
Su Ran gave his honest opinion.
"Then what about me?"
Herta's competitive streak flared up immediately.
"You're pretty too."
Ruan Mei also cast over an expectant look.
"…You're pretty too."
Both women were satisfied.
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