In Ruan Mei's laboratory, she had informed Tingyun of "Yu Qingtu's" return.
Tingyun stood to the side, lost in thought. After a moment, she asked.
"Benefactor Ruan Mei, Yu Qingtu was missing for so long, and now she suddenly appears. And in Herta City, of all places. Her identity is extremely suspicious."
Ruan Mei nodded slightly. Whether this "Yu Qingtu" is real or not, Herta playing this card is a risky move.
Just as she was about to discuss with Tingyun how to deal with this "Yu Qingtu,"
A [Mirror] appeared directly in the laboratory. Herta and "Yu Qingtu" stepped out.
Ruan Mei stared at "Yu Qingtu." A familiar face? No... it's eerily similar?!
But her Path power is shrouded by something even more terrifying. I can't see through it. Can't discern it.
As Ruan Mei pondered in silence, "Yu Qingtu" walked toward Tingyun.
"Hmm? Ruan Mei, is this the foxian you've taken in? Herta says she's quite something. Let me have a look."
"Yu Qingtu" reached out and grabbed Tingyun's tail. Tingyun's mind went blank. Instinctively, she looked to Ruan Mei for help.
Ruan Mei cast her a cold glance. Frost spread. Chill mist appeared.
"Yu Qingtu" could only scratch her head, smile sheepishly, and back away.
Tingyun leaned close to Ruan Mei and whispered.
"Benefactor Ruan Mei, is this really Yu Qingtu? How can she be so rude?"
Ruan Mei set down her teacup and sighed helplessly.
"Sigh. That's just her personality. Absolutely familiar with everyone. She could chat with a True Sting."
"But the memories, the mannerisms, the appearance, the speech, the movements—they're all very similar. Yet I sense a difference in her Path power."
"She has Erudition, yes. But there's another Path power, flickering in and out, concealing the essence beneath the surface."
Herta saw Ruan Mei and Tingyun whispering again. She feigned composure with a cough.
"Ahem. Ruan Mei. Yu Qingtu went missing. She was cornered and fell into an unknown domain. I used every means to find her."
She stepped forward and separated Tingyun from Ruan Mei.
"Let's go to Moon Star Pavilion. Tingyun, prepare some pastries and tea. Let us geniuses sit down and catch up properly."
"I'll prepare the tea and pastries right away, Benefactor Ruan Mei. Please wait for me."
...
Minutes later, at Moon Star Pavilion.
Ruan Mei, "Yu Qingtu," and Herta sipped tea and nibbled plum cakes.
"Yu Qingtu" exclaimed.
"Ruan Mei! Your plum cakes taste exactly the same as before!"
Ruan Mei closed her eyes and asked coldly.
"And how is it that you resemble Yu Qingtu so perfectly?"
"Yu Qingtu" scratched her head, looking confused.
"Resemble? Ruan Mei, I am Yu Qingtu. Since when did you start making jokes like this?"
Ruan Mei didn't know who this "Yu Qingtu" really was. But her vigilance remained constant.
"Yu Qingtu" stepped forward and offered Ruan Mei a freshly mixed cocktail: the Talah Wyrmflame.
Ruan Mei recognized it instantly. The terror of this drink.
"This Talah Wyrmflame. You should be familiar with it."
"Try it. In all the universe, only I, Yu Qingtu, can mix this."
Ruan Mei stared at the Talah Wyrmflame on the table. A brief silence.
Herta's explosive kitchen pastries. Himeko the Navigator's coffee. And this Talah Wyrmflame.
The three most absurd, terrifying "Sacred Relics" in the universe.
She had tried it once, several Amber Eras ago. The memory still haunted her.
"Yu Qingtu" raised the glass and offered it to Ruan Mei.
"Come on, Ruan Mei, try it! This exotic cocktail—only I can make it."
Herta smirked, backing her up.
"Ruan Mei, you and Yu Qingtu haven't seen each other in years. A reunion after so long. Don't refuse the cocktail she mixed for the occasion. Taste it."
For the first time, hesitation and uncertainty flickered across Ruan Mei's eternally frozen face.
She could use a tasteless agent to block everything.
But then she couldn't use the authenticity of this Talah Wyrmflame to confirm "Yu Qingtu's" true identity.
Was the cost too high?
Unlike Herta and "Yu Qingtu," who were cheering her on, Tingyun's face was pale. Desperate. She leaned in and whispered.
"Benefactor Ruan Mei, we have many ways to verify if this 'Yu Qingtu' is fake."
"But this Talah Wyrmflame... just a whiff, and I feel like I've lost a life."
"Even if it's eighty or ninety percent real, drinking it would be a nightmare."
Ruan Mei finally raised the Talah Wyrmflame and downed it in one gulp. But a second before, she used a tasteless agent.
Tingyun was right. There were many ways to verify "Yu Qingtu." No need to risk everything on this drink.
Herta knew "Yu Qingtu" couldn't perfectly replicate the Talah Wyrmflame.
She was betting Ruan Mei would use a tasteless agent. And she was right.
"Ruan Mei. No one else would bother learning to make Yu Qingtu's Talah Wyrmflame, right?"