Listening to Herta go on and on about the grandeur of their future wedding, Ruan Mei finally smiled and nodded. Whatever Herta wanted was fine. This woman always had to be unmatched in the universe, unsurpassed by anyone—magnificent, elegant, yet never losing grace. As long as she was happy, everything else could fall into place.
"As you wish. But are you going to arrange everything yourself? The invitations alone would be far too many to write."
Herta shook her head. "I have millions of Herta puppets to handle that. Asta and Herta Ninety-Nine will also help with all their might. Still, it will take some time."
Ruan Mei blinked. With so many elaborate and grandiose wedding preparations to be handled by Herta Ninety-Nine, Asta, and the puppets, "What about us? Are we just going to stand by and do nothing?"
Herta waved her hand. "Of course not! Remember the phoenix crown and rosy cape?"
Ruan Mei thought for a moment, then recalled the crown and cape that Baiheng and Jingliu had left behind on the Xianzhou. "Yes, I remember."
Herta crossed her arms, looking rather pleased with herself. "I, the great Madam Herta, do have a bit of influence, you know. Jingliu, the Swordmaster of the Luofu, was being escorted to the Xianzhou Yuque, just a few days away from reaching Xuling. I spoke to Hua, and she did me the favor of sending Jingliu back to the Luofu first, so she can teach us the steps for making the phoenix crown and rosy cape. Then, after she attends our wedding with Bailu, she'll be sent back."
Ruan Mei was briefly surprised, but her expression quickly returned to its usual calm, unreadable state. Everyone knew that Herta's personality was as terrible as her own—unworldly, lacking empathy. Yet, with the sheer power of the great Madam Herta, who would dare not show her respect?
Aside from Hua agreeing to this favor, Ruan Mei thought of the curios in Herta's collection—each one a unique treasure in its original world. For instance, the Punklorde Mentality, a curio that was little more than a plain, one-star trinket in Herta's collection, usually left to gather dust in a corner. Yet it was an object coveted by almost every hacker on Punklorde, and Silver Wolf was just one among millions. Of course, only Silver Wolf had the courage to face Madam Herta's wrath.
"Is Jingliu already back on the Luofu?"
Herta nodded. "Yes. Let's go."
---
One hour earlier, Xianzhou Luofu.
A Xianzhou ship slowly emerged from the Yuque's Jade Gate, heading toward the Luofu. Jing Yuan, accompanied by Yanqing, Fu Xuan and Qingque, Yukong, Bailu, and Lingsha, had been waiting for some time.
Qingque scratched her head, whispering in confusion, "Little Xuan, why did General Jing Yuan call all of us here to wait for one person? Who is it?"
Fu Xuan shot her a glare and rapped her on the head. "Didn't I tell you? In front of outsiders, address me as Grand Diviner!"
Qingque clutched her head and quickly nodded. "Fine, fine, Grand Diviner. But who are we waiting for? Why such a grand reception?"
Fu Xuan glanced around to make sure no one was watching, then whispered, "Don't tell anyone. I just did a divination. It's someone who embodies terror, absurdity, power, and legend all in one."
Qingque's eyes went wide in disbelief. "Grand Diviner, is this person even more terrifying and absurd than Madam Herta and Madam Ruan Mei?"
Fu Xuan was momentarily speechless. "Grand Diviner, even you don't have an answer? Your divination isn't very good, then."
Fu Xuan flushed with anger and retorted, "The strongest beneath the Aeons and Emanators."
Hearing that assessment, the smile faded from Qingque's face. "What?! That... that absurd?"
Fu Xuan closed her eyes, crossed her arms, and said coolly, "She captured Hoolay alive. Slaughtered hundreds of thousands of Abundance remnants. Disciple of the Cangcheng Swordmaster. Swordmaster of the Luofu. Before meeting Shuhu, she never lost a single battle. One of the High-Cloud Quintet. Need I say more?"
Qingque gasped. Such a legendary figure belonged in the storyteller's tales—she never thought she'd see her in person. Fu Xuan smiled faintly and waved a hand. "Qingque, there's no need to be nervous or awkward. Just treat her as you would Madam Herta. After all, this legend's return to the Luofu is because of her."
Qingque smiled wryly. "Madam Herta is even more unfathomable than this one, isn't she?"
Fu Xuan shot her a look. "Jingliu can still be observed through the Matrix of Prescience, with enough effort. But Madam Herta? Any attempt at prediction is met with nothing but blankness and mystery."
Nearby, Bailu suddenly asked softly, "Grand Diviner, Qingque, the Swordmaster Jingliu you mentioned... she feels so familiar, but I can't quite remember."
Qingque answered without thinking, "Maybe you knew her in a past life."
Bailu stood still, trying to recall, but every time she approached the memory, an invisible seal blocked her. She sighed. "Still can't remember. But if Madam Herta is bringing this legend back, maybe it's a good thing."
Yanqing, who had been listening quietly, sat up straight, feeling like he was sitting on pins and needles. Madam Herta actually brought this legendary figure back to the Luofu? Swordmaster Jingliu is General Jing Yuan's master—which makes her his martial grandmaster. They say she fell to Mara. Her condition isn't good. But if she could teach him swordsmanship... perhaps he could improve.
"General Jing Yuan, is Grandmaster Jingliu only returning to the Luofu because of Madam Herta?"
Jing Yuan smiled but said nothing. Only Madam Herta could get Hua to personally intervene and bring his master back to the Luofu.
Yanqing lowered his head. Which is stronger—his grandmaster, or that blue-haired woman from Stargazer Navalia? No. That woman was powerful, her sword illuminating ten thousand rivers. But his grandmaster is surely stronger.