Herta and Ruan Mei arrived once again on the Xianzhou Luofu, but this time their moods were completely different from before.
"This hairpin, that headpiece, and this one... pack two of each and send them to Herta Space Station."
Along the way, the shopkeepers looked at Herta with deep respect. This woman never asked the price, never bargained—practically a deity in their eyes.
Ruan Mei sighed helplessly. "Herta, most of the things you're buying are useless. They'll just sit in a closet gathering dust."
Herta waved her hand dismissively. "Doesn't matter. I'm in a good mood. Come on, let's go to Aurum Alley for a while, then we'll head to the Ruomu Pavilion."
Ruan Mei glanced at her, speechless. Spending all of Asta's allowance—no wonder she never hesitates.
"Herta, Fu Xuan just sent word. Jingliu has already arrived on the Luofu and is waiting for us at the Ruomu Pavilion."
Herta handed Ruan Mei an Immortal's Delight and smiled faintly. "Then let them wait. Buying so much stuff here is good for the Luofu's tourism development, after all."
Ruan Mei shook her head. "Herta, we should go see Jingliu first and ask about making the phoenix crown and rosy cape. Then I'll come back to Aurum Alley with you."
Herta thought for a moment, then nodded. "Fine. Let's go meet Jingliu, Fu Xuan, Qingque, and the others."
With her magic key, Herta teleported them directly to the Ruomu Pavilion.
The woman with ice-blue hair and an eyepatch standing beside Bailu must be the legendary Jingliu. The others present were all familiar faces—Jing Yuan and Yanqing, Fu Xuan and Qingque, Yukong, Bailu, and... Lingsha?!
A flicker of coldness appeared in Herta's eyes, making Lingsha—who had been yawning—feel as though a knife was pressed to her back, shivering uncontrollably.
Lingsha rose and gave Herta an apologetic look. "Madam Herta, I just didn't sleep well last night. A minor lapse of etiquette. Please don't be upset."
Herta crossed her arms, unimpressed. "Etiquette? Lingsha, what would you know of etiquette or grace?"
Lingsha gritted her teeth and forced a smile. Why is this woman so hostile toward me from our very first meeting? Then her gaze shifted to the woman beside Herta—classical, elegant, with three parts plum-blossom cold. That must be Madam Ruan Mei. Just as the rumors say.
She stepped forward, pointedly ignoring Herta, and bowed to Ruan Mei. "Madam Ruan Mei, it's truly a pleasure to meet you. Your legendary genius and your ethereal grace are beyond anything mere hearsay could convey."
Ruan Mei was taken aback. This Lingsha, without her memories from the past few months, still dares to ignore Herta and come straight to me.
"Cauldron Chief Lingsha, my Herta and I are here specifically to visit Jingliu and discuss the making of the phoenix crown and rosy cape."
Lingsha froze. "My Herta"? She just slapped me in the face with that.
"Madam Ruan Mei, since we're so congenial, you must be interested in spices, right?"
Ruan Mei shook her head directly. "Not at all."
Lingsha's smile slowly hardened. Caught between advancing and retreating—this Madam Ruan Mei's personality truly is as terrible as the rumors say. She also caught the smirk on Herta's face, like a victor looking down on her. That only made her angrier. Was her lost memory related to this woman? And did they have some serious conflict?
Just as the atmosphere grew heavy, Bailu quickly stepped forward and pulled Lingsha back to her seat. "I'm sorry, Madam Herta, Madam Ruan Mei. Cauldron Chief Lingsha forgot to take her medicine before leaving the Alchemy Commission today."
"Lady Bailu, I'm not sick!"
"Alright, alright, Cauldron Chief Lingsha, please don't speak. Sickness needs treatment."
Just as Lingsha was about to protest further, she looked up and saw that the eyepatch on Jingliu's face had disappeared. Those cold, absolute eyes, filled with boundless hostility, were fixed on her.
Lingsha looked at Bailu, then at herself, quickly released Bailu's hand, and gave Jingliu an awkward smile to cover her embarrassment. When Jingliu's gaze returned to Bailu, Lingsha breathed a small sigh of relief.
Did I check the calendar before leaving home? No—today is supposed to be a lucky day. So why am I so unlucky? First, Madam Herta and Madam Ruan Mei refused to give me face. Then the Swordmaster Jingliu glared at me with such hostility.
Sigh... don't get angry, don't get angry. Maybe it's just bad luck.
Herta coughed lightly, drawing everyone's attention. "Everyone, on the thirteenth of next month, I will be holding a wedding with Ruan Mei—the most unparalleled wedding in the universe."
Qingque immediately applauded. "Hooray! The Grand Diviner and I will definitely attend and bring gifts. Oh, Madam Herta, where will the wedding be held?"
Herta waved a hand, and a hologram of the blue planet appeared. "On the blue planet. I will invite key figures from every star system and every planet. The estimate may exceed ten million. I originally planned for billions, but I changed my mind."
Qingque's smile twitched. Her own wedding had only a few thousand guests. A wedding with ten million—and those would be key figures from across the universe. Unimaginable.
Fu Xuan helped explain. "Qingque, you may not know this, but the Six Edicts and Seven Arbiter-Generals of the Xianzhou are all arranging their schedules to free up that day and attend this wedding on the blue planet. As for the Interastral Peace Corporation, Jarilo-VI, Penacony, and countless other planets and factions—their key figures will also attend. Do you understand now?"
Qingque scratched her head wryly. "Oh my Reignbow Arbiter... so many Emanator-level beings will be there? I'm just a lowly diviner. Won't I be out of place at a wedding like that?"
Herta shook her head. "Qingque, you and Fu Xuan will be the officiants at this wedding."
Qingque pointed at herself in disbelief. "Me? Really? With so many Emanators and big shots... can I really do it?"
"Of course. That was Ruan Mei's and my decision."
Qingque smiled. "Then I won't refuse. Grand Diviner, let's go prepare right away."
"Wait a moment."