Chapter 210: Three Sisters

Throughout all this time, things in Valvradis had not remained still.

Xingyue and Celestia put their cloaks back on early in the morning, meeting with Lilith, who was pretending to be subordinate to "Raymond."

"Well? We brought the batch they wanted so badly, and they’re not even going to say hello?" the cultivator sister’s modified voice rang out.

Lilith shook her head.

Xingyue’s starry eyes narrowed beneath her cloak. She turned her head, studying the people surrounding them, and when she finally let it come to rest facing the ground, she began tapping impatiently.

But she quickly raised her head, as if deciding she had had enough, and completely threw off the cloak covering her, revealing a smug smile toward Lilith.

"It’s a good thing they didn’t. There’s been a change of plans, Lilith."

"Huh?" The succubus began to grow nervous, though she did not show it. She glanced at the servants surrounding them with a threatening look, and upon realizing what was happening, they began showing signs of surprise when they saw that the person beneath the cloak was someone else.

Xingyue’s sharp voice quickly rendered all of that pointless:

"I know you’re not human, Lilith. Let’s stop pretending."

"Well... I did say I was from Serphes..."

"You also said that place was the home of the Unlivings. And a succubus looks nothing like one of them. Besides, believe me, I’ve known how to recognize your kind since before you were even born."

Lilith’s reddish-pink eyes stopped showing innocence; her expression hardened. She crossed her arms, accentuating her breasts, and asked:

"So? Are you going to kill me?"

Xingyue frowned. Celestia, who had removed her cloak, grabbed the sleeve of her sister’s dress and pleaded with her eyes.

Lilith’s expression softened, and she looked toward the elf with gratitude, though the venerable-level cultivator still had not said anything.

"Do they work for you?" Xingyue pointed around them.

Lilith nodded.

The hostility in Xingyue’s starry eyes began to grow ominous.

"Did the men in the mountains with the dwarves work for you too?"

Lilith shook her head, but then frowned and slowly nodded as she explained:

"They’re from Valvradis. I obtained information about the dwarves’ dealings with Valvradis through some connections I have in the court. I managed to get myself included in the group that was going to collect it, and that’s how I ended up meeting them. I understand if you want to kill me for deceiving you, but please, forgive them."

Lilith’s reddish-pink eyes remained fixed on Xingyue’s throughout the entire exchange, filled with seriousness and unwavering determination.

"Madam..." Virgam’s worried voice sounded.

Lilith shook her head at him, signaling for him not to speak.

Virgam bit his lip, his eyes reddened, but took a step back and said nothing more.

Celestia insisted again, tugging on Xingyue’s sleeve.

Silence stretched on for a while, until finally, Xingyue spoke.

"I won’t kill you, but you’ll introduce me to the imperial court and continue helping me in exchange."

"I can’t do that. With Raymond and Maxim dead, they’ll ask why they never returned, or at the very least, demand the batch. And when they find out that I sold part of it, or that the two of them are dead, they’ll blow up this entire branch, killing everyone I care about."

"That’s not my problem. Would you rather die now? Besides..." Xingyue raised an eyebrow and continued, "You’re going to be the empress after our visit. Do you really think anyone in this empire will dare do something you don’t want them to?"

"Huh?" Lilith raised both eyebrows in complete surprise and confusion.

"I initially thought of Celestia, but I don’t think she’d be a good choice considering how stupid she can be."

"Hey!" the elf complained, throwing a little tantrum and puffing out her cheeks.

"Then I thought about myself, but I have no desire to deal with something like this. There was also the option of finding some other willing puppet, but that would take time. And who better than someone who already knows she can’t go against anything I say?"

Lilith did not look happy at the last part, but she began considering her options.

However, Xingyue’s smile already made it clear that she had none.

Her eyes darkened slightly as Lilith began planning her own agenda around the woman’s scheme, and reluctantly muttered:

"Fine. Let’s do it."

At that moment, the windows began to tremble, and a shrill sound echoed all around them.

FIIIIIIIIIIIIUUUUUUUU...

Lilith frowned.

Xingyue raised both eyebrows in surprise at the sound. When she realized what it was, she raised a barrier, covering the building and protecting everyone from the explosion.

But she understood that if she did not extend the protection, the mission her master had given her would be completely destroyed. She bit her lip hard, extending her Qi throughout the entire empire and protecting it from what was coming.

KABOOM!

A shockwave shook the barrier, creating ripples across it, but failing to break through.

Two women’s expressions showed confusion when they realized they had crashed into something solid.

Then Luowei’s complaint could be heard:

"Sister! I told you we needed to slow down! We made Xingyue work!"

"I thought we still had some distance to go! I couldn’t properly sense Xingyue’s spiritual mark, much less the master’s. It’s not my fault!" Liwei looked around and added in confusion, "Either way, why is Xingyue protecting this entire area?"

Luowei looked down, saw several buildings, and replied:

"Looks like people are living in this area. There probably wouldn’t have been anyone left if we had crashed into it..."

Liwei frowned, but before she could say anything, she disappeared from the spot. Luowei rolled her eyes and quickly followed her.

Both appeared where Xingyue was and shouted enthusiastically:

"Sister!"

Xingyue looked at them with a hint of resentment, but the happiness of seeing them quickly won out, and she replied:

"Sisters!"

She threw herself into both of their arms, their laughter echoing through the walls.

The servants swallowed nervously as they looked at the two women who had suddenly appeared.

Lilith studied the two newcomers with analytical eyes, but a sly smile—one no one could see—formed in her mind as she thought about how she could benefit from the situation.

Celestia looked at the two women who had suddenly appeared with concern.

Ever since she had begun following Xingyue, she had always felt like the person closest to her, excluding her master. Now, with two more people appearing... She shook her head and focused on the conversation taking place between the three sisters.

"Were you able to see the master?"

"Mmm, it took me a while to find him, but yes."

Liwei frowned and quickly asked excitedly, looking around:

"Where is he?"

Xingyue shook her head.

"He’s not here, but I can tell you where he is. He left a trail that I can follow on my own."

Luowei bit the inside of her cheek. She looked at the people present for a moment before completely ignoring them; she lowered her head, moving closer to Xingyue’s ear, and whispered a few words.

Her younger sister’s pupils shrank. A predatory smile formed on her face as she listened to her sister’s words. When Luowei finally finished speaking, Xingyue brought her mouth close to her sister’s ear and whispered something in return.

The two looked at each other knowingly when the exchange was over.

Luowei turned around, looked at Liwei, and nodded.

"Come on. I think we have a few things to take care of before we go see the master."

This time, Luowei was the one who took the initiative, and Liwei followed her.