Eldritch Horror Theatre

This was exactly why the sport of fishing held such fascinating charm.

Even when the willing bit the hook, it always managed to bring surprises.

The fact that Crystal had arrived instead of Akasha was certainly a rather abstract catch.

After all, judging from previous encounters, the two not only had completely opposite personalities, but they also genuinely did not get along.

But looking on the bright side, the First Camp was a better fit, and she also counted as an acquaintance.

Besides, while savoring this unexpected joy, it wasn't hard for Fu Qian to guess the likely reasons behind it.

"Are you looking for Akasha?"

Meeting the gaze of those pupil-less eyes, Fu Qian threw out the question mysteriously right after his welcome.

Yes, he was the one asking her.

Furthermore, he wasn't just talking nonsense. In Fu Qian's judgment, this was a genuine possibility.

It wasn't just about their tangled grievances; there was also the commotion from earlier.

She was clearly a demigod who specialized in freezing things, so why all the silk and webs? Why hide out of sight while deliberately misleading everyone into thinking Akasha was the one causing the disturbance?

Was she deliberately smearing her name out of spite?

It sounded plausible at first, but a moment's thought revealed it was completely out of character for Crystal.

If it wasn't a deliberate smear campaign, what was the point of doing this when she had already shown up?

Also, Catherine was clearly Akasha's former blood slave, so why had Crystal been the one to arrive so swiftly? Where was her actual master? Her master had disappeared.

Yes, this was a possibility Fu Qian had considered.

Given the awkward relationship between the two, this was a reasonable enough motive to push Crystal into such an operation.

With the arrival of the new era, it wasn't strange for some high-tier transcendents to undergo unexpected changes.

And the fact that the Prophet was dead meant that a certain alliance had already fractured.

Combining the two factors, Crystal—who clearly still harbored intentions of saving her friend currently occupied by the Spider Silk Queen—would definitely be keeping a close eye on Akasha.

Under these circumstances, with activity related to Akasha suddenly erupting here, it wasn't strange for her to rush over so quickly.

Once she arrived, unsure of what exactly was happening, pretending to be the Spider Silk Queen to test the waters was a reasonable reaction compared to jumping out and demanding answers directly.

It was just a pity that Dayun Mingwang's response had been even more obnoxious—he had simply turned around and tried to walk away.

...

"You're looking for Akasha too... or me?"

Sure enough, Fu Qian's question triggered intense vigilance.

Even though her eye sockets seemed to hold nothing but ice crystals, he could still sense the Crystal Demigod's flickering gaze.

Not only did she refrain from denying his question, but she also seemed to have drawn some extra conclusions of her own.

"Hehe... it's all the same."

When it came to acting mysterious, Fu Qian had undoubtedly reached the pinnacle; in that moment, he simply let out a low chuckle.

"Should we let her go put on some clothes first?"

He then gestured toward Catherine.

"...You aren't worried she'll run away?"

As expected of a relatively naive player. If it had been Akasha, she probably would have claimed that the current visual effect was much better.

"I'm not worried. She's familiar with this place, so maybe she can even bring us back something to eat."

Fu Qian didn't hesitate for a single second, fully embodying the principle to never doubt those you employ, and successfully provoked a moment of silence.

Hah—

Breaking the silence was a heavy breath. Crystal didn't make a single move, but the next moment, Catherine nearly collapsed to the ground as if her strings had been cut.

It seemed she was still entirely aware of the conversation happening beside her.

After rapidly steadying her breathing, she couldn't help but glance back and forth between Fu Qian and Crystal a few times. Ultimately, Catherine didn't say a word, merely lowering her head and walking off to the side.

"Why are you looking for Akasha?"

Crystal finally spoke up, choosing to confirm Fu Qian's motives first, just as expected.

She asked the question with obvious caution; after all, these were sensitive times.

"It's nothing, really. Just looking for an old friend to catch up."

Fortunately, Fu Qian had always been good at breaking the ice. He immediately offered a comforting smile.

As he spoke, he casually took off his mask so she could see that smile.

...

Ah?

In that moment, the shock on the Crystal Demigod's face was incredibly layered.

First of all, it was clear that the legend of Andiel hadn't vanished after the completion of the previous mission; she definitely recognized this face.

Secondly, from the moment she appeared, forcing this mysterious figure to take off his mask and reveal his identity was obviously something she had been trying to achieve, yet he had done it far too easily.

Fu Qian's plan to create a jarring contrast by abruptly revealing his true face was highly effective. She didn't seem to doubt his authenticity at all.

"Andiel?"

Lastly, and rather touchingly, Crystal even remembered his name. As she spoke, she couldn't help but glance around the room, clearly recalling their previous meeting in this very place.

However, his talk about "old friends catching up" didn't relax her in the slightest. In fact, her expression only grew more guarded.

It was completely understandable. After all, nothing good had come of his last appearance, and they were currently in an Autumn of Many Troubles.

"Hehe... it's rare for you to still remember this old man. It has been a while, Excellency Crystal."

In contrast, Fu Qian looked entirely delighted, admitting to his identity with generous ease.

"It's really you? Are you an outsider or not?"

Facts proved that Crystal not only remembered him, but remembered him very clearly.

Forgoing any pleasantries, she went straight to asking a very profound question.

She didn't bother hiding her hostility, either. At that moment, her hair began to faintly float upwards, radiating a biting chill.

...

It seemed everyone had genuinely been troubled by this for a long time.

Being stared at so intensely by that face was a rather unique experience. It made one naturally envision having a chunk of flesh torn right off their thigh.

As for Crystal's reaction, Fu Qian didn't feel offended in the slightest.

During his previous mission, he had "pretended" to be an outsider at Yuan Fang's invitation. This was meant to help stabilize the emotions of the local transcendents, preventing the wheels of the new era from turning too violently.

But while he was eating here last time, Akasha and Crystal—acting as his hosts—had been thoroughly confused by his performance, remaining highly suspicious of his true identity.

They couldn't even figure out whether or not he had actually merged memories with the clown.

For him to suddenly pop back up during this Autumn of Many Troubles—sporting a brand-new look on top of it—it was perfectly normal for her to let her imagination run wild.

Not to mention the fact that he was "looking for someone" just like her.

"Of course I am. Although this place feels nice, I simply don't have the fortune to stay here all the time."

Fu Qian's response was completely honest. He let out a long sigh as he sized up his surroundings, looking for all the world like a man who had finally saved up enough time off for a short vacation.

"I only found this..."

This movement actually prompted a new stir; Catherine had returned, fully dressed, and was indeed walking over with a tray in her hands.

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