The moment Posey saw Sea Horse Douluo—
her pupils shrank to pinpoints.
Her flawless face, which had weathered centuries of salt winds and storms without changing expression, turned drastically pale.
It's over.
A thousand possibilities exploded in her mind like firecrackers—
Had her framing of Sea Witch been exposed?
No! Impossible!
That silly woman was probably still wandering the continent looking for egg fried rice.
She definitely hadn't gone back to report anything.
Then… had something happened to Sea God Island?
Even more impossible.
With Sea Dragon and the others guarding it, nothing short of a world-ending catastrophe could shake that place.
Then what—
A possibility so terrifying yet so reasonable rose like a ghost behind her:
Had Lord Sea God finally run out of patience…
And sent someone to drag her back to work?
To drag her away from this paradise of egg fried rice, skewers, grilled kidneys, and cold beer…
To that Sea God Temple where the only flavors were sea salt and boiled fish…
To a life where every day was spent on duty, maintaining rituals, waiting for the next sacrifice…
Posey felt her soul leave her body in horror.
No.
Absolutely not.
I'll die before going back.
This thought overpowered every instinct she had.
Her body reacted instantly.
She whirled around, raised her large priest robe sleeve to hide half her face, and subtly stepped behind Qian Daoliu like a frightened rabbit hiding behind a fat tree.
You can't see me.
You can't see me.
You didn't see anything.
While silently chanting, Posey released a thin thread of mental force, trembling with fear as she scanned Sea Horse Douluo's direction.
There he was—
frantically pacing, scanning the crowd with anxious eyes, left and right.
He was definitely looking for her.
Posey held her breath, body rigid as a board.
But unfortunately—
Her "hiding spot" was Qian Daoliu.
Qian Daoliu, who noticed her trembling like a leaf, panicked instantly.
His mind only thought one thing:
Xi Xi is scared?
Xi Xi is pale?
Xi Xi is trembling?!
He practically exploded on the spot.
"Xi Xi!!"
He shouted with earth-shaking terror.
"What's wrong?! Why is your face so pale? Did last night's barbecue upset your stomach? Or is it poisoning from that smell earlier?!"
"Don't scare me! If something happens to you—
I—I won't live either!"
The entire street shook from his heartfelt roar.
And that roar—
Flew straight into Sea Horse Douluo's ears.
Who immediately froze mid-step.
Then—
His eyes lit up.
There!
There she was!
The figure he had been searching for!
Sea Horse Douluo's face changed from anxiety—
To utter joy.
"High—!"
He bolted forward like a loyal dog spotting its master.
Damn it!!!!
Posey let out a silent internal scream that could shake continents.
She wanted to slap Qian Daoliu so badly—
slap him until his face turned into grilled eggplant.
Thank you!
Thank your whole family!
But now was not the time.
She needed one last shot at escape.
Just as Sea Horse Douluo approached from behind and the reverent "High Priest" was about to burst out—
Posey roared first.
She didn't look back.
She didn't hesitate.
She dropped her voice to a hoarse, drunken, street-stall-auntie tone and bellowed:
"What 'High'?!
I'm only eighteen this year!
Who are you calling 'High Sister'?!"
The earth trembled.
Sea Horse Douluo, halfway into his bow, froze.
The words on his tongue knotted themselves into a lump, nearly making him cough blood.
This voice…
This wouldn't even pass as a mediocre impersonation.
The High Priest's voice was ethereal, calm, divine—
Not like an aunt yelling over mahjong tiles after three rounds of rice wine.
Sea Horse Douluo's mind buzzed blank.
Could he have… misrecognized her?
But the back, the figure, the clothes—
And Qian Daoliu's concerned expression…
It was her.
He tentatively tried again:
"High—"
Posey instantly cut him off.
She jabbed a finger at Qian Daoliu's stunned face.
"Ohhhh~
You're looking for the High Priest?
He's right there—
that sneaky-looking old man with shifty eyes!
Go find him!
Don't bother me!"
Qian Daoliu: "???"
That description pierced his heart like a divine sword.
Xi Xi…
Is… is that how you see me?
The sadness was deep enough to drown a super Douluo.
But Sea Horse Douluo—
Unexpectedly—
Looked relieved.
He bowed deeply to Posey's back.
His voice was filled with exhaustion and helplessness.
"High Priest… please stop pretending."
"In the entire world, only you would dare scold the High Priest like that."
Posey stiffened.
Slowly… painfully…
She turned around.
Her face had regained its cold nobility—
But the pale complexion and twitching eye-corner betrayed her inner collapse.
"…Damn it."
The hatred in her eyes shot straight at Qian Daoliu like a harpoon.
It's all your fault, you old bastard!
Qian Daoliu shuddered.
He instinctively retracted his neck like a turtle.
Posey inhaled deeply, rearranged her expression, and finally assumed her High Priest dignity.
She glared at Sea Horse Douluo coldly.
"Sea Horse, why are you here?
Did Lord Sea God send an order… to bring me back?"
Sea Horse Douluo looked confused.
"Huh?
What order?"
Posey blinked.
"You… weren't sent to bring me back?"
Sea Horse Douluo shook his head earnestly.
"No!
Sea Dragon and the others saw you leave to apprehend the trai—
cough… Sea Witch. You've been gone too long.
They were worried about your safety and sent me to find you."
He hesitated, then asked cautiously:
"By the way, High Priest…
Where is Sea Witch?
Did you catch her?"
Posey froze—
Then felt her soul slam back into her body.
Safe.
She was safe.
She straightened her robe, coughed lightly, and adopted the "wise High Priest" persona again.
"Ahem."
Her tone became deep, distant, full of strategy.
"That traitor Sea Witch is extremely cunning.
I tracked her all the way here and discovered she was hiding in bustling Spirit City, attempting to vanish."
"To prevent her from acting desperately and damaging relations between Sea God Island and Spirit Hall—"
"I have chosen to remain here temporarily."
"Waiting calmly.
Lying in ambush.
To bring her to justice when the moment comes."
She lifted her chin slightly.
Cold.
Majestic.
Dignified.
"Any questions?"