After Fu Xuan exhausted every kind word she could say, Lingsha finally sat back down in the Ruomu Pavilion across from Herta, ready to go through the motions and placate her. After all, she felt an unprecedented hatred for this Madam Herta before her.
Her master had always said that as a healer, one must be kind and form good relationships with others. Her master had lived her entire life by that principle, an undeniable good person. Yet in the end, she was slandered by that damned Dragonfang, and Jing Yuan—who had once drunk and laughed with her master—did nothing. Forced to flee far from home, she was eventually forgotten by the world.
Sigh. Kindness is weakness. Now that I, Lingsha, am the Cauldron Chief, I cannot repeat my master's mistakes. When it's time to be decisive, when it's time to be firm, I cannot hesitate.
Fixing Herta with a cold, frosty glare, Lingsha's eyes carried the fire of the Vidyadhara as she met Herta's gaze without flinching.
"Madam Herta, according to my Vidyadhara journals, I have lived in that estate for nine cycles of reincarnation—I don't even know how many years. It is the home I have longed for. You tell me to move, so I must move? What gives you the right?!"
Herta regarded Lingsha with an indifferent, almost mocking gaze—a look that felt strangely familiar to Lingsha, though she couldn't remember why. Cold sweat beaded on her forehead, and a creeping unease spread through her without explanation.
Seeing this, Herta continued unhurriedly. "Lingsha, this 'home' of yours is just an estate—a house where only you live. Alone, reincarnation after reincarnation, always by yourself."
Lingsha blinked. The fire in her eyes faded, replaced by the quiet melancholy of the Vidyadhara. Yes. She was Vidyadhara. The Vidyadhara had reincarnated endlessly for millennia, yet they lacked the ability to bear children like ordinary Xianzhou natives. Every reincarnation was solitary—from the High Elders of the Fanghu down to the common Vidyadhara. This loneliness and pain were indelible wounds deep in the Vidyadhara heart.
"Lingsha, name your price. How much to move out of Cloudreach Mansion?"
Lingsha gritted her teeth. "Three trillion credits. Can you pay? If not, disappear from my sight this instant!"
Herta closed her eyes and waved her hand. "Lingsha, I came to talk with you in good faith. And my friendship with the Xianzhou Alliance has spanned centuries—that is an undeniable fact."
Lingsha gave a cold "Oh" and retorted, "So? So you're going to use your seniority, your ties to the Alliance, to strong-arm me? Fine. Go find Jing Yuan. I'll see you there!"
She rose in a fury, brushing past her sleeve. Just as she had taken a few steps out of the pavilion, Herta yawned and said calmly, "Jing Yuan? A century ago, Hua herself came to me in Xuling with a covenant of tea, pledging a joint campaign against the Abundance. A few old fossils from the Ten-Lords Commission could only stand beside her. Several Arbiter-Generals and High Elders were also present. Of course, your master was there too—though she was only in the corner. I barely remember her."
Lingsha's steps faltered. Everyone talked about the Xianzhou's noble families. But before true power and seniority, they were all but smoke.
Of course she knew the story—how the Xianzhou Alliance had approached that genius ninety-nine times, only to be refused each time. It was only when Hua paid a personal visit, three invitations and three covenants, that the alliance was finally sealed. And that genius was this woman. Talent without virtue. Oh, Reignbow Arbiter, why have you abandoned me?