Pei Guang, watching her elegant performance, wore a pensive expression.
Stelle asked, "What's wrong?"
Pei Guang replied, "Something's off. Xianzhou is supposed to be our temporary ally, and their dances should trigger the same buff effects. But why isn't her performance granting us any positive buffs?"
That was why Pei Guang had asked Tingyun to perform—not to humiliate her but to test a theory. If Xianzhou natives could become sources of buffs, he wanted Tingyun to get used to the idea. In an actual battle, she might not be able to fight, but singing and dancing in the background could be an invaluable contribution.
Pei Guang didn't elaborate further, but those around him exchanged sharp glances. His comment carried significant implications.
Pei Guang's powers were undeniably real. If there were no buffs, there were only two possibilities: either his abilities had failed, or Tingyun didn't qualify as an ally under his system.
Dan Heng and Welt dismissed the first option outright. Pei Guang's powers were so reliable that even skeptics couldn't deny them after witnessing them in action. Look at Bailu, look at Fu Xuan—both had been quickly swayed by him.
Tingyun had been with them since their arrival on Xianzhou, save for brief separations, like at Palace of Astrum and Aurum Alley. She had seen Pei Guang's abilities firsthand, from reversing the effects of Mara to helping the Cloud Knights.
Refusing to join their team was understandable; not everyone wanted to be a Trailblazer. But being excluded from ally recognition? That was suspicious.
Stelle and March 7th both recalled something Pei Guang had said repeatedly in Belobog.
"In every map, there's a guide figure. They always have a significant identity, but what that is, we don't know."
Considering Tingyun's role as Xianzhou's guide, it wouldn't be surprising if she had a hidden identity. At the extreme end of speculation, she might even be affiliated with the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus. Her awe-struck reaction upon seeing the Ambrosial Arbor had already prompted Bailu to warn her.
The room grew quiet as this possibility lingered.
March 7th broke the silence with a carefree laugh. "Hey, why overthink it? If Ah Guang's unbeatable intuition ever fails us, then we'll start worrying."
Stelle nodded. "Sounds like a plan."
Tingyun watched the two of them exchange cryptic remarks and noticed Pei Guang's amused grin. She felt a little uneasy but didn't have time to dwell on it. She had come with a purpose and couldn't let Pei Guang's unpredictable antics derail her.
With a determined breath, she resolved to focus on the task at hand.
On the other hand, Stelle excitedly pulled out her baseball bat and flaming lance, her eyes gleaming with energy as she watched Tingyun's song and dance performance.
Tingyun immediately noticed her intense gaze and her weapons at the ready. Nervously, she paused her performance. "Trailblazer… What are you planning? Your eyes… they're terrifying."
Tingyun couldn't help but feel unnerved by the strange glint in Stelle's eyes. Even more unsettling was the palpable aura of destruction radiating from her, and the overwhelming power emanating from her light cone, which Tingyun couldn't ignore.
Pei Guang stepped in to reassure her, "Tingyun, you don't need to worry. We're Trailblazers: you're totally safe with us!"
Tingyun looked at him suspiciously. "Then why is she holding her weapons like that and giving me such a… predatory look?"
Stelle coughed and feigned innocence. "I'm just checking my gear. Totally normal for a Trailblazer, right?"
March 7th chimed in, grinning. "Exactly! Don't worry, Tingyun. Stelle's War-flaming lance is only used for poking enemies—really hard pokes!"
Pei Guang added, "As for that gaze, don't overthink it. She's just admiring your fine physique. She's… fascinated. No inappropriate intentions, I assure you!"
Stelle nodded vigorously. "Exactly! I'm just really intrigued by your body…"
She was already imagining various scenarios—what if Tingyun turned out to be a hidden antagonist? Should she go for an upward strike from behind or a direct stab to the stomach? And more importantly, would Tingyun drop any rare loot?
Pei Guang wrapped it up with an encouraging tone, "Don't be scared! Come on, keep singing and dancing to give us buffs. Trust us—we're professionals."
Tingyun let out a sigh of resignation. "I'm not scared, just… a little nervous. It's my first time performing at such an important occasion. But if it's what you need, I'll continue."
With that, Tingyun resumed her lively dance, her voice ringing out in song. Meanwhile, a nearby Cloud Knight on duty caught sight of her graceful movements. Without hesitation, he pulled out a professional-grade camera and started recording.
Once he began, other off-duty Cloud Knights followed suit, whipping out their phones to capture the performance. Tingyun's elegant dance was mesmerizing, and for the female Cloud Knights, it provided an excellent tutorial. Though the buffs from dancing were undeniable, the earlier choreography lacked aesthetic appeal. Tingyun's demonstration was the perfect reference for improvement.
Fu Xuan, observing the slight commotion from the Cloud Knights, noted it but didn't intervene. If Pei Guang's group was involved, she reasoned, it wasn't worth worrying about. Her primary concern wasn't distracted soldiers but the consequences of Pei Guang's… unique approach to dealing with enemies.
She couldn't forget the sight from her divination—Pei Guang dismantling every foe, turning even the most exotic creatures into materials for weapons and armor. She muttered under her breath, "If the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus attack now, they might just end up as part of his inventory…"
The thought brought an involuntary smile to her face, though she quickly shook it off. "Focus, Fu Xuan. This is no time for distractions. The situation with the alchemy furnace is dire."
Her gaze shifted to the enormous furnace in the distance, a source of looming dread for the Xianzhou Luofu. The fumes it emitted had the terrifying potential to transform Xianzhou people into mara-struck soldiers, a threat even Fu Xuan feared.