Fyxestroll Garden rarely hosted such a lively party.
Now, the normally peaceful courtyard of Lucian's residence had been transformed into a scene of warmth and activity.
Himeko, Stelle, March, and Evernight had also returned from their shopping trip, making the courtyard even more bustling than before.
Everyone pitched in to lay out the ingredients and drinks, arranging everything within easy reach while the open-air barbecue grill was set up in the middle of the yard. Before long, the courtyard had become filled with the sounds of conversation, laughter, and the occasional clatter of plates and utensils.
Soon, the charcoal crackled merrily beneath the grate, its faint red glow flickering through the gaps, while the rich aroma of skewered meat, fresh vegetables, and sizzling seasonings gradually spread through the air.
Meanwhile, the mouthwatering fragrance drifted with the evening breeze, filling every corner of the courtyard with the unmistakable scent of a feast and making it increasingly difficult for anyone nearby to resist taking another bite.
And then...
"I'm back! I bought everyone's favorite bubble milk tea!"
Fu Xuan strode into the courtyard with her chest puffed out proudly, carrying several bags filled with cups of bubble milk tea in her hands, her expression practically screaming, 'Praise me already.'
Earlier, Baiheng had called to tell her that guests had arrived at the house and explained everything that had happened.
As a result, the moment her work ended, Fu Xuan hurried home to check on the situation herself.
Of course, it absolutely wasn't because she wanted to see a Stellaron Hunter cross-dressing.
Unfortunately for her, the scene before her offered no trace of the cross-dresser she had secretly expected to find.
Instead, Lucian was skillfully tending the barbecue, calmly turning skewers over the glowing coals with practiced movements while Jingliu quietly threaded vegetables onto fresh sticks beside him.
Both of them looked so natural working together that it seemed as though they had already done this countless times before.
Baiheng stood nearby, enthusiastically mixing some mysterious homemade drink, occasionally giving the container an energetic stir as she seemed increasingly pleased with whatever concoction she was creating.
Kafka sat elegantly to one side, sipping tea as though she were attending an afternoon tea party rather than a casual barbecue in a courtyard, while Silver Wolf relaxed comfortably and enjoyed Phantylia's attentive service, casually editing Blade's cross-dressing photos at the same time.
Jing Yuan had somehow ended up hugging a large wine jar by himself, leisurely drinking from it with a relaxed expression as though everyone else had collectively forgotten he existed.
Judging by how comfortable he looked, he didn't seem particularly bothered by that possibility.
Blade, meanwhile, had already changed out of that humiliating outfit, yet his expression remained as dark as the bottom of a scorched pot.
Sitting alone in the farthest corner of the courtyard with his arms crossed, he radiated an unmistakable aura of 'Don't mess with me,' making it clear that anyone who valued their life should think twice before approaching him.
After hesitating briefly, Dan Feng silently picked up a plate of grilled meat and walked over.
Rather than handing it to Blade directly, however, Dan Feng carefully placed it on the ground a short distance away, as though approaching a particularly dangerous animal, before quietly retreating without another word.
As soon as Blade noticed the plate sitting on the ground, veins nearly bulged across his forehead.
'Imbibitor Lunae... are you treating me like a dog?'
Elsewhere, Stelle and March laughed as they chased each other around the courtyard, their voices occasionally rising above the surrounding chatter.
Himeko, on the other hand, had somehow found the time to brew coffee yet again and sat comfortably with her cup nearby, apparently unwilling to let even a lively barbecue party interfere with her usual coffee routine.
Evernight had finally put away her umbrella and quietly remained near March, watching over her with silent devotion. She didn't interfere with March's playful antics, merely following her movements with a calm gaze and remaining close enough to step in whenever necessary.
Dan Heng simply observed the lively party from where he sat.
Although he still looked somewhat unaccustomed to such a carefree atmosphere, there was also a faint sense of ease in his eyes, as though even he had unconsciously relaxed after being surrounded by people who were temporarily willing to put aside their usual concerns.
One after another, everyone gradually let their guard down.
Within the walls of the courtyard, the outside world seemed impossibly distant, and the endless conflicts between factions, hidden conspiracies, as well as countless burdens weighing upon them all could finally be pushed aside, if only for a little while.
For this brief moment, none of those things seemed important enough to interrupt the warmth of the party.
Just as the peaceful, harmonious atmosphere settled over the courtyard, a tiny head suddenly peeked around the courtyard entrance.
If someone happened to glance in that direction, the first thing they would notice was a pair of delicate crystalline dragon horns, followed by a fluffy little head cautiously poking out from behind the gate as though its owner were carefully checking whether the coast was clear.
A pair of bright, curious eyes darted around the courtyard, rapidly taking in the lively scene before immediately locking onto the barbecue grill, where the mouthwatering aroma was at its strongest.
*Grrr~*
Despite all the laughter and conversation filling the courtyard, the unmistakable sound of a rumbling stomach somehow rang out loud and clear.
"Whoa... there's so much delicious food..."
Bailu clung to the front gate with sparkling eyes, practically drooling as she stared inside.
Her gaze remained fixed on the various skewers and dishes spread throughout the courtyard, and for a moment, it looked as though she might completely forget that she was supposed to be hiding.
"Big Brother Lucian's life is so wonderful..."
Sniffing deeply, she eagerly took in the delicious scent before quickly searching through the crowd. Her little nose twitched slightly as she tried to identify where each enticing smell was coming from, but one particular figure soon captured all of her attention.
It didn't take long before she spotted Lucian personally tending the grill.
Bailu remembered perfectly that the last time she had secretly slipped out to play, two bad guys had cornered her, and by sheer coincidence, she had stumbled into this very place.
In the end, what had initially seemed like an unfortunate encounter had instead turned into a surprisingly wonderful adventure.
Not only had Lucian treated her to delicious food, but he had also taken her to teach those troublemakers from the Alchemy Commission a proper lesson.
Bailu still remembered that experience clearly, and whenever she thought back on it, she couldn't help feeling that meeting Lucian had been one of the best things that had happened during one of her little escapes.
And now, she had secretly escaped from the Alchemy Commission again.
As for why, the reason was simply that the physician responsible for looking after her had actually wanted her to drink that horribly bitter decoction again.
Who could possibly endure something like that?
Just thinking about the bitter taste was enough to make Bailu's expression scrunch up in disgust.
When she thought about all the snacks and candy waiting at Lucian's house, along with the irresistible smell of freshly grilled meat drifting across the courtyard, she became more convinced than ever that running away had been the correct decision.
After carefully waiting for an opportunity, Bailu noticed that no one was paying attention to the courtyard wall.
Her eyes immediately lit up, and without wasting another second, she quietly approached the wall before climbing over it using both her hands and feet with surprising agility.
For someone so small, she was remarkably nimble, and she managed to get herself over the wall without attracting anyone's attention.
And then...
"Ouch!"
*Thump!*
Bailu achieved a perfectly accurate landing, straight into the bushes inside the courtyard. Even though the noise wasn't especially loud, it was still just enough to draw everyone's attention.
In the next moment, the bushes rustled noisily for a few moments before a tiny vidyadhara girl wearing Alchemy Commission robes finally crawled out, with several leaves stuck in her hair.
She looked dusty and disheveled, yet there wasn't even the slightest trace of shame on her face. Completely unfazed by everyone's eyes on her, Bailu casually brushed the dirt and leaves from her clothes before her eyes suddenly lit up, and she sprinted directly toward Lucian without the slightest hesitation.
"Big Bro Lucian! Big Sis Jingliu! Big Sis Baiheng! Save me!"
Throwing herself forward, Bailu wrapped both arms tightly around Lucian's leg and immediately began acting cute, rubbing her face against him repeatedly as though she had finally found the person who could save her from her terrible fate.
"Lucian, the people at the Alchemy Commission won't let me come out and play again, and their cooking is awful! Can you take me in? I barely eat anything, and I can treat illnesses too! I can even help check if anyone in your house is sick!"
Looking down at the tiny 'leg accessory' clinging tightly to him, Lucian couldn't help letting out a quiet laugh.
"Oh? You snuck out again?" Lucian asked while gently reaching down to rub her head. "You hungry?"
"Mhm! Mhm! Mhm!" Bailu nodded so vigorously that her dragon horns nearly bounced. "It smells so good here... C-Can I... Can I eat something first? I'm so hungry..."
Her pleading eyes drifted back toward the barbecue grill as her little nose twitched continuously, greedily savoring every delicious scent floating through the air.
It could be said that her pitiful yet adorable sight was enough to melt almost anyone's heart.
Lucian had never been particularly resistant to adorable children who knew how to act spoiled, and Bailu's cheerful personality only made her even more likable.
"Perfect timing. Lemme introduce you to two guys."
With one effortless motion, Lucian lifted Bailu into his arms before handing her several skewers of grilled vegetables.
Bailu's eyes instantly sparkled brighter than ever.
Forgetting all about manners, she happily settled onto Lucian's lap and immediately began devouring the skewers with enthusiastic bites.
Before long, both cheeks had puffed out like little dumplings, while her dragon tail happily swayed back and forth behind her in small, excited arcs.
"Slow down. Nobody's gonna steal your food."
Unable to suppress a smile, Lucian handed her a cup of fruit juice as well.
"Mmph... Thank you, Lucian! You're the best!"
Bailu mumbled her gratitude through a mouthful of food before enthusiastically continuing her feast.
Watching the little foodie who had suddenly joined the party, everyone couldn't help but find her utterly endearing. The sight of her happily stuffing herself with grilled food, in particular, made it difficult for anyone to feel anything but affection toward the tiny Vidyadhara girl.
Jing Yuan simply smiled wryly and shook his head.
"Good grief, the Dragon Lady has run away again. Now, the people at the Alchemy Commission are probably panicking."
Ever since Lucian had intervened and wiped out the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus hidden within the Alchemy Commission, the entire organization had been struggling to rebuild order and restore its former stability.
At this moment, the new Cauldron Master had yet to officially assume office, so Bailu herself remained the heart of the Alchemy Commission. With that pillar suddenly disappearing again, the physicians were undoubtedly in complete chaos.
Jing Yuan thought that he should probably let them know she was safe before their panic turned into an even bigger mess.
Meanwhile, the moment Stelle and March spotted Bailu, they practically rushed over together.
It couldn't be helped.
Neither of them could resist adorable things.
Within moments, Lucian found himself surrounded by girls, every one of them eager to pet Bailu and fuss over the tiny vidyadhara girl who had suddenly appeared.
"Ywou cwan look, but dwon't twouch my hwead, or I'll nwever grow twaller..." (You can look, but don't touch my head, or I'll never grow taller...)
Bailu spoke while eating her skewers, making her words unclear, yet somehow making her even cuter.
Not far away, Dan Feng and Dan Heng almost simultaneously frowned before quietly exchanging glances.
Both of them could feel that the power of the Vidyadhara High Elder within them was resonating. From the little girl before them, both could clearly sense a power that shared the exact same origin as their own.
"Bailu..."
Dan Feng slowly set down his wine cup, his expression growing noticeably more serious.
"You... still haven't grown up?"
By the time he had been sentenced to the ultimate punishment and undergone rebirth through molting, Bailu had already been roughly this size. Before his death, he had deliberately entrusted the power of the High Elder to her so she could become the next High Elder.
Yet only moments ago, he had learned that his reincarnation, Dan Heng, possessed half of the High Elder's power, which meant Bailu only possessed the remaining half.
From that outcome, it seemed those vidyadhara elders had tampered with everything behind the scenes.
At the same time, still happily chewing on her food, Bailu finally noticed the two of them and suddenly froze, a half-eaten skewer hanging from her mouth, before slowly raising her head to look at Dan Feng and Dan Heng with wide, puzzled eyes.
"Y-You..." Bailu forgot to chew entirely as she pointed her skewer toward Dan Feng. "I think... I've seen you before."
"Of course you have." Dan Feng gave a calm nod. "I am the previous High Elder, the previous Imbibitor Lunae."
"Great!"
Bailu suddenly and excitedly clapped both hands together, her eyes shining as brightly as the stars.
"We must hurry up and come back to the Scalegorge Waterscape with me! Hurry! Go reclaim the position of High Elder right now!"
"I don't want to be the High Elder! Every single day, I'm locked up studying this and learning that, and I still have to drink those bitter medicines!"
"I don't have any freedom at all!"
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[A bonus chapter for reaching 400 Power Stones]
[Support and get early access to upcoming chapters at: patreon.com/VALRRR]