Chapter 252 - 252: Second Sister? Who is the Eldest Sister?

"The principles of trade... relinquish what is fiercely contested, take what is mutually agreed upon. Only then can one traverse the cosmos, obtain what one truly desires, and ensure all dealings flow smoothly." Tingyun spoke with measured precision, her tone carrying an uncharacteristic weight. "This fundamental truth is something I will never abandon."

She paused, her fox ears twitching slightly. "However, I have come to understand a harsh reality. The laws of commerce might allow one to gamble against mortals, but they are woefully inadequate when attempting to contend with gods."

Yukong's gaze softened, her voice dropping to a low, resonant murmur. "This was never a burden meant for your shoulders. You are merely an innocent survivor caught in the crossfire of this brutal war."

"And did you not also begin as a mere survivor of war, Madam Yukong?" Tingyun countered softly, a faint, melancholic smile touching her lips.

Yukong fell silent, her jaw tightening as memories flashed behind her amber eyes.

Tingyun lowered her gaze. Her voice drifted through the quiet room, as fragile as a falling autumn leaf. "In a hazy, fractured dream, I recall a voice whispering to me. It said that the title of 'survivor' is simply another name for misfortune. The heavens are in absolute turmoil, Madam Yukong. The divine entities treat us mortals as nothing more than disposable pawns on a cosmic board, leaving behind nothing but a scorched earth filled with wronged souls, lonely graves, and mountains of bleached bones."

She looked up, her eyes locking onto the Helm Master's. "Have you ever considered... making them pay the price?"

Yukong stared back, her gaze as deep and dark as a starless abyss. "Every single waking moment," she whispered fiercely. "But for insignificant specks of dust like us, how do we possibly escape a chessboard where our very lives are the currency?"

"If I had any say in the matter, I would never allow you to become a pawn of any kind. I only ever wished for you to remain that carefree, happy little fox. You should never have been dragged into this bloodshed."

"There is no need for such pessimism." Tingyun's eyes curved into a familiar, sly crescent. "Thanks to the Lord Ravager's twisted 'favor,' I have unexpectedly found myself seated at the table. I am now a player in this grand game."

She took a slow breath, her posture straightening. "History is filled with tales of solitary wanderers armed with nothing but a wooden staff, or lowly earthworms managing to topple mighty dragons. The ones who consistently back legendary generals and brilliant commanders into impossible corners are always the nameless, overlooked pawns."

She raised her chin, the light returning to her eyes—clear, bright, and dangerously sharp. "So, from this day forward, I shall be a very cunning speck of dust. I intend to make those giant, invisible hands pulling the strings sneeze a few good times."

The poor little Foxian had no idea that her grand ambitions would soon collide with the sheer, unpredictable chaos of a certain overpowered anomaly.

Meanwhile, on a completely different world entirely.

"Leon, Serval... welcome back to Belobog."

The biting wind of the ice planet howled against the towering city gates, but the reception waiting for them was entirely warm. As Leon stepped through the heavy iron barricades with Serval and Bai Heng trailing closely behind, he found Bronya already standing at the forefront of the welcoming party.

She wasn't alone. Cocolia, Seele, and Topaz stood shoulder-to-shoulder behind the young Supreme Guardian, forming quite the formidable lineup.

"Bronya, Cocolia, Seele. It's been a while." Leon flashed them an easy, relaxed smile, completely unbothered by the freezing temperature. He stepped aside, gesturing to the woman beside him. "Allow me to introduce someone. This is Bai Heng, a Foxian friend of mine from the Xianzhou Luofu."

"Hello, everyone." Bai Heng's eyes curved into friendly crescents, her fluffy, snow-white fox ears twitching slightly in the crisp air. "I certainly wasn't expecting such a grand reception. I'm Bai Heng. It is an absolute pleasure to meet you all!"

Beneath her cheerful exterior, the Foxian archer was genuinely surprised. Ever since the Amber Lord cast their divine gaze upon this frozen world, Belobog had skyrocketed in universal fame. Cocolia, having personally received Qlipoth's direct attention, had become something of a legend. Even Bronya, Pela, and Seele, who had been present during that monumental event, had garnered massive waves of popularity across the Xianzhou Alliance.

It was entirely possible that the average citizen on the Luofu knew more about these Belobogians than they did about Bai Heng herself.

And that wasn't an exaggeration.

While the epic sagas of the High-Cloud Quintet were still sung in teahouses across the Xianzhou, the passage of time had blurred the details. Ordinary people only remembered the grand title and the fact that General Jing Yuan was a member. As for the remaining four? Their faces had faded from public memory. One only had to look at Yanqing—the General's own prodigy—who had failed to recognize Blade or Dan Heng, and remained completely oblivious to Jingliu's identity even when the legendary swordmaster stood directly in front of him. It perfectly illustrated just how 'invisible' the Quintet had become in the modern era.

If it was that bad for the living members, it was infinitely worse for someone like her, who had officially 'died' centuries ago., Jing Yuan had deliberately suppressed any news of her miraculous resurrection to protect her peace, leaving her virtually unknown to the current generation.

So, acknowledging that Cocolia and her daughters were currently more famous on the Luofu than a founding member of the High-Cloud Quintet was simply a matter of fact.

"Leon has done an incredible amount for our world. A proper welcome is the absolute least we could do." Bronya smiled with the practiced grace of a ruler, then turned her attention fully to the Foxian. "Miss Bai Heng, the pleasure is entirely mine. I am the Supreme Guardian of Belobog, Bronya Rand."

Despite her flawless diplomatic facade, a flicker of doubt rippled through Bronya's mind. She could easily guess why Seele and Topaz had tagged along to the gates. But her mother? How on earth did Cocolia know Leon was arriving today?

Cocolia rarely involved herself in administrative affairs these days. The transfer of power to Bronya had been absolute and complete. The former Guardian only ever stepped out of the shadows for one specific reason: whenever the short-sighted, greedy nobles of the Overworld attempted to stir up political trouble.

In the past, Cocolia's temporary loss of faith and 'disrespect'toward the Amber Lord had caused many aristocratic houses to secretly look down on her. But now? Now that Qlipoth had personally'certified' her dedication to the Preservation with a literal divine gaze, those same nobles were terrified. Who would dare challenge a woman backed by an Aeon? Anyone foolish enough to try was practically begging for a death sentence.

Following a few swift, ruthless political purges orchestrated by Cocolia behind the scenes, the entirety of Belobog now supported Bronya with absolute unity. Under the young Supreme Guardian's steady governance, the last bastion of humanity on Jarilo-VI was rapidly flourishing. The standard of living for both the Overworld and the Underworld was visibly improving by the day.

Naturally, when compared to the vast, hyper-advanced civilizations spanning the cosmos, Belobog was still a tiny, insignificant speck. But with their current trajectory? The future held limitless potential.

After exchanging a few more warm pleasantries, Bronya gestured toward the city center, leading Leon and Bai Heng up the snow-swept path toward Qlipoth Fort.

Seeing the group move ahead, Cocolia smoothly stepped to the side and linked her arm through Serval's. "Come along. Let us sisters catch up privately for a moment."

The rest of the group didn't bat an eye. It was common knowledge across the entire city that Cocolia and the Landau family's eldest daughter were childhood best friends. Given how long Leon and Serval had been away on the Xianzhou, a private reunion between the two women was perfectly natural.

The two women deliberately slowed their pace, letting the others pull ahead as they strolled through the winding, cobblestone streets of the Administrative District. A fresh, thin layer of snow crunched softly beneath their boots.

"Serval," Cocolia murmured, turning her head to study her oldest friend. An elegant eyebrow arched upward. "It has been quite some time. You look... exceptionally well."

Her sharp eyes swept over the rocker. There was an obvious, indescribable change in Serval's aura. A certain glow. A relaxed, deeply satisfied looseness in her posture that hadn't been there before she left.

"I do, don't I?" Serval's lips curled into a confident smirk, her tone carrying a faint, playful hint of defiance. "I've been getting plenty of 'rest' lately. The Xianzhou is wonderful for the constitution."

Cocolia's piercing gaze lingered on Serval's flushed cheeks for a long, calculating moment. Then, without missing a beat, she dropped the hammer.

"You and Leon... you finally slept together, didn't you?"

Direct as always. Striking right at the jugular with zero hesitation.

Serval's boots faltered for a fraction of a second. She quickly recovered, stopping in the middle of the snowy street to calmly meet the former Guardian's intense stare. The smirk on the musician's lips deepened into something thoroughly wicked.

She leaned in slightly, dropping her voice into a husky, significant register. "How should I put this... let's just say it feels like I've been living my entire life in vain up until this point."

The provocation was entirely intentional. She wanted to see Cocolia's reaction. She wanted to rub it in just a little bit.

Cocolia fell dead silent.

A complicated storm of emotions swirled behind her icy blue eyes. She honestly couldn't decipher if the heavy feeling in her chest was disappointment at having to share, or genuine relief that her best friend had finally found happiness with a man who was practically a god.

"...If you weren't a woman of decent character, I never would have agreed to this arrangement in the first place," Cocolia finally stated, her voice cool and composed.

"Oh, no, you misunderstand me." Serval took a step closer, a sly, competitive fire dancing in her bright blue eyes. "What I mean is... I really should have gotten my hands on him long before you did."

Cocolia blinked, genuinely stunned for a split second.

Then, she laughed.

It wasn't a loud sound, but a rich, throaty chuckle. Her smile held a terrifying mixture of deep understanding, absolute composure, and the unshakable, condescending certainty of a veteran looking at an eager rookie.

"Heh... then I'm afraid you severely miscalculated your timing, my dear." Cocolia reached out, her gloved hand gently patting Serval's shoulder. Her tone was so sickeningly sweet and gentle it bordered on maternal. "If I am your older sister for a day, I am your older sister for a lifetime."

She paused, her smile widening into something dangerously triumphant. "Come on now. Be a good girl and let me hear you call me 'Big Sister'."

Serval stared at her, her eye twitching slightly. "..."

"Sister..." Serval finally muttered.

Hearing the fiercely independent rocker actually submit and use the honorific caught Cocolia completely off guard. Serval had never, not once in their decades of friendship, called her that.

But before Cocolia could savor the victory, Serval's eyes flashed.

"Oh, wait. My apologies. I misspoke." A brilliant, utterly devastating smile spread across Serval's face. "I should actually be calling you Second Sister instead."

"Second Sister?" Cocolia's hand froze on Serval's shoulder. Her elegant eyebrow shot up as a sudden, chilling realization dawned on her. Her eyes narrowed dangerously. "Serval... who exactly is the Eldest Sister?"

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