Just then, Rong Yan, her fiery hawk now perched proudly on her arm, spotted Jiuwei on Tian Hao’s shoulder.

  She gave a little gasp, her eyes lighting up with delight. With a beaming smile, she bounced over, her movements as energetic and carefree as a playful spirit.

  "Excuse me!" Her voice was filled with genuine enthusiasm, "I just had to come over here."

  She stopped in front of them, her gaze fixed on Jiuwei, her hands clasped together.

  “She’s absolutely beautiful!” she exclaimed, her voice bubbling with excitement, her eyes sparkling with uncontainable admiration. “Where did you find her? What kind of spirit is she? Is she difficult to manage? Does she like being petted? How often do you feed her? She’s so calm. How old is she? Can I—”

  Tian Hao, taken aback by the sudden barrage of questions, blinked. “Uh… well…” he stammered, struggling to find words amidst Rong Yan’s infectious enthusiasm.

  Tian Hao, caught off guard by her sudden appearance and infectious energy, stammered, “She’s… she’s a… a very rare breed. A Silver Moon Fox,” he managed, hoping the lie would suffice, his mind racing to come up with a plausible explanation for Jiuwei’s unique… attributes.

  Jiuwei, normally so haughty, so quick to assert her superiority, seemed momentarily flustered by the sheer, unadulterated adoration radiating from Rong Yan. Her ears flicked back, her tail puffing up slightly, as though caught between indignation and a strange, unfamiliar warmth. She was used to flattery, of course, but this felt different—not a calculated attempt to gain favor, but a spontaneous expression of wonder.

  For a moment, she was speechless, her golden eyes wide as she looked at Rong Yan, then at Tian Hao, and then back at the beaming young woman.

  She let out a huff, attempting to regain her usual composure. "I am Jiuwei, Guardian of the Realm. I do not require handling like some common—"

  Before she could finish her pronouncement, Rong Yan, her eyes sparkling with excitement, reached out and gently stroked Jiuwei’s fur.

  "She speaks!" Rong Yan’s voice, filled with childlike wonder, was almost a squeal. “Oh, how incredible! And so articulate!”

  Tian Hao shifted uncomfortably, trying to recover his composure. “Ahem, yes, well, she’s… special.”

  Jiuwei, despite her earlier protests, couldn’t quite suppress a soft purr, the unexpected pleasure of the touch overriding her usual disdain for mortal interactions. Her eyes, however, narrowed in suspicion, as though she were trying to decide if this was a trick, a ploy to undermine her dignity.

  "Flattery will get you nowhere, mortal," but her body betrayed her, leaning into the touch, enjoying the sensation despite herself.

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  Rong Yan giggled, her laughter light and infectious, her delight uncontainable, her attention entirely consumed by Jiuwei.

  “A Silver Moon Fox,” she repeated, her voice filled with awe. “I’ve never heard of such a creature. You’re so lucky to have found her.”

  Tian Hao, sensing an opportunity to steer the conversation away from Jiuwei’s origins, decided to play along. “Indeed,” he said, giving Jiuwei a pointed look. “She’s been… a handful. But also… inspiring.”

  She turned to Tian Hao, beaming. “I’m Rong Yan! From the Whispering Willow Sect. And this,” she gestured towards the hawk perched on her shoulder, its fierce gaze now softened, “is Blaze.”

  Tian Hao, still slightly dazed by the whirlwind of energy that was Rong Yan, managed a smile. “Tian Hao,” he replied, his voice a bit hesitant. “From the… uh… Azure Fragrance Sect.”

  Lin Mei cleared her throat, stepping slightly in front of Tian Hao as though to cut off any further questions. “A small, relatively unknown sect, focused on… inner cultivation and herbalism. You may call me Lin Mei.” Her carefully constructed lie, though flimsy, was delivered with an earnestness that she hoped would deflect suspicion.

  “Azure Fragrance Sect?” Rong Yan tilted her head, her brow furrowing slightly. “I’ve never heard of it. Are you new to the Conclave?”

  Lin Mei, her expression carefully neutral. “We prefer to keep a low profile,” she said smoothly, her voice carrying a hint of warning. “Our sect values… discretion.”

  Rong Yan, her cheerful demeanor undeterred, simply nodded. “Oh, I understand! Discretion is important. Especially with so many… ambitious cultivators around.” She paused, then added with a playful grin, “Though, it’s hard to stay hidden when you have such… fascinating companions.” Her gaze flickered towards Jiuwei, her eyes sparkling with renewed curiosity.

  “Well, met Tian Hao, Lin Mei, and… Jiuwei,” she said, her voice bubbling with enthusiasm, “it was truly a pleasure. But I must be going, my next trial awaits.”

  With a final, cheerful wave, she turned and darted back towards the arena, her movements as light and swift as a summer breeze.

  As she left, Tian Hao could only stare in surprise. “Well, that was interesting. I think she likes Jiuwei more than me…”

  Lin Mei exhaled slowly, her expression unreadable. “Interesting? She’s… intense.”

  “Intense, yes, but in a good way,” Tian Hao countered, a thoughtful frown creasing his brow. “She’s not afraid to be herself, to show her enthusiasm. It’s… refreshing.” He paused, then added with a grin, “Besides, anyone who can tame a spirit hawk with a smile has to be pretty amazing.”

  Jiuwei, still basking in the memory of Rong Yan's admiration, huffed softly. “Indeed. She has discerning eyes. If only more mortals were so perceptive.”

  Tian Hao’s smile faded, his earlier amusement replaced by a familiar flicker of doubt. “It’s just… friendly conversation, Mei Mei. Besides, a little… charm can go a long way, and it’s not like it didn’t pay off with those Pure Path cultivators. Maybe if we play it right, we could turn that 'something' into an advantage for the Skyward Lotus.”

  "A little 'charm'?" Lin Mei echoed, her voice laced with a skepticism that verged on outright disapproval. "Is that what we're calling it now? More like a blatant disregard for decorum."

  Tian Hao shifted uncomfortably. "It's not like I planned it that way," he muttered, avoiding Lin Mei’s gaze. "It just... happened."

  “Just be careful, Tian Hao,” she said, her voice low.

  She straightened her shoulders, her gaze fixed on the bustling arena.

  "Remember why we’re here. We need to focus. We have other threats to deal with." Her words hung in the air, a reminder of the Iron Talon Sect, of the whispers in the dark corners of Skyveil City, of the looming threat that had overshadowed even the brightest moments of their journey.