Suddenly, something appeared before her eyes.
It was a Celestial Spirit Jade, shimmering with five-colored light—the very prize Evan Xiao had won in the second round of the competition.
Grace turned her head and saw Evan Xiao standing behind her, waving the Spirit Jade in front of her eyes.
"What are you doing?"
"Do you want it?"
"Of course I do. Are you really giving it to me?"
"Just one kiss and it's yours." Evan Xiao stepped right in front of her.
"Be serious! There are people everywhere!"
"No one's here." Evan Xiao reached out to cradle the back of her head, leaning in for a kiss.
But just then, a vibrant green Magic Vine suddenly wrapped around the Spirit Jade in his hand and pulled it straight into Grace's body.
"Hey! Beanie, what are you doing?" Grace told Evan Xiao to wait a moment and called out as she chased Beanie into the Sanctum.
Beanie moved fast, wrapping the Spirit Jade and placing it directly into the Illusory Array.
Instantly, the entire Sanctum was flooded with rich, pure spiritual energy.
Grace stood in the middle of it all, unable to resist taking a few deep breaths, feeling utterly refreshed.
But then... all that spiritual energy surged wildly toward Beanie.
Beanie—or rather, the First Spirit Tree—grew taller and thicker right before her eyes, sprouting even more leaves.
Grace walked over to scold it, saying, "Beanie, I know you're eager to grow up, but you don't have to snatch things like that! It's very rude! Besides, that Spirit Jade belongs to the General! You and your Magic Vine need to come out with me and apologize to him!"
With that, she grabbed the Magic Vine and started heading outside.
But unexpectedly, the Magic Vine tightened, wrapping around her and yanking her close against the tree.
"Uh..." Grace blinked at it. "What are you doing now?"
Mommy, you can't let him hug you! Only I can hug you!
"Beanie? Can you let go of me first?" Grace said, pressed up against the tree.
But Beanie wouldn't let go.
"Beanie?"
Just then, a flash of dark light—Antler Serpent appeared out of nowhere and bit down hard on the Magic Vine.
The Magic Vine recoiled in pain and immediately released Grace.
"Cutie Pie?" Grace's eyes lit up. "You're back?"
Cutie Pie glared fiercely at Beanie, refusing to let go of the Magic Vine.
The Magic Vine wrapped around Cutie Pie, as if trying to strangle it.
"Cutie Pie, Beanie isn't trying to hurt me—it's just happy and wanted a hug!" Grace quickly tried to break up the fight. "Let go! Don't bite through the Magic Vine! Magic Vine, you let go too! Don't hurt Cutie Pie!"
But neither of them let go.
It looked like they were ready to fight to the bitter end.
"Let go, both of you! Or I'm going to get mad!" Grace glared at them.
Cutie Pie glanced at her, then slowly released its bite.
The Magic Vine also slowly let go of Cutie Pie.
Then, Cutie Pie hopped onto Grace's shoulder, glaring coldly at the First Spirit Tree.
The leaves of the First Spirit Tree stood upright, as if glaring right back at Cutie Pie.
"Alright, alright!" Grace patted Cutie Pie's head. "Beanie, I'll go apologize and thank the General for you. Be good, okay?"
After absorbing the Celestial Spirit Jade, the Magic Vine seemed even more nimble, twisting into a little person shape and nodding its head.
Grace smiled and headed out with Cutie Pie.
But when she stepped outside, Evan Xiao was nowhere to be seen.
Louis Lin was standing in the courtyard.
"Huh? Louis Lin, where's the General?"
"The Imperial Advisor—oh, he's not the Imperial Advisor anymore—Leon Zane and Miss Belle came, so the General went with them to the General's Manor," Louis Lin explained. "The General said the manor's still a mess, but once it's tidied up, he'll invite you over for a visit."
"So they came! No wonder Cutie Pie showed up too." Grace rubbed Cutie Pie's head, then scooped it up and planted a big kiss: "Cutie Pie, I missed you so much!"
Louis Lin fanned his eyes, feeling the heat.
......