"Huh...?" Lucia Lu looked confused.
"This is a specially crafted protective talisman. From now on, if anyone tries to plant a rune on you, you'll sense it and catch them red-handed," Bianca Whitefan explained.
"Thank you so much, Bianca!" Lucia said cheerfully.
...
While Bianca was removing the talisman, Adrian Drake had retreated to a corner and was busy trying to steal something.
Taking advantage of Bianca's distraction, he reached out to grab the swallow's nest.
The nest was perched high up, so he couldn't see what was inside.
But with his divine sense, he probed and decided the Golden Immortal Swallow wasn't in the nest.
So, while Bianca was busy helping Lucia, Adrian took the opportunity to pry at the nest.
But suddenly, a sharp pain shot through his hand.
He looked up and saw a small head poking out from the nest, glaring at him fiercely.
The Golden Immortal Swallow was actually inside!
How did it hide its aura so well?
Adrian's face flushed with embarrassment. He gave the bird a sheepish little wave and shuffled away, hoping no one had noticed.
His hand burned with pain. When he looked, he saw a long cut left by the swallow's sharp beak.
Mortified, he bit his lip, quietly tucking his injured hand into his sleeve and pretending nothing happened.
...
"Thank you for helping me so many times, Bianca." Lucia bowed deeply.
Bianca smiled. "Go on, head back."
Lucia thanked her repeatedly and led the group away.
Faustin seemed to be sleepwalking the whole time.
He finally snapped out of his daze as they were leaving, dropped to his knees, and bowed three times to Bianca. "Thank you for your kindness, Bianca. I promise to study hard and pass on your legacy for generations to come!"
Bianca nodded and closed her eyes.
Quentin Lian had come with them.
But he had waited outside the whole time, never coming in.
When they came out, Quentin turned to leave as well.
"Remember what I told you," Bianca's voice echoed.
Quentin paused mid-step.
"Protecting yourself is protecting everyone else," Bianca added.
Quentin didn't quite understand what she meant.
But he also knew that the more secrets of fate were revealed, the greater the backlash for both sides.
So he didn't ask further, just acknowledged and left.
After leaving, Lucia reported their situation to Sean.
When she asked how he was doing, it turned out they'd been left waiting by the Xuanchen clan for half a day. So far, only a limping Divine Attendant had come by to refill their tea a few times—no actual elder had appeared.
Lucia asked what he planned to do. He replied with just one word: "Wait."
After ending the Messenger Charm call, Lucia noticed Adrian looking ecstatic, sneaking glances at something.
There was a very obvious cut on his hand.
"What happened to your hand?" Lucia asked.
"Sis!" Adrian grinned. "Guess what this is!"
Lucia looked and saw he was holding a small chunk of Golden Immortal Swallow nest.
Golden Immortal Swallow nest?' Lucia's expression changed. 'Don't tell me that cut on your hand came from the Golden Immortal Swallow?'
Yeah! I thought it wasn't in the nest, but it was! Pecked me right on the hand!' Adrian said. 'But it's no big deal. I've got some wound medicine—I'll put some on and be fine by tomorrow.
Lucia grabbed his arm and checked his pulse, her expression gradually darkening.
What's wrong, sis?' Adrian noticed her expression had changed.
Lucia shot him a glare, her voice sharp with exasperation. "I keep telling you to read more, but you never listen! You don't even know how dangerous Golden Immortal Swallows are?"
Poison? I'm poisoned?' Adrian protested. 'I feel totally fine! You don't look worried at all!
"Only the extremely rare fertile Golden Immortal Swallows are harmless. This one is definitely poisonous," Lucia said, her tone grave. "And right now, there's no cure for this poison."