You Are Not My Match

In the middle of the night, Cutie Pie came back.

Grace was fast asleep when she suddenly felt something tickling her face. She opened her eyes and saw Cutie Pie’s little head.

"Cutie Pie, did you find them?" Grace asked.

Cutie Pie nodded.

They pretended to leave Sigil City for the Frostbound Casket.

But then they secretly snuck back.

Other than Cutie Pie, no one could have found them.

"That’s awesome!" Grace perked up. "Tomorrow, I’ll figure out a way to sneak out. Can you take me to see them?"

Cutie Pie nodded again, then burrowed into her blanket and fell asleep against her chest.

Grace smiled and patted its head, then drifted off to sleep herself.

The next day, Grace told Byron White about the ancient Soul Restoration Pill formula. She’d spent half the night researching and came up with a new recipe.

"I think we should try using Witherbane and Viper Gall from the Five-Step Viper."

"Hmm? Witherbane is extremely poisonous!" Byron said.

"Yes, Witherbane is highly toxic, but it’s amazing for opening channels and activating meridians," Grace replied. "It grows near the Five-Step Viper’s den. Its poison can be neutralized by the viper’s gall. Mixing the two might have some unexpected effects."

Byron thought for a moment, then nodded. "Let’s give it a try. Felix Xi, take some people and go find those two ingredients!"

Felix Xi nodded and turned to leave.

"Alliance Leader, I want to go too," Grace said. "Can I join Felix Xi?"

"You’re a girl. Maybe you shouldn’t go," someone said.

"I used to hunt in the mountains all the time. I’ll be fine!" Grace insisted.

"If you want to go, then go!" Byron said. "The Five-Step Viper is very poisonous, and its den is hard to find. Be careful."

Grace grinned happily. "Great, thank you, Alliance Leader!"

So the two of them set off together, flying for an hour to reach the Eastwood Mountains, just outside Sigil City.

Inside the alchemy room.

Byron White’s confidant stepped out from the shadows and asked, "Should I follow her?"

"No need," Byron replied. "Where could she possibly run off to?"

"I’m just worried she’ll go looking for the Third Princess."

"Bianca Whitefan and Leon Zane already went back to Yan City."

"Oh, I see!" The confidant nodded, finally reassured.

In the Eastwood Forest.

Grace eyed the tall, cold figure ahead, her eyes darting mischievously. She caught up and asked, "Felix Xi, how old are you this year?"

Felix Xi didn’t answer.

"Would it kill you to say something?"

He still ignored her.

"We were classmates during our training, you know. When it’s time for the assessment, we’ll be competitors! As the saying goes, know yourself and your enemy, and you’ll never lose. Don’t you want to know your opponent at all?"

Felix Xi replied, "You’re not my opponent."

Grace was seriously annoyed. She rolled her eyes and said, "We’re both Level Nine Spiritual Alchemists! Where do you get your confidence from?"

Felix Xi ignored her and kept walking toward a flat spot down the mountain.

Five-Step Vipers usually make their dens in grassy hollows on the mountainside.

Grace blocked his way. "Can I talk to you about something?"

Felix Xi looked at her but didn’t say a word.

"I can find Witherbane and the Five-Step Viper right away. But can we go back to the Alliance in the afternoon instead?"

Grace flashed him a friendly smile. "I want to explore Sigil City a bit! I’ve been here so long and never had the chance to go shopping!"

Felix Xi paused for a moment before saying, "If you can get Witherbane and the Five-Step Viper’s gall within one incense stick’s time, I’ll agree."

Five-Step Vipers aren’t easy to find. He was obviously making things difficult for her.