Xing Tie: Wait a minute! How come Weng Xing has two saviors?

"Xi Lian? Is that you? You're finally back!"

A light and familiar voice, like a spring breeze, broke the tranquility of the Garden of Life.

Xi Lian and Xia Die turned their heads at the same time and saw Evelyn standing next to a cluster of shimmering crystal flowers, her face beaming with a delighted smile, walking quickly toward them.

She was dressed in a neat priest's robe, but she exuded a more mature and composed air than usual.

"Evelyn!" Xi Lian's eyes lit up as if she had seen the long-lost sunshine. She immediately went to greet her, her voice filled with the joy of reunion.

However, Evelyn's next words were like a sudden chill, instantly freezing Xi Lian in place:

“That’s great! When Elliot and I had our simple wedding in Janusapolis, Bai Mo even came to be Elliot’s best man and took care of everything.”

Unfortunately, he said he had urgent business to attend to and couldn't make it... It's such a shame.

"You...you...you got married?" Xi Lian's voice trembled slightly, and she subconsciously thought she had misheard.

(Xi Lian: No... wait? Kids, it seems... my house has really been raided?)

"Yes!" Evelyn's smile was still bright, but it lacked some of the former dependence and ambiguity, and instead showed more clarity and composure.

"I used to... cough, I guess I read too many novels, and I always mistook strong liking and dependence for unique love."

I really enjoy being with you, Xilian, so much. The time we spent discussing knowledge and traveling together is one of my most precious memories.

She paused, her tone becoming softer yet firmer: "But... later, it was Bai Mo who pointed out the crucial point:"

When I see you chatting and laughing with the master craftsmen who built the tower, the gardeners, and even strangers you meet on the street,

If you feel happy only for me, but don't have that strong, possessive desire that makes you indispensable, then that's not what we call love.

He was the one who made me truly certain... that we were actually best friends, sisters, but not... cough cough... lovers.

Xi Lian listened intently, her previously somewhat chaotic thoughts becoming clearer due to this frankness: "So... this is a decision you made after careful consideration?"

“Of course it was my own choice,” Evelyn said firmly, her eyes gleaming with a mature light born of hardship and reflection.

"Having experienced the threat of the Black Tide and witnessed so much loss and perseverance, one always grows, doesn't one? I can't live in my own fabricated fantasy forever. Besides... I've finally found the path I want to take."

She seemed to remember something, and changed the subject:

"By the way, you might not know this yet since you just got back, but most of the scholars and important documents from Janusapolis and the Divine Tree Court have begun to be transferred to Ohma in an orderly manner. This is now the last and most fortified stronghold."

“That includes my family,” Evelyn said, winking playfully at Xilian, “but now, they’re probably kicking themselves for agreeing to let me be with Elliot.”

"Oh? Why?" Xi Lian's curiosity was piqued, and she temporarily put aside her previous complicated emotions.

“Because of Elliott,” Evelyn’s eyes flashed with a glint of strength and shrewdness that Xi Lian recognized all too well—the kind that belonged to that genius girl.

"He's no longer that idiot who only knew how to show off and be cool."

He and I, along with some like-minded comrades, are working together to push forward a proposal—

All wealthy merchants and chambers of commerce that relocated to Ohmmar were required to 'voluntarily' contribute a portion of their stored supplies and funds to fully support the front lines in Suspended Peak City. He showed absolutely no consideration for the old guard of the various families.

Xi Lian was somewhat lost in thought. She hadn't seen that kind of brilliance in Evelyn's eyes for a long time. Ever since her family suffered a major blow in the Black Tide, Evelyn seemed to have suppressed that sharpness.

Now, it shines again, more composed and more powerful.

"Xi Lian? Xi Lian?" Evelyn waved her hand in front of Xi Lian's eyes.

"What's wrong? Are you worried that what we're doing will cause trouble? Don't worry, Ms. Aglaia won't let those guys who only care about their own money cause trouble."

She raised her chin slightly, with a hint of arrogance, "Now, I can finally refute their clichés with confidence: in this apocalypse, money is utterly useless!"

Looking at her friend in front of her, whose eyes were bright, whose stance was firm, and who had found what she truly wanted to do, Xi Lian was stunned for a moment, then smiled with relief.

“Alright, Evelyn,” she reached out and gave her a gentle hug. “It seems you’ve truly found the right path and life for you. I wish you all the best.”

After saying goodbye to Evelyn, Xi Lian stood there motionless for a long time. She frowned slightly, turned to Xia Die beside her, and spoke in a low voice:

“Something’s wrong, something’s really not right. Feng Jin said that Ms. Aglaia has been with Bai Mo recently, and Evelyn said that Bai Mo was the one who brought her and Elliott together—but you and I both know that Bai Mo should not be in Ohmmar at all during this time.”

Xia Die nodded solemnly: "Lord Bai Mo should be at the front line directing the defense against the Black Tide right now. How could he possibly be here dealing with personal matters?"

Xi Lian's brows furrowed even more: "I have a preliminary guess... but we can't draw conclusions based on mere guesses. Let's go out and see what the common people are saying about this 'Bai Mo'."

The two then blended into the streets of Ohma.

At this time of day, the marble market is busiest, with vendors' cries, the aroma of food, and the clatter of pedestrians creating a vibrant atmosphere of daily life.

They deliberately slowed their pace and listened attentively to people's conversations.

"We really owe it all to Elder Bai Mo!" an older woman wearing a coarse apron exclaimed to a merchant at a neighboring stall. "My son was seriously ill this month, and if it weren't for the relief funds Elder Bai Mo sent, we wouldn't even be able to afford medicine..."

Chapter 120 Bai Mo: No? What do you mean there's a Bai Mo and Aglaia together?

An elderly woman carrying a shopping basket nodded repeatedly: "Isn't that right? The Golden Hotel now serves congee every morning. The congee is thick and you can even taste minced meat in it!"

Even my husband says he's never had such a generous serving of congee in all his years. It's just that every time it's cooked, the staff adds a handful of pebbles. The plain congee turns into ash congee; isn't that a waste?

“What do you know, you woman? This is what you call charity porridge! Only by adding a handful of pebbles can that pot of porridge reach the hands of truly hungry refugees…” a scholar explained in a low voice.

A middle-aged man in a faded military uniform said excitedly, "My son is fighting on the front lines. Not only did Elder Bai Mo send people to deliver food and medicine, but he also personally came to our homes to comfort us military families."

He said, "Our soldiers are bleeding on the front lines, and we can't let their families shed tears at home..."

Several women huddled together, whispering: "Now those women trying to fraudulently claim military dependents' pensions are helpless! We military dependents should organize ourselves! We'll report any suspicious activity immediately. This was all Elder Bai Mo's idea!"

"Elder Bai Mo is truly the savior of Ohmma..." Such praises were endless.

Xi Lian and Xia Die exchanged a glance, both seeing deep confusion in each other's eyes.

"Xiao Baimo?" Xi Lian murmured unconsciously, "Why would he suddenly start doing these things?"

An elderly woman passing by heard the whisper and frowned, about to reprimand the speaker for disrespecting the elder, but upon recognizing Xi Lian, her face immediately lit up with a smile.

"Oh my, I was wondering who dared to address Elder Bai Mo so affectionately. It turns out to be Miss Xi Lian! Your husband has really brought a lot of warmth to Ohmma lately."

The old woman warmly leaned closer and continued, "Elder Bai Mo not only personally donated a large amount of Li Heng coins to help people in need, but also mobilized the Golden Hotel to distribute porridge every day."

What's most commendable is his care for the families of military personnel; he often personally brings them delicious food and thoughtful gestures.

She suddenly lowered her voice and added mysteriously, "And I don't know where Elder Bai Mo got the information, but he can always accurately find those who try to impersonate military dependents to cheat for pensions."

Now, the families of military personnel have spontaneously organized themselves, helping and supervising each other, creating a very positive atmosphere.

Xia Die leaned slightly forward and whispered in Xi Lian's ear, "This sounds... completely unlike Lord Bai Mo's style. He has always preferred to solve problems at the systemic level rather than this kind of... personal charitable behavior."

The old woman seemed to remember something, and lowered her voice even further:

"And, I've heard—and I'm just hearing it, so I can't guarantee it's true—that Elder Bai Mo and Lady Aglaia have been getting extremely close lately."

Someone witnessed Lady Aglaia personally trying to persuade Elder Bai Mo to stay, and her attitude... oh my, it was like a young girl in love trying to keep her lover! Her words, "Will the departing wind stop for me?" were so tender they could melt your heart!

Finally, Lady Aglaia actually invited Elder Bai Mo to stay for dinner, and the main course was fish! A candlelight dinner!

"Fish? A candlelight dinner?" Xi Lian and Xia Die asked in unison, their expressions becoming even more complicated.

“Yes,” the old woman confirmed, a longing look on her face. “If you ask me, if we’re talking about who’s most qualified to embrace their own happiness, it has to be Lady Aglaia, who has protected the Holy City for over a thousand years.”

Elder Bai Mo is a good person. If the two of them could really get together, it would be a wonderful story. Besides, the Golden Grand Hotel recently launched a series of fish-themed dishes, and it's said that Elder Bai Mo provided the recipes…”

(Xia Die: Lady Aglaia and Lord Bai Mo? I can't write this in front of Lady Aglaia, can I? Wait! Am I going to have to live in the underworld from now on? No! What did I miss? My new material for fanfiction.)

After gathering this information, Xi Lian and Xia Die avoided the crowd and stood on a quiet street corner.

Xia Die's brows furrowed almost into a knot: "Lord Bai Mo has never had a preference for fish; on the contrary, I remember he wasn't particularly fond of aquatic products."

Besides, given the heavy responsibilities he currently shoulders, how could he possibly have the leisure to research cooking recipes?

A strong sense of unease spread through both of them. Xi Lian immediately took out the communication stone tablet from her bag and sent a message to Bai Mo with her fingertips trembling slightly.

Outside Suspended Peak City, the aftershocks of the Black Tide had not yet completely subsided. Bai Mo stood on the city wall, having just repelled a fierce attack with the others. He was preparing to take a short rest when the communication stone tablet at his waist began to vibrate.

When he finished reading the message sent by Xi Lian, he froze on the city wall.

The torches burning beside the city wall reflected his wide-open eyes, filled with shock.

Bai Mo muttered to himself in disbelief.

"What do you mean there's a 'Bai Mo' in Ohmma who's handing out money everywhere?"

"What do you mean there's a 'White Mo' who brought Elliot and Evelyn together?!"

"What else is 'should'? There's someone? 'Bai Mo'? Who collected over a week's worth of profits from the Golden Grand Hotel for me?!"

"What the hell do you mean there's also me and Aglaia together?! Are you kidding me?"

When Bai Mo arrived in Ohmma, reeking of gunpowder and exuding a tense atmosphere, Xi Lian and Xia Die were already waiting at the agreed location.

Upon seeing Bai Mo appear, Xi Lian immediately rushed over, circled him three times, and even pinched his cheek hard: "Hmm, the feel is right, it's the real Bai Mo. He wasn't switched."

"What do you mean by 'switched goods'?!" Bai Mo's face was as black as the bottom of a pot. "Tell me! What exactly happened? Where did this imposter come from? Where's my money? And what about that deadly rumor?!"

Xia Die and Xi Lian briefly reported what they had found out: the charitable "Bai Mo", the matchmaker "Bai Mo", and... Aglaia's "honored guest Bai Mo".

With each sentence he heard, Bai Mo's face darkened further. By the end, his face was so black it seemed to drip ink, and the chill emanating from him could truly be used as a refrigerator.

"No need to think, I can guess who it is, Sai Fei'er! You better hide well! Don't let me find you!" Bai Mo said through gritted teeth.

On the other side, Bai Mo (Sai ​​Feier) was enjoying a bite of the grilled fish handed to her by the restaurant waiter when she suddenly shivered.

"Hiss—why is it so cold? Have we not been getting enough sun these past few days? Or... has Bai Mo come back?"

(Sai Feier: I helped Xia Die rekindle her desire to write, helped Xi Lian's best friend find a husband, and even helped Bai Mo collect a week's worth of money. Do you all think I can survive?)

Chapter 121 Bai Mo: Caw! A cunning scheme! The demigod has actually become the guardian of the Holy City!

Bai Mo immediately sent a message to Tibo and the others, asking where Aglaia was.

A few seconds later, the other party sent a photo of the exterior of the Golden Hotel. In the photo, Aglaia was pacing around the hotel, looking hesitant, as if she wanted to go in but didn't dare to.

Then, Tibao—or rather, Tian—sent a message: "Little White, are you really going to keep Aya hanging on like this? I think Aya..."

The message abruptly stopped, and a few seconds later another message followed: "Little White, it was Tian who just stole the stone tablet. Just do what you want to do."

Xiao Fei'er really went too far this time. What is it that can only be done using someone else's face?

Bai Mo sighed and replied, "Understood, Teacher Tibao, I'll take care of it right away."

When Bai Mo hurriedly arrived at the Golden Grand Hotel, the hotel was already brightly lit, bustling with people, and filled with the enticing aroma of food.

Aglaia was already waiting at the door. As soon as she saw Bai Mo, she quickly came to greet him, her beautiful face showing a rare expression that was a mixture of helplessness and trouble.

"Bai Mo, you've finally arrived," she said softly, her voice tinged with weariness.

“I’ve always wanted to have a proper talk with Sai Fei’er, but she always seems to be deliberately avoiding me, like a slippery fish that disappears as soon as I catch a glimpse of her.”

Aglaia frowned slightly and continued, "It was the same before... I finally managed to get her to stay by using dinner as an excuse, but in no time, she would slip away again with all sorts of ridiculous reasons."

If transforming into your likeness is an application of the "trickery" power... but I've already roughly guessed Sefaria's true identity, so why is it still so difficult to truly capture her and confront her directly?

Bai Mo stared at Aglaia before him, his eyes flickering slightly before he calmly analyzed:

"Apart from Cypher herself, probably no one really knows all the secrets and limits of her 'Trickery' power."

However, judging from her modus operandi, completely dismantling this elaborate deception probably requires more than just guesswork; a thorough, face-to-face "exposure" is necessary.

“Expose…” Aglaia repeated the word, her tone suddenly becoming slightly unnatural, but she quickly regained her composure.

It was this extremely subtle, almost imperceptible flaw that made a knowing glint flash in Bai Mo's eyes.

He suddenly struck without warning, his movements as swift as lightning, grabbing the wrist of "Aglaia" in front of him! The force was so great that "she" couldn't help but cry out in surprise.

Bai Mo's voice suddenly rose. "Hmph! A cunning demigod! How dare you impersonate the guardian of Ohma!"

"I must thoroughly humiliate you! Now come to the shop and be my personal maid!"

"Meow?! No? The cook? You opened it? How did you see through it? My disguise should have been flawless!"

The moment "Aglaia" was caught, her composure crumbled, and her exclamation turned into a clear, slightly exasperated girlish voice.

With her gasp, the disguise vanished as quickly as the tide receded—silver strands of hair spread from the roots, replacing her original long golden hair.

With a "poof," a pair of fluffy cat ears popped out from above its head, trembling slightly in fright; and with a "whoosh," a similarly fluffy cat tail emerged from behind, now nervously swaying from side to side as it was caught.

At this moment, Saifeier began to frantically shake her arms, struggling like a cat being pinched by the scruff of its neck: "Let go! Let go! Elder Ohm is bullying the cat! Help!"

Bai Mo not only didn't let go, but gripped her even tighter. He even leaned close to her cat ears and, in a voice only the two of them could hear, threatened her in a "cruel" whisper:

"Saifei! If you move again, I won't hesitate to use the 'Ocean' authority to curse your beautiful cat tail to be wet and heavy for all time, 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, forever and ever!"

Saifei's struggle froze instantly. She turned her head sharply, her azure cat eyes filled with disbelief, shock, and accusation: