I became a heart-stealing thief in Azure Files

Similar calls to attract customers came one after another, blending into this street filled with a touch of everyday life, giving people a special feeling similar to 'worldly hustle and bustle'.

After observing the surroundings, Amamiya typed a reply: "[You made a very good impression.]"

Amamiya's answer was very fair, and even from an outsider's perspective, it was a very good evaluation.

After he sent the message, he received several rather "strange" replies.

[Hizaki: Everything is shrouded in mystery. ...The 'Classic of Mountains and Seas' is like that. So is the phantom thief.]

[Hizaki: You can do many things using 'mystery'... but in interpersonal relationships, 'mystery' should never be used for sincere communication.]

[Hime Saki: I wish to be honest with you, and I do not wish to create that so-called hazy beauty of 'being called out a thousand times before finally appearing, still holding a pipa and half-concealing her face'.]

[Hime Saki: However, I have sent you invitations several times, but you have delayed them each time due to various unforeseen circumstances...]

[Hime Saki: On this day I had almost forgotten, you unexpectedly accepted my invitation... What a fitting description: 'Man cannot reach the moon, yet the moon follows him wherever he goes.']

Upon seeing the messages sent in succession, Amamiya knew...

As for Hisaki, she was probably a little angry because he had refused her invitations several times.

Of course, it's also possible that he misunderstood the meaning because of his repeated delays... Amamiya has been busy with his phantom thief activities in another world lately, and his time is quite tight.

Of course, Hisaki couldn't know what was happening in the other world, so she took Amamiya's excuses as a way to "create her own mystery".

If that's the case... then there's a huge misunderstanding.

Pinching her brow, Amamiya pondered for a moment before replying: "Chief Himeaki has likely misunderstood... I had no intention of delaying or deliberately creating an air of mystery; I was genuinely a bit tied up."

As the sect leader said... once that veneer of mystery is stripped away... the 'phantom thief' is nothing more than a fool in the real world searching for a 'place to hide'.

Even a "hero who saves the world" cannot claim to be without desires, without blood, or without tears. Having desires leads to expectations. And intense expectations... will connect people in the vast sea of ​​humanity.

If the sect leader believes that "the bluebird does not carry messages from beyond the clouds, and the lilac blossoms only bring sorrow in the rain," then he is greatly mistaken.

It wasn't that there was no way to reach Penglai Mountain, but rather that no effort was made to "inquire".

After the message was sent, there was a brief silence on Fei Saki's end.

[Feisa: Then...do you know that in the Classic of Mountains and Seas, there is a proverb, "Things should not be done more than three times"?]

[Hizaki: Fine... If you truly have no intention of leaving, then... come and find me.]

[Hime Saki: Heh... I've been searching for you for so long without any response. Today, I'll hide on this street, observing you from the shadows. Come and find me... consider it a 'small act of revenge'.]

After sending that message, Fei Xiao's profile picture turned gray, indicating that she had temporarily gone offline.

Amamiya put away her phone, feeling slightly speechless.

Amamiya could understand the reasons behind Hisaki's anger and her empathetic perspective.

Despite sincere invitations received several times, almost all of them were politely declined... Even a clay Buddha has some temper, let alone Fei Xiao, who is the sect leader of Xuanlong Sect.

She didn't directly tell the Classic of Mountains and Seas to "refuse to receive" her, which Amamiya felt was already a sign of her good temper.

But... is this just a 'small test' of finding people in a crowd?

This is no problem for him.

Amamiya stood still, supporting her right elbow with her left hand, rubbing her chin with her right hand, squinting slightly, and took off her non-prescription glasses.

His gaze suddenly sharpened; the Third Eye was activated.

The world instantly turned gray, and Amamiya immediately saw the Tarot card symbolizing the "helper" floating in the corner of the street.

Maintaining the use of her third eye, Amamiya walked straight over and stood in front of a "black-haired girl in a cheongsam with a bun hairstyle".

She was no more than 145cm tall, wearing a striped black suit jacket in the style of Hong Kong triads; underneath, she wore a mysterious, simple and elegant cheongsam with a blue bow tie, black as the main color, and gold dragon patterns on it, with a high slit and no sleeves.

Standing at less than 145cm tall, she was draped in a high-slit cheongsam that revealed her armpits, with a suit jacket barely covering her private area. Strangely, however, she exuded a subtle sense of authority.

Fortunately, the "gangster-style striped suit" that was half-draped over his body could effectively conceal or compensate for the damage.

When Amamiya looked at the other person, the other person noticed immediately and looked back at her with a slightly raised head, puzzled.

She blinked, her blue eyes, which seemed lifeless due to a layer of light gray mist, revealing a straightforward surprise, as if to say, "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Amamiya tilted her head slightly, her gaze settling on the "Assistant" tarot card above the girl's head.

[Assisted by: Ryūka Hisaki/The Hidden Dragon in the Water from the Classic of Mountains and Seas]

[Arcana: The Emperor (.The Empor)]

[Assistance Relationship: Not Unlocked]

'This title...and the Arcana it possesses...interesting.'

Amamiya was still somewhat intrigued when he saw the Arcana above the girl's head.

Compared to the imposter 'Emperor', Yusuke Kitagawa, the black-haired girl with double buns in front of her truly embodies the majesty, power, and 'dominance' that the 'Emperor' card should exude.

As for the 'hidden dragon trapped in water', that's interesting...

Among the knowledge that Amamiya learned, there is a saying: "Dragons are trapped in water; fish leap in the abyss."

What does this sentence mean?

Putting aside the fact that the second half of the sentence has nothing to do with Hisaki... let's just talk about the first half.

The dragon is a mythical beast that controls rivers and seas. If it is trapped in shallow water or narrow waters, it symbolizes that talented people are limited by the environment and their abilities cannot be fully utilized.

Clearly... given Fei Xiao's personal temperament and her status as the [Sect Leader of Xuanlong Gate], what's trapping her isn't her "environment." It's also unlikely to be external factors like wealth.

What could it be...?

Feeling slightly amused, Amamiya withdrew her gaze and bowed slightly to the girl who was feigning confusion: "...Master Himeki, it's an honor to meet you."

A fleeting look of confusion crossed the girl's misty blue eyes.

She didn't deny it immediately, but stared curiously at Amamiya's exceptionally sharp gray-black eyes.

After a moment's hesitation, she asked softly, "How...how did you find out?"

Amamiya, of course, could not reveal that he possessed a special ability called a "third eye" that allowed him to quickly identify various targets.

"Perhaps it's because of that special feeling of 'if only life were as beautiful as the first time we met' that Master Fei Saki gave me?"

【~???~】

After a slight pause, realizing she hadn't received a satisfactory answer, Higasaki chuckled and shook her head: "...Is that so?"

She didn't press further because "everyone has their own secrets." If she pressed him so hard on the first meeting, how would she negotiate afterwards?

After straightening up a bit, she gathered up her oversized suit jacket, which was loose and reached down to her knees.

"Shan Hai Jing Senior High School, Xuanlong Sect Master, Long Hua Fei Xiao".

"Welcome to the Classic of Mountains and Seas...Sensei."

Chapter Fifty-Three: The Xuanlong Sect Master's Incognito Visit

"Welcome to the Classic of Mountains and Seas...Sensei."

Her misty, not-so-clear blue eyes, yet possessing a unique sense of 'maturity,' seemed to exude a kind of cool gentleness that differed from her previous mysterious and majestic demeanor.

One second she was the “majestic sect leader of Xuanlong Sect”, but the next second she reverted to the gentle demeanor that was almost unnoticed when she stood on the street, no different from an ordinary girl.

Standing next to Xiaoxiao, a girl whose height was more than 30 centimeters shorter than her, Amamiya watched the whole thing with great curiosity.

After confirming that no one around was paying attention, he murmured, "The changes in the aura of Sect Master Fei-Saki... are truly unfathomable."

"It's merely a clever use of one's own 'mystery,' hardly highbrow, but enough to satisfy a small personal desire."

The girl with double buns naturally maintained a distance that was neither too close nor too distant as she stood beside Amamiya.

She tilted her head slightly, her gaze towards Amamiya carrying a hint of mischief: "Since you have some rare 'leisure time,' why don't you... accompany this concubine, who is currently still an ordinary student, to wander around the Classic of Mountains and Seas?"

What is this, a clandestine visit?

Amamiya recalled a famous "old-fashioned novel about the emperor's incognito travels" that she had seen before coming to Kiwatos.

Amamiya nodded gently: "Since Master Himaki has extended such a warm invitation, then I shall accept it."

She said she was going out to 'wander around,' but actually... it seems that Hisaki already had a place she wanted to go.

With a clear purpose in mind, and having received Amamiya's permission, she naturally loosened the ties binding her two buns.

With a whoosh, her black hair cascaded down like a waterfall, briefly becoming disheveled before quickly returning to normal.

"That makes me feel much better."

After letting her hair down, Hisaki's impression transformed entirely—her waist-length hair was as fine as silk, and although she wore an oversized striped black suit that didn't quite fit the look, resembling a Hong Kong gangster style, simply letting her hair down still gave her a certain...

The kind of temperament one would expect from a girl from a humble family living in a misty alley.

Noticing Amamiya's gaze lingering on her, the girl paused slightly, then teased in a sly whisper, "You... are you captivated by my 'fleeting beauty'?"

Amamiya naturally withdrew her gaze: "The love of beauty is human nature."

【~???~】(from Hisaki)

【~???~】(From the South)

Amamiya: ...?

The sound of another affection level notification, besides that of Hisaki, surprised Amamiya for a moment.

But then Amamiya realized what was going on.

This 'South' must be one of Hisaki's hidden guards, right?

After all, Fei Xiao is the leader of Xuanlongmen. Especially when she goes on an incognito trip, it is only natural that she should be accompanied by a bodyguard hidden in the shadows.

Just like when the emperor travels, he may seem to be unprepared, but in reality, he is surrounded by a large number of "imperial guards".

Amamiya's rather 'cooperative' yet amusing reply made Himeki chuckle.

Lowering her head slightly to calm her racing heart, the girl turned around and greeted Amamiya in a steady voice: "Then... come with me."

Perhaps due to physical or mental reasons, Hisaki walked at a leisurely pace.

Amamiya followed her at a leisurely pace, and together they arrived at... a place that clearly resembled an area controlled by the Xuanlong Gate.

"This place is the activity area of ​​the Xuanlong Sect... Its safety is probably second to none in the entire Classic of Mountains and Seas. There is no need to worry about 'encountering accidents'."

Upon seeing the Xuanlongmen members scattered like stars on the pedestrian-like street, Amamiya thought to herself, "How can this be considered safe?"

Amamiya now has a particular feeling—a subtle sense of déjà vu, like "a yakuza boss taking her on a 'date' in her own territory."

The girl beside him seemed to have let go of some of her girlish nature. She went to a nearby stall selling candied hawthorns, looked around, and then looked at Amamiya with a pitiful expression—the meaning of which was quite obvious.

Amamiya sighed softly, went to the stall, bought two skewers of "Shan Hai Jing Specialty Snacks", and handed the one that was brighter in color and looked tastier to Hime.

"Thank you, Sensei."

With a sweet smile, Hisaki accepted the candied hawthorn from Amamiya's hand, then winked at her, saying, "Originally, we should be the ones showing hospitality... but I didn't want to make it so formal..."

Perhaps because she had temporarily let loose, Hisaki did not continue using that relatively classical Chinese rhetoric.

Holding a bamboo skewer, she took a bite of half a hawthorn coated in syrup, and with her other hand, she slightly brushed her hair away from sticking to the candied hawthorn. A fleeting moment of happiness appeared on her usually cool and aloof face.

"Hmm... Trying something like this once in a while is actually quite..."

With a hawthorn berry in her mouth, she mumbled half a sentence before gracefully turning her gaze to Amamiya.

Amamiya didn't make any further comment, and took a bite of the candied hawthorn skewer in her hand.

There is a saying: "When one is in a high position at court, one should worry about the people; when one is in a remote place, one should worry about the ruler."

Amamiya could certainly understand Feisaki's current 'mentality' and her behavior, which was so different from that of the Xuanlong Sect Master.

Fei Xiao is a member of the Xuanlong Sect. Yes, that's right... but setting aside that identity, she's just a 17-year-old girl.

Being in a high position every day, as the highest leader of the Xuanlong Sect, she must be able to discern right from wrong, distinguish truth from falsehood, and handle disputes... It must be very tiring for her, right?

Based on his understanding of organizations such as the Holy Trinity's tea party trio, the Millennium Seminar Group, and Gehenna's Disciplinary Committee, Amamiya could roughly deduce what Hisaki usually did and what she had to endure.

In every sense, Hisaki represents the "high court," while Amamiya represents the "farthest reaches of the world."

He had dealt with, contacted, and learned about the top leaders of various academy factions... but the matters they had to deal with were basically none of Amamiya's business.