Hiyakura stood in front of Tao Yao, her heart racing wildly.
Observing this masked "peach" up close, she became increasingly convinced of her guess.
That familiar aura, that barely visible outline, silently corroborated her thoughts.
Just then, the little Abyss Dragon perched on Hiyakura's shoulder suddenly became lively.
It flapped its wings and let out an excited cry, flying directly towards Tao Yao.
Before Hiyakura could stop it, the little one had already approached Tao Yao, curiously examining this mysterious person.
Tao Yao didn't seem surprised by this sudden little visitor.
She extended her hand and deftly caught the Abyss Dragon, her movements so practiced that it seemed she had done this countless times before.
A gentle smile appeared at the corner of her mouth, and her voice carried a hint of imperceptible fondness:
"Is this dragon yours? So cute..."
Tao Yao's gaze fell on the little Abyss Dragon, carefully sizing up the little creature.
A peculiar light flickered in her eyes, as if she were recalling something.
Under Tao Yao's gaze, the little Abyss Dragon appeared exceptionally excited,
It flapped its wings, emitting a joyful "aww" sound, showing no intention of returning to Hiyakura's side.
Tao Yao gently extended a finger and poked the little Abyss Dragon's head.
This seemingly casual action seemed to trigger some hidden switch.
The little Abyss Dragon's eyes suddenly lit up, letting out a long cry, as if greeting an old friend.
Tao Yao's eyes flicked slightly, seemingly lost in thought.
Her expression was hidden behind the mask, making it impossible to guess her intentions.
Hiyakura could no longer contain her excitement; she blurted out:
"Tao Yao, you are Tao Yao! Definitely not some peach!"
Upon hearing Hiyakura's sudden declaration, Tao Yao hesitated slightly:
"Tao Yao? I remember that name; she's a very infamous fairy apostle."
"Though I don't know why, little girl, you would mistake me for her, but unfortunately, I am not Tao Yao."
Hiyakura refused to give up, her tone growing increasingly agitated:
"If you're not Tao Yao, then how could the Abyss Dragon be sticking to you? Stop pretending, you are Tao Yao, right?"
Her voice trembled slightly, seeming to fear that her guess might be wrong but also hoping for confirmation.
Tao Yao let out a gentle sigh, her voice tinged with a hint of helplessness:
"I don't know why either..."
"Maybe... this dragon really likes the affinity of my attributes?"
"After all, since I joined the extraordinary, all the dragon-type Disaster Beasts seem to be quite close to me."
She looked down at the little Abyss Dragon in her arms and softly said:
"Alright, go back to your owner."
The little Abyss Dragon let out a reluctant whimper,
Taking one last lingering look at Tao Yao before slowly flying back to Hiyakura's shoulder.
This scene left Hiyakura even more confused; she had never seen her little companion be so close to anyone.
Just then, Pearl and Laurel, who were conversing on the other side, noticed the commotion here.
Pearl elegantly approached, her gaze carrying a hint of confusion and concern.
"You are Hiyakura, right?"
Pearl slowly spoke, her voice gentle but carrying an undeniable strength:
"The two guests from the Sea Kingdom are hunters specifically responsible for hunting down fairies."
"And the Tao Yao you speak of is a fairy apostle wanted by both the Sea Kingdom and the Dawn Land. How could she possibly be an apostle who believes in the existence of fairies?"
Pearl's words were like a bucket of cold water splashed on Hiyakura's head, instantly awakening her.
She stood dazed, her mind racing as she tried to clarify her thoughts.
Could it be...
Did she really mistake her identity?
The peach in front of her was not Tao Yao?
Hiyakura felt a wave of dizziness; her certainty was gradually dissipating under Pearl's words.
She lowered her head, helplessly gazing at her hands as if she could find the answer there.
"I... I don't know..."
Hiyakura murmured to herself, her voice filled with confusion and disappointment.
She lifted her head, looking once more at the mysterious "peach,"
Trying to find a trace of familiarity in that masked face.
Tao Yao stood there, her posture still calm.
She gently shook her head, her voice tinged with a hint of apology:
"I'm sorry for leading you to misunderstand. I know Tao Yao may be important to you, but I am truly not her."
Hiyakura felt a wave of helplessness wash over her.
Her insistence seemed so pale and powerless under the gaze of others.
Could it be that she missed Tao Yao so much that she saw her shadow in a stranger?
At this moment, Laurel walked over and lightly patted Hiyakura's shoulder:
"Hiyakura, don't take it too hard. We all know you've been searching for Tao Yao, but don't let this obsession cloud your judgment."
Hiyakura took a deep breath, striving to calm her emotions.
She knew her previous behavior had been somewhat inappropriate, and a wave of shame washed over her.
She turned to Tao Yao and whispered:
"I'm sorry, I... I was too impulsive."
Tao Yao nodded slightly, her voice filled with understanding:
"It's okay, I can understand your feelings. I hope you find the person you are looking for soon."
Seeing this, Pearl timely shifted the topic:
"Since the misunderstanding has been resolved, let's continue our previous discussion. After all, we still have important matters to finish."
Everyone nodded in agreement and began moving towards the meeting area.
Hiyakura followed behind, her heart full of doubts.
She glanced back at Tao Yao and Forget-Me-Not,
Up until now, she still questioned the true identity of the "peach."
But now, she could only temporarily suppress these questions and focus on the upcoming task.
However, she was determined.
She would find a chance to take off the other's mask and get to the bottom of it.