"Hmm, before coming to the Vortex Starport, I had already requested instructions from the General in advance. By my calculations, the Cloud Knights responsible for escorting the Borisin should be arriving soon… Hm? Look, here they come~"
With a 'swish' sound, Tingyun opened the folding fan in her hand and lightly covered half of her face, her eyes bright as she looked toward the distance.
Following Tingyun's gaze, Topaz also saw the neatly arrayed Cloud Knights in the distance, marching steadily toward their direction.
It really is worthy of being the regular army of the Xianzhou Alliance. On the vast main road, the Cloud Knights' steps were firm and powerful, each step striking the exact same rhythm, as if a single whole was moving.
Their actions were uniform and crisp. Whether raising hands, taking steps, turning, or standing at attention, everything was clean and sharp, without the slightest sloppiness.
"Miss Tingyun, we have arrived."
Leading this Cloud Knight squad was none other than our Cloud Knight Lieutenant Yanqing. It must be said, this guy's recovery ability is simply like an unkillable cockroach. He had just been ruthlessly taught a lesson by Yunli yesterday, yet now he was already full of vigor and vitality again.
"Mm, little brother Yanqing, I'll be troubling you this time." Tingyun smiled and waved at Yanqing.
"It is my duty, Sister Tingyun. I'll go handle the Borisin matter first. Please excuse me for now."
Yanqing cupped his hands in salute, then turned his head and called out to the Cloud Knights behind him.
"Cloud Knights, hear my order! Follow me into the ship to escort the Borisin!"
Just like that, Yanqing and the group of Cloud Knights followed the company employees to escort the Borisin. In this vast open area, only Topaz and Tingyun remained. Oh no, there was also a little Trotter — Topaz's exclusive 'emergency food'.
"Miss Topaz, please follow me. General Jing Yuan is currently inside the Seat of Divine Foresight."
"Alright, then thank you, Miss Tingyun."
"Haha~ You're welcome. This is merely this little lady's duty."
Inside the Seat of Divine Foresight, in General Jing Yuan's office…
"East Wind!" "White Dragon!" "Chow!"
"Wait! Don't chow yet, I pong!"
"Kong—!"
"Ready hand! This old man is about to win! Jing Yuan you brat, you'd better be careful!"
"...…"
In the spacious office, the large desk that Jing Yuan originally used for reviewing documents had long since disappeared. In its place was a verdant green mahjong table. Well… in Xianzhou Luofu it should be properly called an Emperor's Jade Table.
Sitting at the four directions were Divine Strategist General Jing Yuan, Merlin's Claw General Feixiao, Flaming Heart General Huaiyan, and the idle Welt Yang who had been temporarily dragged over by the three of them to make up the numbers.
After all, as everyone knows, whether for mahjong or Emperor's Jade Tiles, three missing one is an extremely uncomfortable and awkward situation.
"...Several Generals, Yang has a question he would like to ask. I'm not sure if it's appropriate to speak."
Welt, who had been forced to play Jade Tiles with the three of them, pushed up the glasses on his face, his tone carrying a slight hint of awkwardness.
"Hahaha, Mr. Welt, saying such words makes you seem like an outsider. The Astral Express is an ally of the Xianzhou Alliance and our honored guest. Feel free to speak your mind on anything."
Hearing Welt's words, Jing Yuan laughed heartily and responded reasonably.
"Um… then I'll be presumptuous. General Jing Yuan, General Feixiao, General Huaiyan — you three are honored as the Seven Arbiter-Generals of the Reignbow, Emanators of the Hunt. In theory, you should have many government affairs to handle. So why now…?"
Welt's meaning was already very obvious. You three are among the Reignbow's Seven Arbiter-Generals, three Generals, three Emanators of the Hunt, three Xianzhou ships. This can already be considered half the strength of the entire Xianzhou Alliance.
Instead of properly handling the Xianzhou's state affairs, you are here playing Emperor's Jade Tiles. Isn't this somewhat neglecting your proper duties?
"Hahaha, Mr. Welt need not mind. To use a commonly known phrase, we call this balancing work and rest. Is there any law in the Xianzhou that prohibits Xianzhou Generals from playing Jade Tiles?"
Flaming Heart General Huaiyan gently stroked his beard and answered with a smile.
"This old man's luck this round is quite good. Everyone, you'd better be careful — chow—"
"Kong—!"
Before Huaiyan's words could finish, another voice rang out. Our General Feixiao called "Kong," robbing the Jade Tile that Huaiyan wanted to chow.
"Haha! General Huaiyan, thanks for the concession!"
Feixiao smiled as she took the Jade Tile from the table and placed it into her own hand.
In an instant, the smile on Huaiyan's face froze. He very much needed that tile. He originally thought victory was already in his grasp, but he never expected to be robbed by Feixiao's "Kong." This was going to be troublesome!
After drawing from the kong bottom, Feixiao discarded a useless Jade Tile. Her eyes sharpened with an unstoppable momentum…
"Ready hand!"
Welt: "..."
Forget it, I'd better not say anything.
Welt simply stopped trying to persuade them. Since he couldn't change the other party, he might as well change himself.
Thinking of this, Old Yang removed the black-framed glasses that he almost never took off. Instantly, Welt's entire aura changed, as if the long-dormant primordial power was about to erupt.
"Hm?" ×3
The three Generals simultaneously turned their gazes toward the nameless guest beside them, who now seemed like a completely different person. Warning bells rang loudly in their hearts.
The three exchanged glances, each seeing a trace of solemnity in the others' eyes — this is an expert!
At the same time, outside the Seat of Divine Foresight…
"Chow!" "White Dragon!" "Ready hand!"
"My apologies, I have won again."
"...…"
The smile on Tingyun's face froze solid. Topaz beside her also looked stunned. If she hadn't misheard, that should be the sound of Emperor's Jade Tiles, right? Could it be that Luofu's Generals are playing Emperor's Jade Tiles?
Shouldn't this be working hours? Are the Xianzhou Generals openly leading the way in slacking off? Thinking of this, Topaz's gaze became slightly strange.
"Ahem ahem ahem! Miss Topaz, actually you don't need to be too surprised. General is already seven or eight hundred years old this year. You also understand the Xianzhou. The reason General plays Emperor's Jade Tiles is to suppress the outbreak of mara."
"Oh oh, I understand. Miss Tingyun, you don't need to explain."
"Hahaha… It's good that Miss Topaz understands. Then now… uh, let's go in together now."
— — — —