"Thank you, Miss Lumina, for your intervention. Thanks to you, the casualties during the Lord Ravager's invasion of the Xianzhou Luofu have been kept to an absolute minimum."
"Given the Luofu's performance in this conflict, I believe it will undoubtedly claim the top spot on the list of Cosmos-wide Lord Ravager invasion events with the lowest levels of damage and casualties."
-
Xianzhou Luofu, Exalting Sanctum, Seat of Divine Foresight
Jing Yuan sat in his General's chair, a sincere smile spreading across his face as he offered his heartfelt thanks to Lumina.
If Jing Yuan had previously harbored a trace of suspicion toward Lumina, that suspicion vanished the moment he learned she had silently intervened to protect the Luofu.
Regardless of Lumina's motives for coming to the Xianzhou Luofu, regardless of her true identity, and regardless of her reputation in the Cosmos, Jing Yuan chose to believe what he saw before his eyes.
Whether she was an Emanator of Abundance or a Saintess, the fact remained: Lumina had aided the Luofu.
From that moment forward, Jing Yuan officially began treating Lumina as an honored guest of the Luofu, adhering to the highest standards of hospitality.
Hmm... This formal treatment is indeed befitting an honored guest, though tinged with a hint of surveillance...
After all, Jing Yuan couldn't shake his lingering unease about Lumina's true identity...
Sitting across from Jing Yuan, Lumina listened to these words with a faint smile. She took a delicate sip of her tea, then waved her hand with an air of dignified modesty. "Mr. Jing Yuan, this victory isn't solely my accomplishment."
"To have weathered the invasion of a Lord Ravager with minimal casualties and damage... this was far from my individual achievement. The contributions of the Luofu's citizens and the Six Commissions cannot be overlooked."
Sorry, but this really was all my doing ♪
Though Lumina publicly attributed the success of minimizing losses to the Luofu's Six Commissions and its people, in reality, their contributions were negligible. Almost all the protection had come from Lumina alone.
Still, one must maintain a humble demeanor...
After all, Lumina had come to the Luofu to soak... to travel and enjoy the scenery. She couldn't afford to leave a bad impression.
Her flawless image, carefully cultivated over countless Amber Eras, couldn't afford even the slightest blemish on the Xianzhou Luofu.
And...
Lumina glanced subtly at Jing Yuan as she thought this.
Sensing her gaze, Jing Yuan responded with a warm smile.
Seeing this, Lumina smiled back. With Jing Yuan's intelligence and wisdom, he naturally understood that the minimal harm to the Luofu's citizens was largely thanks to her efforts.
So, I've earned Jing Yuan's appreciation while also enhancing my reputation on the Luofu—it's a win-win!
"Mr. Jing Yuan, having recently arrived on the Xianzhou Luofu, I've learned a proverb. I'd like to ask you, renowned for your Divine Foresight, for your insight on it."
Lumina shook off her musings, refocused her attention, and gazed at Jing Yuan with a warm smile. She spoke these somewhat enigmatic words.
"Hmm, Miss Lumina, please elaborate."
Even the astute Jing Yuan was momentarily taken aback by Lumina's statement. After a brief pause, he nodded with a smile, waving his hand to signal her to continue.
"A drop of kindness should be repaid with a gushing spring... But what should repay the kindness of a gushing spring? A drop or the sea?"
Lumina smiled, openly revealing her intentions as she delivered an almost blatant hint to Jing Yuan.
"Hahaha, Miss Lumina, that's indeed an excellent question—a question worth pondering deeply..."
Upon hearing this, Jing Yuan paused, momentarily stunned, before bursting into hearty laughter.
"A drop of kindness deserves a spring in return... Since that's the case, a spring of kindness should be repaid with all our might!"
After his laughter subsided, Jing Yuan waved his hand, his face beaming with genuine sincerity as he answered Lumina's question.
Before Lumina could speak, Jing Yuan continued, "Miss Lumina, though helping the Luofu's people and minimizing civilian casualties may have seemed like a mere triviality to you..."
"To the Xianzhou Luofu, and indeed the entire Xianzhou Alliance, it is an Event worthy of eternal remembrance—an Event to be carved into jade and passed down through the ages."
"Your kindness, the Luofu will never forget."
"Mm-hmm..." Lumina nodded in response to Jing Yuan's flattery, remaining silent.
On the surface, she listened patiently to every word, every syllable, her expression gentle and attentive. Inwardly, however, she was nearly cursing Jing Yuan to death.
Lumina couldn't tell if Jing Yuan was being deliberately obtuse or genuinely clueless. I've practically spelled out that I want a reward, and you're still droning on with all this nonsense?
If Lumina hadn't needed to maintain her image as a gentle, generous, and understanding person, she would have already unleashed a torrent of insults.
[I think you're the one rambling. If you want a reward, just ask for it directly. What's with all this blathering?]
The System, sensing Lumina's thoughts, couldn't help but retort.
You think Jing Yuan is talking nonsense, but I think you're talking nonsense. Fair enough, right?
Lumina: ...
This damn System has been getting increasingly arrogant ever since it realized I can't touch it. It's even daring to ride on my head now... This is utterly lawless! Utterly lawless!
[Ehehe~?]
Sigh...
Just as she'd suspected, there was absolutely nothing she could do about it—unless, one day in the future, it materialized before her in physical form...
If that day ever came, Lumina would personally teach it a valuable lesson: arrogance always comes at a price!
"Have you ever heard this saying?" Lumina asked, shifting her focus to answer the System's earlier question. Instead of answering directly, she countered with a question of her own.
[What saying?]
"Don't initiate, don't refuse, don't take responsibility." Lumina smiled as she watched the System's bewildered text appear. "A timeless classic," she quipped.
That pathetic image of yours shattered long ago...
The System retorted silently, exasperated by Lumina's explanation.
"Heh~" Lumina chuckled softly, leaving the matter at that.
Tilting her head slightly, she gazed at Jing Yuan with a gentle smile, awaiting his reply.
"In return, should Miss Lumina ever require the Xianzhou's assistance in the future, the Luofu will come to her aid and help her accomplish her goals!"
Knowing Lumina's true identity, Jing Yuan was wise enough not to utter the word "alliance."
If word got out that a Xianzhou ship had allied with an Emanator of Abundance, the entire Cosmos would likely tremble...
Moreover, the other Xianzhou ships would likely surround the Luofu, bombarding it with relentless scrutiny, questioning whether the Luofu had become a paradise for Abundance.
Sigh... Jing Yuan couldn't help but sigh inwardly at the thought.
The Xianzhou could tolerate Pathstriders of Abundance, but they would never accept an Emanator of Abundance...
For an Emanator, by their very nature, already represented the Aeon itself...