After they finished saying their goodbyes and taking photos with the two from the Zhuming Xianzhou and Lingsha, the guests from the Zhuming boarded a Starskiff and departed from the port. Lingsha also left after bidding everyone farewell.
For a moment, only a few people remained at the port.
But it wasn't long before a Starskiff silently docked. The hatch opened, and out stepped a pint-sized girl with pink hair.
"Hmph."
"This Master has devoted herself to divining the karmic threads of all matters, yet I never foresaw such a grand reception upon my return to the Xianzhou Luofu."
"Indeed, it seems the Luofu simply cannot function without me."
The pint-sized pinky surveyed the group, who seemed to be waiting for someone, and a look of deep satisfaction flickered in her eyes.
However...
"Lumina, why are you here to welcome me too?"
The presence of the others was expected, but Lumina's arrival genuinely surprised the pink-haired girl.
"..."
"Uh..."
Stelle, Dan Heng, March 7th, and Yanqing exchanged glances, seemingly at a loss for words as they stared at the pint-sized pinky before them.
They hadn't expected this particular pink-haired girl to show up here at all...
"Who's this short, pink-haired girl?" Stelle asked the others, feigning confusion while struggling to suppress a laugh. The girl's constant use of "This Master" was almost too much.
"Ha? I can't pretend I didn't hear that," the pint-sized pinky snapped, her expression turning sour. She crossed her arms and glared coldly at Stelle.
If Stelle had left out the "short" part, she might have been willing to overlook the comment for the sake of their alliance.
But since Stelle had called her short, she couldn't possibly pretend she hadn't heard.
"Uh..." Seeing Stelle and the self-proclaimed "Master" locked in a standoff, the already speechless group fell silent once more, unsure of what to say.
Thankfully, at this awkward moment, Lumina stepped forward. With a smile, she spoke, easing the tense atmosphere.
"What's wrong, Master Diviner? Am I not allowed to welcome you back?"
Master Diviner. That's right—the pint-sized pinky who had just arrived on the Xianzhou Luofu via starskiff was none other than Fu Xuan, the Master Diviner of the Divination Commission. She had left the Luofu before the Wardance Ceremony to attend to matters on the Xianzhou Yuque.
"No," Fu Xuan replied, tearing her gaze away from Stelle and shaking her head at Lumina. "I'm just... a little surprised, that's all."
After all, she hadn't told anyone she was returning to the Luofu.
"Hmm... and this is..." Fu Xuan's gaze shifted to Ruan Mei, who stood beside Lumina. A flicker of light danced in her eyes.
Wait... Why is she still on the Luofu?
Lumina's presence was unexpected but still within the realm of possibility.
But Ruan Mei still being on the Luofu? That truly puzzled Fu Xuan.
Fu Xuan had foreseen Ruan Mei's arrival on the Xianzhou Luofu and knew she would stay for a while before departing.
But she hadn't expected Ruan Mei to stay for this long.
It's been almost a week, hasn't it?
A day or two would have been normal. After all, a one or two-day discrepancy between a divination's prediction and the final outcome was perfectly ordinary.
But... a week? That was pushing it.
It made Fu Xuan start to doubt whether her previous divination had even been accurate.
"Hello. I am Ruan Mei. When you say my name, please remember the pause in the middle." Noticing Fu Xuan's gaze, Ruan Mei gave her standard self-introduction.
After speaking, she looked up again, her eyes tracking the starskiffs gliding across the Starskiff Jetty, though what was so fascinating about them was anyone's guess.
"Hmm... Very well." After studying Ruan Mei for a few more moments, Fu Xuan withdrew her gaze.
The process has been a bit unexpected, and I don't know what happened along the way, but it shouldn't be a major issue. It probably won't affect the final outcome.
"Master Diviner, allow me to explain." Yanqing glanced at the others, who showed no sign of stepping forward. He knew they were leaving the explanation to him.
"Master Diviner, it's like this..."
"..."
Yanqing briefly explained the process of seeing off the Xianzhou's honored guest, adding that they hadn't expected Master Fu Xuan to return at this exact moment.
"Ah..." Fu Xuan blinked, a flicker of annoyance crossing her brow as she listened to Yanqing's explanation.
However, her irritation wasn't directed at the Astral Express Crew, Yanqing, Lumina, or Ruan Mei.
Huu...
Taking a deep breath, Fu Xuan spoke, her tone slightly strained. "I believe I understand the general situation now."
"Hmm... While this may be a coincidence, the fact that you are all gathered here is undeniable."
"Why don't we... hmm, each take a step back?"
"Ah... though 'taking a step back' isn't quite the right phrase here."
"But no matter. Just consider this a second welcome for my triumphant return..."
Despite Fu Xuan's deadpan expression, her tone and words made it clear she was deeply bothered by the situation.
"Speaking of which... Yanqing aside," Fu Xuan said, not waiting for a reply before shifting her gaze to the Astral Express Crew beside him. She quickly changed the subject. "You've been on the Luofu for so long. Did you truly not realize I haven't been on the Xianzhou Luofu this entire time?"
"Not at all—mmph!"
"Of course we noticed! If Lady Fu Xuan had been on the Xianzhou Luofu, none of these problems would have happened!"
Hearing Fu Xuan's question, Stelle planted her hands on her hips, puffed out her chest, and was about to declare that she hadn't noticed Fu Xuan's absence at all.
But before she could finish, March 7th slapped a hand over her mouth.
"Ah! Are you trying to get me killed?!"
But the next second, faced with March 7th's hand clamped over her mouth, Stelle resorted to her usual tactic.
A warm, wet sensation instantly spread across March 7th's palm, causing her to shriek and shoot Stelle a glare that promised imminent murder.
"Heh, naturally. If I had been here, how could the Luofu have fallen into such disarray?" Although Fu Xuan suspected Stelle's original words would have been quite rude, she didn't care. March 7th's flattery had pleased her.
Arms crossed, a small smile gracing her face, Fu Xuan nodded lightly, indicating her satisfaction.
"Lady Fu Xuan, you must be exhausted from your trip. Let me treat you to some Mung Bean Soda! A welcome-back gift to wash away the dust of your journey!" After wiping the saliva from her palm, March 7th produced a cup of Mung Bean Soda and offered it to Fu Xuan.
"Ah..." Seeing the Mung Bean Soda in March 7th's hand, Fu Xuan's expression shifted slightly, as if she had once been traumatized by the drink.
Cough, cough.
After clearing her throat, Fu Xuan waved her hand dismissively and said, "Thank you, March 7th. I appreciate the thought."
"However, I'm rather particular about my drinks."
"Besides, no normal Luofu native would ever drink Mung Bean Soda."
"Later, I'll treat you to a Startaro Bubble. Then you'll understand why."
Fu Xuan's tone made it unclear whether she loved Startaro Bubble that much or simply despised Mung Bean Soda.
"Hmm..." Fu Xuan turned to Lumina and Ruan Mei. "If you two would like one, it's my treat."
Hearing this, Lumina glanced at Ruan Mei, silently asking for her opinion. After Ruan Mei nodded in agreement, Lumina smiled and said, "Then we'll have to trouble the Master Diviner to spend."
Lumina adored Startaro Bubble, so there was no way she would refuse.
"Spend? It's hardly that." Fu Xuan replied coolly, a hint of casual wealth in her voice. "As the Master Diviner of the Divination Commission and the next General, I have some savings."
Why didn't the Master Diviner tell us she was coming back? Lumina chuckled softly but said nothing.
Fu Xuan's personal savings were surely beyond Lumina's wildest imagination—at the very least, far more than her own...
Well, someone who works without expecting rewards naturally wouldn't have much saved up.
"I'm not one for making a big fuss," Fu Xuan stated matter-of-factly in response to the unspoken question. "I was simply returning from a work trip. There's no need for a grand welcome party."
"However... I did notify Qingque in advance and told her to meet me at the Starskiff Jetty."
Fu Xuan hadn't broadcast her return to the Xianzhou Luofu; she had only informed Qingque, instructing her to pick her up at the port at this specific time.
"Hmph, and now look..." Fu Xuan scanned everyone present, finding no trace of Qingque. The conclusion was obvious.
That Qingque... she's ignored my orders again!
"Hmph. Since she's chosen to treat my words as mere wind, she can't blame me for what happens next."
Fu Xuan was furious at Qingque's behavior, the anger etched between her brows plain for all to see.
"Qingque, run for your life!" March 7th couldn't help but offer a silent prayer for Qingque upon seeing Fu Xuan's terrifying expression.
"Hmph. She can't escape." Fu Xuan crossed her arms and snorted coldly. "From the moment I set foot on the Xianzhou Luofu, her every move has been under the Omniscia's watch."
It seemed Qingque truly had no way out this time.
"Ahaha... Master Diviner, don't worry about it." Hearing Fu Xuan's threat, March 7th once again mourned for Qingque in her heart.
Then, she quickly suggested, "Master Diviner, Yanqing was just about to see the Astral Express Crew off. We could turn it into a welcome celebration for you right now!"
"Come on, let's take a group photo! That'll make it complete~"
"Hmm, Miss March's suggestion is a good one. Let's do that." Fu Xuan nodded lightly. March 7th's words had managed to quell some of her anger.
That wretched Qingque... I'll make sure she gets what's coming to her this time!
-
The photo session didn't last long and was over quickly.
Afterward, Lumina watched the starskiffs continuously streaking across the sky above the Starskiff Jetty and couldn't help but turn to Ruan Mei beside her.
"Ruan Mei, are you sure Himeko and the others are disembarking here?"
"Hmm... I'm not sure." Hearing this, Ruan Mei thought for a moment, then shook her head. She murmured, "According to the time Miss Himeko gave, they should have arrived by now."
"Yeah, why aren't Miss Himeko and Uncle Yang here yet?" March 7th chimed in, gazing at the azure sky above the Starskiff Jetty with growing confusion. "Weren't they supposed to return today?"
"Hmm... Could we have come to the wrong port?" Lumina asked, glancing at the various ports around them.
"There are many ports within the Starskiff Jetty," Fu Xuan suggested, having overheard their conversation. "You should ask them which port they're using to enter the Luofu."
"Right, I'll ask." Ruan Mei nodded, took out her phone, and sent a message.
Ding~
A moment later, a reply came through.
"Hmm... They say they're at Port Nine," Ruan Mei said, reading the message.
"Port Nine? Then you've come to the wrong place." Fu Xuan glanced at the surrounding architecture. "This is Port One. It's quite close to Port Nine."
She added, "The buildings around here are all very similar, so it's understandable that you'd get them mixed up."
"Oh, I see! Then let's hurry to Port Nine to find Aunt Himeko and Uncle Yang," March 7th exclaimed, her face lighting up with sudden realization.
"No need," Ruan Mei said softly, relaying Himeko's reply from her phone. "They said to stay put, and they'll come over."
"Oh, okay."
"Hmm... Speaking of which," Fu Xuan mused, a living example of the mistake right before her eyes, "could Qingque have gone to the wrong port too?"
After all, the two ports were very similar and extremely close. It was normal for someone to get them confused with a moment's inattention.
Hmm... but that's for non-Luofu natives.
For Qingque, a Luofu native, the probability of getting lost was extremely low.
"Master Diviner, what if Qingque really did just get lost?" March 7th was still trying to persuade Fu Xuan, hoping to lessen the "torture" Qingque was about to face.
"Hmph, impossible. If she got lost, I'll make her copy the layout of this area a hundred times." Snapping back to reality, Fu Xuan immediately dismissed the idea that Qingque could have gotten lost.
Qingque has lived on the Xianzhou Luofu for so long. How could she not even know the way?
If she really doesn't know the way, then she deserves to copy the layout.
"They're here."
Just as Fu Xuan was scoffing inwardly, three figures approached from a distance.
Two of them were, of course, Himeko and Welt. As for the third... she glanced over, then recoiled as if she'd seen something disgusting, hiding behind Himeko and seemingly too scared to move forward...
"..."
"Qingque!"