"Not bad. What kind of event is the Yaoqing's Martial Rite?"
Leon asked.
"The Martial Rites of each Xianzhou ship are different."
"Our Luofu's Martial Rite is to commemorate the soldiers who died on the front lines fighting the Abundance, but the Yaoqing's is not."
"What is the Yaoqing's for?"
Leon picked up the teacup from the table and took a sip. It was slightly bitter.
"The Yaoqing reveres martial prowess. Only those whose strength is unmatched can lead their army. This Martial Rite, naturally, is a tournament to select the successor to the Arbiter-General."
Jing Yuan revealed the matter he had been entrusted with.
"General Yueyu asked me to pass a message on to you earlier."
"Yueyu?"
Hearing the name, Leon tried to recall.
Ah, the foxian girl who can summon a giant fox.
"What did she say?"
"She said that if you have some free time, she implores you to come to the Yaoqing to witness this historic moment."
Jing Yuan relayed the message faithfully.
"Of course, if General Leon is interested..."
"...you don't have to just witness it. You could try competing for the title yourself."
Jing Yuan said with a smile.
Leon held the title of Arbiter-General in name only, not in practice.
Although that's what was officially declared on Penacony.
But anyone could see that Leon was just doing them a favor.
He had no intention of actually leading.
Haha, but if Leon were to actually compete, that would be very interesting.
What a magnificent sight it would be if the Yaoqing's Divine Foresight, "Feihuang," were to pass into his hands.
Counting the bow gifted by Lan and himself...
...one man is worth two Emanators.
If he also had "Feihuang," wouldn't that be a trinity of power, like some kind of spirit fusion technique?
It would be like defying gravity itself.
If it came down to it, Jing Yuan could just cede his position to him right now.
He wouldn't have to go through the motions of that exhausting succession tournament.
"Am I supposed to go smurf on them?"
Leon declined to participate, saying he was busy enough as a Galaxy Ranger.
"But I guess I can go and watch."
He thought about it. For such a momentous occasion...
...any other Xianzhou ship would have desperately wanted the Reignbow Arbiter to bear witness. It wasn't just for ceremony, but a sign of immense recognition, an irreplaceable honor.
But Lan certainly couldn't come; They were truly busy fighting the Abundance.
But things were different now.
Leon's sudden appearance had changed everything.
This proxy of Lan was clearly someone you could negotiate with.
Not to mention, unlike the Marshal, he wasn't burdened by official duties and could participate from beginning to end.
Things that were impossible before were no longer just a fantasy.
The senior couldn't make it, so using him as a substitute was understandable.
Leon could understand.
"General Yueyu will be overjoyed to hear that you've agreed."
Jing Yuan was moved by his approachability.
"Why would I refuse?"
Leon didn't really get it. "We're all family," and there was no bad blood between them.
"They sent me an invitation. Never mind special circumstances; even if there were, I'd definitely go."
Needless to say, if your buddy asks you to log on to a game, do you log on or not?
You log on even if you're dying. If something special comes up, you just shove it aside and tell it to get lost.
Honestly, Leon felt there was no need for such distance.
Not only was the Xianzhou Alliance Lan's territory...
...but they had always treated him well, providing him with practically everything.
He would naturally be good to those who were good to him.
Just like the base code of a purring cat is written that way, so was Leon's.
Besides, he still held the title of Arbiter-General. He had no reason to refuse, logically or emotionally.
"Jing Yuan, just treat me as your equal. There's no need for so much formality between us."
Leon told him not to give him a promotion in his head. They were both Arbiter-Generals; neither was nobler than the other.
Hearing this, Jing Yuan immediately smiled and nodded repeatedly in agreement.
"Then when the Luofu holds its Martial Rite, I will be sure to invite General Leon to preside."
"So, when is the Yaoqing's Martial Rite being held?"
Hearing Jing Yuan's suggestion, Leon decided to leave Luanpo on the Yaoqing and join the festivities while he was there.
He wondered if he should set off a bit earlier to avoid being late.
"There's no need to worry about that. General Leon can simply travel along with the Luofu."
Jing Yuan told him not to be in such a hurry and to enjoy the culture and scenery of the Luofu first.
"By the time the Luofu arrives, the Martial Rite should be about to start."
"Oh, what was that you said earlier about a modest gift?"
Leon remembered. "Should I prepare a gift as well, just as a gesture?"
Should I hand out cigarettes to everyone on the Yaoqing?
If I hand out all my vape pods, will my vape still have enough charge, Jing Yuan!
"Absolutely not. General Leon's presence itself is surely the greatest gift for General Yueyu."
Jing Yuan told him not to mess around.
A gift personally delivered by the Reignbow Arbiter's proxy... besides the Marshal, who would dare to accept it?
The Xianzhou Alliance is one of the very few factions in the universe to have the complete blessing of an Aeon.
What does a complete blessing entail?
It means an entire Path is open to them.
For them to use, and they can even freely distribute its power.
The unique "mantle of succession" is a reflection of this.
They no longer need the Aeon's gaze to create an Emanator by human means.
And this authority rests in the Marshal's hands.
The Arbiter-General is a position, with six individuals appointed by the Marshal.
Leaving aside Leon, the anomaly...
...in the entire Xianzhou Alliance, only Marshal Hua is an Emanator recognized by Lan. The Arbiter-Generals are public servants who must pass an examination, just like ordinary Cloud Knights.
Only by passing the assessment do they earn the right to succeed.
The nature of this assessment is decided by each Xianzhou ship, though directly appointing an heir is also possible.
Hua trusts her subordinates.
"What are you sending?" Leon asked curiously.
"It's not exactly a gift. The Yaoqing requested it."
Jing Yuan took another sip of tea to wet his throat. "To escort Hulei over to them."
Leon replied to that, then asked:
"Escorting is still sending."
Jing Yuan answered the question.
"And what is this Hulei?"
"Since being captured alive centuries ago by the former Sword Champion, it has been suppressed in the depths of the Luofu's Shackling Prison, suffering the endless torment of the Sword Tree day and night."
"The evils committed by this wolf-fanged beast deserve an eternity without seeing the light of day."
After mentioning the words "former Sword Champion," a hint of reminiscence appeared in Jing Yuan's eyes.
Leon thought he was still a bit too conservative, not extreme enough.
Jing Yuan smiled and shook his head.
"Not sentenced to death?"
"To talk about that, we must bring up the secrets of the Foxians."
"'Lunar Madness.' This is a condition unique to the Borisin."
"The Foxians and Borisin share a common origin, so some atavistic Foxians have also developed this condition."
Jing Yuan explained slowly.
"But while 'Lunar Madness' is a blessing to the Borisin, it is a curse to the Foxians."
"The Borisin can use it without restraint thanks to their powerful physiques, but most Foxians who use it will die. Those who survive have their lifespan cut in half, at the very least."
A hint of weariness entered Jing Yuan's tone, as if recalling the recent Third Abundance War.
"Hulei, despite endless torture, still maintains significant life force. Aside from being weakened, it shows no signs of dying at all."
"Most of the Foxians on the Yaoqing believe the path to their salvation lies within it."
Jing Yuan's words made it very clear.
Hulei, though a malignant tumor, might still have medicinal potential.
"Sending Hulei to the Yaoqing this time was also at General Yueyu's request."
As Jing Yuan spoke, he gave Leon an imperceptible glance.
"She herself suffers from 'Lunar Madness' and knows full well how poisonous it is."
The reason Hulei was imprisoned on the Luofu...
...was to use the Luofu, having just experienced the Sedition of the Imbibitor Lunae, as a warning to the Yaoqing that even well-intentioned actions can lead to irreparable mistakes if one is not careful.
Logically, it should not have been transferred so easily.
"Therefore, she hopes the next successor will not have to suffer this same worry."
The reason the transfer was approved this time is because the time, place, and people were all perfectly aligned.
The Borisin army has just been routed.
If they press their advantage and decipher the secrets of the 'Crimson Moon'...
...they can squeeze out Hulei's final value and eliminate this time bomb that can turn other species into Borisin.
Then, by launching a major offensive before the Borisin can recover, they might be able to annihilate them completely.
This is the opportune time.
"She wants to bring the generations-long feud between the two races to a true end while she is still here."
For Hulei's transfer, everyone in the Yaoqing's military, from top to bottom, signed a life-and-death pact.
Namely: they will not resort to unorthodox methods, they will not become radical even after years without results, and all experiments on Hulei will be conducted openly under the Alliance's supervision.
If anything goes wrong, Yueyu will answer for it with her life.
This is the support of the people.
Jing Yuan looked at the bow-carrying man before him and said no more.
And Leon was the most crucial element: the right place.
Thanks to this suddenly appeared, personally-taught disciple of the Reignbow Arbiter, many things no longer had to be done with fear and hesitation.
Even if he hadn't messaged them about returning to the Alliance, Yueyu would have personally messaged him to try and invite him back.
Every action would be carried out under Leon's watch.
This would represent the Yaoqing's unwavering loyalty to the Alliance, proving they would never repeat a mistake like the Sedition of the Imbibitor Lunae.
No joke, whether it's pleasantries or oaths...
...piling them up is not as concrete as a single nod of approval from Leon.
If he says he'll handle it, he really will.
One word from Leon...
...and any opposing voices among the Alliance's high command would immediately be branded as 'disloyal'.
"The Reignbow Arbiter's edicts are declared only by arrows of light."
Everyone believed this phrase also applied to Leon.
As long as you cross his bottom line, he will absolutely not hold back.
With someone to back them up...
...the high command finally let down their guard and approved the Yaoqing's actions.
"Not bad."
Leon nodded, as if he had taken it all in.
Whether it went in one ear and out the other, who could say.
"Sigh, Brother Leon, I've been feeling a bit under the weather recently."
Jing Yuan looked at his leisurely and free demeanor and couldn't help but say with some emotion.
"Why don't you stay and take over my position as the Luofu's General? How about I serve as your strategist?"
The position of Arbiter-General was not an easy one.
Jing Yuan even felt it was a thankless job.
Don't be fooled by the prestige of the high rank.
When you actually do the job, you discover...
...you have to deal not only with external threats but also internal politics.
A group of higher-ups will jump at any chance to criticize you, blowing even the smallest mistake out of proportion.
They seem to wish you nothing but ill.
The work is endless, and you constantly have to weigh and balance things in your mind.
When an ordinary person becomes an Arbiter-General...
...even besides the Marshal, there are still people above them.
This is the downside of being an 'Emanator' by succession.
You're taken seriously, but not that seriously.
In contrast, an Emanator personally recognized by an Aeon would be revered by any faction.
For example, Leon.
If he were to take office, he wouldn't just be revered.
If you didn't burn three sticks of incense for him daily, you'd be in for a world of hurt.
If any of those higher-ups dared to speak ill of his elder, that person could be judged disloyal to the Reignbow Arbiter and be reincarnated by the next day.
Not even the Marshal could save them.
Besides, he's not a native of the Xianzhou, so there's obviously no need to worry about him suffering from Mara-Struck symptoms.
Even the Ten-Lords can't control him.
From the very beginning, he stood in an unassailable position.
If Leon really wanted to, he could declare himself king of the entire Xianzhou Alliance.
"How can you be spouting such nonsense over a cup of tea?"
Leon expressed his disapproval.
"You don't understand my heart~ pretending to be calm~"
Jing Yuan's previous words came from the heart.
How nice would it be to just scheme in the background without having to participate in any internal affairs?
Not to mention the leader would have absolute authority, allowing him to act without restraint.
Fu Xuan wants this general's position every day, but Jing Yuan really can't see what's so good about it.
"Don't say things like 'you don't understand'."
Hearing these words of wanting to give up, Leon's passive ability subconsciously activated.
"Jing Yuan, keep up the good work. Things will definitely get better."
"Heh." Jing Yuan just shook his head and chuckled dismissively.
When you're willing to endure hardship, you'll find...
...that life has an endless supply of hardship for you to endure.
"Alright, I'm done with my tea."
Leon stood up and waved goodbye.
"We've covered everything. Just let me know when it's time to go to the Yaoqing."
"I won't see you out." Jing Yuan nodded.
He wasn't worried about where Leon would go. To arrange things for him would be an insult to the hospitality of the Luofu's people.
He's telling you, those gifts have a magical charm.
Leon handing out a pack of cigarettes today must have earned him a lot of goodwill.
Maybe he won't even get a few steps out the door before someone deliberately bumps into him and says:
[Oh, I'm so sorry! How about I give you my newly bought house as an apology?]
"Remember to relay the message to the other Arbiter-Generals as well."
Leon nodded, then left the Seat of Divine Foresight with March 7th and Luanpo.
"If you need anything, just find me. No need for formalities."
His voice faded as his footsteps grew more distant.
...
Outside the Seat of Divine Foresight.
Just as Leon stepped out, he ran into two people waiting for him.
"Attendant Fu, remember to clear your schedule for tomorrow. I'll message you the specific time later."
After speaking, Fu Xuan glanced at March 7th, who was beside him, then turned and left.
"Mr. Leon, you've just arrived on the Luofu. Please get some proper rest."
Yukong said this, but her hands were already busy taking out her Jade Abacus.
"Since you're new here, there must be many things you're unfamiliar with. I've lived on the Luofu for quite some time, so please feel free to contact me if you run into any trouble."
Yukong wore a smile.
She had already opened the QR code for her social media app. Her intention was obvious.
Leon nodded and added her as a friend, just as she wished.
"Then I'll take my leave for today. Good night."
The smile on Yukong's face widened, looking completely satisfied.
This way, she wouldn't have to worry about not being able to find him.
In truth, Yukong had always regretted it since they parted ways on the battlefield.
She wanted to properly repay his kindness, even if it was just by treating him to a meal.
But the two had never met again, and the words of thanks she should have said back then were left unspoken.
That wasn't even the most painful part.
The most painful part was constantly hearing his great name being mentioned, yet having no way to contact him.
But now, she didn't have to worry anymore.
Although this was just the beginning for the two of them, doesn't everything have to start somewhere?
The only thing between wanting and getting is doing.
Only by taking action can you begin.
Leon didn't understand.
How could adding someone's contact information make a person so happy?
He watched Yukong's departing figure, feeling a little troubled.
"What's 'contact information'?"
March 7th, who had captured this historic moment on camera, asked as she looked at the photo of the two successfully adding each other as friends.
"Oh, right. You don't have a Jade Abacus."
Leon had forgotten about that. "Let's wait until tomorrow. I'll get one for each of you then."
March 7th nodded, only half-understanding.
Luanpo, however, saw the world through a cyberpunk lens, so she could understand the concept of a Jade Abacus.
[Trial System: You have acquired a new side quest. Obtain the Communication-Science-Ninja-Tool from the Great God Lan.]
This was the scene in her eyes.
"Don't you 'hey' me, I'm telling you."
Hearing "Great God Lan," Leon could only think that it was a good thing Jing Yuan wasn't around.
That would have been embarrassing.
"But it is used for communication."
Leon and March 7th each took one of Luanpo's hands, and they began to look for a place to stay for the night.
"Once you have a Jade Abacus, you can message me whenever anything happens."
Before Luanpo could reply, a very flustered-looking, purple-haired little girl with dragon horns came rushing around the corner and bumped right into them.
_____
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