In the Kanas region at the dawn of July, the mountain wind was wrapped in glacial chill, while a thin warmth floated in the daylight.
Sunlight stingily pierced through the layers of clouds, casting broken gold-like spots of light in the birch forest. The air was infused with the cold fragrance of pine needles and moist soil.
In such clear and bright weather, inside the aerial battleship high above, someone was roaring furiously.
Bang!
"Who let her do it? Who let her do it!"
Situ Qinghong, who was always composed, was extremely rarely throwing a tantrum in the conference room.
Yunli and Yanqing, sitting on both sides, remained silent, their gazes unconsciously glancing at the huge screen behind her:
In the photo, the gray-haired girl's eyelashes were lowered, a few strands of silver hair brushing past her burning red ear tips.
The boy's fresh black hair was gilded by the light, a bright smile frozen on his lips.
One of his hands supported the back of her neck as he leaned down to kiss her naturally and assuredly; she, however, was tense all over, her knuckles white from gripping the hem of his clothes, revealing her shock and misplaced shyness.
No matter how you looked at it, they were a perfect golden boy and jade girl.
It was the kind of match made in heaven where if someone shouted "I object to this marriage!" from the audience, the onlookers would loudly jeer, "They are talented and beautiful, a match made in heaven. Do they need you, a monster, to object?"
In the past, Situ Qinghong would have offered her blessings too.
The Chief of Staff wasn't a vampire who would die suddenly upon seeing light, beauty, and hope. Given the current low birth rate in Shenzhou, she wished these two would rush to the Civil Affairs Bureau to get married and have three or five basketball teams of kids to carry on the family line.
The prerequisite was that the gray-haired girl being kissed in the photo wasn't named Fu Hua.
Yes, Shuhu's big hand had exerted force.
This morning, this intimate photo of Fuli and Fu Hua suddenly spread widely on Shenzhou's internet.
Not only were there various interesting fanfic essays attached, but even the Ministry of National Defense, major military regions, the Anti-Honkai Council, and even No. 1 West Chang'an Avenue in Xicheng District, Yingtian Prefecture received this special gift.
Generally speaking, even seeing this photo with impeccable lighting and angles, most ordinary people would just smile knowingly and sigh that this is youth.
Little did they know that the high-level officials of the Taixuan Front were already arguing like a vegetable market at six or seven in the morning. If it weren't a video conference, many people would have picked up whatever they could grab to smash at the opposite side, staging a vigorous martial arts show.
The reason?
The Ancestor worshipped by every household had fallen in love.
Not only did she fall in love, but it was with a sixteen-year-old brat who hadn't even grown hair yet.
Not only did she French kiss him, but the scene was thoroughly exposed by a third party.
Not everyone was as open-minded as Situ Qinghong. In the eyes of many high-ranking old fogies, the Celestial was the Celestial, and the Ancestor was the Ancestor.
Or rather, their thinking was more in line with the mainstream in Shenzhou. Simplest example: Setting aside the internet trolls who talked big because it didn't concern them, if it happened around you, how many people in today's society could truly accept a teacher-student romance? Could hold back from gossiping?
What? Aren't there many costume dramas filming romances between immortals and mortals?
Can that be the same? I really have an ancestor who has lived for five thousand years!
Meanwhile, many old guys who knew Fu Hua's true identity also sent mocking messages. Even if they weren't laughing at her, the teasing tone was predominant.
After confirming it was true, they immediately checked who exactly had captured the heart of the dignified Celestial of Empyrea.
Oh? A secular cousin?
Tsk tsk tsk, didn't expect you, Immortal Celestial, with your thick eyebrows and big eyes, to actually like playing incest.
Let's look again, look again—oh hiss! This little guy named Fuli isn't simple!
Not only did he bag Schicksal's former and current S-Rank Valkyries in one go, but he was also close with the British Princess and the future IPC Director, two members of the Senate. If he pried away the Four Horsemen of Apocalypse and Squad Immortal Blades too, wouldn't Schicksal have to change its Archbishop?
He had connections with Anti-Entropy too. Two of the only three official members of the Hyperion were daughters of Enforcers, and the last one was the precious daughter of that reckless Siegfried. Who didn't know he had been making eyes at Ryoma Raiden recently? The only thing missing from joining his command was a marriage certificate.
Now he had an affair with the nominal Marshal of Taixuan, Fu Hua. Schicksal, Anti-Entropy, Taixuan—the only three super-large factions in the solar system serving him alone. could this fortune be small?
Of course, this was just an exaggeration. Otto Apocalypse's importance to Schicksal went without saying, and Anti-Entropy openly had over a dozen Enforcers plus the elusive First Herrscher Welt.
The title of Marshal of Taixuan was more symbolic than substantial, but this didn't stop the melon-eating crowd from cheering and partying.
But as the melon being eaten, Situ Qinghong, responsible for the Eternal Heaven incident, was jumping mad.
At this moment, she felt the extreme powerlessness of a middle-aged corporate slave who returned home after a social engagement to find two pairs of men's slippers. Just as he sighed and prepared to go out, planning to talk to his wife after she finished, he saw his wife sitting properly on the sofa out of the corner of his eye, while the sound of three boys panting heavily came from his son's room.
Yanqing, who took over the management of the Kanas region in advance, had long detected that Fu Hua and Fuli were staying in the same room. The reason this matter hadn't fermented for so long was precisely because Situ Qinghong behind the scenes had suppressed it.
Just as the girl said before: Ancestor Immortal Celestial, you are a flesh-and-blood person. There has never been anything wrong with falling in love with a boy you like.
Even though she had doubts about Fu Hua's taste (she thought Fuli was too promiscuous), Situ Qinghong still silently did her job, trying every means to prevent outsiders from disturbing their progress.
And the result?
"SHU—HU—!!!"
She gritted her teeth.
One photo made all the girl's painstaking efforts go to waste (Muda), turning her into a total "giveaway."
Seeing this, Yanqing's eyes lit up. "Chief of Staff, if you agree, Yanqing will return to the Luofu immediately to prepare for the crusade against Shuhu!"
"Knock it off! Did you forget the lesson you just learned?"
Yunli rudely swung Old Iron and smacked the back of his head hard.
Clang!
Three flying swords crossed nimbly, blocking the incoming dark greatsword.
Bang!
Didn't block it.
"Tsk."
With a big bump on his head, the Luofu Sword Head sat back in his seat looking unhappy.
"Like a child, act your age."
After (physically) soothing the bristling little brother and taking the opportunity to mock him, Yunli turned her head and looked at Situ Qinghong eagerly. "What should we do? What should we do? While that Fuli is still in Shenzhou, should we strike first and capture him?"
Li-Bao also disliked Fuli, looking like a philanderer driving a battleship around the world. God knows how many lolis, girls, young married women, wives, and widows he would harm in the future!
"This..."
Situ Qinghong hesitated upon hearing this. She still didn't really want to intervene in Fu Hua's love life.
This was the first time the Grandmaster had shown unusual feelings for the opposite sex. If she messed it up, what if the old lady stayed single for another five thousand years!
Unfortunately, some things were not for her alone to decide.
The wristwatches of the three suddenly lit up, and a line of text appeared on them.
Attention all units:
According to superior deployment, all Honkai-related personnel of each unit are now required to gather immediately at the Kanas border area to invite the target 'Fuli' to Yingtian Prefecture, the capital of Shenzhou.
During the operation, ensure compliance with laws and regulations, efficient coordination, and timely reporting of execution status. The vital signs of the target object must be kept intact.
PS: How can Ancestor Immortal Celestial become someone's concubine?!!
"Pfft! Hahahaha!!!"
Yunli burst into laughter upon seeing the PS.
The people above had obviously realized someone's peach blossom luck (romantic luck) and decided to tie the person back first before discussing marriage.
And even if they did get married, the position of the main wife must be Fu Hua's.
This concerned the face of Shenzhou over five thousand years! Not a single inch could be yielded!
Yanqing, after reading the content, was also a bit amused.
He asked in a low voice, "Chief of Staff Situ, do we...?"
Yunli could ignore this order. She had the title of Master Artisan but held no position in the Taixuan Front; at most, she had a General grandfather.
But the Luofu Sword Head couldn't, the Jiangsu Ship couldn't, and the Chief of Staff of the Taixuan Front definitely couldn't.
Situ Qinghong frowned and intended to say something when the watch on her wrist vibrated again.
"Director."
A sweet voice echoed in the conference room, and a pitifully beautiful figure turned from virtual to real.
Cascading reddish-brown long hair poured down like sunset glow, the ends adorned with fine gold ornaments, swaying lightly with her steps, refracting a warm jade-like luster.
Clever and beautiful features, the tips of her hands and feet dyed with a crimson red like rosy clouds. Looming silver scales on her neck and collarbone floated with flowing water-like patterns in the warm light shining through her gauze clothes.
Most captivating were those amber pupils with slightly upturned tails. As her gaze shifted, unburned incense embers seemed to flicker within them.
"Sister Lingsha!"
Yunli's eyes suddenly lit up. She stood up supporting herself on the table with her jade hands, her body leaning forward significantly.
"It's Little Yunli. Haven't seen you for a while."
The beauty called "Lingsha" smiled at the corners of her mouth. Hazy white rabbits formed of smoke and fragrance wandered around Yunli.
A wide-sleeved silk dress with a white base and dark green rolled edges wrapped her slender and well-proportioned figure. A hollow silver incense ball hung at her waist, rippling with a clear medicinal fragrance as she moved.
"Mm!"
Reading the hidden meaning in the other party's words, the Master Artisan girl sat down obediently, waiting for her to finish talking with Situ Qinghong before catching up.
Lingsha, one of the Six Royals of the Luofu—former Cauldron Master of the Alchemy Commission, a clever and intelligent Vidyadhara healer.
With a keen sense of smell, she often used it to identify illnesses and used incense to calm others' minds. Her reputation during her tenure was excellent.
However, after the "Medicine-Holding Dragon Lady" Bailu came of age, Lingsha yielded the position of Cauldron Master to her and lived a leisurely life like a wild crane in the clouds.
Unexpectedly, not long after enjoying the good life of collecting a pension, Situ Qinghong came knocking, inviting her to take the position of Deputy of the Taixuan Laboratory.
Unable to refuse the other party's persistent invitations, Lingsha had to come out of retirement and, with the other party intentionally delegating power, became the de facto head of the laboratory.
"Is something the matter? Lingsha, contacting me at this time."
Situ Qinghong raised her elegant eyebrows. Even knowing that her friend's incense couldn't penetrate the portal between virtual and reality, she still felt a refreshing sensation that soothed her increasingly irritable heart.
"Yes, although it might not be good news." The brown-haired beauty smiled. "I can roughly guess your thoughts, Director. Unfortunately, it seems everyone will have to put in effort to invite that little guy named 'Fuli Yuanshi' this time."
Why?
Situ Qinghong was about to ask when she realized the reason for her friend's specific emphasis on the syllables.
"That Divine Spark?"
"The test report is out. The compatibility between the two parties is strangely high."
"Specifically?"
"Four hundred percent."
While playing on an EVA reference, it was enough to let the two present know the degree of importance.
"What what? Why didn't I understand?"
Except for Li-Bao; she didn't understand.
Yanqing glanced at her with slight disdain. "Compatibility with the Eternal Heaven Divine Spark."
"Oh."
Grandpa said asking when you don't know isn't shameful but a virtue.
Yunli nodded and asked again, "What does this thing have to do with Fuli?"
"Don't forget, Little Yunli, this special Divine Spark Crystal is going to be used to create the divine position of 'Fuli Yuanshi Tianzun'." Lingsha still doted on the cutie she watched grow up. "Fuli Yuanshi, Fuli Yuanshi (Fuli垣矢), don't they sound very similar?"
"That's not similar, the pronunciation is exactly the same!"
The girl shouted.
In the supernatural world, true names always possessed magical power.
This characteristic wasn't obvious when the person involved was weak, but once they reached a certain height, it would bring various benefits and drawbacks. In scientific terms, it was quantum resonance.
If it were just this, it would be fine. But now, the Eternal Heaven Divine Spark about to be used to create the Fuli Yuanshi Tianzun position was defeated by Fuli himself.
And not by despicable methods, but by a fair and square head-on clash of swords, convincing Him of his defeat wholeheartedly.
This directly prompted the Eternal Heaven Divine Spark to have no reservations toward Fuli himself. Coupled with the metaphysical boost of true name resonance, he transformed into the most matching holder of this divine position, to the point where it seemed custom-made and would actively reject others.
"..."
Realizing this, Situ Qinghong's expression gradually became grave.
Creating a divine position wasn't something that could be done overnight. However, as time passed, the variable Fuli would increasingly slip out of control.
Instead of letting him wander alone outside, it would be better to directly capture—invite him back to Shenzhou and provide for him well.
Situ Qinghong genuinely wanted Ancestor Immortal Celestial to be happy, but she also cared about the benefits a Sequence Rank could bring to the Taixuan Front.
As the Great Eruption became more frequent, Earth's spatial barriers were already too thin to resist monsters from the Imaginary Tree and the Sea of Quanta, such as Tlaloc and Imaginary construct invasions.
The Proper World at the center was still okay, but the World Bubbles under major organizations had always been restless.
As the greatest and most desperate disaster in human history, Honkai brought not only Herrschers, Honkai Beasts, and Zombies.
Compared to these tangible things that could be destroyed, secondary disasters like natural calamities and the Black Death were actually harder to guard against.
As if an angel flew across the sky, the conference room fell into silence.
Situ Qinghong closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
Sorry, Ancestor, this free love can't happen.
But you can return to the capital to play shota raising sim.
She opened her eyes. "Yanqing! Yunli!"
"Present!"
"Cooperate with the Jiangsu Ship to deploy a no-fly zone to blockade the border, and 'invite' Mr. Fuli to Yingtian Prefecture for a chat!"
"Yes!"
"I'd like to see who dares!"
With a bang, the electronic doors that should have slid open upon sensing someone were sent flying by brute force capable of shaking a continent.
Accompanied by steps as resonant and powerful as her words, the Bright Knight, filled with righteous aura, arrived before everyone like lightning.
...