---o---
Fu Xuan fell into deep thought as she looked at the two divination results before her.
"Qingque, perhaps Chen Li really could take my place as the Master Diviner of the Divination Commission," Fu Xuan said suddenly.
"Huh? Master Diviner, why would you say that? Although your height is… although some of your words are too profound for us mortals to comprehend, your abilities are second to none. The entire Divination Commission acknowledges this. Or are you saying you're resigning from your position to get promoted to General?"
Qingque did not understand, and she was greatly shocked.
If Fu Xuan really stopped being the Master Diviner, the sky would truly fall for the Divination Commission. There would no longer be a short but incredibly capable person holding up the sky for her.
This can't happen!
Chen Li? What the hell did Chen Li know about divination? Could he even use the Matrix of Prescience? At most, he'd lift the Matrix and smash it in an enemy's face!
"These are the results of my last two divinations." Fu Xuan didn't say much, simply handing a slip of paper to Qingque.
Qingque keenly noticed the complex expression on Fu Xuan's face as she passed the note. Filled with confusion, Qingque took the slip and looked closely.
"What do you mean, 'intimate interactions with the Progenitor of Plagues'? And what do you mean, 'sharing a bed with the Aeon of Nihility'?"
Although Qingque knew that Chen Li had close contact with Aeons, she never thought it would be this close.
Kid, what did you do to the Aeon of Abundance? And what did you do to the Aeon of Nihility?
What on earth are you doing?
Why are you on dates with Aeons all the time?
Are you doing any actual work?
"You also think these results are absurd, right?" Fu Xuan sighed, looking at Qingque's clearly shocked expression.
"Uh…" Qingque didn't know how to answer.
Based on the previous two experiences, if nothing unexpected happened, Chen Li was probably doing something similar. It was just that under the influence of the Elation Die, the results given by the Matrix of Prescience had become rather surreal. Of course, this also meant the Matrix was now participating in high-level battles it could never have reached in its entire existence.
Qingque knew that Chen Li having "dinner" with the Aeon of Voracity meant they were literally trying to eat each other. According to Herta, who had watched the live broadcast, the scene had been quite brutal.
And these two new divination results… might also be true.
But Qingque didn't know how to tell Fu Xuan this. She couldn't just say, "Your divine powers are no match for the whims of fate," could she?
"This phenomenon can only mean one of three things. First, Chen Li actually did these insane things, but that's clearly impossible, right?"
"Uh, right."
"Second, the power of Erudition on Chen Li is capable of countering the Matrix of Prescience, which was gifted by Nous, as well as the third eye on my forehead, which was also a gift from Nous. If that's the case, it can only mean the student has surpassed the master. I am very gratified." Fu Xuan nodded to herself as she spoke.
Fu Xuan was not a sore loser. She planned to cultivate Chen Li properly when he returned, grooming him to be her successor as Master Diviner. Then, she could focus on preparing for the position of General. When the time came, with Fu Xuan as the General and Chen Li as the Master Diviner, the art of divination would surely flourish on the Luofu!
"Don't be so quick to be gratified, and don't be in such a hurry to abdicate. Isn't there a third possibility?"
"The third possibility… a goddamned Masked Fool is causing trouble in the shadows!" Fu Xuan's gaze sharpened.
"Hm?" Hearing this, Qingque subconsciously looked up at the pink sun in the sky. She knew it was Elysia hanging up there, but the rumor circulating throughout the Xianzhou was that it was the prank of a Masked Fool.
"Not that sun," Fu Xuan shook her head. She knew the object in the sky was a distinguished guest of the General; she had divined that herself.
"Then what is it?"
"You may not know, but a short while ago, a Masked Fool snuck into the General's residence, stole his account, and sent me a last will and testament. It was infuriating!"
"Uh, I've heard rumors."
Qingque knew from her group chats that this was because Baiheng, appearing in her Heroic Spirit form, had startled Jing Yuan into thinking his time was up. He had written the will himself, but due to various circumstances, he had ended up blaming it on a Masked Fool.
"And this morning, the General summoned me to his residence again. He explained to me and the other five Arbiter-Generals that a Masked Fool has been frequently active on the Xianzhou recently and might disguise himself as the General to commit crimes, telling us to be vigilant," Fu Xuan continued.
"…"
Qingque knew about this too. It was because the General had been afflicted by the [Mengyin Shen], and he didn't know how much it would affect others or whether everyone would forget the fact that a little Jing Yuan was walking the streets. To prevent this ultimate weapon from being revealed prematurely, Jing Yuan had decided to continue blaming the Masked Fools.
"Therefore, I suspect that because the Xianzhou blamed the pink sun incident on the Masked Fools, it caused them to become angry from embarrassment and start playing indiscriminate pranks on the General and the Divination Commission," Fu Xuan continued.
The General's residence had been the one to announce that the pink sun was the work of Masked Fools, and the Divination Commission had been the one to divine this according to the announcement.
"A while ago, it was the General's residence that suffered. Now, it should be the Divination Commission's turn. There's no other way to explain why you've checked the Matrix three times, and each time, a different one of its three foundation arrays has had a bug!" Fu Xuan said.
"…I feel like the third possibility is the most likely," Qingque said.
Qingque knew that whether it was the pink sun, Jing Yuan being scared by a "ghost" into thinking his end was near, or Jing Yuan blaming everything on the Masked Fools to cover up the [Mengyin Shen] incident—all three things ultimately traced back to Chen Li.
But brotherhood is in the heart!
Qingque would never speak ill of Chen Li, so she could only speak ill of the Masked Fools!
"I think both are possible. Therefore, I've decided to vigorously cultivate Chen Li when he returns, and then…"
"And then what?"
"Search for any potential Masked Fools within the Divination Commission! If I can't even catch a single Masked Fool, how can I continue as the Master Diviner? If word gets back to the General, how can I ever become a General myself?" Fu Xuan slammed her fist on the table.
This was also why she had said she should perhaps step down. If the divination errors were due to the second reason, then Chen Li was more suited to be the Master Diviner than she was. If it was due to the third reason, and she didn't even know a spy had infiltrated her own Commission, then what kind of Master Diviner was she?
"…Why don't you try divining it?" Qingque suggested.
"Divination is useless. Since that Masked Fool can toy with General Jing Yuan, an Emanator of the Hunt, it means they are likely an Emanator-level Masked Fool themselves. Protected by the divine power of the Lord of Joy, they can't be divined so easily," Fu Xuan said.
"Then what do we do?"
"I will visit every diviner in the Commission personally and observe them up close with my third eye. Perhaps I will notice something," Fu Xuan said.
"Then it will be a lot of hard work for you, Master Diviner," Qingque said, looking at Fu Xuan with admiration. What a massive undertaking…
"What are you talking about? You're coming with me."
"What?"
"Because you could also be a Masked Fool in disguise. After all, besides me, you are the one who most frequently interacts with the Matrix of Prescience and could most easily tamper with it. So I need to keep you by my side for observation. Let's go, we're moving out!" Fu Xuan was decisive and swift.
"Goddamned Masked Fools!" Qingque wailed.
She had a feeling she wouldn't be getting any rest at all today.
"Indeed. Goddamned Masked Fools!" Fu Xuan nodded.
With that thought, she even sent a message to Jing Yuan, noting the possibility of Masked Fools causing trouble in the Divination Commission and suggesting he issue a public announcement warning the Xianzhou people to be vigilant.
"…Goddamned Masked Fools!" Upon seeing the message, Jing Yuan didn't know why a Masked Fool would interfere with the Divination Commission's work, nor did he know what Fu Xuan was divining, but it was true that Masked Fools were capable of anything.
And the real Masked Fools who were actually on the Xianzhou, upon seeing the General's announcement about being wary of troublemaking Masked Fools, glanced at the pink sun in the sky and the warning before them, and also cursed under their breath: Goddamned Masked Fools!
Because they also felt that besides a Masked Fool, no one else would pull off so many outrageous and insane stunts.
Hanging a pink sun over the Xianzhou, stealing the General's account to post a will, impersonating the General to commit crimes, interfering with the Master Diviner's work…
This person was practically a rising star in the world of Masked Fools!
Faced with this phenomenal level of fun, the Masked Fools began to lay low on one hand and share the fun on the other. Why lay low? To avoid getting caught in the crossfire. That was the real reason they were cursing the "Goddamned Masked Fool."
"Hm? Such a hero on the Luofu. It would be a shame not to go see… I'll put the Penacony matter aside for now. The Halovian Choral starts much later anyway. I'll go to the Xianzhou and find some fun first!"
While some Masked Fools cowered, others were naturally drawn by the scent of chaos and wanted to investigate. Among them was a greatly interested Masked Fool—Sparkle!
"Fun, fun…"
The thought that she could cause any kind of trouble on the Luofu and just blame it on that "goddamned Masked Fool" made Sparkle hum with delight.
Lady Sparkle never fears going against the grain!
After all, that goddamned Masked Fool wasn't Lady Sparkle.
---o---
"???"
"Say what Silver Wolf told you one more time." Looking at Baiheng's awkward smile, Chen Li suspected there was something wrong with his ears.
"She said to use these black stockings to hang you," Baiheng said, pointing to a ball of fishnet stockings in a transparent bag.
"I lent you the Curio, let you chat with your friend for an hour, and you became friends with Silver Wolf that quickly? And now you're going to help her deal with me? Doesn't your conscience hurt?" Chen Li looked at Baiheng in disbelief.
That's how the slap glove worked. After slapping the other person or yourself, as long as you didn't close the channel, you could keep chatting. Theoretically, it could establish a spatio-temporal channel, but unfortunately, it was one-way. At the same time, the slapper could also directly cross through the channel to the other person's location.
"Don't say that. I just couldn't refuse Silver Wolf's enthusiasm, so I brought the stuff back. I never said I would use it on you. So you deal with it yourself." Baiheng tossed the bag to Chen Li.
Chen Li thought for a moment, then put the bag away. He planned to use it to brew tea later.
Not for himself, of course, but for Silver Wolf!
"She thinks she can kill me with black stockings? Does she think she's the Silver Wolf of the Urals? Hah, in the third match, I'll ensure her utter defeat," Chen Li sneered.
"The third match? What are you competing in? I'm curious. Don't worry, I won't tell Silver Wolf," Baiheng asked.
"What I can reveal for now is… it's related to the work of a Stellaron Hunter."
"The work of a Stellaron Hunter? Being wanted? Catching Stellarons?" Baiheng tilted her head.
"Don't ask. If you have to ask, it's about being a Star-River Hunter."
"Fine. By the way, did anything happen during the hour I was chatting with Yingxing and the others?"
"Nope."
"Did I miss anything?"
"That, you did. In the hour you were gone, I used some Fiction Value to restore the [Key of Fateful Invitation] and met two more Aeons."
"…It's so convenient for you to meet Aeons."
"I can only say it's a good thing those two Aeons weren't resistant to being invited. That's why it was convenient."
Aeons had the right to refuse an invitation. For example, if Chen Li tried to invite Nous now, It would definitely not accept. It had had enough of moronic questions.
But the Aeons of Abundance and Nihility that Chen Li had just invited were different. The Aeon of Nihility's complete apathy meant It wouldn't agree to an invitation, but It also wouldn't refuse. And for the [Key of Fateful Invitation], no refusal was equivalent to consent. So, the Aeon of Nihility was easily invited over, giving Chen Li +1 to his [Date with an Aeon] count.
The Aeon of Abundance was even more different. Yaoshi never refused anyone's desire for the miracles of Abundance. So, Yaoshi had gladly accepted Chen Li's invitation, came to the invitation space, and then… got a bite taken out of It.
Chen Li wasn't a heartless person. He gave It a Senzu Bean and said thank you! The bean wasn't important; the "thank you" was. The gift was light, but the sentiment was heavy!
Although he could now invite Aeons at any time with the Key, the two Miracle Cards related to summoning Aeons were still incredibly effective, because invited Aeons couldn't be used against enemies; their influence couldn't extend beyond the invitation space.
This made Chen Li feel it was a bit of a shame. Otherwise, he could just invite the Aeon of Nihility and then kick It out the door to give his enemies a big surprise!
However, the Key wasn't completely useless in this regard. If limited to the Star Rail world, the Key could still serve as a locator. For example, he could invite the Aeon of the Hunt into the space, open the door to let Big Brother Hunt see the target, and after Big Brother Hunt returned to reality, he could use that location data to fire off a rocket. This usage method was exclusive to the Path of the Hunt. It was even better when used by a Xianzhou native. Big Brother Hunt never skimped on his help; he just never knew when people on his Path (especially the Xianzhou) needed it.
Of course, there was one exception: if the opponent was an Abomination of Abundance! And as it happened, Chen Li was very skilled at fabricating Abominations of Abundance!
---o---
"Is this… a delivery for me?" Tingyun, having finished a busy day of business negotiations on a foreign planet, received a package.
"Yes. Please sign for it."
"Pardon me for asking, but who sent this? Why is there… no sender information?" Tingyun frowned after looking at the delivery slip and asked the mechanical being who delivered it.
Tingyun, a graceful and cunning Foxian woman, was the chief representative of the Sky-Faring Commission's merchant guild, the "Whistling Flames," and also an Amicassador of the Luofu. She had traveled to many worlds with her merchant guild. Under her management, the Xianzhou's trade festivals had gradually become famous. In charge of the wealthy "Whistling Flames," she maintained the Xianzhou's trade network across the galaxy with her eloquence and shrewdness.
Tingyun considered herself somewhat well-known within the Luofu, but outside of it, not many people would know her name. If someone wanted to befriend her, it was even more unlikely they would leave the sender information blank.
Sending her a package without revealing their name made Tingyun even more suspicious of its contents.
"I am not at liberty to say. The only information I can disclose is that this package is from Planet Screwllum," the mechanical being said, shaking its head.
"Planet Screwllum?" Tingyun was even more astonished.
If some minor faction wanted to get on the Xianzhou's good side and sent her a gift, she could accept that. But Planet Screwllum was the territory of that Genius Society member, Screwllum. As for an ordinary mechanical being… Tingyun couldn't recall having any mechanical friends.
"Do you need me to open the package for you? That lord said to ensure that you personally receive the goods inside," the mechanical being said very politely.
"Yes, please." Out of caution, Tingyun took two steps back and watched the mechanical being open the package and take out a phone.
After personally presenting the phone to Tingyun, the mechanical being took off its hat, bowed to her, and slowly departed.
Curious, Tingyun followed the mechanical being out of the residential area with the phone and saw it leave the hotel amidst the enthusiastic compliments of the hotel manager. This left Tingyun even more confused. This was the most expensive hotel on the planet; only the rich and powerful could stay here. This was enough to prove that the mechanical being acting as a delivery person was definitely not simple.
And thinking that the package was from Planet Screwllum, a bold idea formed in Tingyun's mind!
---o---
"Me? Of course I'm not Screwllum. That's quite obvious." Seeing the Foxian girl's cautious demeanor on the other side of the video call, Chen Li sized her up while reassuring her.
The Foxian girl before him had a slender and graceful figure. Fox-like, agile ears peeked out from her black hair, which faded from ink-black to crimson. Her bangs framed a pair of emerald eyes that shone with gentleness and intelligence. She wore a purple and gold off-the-shoulder short dress, with detached, wide sleeves that fluttered with her movements. Tassels with delicate bells hung from her waist, and carved silver bracelets adorned her slender wrists. The straps of her open-toed sandals were wound around her snow-white ankles.
A fox spirit, a gonguai—Tingyun!
Chen Li now felt that Screwllum's name was a bit too famous.
Within the Genius Society, you could call him Screwllum, and he wouldn't mind. Outside the Genius Society, you had to address him as the respected King of Planet Screwllum, Genius Society Member #76, the elegant mechanical aristocrat, Mr. Screwllum! Of course, given Screwllum's personality, he would never say this, but that didn't mean others wouldn't.
"However, I did indeed have Screwllum send this gift to you."
Just as Tingyun breathed a sigh of relief, she heard the young man's next words, and her heart instantly leaped into her throat.
"This little woman's name is Tingyun. May I ask who you are…"
"You can call me the Curio Forger."
"Genius Society Member #85, suspected Masked Fool, possessor of the power to spread memes, the genius hacker who once stole the accounts of three geniuses and then blamed it on the Stellaron Hunter Silver Wolf, Mr. Curio Forger?" Tingyun exclaimed.
"???" Chen Li, who had been preparing to accept Tingyun's admiring gaze, was stunned to be hit with so many titles he had never even heard of.
"My deepest apologies. This is the first time this little woman has met a true genius. I lost my composure for a moment. I hope Mr. Curio Forger will forgive me." But before Chen Li could say anything, Tingyun quickly added.
At this moment, Tingyun's eyes were downcast, her face filled with remorse, and her words were full of apology, making it impossible to scold her.
"Uh, I… I can understand your surprise."
Chen Li now had a rough idea of his general reputation in the Star Rail world. But he didn't understand why, despite working diligently every day to forge Curios to save the world, his reputation was so poor!
It must be the work of those goddamned Masked Fools!
"Thank you for your magnanimity, Mr. Curio Forger. May I ask what important matter you have for this little woman? If there is anything you need, I will do my utmost to atone for my earlier rudeness," Tingyun said softly, her pacing slow and deliberate.
"You don't have to be so formal. In fact, I'm looking for you because I have an agreement with your General… You don't believe me? Look, this is the sword I borrowed from Jing Yuan." Chen Li took out the formation blade he had borrowed from Jing Yuan to practice his swordsmanship.
"This little woman believes you." Tingyun nodded upon seeing the sword.
In truth, she had no choice but to believe. Tingyun simply couldn't believe that anyone would dare to impersonate a member of the Genius Society. And the crown on the other person's head looked incredibly noble at first glance! Tingyun kept her eyes lowered, afraid that her gaze would profane the noble crown.
Perhaps the Curio Forger was the heir of some noble civilization? This thought arose in Tingyun's mind.
Chen Li was wearing the crown that went with his Golden Homu King outfit precisely to create the fictional illusion that the crown was his main body. It seemed the effect was outstanding.
"No, I feel like you still don't believe me. Look, this is General Jing Yuan's good friend, Baiheng. I pulled her out of the ground to reunite with Jing Yuan. You know the High-Cloud Quintet, right? You know Baiheng? You've seen the Vidyadhara Dragon Lady, Bailu, right? Bailu is actually transformed from Baiheng, which is why they look so similar. I've already told you one of the Xianzhou's biggest secrets."
"This little woman believes you!" Tingyun's tone grew heavier!
She had indeed heard similar rumors. Moreover, since childhood, she had admired the skilled pilots who could soar freely in the sky, and among them, Baiheng was a legendary figure!
"No, I feel like you still don't believe me. Look, this is a photo of me with Jing Yuan in his [Mengyin Shen] state. You don't know what [Mengyin Shen] is, do you? It's a Curio I forged for the Xianzhou. It can suppress the Mara-Struck condition of the Xianzhou natives and the Lunacy of the Foxians, but the price is turning into a Yingying. This is currently the biggest secret of the Xianzhou Alliance, bar none." Chen Li continued.
"This little woman truly believes you! Please don't say any more." Looking at the photo Chen Li showed her, Tingyun's composure began to crack.
Stop talking, please stop! If you say any more, I'm worried I'll be silenced after I return to the Xianzhou!
"I think you… alright, I think you really believe me now. We can continue." When Chen Li saw the apprehensive look on Tingyun's face, he knew she truly believed him. However, he felt she didn't need to be so afraid, because soon, she would become one of the Luofu's biggest secrets herself. When everyone is a secret, there's no need to fear secrets being leaked.
"This little woman is all ears." Tingyun only breathed a sigh of relief when Chen Li finally stopped questioning her belief.
"It's like this. Through certain secret channels, I've deduced that the Lord Ravager Phantylia is going to use a Stellaron to revive the Ambrosial Arbor and bring disaster to the Xianzhou, and you are the identity she has chosen to infiltrate the Xianzhou. So when your merchant guild returns to the Xianzhou, you will be attacked by Phantylia. She will take your identity and enter the Xianzhou to cause a huge mess!"
"???" Hearing Chen Li reveal such a massive secret in one breath, Tingyun's mind went blank.
Are you saying that an Emanator of Destruction, the Lord Ravager Phantylia, has her eyes on me, a weak, pitiful, and helpless ordinary Foxian?
Tingyun suddenly felt she might not need to worry about being silenced after returning to the Xianzhou, because she would be silenced long before that.
"Oh, looking at your expression, you clearly don't believe my secret channels, right? Then I'm about to tell you one of the biggest secrets in this universe! Listen closely…"
"Stop, esteemed Mr. Curio Forger. I don't want to know any secrets. Right now, I just want to know if I can still be saved." Tingyun put on a pitiful expression, looking weak and helpless at Chen Li.
She wasn't afraid because of Phantylia; she had never directly faced the might of Destruction. She was afraid because of Chen Li. Any one of the secrets he had mentioned could land poor little Tingyun under strict surveillance by the Xianzhou for decades.
If that happened, her career, her little fortune, her precious treasures… everything would be gone!
"Of course, you can be saved. I have a Curio here called [The Revival Games]. You can watch the ad for it through the link I send you…" Chen Li briefly explained the effect of the Curio to Tingyun.
"You mean I have to die? But I'll have a few days to watch the revival tournament, collect the Revival Card, and prepare for my next resurrection?" Tingyun was shocked by the Curio's miraculous effect.
So the Curio Forger is really a "Curio" Forger? Not like the internet rumors say, someone who only steals the accounts of Genius Society members and plays pranks with meme-level infectious abilities?
It seemed you really couldn't believe everything you read online. And no wonder he could become a member of the Genius Society. If the effect of this Curio was real, she would believe he was an Aeon!
So, Tingyun guessed this Curio must have some limitations! For example, it could only revive a weakling like herself.
"It doesn't have to be that way. If Miss Tingyun is unwilling to cooperate, we have other methods…"
In fact, Chen Li had sent out this Friends Circle terminal long ago, but to ensure its safety, the delivery was slow, and it had only just reached Tingyun's hands. The original best plan was indeed to use Tingyun to lure out Phantylia, but now Chen Li had another method.
One could only say that the difficulty of the level hadn't kept up with the speed at which the player was getting stronger.
"But before that, I feel that since Miss Tingyun is perhaps one of the biggest victims of the Phantylia incident, you are entitled to know the whole truth. So please, make your decision on how to resolve this matter after watching this footage. The presentation of this footage is a bit special, but you don't need to mind it." As he spoke, Chen Li sent a video to Tingyun.
Or rather, the plot.
Chen Li maintained a casual attitude about this. A Curio that could revive a dead Aeon had already appeared; would a Curio that let one see the future seem that strange? Of course not. At the very least, Chen Li believed that Nous had always been aware of the plot's progression. Perhaps nothing had ever escaped Its calculations. But Nous clearly couldn't revive other Aeons.
Chen Li had always been reluctant to give the Herta Space Station plot to Big Herta because he was afraid she would "add ingredients" to the Stellaron. The process could be unimportant, the result could be unimportant, but the starting point was definitely important! Without the Trailblazer, the fun in this universe would be reduced by a quarter! Therefore, Chen Li always felt that the most suitable Path for the Trailblazer should be Elation.
After an unknown amount of time, having patiently watched the plot on the Friends Circle terminal, Tingyun slowly raised her head, her gaze complex as she looked at Chen Li.
"You mean Phantylia will not only attack the 'Whistling Flames' merchant ship that this little woman will be on when returning from this trade trip, but will also replace my identity, emotions, and experiences, taking everything that is mine, and disguise herself as me to infiltrate the Xianzhou and destroy half of the Luofu?"
"Mm."
"And all of this is just because of my rich emotions and experiences, and because Phantylia needs an identity to board the Xianzhou?"
"Mm."
"If nothing unexpected happens, she will use my identity to revive the Ambrosial Arbor, use my identity to destroy half the Xianzhou, use my identity to make countless people homeless? Use my identity to destroy the people I know and who know me?"
"Mm."
Chen Li nodded three times.
Instigating conflicts of faith within a planet, dismantling its spiritual pillars, promoting the collapse of internal trust within a civilization, and making people completely abandon hope—that was Phantylia's style. She loved to throw everyone into chaos and suspicion, letting them destroy themselves and fall completely into her poisonous scheme. Therefore, an identity that would allow her to move freely within the Xianzhou was crucial.
And the reason she chose Tingyun was perhaps related to her identity as a Suiyang. The Suiyang race loved to parasitize and control flesh-and-blood bodies, sensing the many changes in the nervous system born from emotions. Attacking Tingyun would not only give her a body with rich emotions and experiences but also allow her to board the Xianzhou and use the Arbor's power of Abundance to create an indestructible body!
That's why it was said that Phantylia targeting the Xianzhou was a case of mixing personal business with official duties. Otherwise, Destruction had no reason to target a "honey badger" like the Xianzhou Alliance at this stage.
"So, do you have a plan of your own?" Chen Li asked.
"What do the General and the others say?" Tingyun asked in return.
"Jing Yuan doesn't know yet. So everything is up to you. The Xianzhou doesn't need your sacrifice, and neither do I. It's all up to your own preference," Chen Li said.
No matter what decision Tingyun made, Chen Li would respect and support it.
"I heard that in the ancient civilization before the Xianzhou set sail among the stars, there was a profession called emissary. Their job was to be sent to neighboring small countries on a mission, provoke the king in various ways to get themselves killed in the foreign country, and use their death to give their own country a just cause to conquer the small country. The ancient saying, 'do not kill the messenger during war,' came from this," Tingyun murmured softly.
"You don't have to worry about that. Phantylia's ill intentions toward the Xianzhou are not a recent matter. A long time ago, she contacted the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus on the Luofu. So finding a reason to attack the Lord Ravager is not difficult," Chen Li said.
And with a just cause, a crusade against the Lord Ravager or a war with the Antimatter Legion would also convince the Cloud Knights of the Xianzhou Alliance to fight with all their might. In fact, even without finding evidence, if the Xianzhou Alliance were to launch an attack on an Emanator of Destruction first, no one would comment on it.
The phrase "naturally evil little Uchiha brat" was indeed a bit biased. But for "naturally evil Antimatter Legion," no one would object. The conflicts between the factions of different Aeons could all be attributed to differing stances, with the exception of two.
One was Destruction.
The other was Propagation.
Those two factions were purely deserving of death.
"I see. And how do you know about this?"
"Because I'm an Emissary of Abundance. If I don't know, who would? The leader of the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus told me himself."
"???" Tingyun tilted her head.
"Your General knows about this. Also, don't tilt your head, it's bad for your cervical spine," Chen Li quickly reminded her.
"You mean… like this?" Tingyun instantly recalled the classic scene she had witnessed and tilted her head at a very exaggerated angle.
"!!!"
"Ooh… that hurts." Seeing Chen Li's pupils shake, Tingyun clutched her neck and revealed a slight smile.
"You're not Tingyun! Speak, are you a goddamned Masked Fool in disguise?!"
"Benefactor says so to tease this humble one. This little woman only wanted to liven up the somewhat serious atmosphere," Tingyun said with a polite smile.
"…"
"Oh my, it seems the Benefactor quite likes being addressed this way," Tingyun said again, having keenly noticed the change in Chen Li's expression.
"You don't have to call me that. I'm just giving you a choice, I don't deserve to be called a benefactor."
"This Revival Card link alone is enough for the Benefactor to deserve this title, so there is no need to be humble. It is just that this little woman is a bit confused," Tingyun said, stroking her chin.
"Confused about what?"
"If I cannot use the righteous cause of a just war to retaliate against Phantylia, and you have given me free choice without any coercion, then what reason should this little woman use to explain my desire to teach Phantylia a lesson?" Tingyun sighed.
"…I feel like you're just very vengeful," Chen Li retorted.
Of course, Chen Li felt that anyone in this situation would be vengeful.
You killed my subordinates, took my identity, and are going to destroy my family and friends?
Who could accept that?
What? That's something that will happen in the future? It hasn't happened yet?
Is that important?
It's not important!
You're not even allowed to think about it, let alone actually do it in the future!
Naturally evil little Lord Ravager brat!
"Benefactor cannot say that. For a traveling merchant, being vengeful is not a good reputation," Tingyun shook her head.
"Then… you want me to give you a reason?"
"This little woman did not say so. I only hope that the great genius from the Genius Society can clear the clouds for this little woman. I thank you in advance." Tingyun bowed to Chen Li.
"Even a clay figure has a bit of fire. How about doing it for the sake of your friends and your bonds?" Chen Li asked after a moment of thought.
"Acceptable. In that case, I hope Mr. Curio Forger will provide some guidance. Please state your plan clearly. This little woman will certainly not disappoint and will teach that high and mighty Lord Ravager a little lesson," Tingyun said, narrowing her eyes.
Even a clay figure has a bit of fire.
Naturally evil little Lord Ravager brat!
Your Grandma Tingyun is here!
Tingyun had a fan, called the Six-Cloud-Plume Fan, a renowned mechanical marvel from the Artisanship Commission. Off-world merchants often carried weapons for self-defense against the dangers of travel. And Tingyun had chosen this fan!
In her own words: "For people in business, harmony is paramount. Carrying a weapon on your person harms fellowship and is bad for business. This fan of mine is different. Normally, I use it to cool myself down. When I encounter someone difficult, I can also fan them to help them cool off. If we can sit down and talk, that's naturally for the best. If not…"
"—then you just fan him harder and send him wherever it's coolest to stay!"
Born on the martial Xianzhou, even with her naturally gentle personality, Tingyun possessed a kind of "Hunt" resilience.
"Well said! We Xianzhou people say if we're going to kill your whole family, we're going to kill your whole family!" Baiheng, who had been watching from the side, nodded in satisfaction.
On the Xianzhou, where it was advocated that a grudge of a hundred generations could still be avenged, if you weren't vengeful, what kind of Xianzhou native were you?
The embodiment of the Path of the Hunt was ruthlessness, decisiveness, and vengeance!
Using the arrows of the present to kill the enemies of the future was a basic operation of the power of the Hunt. So what was wrong with using the power of the present to avenge the grudges of the future?
"Thank you for your praise, Senior Baiheng. However, this little woman still advocates for harmony."
"Good! A dagger hidden behind a smile is also good," Baiheng nodded again.
"This little woman is not hiding a dagger behind a smile…" Tingyun tried to explain.
"Mm-hm."
"…" Tingyun felt she couldn't explain herself clearly.
Similar to the legends, this famous Foxian pilot in Foxian history truly didn't play by the rules and never listened to what people said.
"Benefactor, let's first discuss how to give that Lord Ravager a complete life," Tingyun said with a gentle smile, but her tone was incredibly resolute.
"Wow, you're so brutal. I was just thinking of capturing Phantylia as a toy, but you actually want to kill her," Chen Li looked at Tingyun in surprise.
"Well, if we don't kill Phantylia, are we going to keep her for the New Year?" Baiheng, beside Chen Li, voiced Tingyun's thoughts for her.
"Don't be so unimaginative. Phantylia has other uses."
"Such as?" Tingyun was curious to hear what brilliant insight Chen Li had.
"Use your imagination. Use it to the fullest. You just make the request; what kind of Curio to forge is what I need to think about," Chen Li said.
"You're going to forge a Curio for me?" Tingyun was flattered.
"For a fee."
"This little woman is still delighted. May I ask what price I must pay?"
"You're very rich, right?" Chen Li asked.
"I have some assets."
"You like rare treasures, right?"
"Yes. Is the Benefactor interested in them?"
"From now on, you are my meal ticket! I want you to feed me!"
"Is that all?" Tingyun was a little surprised.
"That's all. In return, I will forge a miraculous item that you desire."
"Deal. By the way, does the Benefactor have any requests regarding food?" Tingyun nodded confidently. It was just a matter of food.
"Anything is fine."
"'Anything is fine' often means nothing is fine… Hmm, how about this? Benefactor, what is the most satisfying food you've had recently?"
"Although Nihility and Abundance both taste pretty good, if we're talking about the most delicious, it would probably be Voracity," Chen Li said after a moment of thought.
"Voracity, are you referring to items related to the Path of Voracity, Benefactor? You are truly picky. However, this little woman has some assets; I can still afford these meals," Tingyun said with a confident smile.
Although eating items of a Path was a bit strange, he was a genius; it was normal to have some quirks.
"No, I mean Ouroboros, the Aeon," Chen Li corrected.
"…" Tingyun's smile froze on her face.
---o---