Hearing Ruan Mei's words, Qingque fell silent.
Just as she was organizing her thoughts, Fu Xuan, who had arrived at some unknown time, rapped her on the head.
Qingque clutched her head, tears in her eyes as she looked at Fu Xuan.
"Ah? Grand Diviner, when did you get here?!"
"I merely asked you to represent the Divination Commission and host Madam Ruan Mei. And here you are, slacking off?! Get back to work at once."
"Grand Diviner, I really wasn't slacking off! Ask Madam Ruan Mei if you don't believe me—I made all this tea and these pastries myself."
Fu Xuan casually snatched a "fish for every year" pastry, took a delicate bite, and remarked,
"Not bad. From now on, you're in charge of the Divination Commission's afternoon tea pastries."
Qingque shook her head frantically, trying to refuse.
"No way! Hundreds of pastries every day? I'm not a professional baker!"
Fu Xuan closed her eyes, her expression proud and aloof.
"Then you'll prepare them for me alone."
Qingque blinked. Just as she hesitated, Fu Xuan's Matrix of Prescience cast a peculiar gaze her way.
"Fine. But you'll have to pay me extra."
Bam.
Fu Xuan rapped Qingque on the head again.
Qingque hastily explained.
"No extra pay, no extra pay! Free, fine—I'll do it for free, okay?"
Fu Xuan gave a light snort.
"Hmph. Let's go, Madam Ruan Mei, Herta. Feel free to look around the Divination Commission. No one will stop you."
"I'm taking Qingque back to work. I won't accompany you further."
Fu Xuan grabbed Qingque and left.
Qingque still tried to save herself.
"Madam Ruan Mei! Madam Herta! Save me!! Save me! I'll agree to any condition—Grand Diviner, don't hit my head again! It'll make me even dumber!"
"Dumber? You?! You're the best at hiding it on the entire Luofu. 'A great master hides in the market'—that's you."
Qingque opened her mouth to defend herself, but Fu Xuan cut her off.
"Qingque. Stop playing dumb in front of me. I've read the ancient texts. I know your ability to govern the world with optimism."
"When I become Luofu General, you'll be the new Grand Diviner. Of course, I never make empty promises. What I say, I mean."
Qingque was at a loss for words.
"No way, Grand Diviner! I'm really not as talented or as divine as you imagine!"
Another rap on the head. Qingque's eyes grew even more bewildered.
"Wuwu."
Ruan Mei watched Qingque being dragged away, her expression of tearful frustration particularly memorable.
"Will you end up like Fu Xuan someday?"
Herta blinked, completely caught off guard.
"Ah?!"
"Never mind. Forget I asked."
"You're so strange."
Ruan Mei set down her teacup, calm and composed.
"Herta. What do you think Fu Xuan and Qingque are to each other now?"
Herta answered without thinking.
"Grand Diviner and librarian. What about it?"
Ruan Mei turned to gaze at the distant Arbor.
"The Arbor is the same as you."
Herta looked puzzled.
"The Arbor? Yaoshi's divine miracle has something to do with me?"
"No."
Just as Ruan Mei and Herta left the Divination Commission, Feixiao was already waiting.
Feixiao assumed that, having met once before, she could greet them. She instinctively raised her hand.
But Herta and Ruan Mei walked right past her, completely ignoring her.
Feixiao blinked. She looked around, telling herself that Changle was crowded—they simply hadn't noticed her.
In an instant, she blocked their path.
Herta frowned and instinctively stepped in front of Ruan Mei.
"Feixiao. Here about that fragment again?"
Feixiao quickly shook her head.
"I'm here to see Madam Ruan Mei."
In that instant, Herta's eyes filled with vigilance and hostility.
"Oh? Don't tell me you want Ruan Mei's contact information?!"
"Not at all. I just want to commission her for something extremely important to me. When it's done, I'll reward her handsomely."
Herta was about to refuse on Ruan Mei's behalf, but Ruan Mei spoke first.
"Let's go to Ruomu Pavilion. Too many eyes and ears here."
"Fine."
When they reached Ruomu Pavilion, Feixiao, despite Herta's hostile glare, had to explain herself first.
"Madam Ruan Mei. You have a foxian jade abacus, don't you?"
"Yes."
"May I see it?"
Ruan Mei nodded slightly and produced the jade abacus.
Feixiao examined it carefully, confirming it was one of the three most precious foxian jade abacuses in existence.
"Yukong really gave this to you."
Herta remarked casually.
"What? You want Ruan Mei to give it to you?"
Feixiao shook her head firmly.
"Whoever holds this jade abacus can summon emergency aid from all foxians across the cosmos and the six Xianzhou ships."
"And this was a gift from Yukong. How could I possibly covet it?"
Herta's tone was cold.
"Enough talk. Tell us what you want Ruan Mei to do."
Feixiao looked around, making absolutely sure no one was nearby, then whispered.
"It's Yukong's birthday in three days. But with Hoolay on the loose, we thought he'd appear on the Skysplitter. He hasn't shown himself."
"Because of this, Yukong has been working overtime searching for Hoolay. She hasn't rested in over a week."
Ruan Mei paused. According to her memories, Hoolay, even after escaping the Shackling Prison, was supposed to appear on the Skysplitter, be defeated, and grant Feixiao the power of "Crimson Blood."
But now, he had gone completely into hiding?
Wait. It must be that terrifying Erudition power Herta used to defeat Silver Wolf a few days ago. Hoolay, seeking revenge, has grown more cautious.
This timeline has changed.
[Hidden mission conditions met. Fulfill Feixiao's wish. Reward: one flawless crystal fragment.] ♪
Noticing Ruan Mei's furrowed brow, Herta asked softly.
"What is it, Ruan Mei?"
"Nothing. Feixiao, I'll accept. I'll find Hoolay."
Ruan Mei was about to leave with Herta when Feixiao stopped her again.
"One more thing?"
"Madam Ruan Mei, after Hoolay is defeated, could you ask Yukong what gift she truly wants? Please?"
Herta's eyes went wide as she stared at Feixiao in disbelief.
Ruan Mei nodded slightly.
"Mm. I understand."
"Oh, Feixiao. Do you remember Tingyun?"
Feixiao lowered her head. Her clenched fists slowly relaxed.
"A foxian from the Ground Beat merchant guild. Phantylia replaced her. She vanished without a trace. Yukong cared about her deeply."
"She's alive."
Leaving these four words, Ruan Mei departed with Herta.
Feixiao stood frozen, unable to process this. The Arbor mist drifted slowly by.
So this is why Yukong gave that precious foxian jade abacus to Ruan Mei.
"Tingyun... Sigh. Yukong really does care about her."
I should be happy for her.
Feixiao shook her head slightly and composed herself.
"Three days left. Let's make this birthday a good one for Yukong first. We'll worry about everything else later."