Unexpectedly, capturing Kafka went so smoothly. After disguising himself, Dan Heng voluntarily steps forward and, together with a group of Cloud Knights, escorts her away.
From entering the Sky-Faring Commission to the suspect Kafka being netted... the total time taken is less than ten minutes.
The process is too fast, to the point that some people still haven't reacted.
"Ah, Kafka seems to have the ability to control others." Stelle is somewhat worried. Stellaron Hunters are all extremely dangerous figures. Can Luofu really pry effective information from her mouth?
"Mm, ordinary methods won't work well, but our Divination Commission has exclusive ways... haha, don't misunderstand. The Xianzhou won't mistreat suspects, and interrogating intelligence also doesn't necessarily rely on violent means."
"In any case, just leave it to us. The intelligence we harvest, I will share without reservation with you all."
"Since you all treat us with utmost sincerity, Luofu ought to repay with utmost sincerity. Thank you all for lending a hand."
Yukong hands over the access credentials for various facilities in the Star-raft Sea. The Astral Express group can now move freely on the Xianzhou Luofu.
"With suspect Kafka already netted, once again thank you all for your full assistance. I have other important matters and cannot stay long. Farewell."
Jing Yuan disconnects the communication. The perspective shifts to the Palace of Astrum, where he looks at the dumbfounded Fu Xuan and Yanqing, smiling helplessly.
"Master Diviner, you heard my conversation with them. What are your thoughts?"
In the holographic projection, Fu Xuan is still immersed in the shock of the Stellaron Hunter being swiftly netted, unable to recover her spirits for a long time.
"Master Diviner? Fu Qing?" Jing Yuan waves his hand in front of Fu Xuan's eyes. Only then does she react, realizing her lapse in composure.
"This Astral Express is not simple at all... You ask me for thoughts? Cough cough! [Heaven's Mechanism is Vast and Obscure, Human Hearts are Profound and Subtle]. Do you want me to divine a hexagram for these few, to predict the fortune or misfortune of their intentions?"
Fu Xuan still hasn't dispelled her doubts. She has reason to suspect this is a setup between the Astral Express and the Stellaron Hunters.
"No need for that. The Astral Express has no relation to this matter; of that I'm nine-tenths certain. You and I need not delve deeply into their intentions."
Knowing that the [Eternity] Aeon is on the Express, to probe any deeper now—the consequences no one could bear.
He changes the subject: "Thanks to Fu Qing holding the pearl of wisdom, the matters hereafter will all rely on you."
"Hmph, then you should step down sooner." Fu Xuan places her hands on her hips.
"It's not yet time. If any unforeseen variable arises, I must bear the blame from the general's position. I can't just up and leave now, placing Fu Qing in an unjust spot."
Jing Yuan maintains his smile. Fu Xuan continues: "You handed the Stellaron Hunters over to me early on. Right now, you don't have that worry either."
Fu Xuan feels slightly fatigued. Presently, two of the Stellaron Hunters have been netted; only that last one remains—Silver Wolf.
The key is that Jing Yuan is still leaving her be, as if she can't stir up any big waves.
She doesn't understand. The other side can brazenly hack into the Jade Abyssal Gate and even leave a string of virtual characters as provocation—yet still not vigilant?!
"What exactly are you thinking? Jing Yuan! Don't tell me... could it be you deliberately left the Stellaron Hunters alone?" Fu Xuan senses something off.
Jing Yuan spreads his hands, his tone full of helplessness: "Me? How could I foresee like Fu Qing? The Cloud Knights' search results—for this matter, I bear responsibility."
"Hmph, I can understand. The Xianzhou's affairs are myriad and complex; you inevitably lack energy. If not for me holding things up below..." Fu Xuan really believes this speech. Luofu being able to hold out until now is all thanks to her!
"Speaking of which, next [Six Charioteers] council meeting, you should fulfill your promise to recommend me as successor general..." Fu Xuan doesn't forget her original intent; her goal is clear.
"Mm mm mm, good good good, got it. I have important matters still. Hereafter, it's all entrusted to the [prodigiously talented] Fu Qing." Jing Yuan casually says a few words to brush it off.
"Sigh~ Too many things require scheming. Qingque that fellow is still nowhere to be seen... Should I post a missing person notice or not?"
"No need at all."
After disconnecting, Jing Yuan even feels a bit sorry for Fu Xuan. Until now, she's still shrouded in [Eternity]'s illusory mist, unable to probe the truth.
"The troubles on the Xianzhou, the documents on the desk, the weeds in the flower bed—these three things alone are such that no matter how hard one tries, they can never be swept completely clean."
As Jing Yuan laments, the Cloud Knight guard waiting by his side finally has a chance to speak: "General, Master Diviner wanting your position is known to all passersby." Even he of this age can see it.
"She does have ability, but her mindset still needs more tempering. Once she's tempered to the point of having that temperament, I'll probably consider retirement." Speaking of retirement, Jing Yuan's mind immediately floats with Adrian's figure.
When it comes to retirement slacking, IT still has more experience...
Jing Yuan could never have imagined that the [Eternity] Aeon, perfectly fine in HER own church, would run off to the Xianzhou Alliance for rest and recuperation. The Aeon's thought processes truly have character; not something ordinary people can comprehend.
"The Stellaron Core matter, troublesome it may be, isn't really troublesome. The escaped one has been recaptured too. As long as the general gives the order, I Yanqing will immediately resolve your worries." Yanqing puffs out his chest, his words full of confidence.
"I know you're impatient, wanting to do something and indeed doing something, but now is not yet the time. To claim the name of [Sword Champion], you cannot act recklessly, especially not engage in melee with heavy criminals."
"Does the general truly think I would lose to that [Silver Wolf]?" Yanqing has some understanding of the Stellaron Hunters. He won't comment on the others, but dealing with a hacker should still be quite simple, right?
"Yanqing, even with a famous teacher's guidance, you must have patience. Governing the Xianzhou is different from swordsmanship; proceed gradually to build momentum. What's more, the hidden hands in this chess game haven't been revealed yet..."
"There's one puzzle: as long as it remains unsolved, this game of chess can only stalemate. That is the [Stellaron Core]. How did it conceal itself from ears and eyes, bypassing the Sky-Faring Commission's checks and the Divination Commission's deductions, and where exactly has it been placed?" Jing Yuan muses deeply. Seeing the general with such a conundrum, Yanqing still recommends himself:
"I say, capturing that remaining Stellaron Hunter and sending her to Master Diviner for interrogation is the fastest method."
"Right, General, from your earlier words... didn't Teacher Adrian return? Then it's even simpler. I'll go find his elder right now..."
Jing Yuan pulls back Yanqing who's about to leave. How is this child so impatient?
"Once the overall situation is settled hereafter, there will naturally be a place for you to shine."
"But... if you go find your benefactor teacher to reminisce, I won't stop you. Just be careful not to say the wrong things."
Jing Yuan doesn't even need to remind; Yanqing himself stumbles upon that milk tea shop, seeing Adrian who is properly wearing an eyepatch and snoring away in deep sleep.
No helping it. Seeing such a dilapidated shop, anyone would inevitably have their curiosity piqued and want to step forward to investigate.
The high-spirited Cloud Knight guard, the strongest swordsman of Xianzhou [Luofu], the justice-bursting youth—upon seeing this situation, of course he won't stand idly by. He immediately takes Adrian for a bandit who seized the shop while the owner is away.
Verbal persuasion failing, the other insists this is his shop, yet produces no evidence whatsoever. This only makes Yanqing more convinced of his inner guess.
From Adrian's perspective, that was one helpless moment.
He didn't wait for company trouble; instead, he gets a Luofu native who insists he's not the shop boss.
Should he go with Yanqing? It would lead to quite a few troublesome matters, but seeing him already inclined to act, for the shop's safety, Adrian grits his teeth and gifts him a cup of Immortal's Delight Tea.
"Here... trying to bribe me..."
Adrian: ...
No helping it. After letting Yanqing feel the vast gap in strength, and giving him a verbal lesson, only then does Yanqing realize he misunderstood Adrian.
"Don't jump to conclusions blindly. Didn't your family general teach you this principle?"
"Sorry." Yanqing hurriedly apologizes, his attention fully on Adrian's moves just now.
That's not right... how did he use the milk tea cup as a flying sword?
After asking the doubt in his heart, Adrian gives only one answer:
"As long as you will it, all things under heaven... can be [swords]."
Youth loves swords; it's only natural. Reflected flickering on the Xianzhou sword artifacts Yanqing collects is a dream:
To become Luofu's first—no, the Xianzhou's first; to claim Luofu's "Sword Champion," and even the Alliance's "Sword Lord" title.
He never thought Luofu hid such an expert. After witnessing Adrian's strength, Yanqing decides on the spot to take Adrian as his master.
The next second, he's thrown out, person and sword together.
Adrian doesn't completely refuse him. Before closing the door, he gives him a cup of milk tea: "Quite simple. Just drink more Immortal's Delight Tea and you'll get it."
Yanqing is stunned, staring at the milk tea in his hand, falling into contemplation.
Drink this stuff... and get stronger?
...
"Don't worry, General!"
Looking at Yanqing's departing back, Jing Yuan feels endless lament:
"It's my fault for keeping the youth at home too long; inevitably some matters arise. A three-foot blade long sheathed in its box—when will it ever get to test its edge? Hehe..."
"Only fear this time the setbacks he suffers will greatly exceed his youthful arrogance..."
Sigh~ He hopes the matter he worries most about the most doesn't happen.