Oblivious to the world outside his slumber, Yu Xian had once again descended into the simulation. He was unaware of the General's vigil, the Masked Fool's visit, the web of cryptic words, or the final, startling image of Jing Yuan collapsing where he stood—a sudden, dramatic curtain fall.
He was, of course, even more ignorant of the true cause: the simulator itself. Its influence was a subtle radiation, an unconscious pull that drew those near the sleeping Yu Xian into its narrative web, just as it had with Fu Xian before.
Those caught in its wake could not act of their own volition; they were merely passengers, observers in a dream not their own. Yet, when the simulation ended, the memories remained, etched into their minds with the vivid, undeniable weight of lived experience.
This was the simulator's power. A power that respected no boundary of status or strength. Not even an Emanator could resist the overwhelming tide of drowsiness it brought in its wake.
[Passing out the moment your head hits the pillow, just like a certain Traveler? Hahaha!]
[Ahem. Last time, Fu Xuan was the one who received the memories. That was intriguing enough. But now… I find myself far more anticipatory. What kind of ripples will General Jing Yuan of the Luofu create in reality once he inherits the echoes of this simulation?]
[How… delightfully interesting.]
…
Yu Xian found himself once more within the simulation space. He had half-hoped to banter with the elusive customer service entity, but his calls were met with silence. The agent was, it seemed, perpetually off-duty.
"Unreliable," Yu Xian muttered, shaking his head. "No matter. Let's just begin."
A full day of rest had done him good. He felt his strength had largely returned, and the skill he'd acquired last time—[Battle Continuation]—thrummed with new potential within him. He was, undeniably, stronger than before.
So why hesitate?
"I've been upgraded. I'm not the same as I was," he declared to the void, a spark of defiance in his eyes. "This time, I will seize the perfect ending. No matter what…"
He raised his prosthetic arms, the intricate wooden mechanisms clicking together in a series of sharp, decisive clacks. The sound was a promise, a rallying cry.
"Victory is mine to take!"
With this bold proclamation, he initiated the sequence.
[Wow! It's that time again! Time for Aha to enjoy the—] (The message was abruptly scratched out.)
[Masked Fool Yu Xian, welcome to the Elation-brand simulator.]
[A new simulation world has been generated. Do you wish to begin the simulation?]
"Begin."
[Simulation World: The General with a Nine-Minute Term]
[Simulation Level: Epic]
[In this simulation, you will inherit data from the real world. You will also participate in the simulation using your real-world identity and abilities.]
[Simulation loading…]
Reality dissolved into a cascade of shimmering pixels before coalescing back into solid form. When Yu Xian's senses cleared, he was standing on the familiar, polished floors of the Divination Commission.
[Loading complete. Do your best to achieve the story's perfect ending.]
A moment of processing, and then the words registered fully.
"Wait… a term of nine minutes?"
"The simulation level is… Epic?"
Yu Xian's confident posture stiffened, his brow furrowing deeply. The anomalies were apparent from the very first second.
"The General with a Nine-Minute Term." The title itself was a paradox, dripping with an absurd and sinister implication. Generals of the Xianzhou Alliance were warriors who led from the front; casualties were not unheard of, and succession could be swift. But…
Historical data was clear: the average tenure spanned over a century. And the current General of the Luofu, Jing Yuan, had held his post for more than five hundred years.
A hundred years. Five hundred years. These were scales of time that made the simulator's "nine minutes" seem not just improbable, but utterly terrifying.
What catastrophic event could possibly shorten a General's reign to a mere nine minutes?
A cold dread, sharp and immediate, prickled at the nape of his neck. He forcibly stopped that train of thought before it could plunge him into despair.
Beyond the chilling title, the "Epic" classification was a glaring beacon signaling one thing: immense difficulty.
Bad. This is very, very bad. Every instinct screamed that this simulation was a deathtrap, its ominous aura so thick it was practically a visible mist. It might as well have had the words "ABANDON ALL HOPE" flashing in neon above the entrance.
A full-body shudder ran through him. He lifted his hands, slapping his own cheeks lightly to dispel the creeping panic.
Get a grip, Yu Xian. Look on the bright side. This reeks of Aha's particular brand of humor. Maybe the difficulty is a ruse? A trick to make me overthink and panic, when the solution is actually simple? Maybe the true entertainment for that god is watching me descend into paranoia…
"Ahem. No point second-guessing now," he said aloud, steeling himself. "The path forward is the only one left. Let's continue."
…
Inside Fu Xuan's office at the Divination Commission, the air was still and formal.
Yu Xian and Qingque sat side-by-side on one side of the grand desk, while opposite them, Fu Xuan maintained a cool, inscrutable expression.
She was poised with her elbows on the desk, her interlocked fingers supporting her chin—a picture of calculated authority.
Her expression is a complete mask, Yu Xian observed silently. Is she concerned? Annoyed? It's impossible to tell.
"I wonder if this summons is directly tied to the main scenario…" he mused internally.
There was little time to ponder, however. Being summoned here so promptly after the simulation's start was undoubtedly significant.
Fu Xuan broke the silence, her voice crisp and direct. "Yu Xian, Qingque—" Her dark golden eyes, sharp and perceptive, swept over them both. "I have summoned you both urgently because there are critical matters to address."
"First," she began, "we are in the period of cultural and diplomatic exchange between the Luofu and the Yuque. As per tradition, both ships are to dispatch emissary delegations. The Divination Commission must, of course, send its own representative to Yuque."
She paused, taking a deliberate sip from a cup of Immortal's Delight tea. Her gaze lingered meaningfully on Qingque.
"The Yuque is my homeland. Under normal circumstances, I would undertake this visit myself. However," Fu Xuan continued, her tone leaving no room for debate, "a subsequent divination revealed a dire portent. The hexagrams indicate that if you, Qingque, remain on the Luofu in the coming days, you will face a fate of extreme calamity. Your very life may be forfeit."
"Therefore, I have decided. You, Qingque, will go to Yuque in my stead. The schedule is immediate. Do not dawdle. Gather your belongings and depart at once."
"…What?"
The torrent of words left Qingque utterly stupefied.
She blinked, processing. Great misfortune? Me? Going to Yuque? Right now?
Me? An emissary? Is this for real?
"Um, Master Diviner," she stammered, disbelief overriding her filter, "are you absolutely sure the calculation was correct? And, well, I'm just a humble librarian. My rank isn't exactly… suited for…"
Fu Xuan's glare was instantaneous and potent enough to vaporize any further protest.
"Are you implying a divination performed by me could be in error?" she retorted, her voice dropping a dangerous octave. "I have seen fragments of what is to come. The Luofu will soon face a grave crisis. Your presence here during that time would be a catalyst for your own doom. However, with myself and Yu Xian remaining on the ship, we can guide the Luofu through the peril and ensure its continued prosperity."
"Enough. These concerns are beyond your purview." She made a sharp, dismissive gesture. "With myself and Yu Xian here, the situation is under control. Now, go."
With that, she effectively shooed a thoroughly bewildered Qingque from the room, the younger woman's mouth still hanging open in a perfect, silent 'O' of shock.
The door clicked shut, leaving Yu Xian alone with the Master Diviner.
Fu Xuan's intense gaze settled squarely on him, the severity in her expression softening by a barely perceptible degree.
"As for you," she said, her dark golden eyes blinking once, "I have a matter of far greater importance to discuss with you. In private."
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A/n: Hey over on my patreon there are currently two for the time being exclusive books which are
Zenless Zone Zero: Loving Daily Life Starting in New Eridu
patreon.com/deadlygoober