General Liaowu, Dust-Queller.
Just like the mysterious Xuling Xianzhou itself—whose exact location was unknown even to the higher-ups of the other Xianzhou ships—she guarded that ship whose very existence in the physical world was sometimes questioned.
Perhaps for this reason, Liaowu was the most enigmatic of the Seven Arbiter-Generals, her inscrutability potentially surpassing even Hua, the Cloud Knight Marshal who commanded the Yuque Xianzhou and explored the ancient routes for the Alliance.
It was only natural that the Zhuming and other Xianzhou elites viewed her with suspicion. This wasn't due to personal bias; as the general guarding the Xuling Xianzhou, the headquarters of the Ten-Lords Commission, her position naturally aligned her with the Xuling and the Ten-Lords.
Ultimately, the Xianzhou Alliance was born from the lessons of the solitary voyage era, particularly the fate of the Daiyu Xianzhou, which, isolated and alone, was attacked and destroyed.
Everyone understood that a single Xianzhou ship couldn't survive in the vast cosmos.
But setting aside the collective Alliance, the Zhuming, Yaoqing, Luofu... these ships were essentially distinct smaller groups with their own interests. As commanding generals, they were responsible for the future and protection of their respective ships. Their current 'unity' was merely a product of compromise with reality, tenuously stitched together by the shared faith in 'the Hunt'.
Furthermore... Liaowu's uniqueness didn't end there.
Hua looked at the similarly white-haired, incredibly serene young woman.
People often joked that the Reignbow Arbiter had a penchant for white hair, hence why most Arbiter-Generals had it. But this was undoubtedly a fallacy, more likely a coincidence.
Most Xianzhou Generals were Xianzhou natives, and once natives reached a certain age, while they retained their vitality, their hair inevitably turned white.
Like Hua herself and Huaiyan, Liaowu was also a witness to the Three Sufferings era. However, unlike them, Liaowu, as the General of the Xuling Xianzhou and deeply trusted by the Ten-Lords, had no need to fear the Mara-Struck affliction. After all, like Xueyi, she now possessed the body of a mechanical puppet.
Being a puppet, her very being was in the hands of the Ten-Lords... No, perhaps the Ten-Lords' trust in her stemmed from a simpler, more direct reason.
Liaowu herself was one of the Ten-Lords.
"Yes, I have found it," Hua stated. In the past, she would never have said this so baselessnessly. But now, she was utterly convinced she had found the best possible answer. She revealed this to Liaowu without hesitation, completely disregarding her special status.
Indeed, Liaowu was probably the least trusted among the Seven Arbiter-Generals. Any other general would find it hard to trust this nail planted by the Ten-Lords.
But Hua didn't think that way. If she did, she wouldn't have invited Liaowu to this discussion. She knew exactly what kind of person Liaowu was. If not for differing ideals and viewpoints, Liaowu should have been like Huaiyan... no, perhaps even more trustworthy than Huaiyan.
"The Legion's attack is over, but the Xianzhou's Luminary Wardance must continue. However, I've been thinking, just having the Yaoqing and Luofu seems a bit lacking."
"Therefore," Hua continued, "In the name of the Cloud Knight Marshal, I wish for all Xianzhou ships to participate in this reopened Luminary Wardance."
"This, of course, includes the Xuling."
Hua's words reached Liaowu's ears, carrying a hint of absurdity. The answer is the Luminary Wardance? A Wardance involving all Xianzhou ships, including the Xuling? Marshal, are you thinking clearly?
But even though it felt absurd, highly unreasonable, after a moment of silence, Liaowu gave her response: "..."
"Understood. I will handle matters on the Ten-Lords' side."
This brought a satisfied expression to Hua's face. This was precisely why she had summoned Liaowu. For what she planned next, the other Xianzhou ships were manageable, but the Ten-Lords on the Xuling side would definitely not easily grant Hua's wish. After all, while the matter sounded simple, in reality...
One must know, the only time in the history of the Xianzhou Alliance that all ships gathered was at its very founding. The ships assembled at the Xuling and forged the Alliance Pact.
Since then, the Xianzhou ships had never gathered again. Under these circumstances, calling for a gathering of the Xianzhou was, to those in the know, a very dangerous signal.
But if Liaowu handled it, then it wouldn't be a problem. After all, she was both one of the Ten-Lords and the General of the Xuling Xianzhou.
"Marshal, I hope you have truly found the correct answer," Liaowu said meaningfully.
Hua, however, was unfazed. "You will receive a satisfactory answer, I assure you."
The meeting between the Generals lasted a long time.
Unaware, or perhaps simply unconcerned, Jiang Qiao leisurely sipped his tea. After all, those were matters for [Qingque] to consider. Right now, he was merely an Outworlder accompanying her to observe the Luminary Wardance.
Of course, this wasn't entirely without its minor troubles.
For example...
"Qingque, you scoundrel! I was wondering why the sun was rising in the west that day! So you had someone cover your shift!" Fu Xuan glared furiously at a sheepish Qingque, her voice filled with dissatisfaction and anger. "And here I thought you'd actually matured! But no... Hmph, you really have some nerve!"
Undoubtedly, in the short time they'd been talking, she had already gotten the whole story from a certain someone. After all, communication was hardly difficult for Mr. Jiang Qiao. His honesty, however, had clearly doomed the nearby Miss Qingque.
"Lady Fu Xuan... I... I've been wronged! I'm a victim too!" Although Qingque was currently grinding her teeth at the certain Mr. Jiang who caused this situation, facing Fu Xuan's angry glare, all she could do was cry out her grievances tearlessly.
It wasn't that she wanted to skip work... well, her skipping work was only done out of necessity, forced by circumstances! And yet... she, the supposed victim, ended up being screwed over by someone until she had nothing left.
Just thinking about it made Miss Qingque wish she could go back in time and tell her naive past self never to trust the lies of a certain Mr. Jiang.
And now... I've suffered, I've been wronged, and I still have to get chewed out by Lady Fu Xuan? Wasn't all my suffering for nothing then?!
"Say no more! I truly thought too highly of you!" Fu Xuan fumed. "And you!" She didn't spare the quietly spectating Mr. Jiang either, turning to him with a serious, displeased expression. "If it weren't for your indulgence, how could this child Qingque be so lazy!?"
As she said this, she seemed to recall something—a flash of the Iron Cavalry invasion appeared in her mind, and her cheeks flushed slightly, but she quickly shook her head vigorously.
"Eh... Now that's not fair of you," Jiang Qiao countered smoothly. "You make it sound as if she only started slacking off after I showed up."
"Wasn't Qingque already quite lazy back when she was under your command, Master Diviner?"
At this, Fu Xuan instantly became flustered, mumbling unclearly, "I... I misspoke. But you definitely encouraged that child's laziness, surely that's correct?"
"I was merely being diligent in my duties," Jiang Qiao replied calmly. "Besides..."
"After my influence, shouldn't she be far more diligent than before?"
"Looking at it this way, not only am I blameless, but I've actually rendered a great service."
"Master Diviner, instead of praising me for correcting your subordinate's habits, you find fault with me. That's truly unfair."
Fu Xuan was rendered speechless, her face flushing red, unsure what to say. If she denied it, she'd be completely unreasonable. But if she admitted it, wouldn't she basically be saying she was incompetent at teaching? The prideful Miss Master Diviner was caught in a dilemma.
"So, should I be thanking you then...?" Qingque rolled her eyes. "Lady Fu Xuan, don't listen to this guy, he's not a good person at all!"
Fu Xuan deeply agreed.
Just from a few words, she could tell that this man named Jiang Qiao was undoubtedly a 'scoundrel' just like the General. But while he was bad, he was different from that scoundrel Jing Yuan. His badness even made her feel a bit nostalgic—at least, regarding [Qingque].
Even after discovering the truth about [Qingque], for Fu Xuan... regardless, the '[Jiang-Que]' P-Bandai version was firmly etched in her mind, in her impression. It made it hard for her to forget [Qingque]'s spirited appearance.
Especially that day.
As the saying goes, which young maiden doesn't dream of love? Although Fu Xuan would certainly deny it, and she didn't think these were strange emotions, but... undeniably, the face that saved her from the hands of the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus that day had already entered the bottom of her heart.
With the revelation of the truth, it surfaced from sealed memories, bringing Fu Xuan different feelings—especially with the exposure of the certain someone's true identity.
The physiological difference further intensified her perspective.
Now, just seeing his face, thinking of that day, made Fu Xuan's heart pound. Even though she knew perfectly well that these feelings were too blind, so simple as to be almost laughable. But... ultimately, human emotions were just like that.
Wanting to do it no matter what, unable to stop herself from thinking about it no matter what... Miss Fu Xuan could only silently try to suppress these troublesome emotions by gulping down her sweet milk tea.
"Lady Fu Xuan, are you okay? Your face is really red!" Qingque exclaimed in surprise, leaning closer with concern.
This closing distance, the familiar face right before her, made Fu Xuan—who had been watching intently, trying to suppress her feelings and separate the connection between the two—instantly tense up. The awkward feeling intensified.
"Hmph, what could possibly be wrong with me?!" she snapped defensively. "Al... Alright!"
"The Divination Commission is busy; I shouldn't linger."
"Yes, yes, the Divination Commission must be very busy right now, so Lady Fu Xuan, you should hurry back," Qingque urged eagerly, practically fanning the flames, clearly wanting her to leave quickly.
Seeing the girl acting like this, Fu Xuan didn't know whether to laugh or cry. At the same time, she felt a surge of annoyance—especially comparing her to the '[Qingque]' in her memory, the difference felt even more jarring. They have the same face, so why is the gap so huge?
The frustration born from the contrast, the disappointment in her perceived lack of progress, brewed into a complex storm of emotions, finally erupting. She grabbed Qingque, who yelped in panic:
"Eh, Lady Fu Xuan... what are you doing?"
"Doing?" Fu Xuan scoffed. "I can't stand watching you embarrass yourself here!"
"Today, I absolutely must straighten out your personality!"
"Hmph, come back to the Divination Commission with me!"
Qingque struggled desperately, even trying to appeal to a certain someone for help: "Quick, save me! Jiang Qiao!"
But he only offered a sympathetic, encouraging look.
Qingque: You just wait!!!
Undoubtedly, even after being dragged away, Qingque's resentment was transmitted across the distance to Mr. Jiang.
"What's wrong with her?" A sweet voice sounded nearby. Looking up, Jiang Qiao saw the pink-haired young woman holding a bunch of Fluffy Rolls—Miss Elysia herself. She took a bite of a roll, watching the departing Qingque and the resentful messages in the group chat with great curiosity.
"Probably just not quite ready to return to work so quickly?" Jiang Qiao mused. "Is Vill-V and Little Gui's performance over?"
"Not yet, but it seems like it's about to end. The Xianzhou juggling is quite interesting; it looks even more amazing than Vill-V's magic... Wait, you know that girl?" A hint of surprise, subtlety, and tiny 'wariness' flickered across Elysia's face.
"Mm, I had some contact with her when I first came to this world."
"Honestly! How many cute girls that I don't know have you met behind my back?!" Elysia puffed out her cheeks, disgruntled. She took the Fluffy Roll she had offered to Jiang Qiao (who had taken an annoyed bite) and bit down hard on the same spot, as if substituting the soft roll for a certain someone. She chewed angrily, like a hamster.
Facing the girl's question, he pondered for a moment, then asked in return:
"Do you remember how many Fluffy Rolls you've eaten in your life?"