Chapter 99: Hu Tao "Consultant, how do you also know how to fortune-tell?"
"Principal Anjou's Time Zero doesn't alter an object's kinetic energy. Bullets merely slow down within his domain; if they make contact, they'll still pierce your palm."
Chu Zihang said.
"So, when she appeared, she must have displayed two abilities."
"The first is precognition—what she calls 'divination.' Relying on the eye on her forehead, she must have divined the trajectory of every bullet."
"Monster."
Caesar chuckled.
"With that kind of ability, why be a leader? Wouldn't it be better to divine lottery numbers?"
"The second should be a protective ability,"
Chu Zihang ignored Caesar's teasing and continued his serious analysis:
"Being able to deflect bullets indicates that within her domain, she can either effortlessly neutralize the bullets' kinetic energy or withstand it without injury."
"So, what you're saying is, don't let this little girl's delicate appearance fool you? If you were to slash her with a sword, she wouldn't even bat an eyelid?"
Chu Zihang nodded silently.
—
「 "We won't add any procedures; we'll just audit the interrogation," Welt added.
With things at this point, Fu Xuan didn't say much more and let them follow her to the Divination Commission.
"Can't we just interrogate her here?"
March 7th, worried.
"Stellaron Hunters are so cunning; what if she escapes again?"
"With me here, she won't escape."
Fu Xuan said confidently.
"The only way to pry open a Stellaron Hunter's mouth and make her reveal the truth is within the Divination Commission. Everyone, please follow."
Tingyun drove them back in the Starskiff, but stopped in a bustling commercial district.
Looking around, Fu Xuan immediately got annoyed, her voice fierce yet childish.
"…Although I usually live a reclusive life, I still recognize what my jurisdiction looks like. What kind of path are you taking? Is this where the Divination Commission is?!"
"Oh dear, Diviner, please calm your anger,"
Tingyun quickly apologized and explained.
"The Sky Dome has malfunctioned, and locating the entrance to the Divination Commission isn't easy. This humble girl just wanted to handle things more efficiently, but this is the only place where we can park the Starskiff right now."
"For the rest of the way, we'll just walk a few more steps."
"Hmph,"
Fu Xuan let out a cool huff, then closed her eyes, lowered her head, and began muttering something.
"The ebb and flow of the hexagrams, between Dui and Kan. The boat is stuck, the feet mired and unable to advance…" 」
「 .....」
〜Dragon Raja World〜
"What does she mean by all this? It sounds like some kind of ancient text?"
"Hmm, these are hexagrams from the I Ching."
Chu Zihang had taken related courses at school because such ancient texts, dating back three to four thousand years, likely contained traces of Dragon Lord culture. So, he had studied some relevant books and works, gaining some understanding of parts of the hexagram texts.
"'Between Dui and Kan' means the upper trigram is Dui, which represents the lake, and the lower trigram is Kan, which represents water. Water seeps into the bottom of the lake, causing the lake to dry up. This is the hexagram of 'Kun',"
Chu Zihang explained.
"Kun hexagram?"
Caesar sounded quite sleepy just listening.
"Hmm, you can simply understand it as… meaning full of difficulties."
"Oh, alright."
For the first time, Caesar felt his knowledge was so lacking, and he rubbed his forehead in frustration.
"It seems I'll have to enroll in an ancient language class when I go back."
—
「 "I heard that the Xianzhou has some divine technique called [ Divination ], but why is she just gesturing with her fingers? Like she's counting?" March 7th, asked curiously.
"You count with your fingers?"
Stelle muttered in exasperation.
"What's wrong with that? It's just a little help; it'd be a waste not to use all ten fingers!"
March 7th said righteously.
On the other side, Fu Xuan had finished her divination and slowly raised her head, saying.
"I just cast a hexagram, and the reading is consistent with the current situation. It seems we cannot take the Starskiff directly to the Divination Commission today."
The result of this hexagram also indicated that the Divination Commission itself had some issues. Fu Xuan immediately stated that she would take Kafka away first and prepare for the interrogation.
Once everything was settled, an usher would lead them into the Divination Commission, and they could find that person in the plaza.
After Fu Xuan departed, with nothing to do, Welt suggested they explore the area.
Before leaving, Stelle suddenly took an interest in the Divination Commission and asked Tingyun about it.
"Alas… My benefactor has never asked this humble girl what the Sky-Faring Commission does. Truly, comparing people makes one angry; comparing commissions is meaningless…"
Tingyun feigned a complaint, drooping her eyebrows, but in a second, she put on a charming smile.
"Alright, since my benefactor asked, this humble girl will answer: The Divination Commission is in charge of Xianzhou's intelligence, strategy, and divination."
"Divination? Isn't that just relying on luck?"
Stelle asked, puzzled.
"My benefactor doesn't know, but the Xianzhou's method of divination isn't some trick like tossing coins or drawing wooden sticks. It's a technology called the Jade Abacus."
"From the operational routes of the Xianzhou and the policies of the court, down to military maneuvers and public welfare issues, all are analyzed and calculated by the Divination Commission to seek good fortune and avoid disaster." 」
「 .....」
〜Genshin Impact World〜
Teyvat, Wangsheng Funeral Parlor
"Even public welfare and military issues rely on divination? Isn't that a bit too reckless, Consultant?"
Hu Tao felt that the Xianzhou's actions were perhaps too daring, entrusting a major policy involving millions of lives and livelihoods to divination… This would be unthinkable in Liyue.
"Hall Master, I beg to differ. I find their approach quite reasonable,"
Zhongli smiled faintly.
"Would the Hall Master like to play a game with me? I'll predict what the Hall Master will eat for breakfast tomorrow. How about we each write our answers in our palms?"
"Oh, alright, Consultant."
Upon hearing the word "game," Hu Tao immediately became interested. She quickly instructed the attendant to fetch a pen and began writing in her hand.
Once they finished writing, Hu Tao and Zhongli simultaneously opened their palms, revealing that both had written "Crystal Shrimp Dumplings."
"Ah? Consultant? How did you know that? Was it a guess?"
Hu Tao circled behind Zhongli, playfully throwing her arms around his back, her tone light:
"Quick, tell me, don't hide anything~"
"Heh heh, it's actually quite simple. Tomorrow, Xiangling will be on duty at Wanmin Restaurant, and Crystal Shrimp Dumplings are her recent specialty."
Zhongli looked up at the distant sunset glow.
"Since the Lantern Rite Festival this year, Baizhu has advised the Hall Master to eat light meals, and it is currently the best season for shrimp. Thus, I deduced the Hall Master's breakfast for tomorrow."
"However, what I want to say is that when one possesses enough information, predicting the future is not difficult."
Zhongli paused, then continued,
"Rather than being full of randomness, the future is a certainty brought about by countless factors. So, I surmise that the Xianzhou's Jade Abacus is a technology capable of grasping countless 'factors' in advance."
"I understand what you mean, Consultant, but to divine public welfare and military issues, wouldn't that require far too many factors? Such an immense amount of calculation…"
Although she could understand, Hu Tao still found it hard to imagine that this was a realm achievable by humans.
"Hmm, that's why I suspect the Xianzhou doesn't only have the power of the Hunt. Other Star God's may have also offered them assistance."
"For example… The Star God's 『 Erudition 』 Nous."
—