After lending people from the Ten Kings Division to Dan Feng, Tengxiao wished he could find a deserted place and smash his head into the ground.
He knew Zero had a good relationship with Jing Yuan, that promising talent he had his eye on. After all, the former Marshal had countless close friends.
After all, who could refuse the former Marshal, that God of Slaughter?
Tengxiao had always thought their relationship was ordinary, just like those unreliable rumors about the former Marshal and the "Aeon of Elation", a fake friendship.
After all, there were too many unreliable rumors about the "Aeon of Elation" and the former Marshal. Things like calling the Marshal "daddy," or some Aeon throwing sixty billion Faith Points at the former Marshal…
Tengxiao thought Jing Yuan's relationship with Zero was just as fake.
But what he never imagined… was that they were actually close enough to share food with each other.
Who could've seen that coming?
Tengxiao immediately pulled out his jade communicator and started writing a note to the Marshal.
He, a big burly man, holding a jade tablet that was a bit too small for his hands, typed frantically, making tons of typos, forced to edit and re-edit over and over, until at last he hammered out a thousand-word essay.
In this long note, Tengxiao recommended Jing Yuan to take over his position, while also pouring out his grievances in a tearful way. Finally, he expressed his admiration for his superior, hoping he could serve as a little attendant by the Marshal's side.
After all, he'd been working long enough. It was about time to retire. Definitely not because he'd been scared into wanting to retire by the former Marshal.
…But the Marshal didn't approve it.
Tengxiao, 'Who could stand this?!'
With his retirement request denied, he had no choice but to face the harsh truth.
Tengxiao deliberately changed into a different outfit. He was afraid outsiders might notice Zero because of him, disturbing the man's peaceful life.
He hid his identity and personally went to Alchemy Commission.
Once there, he avoided Jingliu and Dan Feng, who were chatting, and happened to overhear their conversation.
Jingliu said, "I'll pay for his medicine."
Dan Feng chuckled coldly, "Collecting favors again. Truly worthy of being the great Swordmaster."
Tengxiao didn't think much of it. Quietly slipping past, he entered Zero's ward. Seeing him still unconscious, Tengxiao thought it over, then carefully picked up an unused blanket and laid it over him.
Looking closely, including the one he'd just added, there were three layers of blankets.
Tengxiao, "..."
'Who? Who else had already added another layer?'
Should he remove it? Or should he just leave right now?
After weighing it, Tengxiao decided to first find Dan Feng to figure out the situation.
Absolutely not because he was afraid of waking Zero…
He quickly left the ward, striding down the corridor, where he brushed past Jingliu returning with a grim look.
When Dan Feng saw Tengxiao, he froze for a moment, then went over to chat. But they hadn't spoken long when Jingliu hurriedly returned, didn't even glance at Tengxiao, grabbed Dan Feng, and rushed off.
Tengxiao, "..."
He could only watch as they dashed into Zero's ward.
Tengxiao suddenly remembered their earlier conversation. In a flash, everything clicked together, and he was so shocked his jaw nearly dropped.
'W-what?! That man and Jingliu?! Was Jingliu willing to do this?!'
He thought back to all the rumors about the former Marshal. Forget the "Aeon of Elation" for a moment, there were those stories about choosing concubines, tens of thousands, thousands of people…
But right now, the Xianzhou practiced monogamy.
Even if that man wanted to bully Jingliu, Tengxiao would never allow it.
Clinging to a last shred of hope, he asked the one in charge of payments at Alchemy Commission, and learned that Jingliu had indeed paid Zero's medical bills. At that moment, he was utterly shaken.
'S-so it was true! Impossible!'
He must protect his subordinate.
With righteous anger, Tengxiao pulled out his jade tablet, ready to file a complaint to his superior.
He couldn't handle this himself, but surely the Marshal could.
———
Inside the ward, Dan Feng had no intention of covering up his clan's shameful scandal. He laid everything out clearly for Zero, promising that the true culprit would definitely be severely punished.
First, because as the victim, he deserved to know the truth.
Second, because Zero's status was special, he was the beloved of Jingliu, this was a perfect excuse to arrange a few more meetings under the pretense of making amends.
Hearing the whole story, Zero, "..."
'Good lord, what a boomerang.'
Did he really have no choice but to eat that poisoned ginseng?
Speechless, choked, he didn't actually feel much of anything inside. He wasn't very interested in how the culprit would be dealt with either. All he could do was maintain the polite, social smile and say he trusted the Dragon Lord.
Right after that, Dan Feng said clan matters were pressing and took his leave in a rush.
For the moment, only Zero and Jingliu remained in the ward.
Zero sank into thought, briefly forgetting the sharp gaze Jingliu was fixing on him.
In truth, he didn't care who the real culprit was, nor did he think Dan Feng would ever find them.
He had offended too many people, too many Aeons, in the past. Whoever wanted to harm him, he wouldn't be surprised.
This was the price of loving match-three puzzle games, and he was willing to bear it.
Anyway, Zero wouldn't die. Let them do whatever they wanted, eventually they'd all turn to dust.
Besides, after working overtime for thousands of years… he was exhausted.
And for the Vidyadhara, aside from the Dragon Lord, every reincarnation was regarded as a different person.
On top of that, too much time had passed. Tracing things back was far too troublesome. If any evidence had existed, it would've been destroyed when the culprit first tampered with the ginseng.
No matter how they investigated, they probably wouldn't find anything.
"Sometimes, I wonder..."
Jingliu suddenly spoke, cutting into his thoughts.
Zero looked at her, blank and confused, not understanding her meaning.
Jingliu fixed her gaze on him, then sighed, "I wonder what exactly you've been through."
Zero looked into her red eyes. They flickered with so many emotions he couldn't tell what she was truly feeling.
"What have you been through, that when things happen you can remain so… calm? Even when you know you've been caught in a pointless disaster, you show no negative emotions at all."
Zero froze. No one had ever asked him this question before.
Then he replied without changing expression, "Because it's unnecessary. Instead of wasting time on things that have already happened, better to think about how to handle what comes next."
Jingliu gave Zero a long, deep look.
Surely, he must have been through so, so many hardships.
Otherwise, why would he be so steady in his emotions? Why would he be so good at considering others?
Jingliu said nothing more. Calmly, she picked up the black coat Zero had taken off before treatment, handed it to him, and said, "Come on, I'll take you home."
"Huh?"
Zero paused as he took the coat.
"There's no need. I can go back myself."
Jingliu gave him no chance to refuse, urging him to put on the coat.
Zero, "..."
Something about this felt strange.
After putting on the coat, he noticed the jade communicator in the pocket vibrating.
Taking it out and glancing at it, he saw Hua had sent several messages in a row.
[Hua: You must know, our Xianzhou Alliance has a complete set of laws.]
Zero, '???'
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