Inside the Alchemy Commission's medical hall, candlelight flickered, illuminating faces rushing anxiously. The air was thick with the intertwining scents of bitter herbs and disinfectant, mixed with suppressed low discussions.
The moment Daziel led Bailu by the hand and stepped in, all eyes instantly converged. Several physicians in green robes hurried over, their tired faces etched with ecstatic relief after the shock.
"Heavens! By the Reignbow Arbiter, Dragon Lady! You've finally returned safely!" An old physician's voice choked with emotion.
"Mr. Bai, this great kindness, we will remember it in our hearts!" Another young physician bowed deeply to Daziel.
"We searched for a whole day and night, our hearts were in our throats!"
"A moment later, and we probably would have had to report to the Divine Foresight, alarming General Jing Yuan!"
The sudden clamor in the medical hall formed a piercing yet reassuring contrast to the deathly silence when Daziel had previously snuck in.
Daziel gently released Bailu's soft small hand, nodded slightly towards the crowd, his voice steady: "No thanks needed, I'm just a passing Nameless." Ahem, just wonder if this group of physicians would still thank him like this if they knew he had removed Bailu's longevity lock and done that to the adult Bailu.
Bailu rubbed her temples, looking at the familiar faces before her, responding softly with a hint of helplessness. She really didn't want to be constantly watched anymore, without even her own freedom. Daziel didn't want to force her, but he had no better way. Returning Bailu to the medical hall was the best choice for now. Unless Bailu could remove the longevity lock without turning into a Sinful Dragon, she could only remain in this state.
"Bailu, I have to go first," Daziel instructed gently. "If anything comes up, contact me anytime."
Bailu lifted her innocent small face, her purple Vidyadhara eyes full of reliance, nodding vigorously. "Mm! Goodbye Brother Daziel! Come visit Bailu often!"
Saying goodbye to this reluctant little Dragon Lady, Daziel turned and stepped out of the medical hall gate. The thick medicinal scent behind him was cut off by the heavy door. The night wind carried the cool moisture of the Starskiff Haven, brushing against his face, bringing a trace of freshness.
Daziel took out his phone, fingertips rapidly tapping on the small keyboard, sending a message in the "Ghost-Hunting Squad" group chat—
[Daziel: Where are you guys now?]
A few seconds later, the screen lit up. A message with location coordinates popped up, sender: Guinaifen.
[Guinaifen: Aurum Alley, Auntie Gao's snack stall! Sponsor Daddy, hurry up and come!]
Daziel put away his phone and immediately walked towards Aurum Alley. The night market was bustling, filled with the clamor of voices, the sizzle of grilling food, and the enticing mixed aroma of various spices. It looked much better than its previously lifeless state. The Corporation's capital injection might not necessarily be humane, but they knew how to make money! At least now some Aurum Alley merchants survived. Compared to engaging in gray industries, this was the best outcome.
From afar, Daziel spotted the familiar snack stall. Under the warm yellow light, three slender figures sat around. Guinaifen was waving her hands and feet, mimicking some comical action, making the neighboring Sushang laugh so hard she almost slid off her stool. Huohuo sat quietly on the other side, sipping her drink, a faint, shy curve on her lips, clearly relaxed and integrated into the lively atmosphere.
Daziel slowed his pace, walking over with a subtle smile. His rather steady footsteps still alerted the three chatting happily.
"Yo, Master, you're back?" Sushang was the first to look up, her clear voice carrying a teasing tone. "The Dragon Lady side, all settled?"
Daziel naturally sat down in the empty seat beside them, feeling the unique atmosphere of the night market. "Mm, already sent her back to the Alchemy Commission, no trouble." Daziel replied simply.
Huohuo carefully put down her Xianzhou Delicacy Happy Tea, her eyes secretly glancing at Daziel, her voice soft as a mosquito's buzz, her cheeks blushing faintly.
"Daziel… you didn't do… anything strange to the Dragon Lady, right…" Halfway through, Huohuo herself felt embarrassed, her voice getting lower and lower, almost burying her head in her chest.
Daziel was about to pick up the tea on the table, heard this, and nearly choked on his own saliva, coughing violently twice.
"Cough cough! Of course not!" Daziel didn't know whether to laugh or cry, raising his voice, "Huohuo, what kind of person do you think I am! I, Daziel, act openly and honestly, a Nameless who follows the spirit of Trailblaze. At least, I didn't do anything to the young Miss Bailu!" What he did with Illusion Dream, what did that have to do with Bailu?
Nearby, Guinaifen leaned over, her amber eyes twinkling mischievously, her face wearing a typical smile ready for extortion.
"Aiya, Sponsor Daddy, that's what you say…" "But, your previous 'special hobbies,' make it hard for people to fully believe you…" Guinaifen dragged out her tone, implying something.
A vein throbbed faintly at Daziel's temple. Helplessly, he took out his phone again, fingers flying across the screen, operating rapidly.
"Ding dong!" A crisp notification sound rang out. Although Guinaifen wasn't streaming now, accompanied by dazzling special effects, a huge, golden virtual rocket exploded in the grayed-out livestream room.
Guinaifen, who was grinning mischievously a second ago, immediately straightened her back, her expression solemn, righteous.
"Daddy's character is noble! A moral model! Absolutely impossible to do anything out of line!"
"Whoever dares question Daddy's innocence, I, Guinaifen, will be the first to stand up and argue with them!" "Even if the Vidyadhara elders come, I, Guinaifen, will spray them just the same!" She patted her chest, vowing solemnly.
Daziel held his forehead, sighed deeply, completely exasperated with this clown.
"Alright, alright, stop bragging. Your skills are fine for street performing, fighting some interstellar pirate fodder. If you really face the Dragon Masters of the Vidyadhara, they could fling you into the sea of stars."
Daziel waved his hand, appeasing the crowd: "Rest assured, things that attract the attention of the ancient beast 'Censorship,' I absolutely wouldn't do."
Hearing Daziel's guarantee, Huohuo visibly relaxed, her small hand gently patting her fluctuating chest.
"Then… that's good." Huohuo murmured softly. Then, as if remembering something crucial, the relaxation on her face instantly vanished, her expression becoming serious and urgent again.
"Right, Daziel, just now… just now the Ten-Lords Commission side received a signal from the 'Fiery Spirit Compass'! The last Heliobus… its location is confirmed!"
Hearing this, Daziel's spirit suddenly lifted, his eyes sharpening: "Where is that Heliobus?"
Huohuo took a deep breath, trying to calm her slightly trembling fingertips, her voice carrying a trace of unbelievable difficulty. "Divination Commission… The compass pointer ultimately pointed to the internal area of the Divination Commission."
"Divination Commission? Go now?" Daziel frowned, slightly hesitant, "At this hour, the Divination Commission is probably already…"
Huohuo shook her head forcefully, her green eyes full of anxiety and undeniable decisiveness. "No! The Divination Commission's duties are special, they almost never close! Their diviners work in shifts day and night, calculating star paths."
"And the matter of the Heliobus, changes could happen any moment! We absolutely cannot delay!"
Daziel let out a long breath, raising his hand to rub his faintly aching brow, muttering to himself.
"Really… not even a moment to catch my breath."
Daziel stood up, patted his clothes, turned, and walked towards Auntie Gao's still busy snack stall nearby.
"Wait for me a moment, I'll grab something to eat first. These past few trips have consumed too much stamina."
Under Auntie Gao's greeting, soon, a steaming hot Mo Mo Roll was handed to Daziel. Shaped like a cake roll, it emanated the fragrance of cream. Daziel didn't care about his image, took it, and wolfed it down, finishing the battle in a few large bites. The warm energy of the food slid down his esophagus into his stomach, quickly dispelling some of the fatigue and chill brought by the continuous running around.
Can't be helped, might have to do that thing again later, which will require anime power. Even if his ability in this aspect was enhanced, energy couldn't be generated out of thin air, only the conversion efficiency was optimized. The battle with adult Bailu still consumed too much of his body's function…
Stamina is easy to replenish, but this kidney deficiency issue, perhaps he really needs to find Bailu for some medicine…
Sushang's beautiful brow furrowed slightly. Seeing Daziel wolfing down his food, she couldn't help but remind him softly.
"Master, eat slower, be careful not to choke."
Daziel waved his hand, his Adam's apple bobbed, forcefully swallowing the last large bite of the Mo Mo Roll.
"Cough… it's fine, time waits for no one, let's move."
Daziel casually wiped the remaining sauce from the corner of his mouth with a tissue, his gaze turning towards the direction of the distant Divination Commission. The night grew deeper, like thick ink splashed across the sky.
Sushang and Huohuo exchanged glances, said no more, quickly got up, and followed Daziel's steps. Behind them, the hustle and bustle of the night market gradually faded. The footsteps of the four echoed on the quiet long street. The bluestone path leading to the Divination Commission, under the dim yellow light of the Starskiff lamps, stretched their shadows long and swaying.
As he walked, Daziel took out his phone. Since they were going to the Divination Commission, it was better to greet the Master Diviner, and incidentally confirm if Fu Xuan was the one possessed. In the original plot, both Fu Xuan and Qingque had storylines where they were possessed by Heliobus, but now only one Heliobus remained outside, so it was likely one of the two. It should be easy to judge…
Daziel's fingertips flew across the screen, pulling up the chat window with Fu Xuan. His fingertip landed, quickly editing and sending a line of text.
[Daziel: Master Diviner, good evening. May I ask if you are currently inside the Divination Commission?]
After the message was sent, there was no immediate response. The waiting time seemed stretched, every second feeling exceptionally clear. Finally, the phone vibrated slightly, the screen lit up, and a new message popped up.
[Fu Xuan: Here, what business brings you to me?]
Then, before Daziel could organize his words, Fu Xuan's second message followed closely.
[Fu Xuan: What, the rope and shackles I lent you last time broke so quickly? That's the same stuff used in the Shackling Prison.]
[Fu Xuan: Shouldn't be… Is that woman Jingliu really that powerful?]
A vein twitched imperceptibly at Daziel's temple. He clearly hadn't expected the Master Diviner to think in this direction. He took a deep breath, fingertips flying, rapidly tapping the screen.
[Daziel: No, Master Diviner, you misunderstand, it's not about that.]
[Daziel: Jingliu has been pretty much conditioned by me now, very… uh, respectful towards me.]
[Daziel: There's another urgent matter…]
[Daziel: I wanted to confirm, are you… mentally sound right now?]
The moment the message was sent, Daziel regretted it. He could even feel the air around him seem to freeze for a fraction of a second. Wait, shouldn't he have used a more tactful phrasing? This question was indeed a bit hard to handle…
[Fu Xuan: ?] A lonely question mark. Even through the screen, one could feel the overwhelming low pressure and scrutiny.
The next second, a new message popped up with obvious anger—
[Fu Xuan: Daziel! What nonsense are you talking about?!]
[Fu Xuan: I think your brain needs a good check! Don't think just because you slept with me once, you can be so presumptuous! {Angry} {Fire}]
The Master Diviner was indeed unhappy.
Daziel rubbed his faintly aching temples, typing an explanation—
[Daziel: Uh, sorry, Master Diviner, that's not what I meant…]
[Daziel: I mean, have you been feeling well lately? If you haven't felt any discomfort, then besides you… is anyone else in the Divination Commission currently behaving… abnormally?]
[Daziel: Especially, a certain… diviner particularly obsessed with Celestial Jade?]
This time, Fu Xuan's side fell into an even longer silence than before. Every second of quietness tightened Daziel's heartstrings. Could it be… he guessed correctly? The Heliobus is possessing Qingque right now?
[Fu Xuan: ...]
[Fu Xuan: Now that you mention it, I do recall some things.]
[Fu Xuan: That fellow Qingque has been somewhat distracted and acting strangely these days.]
[Fu Xuan: Talks about quitting all day, becoming increasingly lazy and idle, simply doesn't respect me at all!]
[Fu Xuan: Hmph, anyway, come see for yourself and you'll know!]
Reading this, Daziel's eyes suddenly focused, the heavy stone in his heart lifted, yet a sense of urgency arose. It really is Qingque!
[Daziel: Roger! We are on our way, Master Diviner! Please wait a moment!]
[Fu Xuan: Hurry! Don't keep me waiting too long, I want to get off work!]
Since the target was basically locked, there was nothing to hesitate about. Daziel put away his phone, his pace couldn't help but quicken again, calling out to Guinaifen and the others:
"Let's hurry, I think I know who the Heliobus possessed…"
...
The grand silhouette of the Divination Commission under the night became increasingly clear and solemn. The air here wasn't filled with the medicinal scent of the Alchemy Commission; under the moonlight, it instead carried a cool clarity. The faint light of the operating star paths spilled down from the high dome, casting mysterious, deep shadows. At the entrance, several Cloud Knight soldiers stood tall and straight on both sides. Their gazes swept over Daziel's group but didn't question or stop them as usual. Clearly, Fu Xuan had notified them in advance.
Passing through the empty and quiet front hall, the interior scene of the Divination Commission suddenly opened up. A giant star path model hung in mid-air, slowly rotating with a constant rhythm. Countless flashing jade abacuses were embedded in the four walls, data streams rushing silently. Several diviners in the unique uniform of the Divination Commission hurried past. Their expressions were focused. They only glanced briefly at Daziel and the other uninvited guests before immersing themselves again in complex calculations.
"This way." A cool, slightly imposing female voice sounded from the side.
Fu Xuan stood gracefully at the entrance of a corridor, slender arms crossed before her chest. Her petite figure remained, yet exuded an undeniable powerful aura. Those golden eyes, containing the light of wisdom, quickly swept over Sushang and Huohuo, finally settling on Daziel's face.
"Moved quite fast." Fu Xuan nodded imperceptibly, merely as a greeting.
"Follow me." She immediately turned, the well-tailored hem of her dress tracing a smooth arc in the air.
Daziel and the others followed closely behind Fu Xuan.
"Master Diviner, where is Qingque?" Daziel lowered his voice, leaning close to Fu Xuan's ear to ask.
"At her workstation." Fu Xuan's tone contained a hint of obvious displeasure.
"But, probably slacking off again." She snorted coldly.
Huohuo's timid small voice sounded appropriately: "The Heliobus… the strongest reaction from the Heliobus… also points in that direction."
Fu Xuan's steps suddenly paused. She turned her head sideways, scrutinizingly looking at the little fox girl hugging her tail. "Oh? A judge from the Ten-Lords Commission came too?" A flash of understanding crossed Fu Xuan's eyes.
"It seems this matter is indeed unusual, not explainable by simple 'acting strangely'."
Walking along the intersecting corridors for several sections, a clamor faintly drifted from ahead. The sound seemed utterly out of place with the overall quiet, rigorous atmosphere of the Divination Commission.
Was it… the sound of Celestial Jade tiles colliding and shuffling?
Fu Xuan's expression instantly darkened several shades, coalescing into frost.
"Slacking off again, indeed." Her pace suddenly quickened. She reached out and forcefully pushed open a half-closed door.
The room wasn't spacious, but the desk in the middle was arranged exceptionally… comfortably and leisurely. Beside the desk, however, sat only a solitary figure.
Qingque slouched crookedly against the chair back, tightly gripping a jade abacus in her hand, the screen's faint light illuminating her face. On that face hung an extremely strange, almost crazed, excited smile. Her eyes were glazed and unfocused, the corners of her mouth nearly reaching her ears, occasionally letting out a few meaningless silly laughs from her throat.
"Ahem! Ahem!" Fu Xuan stood at the door, coughing heavily twice, trying to regain the other's attention.
However, Qingque seemed completely oblivious, still fixated on the jade abacus in her palm, laughing foolishly. Her mouth mumbled indistinctly:
"Won! Pure Flush! Hahaha! Another Pure Flush!"
"Master Diviner counts for nothing! If she dares, let her play a round of Celestial Jade with me, see if she can figure out the tiles in my hand!"
The veins on Fu Xuan's forehead throbbed violently. She was clearly on the verge of exploding.
"Qingque!" Her voice suddenly rose, containing undeniable authority.
Only then did Qingque seem to jolt awake from a dream, slowly lifting her head, her eyes looking over blankly. "Yo… isn't this the Master Diviner? And… guests?"
She yawned lazily, reaching up to rub her sleepy eyes.
"Looking for me? What's up? Wait 'til I finish this hand…" Before she finished speaking, her gaze stuck back onto the jade abacus screen, fingers unconsciously sliding, continuing to immerse herself in the Celestial Jade game within that small square.
Daziel's brow instantly furrowed, alarm bells ringing wildly in his heart.
This state was absolutely abnormal!
You know, Qingque had been conditioned by him, her corruption value reaching 50%. Logically, she should hold a considerable degree of reverence towards him, seeing him like a dog seeing its master, absolutely daring not so disregardful.
Daziel took a step forward, his gaze sharp as a torch, carefully observing Qingque. Her forehead, the corners of her eyes, seemed to be faintly shrouded in a wisp of pinkish air, extremely faint, yet ominous.
"Huohuo, what do you say?"
Although the answer was already obvious, Daziel still turned his head, confirming again with the little fox girl beside him in a low voice.
Huohuo's small face was already deathly pale, her small hand gripping the command flag ice-cold. She nodded vigorously, her voice carrying a sob.
"It's her… that's right… The Heliobus's aura… is very strong… almost overflowing…" She tightly gripped the small command flag.
Sushang, seeing this, could no longer hold back. The Xuanyuan Sword had appeared in her hand at some point. "Master, attack directly? This state of the Heliobus just looks like a crazy woman, this lady isn't afraid."
Daziel raised his hand, signaling her to wait, his gaze never leaving Qingque. He turned to the pale-faced Fu Xuan: "Master Diviner, how long has she been like this?"
Fu Xuan's expression was extremely ugly. She took a deep breath to barely suppress the churning anger. "It started getting weird these past two days."
"At first, she just became increasingly lazy, work efficiency plummeted, only thinking about slacking off."
"Today, it got even worse, daring to openly slack off and play tiles in the commission!"
"And often speaks nonsense, even daring to talk back to me…" Her chest heaved violently, clearly recalling the scene of being talked back to, her anger intensifying.
"I originally thought she was just stressed these days, mentally slack, but I never expected…"
During the conversation, Qingque's eyes remained glazed, a foolish smile hanging on her lips, completely immersed in the illusory tile game constructed by the jade abacus in her palm, oblivious to everything outside.
"Master Diviner counts for nothing? Hmph, this Divination Commission will sooner or later be Qingque's domain!" Qingque's mutter, though light, clearly drifted into everyone's ears.
The veins on Fu Xuan's forehead jumped like thunder. The fist she clenched trembled slightly, almost unable to restrain the urge to strike.
Huohuo was even paler with fright, her voice trembling noticeably as she turned to Daziel: "Daziel… should… should we just use the Tongxin Huoling directly? Her current state… makes normal communication impossible…"
Daziel nodded, his gaze cold, decisively adopting Huohuo's suggestion. "You're right."
He reached into his sleeve and took out the Tongxin Huoling Huohuo had given him earlier.
Daziel's fingertips gently捻, the Tongxin Huoling swayed leisurely.
Ding— A crisp bell ring, not loud, yet covering the entire room.
The scene before them began to twist, blur, like rippling water. The Divination Commission's solemn calculation arrays, star path models deformed and dissipated like melting candles. In their place appeared cold, smooth marble floors reflecting dazzling lights. The high dome became a magnificent crystal chandelier, abstract paintings hung on the walls. The air filled with a faint fragrance, replacing the original cool clarity.
Everyone was appalled discovered they were now standing in the grand, luxurious, imposing lobby of a skyscraper. Outside the wide glass doors, several burly men with bulging muscles wore the standard Cloud Knight armor, dark sunglasses perched on their faces, expressions cold and stern. The position where the "Divination Commission" plaque originally hung now displayed a huge, gleaming metal sign, flamboyantly emblazoned with several large golden characters—
"Luofu Imperial Jade Group."
"This… what is this place?" Sushang subconsciously tightened her grip on the Xuanyuan Sword hilt, her eyes full of vigilance, surveying the surroundings. "Feels… strange. Why would the Cloud Knights act as private security?"
Huohuo hid behind Daziel, her small face pale as paper, explaining in a voice soft as a mosquito's buzz:
"No, here… this should just be Miss Qingque's… her inner world's illusion…"
Guinaifen, however, whistled loudly with great interest, excitement flashing in her eyes, clicking her tongue in amazement:
"Whoa! Good heavens! This setup rivals the daydreams I usually have! All about wanting to be a big shot, renting a place turns into a mansion, starskiff turns into a giant ship!" She seemed highly accepting of this dazzling, luxurious illusion, even eager to try.
Daziel frowned slightly, his gaze sweeping over those indifferent guards. He turned to the enthusiastic Guinaifen, reminding her in a low voice: "I'm afraid her dream… isn't just about getting rich."
"Hmph! I want to see for myself just what kind of messy stuff is stuffed in her head?!" Fu Xuan gritted her silver teeth, her petite body trembling slightly from extreme anger, the fist under her purple sleeve clenched tightly.
The absurd scene before her, like adding fuel to the fire, made her already burning anger even more intense.
"Uh…" Daziel's gaze fell on the "security uncles" at the door, his tone carrying a hint of helplessness. "So, to see old Qingque now, we still have to follow procedures and queue up? Should we address her as General Qing later, or call her CEO Qing?"
As soon as he finished speaking, a security uncle in Cloud Knight uniform stepped forward expressionlessly, extended a white-gloved hand, and blocked their path.
"Stop! May I ask if you are here for an interview, or to discuss business cooperation?" His sharp gaze swept over everyone like a searchlight, finally settling on Daziel's face, a hint of unconcealable surprise flashing in his eyes.
"Yo, these days there are quite a few people cosplaying the pretty boy from CEO Qing's treasured portrait coming here to beg for food, but you kid, you cosplay the most alike."
The corner of Daziel's mouth twitched violently uncontrollably: "What?! What pretty boy?!"
Huohuo, seeing this, quickly tugged Daziel's sleeve, using a voice so faint it was almost inaudible, timidly speaking to the security guard:
"That… that… hello, we… we're not here for an interview, nor to discuss cooperation… We know Miss Qingque, could you trouble… trouble yourself to inform her, please?"
Fu Xuan wasn't inclined to reason. She stepped forward directly.
"Cut the nonsense! I am her direct superior! Quickly tell her to roll out of this absurd pipe dream and see me!"
Hearing this, the security uncle gave Fu Xuan an extremely strange look, scrutinizing her from head to toe, then let out an undisguised sneer. "Know CEO Qing? Heh, nowadays in the Luofu Xianzhou, who dares say they don't know our CEO Qing's great name?"
"As for friends… humph humph, I believe someone like CEO Qing, a figure of prominence, will always have some unknown cats and dogs popping up, desperately trying to associate with her." His gaze, carrying extreme insult, fell on Fu Xuan's white and purple dress symbolizing her status and position, disdain overflowing.
"Hahahaha! Especially you, little shorty!" He pointed at Fu Xuan, laughing until he bent over backwards. "Wearing janitor clothes, and daring to boast about being CEO Qing's superior? Truly enough to make this old man laugh his teeth out!"
"Jan… janitor?!" Fu Xuan felt as if she had heard the most absurd words in the world, her voice instantly rising, trembling with disbelief. "You… what nonsense are you spouting?! Outrageous! Simply… simply infuriating!"
The security uncle, however, became even more smug, raising his hand to point at the long queue outside the building that stretched almost out of sight.
"See that queue outside? The people wanting to see our CEO Qing have already lined up from here all the way to the end of Aurum Alley!"
"Except for this gentleman who cosplays the pretty boy particularly well, he can go straight in," His finger pointed accurately at the ill-faced Daziel. "As for you lot, obediently go over there, get a number, and then wait patiently."
Sushang's beautiful brow furrowed tightly, unable to resist asking: "This… how long do we have to wait?"
The security uncle shrugged carelessly, spreading his hands: "Who can say for sure? Maybe a week? Maybe a few months? Anyway, the unlucky guy at the very front of the queue, I heard he's been eating and sleeping rough here since three months ago."
Hearing this, Guinaifen immediately flew into a rage, rolling up her sleeves, revealing her fair arms:
"Alright! You're deliberately messing with us, aren't you? Who has the time to waste here! Shangshang, Huohuo, don't waste breath on them, let's just fight our way in!"
"That's exactly what I intend!" Fu Xuan's surrounding airflow surged, cold light glinting in her light purple eyes. Clearly moved to true anger, a powerful aura began to spread.
Just at this tense moment, on the verge of conflict— A voice, exceptionally calm, even emotionless, suddenly came from inside the gatehouse.
"Hold your hands, these distinguished guests indeed do not need to queue. They… they are indeed friends CEO Qing knew before she made her fortune."
Everyone looked towards the sound, and in the next second, their pupils contracted simultaneously, faces revealing disbelief. Several figures filed out from the gatehouse. They wore purple robes identical to Fu Xuan's, styled their hair in the same exquisite bun, even their petite heights were exactly the same. The only difference was their dull expressions, their eyes empty and lifeless.
"Ah?! Wh-why are there so many Master Diviners?!" Huohuo exclaimed in fright.
Sushang also widened her eyes, murmuring in astonishment: "This… what's going on? An illusion? Or… clones?"
The "Fu Xuan" walking at the very front shook her head slightly, her voice steady without a ripple, like a pre-set program:
"I am not a clone, but I am also no longer the Master Diviner you knew. Please refrain from addressing me as such."
Then, another "Fu Xuan" beside her added, her tone equally cold and numb: "I am now merely an ordinary janitor under the Luofu Imperial Jade Group. My daily work, besides cleaning, includes serving tea and water to CEO Qing, massaging her shoulders and feet."
Daziel stiffly turned his neck, looking at the real Fu Xuan beside him, whose face was ashen as the bottom of a pot, her nails almost digging into the tender flesh of her palm, and tentatively asked:
"Uh… Master Diviner, look at this…"
Fu Xuan remained silent, her chest heaving violently from extreme anger, a chilling low pressure emanating from her body. After a moment, she squeezed out words through gritted teeth, thick with killing intent:
"No need for you to remind me! Despicable! Truly outrageous! Daring… daring to make me her foot-washing maid?! I think Qingque, this damn thing, has too little workload usually, hasn't worked enough overtime, and has completely lost track of her own standing!"
"Lady Fu Xuan, please… please don't take it to heart! This is just an illusion, it's all fake, fake!" Huohuo, seeing this, was about to cry from anxiety, quickly comforting her.
The leading "Fu Xuan" puppet-like turned to Daziel, bowed slightly, her movements still stiff.
"Lord Daziel, please follow me. After all these years, CEO Qing… she has never forgotten you. She has been waiting for your return."
"These years, quite a few people have tried to disguise themselves as you, attempting to approach CEO Qing and curry favor, but she saw through them at a glance and ruthlessly threw them out."
Guinaifen smirked, nudging Daziel with her elbow, winking suggestively, her tone teasingly ambiguous:
"Yoho~ Sponsor Daddy, this development is truly… tsk tsk, unexpectedly exciting…"
Daziel coughed twice, slightly awkwardly avoiding her teasing gaze, and said seriously: "Ahem, let's go in and see the situation first." The ominous premonition in his heart had now expanded to its peak, leaving him unable to relax.
Daziel took the lead, following the several "Fu Xuans" into the magnificent yet chillingly oppressive interior of the building. The floor beneath shone like a mirror, reflecting the cold metal decorative lines on the ceiling. Huge electronic screens on the walls silently scrolled meaningless data streams. They were led onto a high-speed internal elevator, rising smoothly and rapidly. The elevator walls were also cold metal, reflecting everyone's varied expressions.
Finally, the elevator stopped at the top floor. Swish— The heavy alloy door, like a vault's, slid silently open to both sides. Behind the door was Qingque's "CEO office."
When everyone saw the scene inside the room clearly, even Daziel, who was mentally prepared, couldn't help but sharply inhale, a touch of shock flashing in his eyes. Even Fu Xuan, who had been furious moments ago, ready to rush in and beat Qingque up, now froze on the spot, the anger on her face solidifying, replaced by a complex expression mixed with absurdity and bewilderment.
Sushang, Guinaifen, and Huohuo were utterly dumbfounded, as if struck by a petrification spell, frozen on the spot.
_____
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