Divination Commission.
Aside from Fu Xuan and Qingque, many other diviners were also watching Xiaoguizi's livestream.
At this moment, seeing Qingque not only show no disappointment or frustration at being fired by Lady Fu Xuan but even looking absolutely delighted...
They were all stunned!
Some diviners froze in place, phones in hand.
Others huddled around the projection screen, unable to hold back their exclamations!
"T-This is an ironclad government job we're talking about?!"
"Not only is Qingque not panicking, she looks like she's been waiting for this?!"
"Look at that mindset!"
"If I had even half of Qingque's optimism and open-mindedness, I wouldn't be lying awake anxious every night!"
"The entire Divination Commission fell to the Heliobi's influence—only Qingque resisted. That speaks volumes!"
"I always thought Qingque was dumb, but turns out she's wise in disguise. I'm the real fool!"
At her desk, Fu Xuan hadn't yet realized it—
But within the Divination Commission, the atmosphere was shifting in an unexpected direction.
Fu Xuan's mood was complicated.
As the head of the Divination Commission, she had been possessed by a Heliobi...
To put it bluntly, this was a humiliating failure.
After all, she hadn't taken the Heliobi threat seriously before.
Following the crisis with the Destruction Emanator, it was understandable that they seized an opportunity.
But the real problem was—
Honkai: Star Rail had turned this into a full-fledged story quest!
And exposed it to the entire player base!
Fu Xuan wished she could go back to the preview livestream and tell Yu Ling:
"This kind of thing really only needed a passing mention!"
"There was no need to go into such detail, seriously."
The Divination Commission—and Fu Xuan herself—were inevitably going to become hot topics among players.
She would have to issue statements, reinforce security measures...
Just thinking about it made her sigh bitterly.
"This... is a complete loss of face for me..."
Qingque, overhearing Fu Xuan's muttering, tried to comfort her:
"Don't worry, Lady Fu Xuan. I've spent a lot of time on forums—people don't see you as some stern, unapproachable figure."
"This storyline... well, it doesn't really ruin your character."
"Actually, most people think you're kinda cute."
Fu Xuan: "Thank you, Qingque. You always know just when to twist the knife."
Qingque: "Uh... Lady Fu Xuan, let's just keep watching the story."
"Look, you still come off as super domineering!"
Fu Xuan turned back to the stream.
...
In the game, her character stood with hands on hips, lecturing the ghost-hunting team:
"Delusional? I've never been more clear-headed!"
"From now on, I will devote myself entirely to deducing the Xianzhou Alliance's inevitable future—and proclaiming it to the world, so everyone may live with clarity!"
"From the beginning, there has only ever been one path."
"You, Trailblazer, are nothing but a pawn manipulated by the Stellaron Hunters."
"Boarding the Express, choosing enemies, deciding destinations... What you believe are free choices are merely tributaries destined to converge on fate's river."
"Your journey aiding the Xianzhou against Phantylia—surely you've felt it? Every outcome was already scripted by the puppetmaster behind the scenes."
"Just like now, all your choices boil down to—"
The three dialogue options in the bottom-right corner:
[Swing your bat and charge at me.]
[Shout a futile rebuttal.]
[Stay silent, lost in thought.]
Fu Xuan's heart sank further.
...
If even the ghost-hunting team and Qingque were convinced, this would spiral into a disaster.
She could already imagine the flood of comments: "Divination Commission is useless,"
"Controlled by Heliobi," and worse.
Now, her only hope rested on the laziest slacker in the Commission—Qingque.
Even if it meant Qingque had to verbally dismantle her, so be it.
Fu Xuan was ready to admit defeat.
She just hoped Qingque could salvage the Divination Commission's last shred of dignity.
At this moment, a minigame called [Pathfinder's Guide] began.
It was a puzzle where a mechanical guide led to an exit on a sand table.
The Heliobi-possessed Fu Xuan used it to prove her point—"There is only one path; all else is futile."
But Qingque chose to place "more people" onto the sand table, creating a second solution.
After solving it, Qingque calmly said:
"This is the second solution—the second choice. I've created a different answer for this puzzle."
"Lady Fu Xuan, you're not the only one who can design puzzles. And on fate's road, no one walks alone."
Fu Xuan scoffed.
"Hah! You think calling for help magically creates a second path?"
"You're twisting logic. I could weave you a thousand routes—all leading to the same end. What's the point of such 'choices'?"
Qingque opened her eyes.
Her emerald pupils were unusually clear and bright.
"You Heliobi... you really don't understand humans."
"The universe is like a game of Jade Tiles. Once the tiles are shuffled, the outcome is often already decided."
"You can calculate which tiles are played, which remain, what strategies others use... But if it's just calculation, the game loses its flavor."
"Adapting on the fly, overcoming obstacles, twists and turns, dead ends—it's the mix of calculation, uncertainty, and chaos that makes Jade Tiles... and life itself, meaningful."
"If I'm dealt a losing hand, does my 'choice' at the table mean nothing? Wrong. The act of choosing is the meaning."
"Just like how I keep choosing to lose gracefully, Lady Fu Xuan makes her choices for her goals."
Her voice wasn't loud, but it cut through the gloom like a blade.
"You said it yourself—Lady Fu Xuan spends every day untangling the threads of fate to keep this ship afloat."
"In this unwinnable game of the universe, she keeps choosing, keeps struggling, just to buy the Luofu one more second of survival."
"Heh... She's the best player I know."
"Someone like her would never agonize over predestined futility."
"Heliobi, you'll never grasp human joy. You're trapped in the illusion of determinism, so you want everyone who glimpses the future to suffer like you."
"You... really don't understand humans."
...
Watching Qingque's monologue, Fu Xuan's mind reeled.
"...Is this really how you see me?"
"Is this what you've always believed?"
She almost asked aloud—but she didn't need to.
Honkai: Star Rail didn't fabricate stories.
This... was Qingque's genuine perspective.
It felt alien.
Was this the same Qingque I knew?
...
Yes. It had to be.
Fu Xuan took a deep breath and placed a hand on Qingque's shoulder.
"Qingque... you've done exceptionally well."
"I've misjudged you."
"...No. I should say—this is why I've always had high hopes for you."
"There's something I've wanted to tell you..."
Qingque stiffened under Fu Xuan's touch, her neck hairs standing on end.
This was...
Too good to be true!
She'd done nothing, yet it felt like she'd done everything.
The hand on her shoulder—small but firm—carried its owner's trust and approval.
Never had a start felt so wonderful!
Fu Xuan continued:
"Truthfully, out of everyone in the Divination Commission... I've always seen the most potential in you."
"Even though you slack off, skip duties, disrespect your superiors, barely pass every exam..."
"...When it matters, you deliver."
"When I become General... the position of Divination Commission head will be reserved for you."
Qingque's mind went blank.
The revelation hit like a thunderbolt!
She stood frozen, utterly speechless.
Meanwhile, across the Divination Commission—
Every diviner had been stunned into silence by Qingque's speech.
After a few seconds, the room erupted.
"Qingque, you... holy shit?!"
"That was the coolest thing I've ever heard!"
"How many years of gambling does it take to reach that level of wisdom?!"
"This is our Qingque? She's shining so bright I can't look directly at her!"
"Even the Heliobi's 'dao heart' shattered listening to her!"
"Forget 'Qingque'—call her 'Sister Qing' from now on!"
"Qingque, you're my idol!"
"I don't even respect Lady Fu Xuan this much—only you!"
To be continued…