Qingque surveyed the classroom, a sense of unreality washing over her.
Don't tell me I've been isekai'd? Qingque thought. Just like in those bizarre web novels I read while slacking off.
Or maybe this is an illusion?
But it was far too realistic for that.
So, what's the purpose?
Qingque stroked her chin.
Everything has a motive, after all.
Could it be an illusion created by the Grand Diviner to punish me... probably not, right?
It wasn't that she thought Fu Xuan was incapable, but rather that it seemed like too much effort and resources to go to just for her.
Besides... an illusion? It doesn't feel like one.
This place was indistinguishable from the real world.
After all, as someone who walked the Path of Erudition, Qingque was quite sensitive to the line between reality and illusion.
At the very least, she couldn't sense the slightest bit of falsehood here.
"But if this is the real world, then things have gotten seriously out of hand."
Being inexplicably transported was not a good sign.
Qingque's mind instantly raced through various "cosmic legends." Some factions would capture natives of low-level civilizations and drop them onto designated planets for the amusement of nobles, broadcast live.
There were also mad scientists who would capture "suitable specimens," place them in their "observation gardens," and collect data.
Or perhaps she had encountered an extremely rare spatio-temporal fissure...
Okay, Qingque didn't really take any of those guesses seriously.
What foreign power would dare to snatch an on-duty civil servant from within the Xianzhou?
So, the most likely possibility was that she had been kidnapped by cultists who worshipped the "Plaguespreader, the Lord of Medicus."
She'd heard they'd been quite active lately.
But then again, what was the use of kidnapping a low-level diviner like her? Forget obtaining important information, she didn't even have enough money on her to cover the kidnappers' operational expenses, bros.
Wait, don't tell me they're after my body?
Qingque felt she had some looks, no worse than the Grand Diviner's. Plus, she was the delicate and petite type. She'd read online that some people with strange preferences were into that.
What was it called? Ah, right, lolicon.
But that didn't seem right either.
If they were after her body, they should have at least tied her up or drugged her.
Or maybe they're the type that likes a struggle?
Ew... so gross.
Qingque deduced internally.
Well, it wasn't really deduction.
But thinking about all the possibilities did help calm her nerves.
She felt a lot more relaxed.
But then again, if it really was for her body, how much should she resist?
Would it be worth risking her life?
Even though she'd lived for two or three hundred years, she was still a pure, untouched maiden.
She couldn't just be defiled like this.
"Sigh, I'm suddenly feeling a little hurt."
She'd been beaten into a seasoned veteran by her job, yet she had never even tasted love.
She heard that many of the Foxian girls had already experienced all sorts of positions back in their school days, though she didn't know if that was true.
"Forget it, whatever."
This minor melancholy was nothing more than a passing breeze for Qingque.
She'd sigh about it when she remembered, but that was it.
The biggest problem right now was—
"I should go take a look. Thinking about it won't do any good. Since my freedom isn't restricted, maybe the situation isn't that bad."
Qingque felt for the mahjong tiles in her pocket, which calmed her slightly.
Her Celestial Jade set wasn't just a simple tool for recreation. It was etched with her own unique tricks, allowing it to function as a Jade Abacus for calculations and as a weapon for self-defense.
A single tile drop could deal an insane amount of crit damage!
Most Abominations of Abundance couldn't withstand it.
Qingque walked out of the classroom.
The corridor was wide and bright, the floor spotless.
Birds chirped on the branches outside, and golden sunlight streamed in through the windows at regular intervals.
Qingque looked up at the sky, trying to make a calculation based on her past experience.
The result made her heart sink slightly. She couldn't find any "points" of reference.
As long as she was within the Xianzhou, she could always deduce her position.
So, where exactly was this place?
The Xianzhou didn't have this style of architecture.
...Don't tell me I'm really not on the Xianzhou anymore?
Even in an illusion or a pocket dimension, there would still be clues to follow.
But this place was completely alien.
For a situation like this to occur, it was highly probable that she had left the Xianzhou.
"Sigh, there's no one around either. Otherwise, I could play a few rounds of Celestial Jade."
When chewed out by her boss, play a few rounds of Celestial Jade. When work piles up, play a few rounds of Celestial Jade. Celestial Jade was Qingque's savior!
Now, in her state of confusion and bewilderment, maybe a few rounds would spark a moment of inspiration?
[Beep]
[Participant's wish detected. Initiating "Celestial Jade" activity.]
"Huh?"
A female electronic voice suddenly sounded out. Qingque scratched her head.
This is really becoming more and more like the "System" from web novels, hey!
Is this really a case of fantasy becoming reality?
At the same time, a sliding door next to her slowly opened.
Inside was an empty classroom, with only a square table in the center, surrounded by four chairs. Three people were already seated: one man and two women.
And on the table was none other than a Celestial Jade set.
A perfect three-player table, just waiting for a fourth!
Qingque's feet moved into the room of their own accord.
"Hehe, hey everyone."
Qingque scratched her head and greeted them, acting quite familiar.
In her view, anyone who liked to play Celestial Jade was family.
"Please, sit."
Ye Feng gestured to Qingque and smiled. "We were just waiting for you."
"Waiting for me? You were waiting specifically for me?"
Qingque sat down in the empty seat without hesitation, her eyes quickly scanning the room.
The two women beside him... a pink-haired girl with elf-like ears, and that barefoot, blue-haired girl... they were clearly little lolis, right?
Well, the Xianzhou's public order regulations only forbade minors from gambling, not from playing tiles.
As long as no credits were being wagered, it was fine.
But why did they look so dazed? As if they had no souls.
The NPCs turned their heads, introducing themselves stiffly:
"I am Elysia. The maiden as shy and lovely as a flower is me~"
"My name is Griseo. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Their speech was also very strange, somewhat uncoordinated.
They seemed less like people and more like dolls.
Qingque was even beginning to feel the uncanny valley effect—the more spiritually sensitive a person was, the stronger the feeling.
Her gaze finally landed on the man across from her. He looked much more normal.
He had a very kind face and a smile as refreshing as a blue sky, like a friendly big brother from next door.
When their eyes met, he spoke.
"I'm Ye Feng. Actually, I wasn't waiting for you."
I was waiting for Fu Xuan.
Ye Feng really wanted to have a taste of the Grand Diviner's popsicle.
"But since you're here, Qingque, you are most welcome."
"You know me?"
Qingque was sure she hadn't stated her name since entering the room.
Ye Feng just smiled and started shuffling the tiles.
"If you win, I'll tell you."
"Oh? Interesting."
Qingque sat up straight, a brilliant smile on her face.
"But if you lose, there's a price to pay."
Qingque arranged her tiles, saying nonchalantly, "What price?"
"I will eat you."
"?"
Qingque's hand froze in mid-air. She glanced at her hand of all-one-suit tiles, then looked up dazedly at Ye Feng.
"Eat... me?"
The words coming from this seemingly harmless man were terrifying.
"That's right. Of course, you could also eat something I provide."
"Umm..."
Qingque got up hesitantly. She felt a kind of invisible pressure.
Could he be the one who brought her here?
What does he mean, eat me?
Qingque said, "Can I leave now?"
Just then, the little barefoot, blue-haired loli's head snapped around like a broken puppet's. Her eyes, devoid of any emotion, stared at her as she spoke in a timid tone:
"Leave? Etto... it seems your understanding of Celestial Jade-no-wa~ is, perhaps, full of fallacies, you know~!
Well, to have lost even the most basic 'propriety' and 'shame'...
(chuckles) Hey, I'm talking to you—for someone like you, to sit down at the table and just leave like this, do you even have the right to call yourself a 'Celestial Jade enthusiast'? Fufufu—at this point, you're already 'Celestial Jade Disqualified,' aren't you? Ne~?（＾ｖ＾）"
She couldn't understand a word.
But it was horrifying!
Qingque's body went rigid. She had a feeling that something terrible would happen if she left.
She looked down again at her hand of all-one-suit tiles.
It's fine, I can take this gamble!
Qingque sat back down.
She forced a smile onto her face. "Hehe, you're quite the joker, little bro Ye Feng. What's all this about eating or not eating?"
"Hehe."
Ye Feng just looked at her, smiling without a word.
Now Qingque was truly panicking.
She secretly moved one hand under the table, gripping her weapon tightly.
Qingque stared at Ye Feng. She had a premonition: even though this guy seemed to be full of openings, she felt that if she made a move, she would be killed instantly.
Decisively abandoning the idea of fighting, Qingque said, "As long as I win, you'll answer my questions?"
"Yes."
"Then... can you let me go?"
Ye Feng smiled. "I've already answered one of your questions for free. That was your second one."
"...."
Qingque was silent for a moment. "Then let's begin."
When it came to Celestial Jade, and only Celestial Jade, she was very confident!
And then, she lost.
The two NPCs turned their heads in unison, staring straight at Qingque like statues in a temple at night.
Their gazes made her skin crawl.
"Qingque, would you like to eat first, or bathe first, or perhaps..."
Ye Feng licked his lips.
"W-Wait!"
Qingque held up a hand. "Can we discuss this a little more?"
"What do you want to discuss?"
"A single round to decide the winner is too reliant on luck to show my skill. How about a best-of-three! A best-of-three?"
"That's fine, but I'll be increasing the intensity."
"Intensity? Um, what exactly do you mean by 'eat'?"
Ye Feng let out a wicked laugh. "Qingque is intelligent and beautiful; you should understand what I mean, right?"
Qingque stared at Ye Feng, trembling. "...Don't tell me you're really after my body?"
"Ah, that's inevitable. But not today, not so soon. Generally, for a first-timer, I provide an adaptation period. Unless your luck is really bad. But that's a rare situation."
"There's an adaptation period? That's more humane than my job at the Divination Commission."
"Right?" Ye Feng smiled.
"Then, Lord Ye Feng, could you be magnanimous and let me go?"
"That's impossible, Qingque."
Ye Feng's words made Qingque tighten her grip on the "killing weapon" in her palm. If things went south, she would unleash her ultimate, "Four Concealed Triplets."
But then Ye Feng offered a glimmer of hope. "Unless you can beat me at Celestial Jade."
"I see. You're actually a pretty nice guy."
Qingque said, "Since you don't plan on 'eating' me today, what's the point of winning or losing?"
"You've hit the nail on the head. We could also play strip mahjong. Or I could put some things on your body, or insert some small objects."
"??"
"Don't be afraid."
Ye Feng soothed her in a gentle voice. "Even if this body gets broken, it will automatically 'reset' the second time. And I can restore it directly, too."
"??"
No, no, no, the more he talks, the more terrifying it gets.
Why is 'getting broken' the baseline assumption?
You seem so gentle and kind on the surface, but are you actually such a sadist?
"That's right. It's all because Fu Xuan didn't show up. I was looking forward to it for quite a while."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"Simply put, I spent a great deal of effort convincing my Master to go to the Xianzhou. I thought Fu Xuan would come, but you showed up instead. So, I have no choice but to vent all this frustration on you."
Qingque's mouth twitched.
Hold on, I get forced to work by my boss during the day, and now I have to be her scapegoat at night?
Ye Feng smiled. "However, little Qingque isn't bad either. Don't sell yourself short."
"Thanks for the comfort."
"You're welcome. Now, are you going to choose A, be eaten by me, or B..."
"Hey, didn't you say you wouldn't eat me today?"
"But we can kiss. Whether it's the top or the bottom, I'm very skilled."
"...."
"B! B! I choose B!" Qingque shouted.
"Mm, that's fine too. Then, remove your armor."
Qingque's clothes were layered quite thick.
Besides the unique Xianzhou "female standard-issue chest plate," she wore two layers underneath.
Her lower body was covered by a pleated skirt, which gave her plenty of items to remove.
So, just taking off the outer chest plate wasn't something she was too opposed to.
She undid the knot and placed the outer armor neatly by her feet.
Qingque looked up at Ye Feng and started playing the victim. "Sigh, my life is so bitter. I'm exploited by my unscrupulous boss during the day, and when I get home, I get abducted because of her... only to be cruelly toyed with by you..."
Ye Feng saw through her little trick at a glance. "You're trying to fish for information. It's fine. Seeing as you took that off so readily, I can clear up some of your confusion. First, regarding this world, it's not the universe you're from."
"Eh?"
He's dropping such a bombshell right from the start?
Not my original universe? Wait, that's a huge leap.
Qingque's brain was struggling to keep up.
"Then how did I get here?"
"Let's play another round of Celestial Jade."
"Ugh..."
"You can also pay in advance with your body."