Elysian Realm.
Dusk.
The distant sea horizon bloomed with an evening glow as splendid as scattered flowers.
The pink Miss Elf was lost in thought and hesitation. Elysia tapped her delicate white chin, tilting her head, her clear, star-like eyes staring blankly ahead.
"The Herrscher of Reason of the current era..."
"She" had returned to the stars, praying to open that slim,渺茫 chance for humanity. At the time, Elysia didn't know if it would succeed; she only held an infinite hope for a beautiful future as she resolutely embarked on a path of no return.
"It seems… it really was a success."
From the very first one, the Herrscher of Reason had stood firmly on humanity's side. There was no result that could bring Elysia more joy than this. This "cycle" could be described as having a dream-like beginning.
How could Elysia bear to personally snuff out the seed in the cradle?
Even if Mr. Ye Feng said that the Herrscher of Reason's core could be inherited, and that the current Herrscher would likely not "ascend," making Bronya the best choice…
Still, Elysia felt that something was not quite right.
Just because the "result is good," can one recklessly "use the wrong methods"?
If it were MEI, she probably wouldn't care. After all, they had "discussed" this topic countless times before. And every time, MEI was as calm as a robot, always rationally arriving at the optimal solution.
Elysia was flawless, so naturally, she always pursued a perfect solution. From the "process" to the "result," she wanted no part of it to be stained by filth. She knew it was difficult, often nearly impossible to achieve. But the pink Miss Elf had always strived for it.
"If Mobius were faced with such a choice, what would she do?" Elysia couldn't help but think of the stubborn snake. Mobius seemed to be the "coldest," but in reality, she was quite sentimental.
That was why Elysia liked Mobius so much.
"Speaking of which, I haven't seen Mobius for two days…" Elysia's eyelid twitched. She had a bad feeling.
---o---
At the same time.
St. Freya Academy.
Two black shadows flashed through the dark night, silently slipping into the elevator leading underground.
"Hack successful. Initiating full-band jamming. 29 seconds until the elevator reaches the bottom."
Bronya's inorganic voice echoed in the orange-lit steel space, followed by the sound of machinery operating.
"Is it really okay for us to be doing this?" Bronya lifted her eyes to look at the slightly excited Kiana. Kiana was clearly unable to suppress her eagerness.
"Of course, it's fine. An unknown situation has occurred in the academy. As students, it is our duty to help the academy solve its problems. Besides, Bronya, you don't want to just wait around, unable to do anything, do you?"
"Mmm…" Kiana flashed a brilliant smile.
She had just promised the principal not long ago that she wouldn't act rashly. The moment she stepped out of the office, she immediately diverted to the Central Dogma… This was completely unlike her previous reckless style.
Bronya felt that this might not be a good idea. But her friend was stepping up for her happiness, so how could Bronya possibly back down!
"It's just, on Mei-neechan's side…" Bronya lowered her head. Mei-neechan still held a conservative view, insisting that they shouldn't act rashly and should wait until they understood the situation from Ye Feng before making a move.
But Kiana said that time waits for no one, and there was no guarantee they would even run into that dog-bastard Ye Feng tonight. There was no need to waste a whole night for nothing. So she had quietly brought Bronya along.
"The Bronya thinks, perhaps we should tell Mei-neechan?"
"Sure, let's go back and report the good news to Mei after we get the Herrscher Core."
Kiana was very confident. The crimson glow on her lower abdomen shone brightly. She truly felt like she could do anything.
Besides, her confidence wasn't baseless. She had a familiar feeling about the Honkai energy surging in this space. To be precise, it wasn't "Kiana's feeling," but one coming from the Herrscher of the Void.
Kiana and the Herrscher of the Void were two souls in one body; their senses and memories were interconnected to a certain extent. Kiana could feel a sense of apprehension, rejection, and fear towards that familiar Honkai energy.
To be familiar with a being she had never met, it must be related to "Ye Feng's world." It meant the Herrscher of the Void had encountered a certain person or a certain event in Ye Feng's world.
It had to be said, even for a simple-minded Chong Chong, her intuition was surprisingly sharp.
If that was the case, why should she be afraid? Kiana was defiant, resentful, and displeased. She wasn't even afraid of Ye Feng, so why would she be afraid of someone related to him?
Unfortunately, the Herrscher of the Void was "locked" in Ye Feng's world. Otherwise, she could have asked her what was going on.
Woom—
With a soft hum, the elevator descended to the bottom. The iron doors slowly opened. Kiana stood tall and proud, dual pistols in hand, her two braided pigtails moving without any wind. She looked at the metal corridor ahead, her azure eyes firm and shining.
"Bronya, let's go."
"...Mhm." Bronya nodded.
Since they were already here, there was no point in thinking about anything else.
---o---
The Xianzhou.
Qingque's eyes snapped open in her cramped little home. She stared straight at the all-too-familiar ceiling, a highlight reel of images flashing endlessly through her mind.
"I never thought that Lord Fu Xuan, usually so reserved, noble, and majestically stern… would make that kind of expression…" Qingque muttered to herself, feeling the shock and daze of having a whole new world opened up to her.
But more than that, she felt a deep sense of sin.
Lord Fu Xuan was a good person. Although she was a bit pampered and occasionally looked down on others, her intentions were always good.
Qingque covered her eyes with her hand, looking utterly dejected. But she didn't seem to notice that the corners of her mouth were turned up slightly.
Lord Fu Xuan had indeed resisted at first, very much so. But didn't she become quite cooperative later on? Her lotus-like feet, bent at a ninety-degree angle, trembled as if cramping, her cute, soft, and delicious-looking toes curled up, the soles of her feet dyed a layer of crimson… The Grand Diviner was the type to say no with her mouth, but her body was very honest.
Alright, Qingque understood. Lord Fu Xuan was resisting her, but she was very cooperative with Ye Feng. She felt that Ye Feng was innocent and was just acting according to the rules.
Qingque had shouldered all the blame.
"Tsk, the one who had the most fun was clearly that bastard Ye Feng!" Qingque felt very wronged. But that's how it had always been for "workers." The employees do the hard work, and the boss enjoys the benefits. It truly was an immutable rule no matter where you went.
"Aiii~~~"
However, she had achieved the desired result. She could finally go to work with her head held high, no longer having to worry about Lord Fu Xuan discovering any clues.
Thinking of this, Qingque's mood instantly lightened.
She got out of bed, washed up, and hummed a happy tune like a free little bird as she skipped out the door. She deliberately took a detour to Gold-Man Alley for a delicious breakfast, bought two Qiongshi Bird Skewers along the way, and then strode, full of vigor, through the high gates.
Xianzhou Luofu, Divination Commission.
"To ask the portents and know the profound, to know the future through the ultimate calculation." This was the department on the Xianzhou responsible for intelligence and information deduction. Using a crystal computer technology called the "Jade Abacus," it was responsible for divining the future, processing and preserving information, deducing star-faring routes, and strategic planning.
And the core operator was just one person: the head of the Divination Commission, Fu Xuan. She was skilled in the art of divination, able to shift the stars and observe the dynamics of the future. Although she couldn't accurately predict all distant events, she could perceive imminent ones and take precautions. This established Fu Xuan's transcendent status in the Divination Commission, making her the most revered existence.
"Good morning, Lord Diviner!" Qingque said, holding a Qiongshi Bird Skewer as she walked into the Divination Commission office.
Seeing Fu Xuan again, Qingque couldn't help but hold her breath. Compared to before, Lord Fu Xuan seemed even more beautiful. More… moist.
Her graceful and slender willow-like waist was connected to a particularly alluring and voluptuous peachy rear. The ribbons of her feather-like dress fluttered, her white-stockinged, honeyed hips partially visible. The hem of her skirt extended down to cover her full, lotus-like legs in seductive white silk. The exquisite material of the stockings perfectly showcased their smoothness while also faintly revealing the color of Lord Diviner's pale leg meat, making her two white-stockinged legs appear even more captivating.
Her jade-like feet, wrapped in white silk, were lightly placed in Xianzhou-style black, ancient-style high heels. A few straps at the front and back of the shoes bound her fragrant and delicate silk-clad feet. It made Qingque recall last night, after the difficult gymnastic exercises, when sweat filled the shoes, and then Lord Diviner's white-stockinged jade feet slowly stepped into the black high heels, droplets of water clinging to the white silk and slowly seeping out along the shoe walls…
Qingque was in a daze, pulled back to reality by a sharp cry.
"Qingque, you still dare to show your face before me?"
Fu Xuan sat upright at her desk, lifting her majestic golden eyes. Her voice was soft but filled with an icy chill, as if the very air in the room had frozen.
"Heeyah, I came to apologize, didn't I? I had a bit too much fun last night and didn't really consider Lord Diviner's feelings. Here, I brought this especially for you. I hope you, in your magnanimity, will forgive your subordinate's transgression…"
"Hmph!" Fu Xuan's eyes narrowed sharply at the Qiongshi Bird Skewer Qingque offered her, and she let out a cold snort. A blush crept up her cute, fair cheeks, her delicate chin was sharp, and her cherry lips were pressed into a thin line. "Using this filthy thing to humiliate this seat again?"
"Eh? Lord Diviner, this is just an ordinary Qiongshi Bird Skewer…"
"That's what you said last night too!" Fu Xuan's eyes blazed with fire, as if she wanted to eat Qingque alive. To be backstabbed by a subordinate, and then treated like a doll, to be humiliated and played with.
Qingque scratched the back of her head. "Mmm… but, the one who fed you was Ye Feng… I was just assisting on the side."
"You— Hmph! Lord Ye Feng was merely bewitched by you!"
"Actually, I… uh…" Qingque hesitated. No matter what she said at this point, Lord Diviner wouldn't believe her.
"Well, let's just consider it a beautiful dream."
"..." Fu Xuan's gaze was fixed.
Indeed, it could only be considered a… dream. Although she now had "experience," her body was still pure and untainted. When Fu Xuan woke up, she was worried that she would be seen through by the experienced old women in her family or at the Divination Commission. They could tell if someone was a virgin with a single glance. After all, Fu Xuan came from a noble family and held a high position; she valued her reputation greatly.
Fortunately, her morning anxieties were dispelled after exchanging glances with several experienced old women. Fu Xuan confirmed her "status." Though, it seemed they all praised her for being even more beautiful today? Never mind, it was irrelevant, just polite pleasantries.
The most important thing right now was how to deal with this audacious, insubordinate, and heinous subordinate. Fu Xuan's fists clenched tightly.
Qingque felt a little flustered under her gaze. She raised her hand and pointed to her neck.
"?"
"Lord Diviner, even after returning here, the collar of servitude will not be removed."
Fu Xuan's body trembled, her face paled slightly. "Do not try to intimidate this seat."
Qingque suddenly lowered her head, her fingers slipping into her clothes and slowly lifting the hem of her top.
Fu Xuan was instantly dumbfounded, her mind buzzing. "What-what are you doing? If you dare to be impudent here, even if this seat spares you, the laws of the Xianzhou will not!"
"Lord Diviner, don't be nervous, I'm not going to eat you—look." Qingque revealed her pale lower abdomen, where a crimson pattern was engraved. It was demonic and alluring.
"This is a contract," Qingque said.
"...This-this seat is not nervous at all!" Fu Xuan, who had been acting as if she were seeing something indecent, immediately straightened her back. Fu Xuan was by no means such a "weak" person; it was just that Qingque's actions last night had been too outrageous, leaving a shadow on the cute Lord Diviner.
"Actually, the thing on Lord Diviner's neck should also be a type of contract." Qingque explained the existence of the "contract" in a roundabout way, hoping Fu Xuan would realize on her own that something was wrong with Ye Feng.
Why not just say it directly? Qingque was scared too. She was worried Ye Feng was watching her from that other world. I will always be watching you, forever, and ever… .jpg Just thinking about it was terrifying.
However, Lord Diviner completely misunderstood. She flew into a rage. "You actually placed a curse on this seat?"
"Eh?" Qingque was stunned and quickly waved her hands. "No, no! How could I possibly curse Lord Diviner? What I mean is…"
"Is what?"
"In short, I would never harm Lord Diviner."
"Hehe." Fu Xuan sneered. "Then could it be that last night was Lord Ye Feng's fault?"
"Mmm…" Qingque was speechless.
Alright, whatever Lord Diviner said, goes. The misunderstanding was too deep to be explained in a few words. At this point, even if that dog-bastard Ye Feng claimed he was an Abomination of Abundance coveting the Ambrosial Arbor, Lord Diviner would probably believe him.
Forget it. Her image didn't matter anymore.
Qingque threw up her hands, her lazy-veteran-worker temperament on full display. "Well~~ Lord Diviner, we've already been completely honest with each other and have a… deep understanding of one another… Mmm, what I mean is, let's not make things difficult for each other, shall we?"
---o---