---o---
The lakeside pavilion remained, only the red rope that had hung from the wooden beams was gone.
Ye Feng and Fu Xuan sat opposite each other on a stone bench. A gentle breeze drifted by, causing Ye Feng's sleeves to flutter, making him seem as ethereal as a transcendent immortal banished to the mortal realm.
Fu Xuan's eyes were filled with turmoil, her gaze darting about. She didn't know where to place her slender, snow-white hands.
Ye Feng handed Fu Xuan a cup of Taro Boba tea. The Grand Diviner gripped the cup tightly, feeling the warmth seep through, and her heart gradually settled.
She placed the straw in her mouth, sucking gently and skillfully.
A familiar, nostalgic taste.
"They have this kind of drink here too?"
Ye Feng simply smiled without a word. But Fu Xuan could tell that he had prepared it specially for her. Just why did it taste exactly like the ones on the Xianzhou? She didn't press the question, instead quietly enjoying this rare moment of peace.
After all, back on the Xianzhou, the Grand Diviner, who always had to maintain an air of elegance and majesty, could not be seen drinking such an "immature" beverage in front of others.
The two of them briefly discussed the matter of "the Path," and both felt a sincere admiration for the other's firm dedication. It was only when discussing "ideals" and "paths" that the Grand Diviner, who had just experienced the pain of deflowerment, could communicate with Ye Feng without any distracting thoughts.
Time seemed to accelerate; the span from morning to night passed in the blink of an eye.
At last, Fu Xuan's state of mind had finally calmed.
The night deepened. Behind the curtain of light cast by the streetlamps, the brilliant Milky Way flowed.
Fu Xuan lifted her head to gaze at the myriad of stars. At the edge of the transparent violet night, a colossal and brilliant moon illuminated the entire night sky.
Under the moonlight, Fu Xuan's skin seemed to glow. Her entire being was enveloped in a layer of white light, making her appear holy and pure.
Fu Xuan murmured softly, "Who by the riverside first saw the moon? When did the moon on high first shine on man?"
"Why the sudden recitation of poetry?"
Fu Xuan's gaze was profound, and a pinkish-purple starlight flickered across the Dharma Eye on her forehead. The Grand Diviner was petite, yet her temperament was cool and detached, carrying a beauty of intellect and elegance. She spoke softly, as if questioning herself, "Such an eternal question of the ages, in my eyes, is nothing more than a calculation problem."
"A calculation problem?" Ye Feng's brow twitched. This was probably a typical "science-type" thought process, wasn't it?
Fu Xuan nodded and continued, "Many believe the universe is a vast, chaotic system where any tiny variable can greatly interfere with the results of a divination. But by conducting observations within a limited scope, collecting as much preceding data as possible, and supplementing it with a better divination method, one can calculate a more precise result. The diviners rely on this matrix to know the future by seeing the past. The Luofu cannot go a single day without it as it navigates the sea of stars. It's just that I sometimes wonder… if it has also locked away everyone's future paths and possibilities."
Fu Xuan's voice was faint, as if drifting down from the clouds. Her face shone with a holy and sublime radiance, a stark contrast to the flustered, shy, and delicate girl she had been when she first arrived.
Fu Xuan sat upright, naturally exuding an air of majesty and nobility. Her pink twin-tails, rather than making her seem childish, actually added a touch of "kindness" to her appearance.
"Thank you."
"Ah?" Why the sudden thanks? Ye Feng had only been sitting with Fu Xuan discussing "the Path." Although the term he used was rather ambiguous, Kiana would definitely understand which "path" he meant… What Ye Feng meant was, he hadn't done anything that deserved Fu Xuan's gratitude.
Because she looked truly serious and earnest at this moment.
Fu Xuan's feathered robes fluttered, making her seem as ethereal and insubstantial as if she were about to ride the wind and depart after achieving enlightenment.
She said, "I had almost lost myself on the wrong path. It was only after our conversation that I had an epiphany and rediscovered my original intention."
"Hmm…" Ye Feng looked at Fu Xuan, his brow twitching slightly as he struggled to maintain a polite smile.
This line of thinking… it's even purer, even more ridiculous than Theresa's…
Ye Feng stood up and walked to the edge of the pavilion, standing shoulder to shoulder with Fu Xuan. With his hands behind his back, he spoke in a deep tone, "Since you have already gained something, Fu Xuan, then there is no need for me to say more."
Fu Xuan looked at Ye Feng's side profile. He too was bathed in the starlight, but this time, the "feeling" was no longer as distant as before, because she discovered that Ye Feng also had a side similar to her own.
And that was "to walk firmly on the path one believes to be correct."
At this moment, an inexplicable sense of pride rose in Fu Xuan's heart, and she suddenly felt that the world had opened up before her.
Her original plan to properly "teach" Qingque a lesson was also set aside.
After all, when one's heart contains the sea of stars, how could one care about the mud at their feet?
Just as the Grand Diviner Fu Xuan reached this state of release, Qingque approached with a cheerful skip in her step, a red rope in her hand. She shot Fu Xuan a malicious grin.
The pattern on Fu Xuan's neck resonated with the one on Qingque's lower abdomen. Instantly, fragrant sweat drenched her entire body, draining her of all strength. She went limp, slumping against the railing.
"Qingque? You…"
"Lord Fu Xuan and Lord Ye Feng seemed to be having such a happy discussion about the Path. Let me join in too~"
"…What did you do to me?" Fu Xuan lifted her head, a strand of pink hair stuck messily to her face.
"What did I do? That's not important anymore. What Lord Fu Xuan should be worried about is what I'm going to do to you next." Qingque gripped the ends of the red rope and pulled it taut.
Fu Xuan's eyes widened as she looked at the familiar red rope. "Qingque, I advise you, you'd best not…"
"Jie jie jie!!" Qingque immediately made her move.
It wasn't that Qingque wanted to. But the moment she entered, she found herself holding a "little pink prop." She understood instantly. It had to be that dog-bastard Ye Feng.
It was like Chekhov's gun; if a pistol appears in the first act of a play, a bullet must be fired. It was the same here. A prop wouldn't appear for no reason. Since it had appeared, it had to be used.
This must be my pledge of allegiance, right? Otherwise, I'll anger that dog-bastard Ye Feng, won't I?
She had already offended Lord Fu Xuan. To displease that person Ye Feng now would be a terrible loss.
Besides, she was already in for a penny, she might as well be in for a pound.
And so, without any instructions, without receiving any command, Qingque came running over on her own.
Amidst a malevolent cackle, Fu Xuan was once again hung upside down from the beam. Her smooth, white-stockinged legs dangled in mid-air, the skin-tone silk tempting one to have a taste.
"…Qingque, you bastard…"
"Heeey, can't be helped. It's because I just want to see Lord Fu Xuan's cute expression~" Qingque said with a grin. The long whip made from the red rope snapped against Fu Xuan's fair and smooth back, leaving behind a sexy and alluring red mark.
It wasn't intensely painful, but it "gave rise to a hidden sorrow and a secret passion." Sweat slid down her white-stockinged thighs, gradually gathering at the tips of her toes before dripping down.
On the clean stone floor, dark little pools of water soon appeared.
Fu Xuan tensed her body in shame and indignation, craning her neck and pressing her lips together tightly.
"I'm sorry, Fu Xuan."
Ye Feng walked over to the Grand Diviner, his shadow covering her.