"I… I'll decide tomorrow."
After much struggle, the restaurant owner ultimately couldn't bring himself to continue.
Though he had obtained the [Purple Resuscitation Pill], he had already lost four million Credits in just a few minutes.
And with the shop's system voice announcing twice in a row—'Purchase received, two million Credits!'—his heart still bled.
Of course, he too longed for the Aeon's gaze, for miraculous treasures… but clearly, luck wasn't on his side.
Fine. Tomorrow I'll find a diviner. Mysticism must have a way to break bad luck.
Thus, Sylvester's first official customer left the shop with his items.
But the moment he stepped outside, a crowd surrounded him.
Eager voices pressed in: "Sir, don't go so fast! Here, have some SoulGlad—I brought it back myself from Penacony!"
Unfortunately, this well-meaning offer hit the worst possible nerve.
The restaurateur's face darkened like an ancient alchemical cauldron blackened with ash.
Was this guy eavesdropping just now? Out here mocking me?
"No, thanks." He pushed away the soda, scowling. "Say what you want. I still have real business to run."
"Hehe, straightforward man. We just want to ask—what did you pull? Did you make your money back?"
At that, the surrounding eyes burned brighter with curiosity.
"I pulled four trash cans. Two were useless. One was a lost recipe. The most valuable is this pill—it can save a Pathstrider's life."
"Mmm, the aura's thick—surely a high-grade elixir. Must be worth at least a million Credits, maybe more if auctioned."
"Maybe. But the Alchemy Commission produces them regularly. Hard to say if he'll profit."
"So really, only one valuable thing out of four? That's still a loss."
"Loss or not, that's luck. Hardly the makings of an Emanator."
"Exactly. No such thing as pie from the sky—just survivor's bias!"
…
The restaurateur's tale quickly spread. Disappointment echoed through the crowd, crushing the hopes of ordinary onlookers.
Those who had dreamed of instant fortune gave up at last—such miracles clearly weren't for everyone.
But the wealthy still raised their Jade Abacuses high, reveling in their reckless spending, eager for a single glance of mercy from Lady Fortuna.
Meanwhile, Fu Xuan had already returned to her loyal Divination Commission.
"Whew, now draw, drawn the winning tile from the wall bloom! I win!"
In the parlor, Qingque sprawled on the sofa, hugging a salted-fish pillow, arm raised in triumph as she finished her online match.
"Friend, I won big today!"
After pocketing her winnings in the Celestial Jade app, Qingque took a long sip through her straw, delight shining in her eyes.
She glanced at the clock. Just enough time for one more game before quitting time.
"Mm, with the Diviner handling things at the Seat of Divine Foresight, the Commission's atmosphere is so much nicer… huh? Out already?"
Her straw met empty cup. Without looking, she reached out for the teapot.
"Looking for this?"
A soft, familiar voice drifted by, pouring her a fresh cup of tea.
Qingque sipped happily. "Mmm, perfect, perfect—wait."
Recognition struck like thunder. She froze.
It was her.
She instantly quit the game, her Jade Abacus chiming with that once-hated voice: "Friend, you have lost miserably!"
But now, even that mechanical tone felt oddly comforting. She'd gladly lose a hundred rounds, if only it meant not facing the person behind her.
Stiff as a puppet, she rose, trying not to look back. She shuffled forward a step. No response.
Stay calm, stay calm. Qingque coached herself, feigning composure.
But just as she neared the door five minutes later, Fu Xuan's patience snapped.
"Qingque! You're slacking again!"
"Ahhh! Master Diviner, you're finally back! Qingque missed you so much!"
In a blur, Qingque zipped across the room, dropping to her knees at Fu Xuan's feet, sincerity dripping from every word.
Fu Xuan, teapot in one hand, the other at her waist, glared down at her wayward subordinate in silence.
Qingque dared not meet her gaze, sweat pouring.
Am I about to be fired? With no severance pay? Am I doomed to beg in Aurum Alley? To live in a trash can?!
Seeing her terrified expression, Fu Xuan grit her teeth—then sighed. "Just this once."
"Eh?" Qingque's jaw dropped.
Was that… mercy? From the Diviner herself?
Fu Xuan frowned. "What? Do you want to outright resign?"
She pinched the bridge of her nose. How did I end up with such a brilliant yet infuriating subordinate?
"N-no, never! Qingque will always be Master Diviner's most loyal servant!"
"Good." Fu Xuan nodded. "Then notify General Jing Yuan. Tell him it concerns the Xianzhou's fate—we must convene at once."
"Uh…" Qingque hesitated, pointing at the clock. "But, Master Diviner, it's nearly time to clock-out. Isn't it rude to disturb the General now?"
Fu Xuan's veins nearly popped.
She seized Qingque's cheeks and pulled. "Slacking to this degree? Luofu now faces a crisis, and you don't even know?!"
She could hardly believe it. The net was ablaze with the news, yet Qingque had managed to remain blissfully oblivious.
Fu Xuan even pictured it—the Luofu crashing, the Xianzhou destroyed, and still, in the void, a cheerful voice echoing: 'Hu! I won!'
A nightmare beyond imagining.
"Ahhh! Stop pulling! I love overtime! Especially with you, Master Diviner!!"
After venting, Fu Xuan sent Qingque off on her errand.
The girl slumped out, face twisted with misery. I knew it—no way she'd let me off so easily.
"Ha…" Fu Xuan sighed. Qingque's talent was undeniable. Her perfectly balanced test scores proved she was a rare genius. But her playful attitude was maddening.
On the desk, Fu Xuan laid out three Curios: [Teleportation Scroll], [Zafkiel's Sixth Bullet - Vav], [Imagine Breaker].
Each was vital, though of differing grades.
She herself could use the first two—but the last troubled her.
She was already a Pathstrider, deep in her path. Using this would waste a potential new warrior for the Luofu.
Yet who else could wield it?
Becoming a Pathstrider required exceptional strength and unwavering conviction.
By definition, those who hadn't ascended were less capable.
Unless… they were still young, not yet ready.
But finding such a candidate? Easier said than done.
"Master Diviner, General Jing Yuan is on the line!"
Qingque hurried back, setting a projector on the desk.
Jing Yuan's familiar, lazy face appeared in the hologram.
"Well, well. For Fu Qing to contact me first, this must be urgent."
Fu Xuan spoke gravely: "General, you've surely heard the news. The Luofu requires your immediate return."
Jing Yuan chuckled. "Haha, isn't Master Diviner a bit too tense? I saw the livestream too. A gun that rewinds time is a rare treasure indeed. But surely you can handle it?"
Fu Xuan smiled bitterly. "If that were so, why would I reach out? This concerns the future of the entire Xianzhou. We cannot speak of it over unsecured comms—I must meet you face-to-face."
Her expression sharpened. "How much longer will you linger in Zhuming? You know as well as I do, the Interastral Peace Corporation will already be moving. They have a hundred ways to bleed Sylvester dry and seize his shop."
"The simplest? Manipulate the media, ruin his reputation, choke his sales. When he's desperate, force a buyout. They could even paint themselves as saviors, rescuing a small shop from false rumors, polishing their 'clean business' image in the process."
Against such predators, one little shop had no chance.
Unless Sylvester really is running a zero-cost business… but impossible.
"We must act now. Every delay, even a single system hour, raises the risk."
But Jing Yuan seemed unmoved. "Haha. If you insist. Then I'll just stay a little longer."
Fu Xuan's tone grew sharp. "Forgive me, General, but you should depart at once."
"Ah, but I can't." His voice carried a hint of regret.
"What?! Were you ambushed?" Fu Xuan shot to her feet. So soon? Have they already struck at our General? What kind of foe dares such audacity?
"Qingque!"
"Here!" Snapping to attention, Qingque straightened.
"Notify the Seat of Foresight! Mobilize! We march to rescue General Jing Yuan!"
"Eh, wait, wait!" Jing Yuan waved his hands. "Master Diviner, the Starskiff Haven is overcrowded. Queues everywhere. Even if you must, call the Sky-Faring Commission. The Cloud Knights aren't trained for traffic control."
"…Huh?" Fu Xuan blinked. Then it hit her.
"You're already back on the Luofu?!"