Zero was confused, "Huh?"
Jingliu, the Swordmaster of Luofu.
White hair, red eyes, cold temperament, outstanding looks.
She was a high mountain flower, untouchable by ordinary people, only to be admired from afar.
If this were a gacha game, then her smile would definitely be that top-tier SSR you could only get after maxing out both soft and hard pity.
She rarely showed any other emotions. Only a few people had ever caught a glimpse of expressions on Jingliu's face beyond that icy mask.
Zero considered himself one of those exceptions.
But not because of himself, only because of Baiheng's influence.
He and Jingliu originally had no real connection.
After all, one was a peerless genius whose swordsmanship left everyone else in the dust.
The other was just a salary thief, muddling through in the Divination Commission, always slacking off.
Totally unrelated, like poles apart. Even if red rain fell from the heavens, if they happened to cross paths, they'd only exchange a stiff nod.
But unfortunately, Jingliu's best friend Baiheng was a total extrovert, an extrovert so extreme, it was terrifying.
A social terrorist to social introverts.
Words alone can't capture Baiheng's personality.
If not for the relatively conservative ways of the Xianzhou people, Baiheng would definitely be riding every trend.
In the present day, she'd probably be the type to lead the birthday song, hold up banners at the train station, and shout people's names into a megaphone, the ultimate E-type.
Maybe even think the scene wasn't lively enough, and drag along ten or twenty people to join the celebration.
After picking someone up, she wouldn't care if they were overwhelmed. She'd keep shouting into the loudspeaker, "The young master has arrived, make way, make way!"
And finally, she'd lead the group away in style, leaving others staring, utterly confused.
Baiheng's free-spirited flamboyance had a sort of chaotic beauty that took no account of how introverts felt. For someone like Zero, a lazy, anti-social shut-in, she was the type he'd retreat three steps from and respectfully avoid.
But by chance, the two of them met.
That day, Zero had planned to rot at home during his day off, but unwilling to waste such a fine day, he decided to imitate "Morax".
After wandering around for a bit, he ended up at a tavern. Only upon asking did he learn it was reservation-only, reservations had to be made at least 48 system hours in advance.
Zero immediately decided to go home.
But Baiheng, waiting outside with Jingliu for a table, warmly invited him to join.
After chatting and drinking together, Baiheng smiled brightly, as if they were long-lost friends. They exchanged contact info and even set up another drinking meet.
One thing led to another, and the three of them got familiar.
Strictly speaking, it was mostly two of them.
During their conversations, most of the talking was between Baiheng and Zero. Jingliu said very little.
If this were a crosstalk act, Baiheng was undoubtedly the lively joker, while Jingliu was the straight man forced into business against her will.
But when the mood was good, Jingliu's face would show a faint, almost unnoticeable smile.
Zero, 'That's like… two pixels. Couldn't add one more.'
In Zero's eyes, even if he and Jingliu weren't close friends, they were at least acquaintances without ill will toward each other, right?
So what did the Commissioner mean by that?
Used to slacking, Zero spaced out as he thought, absentmindedly wearing a clear but stupid expression.
Commissioner Xiao Lin seemed hesitant, his tone reluctant, before handing him a paper box, "…See for yourself."
"What could possibly require you, Commissioner, to personally deliver it?"
Zero raised his hand and took the box. The packaging was refined. The sender, Starskiff Haven. The recipient, Divination Commission, Zero.
Zero was baffled. He hadn't ordered anything to the Divination Commission?
He looked it over carefully, but nothing seemed odd.
"This delivery, what's the problem?"
Xiao Lin, "Packages coming into the Divination Commission need to be inspected. That much you know, right?"
Zero nodded.
Even if someone like him had managed to get in, it was still an official government bureau, strict about details.
Not only packages, office supplies, too, had to be inspected.
Everyone in the Commission knew this rule well. Other than the ultimate workaholics, nobody ever listed the Divination Commission as their delivery address.
Seeing Zero holding the parcel, Xiao Lin continued, "Inside is a remnant limb of an Abundance abomination..."
Zero, "…"
He slowly lowered his head, put the box down, frowning deeply in puzzlement.
Xiao Lin seemed disappointed, his tone carrying dissatisfaction, "That's your reaction? This is a remnant limb of an Abundance abomination!"
Zero, 'Doesn't compare to the Hunt's arrow… almost got me conscripted on the spot back then…'
Trying to steer things back, he asked, "Then why… would you ask me about my relationship with Jingliu?"
Xiao Lin said, "After finding this parcel, I personally checked the sender. It was Swordmaster Jingliu."
Zero slowly typed out a question mark.
"So, you two have some kind of grudge? To the point that… she'd use such an extreme method to threaten you?"
Who would dare provoke Jingliu? Whoever did would have weeds growing three meters tall over their grave.
How would he dare? If there really were a grudge, Zero would already be a dead fish, okay.
He was just an ordinary office drone. Without cheats, a single sword from Jingliu and he'd be kneeling, begging for his life…
The corner of Zero's mouth twitched. Trying to speak on behalf of the Cloud Knights, veterans who cut down enemies like vegetables, he hesitated, "Could it be… a Cloud Knight custom? Like, bringing back Abundance abominations as souvenirs?"
Xiao Lin gave him a withering look, "If you were on the battlefield, would you bring back enemy limbs as souvenirs?"
Zero, "…"
"Settle any conflicts sooner rather than later."
Patting his shoulder, Xiao Lin said this with heavy meaning, then walked away.
Once his boss was out of sight, Zero casually pulled out his jade communication device. Following his principle of "every second spent slacking is profit," he shamelessly messaged his one Cloud Knight friend.
His name was Jing Yuan, a few years younger than Zero.
Back when they were both at the academy, they'd often run into each other.
Jing Yuan was extremely outgoing, able to chat with anyone, the complete opposite of Zero, who avoided socializing whenever possible.
Introverted shut-ins survive socially thanks to extroverts picking them up, and so the two of them had become pretty decent friends.
Right now, as a Cloud Knight Lieutenant, Jing Yuan was Zero's only connection in the Cloud Knights.
And, just his luck, he also happened to be Jingliu's disciple.
[Zero: Hey, do you Cloud Knights ever bring back souvenirs after fighting abominations?'
Maybe Jing Yuan was also slacking off, because the reply came quickly.
[Jing Yuan: Bring what? Abundance abominations?]
Zero was shaken to his core.
'So it was a souvenir!'
He typed again.
[Zero: So Abundance abominations are considered souvenirs?]
[Jing Yuan: …There's nothing on the battlefield. Nobody brings anything back, let alone giving abominations as souvenirs.]
[Zero: …]
Zero fell silent.
[Jing Yuan: Actually, wait, yeah, there was this one weirdo. A Cloud Knight once went to great lengths to bring back an abomination's limb, said he wanted to give it to his girlfriend as a gift…]
[Jing Yuan: LOL. Just earlier I heard him crying, said he got dumped.]
[Jing Yuan: …Hold on?]
On the other end, Jing Yuan suddenly got noisy, spamming a bunch of horrified cat memes.
[Jing Yuan: You received one?]
[Jing Yuan: That's not a souvenir… that's a threat.]
[Jing Yuan: Who the hell did you offend??]
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