They had no idea that Leon's incense burner was purchased from an IPC enterprise.
They only knew that the burner Leon had in the lower district—and the one he handed to Himeko when getting off the train—looked very similar to this one.
It wouldn't be made similar for no reason. As long as it was similar, the subtext was that it came from the same person.
The burner he'd shown before seemed to contain poison, specifically for guarding against ill-intentioned people.
And this one now had long been confirmed as Leon's.
Why?
Because the burner he gave to Jingliu was identical in every detail to the one in Fu Xuan's hand.
That's the advantage of God's perspective—knowing more than the characters in the game.
Stelle just felt the burner looked vaguely familiar and didn't think much of it.
She looked at Fu Xuan in puzzlement.
"Since you've found a way to counter the haze, why not have a Foxian or a Vidyadhara try it?"
"Oh, right—explain it in simple terms."
Black lines popped up on Fu Xuan's forehead; she shook her head.
"You misunderstand mara-struck. It's not a curse that only affects humans."
"Foxians are less prone to mara-struck because, though long-life species, their lifespan isn't infinite."
"Vidyadhara shed their scales to discard the old world and be reborn. In terms of mara-struck alone, long-life species are equal."
"Whether Foxian or Vidyadhara, once they accidentally touch or ingest the forbidden medicine, they can still fall to mara."
"Haven't you noticed? Among the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus prisoners captured at the temporary camp, there are both Foxians and Vidyadhara."
"Didn't notice, ah." Stelle realized.
Fu Xuan: "The Disciples of Sanctus Medicus could never imagine the General daring to invite external aid to touch the Ambrosial Arbor."
"Naturally, they wouldn't prepare countermeasures against short-life species."
Welt thoughtfully: "So that's what General Jing Yuan meant by surprise troops?"
"But I'm more curious—who is the other surprise troop?"
"Both questions you ask, this seat does not know."
Fu Xuan shook her head.
"One can only say the Stellaron Hunter's prophecy is more accurate than this seat's divination. The future Kafka seeks is coming true one by one."
Stelle: "Do we really have to act according to the Stellaron Hunters' prophecy?"
Fu Xuan: "I don't want to be manipulated either, but people walk the Paths not alone, unbound."
"Each person's choice not only shapes themselves but pushes their companions forward."
"The duty of the Master Diviner is to seek fortune and avoid calamity. I don't want my choices to slide Luofu toward a terrible future."
"Back to the point—extinguishing the cauldron without harm can only be entrusted to you."
"What say you all?"
March 7th raised the corner of her mouth: "Fine, who made it so only we can help? Stelle, Uncle Yang, let's go?"
Stelle shrugged: "No objections."
Welt nodded, silently approving March 7th's decision.
"Thank you. Once the smoke stops, I will immediately lead the army to reinforce—no letting you fight alone."
As Fu Xuan finished speaking, wisps of haze began drifting toward them.
She instinctively held her breath and raised her hand.
"Quick, take it. Bring it with you for extra safety."
Stelle nodded and took the incense burner, noticing the change in Fu Xuan's breathing, her gaze sharpening slightly.
"Master Diviner, how old are you?"
"W-Why ask this seat's age?"
"Worried you'll fall to mara."
"This seat is still young, far from the age of mara-struck. In short-life species terms, a young lady in the flower of youth."
Saying this, Fu Xuan unconsciously stepped closer to Stelle.
After smelling the richer fragrance from the burner, her heart finally settled.
"Though that's true, this seat is still… still scared to death inside."
Stelle looked suspicious: "Then why are you so sure we short-life species are unlikely to be affected and fall to mara?"
"Is that smoke really harmless to us?"
Fu Xuan's expression froze, her tone growing urgent.
"You don't trust this seat, huh!"
"Cough… If this seat says I don't know, you wouldn't immediately drop it and refuse, right?"
Stelle glared: "So you have no certainty at all?"
"Nonsense, this seat is very certain—there's no problem!"
Seeing not only Stelle but also March 7th looking at her with doubt, Fu Xuan felt the need for a deeper explanation.
"Fine, take this chance to explain mara-struck in detail."
"Physicians believe mara-struck is related to memory. Though long-life species have long lives, memory capacity has a limit."
"After centuries or millennia, the emotional threshold long-life species can feel keeps rising."
"Memories thin and weary under time's erosion, leaving only the most extreme, vivid remnants—"
"Almost certainly the dregs of painful and regretful memories. Understand?"
Stelle recalled—Leon once told her he wasn't a short-life species.
Too bad Leon wasn't here.
"March, Uncle Yang, do you know how old Leon is?"
Welt was momentarily speechless.
"Uh… I don't know. Actually, Leon himself doesn't know. He said he has no memory of it."
Fu Xuan didn't know who this Leon the three mentioned was and continued explaining:
"The fate of long-life species is to no longer feel joy or happiness—only the engraved regrets and grudges remain."
"Under these extreme emotions, the self as a person begins to collapse—that is the start of mara-struck."
"Short-life species live only a hundred-odd years—no need to worry about this."
"You three, reassured now?"
March 7th let out a breath, smiling brightly: "Reassured. Perfect—I don't remember anything anyway."
Fu Xuan: "No, you still don't get it. The cause of mara-struck isn't memory, but the emotional threshold being honed to—"
"Never mind, just take it as memory."
Stelle: "There are so many long-life races in the universe—they can't all have mara-struck, right?"
Fu Xuan: "The cosmos is vast; this seat dares not speak rashly. Perhaps… you can understand mara-struck as Abundance's curse on humanity."
"Xianzhou's mortal enemies are mostly abominations blessed by Abundance—they have no mara-struck."
Stelle pondered, then tossed the incense burner back to Fu Xuan.
"Keep this yourself. Xianzhou people need it more than we do."
"No time to delay—March, Uncle Yang, let's move."
Fu Xuan caught the burner, her eyes quite surprised.
"You're not asking about enemy numbers?"
① "No need. Heroes don't desert before battle."
② "If you say it's dangerous, we really might bail, huh?"
Ah Xian chose 1.
Stelle: "No need to ask. Heroes don't desert before battle. You wouldn't send us to our deaths."
"With Luofu's scale and reputation in the galaxy, you wouldn't do that."
"Besides, I'm strong. Mr. Welt is stronger."
"Even with a cute mascot in tow, handling that mist-producing cauldron is a matter of minutes—ah ho!"
Before Stelle finished, she took two elbow strikes from March 7th.
"You jerk, who're you calling a mascot!"