Unexpectedly, the capture of Kafka went incredibly smoothly. The disguised Dan Heng volunteered to escort her away with a group of Cloud Knights.
From entering the Sky-Faring Commission to the suspect Kafka's arrest... the total time was less than ten minutes.
The process was so fast that some people hadn't even reacted yet.
"Ah, Kafka seems to have the ability to control others." Stelle was a bit worried. Stellaron Hunters were all extremely dangerous figures; could the Luofu really interrogate effective information from her?
"Yes, ordinary methods won't work, but our Divination Commission has its own unique ways... Haha, don't misunderstand. The Xianzhou does not mistreat suspects, and gathering intelligence doesn't necessarily rely on violent means."
"In short, just leave it to us. I will share any intelligence gained with you without reservation."
"Since you treat me with sincerity, the Luofu naturally responds with sincerity. Thank you all for your help."
Yukong handed over the access passes for various facilities in Starskiff Haven, allowing the Astral Express crew to move freely on the Xianzhou Luofu.
"The suspect Kafka has been caught. Once again, thank you all for your generous help. I have other important matters to attend to and cannot stay long. Farewell."
Jing Yuan hung up the call, and the perspective shifted to the Seat of Divine Foresight. He looked at the dumbfounded Fu Xuan and Yanqing with a helpless smile.
"Master Diviner, you heard my conversation with them. What are your thoughts?"
Within the holographic projection, Fu Xuan was still immersed in the shock of the Stellaron Hunter's swift capture and hadn't recovered for a long time.
"Master Diviner? Fu Qing?" Jing Yuan waved his hand in front of Fu Xuan's eyes before she reacted, realizing her loss of composure.
"This Astral Express isn't simple... You ask for my thoughts? Ahem! [The Dao of Heaven is distant and obscure, the human heart is deep and subtle.] Do you want me to perform a divination for these people to determine the auspiciousness of their intentions?"
Fu Xuan hadn't dispelled her doubts; she had reason to suspect that the Astral Express and the Stellaron Hunters were in cahoots.
"That won't be necessary. The Astral Express has nothing to do with this matter; I'm quite certain of that. You and I need not delve too deeply into their intentions."
Knowing that the Aeon of [Eternity] was on the Express, if they probed any deeper, no one could bear the consequences.
He changed the subject: "Thanks to Fu Qing's wisdom and grasp of the situation, the matters that follow will depend entirely on you."
"Hmph, then why don't you abdicate sooner?" Fu Xuan put her hands on her hips.
"It is not yet time. In case of any variables, I must bear the blame in the position of General. I cannot just walk away now and trap Fu Qing in injustice."
Jing Yuan maintained his smile, and Fu Xuan continued, "If you had handed the Stellaron Hunters over to me earlier, we wouldn't have this trouble now."
Fu Xuan felt slightly weary. Now that two of the Stellaron Hunters had been caught, only the last one remained—Silver Wolf.
The key point was that Jing Yuan was still leaving her be, as if she couldn't cause any major waves.
She didn't understand. The opponent could brazenly hack into the Jade Gate and leave a string of virtual characters as a provocation. Wasn't that worth taking seriously?!
"What on earth are you thinking? Jing Yuan! Could it be... did you deliberately leave the Stellaron Hunters alone?" Fu Xuan realized something was wrong.
Jing Yuan spread his hands, his tone full of helplessness: "Me? How could I possess foresight like Fu Qing? The Cloud Knights' search was fruitless; I take responsibility for that."
"Hmph, I can understand. The affairs of the Xianzhou are complex, and it's inevitable that your energy falls short. If it weren't for me holding things up from below..." Fu Xuan really believed these words; the Luofu holding up until now was all thanks to her!
"Speaking of which, at the next [Six Charioteers] council, you should fulfill your promise to recommend me as your successor, right...?" Fu Xuan didn't forget her original intention; her goal was clear.
"Mmhmm, yes, yes, I know. I still have important matters. I'll leave the rest to the [exceptionally talented] Fu Qing." Jing Yuan casually said a few words to brush her off.
"Sigh~ There are too many things to worry about, and that fellow Qingque is nowhere to be found... Should we post a missing person notice?"
"That won't be necessary."
After hanging up the call, Jing Yuan felt a bit sorry for Fu Xuan. She was still kept in the dark by the mist of [Eternity], unable to uncover the truth.
"The troubles on the Xianzhou, the documents on the desk, the weeds in the flowerbed—only these three things can never be completely cleaned up no matter how hard one tries."
While Jing Yuan was lamenting, the Cloud Knight Lieutenant standing beside him finally had a chance to speak: "General, Master Diviner Fu's desire to take your position is known to everyone on the street." Even someone of his age could see it.
"She is very capable, but her temperament still needs some polishing. When her straightforward nature is smoothed out, I will probably consider retiring." Speaking of retirement, Adrian's figure appeared in Jing Yuan's mind.
In terms of retiring and slacking off, HE had more experience...
Jing Yuan never expected that the Aeon of [Eternity] would leave HIS own Church and come to the Xianzhou Alliance to recuperate. The thought process of an Aeon was indeed unique, not something ordinary people could understand.
"Regarding the Stellaron, it is troublesome yet not troublesome. The escaped person has been caught. As long as the General gives the order, I, Yanqing, will immediately solve your problems." Yanqing puffed out his chest, his words full of confidence.
"I know you are anxious, wanting to do something and accomplish something, but now is not the time. If you wish to obtain the title of [Sword Champion], you must not act rashly, especially engaging in combat with heavy criminals."
"Does the General think I would lose to that [Silver Wolf]?" Yanqing knew about the Stellaron Hunters. He couldn't say for others, but dealing with a hacker should be simple, right?
"Yanqing, even with the guidance of a famous teacher, you must have patience. Governing the peace of the Xianzhou is different from swordsmanship; only by proceeding slowly can one gain momentum. Besides, the hidden hand in this chess game has not yet been revealed..."
"There is a mystery. As long as it remains unsolved, this game of chess can only remain in a stalemate. That is the [Stellaron]. How did it evade notice, bypassing the Sky-Faring Commission's checks and the Divination Commission's deductions, and where was it placed?" Jing Yuan pondered. Seeing the General in such a dilemma, Yanqing recommended himself again:
"I think the fastest way is to catch that remaining Stellaron Hunter and send her to Master Diviner Fu for interrogation."
"By the way, General, listening to what you said earlier... Teacher Adrian has returned, hasn't he? Then it's even simpler. I'll go find him right now..."
Jing Yuan held back Yanqing who was about to leave. Why was this child so impatient?
"Once the overall situation is settled, there will naturally be a place for you to use your skills."
"However... if you go to seek advice from your mentor, I won't stop you. Just be careful not to say the wrong thing."
Jing Yuan didn't even give a warning, but Yanqing had accidentally found that milk tea shop on his own and seen Adrian fast asleep with an eye mask on.
It couldn't be helped; seeing such a dilapidated shop, anyone would be unable to resist the curiosity to investigate.
The high-spirited Cloud Knight Lieutenant, the strongest swordsman on the Xianzhou [Luofu], a young man bursting with a sense of justice—naturally, he wouldn't sit idly by. He immediately mistook Adrian for a bandit who had seized the shop while the owner was away.
After kind words failed, the other party insisted that this was his shop but couldn't produce any evidence, which solidified Yanqing's inner speculation.
From Adrian's perspective, it was truly helpless.
Instead of waiting for troublemakers from the IPC, he got a local from the Luofu who insisted he wasn't the shop owner.
Going with Yanqing would cause a lot of trouble, but seeing that he was about to make a move, for the safety of the shop, Adrian reluctantly parted with a cup of Immortal's Delight Tea.
"Oh ho... trying to bribe me..."
Adrian: ...
With no other choice, after letting Yanqing experience the difference in strength and giving him a verbal lecture, Yanqing finally understood he had misunderstood Adrian.
"Don't jump to conclusions blindly. Didn't your General teach you this principle?"
"Sorry." Yanqing hurriedly apologized, his attention entirely focused on the moves Adrian just used.
Wait... how did he use a milk tea cup as a flying sword?
After voicing his doubts, Adrian gave only one answer:
"As long as you wish it, anything... can be a [sword]."
A young man loving swords is only natural. Reflected in the Xianzhou swords Yanqing collected was a dream:
To become the best on the Luofu, no, the best on the Xianzhou; to claim the title of Luofu's "Sword Champion," and even the Alliance's "Sword Preeminent."
Unexpectedly, such a master was hidden on the Luofu. After witnessing Adrian's strength, Yanqing made a prompt decision to take Adrian as his master.
The next second, he was thrown out, sword and all.
Adrian didn't completely reject him. Before closing the door, he gave him a cup of milk tea: "It's simple. Just drink more Immortal's Delight Tea."
Yanqing was stunned, staring at the milk tea in his hand, lost in thought.
Drinking this... will make me stronger?
...
"Don't worry, General!"
Watching Yanqing's departing back, Jing Yuan was filled with emotion:
"It's my fault. When a young man stays home for too long, he's bound to cause some trouble. 'Three feet of water hidden in a box for so long, when can its sharp edge be tested?' Hehe..."
"I only fear that the setbacks he will suffer this time will be greater than his boundless enthusiasm..."
Sigh~ I hope the thing I worry about most doesn't happen.