"By the way, Marshal, General Leon said he wants to kill Shuhu."
Jing Yuan nodded in agreement with Hua's approval of Leon.
Indeed, after all, it was Leon.
Things that others could not do, he could.
[...Shuhu?]
Hua did not expect this name to be mentioned so suddenly.
[Why bring up old history all of a sudden?]
"Because of Jingliu," Jing Yuan answered truthfully. "Although General Leon shattered Jingliu's plan, he simply hopes she can walk the correct path. He has personally experienced the power of an Aeon, so he understands that her plan was merely a waste of effort. If she continued to be obsessed, the only thing she would sacrifice would be herself."
Jing Yuan took a deep breath and spoke seriously. "He didn't understand how the Sword Champion who once served the Alliance could become so mad and obsessed. But after a confrontation, he understood."
"After realizing it was Shuhu, anger rose from his heart."
He said that the Alliance had made so many sacrifices for that wild dog—some died, some went mad—yet in the end, He was still allowed to drag out an ignoble existence relying on 'The Abundance'.
Although Jing Yuan added a bit of flavor to the story, what he said was indeed the truth.
"It is truly detestable and hateful."
Jing Yuan sighed, acting as if General Leon was constantly concerned about the Xianzhou Alliance.
[With righteousness and deep hatred reaching the heavens; he is truly worthy of being the Reignbow's disciple.]
Hua was slightly surprised upon hearing this. regarding matters of the Xianzhou Alliance, she had always thought to let him participate less and let them solve it themselves. Because the Xianzhou Alliance had nothing to give Leon, they naturally had no face to actively seek his help.
Status? His own strength was the best status.
Protection of influence? Don't joke; whether it was the Corporation or the Geniuses, there were plenty of people rushing to curry favor with him. Rather than saying the Xianzhou Alliance protected him, it was better to say he protected the Xianzhou Alliance.
What the Xianzhou Alliance could give Leon was only an attitude.
An attitude of standing with him through thick and thin no matter when, and standing on his side helping family over reason no matter what happened.
The relationship between the Xianzhou Alliance and Leon was actually very fragile. The connection between the two was entirely formed by the bridge that was 'Lan'.
If 'Lan' were gone.
If the Xianzhou Alliance did not follow 'Lan', and was not a position protected by 'Lan'.
Then there likely wouldn't be any intersection between the two.
Precisely because the relationship between the Xianzhou Alliance and him was unequal, Hua generally wouldn't think of going out of her way to trouble him. Being good to him was hoping he could give the Xianzhou Alliance a hand in moments of life and death.
She didn't count on him for those trivial daily matters.
As a result, she didn't expect Leon to have such a broad mind, actively proposing to exact vengeance for them. Hua was truly moved; this meant he had placed the Xianzhou Alliance in his heart.
[General Leon has heart; please thank him for me.]
Hua gathered her thoughts and spoke to Jing Yuan.
[There is no need to ask me about this matter, and there is no need to report to me for similar situations in the future. I trust him. Everything shall be done according to General Leon's will. If anyone obstructs or refuses to cooperate along the way, and if it is not for a valid reason... banish that person to the Ten-Lords Commission for half a month of labor and repentance.]
In order to repay his kindness, Hua granted him enormous authority.
"Jing Yuan will keep the Marshal's words in mind."
Jing Yuan responded respectfully.
[En. Then, let's talk about the final issue.]
Hua was already aware of Jingliu's plan. Since Leon had already resolved it peacefully, there was no need to pay excessive attention to it anymore. Right now, only one question remained.
[Why was the Lightning Lord not taken back?]
Hua asked this final question.
"I wonder how the Marshal and the Ten-Lords plan to deal with my master?"
Jing Yuan hesitated for a moment, but in the end, he did not speak his thoughts directly.
[Jingliu has merit with the Alliance, but the Ten Unpardonable Sins she committed are also facts. Of course, Mara-Struck belongs to special circumstances, and special circumstances naturally are treated specially. Since she has now returned from Mara, she should naturally be viewed with the identity of a normal person.]
[Jing Yuan, I know your thoughts.]
Hua knew he hoped Jingliu could obtain a good ending.
The Imbibitor Lunae Sedition, in the final analysis, was Shuhu's fault. Except for Baiheng who died in battle.
Dan Feng reincarnated and could be considered alive; although Yingxing became an Abundance Abomination, he also counted as alive. As for Jing Yuan, there was no need to mention him.
Jingliu falling into Mara and being killed was excusable. But now that she had returned from Mara, if execution was still the ending, that would be a bit too unfair.
[I will propose it to the Ten-Lords. Unless something unexpected happens, the Alliance should give Jingliu a chance. A Mara-Struck observation period.]
[During this observation period, although she also has the right to move freely, I'm afraid she will have to stay within the Shackling Prison for the majority of the time for now. If within this period, she can truly stabilize her Mara-Struck state for a long time without reoffending...]
Hua spoke the punishment the Xianzhou Alliance would likely give Jingliu at a moderate pace.
[Then after the observation period passes, the Alliance will grant her the opportunity to enjoy her old age in peace on the Luofu. If she still wishes to serve the Alliance and go to the battlefield to kill enemies, the Alliance also welcomes her return significantly.]
Hua continued speaking.
[You know it yourself. Jingliu's age is only slightly younger than Elder Yan, not to mention she has already fallen into Mara once, although there was the reason of being stimulated by the Imbibitor Lunae Sedition involved. But her mind has likely long reached its limit.]
[It is hard to guarantee whether her state this time is a temporary terminal lucidity or permanent.]
The longer one lived, the easier it was to fall into Mara-Struck.
Generally, Xianzhou natives could hold on for no more than the range of eight hundred years at most. And Jingliu was born between Star Calendar years 6000 and 6300, when the Cangcheng Xianzhou still existed. Although it hasn't been 2000 years since Cangcheng fell, it has still been more than one thousand seven hundred years.
Even looking at the entire Xianzhou Alliance, the only person older than Jingliu was Huaiyan. Although those with resolute minds could support themselves for a bit more time, they couldn't drag out an ignoble existence for too long; no one could escape the fate of Mara-Struck.
Even Hua was no exception.
"I know..."
Jing Yuan showed no joy or anger, replying with a business-like attitude. "Thank you, Marshal, for willing to give my master a chance."
Hua's meaning was already very clear.
If Jingliu could pass the observation period, the sins on her body couldn't be said to be written off, but at least they wouldn't affect her normal life. Conversely, if she couldn't pass the observation period and fell into Mara again midway, she could only be handled according to the judgment of Mara-Struck. Which meant death.
Jing Yuan knew this was already the best ending.
"To tell you the truth, the reason Jing Yuan delayed taking back the Lightning Lord was actually because I wanted to abdicate to the worthy."
After getting an affirmative reply, Jing Yuan answered Hua's previous question.
He could see that Jingliu had lost her direction now. She urgently needed an anchor that could tie her down. If she continued to be lost, she would fall into Mara again sooner or later. Jing Yuan wanted to use the position of General, the myriad people of the Luofu, and Bailu to tie her down.
"But looking at it now, there probably isn't this chance."
Unfortunately, it was impossible before Jingliu passed the observation period. This also meant that the probability of her falling into Mara had greatly increased.
All Jing Yuan could do next was let Bailu visit Jingliu more often. As for whether this observation period could be survived smoothly, it was up to fate.
[En, the Commanding Spirit bestowed by the Reignbow cannot fall into the hands of someone whose safety is unclear.]
This was not child's play; Hua certainly couldn't agree. She had absolute control over the Lightning Lord; even if Jingliu didn't want to hand it over, she could take it back.
"If my master can pass the observation period, I wonder if there would be this chance then?"
Jing Yuan implicitly asked for Hua's opinion.
[You shouldn't talk to me about this kind of thing; you should go talk to General Leon.]
Hua smiled, pointing out the path for him.
As the Marshal, her every move implicated the future of the Xianzhou Alliance. She absolutely could not do things arbitrarily. Even if she agreed to Jing Yuan's request, it would be useless, as a bunch of higher-ups would definitely not agree. But if Leon spoke, everything would be different. Whoever dared not to agree, Hua would directly slap the label of disobeying the Reignbow on them.
"True." Jing Yuan chuckled.
[After General Leon leaves, bring the two of them to the Fanghu.]
Hua handed down the final instructions.
[General Yao Guang wants to question them. Only if there are no problems after questioning can their freedom be returned.]
"Yes." Jing Yuan accepted the order.
[En, get busy then.]
With that, Hua hung up the communication.
"Jing Yuan, it's not easy for you either."
Huaiyan, who had watched the whole process from the side, spoke with a sighing tone while stroking his beard.
"I made Elder Yan laugh."
"This old man can't help you."
Huaiyan sighed melancholically. Whether it was the Marshal or the General, one was always involuntary in this position.
"The Marshal is right; if you have any issues, you should go find General Leon. Among the several Generals, except for that lass who just took over Yueyu's shift, you have the best relationship with him."
Huaiyan's tone carried a trace of envy.
"He shouldn't mind giving you a hand."
Jing Yuan smiled and shook his head. "General Leon treating me as a friend is Jing Yuan's honor. He has already helped me a lot; how can I be so shameless as to trouble him time and time again?"
Whether it was fishing Dan Heng out of prison or this incident with Jingliu, Leon had helped him solve them. Without him, Jing Yuan could only be like he was during the Imbibitor Lunae Sedition back then—unable to do anything.
One must be content; he had already received enough care. Leon helping him was a favor; not helping was his duty. Jing Yuan absolutely could not trouble him again this time.
Meanwhile, on Leon's side.
After parting with Jing Yuan, he began—to look for the tracks of the Golden Progeny.
"Is Leon dear done with work?"
"En." Leon nodded.
"Eh, is Sister Hyacine leaving?"
Bailu, who was having a great time playing with Ikka, couldn't bear for Hyacine to leave.
"Yes, I have to go meet up with everyone."
Hyacine chuckled softly, thanking her for the guidance during this period. "Many thanks to the Dragon Lady today; Hyacine really benefited a lot. I learned much knowledge I had never seen before. The pharmacology outside Amphoreus is indeed exquisite."
Hyacine spoke from the bottom of her heart. The medicine on the Luofu was completely different from the medicine she had learned since childhood, yet there were many common points. Hyacine was very happy to have come out to see the world with Leon this time. Digesting the things learned on the Luofu, her ability as a healer would definitely improve greatly.
"It's okay if you want to stay a while longer."
Leon indicated that he could go find the others first and come back to pick up Hyacine at the end.
"No, although learning knowledge beside the Dragon Lady is also very happy, I still value the time with you, and with everyone, more."
In Hyacine's heart, nothing could surpass the time spent with everyone on the Astral Express. The gold content of a community of shared destiny.
"Wu... alright."
Bailu reluctantly handed Ikka over.
"But Ikka can be temporarily lent to the Dragon Lady, oh."
Seeing her reluctant look, Hyacine spoke understandingly.
"Really? Thank you, Sister Hyacine, I will definitely cherish it!"
As if she was just waiting for this sentence, Bailu immediately hugged Ikka back into her arms.
"Uh, it's lent, not given, okay."
Hyacine sweated a little, but seeing the Dragon Lady's happy appearance, she couldn't say much more.
'Forget it, anyway, Ikka will come back on its own when hungry.'
Thinking this, she left the place with Leon.
Ikka: No love left, is that it? Hyacine, compared to me who is with you day and night, you still chose that man? I'm being cucked!
Xianzhou Luofu, Divination Commission.
This was a place on the Xianzhou specifically dedicated to a board game leisure entertainment method named Celestial Jade.
Leon had inextricable connections with the Golden Progeny. So, finding them was not a difficult task.
He was currently preparing to find them one by one with Hyacine based on distance. This place was the first stop for the two.
"Rare, Qingque, this child actually met an evenly matched opponent!"
"Who is on the competition stage!"
"Haha, can't see, right, little shorty!"
"No, why are all those who play tiles shorties?"
"Don't drag Master Diviner Fu into this rhythm."
"I said all those who play tiles are shorties, you told me not to drag Master Diviner Fu into it. Doesn't your meaning imply that Master Diviner Fu is not only lacking in height but also terrible at playing tiles, an old fogey who can't keep up with the trend?"
From the sea of onlookers, one could tell they had definitely encountered a splendid board game confrontation. Just like whenever there are two old men playing chess in the park, there will definitely be onlookers explaining and pointing out the state of affairs beside them.
"Hey, I can't pretend I didn't hear that complex sentence. Careful or I'll file a complaint against you all with the Master Diviner!"
The girl they called Qingque replied thus after shouting 'Pong'.
"You're quite capable, little girl."
Qingque looked with admiring eyes at the blue-haired little girl directly in front of her, who was of equal height.
"Veni, vidi, vici."
Cerydra smiled calmly, replying with only three words.
I came, I saw, I conquered!
Three words spoken, she successfully settled this game with an unstoppable winning hand.
"That strong? How come I haven't seen you before?"
Qingque was puzzled. She had played Celestial Jade for so many years and had met almost all the experts. She dared to guarantee that there was absolutely no opponent of the same height as her in this line of work.
So, which corner did this blue-haired little girl wearing a jade crown pop out from?
____
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