『 [ On the contrary, it is I who should be thanking you. ]
Jing Yuan said with a smile.
[ Thank me? ]
Lingsha was somewhat surprised by Jing Yuan's words.
[ What I seek and do is nothing more than having a clear conscience. ]
[ But in the long life of a long-life species, can one truly have no regrets? ]
[ Miss Lingsha was implicated by her master's punishment and had no choice but to travel far from home, completely ignorant of the reasons behind it. ]
[ Now, the situation in the Alchemy Commission is complex and tangled. The Alliance sending you here to shoulder this thankless task has saved me a lot of worry. ]
[ Should I not thank you? ]
Jing Yuan asked in return.
[ …As expected of the Divine Foresight, you don't even leave an opening for someone to come and demand accountability. ]
[ Let me make this clear beforehand: the Alliance sent me here to handle official business properly, not to make me choose a side. ]
Lingsha explained.
[ It doesn't matter whose side Miss Lingsha wants to stand on. After all, you and I both stand on the side of the Alliance, don't we? ]
[ Let's go. ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Fu Xuan: "The General is indeed well-versed in the art of conversation."
Fu Xuan: "After all, he has lived for several hundred years longer."
Jing Yuan: "Hahaha, Lady Fu flatters me too much."
Jing Yuan: "This field of study is profound and vast; I only know a mere smattering of it."
Lingsha: "I agree very much with the General's last sentence."
Lingsha: "Perhaps our positions differ, but we both stand on the side of the Alliance."
Lingsha: "Everything we do is also for the sake of the Alliance."
March 7th: "Seeing the core members of the Xianzhou Alliance united, I can't help but breathe a huge sigh of relief."
Yanqing: "I feel the same as Miss March!"
....
『 The three of them continued downward, arriving at the plaza in front of the passage to the delve where Hoolay was imprisoned.
[ The Mara-struck who died here… do not seem to be prisoners who escaped from the Shackling Prison. ]
The ground here was littered with corpses.
Lingsha stepped forward, examined several of the Mara-struck soldiers, and frowned slightly.
[ How can you tell? ]
Regarding Lingsha's conclusion, Jing Yuan inquired.
[ These Mara-struck are fully equipped with armor and weapons. Clearly, they did not join the battle in a rush. ]
Lingsha said after some thought.
[ That Yaoqing envoy named Moze said before that there were two groups of prisoners who came to break into the jail. ]
[ Aside from the Borisin, there was also a group of Mara-struck who could conceal their tracks. ]
[ The people he referred to should be these ones. ]
Dan Heng recalled Moze's previous words.
[ Conceal their tracks? ]
Hearing this term, Jing Yuan's expression changed slightly.
[ Indeed, I have fought against these Mara-struck. They used Cloudhymn magic to shroud their figures. ]
[ Without careful observation, no one would notice their presence. ]
Dan Heng revealed the method used by these Mara-struck to turn invisible.
[ Mr. Dan Heng once warned me to handle the Vidyadhara Preceptors' interference in the Alchemy Commission with caution. ]
[ Could it be… ]
At this moment, Lingsha seemed to have realized something.
[ Did Miss Lingsha see through something? ]
Seeing Lingsha in deep thought, Jing Yuan inquired.
[ First, judging by the route the Borisin jailbreakers used to escape the Shackling Prison, someone must have leaked the layout of the Shackling Prison to them. ]
[ During the construction of the Shackling Prison, the Vidyadhara clan contributed greatly. ]
[ Second, the disguised Borisin need to take medicine to maintain their Foxian appearance. ]
[ Clearly, there are still remnants in the Alchemy Commission secretly helping them. ]
[ Third, to forge official identities for the lurking Borisin, it is clearly something that cannot be done without someone holding a high position. ]
[ As for these assassins using Cloudhymn, it only adds to the suspicion on the Preceptors. ]
[ But as Vidyadhara, why would they collude with the Borisin and assist Hoolay in escaping? ]
At this moment, Lingsha had already placed her suspicions on the Luofu's Vidyadhara Preceptors.
[ For the sake of chaos. ]
[ Only chaos can give them a glimmer of hope to climb back to the peak of power. ]
[ Since the end of the Sedition of Imbibitor Lunae, as a proud race of the Dragon Vein, they have been powerless to reverse the increasingly decaying situation. ]
[ Miss Lingsha is from the Luofu, so you should understand what I mean. ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "So all the final clues point to the Luofu's Vidyadhara Preceptors being the traitors!"
Stelle: "I knew they did it!"
Furina de Fontaine: "Hearing Mr. Dan Heng's words just now… the Vidyadhara clan on the Luofu has been declining day by day since the Sedition of Imbibitor Lunae?"
Dan Heng: "Yes."
Hu Tao: "Why is that?"
Hu Tao: "Could it be due to the lack of a High Elder?"
Paimon: "But isn't Miss Bailu the current High Elder of the Luofu?"
Lumine: "It seems to be because Miss Bailu is still too young?"
Lumine: "She doesn't have the power of a High Elder yet, right?"
Dan Heng: "Yes, a young High Elder is one thing, but among this, there are also other reasons mixed in."
Dan Heng: "In short, the Vidyadhara of the Luofu are indeed showing signs of decline at present."
Dan Heng: "And this is perhaps unbearable for those Preceptors who lust for power."
Lingsha: "But that is no excuse for them to betray the Alliance."
Lingsha: "As Preceptors, they should have fulfilled their duties properly."
Lingsha: "But I did not expect them to degenerate so low, even willing to trigger such a severe turmoil on the Xianzhou where they live."
Lingsha: "Such behavior is truly chilling."
Boothill: "Son of a nice lady, such a cancer should be put down hard!"
Qingque: "But the problem is, although clues are pointing to the Preceptors now, if they refuse to admit it, there's nothing we can do, right?"
March 7th: "These clues still feel a bit insufficient. I guess we still have to go and test the Preceptors in person."
....
『 [ However, in my view, the Vidyadhara Preceptors can hardly be considered the real mastermind. ]
[ The Ravager who saw through the various cracks within the Luofu, instigated the rebellion of the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus, and caused the rebirth of the Ambrosial Arbor—Phantylia—she is the root of all this betrayal. ]
Jing Yuan had long suspected the Vidyadhara Preceptors, so he wasn't particularly surprised.
[ Allow me to remind the General: everything I just said can only be considered a deduction at best. ]
[ In criminal cases, what matters is ironclad evidence. ]
[ If we are to barge into the Vidyadhara's delve to hold them accountable, we must make them speechless. ]
Lingsha felt that with the current evidence, it was not yet enough to convict the Luofu Preceptors.
[ What are Miss Lingsha's plans? ]
Seeing Lingsha's expression, Jing Yuan understood that she already had an idea.
[ I plan to send an invitation to the Preceptors. ]
Lingsha didn't beat around the bush and spoke of her plan.
[ An invitation? ]
Dan Heng was somewhat puzzled, not understanding Lingsha's intention.
[ Since I arrived at the Luofu, the Preceptors have repeatedly invited me to meet. ]
[ I will send the remains of these Mara-struck, along with the escape route map of the Shackling Prison prisoners, to the Preceptors' estate, and then invite them to meet me in Scalegorge Waterscape. ]
[ I want to hear how they explain this. ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Hu Tao: "Wait, isn't Miss Lingsha afraid that they will get desperate and make a move on her?"
Li Sushang: "Yeah!"
Li Sushang: "If the Preceptors feel that the matter has been exposed, it will definitely be disadvantageous to Lady Lingsha!"
Stelle: "Don't worry, I feel like Dan Heng has to tag along on this trip."
Stelle: "And based on my understanding of General Jing Yuan, he might also secretly follow along in the shadows."
Jing Yuan: "Oh?"
Jing Yuan: "Hahaha, the one who knows me is indeed Stelle!"
March 7th: "If both Dan Heng and General Jing Yuan follow along, it indeed becomes much safer."
Lingsha: "This way, by bringing all this evidence before the Preceptors, I don't believe they can keep a straight face."
Lingsha: "As long as they show any weakness, there will be a chance to convict them!"
Fu Xuan: "And after weeding out the real cancer, the mess that is the Alchemy Commission can be cleaned up much better."
....
『 [ Good idea. ]
[ If I were to show myself, I fear it would startle the snake. ]
[ This matter will be left to Miss Lingsha. Vidyadhara internal affairs must still be handled by the Vidyadhara. ]
[ Even if things don't start smoothly, there is no need to worry. ]
[ Once the wolf hunt operation is over, many things will come to light. ]
Jing Yuan highly agreed with Lingsha's idea.
[ Speaking of hunting wolves, I am very worried about that Yaoqing envoy who was taken away. ]
[ Hoolay has not eaten for a long time in the Shackling Prison, starving until now… ]
[ I wonder if that envoy can safely survive this tribulation in the wolf's mouth. ]
[ May Reignbow's blessing keep him safe. ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Jiaoqiu: "Oh my~ thank you, Miss Lingsha, for still keeping me in your thoughts."
Furina de Fontaine: "Uh… so much time has passed. Is Mr. Jiaoqiu alright?"
Paimon: "Uh… could Mr. Jiaoqiu have already ended up in the wolf's belly?!"
Paimon: "Waaah, just thinking about it is terrifying!!"
Lumine: "Paimon, don't jinx it."
Lumine: "Mr. Jiaoqiu is still useful to Hoolay, so he shouldn't be in mortal danger for the time being."
Moze: "Yes, only when he is no longer useful will he be used as food."
Moze: "So I hope Jiaoqiu can remain useful forever."
Jiaoqiu: "Tsk, you really don't understand the art of conversation at all, do you?"
Yunli: "I say, has Yanqing finished eating yet?"
Yunli: "When is this wolf hunt operation going to start?"
Yanqing: "Cough cough… with so much food, even if I eat with all my might, it will take some time…"
Yanqing: "I hope Mr. Jiaoqiu can hold on."
Feixiao: "Don't worry, Jiaoqiu is tough. He won't die so easily."
Jiaoqiu: "Ah… since when did I get a 'tough life' character setting?"
Feixiao: "If you weren't tough, why didn't you run earlier? What were you thinking?"
Mualani: "True, Mr. Jiaoqiu could have clearly left with Mr. Moze earlier."
Mualani: "It's just that doing so would have left Judge Xueyi all alone."
Kinich: "But looking at the current situation, if Mr. Jiaoqiu had left back then, it would actually be easier to handle."
Kinich: "At least Hoolay wouldn't have an important hostage in his hands, and the search wouldn't have to be so cautious."
Kinich: "What I am most worried about now is that when General Feixiao finds Hoolay, he will use Mr. Jiaoqiu as a hostage to threaten her."
March 7th: "No! I hate watching those kinds of plots the most!"
March 7th: "I hope before that happens, they can secretly rescue Mr. Jiaoqiu first!"
Jiaoqiu: "Don't worry, even if I can't be rescued, I won't let Hoolay's plans succeed!"
....
『 Two hours before the start of the Wardance Ceremony, a small courtyard somewhere in the Exalting Sanctum.
[ I've already said it just now: my profession is a healer. ]
[ It's just that the medical skills I specialize in need to be supplemented with medicinal cuisine to take effect. ]
[ Being able to cook all kinds of medicines into dishes for patients to eat—this is the wonderful utility of the cauldron. ]
[ No matter what medicinal ingredients or food ingredients, once they are thrown into the soup and stewed together, they instantly become a delicacy. ]
In the courtyard, Jiaoqiu stood there, facing the two Borisin in front of him, popularizing his medical skills.
[ A delicacy… isn't that just one flavor overpowering another? ]
Mok Tok, who was guarding Jiaoqiu on the side, heard Jiaoqiu's words and curled his lip in disdain.
[ You could say that… ]
[ Let me test you. If there is a child who is a picky eater and refuses to eat green peppers, what way do you have to make this child eat them? ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "Ah…"
Stelle: "Just now we were worrying about Jiaoqiu…"
Stelle: "How did the scene change, and Jiaoqiu seems to be doing quite well?"
Stelle: "He can even chat and laugh with the Borisin."
Moze: "Hmm… did you really defect?"
Jiaoqiu: "What nonsense are you talking about?"
Jiaoqiu: "Don't you know my character?"
Jiaoqiu: "Could I, Jiaoqiu, do such a thing?"
Asta: "I understand, Mr. Jiaoqiu is currently lying low and playing along."
Fu Xuan: "A wise choice."
Fu Xuan: "At least it can guarantee his own safety."
Furina de Fontaine: "Mr. Jiaoqiu actually still has the mood to ask the Borisin questions."
Furina de Fontaine: "I think if it were anyone else, they would probably be scared to death."
March 7th: "Mr. Jiaoqiu's calm expression at this moment really has the demeanor of a general's counselor."
Paimon: "So what is the answer to this question?"
Lumine: "Uh… Paimon is actually really thinking about this question?"
Xiangling: "If they don't like green peppers, maybe it's just a matter of taste."
Xiangling: "Then my method would be to make the green peppers into another flavor!"
Boothill: "Picky eating in kids is mostly just them being spoiled. Just pull out a belt and give them a good beating!"
Boothill: "After the beating, see if the son of a nice lady eats it or not!"
Boothill: "If they still don't eat, then from then on, every meal will be green peppers!"
Boothill: "Once they get hungry enough, I don't believe they won't eat."
Guinaifen: "Eh??"
Guinaifen: "Is Mr. Boothill a demon?"
Guinaifen: "Guys, let alone kids, even I feel terrified hearing this!"
Stelle: "Boothill's method is too aggressive."
Stelle: "If it were me, I would choose bribery!"
Stelle: "If someone gave me ten thousand Credit Points for taking a bite of something I don't like, then that would be my absolute favorite food, bar none!"
Jiaoqiu: "Hahaha, your methods are quite interesting."
Jiaoqiu: "However, I agree more with Miss Xiangling's approach."
....
『 [ Stuff this kid's mouth with green peppers and boil him in a pot. ]
Regarding Jiaoqiu's question, Mok Tok answered without even thinking.
[ Hahaha, my Borisin brother has a good sense of humor. ]
[ I heard that the Borisin lost quite a few taste buds during their self-modification process, making them unable to taste complex flavors. Only the saltiness of flesh and blood can arouse your appetite. ]
Hearing Mok Tok's brutal answer, Jiaoqiu smiled nonchalantly.
[ Too bad I don't have green peppers on hand; otherwise I'd really like to stuff your mouth and boil you in a pot. ]
Mok Tok was annoyed by the talkative Jiaoqiu.
[ Just a joke, don't get worked up~ ]
[ It's very simple: chop the green peppers, put them into the meat filling, and make them into meatballs. ]
[ The taste of the meat overpowers the taste of the green peppers, so even a picky child can eat them. ]
As if he didn't see Mok Tok's angry look, Jiaoqiu was still smiling and talking non-stop.
[ Can this hotpot boil your tongue off? ]
[ I know what kind of wishful thinking is going on in your head. ]
[ You want to stall for time and wait for rescue. ]
[ You said Jingliu returned to the Luofu. She did indeed return… ]
[ But unfortunately, I also heard more information. She committed a grave crime and was sent to another Xianzhou. ]
[ Do you think that by using a little cleverness to provoke Lord Hoolay's desire for revenge, you can delay our footsteps in leaving? ] 』
『 ....』