After that, nothing particularly funny happened.
Once Jingliu and Wei Qing parted ways, the four people lurking in the shadows finally couldn't hold it in anymore—they swarmed out all at once.
"Whoa! Brother Qing! Three hundred million—three hundred million!" Jing Yuan was the first to pounce, eyes sparkling as he tried to get his hands on Wei Qing's jade abacus.
Bai Heng was laughing so hard she could barely stand up straight. "Oh my god—Jingliu is too adorable! Sending money! She really just straight-up transferred it!"
She jabbed a finger at Dan Feng, cackling. "Dan Feng, you idiot—what the hell did you teach her?!"
Dan Feng's face was expressionless. "I never expected romance. I only hoped she wouldn't, in the future, gift something like a forging hammer or a sword manual."
There was a faint note of defeat in his voice.
Yingxing, meanwhile, rubbed his chin with a solemn, calculating look. "Three hundred million… how many rare materials is that? Wei Qing, let's talk—want to invest a little in the Artisanship Commission? I guarantee results."
Wei Qing shoved Jing Yuan off him, thoroughly unimpressed, and swept his gaze over this pack of troublemakers. "Alright, alright. You done watching the show? Disperse."
Bai Heng leaned in, waggling her eyebrows. "Seriously though—how's it feel? Doesn't Jingliu suddenly look like she's glowing? The glow of money!"
"Is three hundred million a lot?" Wei Qing replied blandly.
The moment those words left his mouth, the entire scene went silent for a beat.
Bai Heng clutched her chest dramatically as if she'd been struck by a lethal blow. "Listen to yourself! Are you even speaking human language? That's three hundred million!"
Jing Yuan finally gave up trying to snatch the jade abacus and switched to staring at Wei Qing with pure admiration. "As expected of you—even living off a rich woman, you do it with style."
Yingxing was still stuck on the funding issue. "So… can you allocate a little budget? Just a tiny bit…"
Only Dan Feng looked normal. "Three hundred million truly isn't that much."
Wei Qing couldn't be bothered to engage with them further. He waved a hand and headed straight toward his quarters, leaving behind a chorus of wailing and laughter—accusations of "forgetting your friends for beauty" and "heartless once you're rich."
…
In the days that followed, the Luofu seemed to return to its usual calm. But beneath that calm, undercurrents were shifting.
Thanks to his major merit in the Wasteland battle, Wei Qing's prestige in the military was soaring. General Teng Xiao also took the opportunity to hand him even more responsibilities—anyone with eyes could see the path being paved for a future handover.
Jingliu, as the Luofu's Sword Champion, didn't have any critical missions lately.
Dan Feng remained stationed at the Scalegorge Waterscape, guarding the seal on the Ambrosial Arbor.
Bai Heng piloted her skiff back and forth between the Luofu and various outposts, delivering information—and occasionally running reconnaissance.
Yingxing buried himself in the Artisanship Commission; rumor had it he was developing a new weapon specifically to counter the regeneration traits of Abundance abominations.
As for Jing Yuan?
Well.
He was helping Wei Qing.
"…Hey, I'm telling you—this is your job, isn't it? Why are you dragging me over here to help you?" In the General's manor, Jing Yuan wore a miserable expression as he complained nonstop—yet his hands flew over mountains of paperwork at terrifying speed.
Wei Qing lounged nearby, relaxed. "Capable people do more. Besides, getting familiar with this early will be good for you later."
Jing Yuan nearly dropped his brush. He looked up in horror. "There's a later?! Wei Qing, you can't shear one sheep to death!"
"Does my master know you're abusing her disciple like this?"
"If she knew you could share my burden," Wei Qing said without blinking, "she'd only think you have a bright future."
Jing Yuan fell silent, completely unable to argue.
At that moment, a report came from outside. A Cloud Knight stepped in and saluted respectfully.
"Lord Wei Qing, there is a Foxian woman outside. She claims she has your token and requests an audience."
As he spoke, he presented a small item.
Wei Qing blinked, momentarily confused. Since when did I have a token like that?
"Let her in," he ordered—something apparently clicking in his mind as he put the token away.
A moment later, a Foxian woman in a simple, elegant dress stepped into the study.
She looked young, but her brows carried a steadiness far beyond her years—along with an anxiety she couldn't quite hide.
She bowed respectfully to Wei Qing, then flicked a quick glance toward Jing Yuan, who was peeking with obvious curiosity and seemed ready to explode with questions.
Jing Yuan immediately caught the hint. Oh? A private meeting? Prime opportunity.
His curiosity only intensified, but he still swiftly gathered up the stack of documents he'd just finished, shot Wei Qing a suggestive wink, and slipped out at top speed—helpfully closing the door behind him.
Now the study contained only Wei Qing and the Foxian woman.
"Sit," Wei Qing said, gesturing to a chair. His tone was mild. "I'm told you have my token—but I have no memory of such an item."
But the Foxian woman didn't sit.
Instead, the instant the door clicked shut, her posture and presence changed completely.
The earlier anxiety and deference receded like a tide. A lazy, eerie smile curved her lips, and in her eyes swirled a familiar yellow glow—seductive, unsettling.
"Hehehe… Lord Wei Qing."
"Only a few days, and you've already forgotten me? How heartbreaking." The Foxian woman—no, Phantylia—covered her mouth as she laughed.
Wei Qing's gaze sharpened, though he didn't look particularly surprised.
"Do you seriously like Foxians that much?" he said, utterly exasperated.
Didn't we already do a thorough investigation of the Foxian people? How is she still able to disguise herself as one and stroll into the manor again?
For the first time, Wei Qing found himself sincerely doubting whether the Luofu really had a bright future.
Phantylia let out a string of bell-like laughter. With an easy sway of her steps, she crossed to the chair opposite him, sat down, and lounged back as if she owned the place.
"Oh my, what a cruel thing to say." She pouted in feigned grievance, though mischief glittered in her eyes. "I worked so hard to find a vessel like this—mm, one with quite a connection to the Luofu."
She looked around the General's study with open amusement, her gaze lingering briefly on the towering piles of military paperwork.
"And you—only a few days, and you're actually sitting here seriously handling these tedious administrative duties? Honestly… I'm impressed."
Join here to read ahead.
In Star Rail, Ultra-Beast Armored — Have I Caught "Equilibrium"? l (Chapter 80)
Uma Musume, But I Only Have Five Years Left to Live (Chapter 120)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 95)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League (Chapter 85)
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter85)
Yu-Gi-Oh! — Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl (Chapter81)
"Is this chat group even serious?" (Chapter60)
I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (Chapter66)
Can Playing Games Save the World? 40
Crossover Anime Multiverse: The Demon Hunter of an Unnatural World 50
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