Chapter 173: The Divination Commission is wiped out! Qingque, you're fired!
Divination Commission.
Ever since Fu Xuan appeared on one of Feathered Spirit's Special Program livestreams, the entire department seemed to have come alive.
Everyone was scrambling and competing to work for Master Fu Xuan.
Whether it was organizing archives or reporting data, diviners were fighting to do the chores.
Their only request was to take a commemorative photo with Master Fu Xuan after the work was done.
Qingque once offered a suggestion—
"Master Diviner? Why don't you take this opportunity to make your debut as an idol?"
This was met with a fierce eye-roll from Fu Xuan.
Qingque had been assigned the "work" of lurking in Little Gui's livestream room.
On one hand, it was to gather game content.
On the other, it was to monitor the public opinion within the player circles.
Sipping her Immortal's Delight, Qingque found a secluded workstation within the Divination Commission to watch the stream.
From time to time, she would send a few bullet comments along with the other viewers.
Life was quite enjoyable.
Inside the livestream room at that moment.
Following the [ Twin ] mission.
A new Heliobus mission had arrived.
Titled [ Lucent Glow ].
Having finished her Immortal's Delight, Qingque was using a fork to fish out the fruit pieces from the bottom of the cup.
Suddenly, she saw the information within the game.
Her hand jerked instantly!
Her pupils shrank slightly!
"No way…"
She quickly set down the cup.
With an incredibly solemn expression, she looked at the interface.
It was a help post on the Luofu Ghostly Grove.
[ Gambling with Life: Late for work as usual today, found everyone acting all spooky… ]
[ Coordinates: A certain Commission that shall remain nameless. It's really strange; I came into work today and found everyone acting a bit off. Haggard faces, darkened foreheads, vacant stares, glassy eyes, walking slowly… The whole Divination Commission is eerie and ghostly, so much so that I've lost all interest in playing cards. What's even weirder is that I tried to slip away when no one was looking, but I bumped into the Master Diviner, and she didn't even ask about my attendance? Letting me be late as usual—something has definitely happened to this unnamed Commission!! ]
The content itself didn't shock Qingque.
But the poster's ID shocked her to the core!
"Isn't that my online username?!"
"Oh my god!"
"Feathered Spirit isn't satisfied with exposing people's real lives anymore; now even my screen name is being exposed!?"
As Little Gui checked the post.
In the livestream room.
Viewers had already started tagging her!
…
"This ID looks so familiar…?"
"Seems like a certain regular in our stream!"
"[ Gambling with Life ]. Did you really post this?"
"Holy crap, there's actually a Trailblazer with that name?"
"The posts in this mission are all real! They correspond to reality!"
"[ Gambling with Life ], say something!"
"I suspected she was Qingque before, but I didn't expect it to actually be her!"
"Caught a Sparrow God!"
…
In front of her screen.
Qingque was panicking!
Her online identity had been exposed!
"Master Diviner…"
"Master Diviner, the infiltration plan has failed!"
"I won't be able to easily chat in the livestream room anymore…"
At her desk.
Fu Xuan had a solemn face.
Seeing Qingque's state, she knew something must have changed in the game's plot again.
After listening to Qingque's description.
Fu Xuan pondered for a moment.
Then she spoke slowly: "A Heliobus parasite causing trouble… even threatening our Divination Commission?"
"This plot must indeed be taken seriously."
"If handled poorly, it could greatly diminish the image and prestige of our Divination Commission."
Fu Xuan immediately activated her Jade Abacus.
She entered the livestream room.
"Qingque, stay with me and monitor the stream at all times."
"Neither of our account levels is low. At critical moments, we must lead the narrative correctly. We cannot let the Divination Commission become a laughingstock for these players."
Qingque said, wanting to cry but having no tears: "Master Diviner, did you not hear the main point I just made?"
Fu Xuan: "What main point?"
"My account has been exposed…"
"They all know I'm the real Qingque now!"
"In just a few minutes, my private messages in the background have exploded!"
Fu Xuan glanced at Qingque nonchalantly.
She said: "Can't you just switch to an alt account?"
"In a bit, you can use the gift-giving feature to steer the conversation."
Looking at the wide-mouthed Qingque.
Fu Xuan sighed.
She promised helplessly: "The money spent on gifts can be reimbursed."
"Yes, Master Diviner!"
"Let the two of us take up our Jade Abacuses and defend the Divination Commission with our keyboards!"
Meanwhile.
In the game.
The ghost-hunting squad arrived at the entrance of the Divination Commission.
Qingque had been standing there as the "gatekeeper" for a long time.
She greeted: "Oh, you're here! Why did a Judge from the Ten-Lords Commission come too?"
"I'm telling you, things aren't right inside the Divination Commission right now. Everyone is mumbling to themselves. Are they planning a workplace coup? Could it be because I unintentionally set a bad example?"
Qingque, watching the plot, felt an instant wave of embarrassment!
This game was great in every way!
Except it was too realistic!
How did it voice her inner thoughts?
And it was happening right while she was watching the plot with the Master Diviner…
She rubbed her nose awkwardly.
Fortunately.
The Master Diviner didn't seem to take it to heart.
Or perhaps, she had subconsciously grown accustomed to this behavior of hers.
In any case.
The plot continued.
Entering the Divination Commission to investigate the anomaly.
The center of the eerie haunting was at the core of the Matrix of Prescience Ultima.
A group of diviners… including Fu Xuan, were all gathered there.
Just as described in that post!
—Vacant stares, glassy eyes, walking slowly…
The voices of diviners talking to themselves could be heard.
"There is only ever one path…"
"Divination is meaningless…"
Fu Xuan initially thought Qingque was exaggerating, but seeing this scene in the game, she realized something was wrong.
She muttered: "Could it be that this seat has also fallen for that Heliobus's trick?"
"It shouldn't be. If it were me, I should at least have some power to resist…"
At this time.
The ghost-hunting squad had reached the Matrix.
They were preparing to ring the Resonance Firebell to enter the illusion shared with the Heliobus.
Fu Xuan suddenly turned around.
In a powerful, resonant tone, she said: "Silence! No clamoring allowed within the Divination Commission!"
Qingque said in surprise: "You're awake, Master Fu Xuan!"
Houhou added sheepishly: "…Or should we call you Cirrus right now?"
"What you call me is not important. Whether Fu Xuan or Cirrus, I am the sole master of this Divination Commission."
"The work of divination has reached a critical juncture and cannot be disturbed by others. Even Judges of the Ten-Lords Commission or guests of the Astral Express shall not act presumptuously here!"
Outside the livestream.
Fu Xuan's heart grew colder and colder.
Initially.
Seeing herself deliver such a spirited speech, she thought she was the only one in the Commission who hadn't been possessed!
But following that speech.
Fu Xuan knew…
She had fallen.
And she had fallen deep!
It was over!
Even she had fallen, which meant the entire Divination Commission had dropped into the Heliobus's illusion.
A total wipeout!
Oh wait.
There was still this salted fish next to her.
Sure enough.
Next.
In the game, Fu Xuan's eyes instantly became fierce.
She looked at Qingque: "Qingque! You again. Was it you who brought these outsiders into the Commission? Have you treated the rules I established as mere wind past your ears?"
After a moment of silence.
Her anger seemed to reach its peak.
She barked: "Qingque, you're fired!"
The scene.
Instant uproar!
Not just in the game.
Outside the game.
Both Fu Xuan and Qingque were shocked!
Fu Xuan indeed had such thoughts… but she had never said them directly in a public setting.
Because.
She knew.
Although Qingque seemed dull, it was actually just because she refused to work hard.
She wasn't rotten wood, but a rare piece of uncut jade.
It was just that.
The stone casing and moss covering this jade were a bit too thick.
They needed to be ground away slowly.
But in this plot.
Because of the Heliobus.
She had actually said those words directly.
Fu Xuan remained expressionless.
But internally, she felt a small ripple.
How would she respond?
Would she shed tears of regret?
Would she show her attachment to the Divination Commission at this critical moment?
Would she clear her heart and swear to work hard in the future?
"Me…? This… this is…"
Clearly.
Qingque also found the news hard to accept for a moment.
After a brief silence.
Qingque exclaimed in an unbelievable tone: "…This is too wonderful!"
She looked up.
Her previously dull eyes lit up with highlights!
Her whole face seemed flushed with immense happiness!
It felt like a dream!
"Hehe, I also felt that idling around all day was unseemly, taking a salary from the Divination Commission while playing cards… it's really a bit, how do you say it…"
"It's a waste of life. Thank you, Master Diviner, for giving me a push. Since you also feel I shouldn't stay here and waste my talents, I should find a way to make some changes."
Fu Xuan: "???"
And the bullet comments.
Exploded instantly!
…
"Huh? Huh? Huh? And here I was worried…"
"Qingque: I'm so sad—hahahaha, I was acting!"
"Her face is red from joy?"
"The light in her eyes appeared instantly."
"Severance pay is N+ 1, I'd be thrilled too!"
"There's such a good thing?!"
"Qingque is on another level! She actually thought of that layer instantly."
"As expected of you!"