"Master Diviner. Selecting talent and consolidating the team is not something that can be accomplished in a single day or night. You mustn't force it."
Seeing Fu Xuan's face gradually darken, Jing Yuan spoke with a tone heavy with meaning.
He was more than qualified to speak on such matters. Having served as General for over four hundred years, among the Six Charioteers of the Xianzhou Luofu, Fu Xuan was still a young official with less than two centuries of experience.
The Sky-Faring Commission was also facing a succession crisis—Yukong was about to retire, and the successor she had chosen, Tingyun, hadn't even been fully trained before she was replaced by Phantylia. The Alchemy Commission was faring even worse; the recent rebellion had nearly crippled its foundation. The new Cauldron Master, Lingsha, had only been transferred from the Yuque after some political maneuvering among the opposition.
The newly appointed Sword Champion had yet to reach adulthood and needed time to grow into her position. The divine power of the Luofu's dragon lineage had not passed to Bailu but remained with Dan Heng, who continued to travel afar. If he chose not to return upon his reincarnation, the Dragon's authority within the Luofu would have to be rebuilt from nothing—who knew how many generations it would take to restore it to its peak?
Faced with such a situation, the reason Jing Yuan could still bear the burden was his unwavering optimism.
Listening to her superior's advice, Fu Xuan sighed helplessly. "How could I not understand such reasoning? It's just… seeing a raw gem on the verge of being sculpted into a peerless treasure, only for it to turn into an illusion in the end—how could my heart remain unmoved?"
After a pause, she lifted her spirits again. "Enough. As the General says, such things cannot be forced. Qingque!"
"Here!"
Qingque stood at attention. The idea of hard work had long since vanished from her mind, but at least she still had some sense of timing.
This was definitely not the moment to slack off—one mistake now, and she'd be doomed.
"You must already know that I was meant to return to the Xianzhou Yuque to report on my duties. However, these past days have been filled with endless tasks, and I've been delayed. I can delay no longer—I'll be departing soon."
Fu Xuan began outlining her upcoming arrangements to Qingque.
Which left Qingque utterly bewildered.
Why are you telling me this? Isn't this something you should be discussing with your acting deputy? I'm just a humble trash can record keeper…
Before her inner complaints could even finish forming, Fu Xuan's voice, as gentle as falling rain, reached her ears.
But to Qingque, the words themselves struck like a storm.
Fu Xuan said, "I'll have the diviners send you all the reports for mid- and low-level affairs, as well as part of the major incident records. When I return in a few weeks, I'll personally review your progress."
"Ah?"
Qingque couldn't maintain her 'model employee' act anymore and let out a miserable "Ah!"
That had to be at least seventy percent of the Master Diviner's own workload! Even if most of the critical matters were filtered out, it was still enough to fill every bit of her free time to the brim.
And for weeks at that?!
The Master Diviner would personally review it afterward?!
That was terrifying!
I… I just want to faint right now, and when I wake up, pretend I never heard a word of this!
Qingque was screaming internally, clutching her head in despair within her own mind.
Fu Xuan, meanwhile, wanted nothing more than to grab her by the cheeks and stretch that lazy face out of sheer frustration. "Only you, you indolent girl, would react like that. Anyone else would be thrilled beyond measure by this opportunity!"
A clear sign that the superior wanted to personally cultivate you, and this was the reaction she gave? For anyone else, that "Ah?" would have been an "Ah~~!"
"Then why don't you just let someone else handle it?" Qingque muttered under her breath, her tone faintly resentful.
"What did you say?!" Fu Xuan's delicate brows shot up, her sharp gaze nearly slicing two lines across Qingque's face.
"I'll complete the task! Guaranteed!"
Qingque straightened immediately, answering in a firm, ringing voice.
At this point, what else could she do?
In the face of the Master Diviner's terrifying authority, resistance was futile—submission was the only option.
"That's better."
Fu Xuan crossed her arms, finally appeased as she looked at Qingque, who now wore a face full of "resolute determination."
Since the Curio couldn't fix her attitude, she would at least improve her work ethic. These mid- and low-level affairs were trivial; with Qingque's ability, they weren't difficult—it was simply to force her into a long-term working rhythm.
It was only the handling of the few major affairs that Qingque truly lacked experience in.
"General, the document has been drafted. Please review it."
Qingque transmitted the agreement over.
Jing Yuan took out his jade abacus, projecting the text before turning toward Herta. "Madam Herta, do you see any details that require revision?"
Herta merely skimmed it and nodded. "Proceed as it is."
She had signed countless such contracts before; the formalities were all the same. Any legal implications were long second nature to her.
Seeing that the content didn't differ from what they had just discussed, she had no interest in nitpicking for some petty advantage.
Both parties left their imprints, and the agreement took effect.
"Good." Jing Yuan clapped his hands together, his tone solemn and resolute. "The joint scientific research project between the Xianzhou Luofu and Madam Herta of the Genius Society—officially begins!"
…
The next morning, at the Exalting Sanctum.
March 7th rubbed her eyes and yawned, walking half-bent toward the small shop's entrance.
She mumbled sleepily, "Master Yunli, Master Yanqing… aren't we a little too early? Doesn't this place open at eight?"
Yunli wiped the light sweat from her forehead, took a sip from the morning tea she'd bought, exhaled comfortably, and replied to her taller apprentice, "Too early? I came jogging here after my morning practice! You just sat on the starskiff and you're already whining? This shop is popular—if we don't come early, we won't get anything!"
March 7th rubbed her aching arms and shoulders, looking pitiful. "That's because we overtrained yesterday. I didn't feel much before bed—just a warm ache in my muscles—but when I woke up this morning, my whole body was sore!"
"Miss March simply pushed herself too hard at once. Your body isn't used to it yet."
Yanqing's tone was casual. Just as March 7th thought he was about to comfort her, he added, "Keep training for a few more days, and you'll get used to it."
"Uuugh~~"
March 7th's expression grew even more miserable—she was on the verge of tears.
She never should've shown off yesterday by using that [Memory Bubble of a Swordsman]… not that it mattered now!
"Come on, eat something first—it's still hot."
Stelle was sipping on a cup of milk tea, holding a sandwich in the other hand, and hadn't forgotten to hand March 7th her share.
"Ah, Trailblazer, you really do care about me!"
Seeing the steaming breakfast lifted March 7th's mood. She took the milk tea and eagerly took a big sip.
But instead of the expected sweetness, a horribly foul taste seized her mouth in the most direct way possible.
"Pfft! What is this milk tea?!"
She stared at the plastic cup in disbelief. Never had she imagined that such a simple, sugary drink could taste so atrocious!
And it wasn't even the kind of strange flavor you could laugh off as 'novelty.' This milk tea was bad in the most earnest, unpretentious way possible—as if it was terrified someone might find any redeeming quality in it. It achieved the ultimate common denominator of awful.
Honestly, even soda bean juice might be better—at least that had a loyal following.
"Star Taro Boba—Martial Exhibition Festival limited edition," Stelle said calmly, drinking more than half her cup before glancing curiously at it. "It tastes bad?"
"Your taste buds are as questionable as your sense of style," March 7th said flatly.
She glanced at the cup, then at the signboard ahead, muttering, "Please let my luck today not be as tragic as this Star Taro Boba…"