After several twists and turns, everyone finally arrived at the The Seat of Divine Foresight, ready to meet Jing Yuan.
The moment they stepped inside, they were struck by its grandeur.
Straight ahead, the Auspicious Phoenix on the gilded screen looked ready to burst out, while the wooden plaque beside it bore the flowing calligraphy of the Xianzhou script, the ink deep and steady.
A huge projector sat at the center, casting a virtual sand table into the air.
All around, holographic landscapes and Spirit Plants hovered; the plum branches twisted, dotted with half-open buds.
Xianzhou attendants hurried to and fro, and from a distance came the voices of Jing Yuan and Huai Yan chatting.
"General Yan, the journey must have tired you."
"Oh, not at all. Rather, thank you for making time to greet me."
Yanqing led everyone toward Jing Yuan.
Hearing footsteps, Jing Yuan and Huai Yan paused their pleasantries and looked over.
"General, I've brought the guests from the Astral Express."
Yanqing then glanced at Huai Yan beside Jing Yuan and said:
"If the general is receiving visitors, Yanqing has come at an inopportune moment."
"Not at all—your timing is perfect."
『Why don't you add, "You're all my wings," for Jing Yuan?'』
Bai Luan rolled his eyes at the System.
I like being abstract, but I'm not an idiot; those two aren't equal.
"Greetings, crew of the Astral Express. It's been a while."
Jing Yuan greeted the crew first, then turned to Bai Luan in mild surprise and said:
"I didn't expect you to come as well."
"Long time no see, Jing Yuan. I'm back for fun."
Jing Yuan laughed aloud at that.
"Haha, welcome, welcome."
Stelle folded her arms, cocking her head.
"Missed us?"
Jing Yuan nodded.
"Of course I did. In this world, how many chances does one get for laughter after a century's meetings?"
March 7th looked at Stelle in confusion, then turned to Dan Heng. "Dan Heng, when did Stelle get so chummy with the general? They're joking like old friends."
"Plenty must have happened while we weren't looking. Let's hope so, anyway..."
(T/N: Cadence of Time Ao3, just try it guys)
Hmm... looks like these two got locked out of the side quests.
Jing Yuan turned to the small, hat-brimmed elder beside him and introduced:
"Allow me to present General of the Xianzhou 'Zhu Ming,' General Huai Yan."
Huai Yan gave a hearty laugh.
"Haha, no need for formality. I'm traveling incognito today—no different from any sightseer."
While the introductions continued, Bai Luan's mind began to wander.
He already knew the gist: Huai Yan, a very old general from a blacksmithing clan, still dragged back to work by the Xianzhou Marshal—poor guy.
After the formalities, everyone bowed to Huai Yan, who then asked Jing Yuan to confirm the identities of the Astral Express Crew.
His gaze settled on Bai Luan.
"Jing Yuan, who might this be?"
"General Yan, do you recall the uproar that swept the Alliance not long ago?"
"Oh?"
Huai Yan raised a brow, looked at Jing Yuan, then back at Bai Luan.
"So this is the genius who caused it?"
Bai Luan's lips curved slightly. "You can call me Apprentice, or Bai Luan—greetings, General Huai Yan."
"Haha, no need for such courtesy."
Huai Yan waved a hand, lifted his gaze, and said with feeling, "I never imagined you'd be so young. With a flick of your wrist, the whole Xianzhou shook."
Bai Luan shrugged.
"I didn't do it on purpose."
Huai Yan blinked, then chuckled. "The young have such spirit—refreshing to see."
He swept his eyes across the group, nodding repeatedly. "Good, good, good! Meeting so many fine youths today makes this trip worthwhile. Ah, but age makes one forgetful... beside me is my grand-disciple, Yunli..."
Yanqing shot Yunli a startled look.
"It's you!?"
He then glanced at Bai Luan as if to say, 'You really know Divination?'
Bai Luan spread his hands helplessly.
I really can't. But if you insist, sure—let's say I can.
He couldn't be bothered to explain.
"Hey, why'd you turn your head away after one sentence?"
"Ahem, forgive me. A prophecy I'd heard just came true, so..."
"Prophecy?"
Yunli gave Yanqing an amused look. "You believe that stuff? Apart from the Grand Diviner, all prophecies are just tricks—I learned that when I was five."
I don't want to believe it either, but his predictions have a hundred-percent hit rate... No, that's not the point.
The point is my sword— Before Yanqing could speak, Huai Yan cut in.
Seeing their exchange, Huai Yan found it entertaining and chuckled. "Hoho, so you two already know each other—no need for introductions!"
"Indeed."
Yanqing nodded. "I thought I'd have to search far and wide for this young lady."
"Oh? You've piqued my curiosity... Tell me, how did you two meet?"
Yanqing explained how he'd encountered Yunli and mentioned, in passing, that she'd swiped one of his flying swords.
While Yanqing and Yunli talked, Bai Luan slipped over to Jing Yuan.
"Jing Yuan, I've got a treasure—want it?"
"A treasure?"
Jing Yuan regarded Bai Luan with interest, the corner of his mouth lifting. "If it's a treasure, of course I'm interested."
"Here."
Bai Luan stepped forward and pressed a small Data Pad into Jing Yuan's hand; it held a single list—a roster of Borisin actors.
Jing Yuan accepted it and gave it a cursory glance.
"This is the treasure? Something about the Mara-Struck?"
"Of course not. How to solve the Mara-Struck is your problem—you're not babies."
"Fair point."
Jing Yuan chuckled, then looked at the Data Pad again.
"So what is this list about?"
"A list. You'll know when the time comes."
"Making me figure it out again?"
Jing Yuan sighed in resignation, but he pocketed the device anyway.
A gift from a genius wouldn't be worthless.
After all, Bai Luan's last "treasure" was something capable of drawing out the Mara-Struck.
Since Bai Luan left that bullet, Xianzhou
's artificers had racked their brains trying to understand how it worked; the more they studied, the more incredible it seemed.
Still... wonderful as these treasures were, you fate-calculating types all spoke in riddles.
In the end, the brain-work always fell to him.
Next time, could you bring an instruction manual or something?