While Jing Yuan and Bai Heng argued in low voices, Wei Qing let his gaze drift—casual on the surface—over the familiar study.
The furnishings hadn't changed much. There were just far more documents than he remembered, piled several times higher, and the air carried a faint scent of ink mixed with a barely-there sweetness from pastries.
In the end, his eyes returned to Jing Yuan.
This old friend really did have the bearing of someone who could stand on his own now. The lazy demeanor didn't feel fake, but the fatigue in his eyes was unmistakably real.
So Teng Xiao really hadn't held back—he'd been working this kid like a draft animal.
…Then again, Wei Qing had probably done the exact same thing back then.
"Anyway," Bai Heng declared like she was concluding a debate, forcibly ending the whispered exchange, "I brought the person here. Don't you feel better already?"
Jing Yuan sighed and rubbed between his brows.
When he looked back at Wei Qing and Liu Ying, that mildly apologetic, official smile returned to his face.
"Mr. Dot-Dao. Miss Xing. My apologies for the spectacle."
His tone was gentle. "Bai Heng… means well, even if her methods are somewhat unconventional."
"Luofu's affairs are indeed burdensome these days. Having something colorful to break up the monotony is… not unwelcome. Thank you for coming."
Polished words—enough to save Bai Heng's face and express gratitude.
Wei Qing could hear the subtext perfectly: thank you, now please leave.
Unfortunately for Jing Yuan, Wei Qing had been dragged here by Bai Heng. He wasn't about to walk out that easily.
He smiled—bright enough to be visually offensive.
"General Jing Yuan, no need to be so courteous. It's my honor to bring even a trace of color to an environment so weighed down by duty."
Then he turned the knife with a gentle voice.
"However…"
His gaze swept over the mountains of paperwork.
"It seems Luofu truly is overwhelmed."
"I've heard you're also cooperating with two members of the Genius Society on a major project. I imagine that's only added to your burden—no wonder Miss Bai Heng is so concerned about your hairline."
Bai Heng nodded enthusiastically and blurted out, "Exactly! It's all because we're trying to catch that bastard Qingzhou! Otherwise Jing Yuan-yuan wouldn't have to suffer like this!"
Jing Yuan: ???
Not even you, Bai Heng.
What are you doing? Are you trying to ascend straight into the afterlife?
Do you have any idea what you just said—out loud—in front of visitors?
That's classified.
Jing Yuan's smile froze. He snapped his head toward her, eyes blazing with accusation.
Bai Heng seemed to realize she'd slipped. She clapped a hand over her mouth and tried to play it off.
"Ahaha—what I meant was… um… recently everyone's been working hard to prevent certain… possible security risks! Right, Jing Yuan-yuan?"
It was a rescue attempt with the effectiveness of a wet paper fan.
Wei Qing obligingly put on a surprised expression.
"Qingzhou? You mean the former Luofu general… the one who reportedly defected?"
Jing Yuan's brows tightened slightly. His eyes lingered on Wei Qing's face for a moment.
Dot-Dao's expression was natural—his faint regret even seemed sincere.
Jing Yuan forced down his doubts, and the urge to physically throw Bai Heng out of the study.
"Old history," he said flatly. "Not worth revisiting."
"If anything, it's embarrassing that internal Luofu matters have become gossip for outsiders."
"Oh, come on," Bai Heng cut in immediately, acting like she couldn't see Jing Yuan's death glare. "How is Mr. Dot-Dao an outsider?"
"Besides, didn't the Shackling Prison just take in a bunch of Annihilation Gang punks?"
"Since those guys refuse to talk, maybe Mr. Dot-Dao could try."
Wei Qing's eyes flickered—just a trace.
The Annihilation Gang?
Those trash mobs had crawled onto the Luofu too?
Was one of his "colleagues" stirring trouble again?
The thought appeared—then Wei Qing rejected it almost instantly.
Setting aside whether any of them could even know he was Asam, if they wanted to cause trouble, they wouldn't be using Annihilation Gang cannon fodder.
Too slow. Too sloppy. Too inefficient. It was practically delivering achievements straight into Luofu's hands.
In the wider cosmos, the Annihilation Gang might get lumped into the "Destruction" camp, but the Emanators of Destruction had never even bothered giving them a proper glance.
Maybe that "Cinder Duke" from Ever-Flame Mansion in the far future could barely qualify as having a hint of Destruction's flavor—but Bai Heng clearly wasn't talking about anyone like that.
Wei Qing gave a careful, courteous response.
"The Shackling Prison? The Annihilation Gang? You're suggesting I—an outsider—attempt to communicate with dangerous inmates? That doesn't sound… appropriate."
Jing Yuan's frown deepened.
He genuinely could not understand what Bai Heng was doing today.
First she'd blurted out sensitive information about hunting Qingzhou in front of strangers.
Now she wanted to send an unidentified Pure Beauty Knight into a high-security prison to meet serious criminals?
Had this fox not woken up, or had someone swapped her out overnight?
Bai Heng, completely ignoring Jing Yuan's murderous stare, launched into an explanation with bright enthusiasm.
"Rules are dead, people are alive!"
"Mr. Dot-Dao, think about it—those Annihilation Gang guys are all stubborn, vile, and hard as nails."
"All our Luofu methods can't pry their mouths open. Someone important definitely put something on them."
"But you're different—you're a Pure Beauty Knight. Your existence itself is a massive shock to the ugly concept of Destruction!"
The more she spoke, the more brilliant she seemed to think her idea was.
"Maybe you just stand there and 'enlighten' them with your deep understanding of Pure Beauty, and they'll get dazed and blurt something out!"
Wei Qing: "…"
Could that reasoning get any more insane?
He understood now—Bai Heng suspected the Annihilation Gang was connected to him.
Jing Yuan practically ground his teeth as he yanked Bai Heng into a corner of the study again.
"Bai Heng! What is wrong with you today?"
"Do you think the Shackling Prison is somewhere outsiders can just stroll into?"
"And 'enlighten the Annihilation Gang'? Do you hear yourself?!"
He was half convinced she'd been possessed by a heliobus—or that the fox in front of him was an impostor.
This wasn't "impulsive" anymore. This was deranged.
But Bai Heng didn't grin this time.
Her eyes were unusually serious.
"Jing Yuan, listen. I know it sounds absurd, but I have a gut feeling—an extremely strong one."
"I really think this could work."
Jing Yuan stared at her, trying to find even a trace of joking.
He found none.
He knew Bai Heng. She could be chaotic, but she would not stubbornly insist on something this ridiculous without a reason—without something compelling pulling at her from the inside.
So what was it about this "Dot-Dao" that could possibly hook her this hard?
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 178)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 139)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League ( 126 )
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter110)
Yu-Gi-Oh! — Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl (Chapter171)
"Is this chat group even serious?" (Chapter100)
I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (Chapter184)
Can Playing Games Save the World? 65
Crossover Anime Multiverse: The Demon Hunter of an Unnatural World 77
From Junkman to Wasteland 66
Weekly Refresh of Overpowered 31
I'm Grinding Proficiency Like 46
From Kiana, Lord Ravager, Onwa 168
Honkai: Is This Still the Prev 42
Elf: My Starter Pokémon Is Inc 65
Warhammer: My Primarch Is Remi 156
From Demon Slayer to Grand Ass 105
The Way the Umamusume Look at 68
Uma Musume, but My Cheat Power 185
Naruto: Weaving the Future, Be 65
Zenless Zone Zero, but Kamen R 76
Multiverse Crossover: The Perf 66
My Cyberpsycho Girlfriend 65
Uma Musume: The Dark Trainer 160
Uma Musume: A Calamity Born fr 150
I, a Reincarnation-Loop Player 76
The Violent Girl Group Is Beat 97
Uma Musume: The Horse Girl Who 66
Uma Musume: From Beginner 116
Becoming a Horse Girl, I Will 75
Uma Musume: I Want All 93
I Can Copy Unique Skills 79
Summoning an Evil God, but the 55
Supernatural Multiverse 75
My Harem Is Indescribable 68
Jujutsu Kaisen: Heroic Spirit 70
"I'm just a Valkyrie passing through." 66
Uma Musume: Today Is Another Romantic Battlefield 69
Still playing traditional Honk 49
The Most Filial Son Under Heav 53
What Should I Do After Switchi 42
Reincarnated as a Demon, Skill 50
Hell-Difficulty Dungeon? 38
Transmigrated as Sukuna 35
Checking In in Demon Slayer 40
The Reincarnating Trainer of Tracen Academy 55
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