Chapter 126: Why Is Lord Grand Diviner Rebelling?
Han Ya sucked the now-dazed Suiyang into the gourd and said to Meng Huaifeng, “The reason we came to Suiyuan tonight was precisely to seal it, but unexpectedly it was surprisingly cunning, always hiding and evading, causing us to return empty-handed several times. Thanks to you all again this time for helping us seal this Suiyang. By the way, Sister is still searching everywhere for it. I need to notify Sister to stop looking since Suiyang has already been sealed. It’s really strange—why did this Suiyang possess you all and throw itself into the net? If it had just hidden obediently, who knows how much effort it would have taken to find it. But anyway, this is a good thing. Now I can free up some time to spend with Sister, which makes me very happy just thinking about it.”
“I can’t tell at all how happy you are.” March 7th couldn’t help but retort upon hearing Han Ya’s completely flat tone.
“I’m truly sorry. I handle the ‘Interrogation’ among the four judges of detention and imprisonment in the Ten Lords’ Commission. Having probed too many messy memories, my emotional expression has been affected, making it hard to produce fluctuations. But the happiness is genuine from the heart. Actually, my tone does have fluctuations; it’s just that you can’t hear them. Only Sister can sense that.” Han Ya continued in her flat tone.
“Is there really a fluctuation? A Xing, Huai Feng, did you hear it?” March 7th asked.
A Xing shook her head; she hadn’t heard it either.
Meng Huaifeng mentally processed Han Ya’s voice with a program to create a waveform graph and discovered that when Han Ya said the last sentence, the fluctuation did rise a bit, but quickly fell back.
“Little Guizi, how are you? Are you okay? Judge Lord, will there be any aftereffects from being possessed by a ghost? What’s wrong with Little Guizi?” Sushang shook Gui Naifen, but Gui Naifen stared blankly without any reaction, looking to Han Ya for help.
“If possessed by Suiyang for a long time, it absorbs a large amount of emotions, which can indeed cause weakness and lethargy. But according to what you said, she was only possessed for a very short time, so she should be fine.” Han Ya said.
“It is a bit strange. This is a calming spirit talisman. Stick it on her and see if it can help her recover.” Huo Huo took a spirit talisman from her small crossbody bag and stuck it on Gui Naifen.
Gui Naifen slowly came back to her senses: “Just now… was I possessed by a ghost?”
“Not a ghost, it’s Suiyang.” Huo Huo corrected.
“Did I really turn off my live broadcast?” Gui Naifen asked in a somewhat despondent tone.
“Yeah. Didn’t you turn it off yourself?” Sushang said.
“It wasn’t me, it was the ghost, the ghost! A spirit exploration live broadcast that actually encountered a ghost and got possessed by one—this would be the first in live broadcast history! But then the broadcast got shut off, wuwu, my massive traffic! Wuwuwu.” Gui Naifen said heartbrokenly.
“Don’t cry. I have a video recording and can send it to you, of course, with the Ten Lords’ Commission’s permission.” Meng Huaifeng comforted.
“Judge Lord!” Gui Naifen rubbed her hands, looking at Han Ya expectantly. If not for respecting Han Ya’s status as a judge of the Ten Lords’ Commission, she probably would have hugged her leg and begged long ago.
“Some time ago, the Creation Furnace was destroyed by Abominable Medicine followers. Although it was discovered and repaired in time, quite a few Suiyang still escaped. In these days, we’ve captured and sealed most of them, but a few have yet to be found. Since she is your friend, the Ten Lords’ Commission can allow her to release related videos, but she must also use her internet-famous streamer identity to help us find traces of the remaining few Suiyang. How about it?” Han Ya said to Meng Huaifeng.
“Do you want to accept?” Meng Huaifeng asked.
“As long as I go viral and show my intent to continue spirit exploration elsewhere, countless netizens will provide me with intel! The timid starve, the bold prosper. I accept this request!” Gui Naifen said without hesitation.
“Alright then. Next, let Huo Huo be your advisor. You can ask her about any Suiyang-related issues.” Han Ya said.
“This… can I do it?” Huo Huo said, a bit unconfident.
“Be more confident. You’ve even faced the Envoy Huanlong; are you afraid of these small fries?” Meng Huaifeng encouraged.
“Exactly, and don’t you have me too?” Tail said.
“I didn’t help at all… Alright, I’ll do my best. Ever since seeing Huanlong, I’ve indeed felt less afraid of other demons and ghosts.” Huo Huo clenched her fist.
“The Ten Lords’ Commission’s mission this time is complete. Everyone, let us escort you out.” Seeing Xueyi return from afar, Han Ya said to Meng Huaifeng.
The group left Suiyuan under the escort of the Ten Lords’ Commission.
“Big Brother Huai Feng, when will you send me the video?” On the way, Gui Naifen asked Meng Huaifeng.
“Right away. By the way, what does it feel like to be possessed by Suiyang?” Meng Huaifeng asked curiously.
“No particular feeling, just like suddenly becoming a third party in your own body—able to see and hear, but unable to control anything.”
……
The next morning, the somewhat sleep-deprived trio yawned as they met up with Himeko and the others, who had already received the notice, at the Divine Strategy Army headquarters.
After handling the remnants of the Abominable Medicine, Fu Xuan had used the Observation Array to review the Huanlong invasion. After removing the Train Crew’s influence, no matter how it was calculated, the best outcome was half of Luofu’s grotto-heavens destroyed, severely depleting vitality and forcing a halt in a star domain for decades to recuperate.
Only then did Fu Xuan and Jing Yuan realize how great a favor they owed the Train Crew.
Jing Yuan once again solemnly thanked the Train Crew for their aid and presented a jade sign symbolizing the alliance bond.
Thousands of years ago, when the Alliance was formed, the various Xianzhou swore a joint oath, inscribed on the jade sign as eternal proof—unchanging even if heaven and earth perish.
The jade sign given to the Train Crew was the same, recording Luofu Cloud Cavalry’s promise to the Train Crew.
At the same time, it was also a beacon. Gripping it tightly would send a signal to its paired jade sign held by the Xianzhou.
No matter how vast the galaxy or how distant the journey, Luofu Cloud Cavalry would rush to rendezvous with the Train and fulfill its request.
……
Divination Department.
Qing Que arrived at work right on the dot, but as soon as she entered the Divination Department, she sensed something off in the atmosphere.
Everyone looked hurried and grave, with an air of solemn tension pervading, even the Cloud Cavalry guards on duty giving off a sense of imminent conflict.
“Sigh, what happened? Did the Great Annihilation Lord attack again?” Qing Que grabbed a familiar diviner and asked.
“Qing Que, you’re finally here. The Grand Diviner has been waiting for you. Hurry to the Grand Diviner’s office; she’ll tell you what happened.” The diviner said.
Qing Que nervously arrived at Fu Xuan’s office.
“Qing Que, you’re finally here. Can this seat trust you?” Fu Xuan was petite but spoke with full authority.
“What are you saying, Grand Diviner? Little Que admires you the most and is utterly loyal to you. Of course you can trust Little Que.” Qing Que patted her chest in assurance—empty words, anyone can say them.
“Very good.” Fu Xuan nodded in satisfaction: “This seat wishes to become General and needs support. The Sustainer Dragon Master has long been at odds with Jing Yuan. Go to the Imbibitor Dragon Clan and win them over for this seat to gain their support.”
“Ah?” Qing Que was stunned: “Wait, Grand Diviner, you’re serious?”
“Serious about what? This seat’s word is iron; when have I ever spoken falsely?” Fu Xuan frowned unhappily.
“This… this… General Jing Yuan is an Envoy; can you handle him?” Qing Que stammered.
“That’s not for you to worry about. Besides, when did this seat say anything about dealing with Jing Yuan? Will you do the task of winning over the Imbibitor Dragon Clan or not?” Fu Xuan demanded sharply.
“I… I… I…” Qing Que was sweating profusely.
“Was all that talk of loyalty to me just false?” Fu Xuan narrowed her eyes, a hint of killing intent leaking out.
“It’s real, real! Little Que will do it! I won’t fail the mission!” Qing Que nodded frantically, inwardly miserable.
“Very good. Succeed, and this seat promises you the position of Grand Diviner.” Fu Xuan said.
“Ah?”
Even if it succeeds, how are you repaying kindness with enmity?
Leaving the Divination Department, Qing Que was downcast. Leaving aside whether the Grand Diviner could outmaneuver Jing Yuan to become General, even if she did via unofficial channels, she’d face the Alliance’s accountability.
Report to General Jing Yuan?
No, no. Though the Grand Diviner was a bit… no, extremely overboard this time, she had always treated her well. She couldn’t betray her.
Strange—how could such a wise Grand Diviner suddenly have this unreliable thought?
Could she be possessed?
She had to find a way to get the Grand Diviner back to normal before she acted or got exposed!
She definitely couldn’t tell General Jing Yuan. Who else on Luofu could suppress the Grand Diviner?
Qing Que thought only of the Train Crew.
Given the Train Crew’s reputation, they probably wouldn’t report the Grand Diviner, right?
『Play Cards for Life: Bros, where are you? Something weird happened at the Divination Department; I want to ask for your help.』
『Breeze in Embrace: What weird thing? Tell me details.』
『Play Cards for Life: It’s complicated; let’s talk in person.』
Meng Huaifeng and Qing Que set the meeting place at Changle Pavilion.
When Meng Huaifeng, March 7th, and A Xing found Qing Que, she was playing cards.
“Still in the mood for cards? Looks like it’s not serious.” Meng Huaifeng said.
“Serious, of course serious, extremely serious! Pong!” Qing Que emphasized, yet still played a card.
“Really serious?” March 7th doubted.
“Real. But no matter how serious, moping with a bitter face changes nothing. Kong! Play a round of Emperor Huan Qiongyu—has no effect on the situation, kong again! So why not make myself happy?” Qing Que answered while her hands kept moving.
“We’re all here; why not end it quickly.” March 7th said.
“No rush; wait till I finish this round.”
“You really live up to your online name.” Meng Huaifeng said, amused.
“Folded! I have something to do; I’m leaving first. Note the money.”
Only after folding did Qing Que finally look tense, leading Meng Huaifeng and the other three to a secluded spot.
“Here’s what happened…” Qing Que recounted Fu Xuan’s abnormality in detail.
“Wow, is Fu Xuan really going for the top spot? So exciting; Galaxy Bat Man supports her!” A Xing’s eyes lit up.
“No way, General Jing Yuan is this girl’s senior brother, so of course I’m on General Jing Yuan’s side.” March 7th disagreed.
“Hey, I didn’t come to you to pick sides. I want you to help get the Grand Diviner back to normal—she’s definitely off right now. And she said she’d make me Grand Diviner; that’s terrifying!” Qing Que shuddered.
“You’re not doing this just because of that, are you?” Meng Huaifeng eyed Qing Que suspiciously.
“How could that be… okay, maybe a little, but mainly I don’t want to see Luofu in turmoil. I’m all for Luofu!” Qing Que patted her chest, looking loyal and devoted.
“Tch, you even have a bit of the Grand Diviner’s style—maybe even General isn’t impossible.” Meng Huaifeng laughed.
“Heh, don’t joke; I’m suited to be a sect leader.” Qing Que gave a dry laugh.
“Not joking. From what you said, Fu Xuan’s personality changed after leaving my illusion. My illusion doesn’t have that much power; more likely she was possessed by Suiyang.” Meng Huaifeng rubbed his chin, speculating.
They’d just gone through the Suiyang spirit exploration last night, and now seeing someone suddenly change personality—it was hard not to think of Suiyang.
Han Ya had said there were still several Suiyang unaccounted for.
“The powerful Fu Xuan Grand Diviner got controlled by Suiyang?” March 7th was skeptical; yesterday’s Suiyang couldn’t even control A Xing.
“Could it be… Huanlong’s back!” A Xing said startlingly, scaring March 7th and Qing Que.
“Not impossible, but low probability. Huanlong’s true body was badly injured by General Jing Yuan. Given her cowardly, hesitant-to-fight nature, she won’t risk coming to the Xianzhou before healing.” Meng Huaifeng refuted.
“Weird how Huanlong even became a Destruction Envoy.” March 7th said.
“I feel like I could be a Destruction Envoy too.” A Xing said.
“As for why the Grand Diviner was controlled by Suiyang, we can ask a professional.” Meng Huaifeng called Huo Huo.
Qing Que reached out to stop him, then withdrew— if it was Suiyang, the Ten Lords’ Commission judges were indeed more expert.
After Meng Huaifeng stated his question to Huo Huo, she immediately replied: “Ordinary Suiyang can’t directly control powerful people, but if the possessed person’s state of mind has a flaw, Suiyang seizes the opportunity, gradually guiding along emotions to fully control the host, turning them into a puppet. Even if not fully controlled, it can subtly influence the possessed’s thoughts, making them unknowingly act per Suiyang’s will. Big Brother Huai Feng, did you find a Suiyang?”
As expected of the Ten Lords’ Commission-recognized intern judge—professional knowledge spot-on, aside from being a bit timid.
“High probability.” Meng Huaifeng nodded.
“Wait for me; Little Guizi and I will head over right away.” Huo Huo said delightedly.
Meng Huaifeng hung up and said to March 7th and the others: “Looks like it. The Grand Diviner Fu Xuan must have been stimulated in my illusion during the day, and Suiyang took advantage of the vulnerability. Without Suiyang, a little stimulation would have passed overnight, but unfortunately, too coincidental. This is all because of me; I’ll definitely resolve it.”
Meng Huaifeng felt slightly embarrassed—who could’ve foreseen this?
“Wow, who would’ve thought—the wise Grand Diviner stumbles on Suiyang.” Qing Que was slightly gloating but quickly schooled her expression, coughing dryly: “I mean, if rebelling wasn’t her true intent, that’s great. Now I don’t feel guilty toward the Grand Diviner. This is on you guys.”
Today is the Ghost Festival; went to burn paper for ancestors, a bit late.
