A short distance from the bustling main street where Fu Hua was, in an equally lively but more homely alleyway, Jing Yuan sat leisurely on a small stool. In front of him was a low table, on which were several plates of freshly fried, steaming street snacks—golden fried lotus root cake, fragrant bird skewers, and two bowls of soda douzhier with a lingering aftertaste.
Standing beside him, Yanqing, dressed in the light armor of the Cloud Knights, stood ramrod straight, but his face showed clear confusion and a hint of awkwardness.
"General,"
Yanqing couldn't help but speak in a low voice, his brows slightly furrowed, "Why must you dine in a place like this? If you wish to enjoy fine cuisine, the mansion has its own chefs who can prepare exquisite meals, or a renowned restaurant would also..."
Jing Yuan picked up a bird skewer, skillfully blew on it, took a bite, and with a satisfied expression, interrupted the young man: "Ah, Yanqing, you don't understand."
He swallowed the food and pointed the bamboo skewer at the noisy surroundings: next to them was a vendor loudly hawking and working quickly, at the table next door, several workers who had just finished their shifts were drinking and laughing, and further away, children were chasing each other, holding candy figures.
"The dishes in the mansion are certainly exquisite, and the banquets in restaurants are indeed grand."
Jing Yuan's voice carried a lazy yet wise tone, "But some flavors, some atmospheres, can only truly be tasted and felt in these street corners and alleyways."
He looked at Yanqing, his golden eyes, usually half-closed as if indifferent to everything, now held a serious meaning: "Look at these people, they might have just finished a day's labor, or are taking advantage of leisure time to gather with friends, or perhaps, like us, simply passing by, attracted by the aroma. The vibrant atmosphere here is the most real and lively essence of the Luofu."
"We protect the Luofu, and what we protect is not just the grand buildings and important institutions, nor merely repelling external enemies."
Jing Yuan picked up another snack and handed it to Yanqing, "What we must protect even more is this 'everyday life' that allows ordinary people to live and work in peace and contentment, to freely enjoy a moment of leisure. This seemingly insignificant everyday atmosphere is the most important thing that forms the foundation of the Luofu."
Yanqing dazedly took the snack, looking at the glistening, tempting food, and then at the people around them with simple joy on their faces, seeming to somewhat understand the General's intention.
He carefully took a bite, and the crispy-on-the-outside, tender-on-the-inside texture made his eyes slightly brighten.
"It tastes... good."
The young swordsman murmured, the awkwardness on his face having dissipated considerably.
Jing Yuan smiled, picked up the bowl of soda douzhier that Yanqing found somewhat "suspicious," and took a leisurely sip: "Relax, Yanqing. As a future pillar, you must not only be able to wield a sword to ward off enemies beyond the star sea, but also know how to bend down and feel the human world. This is what constitutes complete 'protection'."
Just as the bowl of douzhi'er in Jing Yuan's hand swayed slightly with his leisurely rhythm.
The corner of his eye sharply caught a white figure with striking dragon horns and a dragon tail darting across the crowd on the opposite street.
(That little fellow, Bailu...)
A knowing smile appeared at the corner of Jing Yuan's mouth, (It seems the Alchemy Commission's caretakers are going to have a headache again. Oh well, it's a child's nature, a little relaxation now and then won't hurt.)
He paid no mind, raising his hand to bring the uniquely flavored drink to his mouth.
However, in the very next moment, his movements suddenly froze!
In his peripheral vision, in the direction where Bailu had disappeared, another white figure swiftly swept through the crowd right after!
At the same time, a faint shout, severely disrupted by the market's clamor but carrying a familiar tone, vaguely reached him.
This fleeting glimpse of a figure, that vague yet soul-stirring familiarity... "..."
The bowl in Jing Yuan's hand tilted slightly, and a few drops of douzhi'er spilled onto the table.
He himself was as if struck by a petrification spell, frozen in place, his usually half-closed golden eyes suddenly wide open.
(That figure... could it be... no, impossible...)
"General?"
Yanqing, noticing his abnormality, called out in confusion.
Jing Yuan suddenly snapped back to reality, took a deep breath, and forcibly suppressed the tumultuous waves in his heart.
He slowly put down the bowl, shook his head at Yanqing, and forced a somewhat stiff smile: "Nothing... I just thought I saw a familiar shadow, probably... an illusion."
He tried to convince himself with words, but the sudden acceleration of his heartbeat and the vague face from hundreds of years ago churning in his mind could not be easily calmed.
He shook his head, as if to dispel this untimely hallucination, and picked up the bowl again.
(It must be that recent official duties have been too exhausting...)
He thought self-deprecatingly, preparing to calm his nerves with a mouthful of douzhi'er.
However, fate seemed determined to stir up trouble on his ordinary night—
As soon as he tilted his head back, bringing the rim of the bowl to his lips, a figure walking directly towards the snack stall entered his vision!
It was a tall, serene girl (?), with waist-length grey hair, dressed in elegant white and blue attire.
Her steps were steady, her gaze calmly sweeping over the surrounding vendors, seemingly just attracted by the lively atmosphere.
"Pfft—cough, cough!"
Jing Yuan was caught off guard, almost choking on the douzhi'er in his mouth. After forcibly swallowing it, he felt a chill shoot straight from his spine to the top of his head!
(Marshal... Marshal?!)
If the previous figure only made him doubt if he was seeing things, then this one before him, her appearance and demeanor, were clearly identical to Marshal Hua, who commanded the Xianzhou Alliance! (Praise Madam Herta!)
That was the supreme commander of the Xianzhou Alliance, whose status was far above his, the General of the Luofu!
Jing Yuan's brain instantly went into overdrive.
Why would the Marshal suddenly visit the Luofu? And in such a... incognito manner?
The Seat of Divine Foresight had not received any notification!
Was it a secret inspection? Or an extremely important special mission?
The enormous question marks made him almost instinctively straighten his previously somewhat lazy posture. The relaxed aura of the "Blissful General" instantly retracted, replaced by the awe and respect one shows to a supreme superior—even though he was currently in casual clothes, trying to hide his presence.
He stared intently at Fu Hua's figure, his heart gripped by an invisible hand.
However, Fu Hua seemed not to notice him in the corner.
Her gaze swept over the various snacks, finally resting with some curiosity on the fried lotus root cake at the stall next door, without looking towards Jing Yuan.
(That's it... it must be an incognito visit, not wanting to expose her identity!)
Jing Yuan's mind raced, and he quickly "understood" the situation.
As the General of the Luofu, he naturally knew how to cooperate.
He saw Fu Hua's gaze seem to inadvertently sweep in his direction, and immediately tried to adjust his facial expression, giving her a knowing smile and a slight nod of greeting.
Fu Hua noticed the gaze and smile from the white-haired man sitting by the roadside, who seemed to possess an extraordinary demeanor.
Although she didn't understand why, out of basic courtesy in an unfamiliar environment, she mimicked his gesture, calmly nodding in response, her face still expressionless, and then returned her attention to the steaming food at the snack stall.
(Indeed!)
Jing Yuan's heart settled, feeling that he had completely understood the "Marshal's" hint.
(She doesn't want to make a fuss, just a mutual understanding.)
He sat thoughtfully on the stool, his fingers unconsciously tapping the tabletop, and began to rapidly ponder the Marshal's possible purpose for this secret visit, and whether there were any oversights in the Luofu recently that needed immediate rectification.
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