Caelus silently watched Qingque's back, then slowly turned his head to look at the pink-haired girl standing not far away, her hands crossed over her chest and an eye embedded in her forehead.
"Greetings, Master Diviner."
Caelus greeted her, then picked up his Jade Abacus to send a message to Qingque.
[Traveler: Que'er, you've been busted. Master Diviner is here with me.]
[Playing Cards For Life: !!!]
[Playing Cards For Life: Good brother, thanks for the heads-up! You're a true friend! Next time I'll buy more of your snacks!]
"Are you done with your message?" Fu Xuan, the Master Diviner of the Divination Commission, stood in front of the snack stall and looked at Caelus.
"Yes, I'm done. I reckon Qingque won't be going to her usual card game spot now. I don't know where she's hiding."
"Hmph! Her lazy nature remains the same as ever, no amount of lecturing will change it. Oh well, there's nothing to do anyway. I'll spare her this time."
"I've heard that the food at your snack stall is quite good. Do you have any desserts?"
Caelus glanced at the Eye of Prescience embedded in Fu Xuan's forehead and said, "Would you like me to make some food for you, Master Diviner, that can alleviate pain?"
"Oh? I'm curious. What do you add to this pain-relieving food of yours?"
"It's some emotions. Consuming these emotions can alleviate physical pain."
"That sounds like something from Penacony."
"The principle should be similar, I suppose. I haven't tasted it myself."
"Very well. In that case, make some for me."
Caelus placed a few egg tarts in front of the stall. Fu Xuan picked one up and popped it into her mouth. She was surprised to find that after tasting the egg tart, a feeling of pleasure rose in her heart. This even caused the pain in her forehead, which had been throbbing constantly because of the embedded eye, to subside significantly, far more effectively than the overly sweet milk tea she usually drank.
"...A very good dessert. Where do you usually set up your stall?"
"No fixed time, no fixed location."
"Then why do you run a stall?"
"Earn a bit when I'm broke, play when I have money."
"..."
The next day, inside the Divination Commission.
"Caelus?" Qingque looked at her friend, who was standing behind the window wearing a chef's uniform, with a bewildered expression in the cafeteria.
"Yeah, Master Diviner wanted to eat my cooking every day, so she stuffed me in here. I'm officially on the payroll now."
"So you just brought your slacking-off stall directly into the system!"
"Fu Xuan, Minister Fu, your spirits seem much better lately. Have you encountered something happy?"
A young man with fluffy white hair rested his hand on the desk, smiling as he watched Fu Xuan submit her report.
"It's nothing much. I hired a cook with good skills for the Divination Commission. The food he makes regularly is decent, but definitely not amazing. However, perhaps because he is a traveler on the Path of Remembrance, he has a unique skill. He can incorporate emotions into the dishes he makes, which gives them a special flavor and also alleviates the pain caused by the Eye of Prescience. It's just that his nature is too lazy and casual. If I hadn't recruited him into the Divination Commission, I probably wouldn't see him every three days."
Fu Xuan sighed. She had originally thought that a master slacker like Qingque was already top-tier, but she hadn't expected to recruit someone even more heavyweight. This cook only made lunch. Previously, Fu Xuan had wanted him to cover all three meals, but no matter how much money she added, he wouldn't do it. He only made lunch and occasionally accepted snack reservations from people he was on good terms with.
"A cook who can earn such praise from Fu Xuan, Minister Fu, and even be recruited into your Divination Commission with certain privileges, I'm very curious. It's almost noon, why don't you take me to try it, Fu Xuan, Minister Fu?"
"Sure, but General, the dishes he makes every noon are different and depend entirely on his mood. If you have any dietary restrictions, I can't help it."
"I don't have any dietary restrictions, it's fine. Oh, go call Yanqing over. As his master, when I come across something delicious, I should share it with my good apprentice."
The white-haired young man smiled, and after waiting there with Fu Xuan for a while, a boy hurried over.
"General! Do you have something important to find me for?" The boy named Yanqing's eyes were full of anticipation.
"Sigh! There's no urgent matter, I just heard that Fu Xuan, Minister Fu, has a cook with exceptional skills, so we're going there to have a taste this noon."
"Oh." Yanqing looked a bit disappointed. He had thought he could finally help his master and take on some responsibilities, but it turned out to be just going for a meal.
Inside the Divination Commission...
"You're really something. This cafeteria didn't have many people eating here, but since you came, there hasn't been a shortage of people every noon." Qingque took the prepared food from Caelus, smelled the fragrant aroma, and couldn't help but say.
Caelus didn't say much. After all, there were still people queuing behind her, so this wasn't the time for idle chatter.
Not long after, Fu Xuan brought General Jing Yuan and his apprentice Yanqing into the cafeteria.
The diviners who were eating were enjoying the food. When they saw the General coming, they all stood up wanting to greet him, but Jing Yuan smiled and waved his hand, indicating that they didn't need to do that and should just focus on eating.
Jing Yuan came to the window and looked at Caelus. He carefully observed this young man. No matter which aspect he looked at, the person in front of him was extraordinarily ordinary, as if there were nothing about him that could attract attention, but for some reason, he was very easy to remember.
"Mr. Caelus, I heard that you can incorporate emotions into food. I wonder if this is true?"
Caelus looked at the Divine Foresight of the Xianzhou Luofu in front of him. Even without wearing the Eater of Emotions Mask, he could tell that the Xianzhou General, the Lord Ravager of the Hunt, was in a very poor mental state.
"You are not far from becoming mara-struck."
As soon as these words were spoken, the smiling Jing Yuan looked slightly surprised, and Yanqing behind him stepped out, ready to reprimand him, but was stopped by Jing Yuan's raised hand.
"As expected of someone who can incorporate emotions into dishes. Sir, take a look, how much time do I have left?"
"You have too much suppressed in your heart. The only reason you can maintain a normal mental state now is entirely because of your sense of responsibility and your regard for the Xianzhou Luofu. You carry too much on your shoulders. If you don't find a way to vent the pressure you've accumulated over these many years, you will soon become mara-struck after you step down."
Caelus didn't expect this Xianzhou General to have so much pressure in his heart. Could it be that he had suffered some major accident in the past, or was it because the current Xianzhou Luofu lacked successors?
"Sir, you are really direct."
"I don't know how to beat around the bush. What would you like to eat?"
Jing Yuan maintained his smile, chose a few dishes, and then sat down in the cafeteria without any airs, eating with Yanqing and Fu Xuan, who seemed hesitant to speak.
Jing Yuan picked up a piece of meat and put it in his mouth. After chewing it carefully, his usually narrowed eyes opened slightly. His thoughts couldn't help but return to the past.
"Jing Yuan, in the future, I want to become a Trailblazer, you want to be a Galaxy Ranger, Dan Feng will definitely stay to be the High Elder, Jingliu might become the General, and Yingxing doesn't have much lifespan left. By then, our High-Cloud Quintet will have to part ways..."
"How can there be a banquet that never ends? Besides, my life has already been wonderful enough."
"When we gather, let's not talk about these things. Come, let's use tea instead of wine to celebrate that everyone can achieve their goals!"
"Why don't you get some real wine!"
"Because some people go crazy when they drink too much."
"Then who cheated by secretly using Cloudhymn magic?"
"The bodies of the Vidyadhara are just cheating. I consider my alcohol tolerance to be quite good, but I still can't compare to you."
"I heard recently that those Abominations of Abundance seem to be stirring. We aren't going to war, are we?"
"Then it's the perfect opportunity to spread the fame of our High-Cloud Quintet! We must let the entire Xianzhou know that there are five genius figures among the younger generation! Haha!"
"You, you're drunk before you've even had a drink."
Everything from yesterday flashed before his eyes, but when he came back to his senses, the people around him had all changed.
Those who should have died didn't, and those who shouldn't have died did. Those who should have stayed didn't stay, and those who didn't want to stay were forced to stay and bear everything.
Jing Yuan silently finished his meal. Every bite contained a flavor called reminiscence, which made him recall the past uncontrollably.
Recalling his high-spirited self looking up at the starry sky. Recalling his master holding a long sword, clearing out the Abominations of Abundance. Recalling the craftsman who, despite being short-lived, far surpassed most long-lived species in forging. Recalling the High Elder who looked calm but cared more about his companions than anyone else. Recalling the old friend who always had a smile on his face, wanting to become a Trailblazer and travel the sea of stars. It felt like yesterday, yet also felt like a lifetime ago.
"General..." Yanqing asked Jing Yuan in a worried tone. Since he had taken the first bite of the dish, the smile that Jing Yuan had always maintained had vanished from his face.
"It's fine. This dish really has some depth, right, Fu Xuan, Minister Fu?"
Fu Xuan also came back to her senses from the past. She subconsciously touched the Eye of Prescience on her forehead, and a slightly bitter smile appeared on her face as she said, "Yes, but why is it this flavor today? If I had known, I shouldn't have let the General come."
"Always avoiding the past might actually increase the pressure. Now, through this dish, I've recalled many past events. Although my mind has been shaken, it has also eased some of the accumulated pressure."
Jing Yuan's smile returned to his face. He reached out and patted Yanqing's head, saying, "Yanqing, did you taste anything?"
"I... I just couldn't help but recall the scenes of me practicing the sword with the General."
"Haha! It seems Yanqing values me as his master very much." ...I only hope that when the time comes to act in the future, you won't hesitate, Yanqing. Do not forget what I have taught you. Those who become mara-struck have their six senses overturned and lose all human morality. When that time comes, make sure you don't loosen your grip on your sword, Yanqing.
Fu Xuan took a bite of the small cake customized by Caelus, feeling the pleasant emotion, which eased the pain in her body significantly. She then thought of what Caelus had said at noon and couldn't help but sigh.
"Since you can barely hold on, why force yourself to keep going? Retiring from the General's position early and resting for a while might add a few more years to your lifespan, but you just won't do it."
Fu Xuan actually understood Jing Yuan's current situation. Otherwise, she wouldn't always be clamoring for him to step down from the General's position so she could take over. She wasn't really coveting that position, she just didn't want Jing Yuan to be so tired anymore.
But the current Xianzhou Luofu was really lacking in successors. Among the younger generation, although there was a top talent like Yanqing, he was ultimately too young and hadn't grown up yet, and there weren't many others who were impressive.
"If I became the General, who would take the position of Luofu Master Diviner? Transfer someone from another Xianzhou? That would be clearly telling everyone that the Luofu has no younger generation capable of taking on the mantle.
"I have indeed thought about letting Qingque succeed me. After all, within this Divination Commission, Qingque's ability is indeed the most outstanding. But her temperament is still not quite right. Perhaps in another hundred years or so, after her playful heart gradually calms down, she will be suitable for this position."
The reason why the Xianzhou Luofu is currently lacking in successors has to be attributed to the Imbibitor Lunae Sedition.
And whenever she thought of the Imbibitor Lunae Sedition, Fu Xuan could only sigh helplessly, it was a tragedy.
Fu Xuan subconsciously reached out to take a piece of cake from the box, but found that she grabbed empty air. Turning her head to look, she found that the cake in the box had already been eaten.
(To be continued.)
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◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
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