Caelus was invited to the Alchemy Commission, where he saw Fu Xuan lying on the hospital bed. Her mental state was clearly and abnormally chaotic, her body had suffered some damage, and she was currently unconscious.
Seeing her condition, Caelus knew exactly who had been prying into his fate.
"It seems that although her luck was a bit poor, it didn't reach the two worst-case scenarios. Although Fu Xuan observed Nyarlathotep, because she had the flower I gifted as a barrier, she only suffered the most conventional alienation of moral common sense. Fortunately, her will was firm and strong enough to endure the initial distortion and see the flower. Otherwise, she would likely be Mara-Struck by now."
Actually, it should have originally been a 3/7 probability of choosing a bad outcome, but because the number seven could not form a balanced opposition, Equilibrium hid itself, forming a balanced situation of three good and three bad outcomes.
So, theoretically, was Equilibrium also a form of obsessive-compulsive disorder?
With an apologetic smile on his face, Jing Yuan stepped forward and said to Caelus, "Mr. Caelus, I deeply apologize for my previous offense. If you harbor any resentment, please speak your mind. I will accept your criticism and your rebukes. But I beg of you, help Fu Xuan. She needs you right now."
Caelus looked at the apologizing Jing Yuan, watched him for a few seconds, and then said flatly, "Your condition is also deteriorating. Many things have happened recently, making the burden on your soul even heavier. If this continues, you might become the first general to become Mara-Struck while in office."
As Caelus spoke, he fumbled in his pocket for a moment, pulled out a box of packaged chocolates, and handed it over.
"I know the Xianzhou has been having problems lately, and you haven't had enough rest. These chocolates contain relaxing and soothing emotions that can alleviate your condition. They were originally an order for the Master Diviner, but you should use them for now. I'll make more later."
Jing Yuan silently accepted the chocolates. After a sigh, he said, "Whatever reward you require, sir, just name it. As long as Fu Xuan can recover her health, my Xianzhou Luofu will surely repay you with all its might."
"Mm, the reward I want is the same as always. Just give me enough stories."
"Then I shall leave Fu Xuan in your hands, sir. I still have many matters to attend to. As you know, the Luofu has been unstable lately, and there are many things that must be handled. Farewell."
Jing Yuan left quickly, leaving only the doctors in charge of care, Dan Shu, who had been examining the patient earlier, and the Cloud Knights stationed at the door in the room.
Caelus glanced at Dan Shu but did not interact with her. He silently sat down by Fu Xuan's hospital bed, then reached into his pocket. On the surface, it looked like he was taking something out, but in reality, he manifested a small, pure white flower directly in his hand and placed it on Fu Xuan's chest.
The flower emitted an elegant, light fragrance, causing Fu Xuan's furrowed brows to slowly relax, and even her pale complexion regained a hint of color.
Standing to the side, Dan Shu also smelled that strange floral scent. A soft, peaceful, and extremely soothing feeling arose in her heart, as if all the accumulated hatred, anger, and even pathological distortions deep within her were calmed by this fragrance.
Dan Shu said nothing and simply left with the doctors in charge of care.
She was afraid that smelling the fragrance would make her recall the past, the promise she once made with Yufei, and that fixed appearance always etched in her memory.
She was afraid she would have a change of heart.
Caelus sat by Fu Xuan's bed, picked up a novel circulating within the Xianzhou, and began to read quietly.
Time passed slowly. At night, a strange, faint fragrance drifted in. The Cloud Knights guarding the door suddenly felt dizzy, then collapsed to the ground, losing their mobility and consciousness for a short time.
Then, the ward door was pushed open, and Dan Shu walked in with several doctors. Hearing the sound of pages still turning, she sighed helplessly and said, "Why must you wade into these muddy waters, sir? If you had left earlier, why would you face this calamity now? I'm afraid this time you'll have no choice but to join our Disciples of Sanctus Medicus."
"Go back, Dan Shu."
Caelus advised.
"Impossible. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Although I don't know why our Master Diviner suffered such mental damage, it doesn't matter. She only needs to take our secret medicine and undergo a little harmonization. I believe the Master Diviner will recover quickly and understand that Abundance is the path we Xianzhou people should take."
Caelus closed the book and stood up, watching as the accompanying doctors transformed into monsters covered in plants.
"Mr. Caelus, for the sake of our decent relationship, please leave. This matter is an internal conflict of our Xianzhou and has nothing to do with you. Otherwise, we will have to use some forceful measures."
"Chief, why waste words on him! He's just a cook who's good at making food. If you ask me, just do it! He's just one person, how could he possibly beat so many of us? Besides, the entire Alchemy Commission is our people!"
Perhaps because they were becoming Mara-Struck, the mental state of the accompanying doctors was not very good, and their emotions were inevitably restless.
"Sigh, so be it."
Dan Shu sighed and turned to leave the ward, seemingly acquiescing to what would happen next.
She stood outside the ward for a good while, but no sound came from behind her.
What she did not see was that the doctors becoming Mara-Struck, who were about to attack, froze in place one by one. The plants on their bodies gradually became lush and twisted, and their flesh began to mutate, rapidly transforming into wooden structures. Until finally, everyone who attempted to attack turned into motionless wooden statues that still possessed life.
"Return."
The wooden statues shattered, turning into countless wood chips that merged into the floor tiles, eventually returning to the soil below and becoming nutrients for this land.
Caelus walked to the door and looked at Dan Shu, who was standing there in a daze. He said nothing, closed the ward door, returned to his seat, and picked up his book again.
He was only here to help Fu Xuan recover. Dealing with these Disciples of Sanctus Medicus people was purely because they were disturbing his work. As long as they did not step into this ward and try to do something, it had nothing to do with him.
After standing silently for a while, Dan Shu said outside the door, "The Cloud Knights protecting this place, both in the open and in the shadows, have been knocked out by my drugs. When they wake up, there will surely be a major move. At that time, Jing Yuan will inevitably question you and might even imprison you. You are no longer trusted, so why bother?"
"Mm."
Caelus gave a lukewarm response and said no more. Dan Shu eventually had to give up in frustration. Travelers on the Path of Remembrance were indeed too eerie. So many people had been dealt with without making a single sound.
Although her side still had many people and even stronger trump cards that had not been used, revealing them now would mean abandoning the entire subsequent plan.
"Then, good luck to you."
When those Cloud Knights woke up and found their large numbers unconscious, they would surely report to Jing Yuan. Then, doctors from the Alchemy Commission would be sent to investigate. At that time, she would only need to frame him with a few casual remarks, and even if Caelus knew many secrets, it would be to no avail.
Thinking this, Dan Shu turned and walked away quickly.
(To be continued.)
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