"General!" ×2
The Cloud Knights tasked with guarding the prison immediately stood at attention upon recognizing Jing Yuan, saluting with the formal Cloud Knight military salute. At the same time, their gazes toward March 7th and Stelle shifted noticeably.
When the two had mentioned earlier that they would summon their general to vouch for someone, the guards had been shocked. After all, in the vast Xianzhou Alliance, the position of General was truly second only to one, above ten thousand others.
Aside from the Xianzhou Marshal and the other six of the Seven Arbiter-Generals of the Reignbow Arbiter, no one could challenge his authority.
Thus, after the two presented the token from the Seat of Divine Foresight, the guards promptly transferred Welt and Luocha to two relatively clean cells and halted plans to move the two prisoners to the Shackling Prison.
"Well done, everyone."
Jing Yuan offered a warm smile to the dutiful Cloud Knights, then patted their shoulders.
"Could you please lead the way for me?"
"Yes, sir!" ×2
The two Cloud Knights, elated by the General's encouragement, eagerly took the lead to guide the group of three.
When the group arrived at the cells, the first thing they saw was Welt's somewhat embarrassed expression.
"General Jing Yuan, I am ashamed. I nearly caused a great disturbance for the Xianzhou," Welt said, bowing slightly in the Xianzhou's customary gesture of respect before letting out a remorseful sigh.
"No need for self-blame, Mr. Welt," Jing Yuan replied, shaking his head lightly. "I believe there must be some hidden circumstances at play. First, let me meet the other prisoner."
"General, this way, please!"
Under the Cloud Knights' guidance, Jing Yuan approached the cell next to Welt's. Upon seeing Luocha's pitiful state, he couldn't help but furrow his brow.
However, as he carefully observed the prisoner's attire and appearance, his furrowed brows gradually relaxed, replaced by a slight squinting of his eyes, and eventually, a faint smile curled at the corner of his mouth.
"Truly, I searched high and low, only to find it effortlessly."
"Cloud Knights, release Mr. Welt," Jing Yuan instructed, gesturing to the guard standing nearby.
"Yes, sir!" The Cloud Knight obeyed promptly, returning to Welt's cell, taking the key from his waist, and unlocking the door.
The entire process was smooth and fluid, without the slightest hesitation or doubt. A soldier's duty was to follow orders, and the reasons behind them were not for a mere Cloud Knight to question or ponder.
"Thank you, General Jing Yuan," Welt said, offering another gesture of gratitude.
Jing Yuan merely shook his head lightly.
"No need to thank me, Mr. Welt. In fact, I should be thanking you. This time, you've helped us apprehend a major criminal."
"I'm right, aren't I, Mr. Luocha?"
Stelle: ???
March 7th: ???
Welt: …I knew anyone with that face couldn't be up to any good!
"Speak. What is your purpose for coming to the Xianzhou? The Stellaron—was it you who brought it aboard the Xianzhou?!"
Jing Yuan's gaze sharpened, and with a flash, his blade, Starfall Reverie, was summoned, its sharp edge pointed at Luocha, stopping just ten centimeters from his face.
"…Why would the General say such a thing?"
Facing the blade before him, Luocha showed no signs of panic. Instead, he responded with a calm and composed counterquestion.
"Hmph. Ever since the day a merchant who shouldn't have appeared showed up at the Artisanship Commission, I had my people investigate your movements," Jing Yuan said.
"It's quite strange, isn't it? You claim to be a merchant, yet in such a short time, we couldn't find a single trace of information about you."
At this, Luocha raised an eyebrow. "That doesn't prove anything, does it? As you said, General, it's only that you haven't found information about me in a short time. That doesn't mean my identity is false, does it?"
"Heh, if I had any doubts before, I'm completely certain now," Jing Yuan chuckled, the Starfall Reverie in his hand crackling with arcs of lightning that gathered at the blade's tip.
"An ordinary person, a mere merchant, facing the intimidation of one of the Seven Arbiter-Generals of the Reignbow Arbiter—how could they show no trace of fear?"
Jing Yuan's words reached the ears of the group, and the Trailblazers all turned to look at Luocha. The blond man lowered his head slightly, remaining silent for a moment before speaking in a low, eerie tone.
"Heh, the General of the Seat of Divine Foresight truly lives up to his reputation." As he spoke, a faint green glow emanated from Luocha's body. The face that March 7th and Stelle had deemed "monstrous" healed at an astonishing speed. In just a few breaths, the refined, gentlemanly visage reappeared.
"This…" "That's incredible!"
March 7th and Stelle exclaimed in unison. Just moments ago, he had looked like a swollen mess, and now he was back to being a handsome man. Such a technique was simply too enviable!
For delicate, fair-skinned girls like them… er, young women, the fear of disfigurement was real. The Trailblazers' journey was fraught with danger and opportunity, and injuries were inevitable.
Jing Yuan paid no mind to the exclamations around him, his gaze fixed firmly on Luocha. The lightning on his Starfall Reverie intensified.
"Abomination of the Abundance…"
———————————
"Qingque, get out here this instant! I know you're home! Open the door for me right now!"
In front of Qingque's house, a pink-haired little girl was furiously pounding on the door's knocker. The metal ring clashed loudly against its iron base, producing a resounding clang, clang, clang.
"Qingque, how long are you going to hide? Open the door now! If you don't, I'll smash your front door down! You have three minutes!"
With that, the furious Fu Xuan stopped knocking, crossed her arms, and waited silently for Qingque to appear.
Our dear Master Diviner Fu Xuan had already been waiting here for a full half-hour, yet no matter how much she knocked, there was no response from inside.
The commotion Fu Xuan caused was so loud that it had reached the level of serious disturbance. During her wait, patrolling Cloud Knights had come to investigate. However, upon seeing that the one banging on the door was the furious Master Diviner, they all slipped away as quickly as if their feet were greased.
As for whether Qingque was actually home…
Our Master Diviner had already divined it. The Matrix of Prescience Ultima had scanned the entire estate, revealing that it was in an unreadable state. And it was precisely because it was unreadable that it confirmed Qingque was indeed inside.
Meanwhile, inside Qingque's home, at an angle unseen by Fu Xuan…