Fu Zhu patted the restrained Borisin on the head a few times, then turned to Yanqing and said: "Lock them up. Leaving them on the street makes it easy to scare passersby."
Yanqing nodded, then looked at the Borisin sitting obediently in front of Xing. After hesitating for a moment, he asked Fu Zhu: "Master, what about this Borisin?"
Out of trust in Fu Zhu, he believed this Borisin had already been tamed by Xing, but the idea of a Borisin being tamed into a dog was still too inconceivable. As a native of the Xianzhou, he was a bit worried.
Fu Zhu saw the worry in Yanqing's hesitation, walked over, and patted his shoulder reassuringly: "Don't worry, I won't make things difficult for you. Take this one along as well. Xing, give it an order to cooperate with all of the Xianzhou's investigative work."
Xing nodded, turned her head, and repeated the command. The Borisin squatting in front of her immediately stood up and stood quietly beside Yanqing, waiting for someone to take it away.
"Many thanks, Master, and Teacher Xing."
Yanqing expressed his gratitude, then immediately waved to a squad of Cloud Knights rushing towards them. He spoke with a somewhat chilly tone: "Who is in charge of escorting the criminals? Don't you know that prisoner transport ships cannot stop at ordinary ferry crossings?"
In the Cloud Knight squad rushing over, two people lagged behind. After taking a look at the tamed Borisin, they quietly retreated and slipped away.
After Yanqing scolded the arriving squad, he let them take the two Borisin away from the scene.
Then, Yanqing spoke respectfully to the four: "Everyone, sorry for the sudden accident. Shall we go to the Seat of Divine Foresight now? The General is still waiting there."
The four had no objections and followed Yanqing toward the Seat of Divine Foresight.
...
Inside the Seat of Divine Foresight, Jing Yuan was chatting and laughing with an elder in front of him when Yanqing led the guests in.
"General, I've brought Master Fu Zhu and the others... Are you entertaining a guest? My apologies, Yanqing came at a bad time."
"No, no, no." Jing Yuan, with his hands behind his back, turned around with a smile. Seeing the four of them, he walked forward quickly: "You've come at just the right time. I'm not the only one here looking forward to meeting you all."
As soon as Jing Yuan said this, Fu Zhu and the other three immediately turned their heads to look at the elder he had been chatting with earlier.
Fu Zhu immediately glanced at the marker on his [Minimap].
[Xianzhou Zhuming · General Zhuyuan · Huaiyan]
Another Arbiter-General?
Besides that, apart from Jing Yuan and General Huaiyan, there was another marker existing within the Seat of Divine Foresight.
[Xianzhou Zhuming · Flamewheel Octroleader · Yunli]
Although Fu Zhu didn't quite understand what the so-called 'Flamewheel Octroleader' was, since she could stand within this Seat of Divine Foresight and belonged to the Xianzhou Zhuming like General Huaiyan, the identity of this person named Yunli couldn't be simple either.
Knowing the elder's identity, and out of respect for an elder, Fu Zhu followed the etiquette of the Xianzhou, placing one hand over his chest and bowing to Huaiyan.
"Nameless Fu Zhu, greetings to General Huaiyan."
As soon as Fu Zhu said this, everyone present, including Jing Yuan and Huaiyan, was stunned for a moment. March 7th and the other two, as well as Yanqing, hurriedly followed Fu Zhu's movement to bow to Huaiyan.
"Greetings to Old General Huaiyan."
After a brief moment of surprise, Huaiyan cheerfully stroked his white beard: "Haha, worthy of being Little Friend Fu Zhu. Just like the rumors say, you have the ability to see through the identities of others at a glance."
Fu Zhu smiled and waved his hand modestly: "Old General Huaiyan jests. This is nothing more than a trivial trick of mine, not worth mentioning."
"Haha, Little Friend Fu Zhu possesses such ability yet is so humble. I really should make my granddaughter learn a thing or two from you."
"Grandpa! Where am I not humble?"
The girl's voice rang out accompanied by the sound of silver bells. Yunli walked barefoot to Huaiyan's side, hugged his arm, and spoke with dissatisfaction.
Huaiyan laughed heartily, raised his hand to pat her small head, and then turned to introduce her to Fu Zhu and the others: "Although Little Friend Fu Zhu may already know my granddaughter's name, the others do not. Let me introduce her. This is my granddaughter, Yunli. This time, I brought her to the Luofu's Wardance Ceremony to broaden her horizons, to let her know that there are always people beyond people and heavens beyond heavens."
Fu Zhu and the others also nodded amicably at Yunli. Yunli, however, kept her gaze fixed on Fu Zhu, staring at him until he felt somewhat bewildered.
"Yunli... Little friend (Kid), is it? Why do you keep looking at me?"
"K... Kid?!" Yunli instantly exploded, speaking somewhat unconvinced: "Where am I a kid?"
Fu Zhu raised his hand and gestured the height difference between her and himself. Everything was said without words.
Yunli pouted her small face and retorted: "Don't you know the Xianzhou Alliance is full of long-life species?"
Fu Zhu asked back: "Then how old are you?"
"I..." Yunli instantly fell silent.
Fu Zhu spread his hands. At least he won this round of the 'debate'.
"Back to the topic, what were you staring at me for just now?"
Fu Zhu felt he was quite handsome, but he wasn't narcissistic enough to think he could make a little girl he had never met stare at him incessantly.
Yunli, having just 'lost a round', didn't have as much momentum as before. She just muttered casually: "Just wanted to ask if you are a contestant participating in this Wardance Ceremony."
Actually, this wasn't her first time seeing Fu Zhu. Earlier at Cloudford, she had witnessed the scene of Fu Zhu subduing the Borisin with her own eyes.
At that time, just as she was planning to intervene to subdue those Borisin, in just the blink of an eye, Fu Zhu suddenly appeared beside those two Borisin and subdued the enemies in one move.
The speed was so fast that she almost thought Fu Zhu was that Merlin's Claw General!
Fu Zhu shook his head: "Not participating. I haven't stooped so low as to do things like bullying people."
He himself didn't have much interest in participating in the Wardance Ceremony. It was fine if it was just watching, but going on stage personally was meaningless.
Hearing this, Yunli instantly sighed in relief.
"That's good!"
This reaction, however, caused Huaiyan beside her to helplessly reach out and tap Yunli's noggin: "Yunli, don't underestimate the Luofu. The Luofu has many capable talents. With this kind of overconfidence, you will suffer a big loss sooner or later."
"Grandpa, I'm already very strong, okay!" Yunli argued unconvinced.
Huaiyan shook his head helplessly, then smiled apologetically at the group: "Apologies, I have spoiled this girl too much on normal days."
Fu Zhu and the others waved their hands repeatedly, and Jing Yuan took the opportunity to change the subject.
"You all from the Astral Express must be very tired from coming all this way. Yanqing, take them to the inn to check in first. Fu Zhu, can you stay behind? There are some matters I want to clarify with you."
Originally hearing Jing Yuan's words to 'see off the guests', Fu Zhu intended to leave with March 7th and the others. But hearing Jing Yuan ask him to stay, he glanced at him with some confusion. Seeing the pleading look filling Jing Yuan's eyes, he agreed.
"Alright." Fu Zhu turned to his somewhat worried companions and said: "You guys go to the inn and wait for me first. I'll be there very soon."
Dan Heng nodded and exhorted: "You... be careful."
Dan Heng had originally intended to tell Fu Zhu to be careful, but considering they were in front of Jing Yuan and Huaiyan, saying "be careful" was obviously a bit hurtful, so he changed his phrasing.
"Mm."
After Yanqing led Dan Heng and the other two away, Huaiyan also found a random excuse to send Yunli away.
After only Fu Zhu, Jing Yuan, and Huaiyan remained in the spacious Seat of Divine Foresight, Fu Zhu finally looked at the two Generals before him.
"So, keeping me behind specially, is there something you want to say? Let me guess, it wouldn't happen to be about the Ambrosial Arbor, right?"
Jing Yuan nodded, the smile on his face remaining: "You are as intuitive as ever. You guessed it right away."
Fu Zhu shrugged. To have two Generals stay behind solely to talk to him, it definitely wasn't something simple. Considering what he had done on the Luofu, that only left the matter of the Ambrosial Arbor and Phantylia.
"So what do you want to say? It's not that the Xianzhou Alliance wants me to pay compensation because of the Ambrosial Arbor, is it?" Fu Zhu said half-jokingly.
But this one sentence made Jing Yuan and Huaiyan wave their hands repeatedly. The former said somewhat between laughter and tears: "Little Friend Fu Zhu, this joke isn't funny. The Xianzhou couldn't do something so ungrateful."
"Then what do you intend to say?"
Jing Yuan and Huaiyan exchanged a glance. The latter's eyes, which had been squinting, opened at this moment. The elder, who was originally smiling amiably, now emitted a sharp aura from his body.
"Little Friend Fu Zhu, in reality, your act of severing the Ambrosial Arbor and sealing Phantylia has aroused suspicion within the Xianzhou Alliance. Although the news of you later becoming an Emanator of [Finality] reached the Alliance, reducing some people's doubts, there are still quite a few who hold skepticism about this matter. The Ambrosial Arbor is a manifestation of [The Abundance]; how tenacious its life force is, the Xianzhou people know clearly. Yet it was directly severed by you and showed no signs of regeneration... not to mention you also sealed a Lord Ravager when you weren't even an Emanator at the time...
"There are quite a few people inside the Xianzhou Alliance who are suspecting you and Jing Yuan..."
Fu Zhu spread his hands indifferently: "Let them suspect however they want. Since Old Huaiyan, you are speaking so frankly, then I will also state my attitude frankly. The one I formed ties with is the Xianzhou Luofu. What attitude the other Xianzhou ships have has nothing to do with me. Even if they suspect I am a spy sent by Destruction, it doesn't matter.
"If you aren't at ease, I can totally make the Ambrosial Arbor regenerate and let Phantylia regain her freedom. Then you guys can go chop down the Arbor and seal Phantylia yourselves."
He wasn't the least bit worried that the Xianzhou Alliance would attack him over this matter. His behavior could be considered even more radical than [The Hunt].
Seeing that Fu Zhu's tone seemed a bit off, Jing Yuan hurriedly explained: "Fu Zhu, don't misunderstand. Elder Huaiyan doesn't mean that."
Huaiyan stroked his beard at the side, silently retracting his previous evaluation of Fu Zhu being humble. Fu Zhu's current words couldn't be called humble at all; obviously, he had absolute confidence in himself.
"Hehe, Little Friend Fu Zhu, you indeed misunderstood. No matter what those people think, this old man still believes in you and Jing Yuan. Keeping you behind this time is merely to give you a reminder. Aside from the Zhuming Xianzhou, there is another Xianzhou ship that has sent an envoy. She is the one investigating this matter."
Jing Yuan chimed in from the side: "Fu Zhu, this time is just to remind you to be careful of the envoy from the Xianzhou Yaoqing. I'm afraid their attitude... won't be too friendly. But rest assured, they are only here to confirm the truth of the matter. On this point, you have a clear conscience, and the Luofu will not let a benefactor suffer any grievances on the Luofu."
Jing Yuan's protective words made Fu Zhu grin.
"Rest assured, Jing Yuan. Let them investigate however they want. If needed, I can totally let them meet Phantylia. There is no proof more powerful than an imprisoned Lord Ravager."
"Mm."
After finishing the chat about this matter, Fu Zhu chatted casually with Jing Yuan and Huaiyan for a few sentences before leaving the Seat of Divine Foresight, planning to go to the inn to regroup with March 7th and the others.
But when he arrived at the inn, Fu Zhu didn't find March 7th or the others. Helpless, he could only take out his phone and call Xing. However, the person who picked up the phone was March 7th.
"Fu Zhu, are you done talking over there?"
"Yeah. But March, why are you answering the phone? Where are you guys?"
March 7th covered the phone, looked at Xing who was arguing fiercely with Scott in front of her, and whispered: "We are helping Yanqing convince someone from the IPC to cooperate with the inspection... Do you want to come over?"
"Sure."
"Then I'll send you the location."
Fu Zhu figured he didn't have anything to do right now anyway, so he might as well go take a look.
A moment later, March 7th used her account to send Fu Zhu the location. Fu Zhu glanced at the location and walked towards the direction of the Artifex Commission.
When he arrived at the Artifex Commission, Fu Zhu hadn't found March 7th and the others yet, but he saw a Foxian woman wearing a white coat walking straight towards him after spotting him.
Fu Zhu originally thought the other party was just going in his direction, so he stepped aside to give way. But unexpectedly, the woman changed her steps and still came straight at him. This made Fu Zhu raise his eyebrows involuntarily. When the woman walked up to him and asked a question, he conveniently glanced at the marker for the woman on the [Minimap].
[Xianzhou Yaoqing · General Merlin's Claw · Feixiao]
The appearance of another General made Fu Zhu raise his eyebrows. Recalling what Huaiyan and Jing Yuan had said earlier, this confirmed that the person had come specifically for him.
"General Merlin's Claw of the Xianzhou Yaoqing, do you have business with me?"
Feixiao heard Fu Zhu state her identity directly. Her eyes curved into crescents, and she said with a smile while crossing her arms: "You really do possess some magical means, just like in the rumors. However... can you really sever the undying Ambrosial Arbor?"
"If you are here to ask this, then I will take my leave."
Fu Zhu directly walked around her, walking forward. But Feixiao seemed not to want to let him leave just like that. As Fu Zhu made a move, she immediately reached out, looking like she wanted to grab Fu Zhu's shoulder.
But in the next second, Fu Zhu's figure vanished directly from in front of her, causing Feixiao to grab empty air. By the time she came back to her senses in astonishment, Fu Zhu had already appeared tens of meters away.
And Fu Zhu's voice drifted over faintly.
"If you want to make a move, just say it straight. I won't hold back. If it's just a test, please stay away from me. I don't have that much idle time."
PS: Sorry for the late update. I've been busy from early morning yesterday until the early morning of the next day. Too tired, slept too long.