And, this body wasn't even her own... although she wanted to comfort herself with that thought. But the essence... I mean, the experience, was all too real.
Those events would become indelible memories, etched so deeply that not even Fuli, the Aeon of Remembrance, could easily erase them.
Putting that aside for now... wasn't she just taking a nap on the starskiff?
Normally, at this time, she wouldn't have entered this place.
Not only had she entered now, but she had also run into Lord Ye Feng, who had been absent for some time.
"Actually, I can appear before you at any time. The reason we haven't met is that I hoped you could overcome this hurdle on your own... However, it seems to have had the opposite effect now. Fu Xuan, why have you left the Xianzhou?"
"..."
Fu Xuan secretly took a deep breath.
She knew her earlier performance was not only a loss of composure but also quite discourteous.
Fu Xuan steadied her mind and stood gracefully, the gentle breeze stirring her pinkish-purple ponytail and swaying the hem of her skirt.
The white stockings covering her legs were slightly translucent, lending a touch of alluring charm to the dignified and imposing Grand Diviner.
"My apologies. This Seat had no intention of avoiding Lord Ye Feng. The previous matter... had nothing to do with Lord Ye Feng in the first place. It was that scoundrel Qingque... Never mind. This Seat will settle the score with her in the future. As for why this Seat has left the Xianzhou, it is... for other plans."
Ye Feng said sincerely, "May I ask what these plans are? If possible, please allow me to lend a hand."
Fu Xuan looked at Ye Feng's earnest expression and couldn't help but sigh internally: What a good "god." Mysterious, powerful, gentle, and kind. He probably wants to compensate this Seat for "that time."
But how could she possibly blame Lord Ye Feng for that?
"Rules" were "rules," just like star-rails, always operating strictly on their own unique tracks.
Fu Xuan didn't know which "Path" Ye Feng was an Aeon at the end of, but she could be certain of one thing.
"You are a good Aeon. You don't need to blame yourself for what happened before."
"Huh?"
What am I blaming myself for?
I've been craving Fu Xuan's white-stockinged legs for ages.
And that back, that rear... they're absolutely to die for.
Besides,
Ye Feng said, "I'm not an Aeon."
"..."
Fu Xuan fell silent for a moment. Although she had suspected that Ye Feng might be different from the Aeons she knew, hearing him deny it himself dispelled the last shred of that idea.
"If you are not an Aeon, then what... How should this Seat 'perceive' you?"
"Is that important?"
"This Seat believes it is very important."
Fu Xuan lightly tapped her jade abacus. "Even here, standing right in front of you, this Seat is still unable to capture the trajectory of your Path..."
This was beyond the scope of Fu Xuan's cognition.
Even with Aeons, although she couldn't calculate them, they still had their own "star-rails" that could be "seen."
Even that [Nihility].
"So you really want to know, Fu Xuan."
Ye Feng always had an answer for a question. He never minded sharing "knowledge" with beautiful girls. He thought for a moment, searching for the most fitting descriptor.
"How about we drop the 'Aeon' part?"
"A god?"
"Mhm, or you could call me an 'Administrator.' No..."
Ye Feng pondered again, thinking carefully. He said, "The description 'World Administrator' is no longer sufficient. An administrator can only manage existing constructs, and I have long since surpassed that stage... Hmm, indeed, it's better to stick with the previous term. But—only within this world."
"..."
Fu Xuan carefully contemplated the meaning behind Ye Feng's words.
She felt an ever-growing sense of incredulity in her heart.
But she quickly came to terms with it.
The more powerful a being was, the more constrained it was by rules.
Take the Aeons, for example. They could only ever walk at the forefront of their own Path.
If they were to deviate, only destruction or being devoured awaited them.
Lord Ye Feng... was probably the same.
"Let's talk about you. Do you think finding Ruan Mei will fix the 'crack' in your state of mind?"
"Hmm?"
Fu Xuan looked up, stunned. Did this Seat mention looking for Ruan Mei just now?
Though confused, Fu Xuan still replied, "I do not know. However, the Xianzhou has always had a great interest in the members of the Genius Society. This visit is also in the hopes of establishing a good beginning."
There was something even more important she didn't say: according to the predictions of the Matrix of Prescience, Ruan Mei was the most likely candidate to become an ally of the Xianzhou in the future.
With such an asset, perhaps they could add a few more bargaining chips in the future game of Aeons?
Not just Fu Xuan, but the entire upper echelon of the Xianzhou knew that at some point in the future, there would be a "God War" that would sweep across the universe.
Only the time, the cause, the participants, and the outcome were unknown.
All the top factions in the universe were actively making preparations.
Fu Xuan asked, "Does Lord Ye Feng know Ruan Mei's location?"
"No."
"Eh?"
Fu Xuan looked as if she had heard something incredible, her rosy cherry lips agape enough to fit two eggs.
"Why so surprised?"
"This Seat thought that Lord Ye Feng..." was omniscient.
"That's not the case. I don't know everything. I only know the things that I know."
Ye Feng paused, then said, "However, Ruan Mei's specific location, you say? Perhaps there is someone who can help you."
"Who?"
"Come with me."
Ye Feng led the way, arriving at a jade palace under a high, cold moon.
Fu Xuan slowly composed herself. The place was extremely quiet and serene, like a palace on the moon.
There were only green bamboo, flowing water, a small bridge, and lotus flowers.
Fu Xuan followed Ye Feng straight in. She didn't see a single soul, but the deeper they went, the stronger an oppressive aura she could faintly feel.
After several winding turns, a small pavilion veiled in white silk appeared before them.
Through the haze, a slender figure could be seen, like smoke or mist, ethereal and indistinct.
It was a tall woman in a classical palace gown.
The moonlight was clear. Within the pavilion stood a graceful and elegant silhouette. She was tall and slender. The moonlight from above, as bright as day, shone upon her, making her appear incomparably holy.
Such an elegant and noble woman. I really want to splash some ink on her and defile her...
"Master."
Ye Feng spoke respectfully.
Fu Xuan's brow twitched.
Master?
There's actually someone who can be Lord Ye Feng's master?
The feeling was utterly absurd.
It was like an Aeon, walking at the end of its own Path, suddenly having a so-called "Master" appear. It was unbelievably incredible.
The woman, as cold as the moon, did not respond to Ye Feng's call.
Ye Feng led Fu Xuan over and introduced her, "This is my master, Jingliu."
Jingliu?
The name sounded familiar.
Hmm? Wait, isn't that the modern Sword Champion of the Xianzhou, one of the High-Cloud Quintet who vanished for several hundred years, the very being who created the mythos of the Cloud Knights?
Although the Xianzhou had intentionally erased records concerning Jingliu, as the Grand Diviner and a high-ranking member of the Alliance, Fu Xuan had seen her portrait before.
It was just that she was wearing different clothes now, so she almost didn't recognize her.