Tengxiao had the same dumbfounded feeling as when a two-meter-tall burly man couldn't unscrew a bottle cap.
If he had to use a more fitting description, it was like the "Destruction" Aeon, who loved obliterating all things, suddenly deciding not to do destruction anymore.
Half-believing, half-doubting, after weighing things, he decided not to press further for now.
Tengxiao thought of the Divination Commission.
'The Divination Commission could treat physical illnesses, so surely they could treat mental ones too, right?'
'Then let the Divination Commission come up with psychological test questions.'
'That way it wouldn't disturb that person, but through the test they could confirm his mental state. If there was a problem, they could naturally follow up with treatment.'
For this, Tengxiao personally went in person. At that time, the Divination Commission was already swamped with work, right after the General had just left, Tengxiao came in.
He didn't meet the one who served as the head of the Divination Commission, so he had to find a Diviner Captain from the same Vidyadhara clan.
Looking at the Captain's face full of exhaustion, Tengxiao felt a brief pang of guilt, but immediately issued the order for them to urgently work overtime.
'This is all for the sake of Luofu!'
Using the excuse of checking on the state of the Six Commissions and the Cloud Knights, he explained his idea, asking them to create test questions.
Once the questions were done, they'd first have the people of the Astrologer Commission take them, and if it worked, they'd roll it out across all departments.
With a wave of his sleeve, Tengxiao left, leaving behind the Diviner Captain hammering his dragon jade tablet like crazy, and a whole bunch of people forced into urgent overtime.
After giving the order and listing out the precautions, the general felt a huge weight lift from his shoulders. Even his sleep at night became more peaceful.
When he saw Jing Yuan and Zero, he even went over to greet them, hoping to observe that one's condition up close.
But Tengxiao never imagined, the Divination Commission actually came up with over six hundred questions. 'Why did Zero test out as having major issues?!'
He was completely dumbfounded, but forced himself to chat with Zero, and gradually understood his thoughts.
Zero liked jobs that paid well, had little work, and were close to home.
To satisfy all three points, and still not disrupt his ordinary life…
Tengxiao realized, truly realized.
Zero wanted a transfer to the Archives as a Scribe.
After reaching this conclusion, he was left confused. He just couldn't figure out what benefits the position of Scribe had.
Tengxiao faintly sensed the other had seen through his identity, and immediately lost his appetite. He paid the bill for Zero and Jing Yuan, then quickly left the restaurant.
Carrying his doubts, he opened his chat window with the General, sharing the test results and everything Zero had said.
If Tengxiao had been sent to war, unless at a truly critical moment, he would never ask the General for help. But since the General had specially come to Luofu just to give him instructions, of course he had to report everything in full detail.
He asked the General for guidance, but the chat box only showed a cold automatic reply,
[Hua: Busy, not at post, please make an appointment 180 days in advance]
Tengxiao, disappointed, turned to the General's Chief Strategist.
Previously, this Chief Strategist had served under two Generals in succession. His screen name was "My Former Boss Is in Heaven," with the status, "Former boss exploded, not even ashes left, R.I.P."
The first time Tengxiao saw that name, he was shocked and exclaimed at the man's boldness. But today, he saw it changed to "Heart Like Dead Ashes," and the status changed too, "Why can't the coffin lid stay shut?"
Tengxiao, '… So it's another poor worker persecuted by his former General.'
He felt deeply sympathetic, and because of his own situation, felt even more pity and solidarity toward the Chief Strategist.
[Heart Like Dead Ashes: The test result is abnormal? How's that abnormal?]
[Heart Like Dead Ashes: Doesn't that just prove he wrote the questions himself?]
Tengxiao was shocked. 'So the results could be interpreted in such a strange way?!'
[Heart Like Dead Ashes: If he wants a transfer to the Archives, just give it to him.]
[Tengxiao: Isn't the position of Scribe too much of a downgrade for him?]
[Heart Like Dead Ashes: No need to worry about that. As long as his request isn't outrageous, agree to it.]
[Heart Like Dead Ashes: If it is outrageous, ignore it. For example, if he wanted to turn the Swarm into canned rations for them to mass-produce and sell themselves…]
Tengxiao, "…"
'This isn't mental illness, this is the living King of Hell, right?!'
[Heart Like Dead Ashes: Don't worry. If he really wants to accomplish something, you'll only find out after it's already a done deal.]
Tengxiao, "..."
'You put it that way, and I'm even more worried!'
So he knocked on his jade tablet, humbly seeking advice from this legendary man who had managed to work under the King of Hell.
[Heart Like Dead Ashes: What to watch out for? Oh, when interacting with him, don't bring your brain. Don't speak with hidden meanings. He'll deliberately pretend not to understand.]
[Heart Like Dead Ashes: After all, anyone who can be considered a close friend by the "Elation" Aeon… well, those who get it, get it.]
'So the King of Hell is also a joker…'
Tengxiao was numb.
[Heart Like Dead Ashes: And don't lie to him. Once, some Swarm claimed they lost their spaceship and asked Yaoqing about it. At first he was in a foul mood. Then he investigated and found they were lying. In anger, he declared war on them, and sealed their planet.]
Tengxiao suddenly remembered.
That entry in the records, about the planet-killer weapon called "Angel of Bliss," which had the ability to seal planets.
Compared to "Heavenly Starburst," which directly blew planets into ore, and "Neutron Annihilation," which wiped out all intelligent life, the "Angel of Bliss" could actually be called "humane."
As a "gentler" method of weaponry, the Angel of Bliss would create a barrier around the planet, one that could never be breached.
The planet wouldn't be destroyed, the lifeforms wouldn't die, they would just be trapped there forever.
[Heart Like Dead Ashes: In his own words, instead of direct destruction, it's better to use the most resource-saving, simple and effective method, making them live forever in despair and fear.]
Trembling slightly, Tengxiao held his jade tablet.
He truly understood now.
So after sealing a planet, the former General ignored it, not because he forgot, but because he didn't want to waste resources on a doomed world.
In time, whether long or short, they would be steeped in despair and fear, spending every day trembling, waiting for the enemy who might annihilate them at any moment.
In the end, they reached extinction. Their civilization and race cut off forever.
With Zero's ability, he definitely noticed the truth… definitely guessed his true identity…
Would the former General, in anger, blow him up too?
Driven by survival instinct, Tengxiao confessed everything to the Chief Strategist, how he had disguised himself as a Cloud Knight to approach Zero. He asked what he should do to make amends.
[Heart Like Dead Ashes: I don't know. Probably he won't do anything to you. In this lifetime, he still has some humanity left. Even when bullied, he only sheared all the rich merchants like sheep.]
Tengxiao hadn't known this before. Hearing it now, he was both shocked and felt it reasonable.
It was only fleecing the wealthy, after all. Even if it was all the wealthy of the entire Xianzhou, it was still only what the former General deserved.
Across nearly five thousand years, although his methods were a bit brutal, he had treated the Xianzhou people extremely well. A mere round of fleecing…
Tengxiao consoled himself, as long as no lives were taken, it was fine.
After chatting a little more with the long-suffering Chief Strategist, he said goodbye, then immediately messaged Dan Feng.
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