(My lords, following your suggestions, Chapters 95, 96, and 97 have undergone major plot revisions. Please clear your cache and refresh the content.)
Jingliu's house was indeed very large.
There was more than enough room for a dozen people.
"Why is your house so quiet and desolate?"
Oliver recalled that he actually didn't know Jingliu's childhood background.
He had only seen the game text mention in passing: her hometown was Azure City, which was then destroyed, and she was taken in as a disciple by a woman in military attire from the Luofu.
Now that Oliver had personally met the young Jingliu, he had a chance to learn about her family background.
He wondered if he would get to meet the legendary white-haired married woman... "My parents were both killed by Evil Creatures. I am a martyr's orphan."
Jingliu said calmly, "They left me property and a large sum of money, enough for me to grow up."
Oliver: Well, no white-haired married woman then.
Having experienced that real nightmare, Jingliu felt that her psychological resilience had grown considerably.
When speaking of her deceased parents, she didn't feel as sad as she used to.
"Then you're a bit better off than me. You still have an inheritance. I didn't even have that back then."
Oliver joked without reservation.
This relaxed attitude made Jingliu feel comfortable.
She felt a sense of shared misfortune.
The architectural style of Azure City was similar to that of the Xianzhou Luofu —both ancient and elegant.
Jingliu's house was a large, vintage mansion in a prosperous area.
It was clear that her parents had saved a lot of money during their lives.
If all this property had been swallowed by Rahu, leaving her a penniless refugee, Oliver would have been instantly furious.
"You can stay here." Jingliu led Oliver into a large room.
It was completely empty inside.
"From now on, you have a home too."
She chuckled, her words carrying a hint of joy.
Watching little Jingliu smile, Oliver had the strange feeling of being adopted like a stray cat...
He asked, "Aren't you afraid I'm a bad person? Someone with ill intentions toward you?"
Jingliu's expression was calm as she shook her head: "What kind of bad person with ill intentions toward me would first perform an act of Deliverance as a prelude? If you were after my property, I would offer it as a reward for saving me. Would you accept it?"
Oliver laughed.
Even at eleven, Jingliu was fascinating.
It was too much suffering that had turned her into a seemingly cold but inwardly passionate ice queen.
Oliver suddenly had a desire.
He wanted to see what he could turn Jingliu into.
"Smart, yet not smart."
Oliver raised his hand, reached toward Jingliu's head, and successfully patted her on the head: "You are completely unaware of your own beauty. Don't let people you just met into your house in the future. You are too weak to protect yourself."
Jingliu didn't resist Oliver petting her head; instead, she seemed to enjoy the long-lost sense of security.
Like a little kitten, obedient and cute.
"Don't worry, you are the first and the last, because I want to learn skills from you."
Jingliu gently curved her lips, meeting Oliver's gaze with her red eyes, "So, please protect me from now on, Master."
That single address of "Master" completely softened Oliver's heart.
He hadn't expected the young Jingliu to be so mischievous and clever.
Oliver: "Can you cook?"
Jingliu: "A little."
Oliver: "Alright, then you are my last disciple."
Suddenly, Oliver thought of something.
Should Seele call Jingliu "Senior Sister" or "Junior Sister"?
From Oliver's perspective, Seele was taken in first.
But chronologically, Jingliu preceded Seele by over a thousand years...
Never mind. They can fight later; whoever wins gets to be the sister.
"Good disciple, now go quickly and make dinner. I want to try your cooking."
Oliver wasn't hungry; he just purely wanted to eat food cooked by Jingliu herself.
How many people get this opportunity?
"Alright, then Master, you'll have to sort out your own furniture."
Jingliu curled her lips slightly and slipped away.
At the same time, at the General's Mansion.
The six leaders had already reported the full circumstances encountered by the Starship to their superiors.
The entire process, from the decision-making to the ambush, and finally how the black-haired youth single-handedly saved the collapsing structure, slaying the World-Eater Luohu and restoring peace to the Starship, was meticulously documented.
The Xianzhou Alliance is now aware of this matter. Regarding your application to nominate the Mysteriousness hero to succeed the Celestial General, the Alliance grants approval. Bring him to the Jade Court Starship for assessment. If he passes, he may inherit the Aura.
The Alliance's reply excited all six individuals immensely.
As the most prosperous Starship, the Immortal Vessel of Cangcheng must have a powerful expert holding the line.
Take Luohu, for example; if a General had been present, it would not have become a world-ending disaster.
Precisely because there was no General, this most prosperous Starship nearly became history.
Chief Strategist Xuan Lian ordered, "If he isn't found at the bow of the ship, check the surveillance footage. Every single spatial anomaly must be searched. We must find that Mysteriousness youth."
The Foxian Ship Navigator Que Nu said, "We should make this public and establish his reputation first."
The group enthusiastically began building momentum and searching for the person.
Finally, after searching for a long time, they found him!
He was located right within this spatial anomaly, inside the home of a martyr.
Thus, the six leaders brought people and gifts to the house.
"Who are you?"
As Oliver opened the door, he saw about ten men and women.
Their uniforms were distinctly different, allowing him to recognize them immediately as the highest officials of the six major commissions of the Starship.
"It truly is you, Hero!"
Chief Strategist Xuan Lian stepped forward, grabbed Oliver's hand, and launched into a stream of gratitude.
The common people might not understand, but how could the six of them not?
For the merit of saving two hundred billion people, who wouldn't respectfully call him a Hero?
"Please spare me the thanks. If there's nothing else, please return to your duties. The Starship still needs your efforts."
Oliver genuinely did not want to listen to the officialdom's standard praise.
"It's more than just thanks. We are here to invite you to take up the position of General of the Immortal Vessel of Cangcheng."
The Chief Strategist said mournfully, "The previous General died in battle, and the Marshal who should have succeeded the General's position also sacrificed himself."
"Therefore, we need someone with immense fighting power and upright moral character to govern the Starship."
"The most suitable candidate is you, Hero!"
All of them wore equally serious expressions.
Oliver asked, "Why do you think I am suitable?"
Chief Strategist Xuan Lian replied, "You were able to slay the planetary-level Luohu with a single sword strike. Your fighting power is beyond reproach."
The Ship Navigator added, "Standing up to turn the tide during the world-ending crisis of the Immortal Vessel of Cangcheng—your stance and courage speak for themselves."
Si Heng stated, "After the crisis was resolved, you hid your merits and fame, sought no credit, and remained low-key. Your character is impeccable!"
How could he not be the most suitable candidate for General?
The group spoke with imposing momentum and genuine sincerity. Oliver almost believed he should become the General.
"No, I refuse."
He absolutely did not want to be a General, dealing with official duties every day. What was so good about being a civil servant?
Moreover, if he went to inherit the Aura, and it clashed with his Abundance powers, wouldn't that be exposing himself?
Exposing himself as the Aeon of Abundance within the Xianzhou Alliance?
He would just be asking for trouble.
Only a few hundred years had passed since Shuhu launched the Second Abundance Folk War, and the Aeon of Abundance was the Xianzhou Alliance's number one arch-enemy.
Naturally, Oliver would not increase the difficulty of his script.
Wasn't it much better to just spend time affectionately with Jingliu?
"But..."
The Chief Strategist still wanted to persuade him, but the door closed.
"Let's leave it at this for today. We can slowly persuade him later," the Diviner from the Divination Commission comforted the others.
Chief Strategist Xuan Lian shouted, "Hero, at least tell us your name!"
"Oliver."
They talked for half a day, asking him to be the General and expressing deep gratitude, yet they didn't even know his name?
Were these people perhaps a bit unreliable?