[Divination Commission]
After finally escaping from the two Disciples of Sanctus Medicus who had broken into the archive, Qingque tragically discovered that there were even more Disciples of Sanctus Medicus outside.
"Huff, hah! Huff, hah! Huff, hah!"
Panting heavily, dragging her legs that had already gone numb, from the archive onward, she sprinted a full hundred meters. With her familiarity with the Divination Commission, she tried to shake off the pursuit of the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus behind her.
But she found that every time she shook off one group, a new group of Disciples of Sanctus Medicus would pop out from some unknown corner and start chasing her again.
Just like enemies that respawn at fixed points around the player in some damn game.
It disgusted Qingque so much she was about to throw up.
Along the way, she didn't see any other coworkers. Either they'd already been caught and killed by these Mara-struck monsters, or they'd already escaped the Divination Commission.
Or they were hiding in some corner, waiting for the Diviner to bring people to save the day.
Right now, the Divination Commission's network connection with the outside world had been cut. Even if they wanted to ask for help, they couldn't.
They could only wait for people outside to notice something wrong inside the Divination Commission and then report it to the Cloud Knights to come rescue them.
But given the current situation, the chances of being saved felt pretty slim.
After all, she had been chased by these Mara-struck monsters and had basically run a full lap around the Divination Commission already.
How big was the Divination Commission's grotto?
Past Qingque didn't know. Now, Qingque would measure it with her own two feet.
"Measure your damn mom!"
"Hey, handsome guys behind me, can you stop chasing already? I'm just a lowly Divination Commission employee. I work nine to five every day, who did I ever offend?!"
Qingque shouted at the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus chasing her while sprinting like her life depended on it.
Only now did she understand what that major misfortune she divined this morning really meant.
She should never have come to work today.
Lying around slacking off in Exalting Sanctum might've been easier and safer.
Why did she have to risk her life like this?
The Disciples of Sanctus Medicus chasing her were somewhat confused.
They couldn't understand how Qingque, who looked so small, could run so fast.
So many of them, and no matter how hard they chased, they couldn't catch up.
Her stamina was also ridiculous. They'd already done several relay rotations, yet she showed no signs of running out of energy at all.
Her speed didn't drop in the slightest.
They were immortal bodies, after all, while she was just an ordinary Xianzhou native.
And yet, in terms of endurance, she could actually keep up with them.
It was honestly kind of absurd.
If Qingque could read minds and hear their thoughts, she'd probably be cursing them nonstop while running.
Strong stamina? Fast runner?
That was all paid for with her life force.
If she weren't a Xianzhou native with naturally strong vitality, she'd probably have collapsed halfway and died of sudden exhaustion already.
Following the path, Qingque forced her legs to keep moving.
Suddenly, she slammed to a stop. The Disciples of Sanctus Medicus chasing her staggered as they approached.
Ignoring the few stragglers behind her, Qingque's attention was completely seized by the dense crowd ahead.
Especially because those people were no ordinary people.
They were all Mara-struck.
And more, much more importantly, because of her appearance, all of those Mara-struck monsters turned to look at her in unison.
Bloodshot eyes, vicious blades growing from their arms.
Colleagues already dead, lying on the ground.
Seeing the scene before her, Qingque fell into panic.
"It's over… I'm really going to die this time…"
Blood flowed from the necks of the corpses, spreading straight toward Qingque's feet.
As if the souls of the dead were trying to drag this coworker along with them.
As if foretelling Qingque's future.
'A great misfortune hex! Truly terrifying!'
"Looks like I'm really done for…"
She lifted the toe of her shoe stained with blood and shifted it slightly to the side.
Unable to think of any way to escape, Qingque knew today was very likely the day she died.
Her expression shifted from panic to an eerie calm.
The Disciples of Sanctus Medicus around her stared with blood-red, murderous eyes as they closed in step by step.
Craving blood and slaughter, they naturally wouldn't let this little lamb go.
Among them, one Disciple standing with his hands behind his back revealed a hint of contempt in his eyes at the sight.
Watching the Mara-struck monsters slowly approach, Qingque felt the weight in her pocket and pulled out Levi's Jade Abacus.
She wondered if she should do something for him before dying.
Like formatting it or something.
"No idea where he ran off to… I just hope he didn't run into the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus while slacking off…"
Qingque shook her head.
How strange. She was about to die, yet she was worrying about that guy.
Might as well worry about whether he'd come dance on her grave on her death anniversary…
Qingque, who had already come to terms with life and death, didn't notice that the status bar at the top of the Jade Abacus showed the camera was in use.
———
[Meanwhile]
Levi, who had been staring at the Jade Abacus feed, immediately noticed Qingque pulling his Jade Abacus out of her pocket.
At first, he thought she'd found a safe place.
But instead, she'd fallen straight into a wolf's den.
Levi stopped in his tracks, looking at the densely packed Mara-struck monsters around her and the dozens of headless corpses on the ground, and clenched his teeth.
"Courting death!"
'You want to mess with me? Fine!'
'But messing with my friend…'
'Not happening!'
Quickly confirming Qingque's location and seeing that she was at the center of the Formation, Levi put away the Jade Abacus and started sprinting forward at full speed.
At that moment, two searching Disciples of Sanctus Medicus happened to come out from a corner ahead.
If it had been Levi from earlier, he might've taken a detour.
A longer route wouldn't matter, things weren't that urgent back then.
But now, he didn't want to detour.
And he had no intention of detouring.
"Block my way and you die!"
The Blazing Greatsword appeared once again, gripped tightly in Levi's hand.
Hearing the commotion, the Disciples saw a man charging straight at them and couldn't help but laugh.
"Well I'll be damned, there really is a straggler. Lucky us!"
As he spoke, the Disciple licked his lips, eyes filled with a thirst for blood.
Mass-produced trash was still trash in the end.
The remnants of human consciousness were gradually eroded by the Mara-struck bloodlust.
It probably wouldn't be long before he became like a normal Mara-struck monster, with no self-awareness left at all.
"Be careful. The weapon in his hand feels unusual."
The other Disciple, who hadn't yet been overly eroded, warned him.
"Heh, the Diviner of the Divination Commission has already left. How strong could this bunch of trash really be?!"
'Even if you gave them divine weapons, could they really kill an immortal like me?'
The weapons growing from their arms rubbed against each other, producing metallic clashing sounds.
"If you're scared, then let me tear him..."
Slash!
Slash!
Seeing that the Disciples had no intention of backing off, Levi's gaze sharpened, and he decided not to waste words.
He pushed off with his foot, his speed surging.
Before they could even react, he was already in front of them.
The blade in his hand swept through, two ferocious heads flew into the air.
Levi glanced back at the two headless corpses behind him out of the corner of his eye.
"The blood's red… I thought it might be some other color."
Once the head was cut off, no matter how many lives they had, they couldn't come back.
What, were they supposed to grow a new head out of their bodies?
Who do you think you are, the Aeon of Abundance itself?
Besides, even Aeons can die.
———
[Some Corner of the Luofu]
One big and one small figure stood in a hidden spot in Exalting Sanctum.
The larger figure looked toward the distant Ambrosial Arbor for a moment before withdrawing his gaze and turning to the smaller figure beside him.
Catching sight of her exiting the chat interface out of the corner of his eye, he asked, "Silver Wolf, who were you just contacting?"