The Coming

Jingxing stared blankly in the direction where Polka had disappeared, repeating her words in his mind.

"Could it be..." he mused, "That as long as Fu Xuan uses the Cloud-Gazing Mirror to Reignbow’s Manifestation, it will definitely be observed."

In other words, if Fu Xuan were to use the Cloud-Gazing Mirror, he would simply be risking his own life to save his master's.

"Does she know about this?" Jingxing gripped the Jade Abacus tightly. "And Yaoguang, does she know?"

If they didn't know, there's still room for maneuver; but if Fu Xuan has already made up his mind...

Jingxing tucked the Jade Abacus into his robes. "What can I do?"

By the time Fu Xuan returned to the Starskiff, it was past midnight.

"Fu Xuan," Jingxing, sitting in the cabin, rarely addressed him by his given name.

He cut to the chase. "You know the price you pay for using the Cloud-Gazing Mirror, don't you?"

"No, there's no price to pay." Although Fu Xuan was stubborn, his gaze had already shifted away guiltily.

"You knew perfectly well, so why did you do it?" Jingxing stood up. "Is exchanging one life for another the method you devised?"

"This is just a last resort." Seeing that Jingxing had already accepted the situation, Fu Xuan shook his head and reached out his hand, seemingly trying to Jingxing. "Besides, who can say for sure that such a thing will definitely happen? Have some confidence in yourself."

"Jingxing." The Lord Diviner of Luofu stared into his eyes, calling his name earnestly, "As long as we can solve the Jidu Mirage, everything will be fine, right?"

The raindrops pounded on the outer shell of the Starskiff, one after another.

"I will do it." Jingxing grasped Fu Xuan's outstretched hand. "At least this time, I'm sure I can do it."

After an incense stick's time, Fu Xuan's Jade Abacus lit up again, displaying another military report from Yaoguang, the shortest one in recent days.

[Yaoguang: The Jidu Mirage will fully descend tomorrow. General Moon-Chaser wishes to open the Cloud-Gazing Mirror ahead of schedule, but Huyuan-Jun is unwilling.]

After reading the message, Jingxing turned to look out the window. Behind the rain curtain, the inverted city looked even lower than yesterday.

Before dawn, Jingxing, burdened with worries, woke up.

He pushed open the hatch, ready to breathe in the rare fresh air before the great battle, only to find that Fu Xuan was already sitting on the stone chair in the pavilion.

The Lord Diviner hadn't brought her booklet, her box, or even her inkstone, which she'd left in the Starskiff. Only the Jade Abacus lay on her lap, but its screen was black and not lit.

Moreover, even without careful observation, Jingxing could tell that Fu Xuan was suppressing something in his eyes.

"You're awake," she said.

"Aren't you asleep?"

"I slept for a while, but I really couldn't sleep anymore." Fu Xuan forced a smile. "And after thinking it over, I think I should admit that last night's 'no price' was a lie—although you certainly didn't believe my explanation yesterday."

Jingxing sat down opposite her and replied, "That's why I made it clear back then that I would never let you have the opportunity to use the Cloud-Gazing Mirror."

"So, please tell me, who made you discover this?" Fu Xuan asked. "Your Senior Sister certainly wouldn't have told you, so it was... Polka, wasn't it?"

"She didn't actually warn me directly," Jingxing said, "But indeed, if it weren't for her, I might have really believed you."

Fu Xuan was silent for a moment, then said, "I don't know what her motivation was for reminding you."

"I don't know," Jingxing said, "But I will remember her help."

"The Silent Lord's favor..." Fu Xuan looked at the water, "That's not easy to repay."

"So I can't be the only one left to return," Jingxing replied. "You have to come back to the 'present' with me too."

"Heh," Fu Xuan lowered his head, "Shall we go back together alive?"

"You seem very insecure?" Jingxing frowned. "Then at least let me have some confidence in myself."

"What else should I say?" She raised her head, a dark circle under her eyes. "Jingxing, before this war began, I was determined to prove that the divination results could be changed. Even though my master said his fate was sealed in my hands, I believed I could definitely prevent it."

"This is the path I'm walking on, the path of Path." Fu Xuan spread his hands. "I thought this path was closed. But now, an opportunity to try and fail has appeared before me."

"You are also Pathstrider, you should be able to understand me." Her eyes were full of longing. "I must personally participate in the attempt to change the outcome of the divination."

"If we can take this step, as the saying goes, 'If I hear the Way in the morning, I can die content in the evening.'"

"So you didn't dare tell the truth last night," Jingxing sighed. "You were afraid I'd block your path."

"But I think you'll try to stop me," Fu Xuan said, looking at him. "Although you certainly can't stop me, who's single-mindedly pursuing the Dao."

"Alright," Jingxing tilted his head. "If I ask you to stand in front of the mirror, then I'll stand with you. Reignbow can see you when he lowers his eyes, and he can see me too."

Fu Xuan was stunned.

"You're crazy," she said.

"Aren't all those Pathstrider crazy?"

A boat glided past below the stone steps, the sound of oars breaking and then connecting the two people's words.

"If I can resolve the Jidu Mirage ahead of time, if we both survive, after this battle," Jingxing promised, "Let's paint a Fanghu of Fanghu."

"Only landscapes?" Fu Xuan asked instinctively, caught off guard. "Why not me—"

Both of them knew what requesting a portrait meant.

The fog receded inch by inch from the river, revealing the crimson sky that illuminated her profile, making it appear rosy.

"If you like it, then that's fine," Jingxing smiled. "Then we'll hang it at the main entrance of the Luofu Divination Commission, so everyone can admire the jade-like face of Fu Xuan Diviner."

Fu Xuan paused for two breaths before speaking, "You're quite confident."

"Didn't I say yesterday that I could definitely do it?" Jingxing stood up and pulled Fu Xuan up. "Come back and have breakfast."

Fu Xuan lowered her head, and when she spoke again, her voice was a beat lower than before.

"Jingxing."

"Um?"

"I have been studying divination for many years, yet I completely overlooked your skill."

The wind swept across the river, and the sounds of oars, shouts, and knocking on the rooftops all pressed in, swallowing up most of that half-sentence.

"What did you say?" Jingxing leaned forward.

Fu Xuan stood up, dusted off his sleeves, and said without looking at him, "I'll tell you when we get back to the 'present'."

After breakfast, the city in the sky was already as low as the row of lanterns on the city wall. Even the wind in Fanghu had stopped at some point. The Jidu Mirage pressed down on us without moving, making it seem even more eerie.

The gates of the inner city opened one by one, and the Cloud Knights lined up at the street corners.

"I'm leaving." Jingxing rubbed his wrist and turned to look at Fu Xuan. "Although I don't know what tactics Yaoguang has prepared, as long as I can take down Jidu Mirage, nothing else matters, right?"