Lin Shuang, When Are You Coming Back? / Dragon Coiled, Serpent Soaring v2.0: Eat It and Embark on a Path
"I received your gift. It's very sweet; I think you'll like the taste."
"Yes, Qingque recommended it to me today. I thought it was delicious, so I bought you one too."
"Thank you, it tastes great."
Seeing that Acheron was satisfied with the Rice Dumpling she had bought, Lin Shuang couldn't help but smile, and then said:
"Oh, by the way, I also got a few recipes for sweet soup from Fu Xuan. I'll make them for you when I get back later. I've tried them, and they taste really good."
Upon hearing this, Acheron on the other side of the screen blinked.
For a moment, I felt a little guilty. Had I gone too far with my plans for today?
Volume 1: Chapter 96 Lin Shuang, when are you coming back?
Seeing the slight change in Acheron's expression, Lin Shuang was puzzled.
"What's wrong?"
Acheron simply shook his head.
"Nothing."
"Oh..."
Are you still in the Divination Department?
Looking at the background behind Lin Shuang, Acheron realized it didn't match the scenery she had seen on the Xianzhou. She figured it must be the Divination Department).
"Yes, but I'll be going to Changle Heaven soon, and I might also go to Alchemy Commission. I'll probably buy some things along the way, and I shouldn't be back until the afternoon."
Lin Shuang briefly explained the upcoming itinerary.
I'll be meeting Danshu later.
However, when Danshu was mentioned, Lin Shuang remembered that she hadn't used the two card-drawing opportunities she saw that morning.
Danshu's gacha requirements are lower; you can get Purple Draw with 70 Affection.
Once you reach a higher gacha level, it will likely become somewhat related to the characters. At least that's how it has always been with gacha pulls. I wonder if Danshu, as a non-player character, follows this pattern.
If so, who knows what might come out? Danshu is both Abundant Doses and the Chief Alchemist of the Alchemy Commission, so it's really hard to say what he might draw.
I suspect it's probably related to Abundance or healing.
That felt pretty good.
Having some medical skills can be very useful in emergencies.
Just as Lin Shuang was pondering, Acheron's voice rang in her ears.
"Then you should be more careful."
Lin Shuang laughed when she heard Acheron's words.
What danger could there be on this Xianzhou? Would Phantylia really dare to commit violence in the street? Her aesthetic of Destruction isn't like that.
However, Lin Shuang naturally accepted Acheron's kindness in its entirety.
"Okay, I understand."
Acheron didn't say much, nodded, and then hung up the phone.
Lin Shuang chatted with Qingque for a while at the Divination Department before taking Starskiff to Changle Heaven.
The events that occurred yesterday among the Six Charioteers Xianzhou did not affect ordinary Xianzhou native.
People still gather in this bustling area as always, only now there are more unfounded urban legends circulating.
Lin Shuang arrived at the Ruomu Pavilion.
Danshu was still the same as before, sitting in the Ruomu Pavilion, gazing into the distance.
Hearing Lin Shuang's footsteps, he turned around, closed his eyes, and faced Lin Shuang.
"Young friend, you've arrived."
A mature and steady voice rang in my ears, still as reassuring as ever.
Before Danshu was a tea set already laid out, with steam rising from boiling water.
Lin Shuang stepped forward and could smell a faint aroma of tea.
She placed a small paper bag on the table, took out a small box from it, and there it was—a small box of tea and snacks.
"Yes, I also brought some tea and snacks, but I don't know if they'll suit your taste."
Danshu reached out and touched the box Lin Shuang handed him, saying with a hint of helplessness:
"I invited you here today to express my gratitude for your kindness, but I'm sorry to have troubled you with the expense."
"They're just some ordinary Pastries, nothing to brag about."
Upon hearing Lin Shuang's words, Danshu skillfully picked up the tea set and began to brew tea for Lin Shuang, saying as he did so:
"That child from yesterday, after hearing about what happened to you, asked me to apologize on your behalf today, saying that you caused trouble for your older sister."
His tone was flat, revealing neither joy nor sorrow, but Lin Shuang knew that Danshu must have given the little girl some rather unpleasant advice before he came.
Thinking of this, Lin Shuang sighed with a somewhat unpleasant feeling:
"That child could have been less sensitive. Sigh..."
After his parents passed away, he was forced to live with relatives and was also born with Heavenly Defect.
This is probably why the child never dared to rebel, because even if she did, she wouldn't have any 'parents' to stand up for her.
Danshu heard Lin Shuang's emotion, maybe thinking of what he said, and said:
"What do you mean, young friend?"
Lin Shuang briefly explained her reasons to Danshu:
"If she hadn't lost her home because of the war, even with Heavenly Defect, that child wouldn't be so sensitive and fragile now. Ultimately, she's living under someone else's roof; she probably knows she can only rely on herself."
"..."
Danshu remained silent for a long time, unsure how to respond. Only the sound of flowing water remained between them.
The Danshu wasn't broken until the Teacup for Lin Shuang was brought to her.
"Here, please have some tea."
Thank you.
Lin Shuang smiled in response, took the tea, and took a small sip.
The tea leaves smelled wonderful; even though Lin Shuang didn't particularly like tea, she could still say it tasted good.
"It smells delicious."
"Young friend, what do you think that child's future holds?"
Faced with Danshu's sudden question, Lin Shuang simply put down her Teacup and said helplessly:
"Perhaps things will get better. This matter has alarmed General Jing Yuan, and the issue of the Heavenly Defect sufferers has also caught the attention of the Divination Department. As the cause of this incident, that child should be dealt with properly. I think it will at least be better than it is now."
To put it bluntly, that child is now a 'typical' example, and even if the Department of Civil Affairs were stupid, they wouldn't let such a case go unpunished.
The current state of the Xianzhou may not be perfect, but at least most of the leaders of the Six Commissions are reliable, and nothing too inexplicable is likely to happen.
"But it's only this child. What will happen to the other Heavenly Defect sufferers depends on the Xianzhou. That's why I wasn't joking when I suggested Miss Danshu go to the Department of Civil Affairs last time."
Danshu himself, simply by standing there, naturally became an inspirational representative of those Heavenly Defect sufferers.
This kind of inspirational quote might be old-fashioned, but sometimes, people still need a little encouragement to get through tough times.
"But I suppose even if you didn't want to, someone has already invited you, right?"
If Lin Shuang could think of it, then the officials on the Xianzhou could certainly think of it too.
Upon hearing Lin Shuang's words, Danshu gave a helpless, bitter smile.
"As you guessed, young friend, the Commissioner of the Department of Civil Affairs has contacted me several times since late last night, and this morning he even went directly to the Alchemy Commission. I had no choice but to come here."
Lin Shuang lowered her head, blew on the steaming tea, took a sip, and asked with a smile:
"Does Miss Danshu have any concerns?"
"..."
Danshu shook his head slightly in silence, showing no intention of continuing the topic.
What worries could she possibly have? If she left the Alchemy Commission and went to the Department of Civil Affairs to run around, how could she still produce the medicines needed for the Abundant Doses on time?
But.
If we disregard his status Chief of the Abundant Doses, Danshu is actually willing to lend a hand.
She hated the Hunt, but she also felt sorry for these children Heavenly Defect sufferers.
The inner conflict caused Danshu to fall silent for a brief moment.
She hadn't felt this conflicted for a long time.
Even when he initially decided to extract the Vidyadhara Marrow to refine medicine, he didn't hesitate much, but now it has caused Danshu to become conflicted.
Although Lin Shuang couldn't discern any change in Danshu's expression, she was able to accurately perceive Danshu's complex emotions through Heliobus's abilities.
Danshu might be a bit simpler than Lin Shuang was thinking, especially when it came to matters concerning those Heavenly Defect sufferers.
Volume 1: Chapter 97 Coiling Dragon, Leaping Serpent v2.0, Eating it will allow you to embark on your Path.
Despite his conflicted feelings, Danshu was ultimately destined to be a leader.
Soon, Danshu suppressed these temporarily unresolved thoughts and turned his attention to something more concerning.
Logically, it shouldn't be possible, but Danshu always felt that Lin Shuang's words had a hidden meaning.
On the surface, the other party did not seem to suspect his identity, and his actions were quite logical.
But Danshu always subconsciously felt that Lin Shuang seemed to know something.
"Speaking of which, I've also heard that you seem to have a grudge against the Abundant Doses. It's quite an accident that the Cloud Knights uncovered the Abundant Doses' spy."
Seeing that Danshu avoided the topic, Lin Shuang naturally followed up on Danshu's lead.
"Some, I suppose, and since yesterday's incident, the Abundant Doses should hate me to death."
Lin Shuang laughed in front of Danshu, then continued:
"Is Miss Danshu also interested in the Abundant Doses?"
Upon hearing this, Danshu nodded slightly, his tone wistful:
"As the Chief Alchemist, I have conducted numerous experiments and studies in order to research the Heavenly Defect, and naturally I am also familiar with the Abundant Doses... How ironic that the eternal asceticism of the Long-Life Species is something that the Denizens of Abundance, who are also considered evil beings, do not suffer from the hardships of the Heavenly Defect."
"For this reason, I have studied the Abundant Doses and have also had the privilege of dissecting the corpse of Scythe of Annihilation... Can you imagine that a person who should have been crippled and had congenital heart disease, after falling into the demonic realm, not only had strong limbs but also a heart as powerful as a Starskiff engine."
Lin Shuang didn't interrupt; she could sense how shocking these discoveries were to Danshu.
The ailment that had tormented her for hundreds of years was not as simple and effective as falling into demonic possession in a single day.
It was this dissection that sparked Danshu's desire to pursue Abundance power.
"... Well, these things are not suitable to be discussed in this setting. Young friend, please pretend you never heard of them."
Danshu waved his hand, while Lin Shuang picked up her teacup, took a sip, and stared at Danshu, saying:
"Did Miss Danshu also waver?"
"Young friend, you jest. If others heard me say that, I'm afraid I'd be questioned by the Cloud Knights. These are merely what I, as Physician, have seen and heard during my research."
Hearing Danshu's explanation, Lin Shuang smiled and didn't say anything more.
"I had the privilege of seeing a warrior from the Abundant Doses. Their appearance seemed quite similar to that of the Scythe of Annihilation. It's understandable that Miss Danshu, as Physician, would be curious, but..."
"But what?"
"The Abundant Doses methods are reckless, colluding with Emanator and plotting against officials of the Xianzhou. Ultimately, it's too insane. A mad organization can only bring Destruction. Even if the Heavenly Defect sufferers is cured, he won't be any better off than he is now."
"..."