Chapter 156

Upon hearing Bai Jun's words, Jing Yuan felt no joy. Instead, he put his hands behind his head and collapsed onto the soft hospital bed in a completely resigned manner.

"That's a very typical reason of yours, but I think Fu Xuan would definitely be happy to rest for a few more days."

During the few days that Jing Yuan was on leave, the work of General of Divine Strategy was naturally taken over by Miss Divination Bureau, the Miss Fu Xuan of the Grand Divination Bureau. Bai Jun found it particularly amusing to think about how she had been sitting on the general's throne she had always dreamed of, saying that she had no choice but to do so, but actually secretly delighted.

"It's alright, let Lady Fu continue if she likes it. Anyway, after this period, I won't be the so-called General of Divine Strategy anymore."

There was no one else in the room besides Lingsha, Bai Jun, and Jing Yuan, so Jing Yuan's candid confession clearly reached Bai Jun's ears. He was quite surprised and quickly pressed for an answer, "... You mean, you're going to step down?"

"That's right. I remember mentioning this to you after the last incident at the Prison of Deep Seclusion. This incident is undoubtedly a catalyst that hastened the end. I'm afraid that even if I don't want to step down, some old guys in the Xianzhou Alliance are eager to see me leave office as soon as possible to avoid further pointless political battles. I have already submitted my intention to retire to the Marshal and also provided her with a letter of recommendation for her successor."

Even though it's clear to everyone that this incident has no direct connection to Jing Yuan, for a leader, it's still undeniable that he bears responsibility for any accidents that occur under his rule.

He had already been considering retiring, so he took the opportunity to retire early.

"Don't try to persuade or comfort me anymore. Let's be optimistic and just consider this an excuse for me to retire early."

Lying on the hospital bed, Jing Yuan turned over and slowly looked out the window, feeling a surge of emotions as he gazed at the sunlight filtering through the tree branches.

Seeing this, Bai Jun didn't say anything more, but he was more curious about who Jing Yuan's successor was.

"Oh? I didn't expect Qing Yan usually doesn't care about anything, to be curious about something like this?"

"Of course! This is about my future boss. If he's a troublesome person, I'll be in real trouble... Ah, never mind, if he's really hard to please, I might as well just quit and become a traveler, wandering around the world."

"I... I want to follow you, A-Bai!"

Upon hearing Bai Jun's words, Lingsha immediately raised her hand, looking expectantly at Bai Jun, who said with a helpless expression, "Didn't you realize I was just joking, Senior Sister Dan Zhu..."

"Heh heh, want to leave Luofu? Well, you probably don't stand a chance, Qing Yan."

Leaning against the headboard, Jing Yuan's tone suddenly became relaxed as he looked at Bai Jun, who had spread his hands, and said half-jokingly.

"Stop keeping me in suspense, who exactly is that person?"

Actually, by this point, Bai Jun probably already guessed who the so-called successor was. To be precise, it should be said that apart from Fu Xuan, there was probably no possibility of a third person.

The reason he was so eager to ask Jing Yuan was simply to confirm his own guess. Even if Jing Yuan said something like "Of course it's Fu Xuan," he wouldn't be surprised at all.

However, Jing Yuan still maintains an air of mystery.

"Hmph, that's exactly what I wanted to say to you. Come on, today I'll take you to see my carefully chosen successor."

Jing Yuan sat up mysteriously from the bed and put on his coat. Bai Jun didn't understand the meaning behind Jing Yuan's forty-five-degree upward smile; he simply got up and followed him out.

Somewhat unexpectedly, Lingsha, who treated a large number of patients suffering from the aftereffects of the disaster every day, also left Alchemy Commission following in Bai Jun's Buli.

"Because today is a very important day, I will go along too."

With a gentle smile, Lingsha stepped forward and playfully patted Bai Jun's shoulder, explaining the reason for him.

Bai Jun was puzzled, but couldn't detect anything unusual.

Looking up, there was a clear and refreshing sky, with the Sun high in the sky, shining brightly.

Clouds resembling peach pits floated in the sky, the clear sky stretching endlessly high.

White, scale-like clouds floated in the sky, bathed in the warm sunlight. Bai Jun followed Jing Yuan's footsteps back to Exalting Sanctum.

The street was as bustling as ever.

The sounds of various shops, the noise of customers, and the many footsteps on the stone slabs.

Under the clear blue sky, Exalting Sanctum was still bustling with noise. The bustling streets and other busy areas were teeming with people, who moved back and forth on the stone-paved avenues.

Something's not right... Bai Jun muttered to himself.

Having not left the house for the past few days, Bai Jun had been staying in a house in Alchemy Commission. Today, returning to the bustling streets for the first time, he immediately felt extremely uncomfortable, as if he were being watched by countless eyes.

Even though Bai Jun didn't do anything unusual and didn't say a word from beginning to end, he still instantly became the focus of everyone's attention.

Bai Jun, who hadn't been paying attention to the news at all, swallowed hard, preparing to quicken his pace to leave the street as soon as possible—that was the thought that had just crossed his mind.

"... Um, excuse me."

Several young and beautiful Foxkin women walked out from the crowd after making up their minds.

"Excuse me, excuse my intrusion, but judging from your snow-white hair and beautiful blue eyes... could you perhaps be Lord Bai Jun?"

"Uh, I really am..."

The question, asked in an almost obsequious manner, left Bai Jun speechless.

--But this reaction turned out to be extremely fatal.

"Lord Bai Jun!? Could it be the legendary hero Lord Bai Jun!?"

"I've seen you before at Exalting Sanctum, and we even spoke. Do you remember me?"

"Ah~ I'm so lucky to have met you...!"

"Lord Bai Jun! Please give me your autograph!"

Please allow me to see your esteemed face!

Before Bai Jun could react, he was surrounded by the crowd.

As soon as the news spread, people of all genders, including attractive women, men, and even children, flocked to the site.

Merchants, passersby, and onlookers alike, even Outworlders from outside Luofu flocked to the area upon hearing the news.

Even though this is right in the middle of the road, people of all races have spontaneously formed human walls, transcending barriers of perspective and group affiliation.

"Wait, wait a minute, have you got the wrong person?!"

Upon his triumphant return from the disaster, Bai Jun was greeted with thunderous applause upon his first public appearance. Stunned by the spectacle, Bai Jun could only offer a loud explanation. Completely oblivious to his newfound status and importance, he was swallowed up by the crowd.

Jing Yuan and Lingsha, pushed aside by the crowd, exchanged a smile.

"There's really nothing we can do; after all, A-Bai is a hero of Luofu."

Lingsha helplessly pressed her slender palms against her cheeks.

Jing Yuan, standing some distance away, gazed at the chaotic scene before him, seemingly detached from the situation, and simply exclaimed, "Wow~ even more exaggerated than when I was here!"

Chapter 192 Becoming a General's Wife Isn't Impossible

After a difficult journey, the group finally managed to escape the crowds on the street and reach the courtyard of the Shence Mansion.

Bai Jun leaned against the door of the conference hall, almost collapsing from exhaustion. He was so tired that he felt dizzy and his face looked haggard.

He was carrying gifts that people had insisted on giving him.

Large bouquets of flowers wrapped in pristine white paper, origami cranes folded by the children themselves, free credit cards from various shops, and love letters written in all sorts of colors.

Bai Jun, who hadn't left his home since the disaster ended three days prior and hadn't been aware of public opinion, was utterly astonished by the public's enthusiasm. At this point, he finally understood firsthand just how fervent the uproar following the disaster truly was.

"That's outrageous! Even when that Guinaifen robin came to Luofu, he didn't receive this kind of treatment."

"This precisely demonstrates that the people are looking forward to heroes; you should feel proud."

Seeing Bai Jun being brutally attacked by the crowd, Jing Yuan couldn't help but burst into gloating laughter.

He remembered how he had become Luofu General amidst the cheers and throngs of the people of Luofu. Now, seeing Bai Jun, which seemed to overlap with his past self, he felt a mix of joy and a sense of the passage of time, but more than anything, he felt gratified that there was someone to carry on the legacy.

"This isn't about right or wrong; I need an explanation. Could you please explain why the people on the street are so fanatical about me? And what the hell is this 'hero' they're talking about...?"

"As the words say, your feat of defeating Phantylia has spread throughout the entire Xianzhou. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call you a hero, would it?"

Upon hearing Jing Yuan's matter-of-fact explanation, Bai Jun, raising an eyebrow slightly, couldn't help but retort, "You should know that all I've ever wanted is a peaceful life. I have no interest in being a hero or anything like that."

"Then please consider the Shence Mansion as well. Do you really think that such a huge commotion back then could be covered up by just the official statement? Or are you hoping that the Shence Mansion will tell an obvious Qing Yan to cover up this incident, so that I, the General of Divine Strategy, can be ruined?"

Jing Yuan rubbed his forehead with one hand, revealing a helpless expression that said, "I really can't do anything with you."

"Heroes and all that? Someone like me could never be a hero..."

Bai Jun shook his head in distress, while Jing Yuan became serious after hearing Bai Jun's words.

"But you've now become a hero of Luofu, so I won't allow you to say anything that belittles yourself. Don't forget, now that you carry the earnest expectations of everyone, every move you make affects the entire Luofu. Whether you bluff or do nothing, just do it for the sake of those children who simply admire you. Continue to uphold your heroic identity to the end, or can you bear to watch their admiration crumble?"

His voice was different from his usual languid tone; it didn't sound like a joke at all.

Realizing he was now on a sinking ship, Bai Jun fell silent after Jing Yuan's words.

Jing Yuan took this reaction as an admission and continued to persuade him, "You are already dazzling enough, so outstanding that you might never realize it yourself if others didn't point it out. Besides, excessively underestimating one's own abilities is sometimes a form of arrogance..."

Finally, Jing Yuan walked behind Bai Jun, gently placed his hands on his shoulders, and earnestly taught him as a senior to a junior.

"There's no need to feel lost. Just do what you believe is right. After all, you're Bai Jun!"

Just then, Jing Yuan raised the corners of his mouth and deliberately smiled at him, then pushed Bai Jun's shoulder forcefully from behind.

The doors to the conference hall suddenly swung open.

The spacious room was simply furnished, with only a huge long table and two rows of chairs. Today, apart from the Ten Lords Bureau, the heads of the other Six Commissions were all gathered together, sitting on either side of the long table, each looking preoccupied with their own thoughts.

Caught off guard, Bai Jun was suddenly pushed into the room by Jing Yuan. The environment, which had been filled with the sounds of chattering, fell silent. The people who were whispering and talking all turned their gazes to Bai Jun, and then gave him different kinds of looks.

Appreciation, admiration, longing, and... a craving for something a little saccharine.

Bai Jun saw several familiar faces among them: Zhu Lun, the red-haired Artisanship Commission; Bu Fu Xuan, the pink-haired Divination Bureau; Heng Huifu, the pale-bearded director of the Earth-Balance Commission Yukong; and Duo Yukong, the Helmsman the Tianbo Division with a blue fox tail. The two looked at each other, and the other winked at him slyly.

Without a doubt, the source of that look in his eyes, as if he wanted to devour him, must be Yukong.

Even though he knew everyone here, Bai Jun still felt a little embarrassed. He forced a smile, greeted everyone briefly, and then, while avoiding Yukong's gaze, walked to the sofa next to the conference room.

Jing Yuan followed Bai Jun into the conference hall, looked around the room, casually pulled out the chair at the head of the table, and sat down directly.

As for Lingsha, she walked to the empty seat next to Fu Xuan, gathered her long, ink-black hair, and gracefully sat down.

Seeing that the time was right, Jing Yuan coughed lightly, thus beginning the meeting.

"I'm sure you all know why I've gathered you here today, so I won't elaborate. To make a long story short, there are two things I need to tell you. The first is about the details of the 'Wardance Ceremony' that Luofu will be holding as part of the project planning..."

The so-called Wardance Ceremony is actually a large-scale event unique to the Xianzhou. Its original purpose was to commemorate the heroic deeds of the Reignbow and Cloud Knights in fighting against the Abominations of Abundance and saving the Xianzhou.

Jing Yuan chose this time to hold the festival for two reasons. First, it was to calm the people in Luofu and use a joyous and significant festival to wash away the fear left over from the previous period.

Secondly, it was to reopen all the border crossings of Luofu, attract foreign merchants and travelers under the guise of a festival, and at the same time, to tell the whole galaxy that the Xianzhou Luofu had completely overcome the crisis. Holding the Wardance was also to demonstrate its peaceful and secure state to the outside world.

Whether it's to mitigate the effects of the recent catastrophe or for other reasons, the Wardance Ceremony is undoubtedly of great benefit to Luofu today.

"... Then, the matter of inviting various forces and corporations in the galaxy is entrusted to you, Lady Yukong."

So, at the long table in the conference hall, the leaders discussed and drafted various trivial details about the ceremony.

Bai Jun sat on the sofa next to the conference room, his hands behind his head, looking up at the ceiling. His attention was not on the meeting at all, but on the battle three days ago, and what happened after that disaster... He was slumped on the sofa.

After eliminating Phantylia, Bai Jun immediately discovered something extremely strange, or rather, quite surprising.

That is, in addition to the power of "Sun" and "Abundance", the Path power of "Destruction" and "Permanence" has been added to his body. Although it is not as much as the Abundance Aeon directly gave him, it still accounts for a certain proportion of the mass.

If anyone else had so many different kinds of Path powers within their body, their fate would usually be terrible. They would either explode and die or mutate into a mindless monster. The strange thing is that Bai Jun is living a very good life now.

Furthermore, the power of the "Sun" seems to be continuously increasing and strengthening.

Now, Bai Jun can basically make a definitive conclusion about the nature of "Sun"—it seems that "Sun" has the potential to encompass other Path. If it continues to absorb other Path, or simply enhances the power of any one of its Path, it can greatly accelerate the growth of this new Path.

Seeing the increase in strength might be a good thing, but what Bai Jun is more worried about right now is that the power of "the Sun" is already strong enough, and if it continues to rise, it will soon touch the level of Aeon. No one can say for sure what will happen at that time.

Bai Jun's biggest fear is that he will become like "The Hunt" Lan, extinguishing human emotions and completely ascending to godhood.

He shifted his posture, frowning as if extremely anxious, grabbed a bottle of mineral water from the small round table beside him, and took a large gulp, as if to calm his heart agitated by inexplicable anxiety.

Before they knew it, the conversation at the long table had shifted to other topics.

"I believe many of you have heard the news that I am about to step down, and I can confirm that it is true. I will be stepping down soon, handing over all power in Luofu to my successor. Therefore, the following matters are of paramount importance, and this is the main reason I have gathered you all here..."

With a forceful slam of his hand on the wooden tabletop, producing a loud boom, all eyes in the room immediately turned to Jing Yuan as he slowly rose from his seat. Under everyone's gaze, Jing Yuan glanced intentionally or unintentionally at Bai Jun, who was drinking water, and then deliberately spoke loudly to him.

"That concerns whether Bai Jun, whom I personally recommended and who was also approved by the Marshal, is qualified to succeed Luofu General! Everyone, please speak freely and express your opinions. Afterwards, we will collect anonymous votes to determine our next steps."

"Puff--!!!"

Bai Jun, who nearly choked to death, let out the loudest cry of his day—no, of all time.

However, no one in the conference hall paid any attention to this. Instead, they were completely focused on what Jing Yuan had just said. It was as if a pause button had been pressed, and everyone fell into an eternal, frozen silence for a short time, until this tranquility was broken by a cheerful voice.

"No objection! I fully agree!"

Lingsha, her delicate face framed by a bright smile, raised both hands in agreement.

Immediately following her lead, as if everyone responded to her call, the other department heads also began to express their opinions.

"I'm just an odd old man who's spent his whole life dealing with hammers and iron blocks. I don't really pay much attention to politics, but... regarding this matter, I'll only agree with it. I think it's not just a few of us, but probably the fervent expectation of all the people of Luofu."