How come I'm the one being conquered?

Fu Xuan's gaze lingered for a moment longer than usual. She thought his physique was quite good, and wondered if he'd become more solid since they first met?

No, the constitution of Xianzhou natives meant their bodies wouldn't change regardless of exercise. It must be an illusion.

Snapping back to reality, Fu Xuan noticed Bai Jun staring at her intently. Her tone became flustered, "What are you looking at me for?"

"Do I still need to take off my pants?"

"Take o-off what!? Be serious! You scoundrel—!"

Realizing what Bai Jun had said, Fu Xuan blushed and angrily slapped his back.

Bai Jun gasped in pain, quickly becoming subdued. Although he didn't know what Fu Xuan was planning to do, he certainly didn't dare say another word.

Fu Xuan leaned forward slightly, placing her small hand on Bai Jun's back. Soon, as her fingertips touched him, the markings traced began to glow with a faint purple light, revealing crystalline patterns on Bai Jun's back.

Countless particles flowed through the air, forming the shape of a magic circle under Fu Xuan's fingertips.

As the magic circle spun, Fu Xuan formed a hand seal, and the divine eye on her forehead shone with brilliant light. The surrounding purple particles swirled around her like ethereal mist.

The threads of fate would manifest as myriad potential illusions on each soul. This divine eye, bestowed by the Lord of Abundance, allowed Fu Xuan to observe the proper flow of a person's destiny. All past events overlapped within the mist of probability, appearing dreamlike and real, shifting and fading at the edge of consciousness, extending into countless futures.

She tried her best to discern the branching paths of Bai Jun's destiny within the vastness of the moment, but the traces that fate should have left were nowhere to be seen on Bai Jun. How strange...

Just as she was fully concentrating on operating the magic circle to search, her fingertips maintaining the circle and her divine eye surveying fate suddenly felt a searing, burning pain. Before she could react, the unbearable heat washed over her like a tide.

Fu Xuan felt as though her fingers would turn to flames and be reduced to ash. Instinctively, she wanted to break the magic circle, but her exceptionally high Diviner's spirit wouldn't allow her to stop midway.

So, she gritted her teeth, enduring the searing pain of her spirit being burned by flames, and completed the ritual.

"Alright, you can put your clothes back on now."

Fu Xuan retracted her fingers as if she had been electrocuted. As her divine eye closed, the magic circle constructed from the surrounding purple particles quickly dissipated.

Ignoring the cold sweat beading on her forehead, Fu Xuan grabbed the clothes from the floor and tossed them to Bai Jun, who hadn't yet grasped the situation. She then issued a dismissal order, "This Seat is very tired today, so I won't see you out!"

As he was leaving, Fu Xuan suddenly whispered a sentence into Bai Jun's ear, "When times are unfavorable and fortune is poor, destiny is fraught with hardship. However, fortune and misfortune are intertwined; one need only await the manifestation of fate."

Following this, a bewildered Bai Jun was ushered out of the office, not even fully dressed, looking like a pitiable maiden who had been abandoned after a fling.

"So, what exactly was going on..."

Bai Jun's lips twitched. Before he could complain, he noticed the Diviners passing by and hastily put on his clothes to avoid any gossip.

Hearing Bai Jun's footsteps gradually recede outside the door, Fu Xuan felt as if all her strength had been drained away. She propped her hands on the desk, resting her forehead on her hands. The sweat that dripped down soaked her pink hair, clinging uncomfortably to her forehead, but she had no energy to care about that now.

She forced herself to sit on the sofa and rubbed her throbbing temples. Every time she closed her eyes, she could recall the flames she had just observed.

It was a radiant, star-like body of light hidden deep within Bai Jun's soul. Every ray of light pulsed, like an impassioned torrent, or perhaps like a surging rage suppressed since ancient times, tearing and growling, as if it wanted to melt everything into oblivion.

"No mistake about it, Bai Jun's origins are indeed not simple. That flame is definitely... Ow, it hurts!"

Severed strands of blood-red jade beads slid down the wounds on her fingers, dripping onto the ground and transforming into a vibrant blood-red flower. Only then did Fu Xuan realize her fingers had been cut by something sharp.

"Hmph... Just wait, Bai Jun, this Seat will definitely have you!"

The usually majestic Fu Xuan buried her head in the sofa, letting out a pathetic sound.

ps: Summarizing the current bounties, a total of seven and a half chapters are owed.

Are there any more votes? I still have quite a bit of stored manuscript!

Chapter 29: Online Comments Cannot Be Fully Believed

The clouds are so white...

The wind is so cool...

What a nice day today...

Gazing at the exceptionally bright afternoon sky, Miss Qing Que, who was temporarily serving as the gatekeeper of the Divination Bureau, leaned against the wall of the main entrance, holding a porcelain teacup filled with emerald-green tea. Red dates floated on the surface, and white steam slowly wafted from the rim, like a small chimney.

"Haaah, so comfortable~"

Qing Que took a sip of the warm tea and let out a sound of utter satisfaction, looking exactly like a middle-aged uncle who had just retired and was wandering around a park with his thermos.

Having entered the Divination Bureau according to her parents' wishes and endured years of high-intensity workplace struggles, Qing Que had become a seasoned master of slacking off in her aimless journey through life.

Departments had come and gone, and she had had several superiors, yet she remained steadfastly at the lowest rank of Diviners, with a tendency to sink even lower... a truly delightful growth. However, even so, the daily life of standing guard at the entrance was still somewhat arduous.

Let alone slacking off to go play cards with Bai Jun, even resting for a moment by the entrance would earn a stern reprimand from the Grand Diviner. This life was simply not meant for a little sparrow!

It was now afternoon. At this time, she should have been finding a comfortable corner in the library to take a nap, and after waking up, she would have quietly snuck out to play cards. But all of that was ruined because of guard duty!

Thinking of this, Qing Que couldn't help but sigh. She didn't have this habit before. Sometimes she wondered if she had been influenced too much by Bai Jun?

"Speaking of which, I don't think I've seen the Grand Diviner today. Could she be in a meeting?"

Qing Que's dangling fair legs suddenly stopped. She realized this might be a rare and excellent opportunity, so she put down her teacup and stood up straight, looking around.

Within the Divination Bureau, there were only a few people Qing Que feared. Fu Xuan was one, of course. The Mingyue Division Diviners who often roamed the Hall of Affairs could definitely be considered one.

Oh, and there was also Diviner Xi Si. This undeniable admirer of handsome young men was even more significant. Qing Que even seriously suspected that she harbored improper thoughts about Bai Jun.

These seniors' favorite pastime was finding Qing Que for a heart-to-heart talk. After listening for so long, she knew that, like the teachers in her old school, they always repeated the same few phrases.

—They would start by praising her as "quiet and well-behaved" and "naturally intelligent," then follow up with some complaint: "It's a pity such a clever mind is used in the wrong place," and finally, they would paint a grand picture: "If only this knack could be applied to work, then you could certainly achieve..."

Qing Que knew better than anyone what kind of life she truly wanted. Over time, the patience of those seniors finally wore thin. In the end, they could only leave behind a disappointed assessment that she would never amount to much.

Once she was sure those seniors were nowhere in sight, Qing Que steeled her resolve. Just as she was ready to make a run for it...

Pat pat—

The sound of small paws stepping on bluestone slabs.

A handsome white house cat landed beside her. Its fur was fluffy like flowing clouds reflecting snow, its color rich and lustrous, and it was quite majestic. Especially its physique, which was much more petite and delicate than that of ordinary, robust house cats.

Ever since Jianmu took root, the people of Xianzhou had favored pets that were strong and massive. Qing Que rarely saw such a small and cute creature, and her interest was immediately piqued. But as this little one passed by, it actually glanced at her with a very human-like expression, even letting out a disdainful snort from its nostrils.

"?"

Qing Que didn't hesitate. With a quick grab, she instantly refined it!

"Oh, oh, where did this little cat come from? How dare you cause trouble here? Let me show you the might of this Grand Diviner, take this!"

"Meow—!"

Ignoring the fat cat's struggles, Qing Que continued to scratch its belly, determined to make it recognize the harsh reality.

Just as she was having a blast, a clear, cold voice came from behind her: "Having fun?"

"Waaah! I, I, Grand Diviner, I was wrong! I'll never dare to do it again!" Qing Que's small body trembled from the fright. She let go of the cat in her hands, instinctively covered her head in a defensive posture, and pleaded with a slightly shaky voice.

"Uh, is this your Divination Bureau's unique way of greeting?"

Wait, Qing Que, who was cowering with her head covered, suddenly froze. She realized the voice was very familiar. Then, she looked up and saw Bai Jun leaning against the door of the Divination Bureau, staring at her with a teasing smirk.

If it were anyone else who dared to joke like this, Qing Que would have made them eat a few mahjong tiles with their head. But this person was Bai Jun.

His personality was quite awful, but his face was so incredibly handsome that his wicked demeanor actually had a unique charm.

Fine, fine, I'll forgive you this time because you're so good-looking.

Crack—

"Ah! Bai Jun, you bad guy, no unauthorized photos!"

Qing Que clutched her chest, just regaining her composure, when she saw the Jade Omen in Bai Jun's hand flashing with the characteristic light of a camera.

She then angrily jumped up, swung her little fists, and randomly hit Bai Jun's shoulder a few times. Standing on tiptoe, she tried to snatch the Jade Omen from his hand.

Relying on his absolute height advantage, Bai Jun merely raised his hand slightly, not even making any evasive movements. In contrast, Qing Que, standing on tiptoe and stretching her fair, tender arms, could only just barely reach Bai Jun's wrist.

"I don't care, delete the photo quickly!"

Realizing that there might be an insurmountable chasm between her and the Jade Omen, Qing Que immediately changed her strategy and started tickling his unguarded waist.

"Gah! Surrender! I surrender to the esteemed Miss Qing Que!"

But to Qing Que's surprise, this move was surprisingly effective. Bai Jun's pupils suddenly contracted. Suppressing a smile, he surrendered obediently in less than half a second.

Qing Que triumphantly raised her slightly flushed little face and snorted. She secretly rejoiced at finding Bai Jun's weakness while accepting the Jade Omen he deferentially handed over.

She opened the Jade Omen and quickly deleted the photos he had just taken of her. Just as she was about to return it to Bai Jun, several messages suddenly appearing on the screen firmly captured Qing Que's attention.

[Silver Hacker: ???]

[Silver Hacker: Why didn't you reply to my message last night? Are you tired of me already?]

[Silver Hacker: If you're still upset about what happened the night before last, I can apologize. After all, the most important thing in such matters is personal experience. I can't just ignore your feelings based on my own desires.]

[Silver Hacker: As compensation, you can play however you want tonight. I'm open to any kind of game.]

"..."

Qing Que's expression changed drastically. Her face, which had a faint blush moments ago, instantly turned ashen. But this was quickly replaced by unresolvable resentment over the betrayal and jealousy towards the woman on the other end of the Jade Omen.

From Bai Jun's perspective, he could see Qing Que suddenly lower her face, her delicate shoulders, as soft as fine jade, trembling slightly.

Perhaps the early spring wind was still a bit harsh. For some reason, Bai Jun felt a strange sense of unease, as if someone were stabbing him in the back with a knife.

"Uh, Qing Que? Gua—!"

Bai Jun called out cautiously, but what greeted him was a tearful punch from Qing Que. Caught off guard, he took the full force of the blow.

"I can do that kind of thing too! Ughhhh..." The girl covered her face with a crying voice and then ran away sobbing.

Bai Jun clutched his severely wounded abdomen, wondering what kind of madness the girl was experiencing again.

It wasn't until he looked down and saw the outrageous messages displayed on the lit Jade Omen screen that his face immediately turned paler than his hair.

The heart that had been hanging on finally died completely.

Chapter 30: This Entry is Gui

Relying on his understanding of Qing Que, Bai Jun found the tea-haired girl squatting in a corner by the vending machine not long after. She was drawing circles on the ground with a stick and muttering some dark words to herself.

Bai Jun leaned against the vending machine with his right hand, looking down at Qing Que squatting in the corner with a helpless expression. He tapped the casing of the vending machine with his finger and said, "Want a drink? My treat."

"...Hmph."

Seeing her puffed-up face, Bai Jun sighed. He knew that forcing conversation at this moment would only lead to more trouble. He then bought two cans of iced drinks from the vending machine and, picking up one, suddenly pressed it against her cheek.

"Ah! So cold!"

The sudden icy, slippery sensation on her skin made Qing Que tremble, letting out a flustered sound like a startled rabbit. But Qing Que quickly realized her loss of composure and covered her cheeks, though her flushed, delicate earlobes betrayed her emotions quite tellingly.

Bai Jun took the opportunity to shove the drink into her hand, then casually sat down beside her, popped open the can, and started drinking as if it were nothing.

"Honestly..." Qing Que turned her head to look at Bai Jun beside her. Seeing his clear, cornflower-blue eyes and his slightly troubled expression, the dissatisfaction in her heart immediately dissipated by more than half.

She remained silent, but quietly leaned closer to Bai Jun. Her fair, slender legs were bent and tucked together in front of her, her hands clasped around her knees, her face buried in her legs, shrinking herself into a small ball.

"Who was that person?" After a while, Qing Que suddenly asked in a muffled voice.

"Can I finally explain now?" Seeing that she had finally regained her ability to communicate, Bai Jun earnestly explained the whole story: "...In short, this person is really just a gaming friend I met online, we just play games together normally."

It wasn't until his throat was almost burning that he heard Qing Que mumble softly, "Really?"

"Really, really," Bai Jun nodded, patting his chest with a solemn promise.

"You answered too quickly... you're just brushing me off, boohoo!" Qing Que hid her smile, rubbing her reddened eyes with her soft fingers, still feigning a pitiable appearance.

Hearing this, Bai Jun's vision went black, and he almost fainted on the spot from anger.

There was no other way. Bai Jun took out the Jade Omen and deleted the online friend with the ID "Silver Hacker" in front of Qing Que. The first reason was to quickly get Qing Que to calm down, and the second was to prevent this Silver Hacker from bothering him again in the future.

"Here, I didn't lie to you, did I?"

As the Silver Hacker's avatar completely disappeared, Bai Jun shook the Jade Omen in his hand. But before he could put it away, he heard a "ding-dong" sound, and a very familiar ID suddenly flashed on the screen.

[Silver Hacker: ???]

[Silver Hacker: Why did you delete me? Have you really grown tired of me?]

[Silver Hacker: Wuwuwu, have you forgotten the vows you made when we first met? You promised to only worship me from now on...]

666, this guy is something else!

Seeing the screen clearly, Bai Jun's face almost turned green. He was clearly quite startled. He was absolutely sure he had just deleted this Silver Hacker, but where had this one come from now... Bad news, could this really be a hacker?

"Hmm? What's this message now..."