Xianyu's brain crashed in an instant.
What was Akivili talking about?
Why did those words stop making sense when strung together? What did Akivili mean, Guan Liang had taken his clothes?
Had the language Aeons spoke been entered into the Synesthesia Beacon? Was it the interstellar common tongue?
Akivili took one look at Xianyu's face and fell silent.
That face generally wore only two expressions.
Either it was cold, inspiring fear and making others instinctively avert their eyes.
Or it bore a flawless, gentle, harmless smile that made others feel incredibly welcome.
This was the first time the Aeon had seen their best friend wear such a... not particularly intelligent expression.
Akivili asked cautiously, "What's wrong... did you not know about this?"
Xianyu slowly shook his head.
He had punished Guan Liang for two reasons.
After discovering the truth, Xianyu had quickly recalled all the details he had previously overlooked.
For example, the Cauldron Master's sudden resignation, and Guan Liang volunteering Lan to do the work.
Xianyu had no attention to spare for everyday trivialities, while Guan Liang had worked with him for nearly five thousand years.
He was the person most likely to know the truth.
Then there was Guan Liang's inexplicable resistance upon learning that Xianyu had brought along Shuhu, the Emanator of Abundance.
After sorting out his thoughts, Xianyu had used the Galaxy Rangers following him to deliver Guan Liang's punishment directly-a suspension with pay.
He believed that decision had been more than generous.
Guan Liang did not have to work, and the Strales would keep coming. Wasn't that just paid leave?
It was just that, during this period, Guan Liang would no longer be the Chief Strategist, only an ordinary Xianzhou native.
An ordinary Xianzhou native could not meet Hua or the Reignbow Arbiter, much less