Nobody would be happy to have their work interrupted when they were really getting into it.
Fu Xuan was no exception, especially when Jing Yuan had summoned her with an excuse like, "There's someone here you'll definitely want to meet. Make sure you come in person."
Someone else might have refused to come just to spite his cryptic behavior. After all, what couldn't they discuss through a projection? The Xianzhou Six Commissions each had their own responsibilities and equal standing, with mountains of work to handle and organize every day. Clearly, however, Fu Xuan wasn't that sort of person.
She had wanted to ignore him and discourage his fondness for riddles, but the words "want to meet" left her unable to settle down and divine anything. In the end, she could only pause her divinations and visit the Seat of Divine Foresight herself.
She intended to see just who could warrant her coming in person rather than speaking through a projection.
Her voice alone sounded exactly like a young girl's, but anyone could hear that she was decisive and brisk.
"Haha, don't be impatient, Fu Xuan. That person is right before your eyes."
Jing Yuan had clearly grown accustomed to Fu Xuan's whirlwind manner.
"This is Mr. Lingchen, the newly appeared Emanator of [Elation]. His curiosity about the Luofu has led him to wish to stay here for a while. Ordinary accommodations would hardly express the Luofu's respect, so I've arranged for him to stay at your residence for the time being."
Jing Yuan spoke with a perfectly straight face, while the corners of Lingchen's mouth twitched.
How could he even say that? Putting him in someone else's home counted as respect?
All right, Lingchen thought he could do with more of this. Jing Yuan certainly respected him.
"Y-you're serious?"
Fu Xuan's eyes widened.
She looked at Jing Yuan, then at Lingchen, at a loss for words.
Who put a stranger up in a girl's home?
An Emanator, at that.
"Of course. It's up to you now, Fu Xuan. If you're unwilling, I'll make other arrangements."
Jing Yuan sounded sincere, which actually helped Fu Xuan calm down.
Thinking it through, this man belonged to the [Elation] faction. Before Jing Yuan summoned her to the Seat of Divine Foresight, she hadn't merely failed to divine Lingchen's Path-she hadn't even divined that he had arrived on the Luofu. This was her own territory, after all, and that alone showed how unusual he was.
As such, Jing Yuan's decision to place him near her made sense. She knew perfectly well whether the Luofu had any other suitable people available.
It was a necessary measure.
Fine. To avoid any other problems, I might as well agree.
Besides, she had to admit that this man's appearance made him rather likable.
"I agree."
"Mr. Lingchen, do you have any luggage? Or anything else you need to buy? My residence only has my own daily necessities, so we'll need to purchase yours."
Fu Xuan tilted her head up slightly to look at Lingchen, a hint of inquiry in her eyes.
If he had none, she would accompany him to buy some.
Having made her decision, Fu Xuan wouldn't hesitate. She didn't care what outsiders said.
Besides, if he was only staying for a while, any rumors would naturally die away.
How did such a 'big shot' end up on the Xianzhou?
Lingchen met Fu Xuan's gaze. Her eyes were beautiful, like fine amber glowing brightly, though calling them amber-colored wasn't entirely accurate, as gorgeous shades of pink were woven through them.
The interweaving of Paths gave the people of this universe all sorts of eye colors, something Lingchen quite liked.
"Just call me Lingchen. I can buy a few necessities in a moment. Sorry for the trouble I'll be causing by staying with you, Miss Fu Xuan."
There was no kindness or malice without a reason. He was only being this polite to Fu Xuan because he lusted after her body.
Pink hair, white stockings, an ice-cream sweetheart with a petite, legal-age figure-who wouldn't like that?
"You can just call me Fu Xuan, too. Being called Miss Fu Xuan isn't something this seat- ahem, I'm particularly used to."
"Shall we leave now? There are a few things I'd like to ask you on the way."
Chapter 16: Sorry I was born evil
Jing Yuan watched Lingchen and Fu Xuan leave together and let out a small sigh of relief.
Fortunately, Fu Xuan had agreed.
Although Lingchen did give him a natural sense of affinity, someone still needed to keep an eye on him.
He had simply phrased it more tactfully.
"General!"
Before long, Yanqing came in from outside.
Before he even reached the desk, his voice reached Jing Yuan, who was writing a report.
"What did you summon me for, General? Is there an enemy that needs dealing with?"
"...Not at all. Someone arrived on the Luofu today who possesses both extraordinary strength and extensive knowledge. He is an Emanator on the same level as me. If you have free time over the next few days, you can pay him a visit. If he's in a good mood and teaches you a move or two, that would be a fortunate opportunity for you."
Jing Yuan set down his pen as he spoke.
Judging by his unchanged expression, he was clearly used to Yanqing wanting to spar wherever he went, his mind filled with nothing but swords and combat.
In truth, Lingchen was hardly knowledgeable. How could his twenty-odd years in his previous life compare to Jing Yuan's experience? He simply knew some of the so-called plot.
The details might differ, but the overall direction would remain almost identical. Those were the system's exact words, and that was why he could be so "conversational." Besides, Jing Yuan had done most of the talking.
It was only because he genuinely didn't seem like the Masked Fools. Otherwise, Jing Yuan might have recommended books such as Nobody is born loving to stir up amusement or Sorry I was born evil.
"His name is Lingchen, and he's currently staying with the master diviner. You can give it a try. Learning something is always good."
With Yanqing's personality, if Jing Yuan told him to keep an eye on Lingchen while Fu Xuan was at work, he would never manage to hide it. That might upset Lingchen.
But if he told him to go learn something, he would probably be enthusiastic.
As for sparring...
Although Jing Yuan had considered it at first, he later dismissed the idea himself. The man was an Emanator of [Elation]. If Jing Yuan actually suggested a spar, he might toy with Yanqing until the boy lost all his fighting spirit.
How could an Emanator lack combat skills?
And given Yanqing's personality, if Yanqing brought it up himself...
"I understand. General, I'll take my leave, then."
Yanqing's eyes shone. He already couldn't wait to seek instruction.
As it happened, his mornings were free over the next few days.
He had originally planned to buy the Artisanship Commission's latest batch of swords as soon as they were released, but improving his skills clearly mattered more.
The real Exalting Sanctum was much larger than Lingchen had imagined.
After all, the Luofu itself was the size of a planet, and its internal delve spaces could be expanded. Counting only its interior space, it was far larger than the planet-sized Luofu.
The Exalting Sanctum was no exception.
Buildings with distinctive Luofu architecture stood everywhere as Fu Xuan led Lingchen straight toward the area selling daily necessities.
"Lingchen, this may be a little presumptuous, but I really want to know why the Luofu's Matrix of Prescience and my third eye cannot observe you."
While helping Lingchen gather the supplies he would need, Fu Xuan looked up and asked.
Her eyes were full of curiosity.
Much like those of the Xianzhou natives watching them nearby.
Of course, those people's gazes were much more complicated than simple curiosity.
There was surprise, scrutiny, jealousy...
All sorts of looks. If Lingchen hadn't been fairly thick-skinned, he really wouldn't have been able to bear them.
It couldn't be helped. Some recognized the Divination Commission's master diviner and were astonished to see her personally accompanying someone to buy daily necessities. Others didn't recognize her, but that didn't stop them from envying Lingchen.
Not one of them dared approach, though. The bearing of the two was clearly extraordinary.
Most people were simply busy with their own affairs and hadn't noticed them.
"It seems you've already tried investigating me quite a few times."
"Yes." Fu Xuan made no attempt to hide it and nodded. "With my third eye and the Matrix of Prescience, I could only observe the appearance of Emanator-level power, but couldn't determine which Path it belonged to. I tried all sorts of methods, to no avail."
"It was as though a shadow had fallen over my eyes."
As Fu Xuan spoke, her gaze grew complicated.
Someone who had once refused to believe in fate had submitted to it after an upheaval and begun to believe.
Throughout her journey, every reality had confirmed that fate could not be defied. They could only choose a more suitable path, and none of her divinations had ever been wrong.
Yet now, someone whose future she couldn't divine had appeared.
"Perhaps it's because I'd never interacted with you, and I'm somewhat unusual myself. But now that there's a connection between us, you might be able to divine something. You could start with yourself, for example."
Lingchen paid and placed everything into the System Space.
Silver Wolf could certainly afford this much.
"Spatial equipment?"
"More or less."
She had spatial equipment herself, so it didn't particularly interest her. Instead, she continued explaining to Lingchen.
"I generally don't divine my own future."
"What about exceptionally?"
"Not then, either, unless I have no choice."
Fu Xuan was a little speechless. Do Emanators of [Elation] just enjoy leaving people speechless?
"May I ask whether I can perform a divination on you at close range?"
She had stopped referring to herself as "this seat" in front of Lingchen.
After all, he would be living with her soon. Putting on airs might feel good, but it was tiring.
Once they grew familiar, she might return to that form of address.
Of course, if she became general, that might be another matter.
"Of course."
How could anyone advance without curiosity? Lingchen wholeheartedly supported Fu Xuan performing divinations on him. In any case, trying to divine him directly would reveal nothing.
He wasn't from this world and possessed an unknown treasure like the system. Even if he left traces in this world, nobody could see his future.
But if someone formed a connection with him, they could divine the person connected to him and perhaps discover some of that person's future experiences or relationship with him.
That was the answer the system had given when Lingchen asked.
So he wasn't worried about Fu Xuan's divinations at all.
"But outside clearly isn't a good place for divination. Why don't we discuss it after we return and get everything settled?"
Although Xianzhou clothing was quite appealing, he was already used to the modern clothing of his previous life. Fortunately, every kind of clothing was sold on the Xianzhou.
Perhaps he would try Xianzhou clothing in the future.
"That works."
Fu Xuan nodded.
P.S. Thanks to Tianmingyuexin for the monthly ticket.
Chapter 17: You aren't from this world
Fu Xuan's residence was indeed fairly large, but that included the inner courtyard. The house itself wasn't all that big.
On the Luofu, however, it already counted as a top-tier residence.
After all, the Luofu's population remained crowded even as new delve spaces were constantly built.
After looking things over several times, Fu Xuan assigned Lingchen the room beside her own.
There was no other choice. The other rooms were filled with divination tools or other implements.
The remaining rooms were bathrooms and the like. She couldn't exactly make Lingchen live in the reception room.
As it happened, she had cleaned the room beside hers on a whim last time, intending to use it to store things like Immortal's Joy Tea.