Amongst the crowd, Acheron's mind was tryong to spot Sushang and Huohuo. But she couldn't, as her mind was now filled with thoughts about the mysterious woman she had just accidentay bumped into before heading inside the mob. Every time her head would turn around at any angle and her eyes gazed at more nameless people's faces in her surroundings, another question about that woman would sprout in her brain.
"That woman. Who is she?"
"Why did she seemed to know me?"
"Do I know her?"
"Is she here for the festival?"
"Why did she looked so myster-"
"There you are!"
"!"
Feeling someone grabbing her hand, the Self-Annihilator's mind came to a sudden ease as she stared to Sushang and Huohuo on her side, having found her in the middle of the ground. With that, the questions about the woman inside her head ceased to exist.
"Phew! Glad we were able to find you in the middle of this crowd!" Sushang said, pulling Acheron to a less crowded space of the area alongside Huohuo. "Told you that the Luofu in this time of the year is quite the nightmare for newcomers!"
"You were also looking truly lost in there to the point of making us worried." Huohuo also speaked, frowning. "Please, stay close to us like we've advised before!"
"Sorry. You're right." Acheron responded, her mind back to normalcy as she made sure to calm both the two's concern about her. "I just ain't the type of person that does well in excessive overcrowded spaces."
"Hm, must be quite the hassle to have something like that then." The Cloud Knight said before sounding more cheerful. "Funnily enough, you do seem to strike me as a person who appreciates more tranquility and peaceful places. By the way, who was that woman you bumped into? You two seemed to have chatted for a bit. Did you know her?"
"Not really. Don't know her from anywhere. So it ended up being just small talk." Acheron responded, the brief meeting becoming a second thought in her head as she had other things to keep more focused on while in here. "This place, the Exalting Sanctum, does seem nice however." She turned her head to look at the overall festival that was happening. "I can tell that it's usually a busy area even with events not occuring. Areas like this surely seem to make the Luofu lively. The way everyone is smilling and commemorating their tradition together..." Getting progressively lower, the Emmanator of Nihility's voice became a deaf whisper as she closed her eyes, reminiscing of those blurred and fragmented days of her homeland, when they had their own festivals. "I wish I still could do the same."
"I-Is everything alright?" Huohuo questioned Acheron as she and Sushang both noticed how the woman was looking melancholic. "You're looking sad."
"No. Everything's fine. I was seizing the moment, that's all." Acheron replied, staring back to the duo. "Anyways, what is that stand that you were referring about a moment ago, Sushang?"
"Oh! It's simply one of if not the best stand food in the Luofu at the moment!" Sushang responded enthusiastically. "You really have to try out! People are saying that the smell of the dishes is enough to make water in your mouth!"
The small foxian nodded in agreement. "Exactly! I tried it out the other day! It was incredibly good, as excepted from Jiaoqiu!"
"Jiaoqiu?" Acheron raised an eyebrow, wondering who that was.
"He's a foxian from the Xianzhou Yaoqing as well as a direct counselor of the general from there." Huohuo explained the basic information about Jiaoqiu to the Self-Annihilator. "But also an incredible chef and healer. His food is the best of the best! We've heard recently that he opened his own food stand here in the Exalting Sanctum for the duration period of the festival!"
"Xianzhou Yaoqing? There is people from the other Xianzhou ships here at the Luofu?" Acheron made another question, having noticed that detail.
"Yeah. Altough majority is just normal citizens from the other ships. Not much high profile guests really." Sushang replied, not wanting the Self-Annihilator to get high expectations. "That aside, wanna try out his food?"
Despite what was already the obvious that Acheron had long since lost her ability to 'taste' food, she would look bad to refuse it in front of Sushang and Huohuo, specially if she had to explain why which could open a whole can of worms in itself. Better spare them of all that. "I am. Guide me to where his food stand is, please." She nodded her head with a friendly smile to the duo.
"Alright! Again, make sure to stay close to us this time." Sushang told to Acheron as the three of them proceeded to walk back into the crowd, navigating through in order to reach to the seemingly famous food stand of Jiaoqiu."
"Look! There he is!" Huohuo exclaimed as she pointed to the already mentioned food stand in the middle of the square and crowd. And it really seemed as great as people told, having huge amounts of line just to eat the food of the foxian man that was cooking amazingly and expertly to the hundreds of gazes from the people.
"Wow! Look at him go!"
"Amazing! He cooked that dish in literally under a minute!"
"And it tastes soooo good!"
"What's his secret to pull that off?"
With a ding of the stopwatch, another dish was put on the counter as it was ready to be served. "Hehehe, calm down everyone! Don't push others and make sure to not cut the line!" Jiaoqiu smiled to his public as he finished serving another happy customer. "There is enough food for everyone that I'm willing to make!"
"So that's him..." Acheron murmured from the distance. Shifting her gaze down to the dishes exhibited at the counter, she could tell that they looked delicious just by the appearence. "Judging by the look of that food and the people's reaction, guess he really is a great cook."
"Hey! What about my dish!"
"Can't you two get the job done already?!"
"I've been waiting for mine for almost half an hour by now!"
Hearing the shouts and angry comments of impatience on the line to the side of the one Jiaoqiu was serving, the foxian's attention got turned to his left. "Hm?"
The trio also looked to the source of insatisfaction of some of the people in that line. It appeared that the foxian wasn't managing the food stand all by himself. Quite the contrary, he was accompanied by two helpers on the business.
Sushang's eyes widened a bit as she realized who it was. "Wait! Aren't those two..."
From the other half of the improvised kitchen inside the food stand, a duo of young teens were squabbling with each other, having entered into a sort of competition.
"You call this cutting? Those carrot slices were choped disproportionally!" A young blonde boy shouted. "You think you're slicing enemies up or what?!"
"Then why don't you do it then if you're the expert!?" The other child, a black haired girl, shouted back. "Or you're afraid to mess up another dish?"
"Me? Pff! I ain't afraid of cooking!"
"Yet you were on your knees begging like a baby to not be forced to spend the day here!"
"And I wouldn't if it wasn't for you causing the ruckus that you did at the Artisanship Comission!"
"What? The ruckus YOU did?"
"No I didn't!"
"Yes you did!"
Pressing both forheads on one another, the two kids dispute was about to possibly go physical.
Sighing, Jiaoqiu saw he had to intervene. "Excuse me for a moment." Stepping in, the foxian calmly put both his arms in the middle, moving away both children from each other. "Now now, you two. No need to start getting violent for every small mistake the other of you does. Just like in swordsmanship, cooking also requires a trial and error in order to perfect it. With a turbulent kitchen, you won't reach there. The more calm we are, the less mistakes we make."
"Hmph! He's the one who started!" The girl puffed her cheeks, crossing her arms and looking away in contempt. "I'm kinda surprised he still hasn't set the whole kitchen on fire by accident."
"You..." The boy replied in a restrained anger, trying his best to not feel insulted.
"Those two surely do seem to have a chaotic dynamic. Are they siblings?" Acheron asked, the relationship and interaction between the boy and the girl looking...peculiar.
"Worse! They're Yanqing and Yunli!" Sushang exclaimed in bewilderment before explaining to Acheron. "Yanqing is General Jing Yuan's prodigee and technically adopted son. Many assume that he's going to be the leader of the Cloud Knights one day. And the girl, Yunli, is the grandaughter of the General of the Xianzhou Zhuming, General Huaiyan. I wonder why those two are here working under Jiaoqiu and his kitchen?"
"Maybe we should go ask them. Hope it wasn't anything bad related to the General." Huohuo proposed before shyly looking to the line in front of the trio. "Altough...we'd have to pass in front of all these people..."
"Bah! Who cares or not if we're cutting the line?" Mr Tail replied to Huohuo from the inside. "It ain't like we're doing it to get a piece of food! It will be just to asj questions."
"Well, as much as an 'abuse of authority' this is gonna look, I can use my rank as a Cloud Knight to get us to the front of the line." Sushang expressed her idea to the other two, looking at the line in front of them with confidence as she put both hands on her hips.
"Guess there really isn't much of other choice, is there?" Acheron replied.
"Nope. There isn't." Sushang replied in conformity, much to Huohuo's weak sigh.
"Excuse me! Excuse me! Cloud Knight passing by! Checking the perimeter!" Sushang then stepped forward, announcing her presence to the crowd as she made way through the line with Acheron and Huohuo following from behind, gaining some looks and comments of exasperation. "Please, don't question it! Just doing my duty, please understand!"
Eventually, the three reached to the food stand, seeing Jiaoqiu still trying to calm down Yanqing and Yunli.
"Don't be frustrated with one another. If you end up cooperating instead, you'll see how easier it gets done." The foxian chef advised them.
"Looks like someone here got tasked with parental duty, eh?" Sushang greeted Jiaoqiu, gaining both his and Yanqing and Yunli's attention.
"Eh, Miss Sushang. Hello there." Jiaoqiu smiled to her. "What brings a Cloud Knight like you here on such busy day like this one? Is my dishes really that good to the point of making guards leave their positions to eat them?" He joked a bit.
"Not really. I already had lunch." Sushang responded.
"We just wanted to see what the commotion was all about." Huohuo explained their motive to be there, looking to Yanqing and Yunli. "We weren't expecting to see the prodigees of two generals being here cooking for you. Did something happened?"
"If it happened. Yunli, being the reckless untrained child like she is, created problem on the Artisanship Comission." Yanqing pointed to Yunli with his thumb, showing clearly his disdain.
" 'Problem'. You're the one that decided to escalate it, idiot!" Yunli replied back.
"Because there's no way I would let you mess around in the forge just to create a new blade!" Yanqing told to her, annoyed.
"Thanks for that! Your intervention caused more damage to the comissions then it would if you had chose not to!" Yunli responded in the same voice tone.
"Oh! Then the news about the accident that happened yesterday on the Artisanship Comission were because of you two?" Sushang asked in surprise, only now knowing the real cause behind it.
"..."
"..."
Both Yanqing and Yunli just embaressedly looked away, preferring not to comment.
"Yeah. The damages...weren't pretty. So it's going to be closed off for at least a week until it's fully repaired." Jiaoqiu responded on that situation, looking down at the two children. "And as punishment for the two's trouble, General Jing Yuan assigned them to spend the day aiding me at my food stand in order to learn a lesson."
"Hm, so even the protégés of the generals aren't the exemple of perfect students." Acheron speaked, thinking that the punishment looked deserved if that was the case.
Jiaoqiu chuckled in response, seemingly turning his head to look at the Emmanator of Nihility. "No, they're not. No student is actually perfect. Because once they are, then they aren't a student anymore."
Acheron smiled softly to those wise words of the foxian. "How much true indeed."
"Hmm, that voice...You're new here at the Luofu, are you?" Jiaoqiu asked her, never having heard Acheron's voice before. "Or maybe I just didn't see you on my previous visits here before. Hehe, then again, I am not native to the Luofu and it's now a bit hard to-"
"Mister Jiaoqiu...The lady you're speaking with is on your left." Yanqing told him as he and the rest just stared to Jiaoqiu talking torwards the stove in an awkward silence.
"...Ah." Jiaoqiu simply said, having been facing the wrong direction, before turning his body to the left. "Apologies. This must have felt embaressing."
Only with that, Acheron begun to question why the foxian's eyes were closed. "You're...blind?" She asked, assuming it was that.
"Mister Jiaoqiu has been for quite some time now after a tragic accident that happened some months ago here at the Luofu as well." Huohuo told to the Self-Annihilator how the other foxian lost his sight. "A shame really. I can't even imagine what it's like to have to live without being able to perceive the world, specially for a chef cook like you. All those great dishes you make with the amount of ingredients you put in...you can't see them for yourself anymore."
Nevertheless, Jiaoqiu showed himself to be okay with that. "Eh, don't feel bad about it. Of course that it may cost at the beggining, but I've become mostly used to it by now. Also, the scent and taste are already enough to feel those dishes and the ingredients I chose. So even if I lack vision, as long as I can still sense the smell and flavor, those dishes will never be bland to me."
Acheron contemplated the words of the foxian chef for a bit. They seemed to ressonate with her, making the Emmanator of Nihility remember of the senses she herself had lost like taste and her subsequent rusting of her cooking skills with that. Yet, Jiaoqiu, who couldn't even see the dishes he'd prepare now, never stopped trying even if it difficulted his task. Arguably, cooking without being able to see was harder than cooking without being able to savor. She had to give him respects for that. "In exchange of having a sense taken away from you, all the other ones got enhanced. You must have valued what you still had greatly after such lose."
Jiaoqiu nodded in agreement. "Yes. While it's an unfortunate that I cannot see and might never will again, at the end of the day, I still find a blessing to be able to hear the voices of my companions, talk with them, and feel the diverse scents of food. It means that I'm still a living being." The foxian than brought a hand to his chin, Acheron's voice making his mind imagine. "Speaking of which, for the tone of your voice, you sound like a very collected, compassionate and wise lady. A voice of someone that looks to have gone through her fair share of experiences too as a seasoned traveller. It's like...how can I better put it? I was hearing to petals breezing in the air of a cherry blossom at the top of a resting hill amidst a desolated battlefield. It feels comforting."
Acheron was slightly bemused at the description Jiaoqiu made of her. She had never heard someone else compliment her voice like that before. His vision of her was also kind and a bit spot-on. If that was how the foxian perceived her, then it meant his intuition was as great as his other senses. "Thanks. You're also seem to be a very kind soul." Acheron replied back amicably to the foxian.
Giving an acknowledging smile, Jiaoqiu decided to change the topic. "So, are you native from here or just a tourist that caught wind of the 500th Anniversary of Lord Jing Yuan becoming Luofu's general?"
"The latter." Acheron responded. "I just happened to have stumbled upon the Xianzhou Luofu for a quick stop. Having come here at such eventful date was mere coincidence."
As the conversation was going on, Yanqing's eyes stared to Acheron's sword guarded to her waist. "That sword...I've never seen it before. Nor any of its kind here at the Luofu."
"Hm? Interested in it?" Acheron looked to the boy, taking out her sword for him to see better. "It does look special, doesn't it? Would not blame you for finding as such."
"Hmm, that shape. There's no sword in the Luofu that reminds me of that. Perhaps the closest resemblance to it is the sword of the General's mento-" Before being able to finish, Yanqing was pushed abruptly to the side by Yunli. "H-Hey!"
Yunli for her own was with her eyes fixated on the weapon. " 'Special' doesn't seem to sell it! I'd say more unique!" She moved her hand forward, about to touch it. "I wonder how powerful it is-"
Quickly, Acheron pulled her sword back. "Don't touch it!" The Self-Annilator said in an almost scolding tone. If Yunli were to come into contact with it, with IX themselves, who knew what bad things could happen.
However, it made Yunli and the rest look at her a bit oblivious and weird, not understanding Acheron's sudden reaction.
"...This sword isn't meant to be touched by anyone except its owner." Acheron explained briefly and in a more calm voice, storing back her weapon. She hoped that message was enough for Yunli to understand.
Seemingly, she did. "Oh. Okay. Sorry 'bout that." Yunli moved back her arm, apologizing in earnest, not having the intention to 'upset' Acheron.
"Tsk! For Lan's sake, Yunli! At least let that habit of stealing people with interesting swords die!" Yanqing rebuked her. "That gives a bad first impression on the people you meet, y'know?" He said, speaking from personal experience.
Yunli stared to Yanqing with indignation. "I wasn't gonna steal her! You always have to go straight to the accusations, don't you? That's your problem Yanqing! Anytime I'm about to do something you always end up rushing. Just admit that knowing I'm better than you made you become obsessed with me."
"Obsessed with you? Pff! Was that you're attempt at a joke?" Yanqing replied with an annoying smile. "Do I have to remind you who dealt that critical blow on Hooley? Who's the ring leader? Who won that duel literally three days ago?"
"Hmph! You were just lucky..." Yunli puffed her cheeks and adverted the gaze. She's have her revange eventually.
"It's alright. It was an innocent mistake. You two don't need to squabble over it." Acheron speaked, not wanting the two kids to be entering a discussion because of her sword.
"...Yeah. I already have enough has it is staying here." Yanqing sighed, following Acheron's advice as he and Yunli just accepted ending their petty discussion there. "But I have to say, to carry around a sword like that...You must be a very skilled and powerful swordswoman, miss." He complimented Acheron, having the feeling she was pretty strong by her weapon alone. "Just the sight of it makes me wish to challenge miss to a duel!" He exclaimed in high spirits. "What do you say to that? Once I'm finished with this boring punishment, we can spar somewhere else!"
"So that you can lose to her and no one sees your defeat?" Yunli teased the boy to her side, gaining a small look of distaste from him.
Acheron giggled in amusement. She could tell that the general's prodigee was quite enthusiastic about facing strong opponents. "I appreciate your offer of facing me. Unfortunately, I fear I'll have to refuse. I don't have many intentions of fighting on my small stay here. If anything, I just wish to enjoy the festival at peace."
"Oh? Really? That's fine I guess..." Yanqing replied a bit dissapointed before putting that feeling aside. "But hey, I don't blame you, miss. If you want to enjoy the leisure that the Luofu has to offer, then I'll respect that. Just promise me we can duel someday on a future visit of yours." The boy told to the Self-Annihilator, hoping that their duel could someday become true.
"Eh. I'll think about it, don't worry." Acheron responded gently to Yanqing. If he was the prodigée of the general, then he surely was promising. Perhaps she could indeed fight him someday...but not with her Emmanator powers. Despite probably being skillful, she wouldn't want to obliterate a child like him.
Meanwhile, as Acheron was speaking to the two, Jiaoqiu returned with something. "Here! Taste this dish I made." He told to the Self-Annihilator, putting three plates of food in the counter. "I've also made for you two." He told to Sushang and Huohuo.
"Hm? What's this?" Acheron looked with curiosity to the dish the foxian chef put in front of her.
"My own version of the 'Effervescing Blood-Dragon Stew'." Jiaoqiu revealed. "Made with 300g of Wild Red Fury Wyvern from the Xianzhou Fanghu. 3 spoon drops of Lava Tongue. Sacred vegetables from the Blooming Fields of the Yaoqing, and, my addition to it, a bit of Yellow Sweet Mustard followed with three Evanescent Bya Leafs." The foxian spelled out the ingredients.
"Wow! You cooked these ones for us in record time?" Sushang said in surprise while Huohuo was with water in her mouth.
"You have tasted it before?" Acheron asked to the Cloud Knight.
"If I have!" Sushang replied, smilling. "I used to eat it sometimes! They're even Guinaifen's-..." However, the smile dissapeared once she brought up that name. Remembering of the heated moment she had earlier today with the person she now deemed to never want to see again made Sushang's mood go slightly down, a sad frown appearing on her face.
"Huh? What's that face for? What's wrong?" Yunli asked to the Cloud Knight.
"Now that you mention it, that girl, Guinaifen, is your friend, isn't she? It's kinda strange seeing you around without her. Did something happened?" Yanqing made another question, unaware of the friendship that was now broken between the two girls.
"N-nothing! Gui's just decided to be busy on other things for today." Huohuo replied in the place of Sushang, trying to swipe that problem under the rug. "Plus, as a Cloud Knight, Sushang needs to be a bit on duty on such date like this one."
"Y-Yeah. That's right." Sushang responded, trying to sound convincing and forcing a smile. "Usual stuff of hers, y'know?"
"Hey! Why are those three who jumped all the way to the front of the line get food already!?"
"That's right! It's unfair!"
"Authority priority! Don't question it!" Sushang exclaimed, turning down to the unhappy line behind them, calming down their complains, much to Huohuo's sighed. This wouldn't look good in Sushang's report.
Anyways, both of them took a bite into the food, tasting it.
"Hmm! Looks pretty good!...and hot..." Huohuo commented, trying her best to hold a straight face as sweat from the hotness of the food sprouted from her face.
"T-True...Y-You really surpassed yourself with this one, Mr Jiaoqiu." Sushang also speaked with some difficulty due to the flavour.
"Glad that you're both liking it." Jiaoqiu smiled before staring to Acheron. "And what about you? Have you tasted it already?"
"About to." Acheron replied, having hesitated a bit. She knew that even if spicy, her mouth wouldn't feel a thing. Still, she wouldn't just deny the dish Jiaoqiu made for her, and so, the Emmanator of Nihility accepted in good will, also taking a bite out of it and munching the food. "Hmm, it's pretty good." She lied clearly. Despite how great Jiaoqiu was as a cook, to which she believed he was, not even his cooking could make her feel any flavour. Just blandeness once again, her face not even sweating.
While for Acheron, it was because the food had no effect on her, the others all thought it was because she had some crazy resistance to spiciness.
"S-She's eating it so nonchalantly that it's almost scary." Yunli said in a freightened awe.
"Did she spent her entire life eating those or something?" Yanqing said, also in bewilderment.
Alas, knowing that there would be no point finishing a dish she couldn't savor, Acheron put the plate down. "Indeed, it was good. Unfortunately, I'm already full, so I won't be able to finish it."
"Ah, a shame then." Jiaoqiu replied, picking up the dish back. "If you want, I can store the rest inside a box for you to eat later."
As their chat continued, the people behind them seemed to start doing something else to spend the time.
"Eeeeh, this line is taking forever to advance."
"You tell me, dude. Wanna check out what Lil Gui's doing?"
"Isn't she doing a livestream right now? With a new guy and everything?"
"Hm? A livestream" Acheron said, having catched the conversation that was going behind their backs.
"It's true! Look!" Huohuo pointed to her phone, having put on Guinaifen's livestream that she was doing...with Morte.
"Now, I know what majority of you might be wondering: 'What is this random handsome even doing with you, Lil Gui? What's his deal?' To which...I respond you with this!"
Guinaifen then panned the camera over to Morte who was merely just scratching the edge of his nose with little interest while looking to the other way, holding a cigar between his fingers. "Hey, psst! Mister MJ, do the thing." Her whisper to the tall man could be heard.
"Hm? What thing?" Morte said with a bland face, looking down on the young woman.
"The head thing!" Guinaifen told him.
"Uh? Sorry, can't remember, streamer-girl." Morte said as he continued to scratch his nose and look to the other way with the minimum of interests.
It was enough to get a baffled reaction from Guinaifen who zoomed on his face. "Huh? Humm, excuse me? Didn't we made a de-" And out of nowehere, Morte's head simply fell off from his body, gaining a scare out of Guinaifen that backed off, shaking the camera but capturing the moment. "AAH!"
"Like this?" Morte grinned on the ground as his headless body was still standing, the head looking directly to the camera as the chat on Guinaifen's livestream went wild.
Guinaifen herself went from a quick freight to relieved and happy laughs. "Eh, ehehehe. Are you seeing this, chat? He-He even blinks and everything despite being just a head!" She then turned the camera to herself. "Ain't that just crazy?! No props, visual effects or green screen! What you've saw is as real as the air you're breathing!" She smiled to glee as the numbers on the livestream were skyrocketing. "Eager to see more of him? So am I! I swear to you chat, what this man is capable to do, is not even written!" She said, turning her camera back to Morte whose head regenerated back to his body. "See?! Did you guys caught that? Like a true ghost! And that's not half of it!" She closed the camera to Morte's face again, heading torwards him. "This man is a box full of surprises!" She said, doing really great in selling Morte's gimmick to her audience.
"Little privacy now please." Morte said as he was about to light up a cig, turning away Guinaifen's camara.
"W-Woah!" In a miracle, Guinaifen was able to maintain the camera in her hands, giggling a bit sheepishly. "We're gonna head to another place to test out other things, chat! Don't forget to subscribe my page that you can access down in the link below and become a loyal member to Lil Gui's army!"
"..."
"..."
"..."
Watching the livestream, all of them could feel Guinaifen's high energy through the screen, feeling a bit obnoxious.
"There she is doing her things again." Yanqing said in resignation, having become used to seeing the streamer-girl around pulling her stunts. "And that new partner of hers also looks something else. He was able to regenerate his body back but doesn't look like a mara-struck. That's...weird to say the least."
"Do you think he's a follower of Abundance?" Yunli asked to Yanqing, Morte's abilities having caught their attention.
"Perhaps he's just some kind of illusory magician." Acheron replied while proceeding to look to the side, hiding her frustrated face. "Wonderful, Morte. Do show your powers during a livestream that makes grand part of the Luofu suspect you." As much as she hated to admit, she'd probably be unfortunate enough to be dragged into it by association if things turn south for Morte in the Luofu. "For what is worth, it seems he hasn't done anything to Guinaifen. Yet."
"..." Sushang didn't comment, just observing the livestream with some silent bitterness. Maybe even regret? Her face expression was enough to make Huohuo who noticed to immediatly turn off the livestream from her phone.
"Whatever it is that she's up to, I just hope that streamer keeps her antics away from being an headache during the festival." Yanqing said. "Artists like her can be appreciated but also a nuisance if going too far." He then stared to Sushang. "As a Cloud Knight and her friend, if you do find Guinaifen, tell her to go a bit easy with her stunts during these few next days, okay?"
"Sure." Sushang responded with her mood having gone down a bit. "Thank you for the dishes and the conversation, but I think we'll have to go now. Can't be here holding the line forever." She told to the trio at the food stand.
"If you're going already then do allow me to recommend Aurum Alley to be shown to the guest here." Jiaoqiu proposed where the other three could be heading next. "There, it will have even more food to taste! If you liked my dish, you'll certainly love the ones from there."
"Thank you for the recommendation. Maybe that's where we will be heading next." Acheron said, feeling a bit bad that Jiaoqiu made that statement, oblivious that she was unable to taste the food other than the blankness of it.
"Agreed. It was great seeing you again!" Huohuo told to Jiaoqiu, Yanqing and Yunli. "May we see each other again tomorrow at the ceremony day!"
"Likewise! Take care!" Yunli said as she, Yanqing and Jiaoqiu waved at the other three before going back to their kitchen functions and serving the customers.
"They really seem like good people." Acheron told with a smile. Even if her memory could sometimes fail, the Self-Annihilator liked to interact and meet with the people of the planets she'd go to. Some nice passerby on her voyage.
Huohuo nodded. "Hm hm. Master Yanqing is a bright and kind soul that always make sure to keep the Luofu safe. All of us in here are sure he's going to become a great leader of the Cloud Knights and even some think he can succeed General Jing Yuan himself. And while Miss Yunli and Mister Jiaoqiu aren't from this ship, I believe they're also very looked upon and admired by the people of their respective Xianhzou flagships."
Ahead of the two, Sushang was with a bit of a bleak face, her mind still thinking about Guinaifen's livestream. "Gui looks like to having fun even without me...Was I perhaps the problem?" She asked to herself as the three went on their way to Aurum Alley.
From a window of the Seat of Divine Foresight palace, the leader and general of Jing Yuan, stared ahead to the panoramic view of the Luofu with a melancholic smile, knowing that his big day was about to happen tomorrow.
"Can't even believe it is about to be five-hundred years since the tourch was passed down to me to guide all of you. Hm, it almost feels like yesterday. However..." Turning around, Jing Yuan stared to a sick short woman admitted to the bed of the peaceful room they where in. "It won't feel right without you in there by my side, Fu Xuan."
"Same here..." The ill Master Diviner replied weakly before coughing. "I cannot believe *cough cough* that of all the times to be sick...it had to be on this week- *cough cough*" She expressed her discontent before coughing hard again, picking a napkin on the table near her bed to blow her nose as Jing Yuan approached. "The duty to make sure all of the organization on the Cerimony Day to go flawless was supposed to be mine. Now who's supposed to take care of that?"
"Rest easy, Fu Xuan. I already had someone else do that job for you." Jing Yuan gave her a reassuring smile. "You know, you've been bery hard on yourself on the work lately. Perhaps that's how you ended up feeling sick. You should relax more a bit."
"And let important matters on the Luofu and the Alliance as a whole be in the oven waiting? I don't think so." Fu Xuan said before coughing again. "My absence during the Wardance was already bad enough. I just can't sit out on *cough cough* on another big event like this one, general!"
"I know and appreciate your worry about it, Fu Xuan. That's why security for this week has become tighter around all the ship. Specially with the Shackling Prison." Jing Yuan said in a more low tone, his mind going back to the accident with Hoolay some months ago. He couldn't let something like that to happen again. "Besides, General Feixao is also here for the meantime, so you know any possible attacks will instantly be crushed by her impending wit and tenacity."
"Still...we can never be too sure, general." Fu Xuan warned him, in the case that even in the slimmest of 0,001% chances, an attack would befall the Luofu.
"Right, right. I've got that in mind." Jing Yuan replied with some optimism in his face. "By the way, I got something that might cheer you up..." Smirking, the general went to pick up something that he was hiding on his back, showing it to Fu Xuan as if it was a grand surprise. "Ta-da! The newest General Jing Yuan Action Figure! It's making a fortune with the people lately!" The general said in a goofy manner as he approached item figure he bought to the face of a very ill-disposed Master Diviner. "Comes with voicelines and everything!"
"A foregone conclusion! Follow my charge. Conflict is pitilless!" The action figure speaked in a robotic tone after the push of a button.
Annoyed, Fu Xuan stripped the figure out of Jing Yuan's hand and ripped the head apart, putting an end to the noise. "Please take these matters seriously, general! Tomorrow *cough cough* will be *cough cough* your biggest day..."
Falling a bit into silence, Jing Yuan smile dissapeared before turning his head to the side, replacing it with a more pensative and melancholic one. "Yeah. You're right. Many things have happened lately, haven't they? The Ambrosial Arbor. That merchant, Luocha and my master. Hoolay at the Wardance. It barely gives oneself some time to breath and relax. Eh, maybe I am indeed getting too old for this..."
Detecting some sorrow in her general's voice, the small anger in Fu Xuan ceased away, now eyeying him with some mild concern. "General..."
"Five-hundred years. That would be considered many lifetimes to normal life humans." Jing Yuan speaked in a certain nostalgia that he was missing as he gazed to the sun shinning through the window. "How many did I meet across that time and the period before that? The Astral Express Crew, Igor, The High-Cloud Quintet and so much more. A part of me wished that all of them could be here to attend the cerimony. That in a perfect world, I could still remember and greet each one of them. Be at peace with myself."
"..." Fu Xuan stood listening to him quietly. Even if he would always appear to her and his fellow subordinates, the people, as a veteran, wise, calm and wimsy general who seemed to know the answers for everything and always the right action to do, truth is, Jing Yuan also had to shoulder a weight of incredible responsability since becoming general all those ages ago. A position like his was of no easy doing, and the Master Diviner knew it well. A possible wish of retirement was becoming apparent on Jing Yuan as the time and the universe itself would went on and on. But until problems and matters wouldn't stop appearing alongside future one, The Divine Foresight would not leave his position yet.
"Anyways, sorry for looking a bit of a downer now." Jing Yuan exhaled, slamming both hands on his knees and getting up from the bed. "It wouldn't look good to the Luofu if the person the people are celebrating looked all so gloomy and depressed! Also, I was able to get a 'nurse' to look after you in the meantime."
"Hum? Who? Miss Lingsha?" Fu Xuan asked as the door of the room bursted open, Qingquie appearing with a rolling cart full of food, drinks and medicine.
"Nope! It's meeee!" Qingquie exclaimed in huge joy.
"YOU!?" Fu Xuan yelled in an abysmal shock, feeling as if she felt her soul leaving the body in that moment.
"That's right! I got worried about Master Fu Xuan's condition so I asked to General Jing Yuan if I cold take care of you until her health condition betters!" Quingquie smiled and giggled happily, putting the rolling cart near the bed. "I have so many ideas to help Master Fu Xuan spend her sick days! Perhaps this might be the greatest opportunity to introduce Celestial Jade to her! Doesn't that sound awsome, Master Fu Xuan?"
"Eeeeeh..." Chills of dread runned down from Fu Xuan's spine as she feared for what could be about to come.
Jing Yuan on the other hand looked happy with it, deciding to leave Fu Xuan at Quingquie's care as he walked out of the room. "Hope you two have a great day together! Get well soon, Fu Xuan!"
"W-Wait! General! Come back! I-I think I'm feeling a lot better now! Please! General! GENERAL!"
"And that's it for the end of the stream guys! Hope you've enjoyed it! Thanks to all of you who've been watching as well as the new supporters! This has been your kawaii artist Lil Gui! Signing out!"
Pressing on the button, Guinaifen turned off her camera, ending her livestream after spending a day full of stunts with Morte. "And now let's check on those numbers!" She speaked with excitment, having high anticipation for it as she saw those big numbers on the home page of her channel and how much views the livestream had gathered. "Ihihihi! This is great great great!" Guinaifen giggled in overjoy as she hugged the camera close to her chest, moving her torso back and forth. "Check this out, Mister MJ! We've made the most viewed stream of my channel, all thanks to you!" She told to morte who was lazily sitting on a bench while smoking, head eyeing the sky. "The viewers got really crazy with you! Hell, even I did! You're the talk of the moment!"
"That's wonderful to hear, streamer-girl." Morte replied indifferently, doing an okay sign with his hand as his body was taking the sunlight on the Central Starskiff Haven after the long day it was of partaking in Guinaifen's stream. And altough he had some 'fun' with it (namely scaring the citizens of the Luofu with his head and body tricks), Morte felt a bit bored at the end from all the energy Guinaifen had. She wasn't as enjoyable to tease and provoke as Acheron, being way far simpler than the Emmanator of Nihility as well as a total happy go-lucky. Not that Morte didn't liked having some laughs with her on some of the stunts, but simply, Guinaifen was just a cheerful clumsy streamer who liked challenges. Nothing beyond that. Also, he had another main reason for having done this. "So, about our deal."
"50/50! Evenly divided as promised!" Guinaifen made an energetic thumbs up to Morte. "Or else I'm not called Honest Oathkeeper Guinaifen!" However, a bit of greed inside speaked louder to her as she gave a presumptuous smirk and her eyes transformed into cat-shaped ones as she leaned over to Morte. "Buuuuut, if you wanna cash in on the success-"
"This was just a one time-gig, streamer girl. Don't force it." Morte responded, shutting down Guinaifen's offer.
The girl put on a defeated face of acceptance. "Yeah, sorry. I shouldn't be pushing my luck here." Guinaifen then proceeded to scroll on her phone, going for the cash app. "Anyways, what's your bank credit num-"
"FOUND YOU, YOU SCOUNDREL!"
From the distance, an irritated and snobbish voice shouted, getting the attention of every person who was there passing by for a moment. The shout was enough to make Guinaifen's heart skip a beat.
"Oh crap!" Guinaifen said in dread, her face sweating a lot.
Morte moved his head, finishing smoking and getting up from the bench. "Hm? Isn't this whiny voice from..."
"You're in big trouble you imbecile wrecker!" Closing in, a young IPC representative who was with his clothes entirely drenched eyed Guinaifen with huge fury, his glasses slightly misadjusted. "You'll regret having messed with me!" Skott exclaimed, wanting revenge.
While Guinaifen immediatly hide herself behind Morte's back, the man himself smirked with some glee. "Ah, if it ain't mister Important Skott here with us again."
"Hush it fool! I'm not here for you!" Skott, in all his self-righteous indignation, responded back to Morte. "I'm here for that miscreant woman due to her 'prank' against me and my figure!"
"It was an accident!" Guinaifen replied from Morte's back, peeking behind him.
"Accident my left foot! Your funny 'stunt' ended up drenching my newest IPC Deluxe uniform in Sulfuric Herbs Tea! Do you have any idea how awful is the smell!? It will take months getting off that it might as well go into the trash! Not even my subordinates can stand being near me!"
"And I tought your voice was already enough for that." Morte commented, joking on Skott.
The IPC official clenched his fist and gritted his teeth. "Grrr! Listen here you big sack of meat! Do you have any idea who I am?!" Skott pointed to Morte as the man himself just resorted to yawn. "I'm Lyndon Skott, representative of the IPC in the Xianzhou Luofu! Any criminal act against me is-OW!" He however was interrupted by Morte sudden slap on his face.
"Oh?" Guinaifen reacted in befuddlement.
Skott was in disbilief. "D-Did...Did you just slapped me-Ow!" And he was slapped again. "Stop th-Ow!" And another time.
"Three slaps, you're out." Morte sticked up three fingers to him. "Better luck next time."
"T-That hurt!" Skott said, almost in the verge of tears. "You...You...I'm gonna sentence you to death!" He yelled to the taller man, extremely irritated.
"Oh, the tragedy." Morte replied so blandly normal. "But c'mon now. I do think we can reach a consensus here."
"Consensus? You hit me, you monster! Thrice!" Skott shouted, to which Morte just shook his head slightly while rolling his eyes. He had to admit that this was being hilarious to him however.
"I'll make an immediate direct contact with the higher-ups at the IPC! Maybe even send one of the Stonehearts to teach you a lesson! And when that's done, we're gonna-"
"Now, now, Skott. You're not being reasonable. If you at least calm down so that we can discuss this- Heheh, I'll kill you if you don't shut up."
"!" Immediatly, after having speaked over one another, Skott closed his mouth shut as Morte eerily threaten him, the man's eyes staring at the IPC official with doom and a daunting gaze of a skull.
"How's it gonna be, Skott?" Morte continued to smile to him. "If you're as smart as you say you are, I know you'll chose to forgive this poor innocent girl here who was just doing her job, and we both can go on with our lives as if nothing happened. Understood?"
"..." Gulping, Skott accepted the defeat, his gut telling him that Morte wasn't a person to test and mess with. Thus, the IPC official also swallowed his pride. "I...Y-Y-Yeah. I-I can forgive her. It's just dumb clothes anyways." He laughed nervously. "I have better ones at home."
"See? That's what I called a right decision." Morte patted him on the back as if they were long time buddies. "To that, I compliment your intelligence, Skott. May the great IPC have you for many years to come."
"T-Thanks..." Skott said with a trembling voice, having gain a huge fear in Morte. "I-I better g-go back to m-my work now..." Taking some shy steps away, Skott took a deep breath and composed himself...before starting to dash away across the entire place. "That guy is insane! I need to get away from him as far as possible!"
Seeing Skott run away, Guinaifen exited from Morte's back, impressed with what she just witnessed. "Wow! Unbelivable..."
"You tell me. The way he runs, dude could easily do a marathon." Morte replied, heading to some railing near them and leaning his body against them, taking out another cigar. "I pity that guy's parents."
"Like, Mister MJ, you just put Skott in his place!...I mean, anyone can put Skott in his place but still, you made him have fear of you!" Guinaifen told amazed to Morte.
"Eh. You'd be surprised with how many people I can do that with." Morte told with a sly grin sneaking on his face, having light the cig.
"Huh?" Guinaifen just stared at him confused, blinking her eyes twice. "Eh, ehahahaha! You're a funny one, Mister MJ!" She laughed, slapping him on the shoulder and leaning on the railing as well, checking the channel on her phone again. Her smile was as huge as the views their latest livestream had produced. "Oh boy! Look at all these numbers! The channel hit a new record and everything. Becoming the most viewed stream, being followed up by..." Yet, Guinaifen's joy dwindled as she saw what was the second most viewed stream of her channel, the thumbnail being of her and Sushang. "By the one, me and Sushang did of one of our adventures to the Fyxestroll Garden...Eh, it was a wild stream that one." Guinaifen gave a saddened smile, remembering fondly of that day. "And the next one...Oh! Was when we ended up doing a tour on Scalegorge Waterscape! Huohuo almost died on that day, can you believe it?" She laughed a bit.
"..." Morte didn't replied nor moved his head, silently smoking his cig. Whether he was paying attention or ignoring her, it could not be said.
"And then there was this one where we drived a starskiff without permission at night! Me and the girls had to do community service for weeks!" Guinaifen continued to scroll down on her streams, relieving those moments with Sushang and Huohuo. "Next one...Ha! It was when we went to support Sushang on the Wardance and that boy from Jarilo-VI! The one after was me and Sushang testing ice cream flavours..." As more as Guinaifen scrolled down, the more pain in her throat would appear, trying to maintain herself happy. "A visit to Sushang on the hospital...Helping Huohuo on her Judge's tasks. Eating on all restaurants of Aurum Alley...Doing a girl's sleepover and...and..." As her voice trembled, tears came to the streamer's eyes as she couldn't hold back her sorrow anylonger. "I've been a bad friend to them, haven't I?"
"..." Morte once again didn't said anything. However, this time he slightly eyed down the crying girl next to him.
"S-Sushang is right! *sniff* I've been...caring too much only about numbers and views rather than her and Huohuo's well-being lately!" Guinaifen said, the discussion and eventual breaking in the friendship between her and Sushang. At that moment, Guinaifen acted as if she didn't cared nor wanted to see Sushang again. But after having remembered all those moments, she realized how much she was lying to herself. "I shouldn't put them in majority of situations where they can end up getting harm! But I *sniff* I was so obsessed with the channel and fame that I ended up getting blinded by that. I never asked them what they were okay with doing and what they we're not...And because of that *sniff* my best friend was driven off by myself!" Weeping and sobbing a bit more, Guinaifen let all out to eventually calm down, cleaning those tears away from her eyes. "I...I should apologize to Sushang. Make up for her." She hold her phone close to her chest. "However, I feel the time for that is gone by now."
"So you aren't even gonna try?"
"Huh?" Guinaifen looked over to Morte, having finally speaked.
"What are you so afraid of? That she will reject your apology?" Morte speaked, his head looking up. "Eh, please, spare me of that hesitation. You know how many new things people miss out because they are simply too afraid to try? They always think: 'I can save that for later', and then, later never comes. And that's no way of living a life. We should always try experiencing as much as we can with the time we are allowed to have." Speaking in honesty, the man's eyes stared to the hundred of starskiffs and other ships flying in the sky, his reaper hood swinging to the breeze. "After all, we never know when our last day in here might be. Maybe next year. Next month. Week. Even tomorrow." He said in a solemn and almost philosophical tone, turning his head to finally look to Guinaifen. "Always make sure to take every chance you get. Seize every moment you witness. For you never know when it can be the last time."
"..." Processing that advice from Morte, Guinaifen analysed it. "To take every chance I get hum?" Thinking more and more about it, the more her doubts and reluctancy about apologizing and make amends with Sushang dissipated. Truly, if they were really friends, then it wouldn't have been a mere discussion that would tear apart their friendship forever. "You're right...Mister MJ, you're right!" She exclaimed, looking up to Morte. "If I just sit here and do nothing, then I for sure will never get to be Sushang's friend again! I need to act instead! Take the opportunity while I still can!"
Morte gave a soft smile hearing that. "Don't tell me."
"I have decided right now! I'll go and apologize to Sushang tomorrow morning! It shall be the first thing I'll do!" Guinaifen clapped her hands together, speaking with determination. "Might also take a break from the channel. What's the most important now is to spend time with Sushang without being for the camera!"
"Then do go ahead. I think I'll stay in here for some more time." Morte replied as he rested his body. Once again here he was, happening to give advice to girls on their relationship with their girlfriend/best friend/ whatever the hell- "Hm?!"
"Say cheese!" Guinaifen pulled Morte suddenly without warning him, taking a photo together on her phone. "Hehe, sorry for not asking first. But I think you still look awsome in it, Mister MJ!" The streamer smiled as she showed him the photo. "It shall be a remembrance to this day we've spent together. I gotta go now. And...thank you for those words of yours, Mister MJ." Guinaifen said with a warm and kind smile as she looked to Morte while blushing a bit. "You're a good person."
"?" A statement that did not leave the man speechless, but a bit addled instead.
"Well, gonna go home now!" Guinaifen gave her energetic smile as she waved goodbye to Morte, walking away. "Ah! I'll also send you the money before I forget it! Goodbye, Mister MJ! See ya tomorrow!"
As Guinaifen's figure walked away in the distance, the now lone Morte stood still in his place, the words the streamer said still echoing inside his head. "A good person? Me?" The man's eyes continue to stare to Guinaifen getting further and further away from him. Such statement, such smile of benigness to him. The compassion. How convinced Guinaifen speaked that...It made Morte want to burst out in laughter as his lips curved into an eerie grin. "Heh. Ehehehehehehehehe." Containing his laugh to not attract attention from the public nearby, Morte covered his mouth with his hand. It was almost too funny to be true! Too comedic! Too dumb! Too gullible! Without pulling a good act, a nice action, or even a straight-up facade, he was able to convince Guinaifen that he was indeed a good man with just simply telling a truth on how life was. "Aah, honestly. And here I thought this girl was just naive." Morte took out the hand from his mouth, grinning terryfyingly from ear to ear. "When she's actually just plain stupid!"
How funny it would be? How funny it would be if he decided to go for his scythe, point at Guinaifen's head and- "Nah. Got to hold that in." Morte told to himself, controlling the impulse as his grin decreased to a more normal smile. If he were to do that, Acheron would most certainly be onto him. "Gotta wait. The grand moment in here will eventually come soon." Putting the hands on his pockets, Morte stared to the giant entrance of the Xianzhou Luofu's ship in front of him, thinking on what to do next. "I wonder what Acheron's been doing in the meantime. Or should I pay him a visit?"