As they spoke, Stelle and March 7th approached, guiding six minecarts filled with mara-struck soldiers and directed by Herta Puppets.
Stelle called out, "Pei Guang! Get over here! We captured over 150 mara-struck soldiers. Luck was on our side—we managed to get over fifty special effects items, a solid one-third rate. Let's start synthesizing!"
Pei Guang called back, "Coming!"
Turning to Fu Xuan, he said, "Apologies, we'll discuss the details of the mission later. My companions need me to join them."
Fu Xuan was left in awe. Just a moment ago, he had looked like he was ready to devour her, and now he was conversing with her as if nothing had happened.
He's neither insane nor foolish. So why did he seem so unhinged earlier, ready to attack over a few words? Was it all an act? No, that seemed unlikely. He was being his true self, with no trace of deception, even under her divining eye. From the moment she met him, Pei Guang hadn't uttered a single lie, nor hidden anything; he simply acted as he thought and felt.
It was safe to say they were on different wavelengths. If she could understand his, perhaps she'd make sense of his actions.
"Wait, why am I trying to be on the same wavelength as him?"
Fu Xuan decided not to think too hard about it for now. Communicating with Pei Guang was exhausting, and she needed a break. She initially thought of stepping out of the trash can, but remembering Bailu's claim that it was a "blessed" item, along with some strange results from her divination, she chose to remain seated inside to test its effects. After all, if it really did help with mara-struck symptoms, then perhaps its "blessing" properties weren't so far-fetched.
"Huh… doesn't feel any different…"
While she was pondering this, Welt noticed her sitting in the trash can and, with a mischievous glint, walked over expressionlessly.
Fu Xuan heard his footsteps and looked up to see a mature man with glasses. He regarded her briefly, then placed a trash can lid on top of her.
With a small, self-satisfied smile as if he'd accomplished something grand, he walked away.
As the lid came down, darkness enveloped Fu Xuan.
And at that moment, she began to feel the trash can's peculiar effects: her expression turned increasingly grave.
Without a doubt, she was inside a trash can.
In the cramped darkness, Fu Xuan could hear her own breathing and sense the age-old, musty essence the trash can had absorbed over time. It was an essence only felt by truly merging with the can itself.
In this confined darkness, a faint chewing sound could be heard—the small but unsettling noise of teeth tearing into meat—which made Fu Xuan instinctively swallow.
At that moment, she believed. She believed this trash can was indeed a vessel blessed with some strange, unique power!
She wanted to leave, but just as she reached up to lift the lid, her seated height allowed her to partially stand within the can. She felt the lid brush against her head, and suddenly, she felt as if she were a hero standing tall, praised by the can itself. She couldn't help but stand a little straighter, her chest puffed out.
She didn't know where this feeling of admiration came from, but she could definitely feel it!
With a slight turn, she faced the darkness inside the can. Oddly, instead of feeling fear, the narrow space brought her a sense of courage.
Fu Xuan took a deep breath—wait, why was she taking a deep breath in a trash can?
In that instant, she felt as though she had fused with the most perfect vessel in the universe. Overwhelmed with a new sensation of "excitement," Fu Xuan could feel the security the darkness brought her, a newfound joy she had never experienced before.
Even as the esteemed Master Diviner of the Divination Commission, Fu Xuan was still human. She had her own emotions and desires. Since Pei Guang told her to wait, why not enjoy this oddly invigorating experience in the meantime?
Though the space was dim, the darkness gave her eyes that could adapt—wait, no, her eyes were gold, not black. But who cares? She'd adapt regardless.
Fu Xuan could feel that in this pitch-black darkness, something thrilling was about to happen.
Wait, why was she anticipating something thrilling? Oh! Pei Guang still had things to take care of before they could go to the Divination Commission. Well, in that case, she might as well savor the thrill while she waited.
Listening carefully, she noticed louder gulping and chewing sounds. What was making that noise? Was it an ordinary girl eating and drinking, or was it one of the Abundance's monsters feasting?
It was clear to Fu Xuan that it was the latter. How terrifying—only in darkness could she discover the true horror lurking on the Xianzhou Luofu. If she could hear the Abundance spawn devouring innocent people from here, then how much more darkness must there be hidden on this vessel that she was unaware of?
At that moment, Fu Xuan made a decision: she would become the General who would cleanse every shadow from Xianzhou, even the darkness within trash cans!!!
Though, Fu Xuan seemed to have overlooked one small fact—there are no trash cans on Xianzhou…
Those reckless Abundance spawns outside, acting weak but feeding on ordinary people, would face her wrath. This time, the Divination Commission's head would ensure justice was served.
Fu Xuan's resolve was unshakable. She would defend the Xianzhou, save the people, and she would become its General.
With her decision made, Fu Xuan stood up inside the can, lifting the lid with determination. She pointed at Bailu's trash can, the source of the chewing sounds, and shouted, "Spawn of Abundance! Prepare to meet your end!"
Her shout caught the attention of Stelle and March 7th, who had just finished synthesizing two headpieces and were testing them out.
Seeing this, Pei Guang wasted no time in putting on his own trash can lid.
At that moment, Fu Xuan saw three silver, distorted faces staring back at her. She felt a shock to her very soul and instinctively ducked back into the can.
Darkness returned to Fu Xuan's vision, but this time, the defined boundaries of the dark space brought her peace.