Before Pei Guang could respond, Stelle jumped in enthusiastically. "Ah Guang already explained! Xianzhou's crisis is both internal and external. He also said the Stellaron Hunters aren't our enemies or the ones causing the chaos. The real culprits? Disciples of Sanctus Medicus from the Alchemy Commission, working with the Antimatter Legion and possibly even the Aeon of Destruction!"
"Excuse me?"
Fu Xuan's usual composure faltered as Stelle's words sank in. While the internal and external threats weren't a surprise, the mention of the Aeon of Destruction left her momentarily speechless.
"Are you saying Xianzhou is dealing with the Aeon of Destruction?" she asked, her tone sharp.
Stelle nodded. "Yep! Ah Guang predicted it before we even got here. He figured our next destination would be Xianzhou and prepared for it. While the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus weren't part of his predictions, most events unfolded as expected."
Fu Xuan shook her head. "Impossible. Xianzhou has clashed with the Aeon of Destruction's forces before, and while they are strong, so are our generals. Our generals have surpassed them in strength, and if they come here, they'd only face annihilation."
Her confidence wasn't unfounded. Over millennia, Xianzhou had repelled numerous incursions by the Antimatter Legion. The Aeon of Destruction might wield immense power, but Xianzhou's generals, with their granted abilities, ensured the nation's resilience.
Still, she added cautiously, "Even if there's a traitor aiding them, this is just speculation. We'll confirm the truth once Kafka undergoes interrogation."
Pei Guang shrugged. "Classic main storyline setup—players deduce the truth, and NPCs refuse to believe it."
March 7th sighed. "It's not just here. I've been to countless planets where I warned people about dangers, and you know what they called me?"
Pei Guang smirked. "Crazy. And if something does happen, they'll accuse you of causing it because 'how else would you know so much?'"
March 7th groaned. "Exactly! It's the same every time. Ugh, just thinking about it makes me mad!"
Stelle also joined the conversation with a smirk. "Then they'd probably arrest us or put a bounty on us. And let me guess, that person would turn out to be the real culprit, right?"
Pei Guang nodded. "Exactly. A reasonable NPC, like her," he motioned toward Fu Xuan, "wouldn't trust us entirely but at least wouldn't automatically assume we're criminals."
Fu Xuan couldn't resist commenting. "If I didn't know some of your background, I probably would have labeled you as criminals, too. But knowing what I know, I won't."
Pei Guang smiled casually. "Fair enough. By the way, Divine Master, aren't you worried someone might pull that ribbon on your back and leave you with a wardrobe malfunction?"
Originally, Fu Xuan was having a serious conversation with Pei Guang, and to her surprise, talking with him gave her an unexpectedly… comfortable feeling. Most people who interacted with her either showed an inexplicable reverence or an air of disdain. Even Jing Yuan treated her like a child he had to humor.
Pei Guang however was different—he never treated her as an outsider. He said whatever came to mind, did whatever he wanted, and didn't hold back. Coupled with the things she had divined about him, Fu Xuan found herself developing a bit of fondness for him. Talking to him just felt easy.
But Pei Guang's sudden comment turned her expression dark.
"Seriously? Who'd be shameless enough to mess with my outfit?" she snapped, trying to hide the faint embarrassment creeping in.
Fu Xuan was briefly overcome with a strange sadness. It wasn't just the joke; her outfit, designed for efficiency rather than aesthetics, only highlighted her slight stature. It reminded her of her struggles with development—a common issue for many in the Divination Commission due to the mental energy they expended.
Sensing her mood shift, Pei Guang gave her a light pat on the shoulder. "I'm not sure what's got you down, but I'll say this: the bow tie suits you. It's got a childlike charm, full of innocence."
Fu Xuan glared at him. "If you can't compliment someone properly, just don't talk."
Stelle chimed in, nodding earnestly. "Exactly. If you're going to praise someone, do it right. Like Qingque said, even if the Master Diviner isn't tall or… developed, she's still young. There's room to grow."
Fu Xuan turned her glare to Stelle. "Was that a compliment or an insult?"
"It was a compliment!" Stelle insisted.
"Does no one teach you how to talk to people?" Fu Xuan groaned.
Stelle pointed at Pei Guang. "Ah Guang taught me! Ever since I met him, I've learned one important virtue: no lying. Always be honest!"
Fu Xuan's gaze alternated between Stelle and Pei Guang. For a fleeting moment, she seriously considered strangling them both. Watching this exchange, March 7th couldn't help but laugh.
"Poor girl. She can't out-talk these two and she can't overpower them either."
Fu Xuan wisely chose silence, realizing that arguing would only make things worse.
As the group waited for Kafka's arrival, Stelle turned to Pei Guang. "Ah Guang, I trust you. What do you think we'll face next?"
Pei Guang pondered for a moment. "We've done plenty of peaceful tasks so far, so logically, the next step is fighting. Probably an elite enemy or even a boss battle."
Stelle nodded eagerly. "Makes sense! Should we prep our buffs now?"
Pei Guang scratched his chin. "Good idea. Let's top up the buffs. You and March can take it easy—our party's setup means anyone jumping in can maintain them."
Stelle objected. "That's not right! If we get split up, and only you have buffs, the others could be in danger. Based on our past experience, it's likely you and I will end up in different groups. So let's both buff up."
Pei Guang grinned. "Fair enough. Let's keep it simple and have some fun while we're at it. Can't dance without music, though."
Pulling out a speaker, Pei Guang started playing upbeat music. Fu Xuan, initially ignoring the duo, couldn't help but notice the strange yet compelling energy radiating from them as they danced to the music. Strangely, her mental clarity and focus seemed to improve the longer they danced.
Watching them sway and move, Fu Xuan muttered, "Why does this feel… off?"
She wasn't the only one, because even the Cloud Knights escorting Kafka looked bewildered.
Kafka, who had anticipated fulfilling Elio's prophecy by meeting Stelle and answering her questions, was momentarily speechless as she arrived at the Divination terminal and saw Stelle swaying her head to music with closed eyes.
Kafka sighed heavily, thinking to herself: This kid… she's completely hopeless.