Please support me on Patreon, where you can read a bunch of extra chapters, not just for this novel, but for all the novels I'm working on. I upload at least 2 times daily for most novels.
Patreon.com/ThatGreatStuff
******
In response to Qingque's question, Fu Xuan rested their chin thoughtfully and said, "Perhaps my subjective storytelling led you to mistakenly assume that my relationship with my master was exceptionally close."
Qingque accepted this explanation. "Ah, I see."
[Sushang: Ha ha, Qingque got easily swayed there.?]
[Qingque: ...Well, what else could I do? It's the Grand Diviner's own experience; naturally, I'd believe whatever she says.]
Fu Xuan and Qingque planned to stay at Yu Que for at least five or six days during their visit. Apart from official duties requiring due process, exchanging divination insights between both Imperial Divination Commissions also demanded time.
After sharing this anecdote about the early days of her apprenticeship, the waiting period concluded.
Following some additional administrative tasks at the Yuque Imperial Divination Bureau, news of Fu Xuan's arrival had spread widely. Several diviners who were previously acquainted with either Fu Xuan or Su Qing rushed over to reminisce about old times.
When diviners meet, discussions invariably begin with matters related to divination techniques. They showed keen interest in any recent advancements from Luofu's Imperial Divination Commission.
As Fu Xuan engaged in discussions with everyone nearby, Qingque listened attentively. Whenever she understood, she nodded along; when she didn't, she feigned deep contemplation.
[March 7th: These conversations seem quite advanced, huh? The fact that Qingque comprehends some parts shows her skills aren't bad at all.]
[March 7th: And on this business trip, it feels like Qingque is serving as Fu Xuan's personal assistant. She might be due for a promotion!]
[Fu Xuan: Hmm, perhaps we should consider it.]
[Qingque: Ah??? No way! I don't want a promotion! Smaller position means lesser responsibilities and less work!!]
[Fu Xuan: ...Sometimes, seeing your attitude towards work, this venerable one truly wants to knock some sense into you.]
[Qingque: @Fu Xuan, feel free to knock, but please don't promote me!!]
[Fu Xuan: ???, ?]
[Stelle: Quite amusing.]
As they conversed with Fu Xuan, naturally, the topic shifted to her early days as a student.
One female diviner sighed nostalgically, "Fu Xuan didn't stay here long back then, but her relationship with Grand Diviner Su quickly became very close."
An elderly diviner reminisced, "I remember when Fu Xuan first joined the Divination Commission, just a young girl. In the blink of an eye, she grew so... cough, well, in the blink of an eye, she even became Luofu's Grand Diviner herself."
[Sparkle: Originally, that sentence was going to say, 'she grew so tall,' right?]
[Bronya: This line would have been perfect during Kafka's simulation.]
[Fu Xuan: ...Are you seriously comparing me to Kafka now?]
[Himeko (smiling): @Fu Xuan, don't you think there are some similarities between you two?]
[Jingliu: Once a teacher, always a mentor. Based on your relationships with Su Qing, indeed, there are parallels.]
[Kafka: Firstly, my bond with Su Qing was much deeper. Secondly, I'm certainly not as oblivious as Fu Xuan.]
[Fu Xuan: Huh?]
[Fu Xuan: And unlike Kafka, I wouldn't harbor any peculiar thoughts about my master.]
[Sparkle: ? It feels like a boomerang; marking this for later.]
The other diviners also reminisced about their past.
They frequently mentioned Su Qing, and snippets of their conversations suggested that his relationship with Fu Xuan had indeed been quite close.
Qingque gazed at Fu Xuan, her eyes fixed intently—stare—
Recalling how Fu Xuan had described their relationship as average, Qingque felt a hint of suspicion but still believed it initially. However, hearing these remarks from other diviners raised doubts.
Fu Xuan glanced at Qingque, aware of what she must be thinking. Even Fu Xuan found it strange.
In her memory, her relationship with her master truly seemed just ordinary. So why did everyone else perceive it differently?
Could it be...
Is it possible...
That somehow others misunderstood their connection?
[Herta: Can't hold it in anymore.]
[Silver Wolf (bursting out laughing): Ha-ha-ha-ha! Did you guys notice? For a moment there, I saw Asta instead of Fu Xuan!!]
[Seele: Whoa! Me too?!]
[Black Swan (smiling): It did feel reminiscent, but while Asta always imagined Su Qing's affection for herself, Fu Xuan seems to be doing the opposite.]
[Stelle: Interesting. So now Fu Xuan is likened to Kafka, yet her skill level only matches Asta's?]
[Firefly: Even worse than little Silver Wolf!]
[Silver Wolf (still laughing)(quickly typing question marks): ???]
[Fu Xuan: ...]
[Fu Xuan couldn't help but wonder how Asta would react if she joined the stream and witnessed these past events.]
[In any case, Fu Xuan felt quite embarrassed.]
[How could she have been so stubborn and unwavering, clinging to that belief without letting go?]
[This is what they call cognitive inertia or being blinded by preconceived notions—both aptly describe the situation.]
[Once someone firmly believes something, it's indeed challenging to change their perspective without experiencing multiple shocks from reality or encountering solid evidence...]
[Fu Xuan: When Asta saw the love letter, she immediately assumed it was meant for her. Compared to that, this venerable one seems relatively unaffected.]
[Silver Wolf: (Laughs uncontrollably again)?? Hahahaha, I must admit, Fu Xuan makes a very valid point!]
[Sparkle: Oh joy, Asta: So you're still coming after me, huh?]
[Stelle: The true value of the Substitute King title!]
In response to the other diviners' attitudes, Fu Xuan expressed his own doubts, "From your accounts, it seems my relationship with my master was quite close. But could there be some misunderstandings involved?"
"I remember...the relationship between my master and me wasn't quite that close, was it?"
The other diviners exchanged glances before collectively turning to look at Fu Xuan's petite, pink-clad figure.
"Ah?"
[Sparkle: Joyous.]
[Stelle: Other diviners: Ah?? Are you serious? Not joking?]
The diviners chuckled.
They either thought Fu Xuan was jesting or felt embarrassed about discussing such matters openly.
One of them said, "Fu Xuan, as his disciple, you would naturally know best how your relationship with Grand Diviner Su stands."
[Seele (roasting): I'd say she knows it least!]
Others chimed in, "But from our perspective, your bond indeed seemed very strong."
"Yes, one memorable sight was Fu Xuan affectionately calling 'Master' whenever addressing Grand Diviner Su—it always brought smiles to our faces."
"I also recall a day at the Grand Divination Pavilion when I happened upon Fu Xuan sitting attentively by a desk, earnestly reading aloud from a book for Grand Diviner Su. It portrayed a harmonious scene, clearly indicating a close mentor-disciple relationship."
As they reminisced amidst laughter, Fu Xuan listened, stunned.
Their perspectives differed significantly from her own impressions, seemingly eroding Fu Xuan's memories. She began to waver slightly, recalling some deeply buried emotions within her heart...
Noticing Fu Xuan's stunned reaction, others in the Divination Commission gradually realized that she might not be joking; perhaps this was genuinely her belief.
A few empathetic diviners began to smooth over the situation. "Ah, it's quite normal. Personal perceptions often differ from how others see things."
"Moreover, Fu Xuan has been with the Divination Commission for only six or seven years. Maybe time passed too quickly, leaving little impression on her."
"Five years," the elderly diviner shook his head. "Grand Diviner Su Qing led the Divination Commission for over a century, but if we count fully, the time spent teaching Fu Xuan amounted to just five years."
Upon hearing these key phrases, Fu Xuan fell even deeper into silence.
Five years versus a hundred years.
Yes, indeed, time had flown...
The former spanned merely a blink of an eye. Even the latter, as she perceived it back then, seemed hurried and swiftly gone...
[March 7th: Huh, didn't Su Qing take Fu Xuan as her disciple right after becoming Grand Diviner? And taught her for five years.]
[March 7th: Plus, one diviner mentioned that Su Qing led the Divination Commission for over a hundred years. With the story set thirty years after Su Qing's death...]
[March 7th: So, for Fu Xuan, who is now on assignment at Yu Que, the time she spent as Su Qing's apprentice would have been more than a hundred and thirty years ago?!]
[Black Swan: Yes, your calculations are correct, little March.]
[Silver Wolf: Ah? A hundred and thirty years?]
[Silver Wolf: If it's been that long, Fu Xuan not clearly remembering certain details suddenly seems more understandable.]
[Stelle: ...But from another perspective, even now, Fu Xuan hasn't realized how close she was with her master. Her reaction time appears to have become even slower.]
[Seele: A hundred-plus years of reaction time, indeed!]
[March 7th: There's also this question—Su Qing led the Divination Commission for over a century, yet only taught Fu Xuan for five years? What happened during those subsequent hundred-plus years?]
[Stelle: Great question! I wanted to ask the same!]
[Fu Xuan:...]
At this moment, Fu Xuan had no inclination to send comments.
She felt a mix of complex emotions, mirroring the silent self depicted in the live stream footage.
The conversation on the topic of master-disciple relationships continued briefly before eventually shifting back to discussions about divination techniques.
After a period of silence, Fu Xuan regained her composure and began passionately discussing her latest insights.
The other diviners exchanged glances once more.
Over these many years, Fu Xuan's unwavering focus on divination, fully immersed in learning and work, remained unchanged.
[March 7th: Ohh.]
[March 7th: Apart from being an eternal life being, this could be one reason why Fu Xuan seems somewhat oblivious to external matters and emotions...]
Upon returning from the Yuque Imperial Divination Bureau, Fu Xuan found progress in official duties accompanied by an increase in workload. She promptly assigned relevant tasks to Qingque.
Despite Qingque's usual disinterest in work, she surprisingly did not refuse this time and readily agreed.
This caught Fu Xuan off guard, making her view Qingque with newfound admiration.
[Qingque: ??? Why do I have a bad feeling about this? Am I really going to get promoted and receive a raise after this trip...?]
[Bronya: To others, it might seem like good news, but for Qingque, it could be quite troublesome.]
As evening approached,
Fu Xuan completed her assigned tasks, took a brief rest, and ventured out for a stroll.
Unconsciously, as she walked, she found herself at the place where she first met her master.
Fu Xuan sat down on a bench along the corridor, resting her chin in her hand, gazing at the scenery within the courtyard.
This was her second visit since returning to Yu Que.
The first time, her mother had shared some insights about her apprenticeship that Fu Xuan was previously unaware of.
During the second visit, at the Yuque Imperial Divination Bureau, her colleagues' perspectives also differed from her own.
New revelations and distinct viewpoints left Fu Xuan feeling unsettled.
Perhaps only while fully immersed in work moments ago could she avoid letting these emotions affect her...
"Grand Diviner? What brings you here alone?" After dinner, Qingque strolled over and noticed Fu Xuan sitting pensively with her chin resting on her hand. Curious, she asked.
Quickly adding, "Of course, I'm not slacking off! Only after finishing my work did I come out for a walk!"
"...Nothing much, let's not talk about work right now." Fu Xuan gazed at the courtyard, her mood subdued.
Qingque was taken aback. "Ah? Not discuss work? Grand Diviner, could it be...you're not feeling well?!?"
Fu Xuan, initially still slightly melancholic, couldn't help but burst into laughter at this remark. She rolled her eyes at Qingque. "Just what kind of impression do I make on you?"
"Heh heh..." Qingque chuckled awkwardly, wisely choosing not to answer truthfully. Instead, she sat down nearby and changed the subject, "I didn't see you eat much tonight. Are you feeling unwell?"
"Not particularly."
The cool evening breeze gently tousled their hair. Fu Xuan, seated with her chin propped up, replied, "I rarely fall ill; I can hardly recall any instances of sickness from memory."
Recalling her past, Fu Xuan said, "The only vivid instance I remember might have been during my studies at the Divination Commission. There was a time when I overexerted myself. Mother even came to visit and cared for me throughout the night."
After a moment's thought, Fu Xuan added, "Hmm... wait, wasn't it more like she rushed over just in the morning?"
Qingque asked, "Which version is correct?"
Fu Xuan pondered again, but with so much time having passed, coupled with her illness back then, the memory felt hazy.
"Forget it, it's too unclear," Fu Xuan decided. Although uncertain, she deemed it inconsequential and sought to end the conversation.
"Ah! Wait!" Qingque keenly picked up on the discrepancy. "You mentioned your mother arrived in the morning, yet also stated someone stayed with you all night?" Confidently, he declared, "Grand Diviner, there must be something peculiar here!"
Fu Xuan, somewhat speechless, replied, "Qingque, you always seem so intrigued by these trivial matters. If only you could show a fraction of this enthusiasm towards work, I would have long entrusted you with..."
"Hold on!" Qingque hastily interrupted. "Didn't you say we're not discussing work today? Why did you start again?!"
"...Never mind." Fu Xuan stopped herself.
Qingque persisted, "I think there's more to this story. Perhaps the one who stayed with you was actually your master?"
Fu Xuan shook her head. "No, that can't be. My relationship with my master is average at best, and given his numerous duties within the Divination Commission, how could he have had the time to care for me all night?"
[Stelle: Still claiming it's just "average," huh?!]
[Firefly: On the little Silver Wolf, we'd call it stubbornness; on Fu Xuan, should we label it obliviousness or maybe slow reflexes??]
Driven by genuine curiosity, and considering even Fu Xuan couldn't clearly recall the event, they decided to use divination to deduce the past.
"Ah, yes. You're right, Qingque." As Fu Xuan examined the divination results, memories gradually surfaced. "It seems...the one who stayed with me indeed might have been my master."
Qingque, delighted, exclaimed, "Really? So, does that mean another story to hear?"
"Hmm...all right."
This presented an opportunity for Fu Xuan to reminisce about those times as well.
The star chart before them flowed, capturing Fu Xuan's attention as she studied several specific stars for a moment before closing the chart. She began recounting her tale:
"Do you remember, everything seemed to converge back then, leaving me incredibly busy. I pushed myself too hard..."
Inside Fu Xuan's room...
Fu Xuan lay on her bed, cheeks flushed and breaths labored—a clear sign that she was unwell.
It was getting late.
After tending to her for some time, Su Qing instructed her to rest well and prepared to leave. However, just as he stood up, he felt his clothing being tugged. He turned around.
A slender, fair arm emerged from beneath the blankets, grasping the corner of his garment.
Fu Xuan, tucked under the covers with only half her face visible, revealed her teary yet beautiful eyes. Holding onto the edge of Su Qing's clothes, she pleaded weakly and somewhat reluctantly, "Master—don't go, please stay with me a little longer..."
[March 7th: Wow!!]
[Qingque: (utterly astounded) Shocked!!!]
[Kafka: ?????]
[Kafka: @Fu Xuan, what's going on? If you're sick, focus on resting! Why be so clingy??]
[Sparkle: ?? Surprising indeed! Before this simulation began, I never would have guessed that Kafka would be the most flustered.]
[Bronya: Ha ha, based on these two scenarios, it seems like Fu Xuan might actually outdo Kafka in acting cute, huh?]
[Himeko: Kafka wasn't particularly good at being coy even when she was younger, right? Her emotions were quite subdued back then.]
[Himeko: On the other hand, despite Fu Xuan's serious demeanor and diligent nature, she is still in her youthful phase. As such, she often displays charming and delicate traits.]
[Himeko: In terms of acting cute, my judgment stands—Kafka is completely outmatched.]
[Kafka: ?, @Himeko, what do you mean by that???]
[Himeko (smiling): No particular meaning, just thought I'd mention it.]
[Himeko seems genuinely entertained by this spectacle.]
[Fu Xuan appears to pose no real threat to her.]
[However, Kafka, who has always maintained her position from a distance, now seemingly faces a rival on similar ground.]
[Kafka's composure is shaken, and Himeko finally finds this situation intriguing.]
[Viewers are utterly astonished by Fu Xuan's frail appearance.]
[Imagine how much more so for Fu Xuan herself.]
[Seeing herself huddled under the blanket, pitifully clutching at her master's sleeve, she feels overwhelmed.]
[Fu Xuan: ...@Black Swan, can I suggest skipping this part and not showing it?]
[Sparkle: Ha ha ha, absolutely not! This is such an entertaining segment, the essence of the footage! How could we possibly skip it?!]
[Qingque wants to continue watching but hesitates to speak up, hoping others will push for it instead.]
[Jingliu (after some thought): @Fu Xuan, having seen our embarrassing moments, it seems unfair to request skipping yours.]
[Silver Wolf: Exactly! Now you want to skip after seeing ours? Hmph, it's too late!]
[Fu Xuan: Gulp...]
[Black Swan (smiling): @Fu Xuan, shall we continue then?]
[Fu Xuan (abandoning resistance): Go ahead, go ahead.]
Apart from acknowledging Jingliu and Silver Wolf's valid points, Fu Xuan herself had grown somewhat hazy about this particular memory.
Re-watching it might help her recall those events.
As Firefly observed the live stream, she found it equally intriguing.
[Firefly: Ha ha ha ha, when confronted with my own embarrassing past, I feel so ashamed.]
[Firefly: But watching someone else's dark history is just too entertaining!?!]
[Stelle: Still enjoying yourself, Firefly!? By the way, do you remember that you're also a contestant here? It feels like you've fully embraced being a spectator instead!]
[Firefly: Uh...?]
[Firefly: N-no worries, lately, I have a premonition that great things await me in the future!?!]