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The first rays of morning sunlight streamed through the blinds, illuminating Silver Wolf's smooth, snowy cheeks.
Looking slightly weary, she yawned adorably. "It's time to log off..."
"Oh wait, my mistake."
"We've been playing all night. I need to go back and sleep now; you should do the same?"
Due to Abundance's blessing, Su Jinyan remained energetic, showing no signs of fatigue.
"Babe, after staying up all night gaming with you, don't I deserve some reward?" Su Jinyan queried.
"You want a reward, huh?" Silver Wolf flashed a charming smile, boasting proudly, "I am the legendary hacker whose fame resounds throughout the universe."
"So many would love the chance to game with me, but they never get it."
Su Jinyan gently grasped Silver Wolf's wiggling, delicate feet. "Save the bragging for someone else," he teased.
The Silver Wolf curled up her delicate paws, eyes wide with panic.
"Hey, I considered you a friend, and yet you're trying to take advantage of me?"
"Let go quickly, I'll tell you a little secret about Herta."
With mischievous intent, Su Jinyan tickled the Silver Wolf's tender paw pads. "Go on," he urged.
Tears welled up in the Silver Wolf's beautiful eyes as she stuttered, "Uh... Herta..."
"She... She has many exquisitely crafted dolls at the space station..." she gasped.
Snap!
The Silver Wolf swatted away Su Jinyan's playful hands.
"Aiya, stop tickling my feet!"
"What I mean is, when we have some free time, let's sneak into the Herta space station together and steal one of those Herta dolls for fun, okay?"
"After all, considering Herta's character, even if she finds out, she wouldn't really mind."
Su Jinyan pondered for a moment. "Alright, we'll wait."
"But remember, we're supposed to be righteous characters; actions must align with proper justification."
"We need a legitimate reason for our deed."
Silver Wolf furrowed her brow, deep in thought. "But it seems there aren't any real scandals surrounding Herta, hmm?"
In a serious tone, Su Jinyan replied, "If no scandal exists, we can create one."
"I'll immediately write a scathing denunciation against that old fraud Herta and post it online."
Shortly thereafter, a hot-off-the-press denouncement titled "Silver Wolf Exposes Herta" emerged on the internet:
For several years now, since the treacherous Herta established its space station, it has inflicted untold suffering upon billions of lives and ravaged over five thousand planets. Regardless of the size of realms or the wealth of their people, every place within its reach has been plundered mercilessly, leaving not a blade of grass standing.
Those captured by this bandit horde were stripped of their clothing and robbed of their Credits. Anyone failing to surrender at least five hundred Credits faced public humiliation.
Throughout history, even the most vile and wicked rebels often respected the Aeons.
The old traitor Phantylia, though invading Xianzhou, refrained from desecrating the Imperial Bow; despite entering taverns, they paid homage to Aha. In contrast, the villainous Herta stole Silver Wolf's game cartridge, destroyed his account, and left chaos in her wake.
On each planet she visited, temples were razed first. Even neutral figures like Elation, revered for wisdom, saw their sanctuaries defiled and bodies mutilated. Taverns, the Intelligentsia Guild, the Ninth Agency—none escaped burning flames, no statue remained unshattered. This too fuels the collective wrath of the Aeons, seeking retribution in the depths of oblivion.
This humble Diviner, acting under Yifu Silver Wolf's command, leads an army of twenty million souls, sworn to endure hardship and overcome adversity until we vanquish this nefarious foe. We shall rescue my yifu's stolen game cartridge and restore his sealed account, alleviating his tireless labor and soothing the deep anguish of all sentient beings. Not only will we avenge the humiliation endured by millions, but also vindicate the dishonored Aeons above and below.
Though lacking in virtue and ability, I rely solely on loyalty and integrity as the foundation of our campaign. Above, the sun and moon bear witness; below, ghosts and spirits observe. The mighty river flows openly, while the souls of martyred loyalists past listen unseen, attesting to our resolve and heeding our words. Let this proclamation be obeyed without delay!
In the year 8100 of the stardate, beginning of the Amber Era,
Su Jinyan
Silver Wolf couldn't help but ask, "Since when has the Herta caused suffering to billions of lives?"
Su Jinyan replied solemnly, "I'm employing hyperbole here to express my fury towards the Herta."
"Starting from today, I will fire one shot at a photo of the Herta every day."
"In no time, she'll indeed inflict suffering upon billions more."
"Our children have all perished due to the Herta; until this vengeance is achieved, we swear not to rest!"
Silver Wolf's lips parted slightly, his expression adorable as he found himself speechless.
This manifesto was filled with slander and defamation against Lady Herta, devoid of any truthfulness.
As the situation escalated, it sparked a massive uproar online. Numerous Lady Herta supporters vehemently criticized Su Jinyan on various platforms.
Some extremists even declared they would send him razor blades, demanding an apology to Lady Herta.
The Interastral Peace Corporation went further, dispatching exclusive journalists to interview Lady Herta for her perspective on the matter.
However, her responses were either dismissive with "Ridiculous," or curt with "No comment," indicating a complete lack of concern.
Below are selected highlights from netizen comments:
[Asta: These allegations are baseless speculation and defamation. The Herta space station strongly condemns Diviner Su's statements and reserves the right to pursue further action (Pinned).]
[Qing Zhu: The Seat of Divine Foresight unequivocally states that the views expressed by Diviner Su are his personal opinions and do not reflect those of the Xianzhou Alliance. We neither endorse nor support them (Pinned).]
[Grass-Fed Nanook?: Herta is truly vile and wicked!]
[Punklorde's Silver Wolf: I've interacted with Herta before?, never thought she'd be like this.]
[Uncle Han Tui: Front-row sale of Bronya, Belobog's Supreme Guardian figurines - interested parties please message me promptly.]
[Diting Watcher + Howler: Click here for adorable Diting videos? High quality at affordable prices?]
[Vidyadhara Online: Has no one noticed the mention of commanding "over two hundred million followers"? Where did she get so many supporters?]
[Playing Fate: I know, but I won't tell.]
[Herta Stan: Su Jinyan, you're **** screwed, got it? You ******** insulted the esteemed Lady Herta? You *******].
Su Jinyan observed the various online comments, his inner calm undisturbed.
"What do you think? We've taken the initiative, forcing Herta onto the defensive now." The Silver Wolf's lips curved upwards, all traces of sleepiness vanished. "Don't be fooled by Herta's apparent lack of anger."
"Underneath, she must be seething with rage," he added.
Su Jinyan pointed to his lips. "Then why don't you give me a kiss?"
The Silver Wolf puckered up and excitedly kissed him on the cheek. "A-Yan, you're truly amazing!"
"Should we strike while the iron's hot and head straight to the Herta space station for a Herta doll as a souvenir?"
Su Jinyan gently shook his head. "It's not suitable right now. Security at the Herta space station will undoubtedly be tight."
"Moreover, given my sensitive status, any visit can only happen secretly when future opportunities arise."
Silver Wolf showed a hint of disappointment. "Alright, let's wait until then."
Knock, knock, knock!
An urgent tapping sounded at the door.
Su Jinyan shrugged. "I bet Shizun saw that post and has come specifically to make me delete it."
When he opened the door, however, instead of Fu Xuan, he found a flustered March 7th standing outside.
"What's wrong?"
March 7th bit her lip, anxiously tugging at his sleeve. "What should we do? Our secret is out!"
Su Jinyan paled in shock. "Impossible."
"We just shared some innocent kisses; there's no way you could be pregnant!"
Silver Wolf blinked in confusion.
March 7th, embarrassed, stamped her foot. "Who said anything about that?" She clarified, "What I meant is, what you did in my Memory Palace—our secret's out!"
Su Jinyan couldn't help but shake his head firmly. "Impossible, absolutely impossible!"
Those were virtual memories; no matter what he did within them, it shouldn't affect reality.
Undeterred, March 7th took out her phone and swiped through its screen for him to see.
The familiar contacts on display—Serval, Bronya, Gepard, Clara, among others—all had one question for her: "Do you know Su Jinyan?"
Taken aback, Su Jinyan asserted with conviction, "It must be Aha behind this!"
"Fans' comments don't reflect the individual themselves. Please don't attribute Aha's actions to Su Jinyan."
March 7th didn't know whether to laugh or cry, feeling utterly perplexed by this response.
Su Jinyan looked unperturbed. "No worries, they're from Belobog."
"And I'm here at Luofu. It's not like they can follow the internet cables just to hit me, right?"
"Anyway, I won't leave the Roaming Immortal Ark anymore, absolutely not!"
"What do we do now?" March 7th asked anxiously. "How should we explain this to them?"
"It's fine," Su Jinyan reassured her. "Just blame everything on Sampo."
"Sampo, being a Masked Fool who follows Aha, orchestrated these deceptions. It has nothing to do with us."
"After shifting the blame, you must publicly distance yourself from Sampo, showing your commitment to justice, understand?"
Who could have anticipated that Bronya and the others would learn about their absurd experience within the Memory Palace?
Su Jinyan suspected it was either deliberate mischief by the messenger or Aha's doing.
No matter; let little March endure some hardship while Sampo takes the fall for the blame.
Fools firmly believe that the truth of the world is merely a joke, with the ultimate meaning of all things residing in pure laughter. If someone can trick them, it brings even greater delight.
As per Su Jinyan's advice, March 7th began explaining individually to her friends, one by one.
A faint sheen of sweat appeared on March 7th's forehead, her charming face displaying a pitiful expression.
Why should this maiden bear the consequences when it was Little Su who caused the trouble?
Bronya's response left March 7th utterly speechless, her lips agape.
"What do I do? What do I do?"
"Bronya said she saw Cocolia's departed figure in the mirror at Qlipoth Fort."
Su Jinyan remained unfazed. "Isn't that good news? It seems Cocolia won her resurrection match."
"Poor Klaud didn't succeed again this season. When will they buff Klaud?"
March 7th glanced at the text message: "Bronya says she suspects Cocolia is imprisoned within the mirror by some malevolent entity."
"She can't bear to see her mother suffer imprisonment and wishes for her to find peace, but doesn't know how to help."
"Could it be that you're the one imprisoning Cocolia?"
Su Jinyan nodded, "Ah, yes, indeed, I'm responsible for that."
"Cocolia has become my slave now.
"Without my command, she won't escape from the mirror."
March 7th playfully chided him, "Oh, stop teasing~"
"Sigh, despite what I said earlier, Bronya remains my friend after all," he continued. "If she can't resolve this issue properly,
"I might just have to accompany Xing Hui back to Jarilo VI myself."
Silver Wolf interjected, "A-Yan, what are you two discussing? Feel free to share; I've also faced off against those from the Garden of Recollection before. Perhaps I could assist you."
March 7th's eyes sparkled, and she hastily recounted her experience that day to Silver Wolf.
Combining their narratives, Silver Wolf reached a conclusion: "There's no need to worry."
"This incident was indeed orchestrated by the messenger."
"The Cocolia you mentioned has been transformed into a thought-form composed of memes by the messenger."
March 7th's lips parted slightly, feeling incredulous. "No way."
"So we have to defeat Cocolia again after barely managing it before?"
Silver Wolf gently shook his head. "It's not as serious as you think; right now, she is merely a thought-form."
"As long as Fuli exists and people continue to remember Cocolia, she will persist in this manner within the mirror world."
"In any case, all you need to know is that Cocolia no longer poses a threat."
Su Jinyan fell deep into thought.
If what he surmised was correct, wouldn't Cocolia now be akin to a venomous snake with its fangs removed?
He could do practically anything to the former Supreme Guardian—like feigning hesitation or being insatiably greedy.
No matter, it would be best to avoid Belobog altogether.
Even if it meant certain death by jumping from the Starcross Sea cliffs, I will never set another foot in Belobog again.
Buzz...
At that moment, Jing Yuan sent him a text message:
[Posting Under Real Name]: Minister Su, please come to the Seat of Divine Foresight immediately. There's something urgent I need to discuss with you.
[Lady Fu Xuan's Dog]: General, surely you're not planning to signal three hundred axe-wielding soldiers lying in ambush at your residence with a shattered cup, are you?
[Posting Under Real Name]: Your antics might just hasten my demise. If you still value our friendship, hurry over. Before I breathe my last, I'll issue an edict passing on my position as general to you.
Su Jinyan stroked his chin thoughtfully.
Ah, they were still able to joke around, which meant Jing Yuan wasn't genuinely upset with him.
It happened to align perfectly with his intentions; he wanted to meet Jing Yuan anyway to discuss applying for financial aid from the Xianzhou Alliance.
Casually, Silver Wolf asked, "What's up? Who sent you a message?"
"General claims his days are numbered," Su Jinyan replied offhandedly, "and he intends to pass on his position as general to me before his demise."
March 7th covered her lips with surprise, her beautiful eyes wide. "How did the general suddenly become gravely ill?"
"Weren't they lively and energetic just like before at Scalegorge Waterscape?"
Su Jinyan sighed. "Who knows? Perhaps he sustained internal injuries."
"The great general's legacy lives on; his memory remains though his body has departed. May he find happiness in heaven."
March 7th hastily ran to the adjacent room and jostled Stelle, who was sound asleep.
"Stop snoozing already, I have something to tell you—the general is nearing death," she exclaimed. "Little Su is preparing to assume the position."
Initially rubbing their sleepy eyes, Stelle abruptly jerked awake and shouted, "What?! The general passed away? When will we be attending the funeral feast?"
March 7th fell silent, taken aback.
Su Jinyan, equally astonished, asked, "Isn't it obvious that this was meant as a joke? Why would little March believe it?"
Even Silver Wolf seemed puzzled. "I'm not sure either. It didn't look like they were acting."
Fu Xuan suddenly woke from her dream, swiftly dressed herself, and opened the door with a grave expression. "Who said the general had passed away just now?"
"Spreading rumors so early in the morning? Don't test me—I might just arrest all of you!" she warned sternly.
The corners of Stelle's lips curled upward slightly. "Bold, Fu Xuan! Are you aware whom you're speaking to?!"
Taken aback, Fu Xuan replied, perplexed, "Whom am I speaking to?"
Stelle couldn't hide the smugness in her luminous eyes. "You're speaking to the future general of Luofu's wife..."
Fu Xuan's beautiful gaze radiated a murderous aura. "Oh?"
Stelle's confidence faltered, and she offered a humble smile. "Of course, as the future general's wife, it can only be you."
March 7th covered her lovely face with embarrassment. "Can we stop making fools of ourselves now?"
Satisfied, Fu Xuan nodded slightly. "There is one point you got wrong. The destined general of Luofu will undoubtedly be this venerable one herself. And my disciple shall simultaneously hold the roles of 'personal advisor' and 'general's spouse.' As for the helpless wailing of other defeated rivals, this venerable one will have ample time to savor it."
Stelle couldn't help but shake her head. "Grand Diviner, aren't you overly confident?" she asked. "Just moments ago, the general drafted an edict to pass his position to Su Jinyan."
"Hm?" Fu Xuan raised an eyebrow.
"My closest friend, little March, has long been infatuated with Su Jinyan," Stelle continued.
"Really?" March 7th echoed, surprised.
"With my guidance, she'll be invincible!" Stelle declared proudly. "The general title isn't yours, nor could Su Jinyan ever belong to you."
Unfazed, Fu Xuan looked at them pityingly. "It seems you two haven't fully woken up yet. Go ahead and indulge in your fantasies about the future."
"This venerable one has matters to attend to; I'll be taking my leave now."
In Fu Xuan's view, those who inherited the will of "Trailblaze," these Nameless travelers, would never halt their journey. The Roaming Immortal Ark was merely one footprint among countless worlds they traversed. Soon enough, they would depart again, leaving it behind and forgotten.
Such individuals had no right to compete with this venerable one.
Unfortunately for Fu Xuan, she hadn't seen Silver Wolf's treasured recording, "[March 7th's Nighttime Raid]," from the previous night. Had she watched it, her thoughts might have been different.
Fu Xuan approached Su Jinyan, looking up expectantly with her small face.
"Renegade disciple, are you ready? Let's go?"
Su Jinyan explained, "Shizun, I have an appointment with the general today. We need to discuss important matters at the Seat of Divine Foresight."
A hint of disappointment crossed Fu Xuan's delicate features. "Oh, really? What did Jing Yuan summon you for?"
Su Jinyan whispered, "The general feels his age is catching up with him, making tasks increasingly difficult."
"He wishes to discuss candidates for the next general with me."
"And I intend to recommend Shizun for the position."
Fu Xuan, caught between embarrassment and irritation, exclaimed, "Outrageous! Don't mock this venerable one!"
"Hmph, once this venerable one becomes the general, you shall be appointed as both my esteemed strategist and husband by decree."
"At that time, no one would dare harm you. Anyone attempting such would violate Xianzhou's laws, facing consequences too severe to bear!"
Feeling somewhat smug, Fu Xuan mentally calculated the perfect outcome, her plans clicking into place audibly.
Adultery with a general's spouse was no minor offense; if pursued, the punishment would undoubtedly be on par with the "Ten Unforgivable Crimes." Neither judges from the Ten-Lords Commission, Shuttle Envoys of the Sky-Faring Commission, nor elite members of the Cloud Knights could afford to cross this high-voltage boundary.
Once Fu Xuan became a general, Su Jinyan would truly become her exclusive possession.
Stelle hastily whispered conspiratorially to March 7th, "March, quickly, hurry up!"
"Write to the Xianzhou Alliance denouncing Fu Xuan for violating an innocent youth under two hundred years old."
"This will tarnish Fu Xuan's record permanently, ensuring she can never become a general."
"But is it wise to say such things so openly?" March 7th asked cautiously.
Fu Xuan remained unfazed. "Heh, feel free to report me," she retorted confidently. "A-Yan's registered age has already been changed to two hundred—he is now considered an adult."
Instantly feeling deflated, Stelle declared, "How utterly disappointing, March. It seems you may have to tread your future path alone."
"My interest in Su Jinyan has suddenly waned."
Su Jinyan blinked, perplexed. Something's off here—why should that be disappointing? Changing his registered age is just a matter of saying the word. If it's two hundred today, it could easily be eighteen tomorrow.
March 7th's eyes sparkled as she nudged Stelle, urging her departure. "Well then, why don't you leave right away?"
"Only those harboring intentions towards Little Su should stay in this room."
"You're out of place with us now, did you know?"
"Grand Diviner, did you hear that? She finds me utterly uninteresting," Stelle said with a hint of disappointment.
Stelle's lips parted slightly as she looked at March 7th in disbelief—had this person actually turned the tables on her?
Fu Xuan, unwilling to let such a rare opportunity slip away, chimed in, "See, my wayward disciple?"
"She's fickle, moody and irresponsible, with peculiar temperaments."
"With so many flaws, you must never associate with her in the future."
Su Jinyan shook his head gently. "Shizun is overthinking it; how could I possibly fall for her?"
"On lighter terms, we're merely friends, destined to part ways and forget each other amidst the jianghu."
"On deeper terms, being Kafka's daughter makes any involvement even less likely."
Stelle blinked her golden eyes, slowly drawing out her baseball bat.
"Su Jinyan, do you know what Stone Age humans would do when they spotted someone they fancied?" she asked.
"They'd knock them unconscious, regardless of gender, and take them home while still warm."
Unable to resist, Su Jinyan questioned, "And if they encountered someone already spoken for?"
Stelle weighed the bat, smiling mischievously. "Well, just one more swing then."
Su Jinyan fell silent, momentarily speechless.
Unfazed, Fu Xuan scoffed, "Hmph, with your half-baked skills, you can only manage to knock out your companions."
Stelle responded earnestly, "Grand Diviner, you're absolutely right; I thought the same."
March 7th vigorously shook Stelle by the neck. "We're supposed to be the best of friends, aren't we?"
"How could you treat me like this? Have you forgotten who woke you from that perilous space station?"
Struggling for breath, Stelle managed to gasp, "I'm suffocating."
"Why so agitated? Aren't you and Su Jinyan friends too?"
March 7th fell deep into thought before conceding, "You have a point. Come to think of it, our friendship still stands."
Su Jinyan's voice strained as he spoke, "Now you've positioned yourself perfectly—ready to advance or retreat, unbeatable either way."
Indeed, when wielded skillfully, the bond of "friendship" ensures one never comes out at a disadvantage.
Qingque had employed this tactic previously. Using their friendship as a pretext, she could act freely without any moral qualms. After all, between friends, hugs and affectionate gestures are quite normal, right?
And if other women take a fancy to A-Yan, what does it matter to me? We're just friends.
As for that meaningless title, whoever wants it can have it. Tingyun falsely claimed Qingque was his fiancée, but it hardly benefited him; instead, it only drew unwanted attention from other women and scrutiny from Lord Judges within the Ten-Lords Commission.
Prompted by these thoughts, March 7th clearly realized something similar. Embracing Su Jinyan, she declared, "That's right. We're good friends now, and isn't hugging and cuddling among close friends completely normal?"
"Grand Diviner, surely you wouldn't object to even this, would you?"
Fu Xuan turned away, visibly irked. "Then may this venerable one wish your friendship a long-lasting endurance."
"A-Yan, don't get too cozy with those two 'friends' of yours," Fu Xuan continued. "Deal swiftly with matters concerning the general and return to my side promptly."
Su Jinyan acknowledged with a nod and followed them out of the mansion.
The two girls exchanged glances before hastily catching up.
As they walked, March 7th asked, "What about you? Why do you want to win over Little Su?"
Stelle's expressive eyes flickered slightly as she whispered, "I won't hide it from you, little March. Actually... I'm already married."
"Huh?!" March 7th couldn't help but feel worried. Despite their current innocent friendship with Little Su, if this maiden were forced into something beyond mere friendship...
Wouldn't that put her at risk? Stelle, being married, could just as easily take Little Su back for herself.
Seeming to understand March 7th's concern, Stelle gently placed a hand on her fragrant shoulder. "March, don't worry," she said softly. "I love your husband, and you love your husband too. In essence, we would be reciprocating each other's feelings—a pure romance!"
March 7th's lips parted slightly. "Can that still count as pure romance?"
"Of course, little March," Stelle replied calmly. "Don't you think your definition of pure romance is somewhat narrow?"
Su Jinyan turned around and added casually, "Just to mention, I believe pure intimacy also counts as pure love."
March 7th blinked, puzzled.
With sincerity, Stelle said, "Then you could embark on a new fate path and ascend to become the 'Pure Love Aeon'."
Su Jinyan responded humbly, "I still have a long way to go; I'm striving diligently for it. One day, I will redefine 'pure love.'"
"I look forward to that moment."
"By then, even if I steal Lady Fu Xuan's husband, I can confidently claim it's pure love," she exclaimed.
As they spoke, Stelle's eyes lit up, and she abruptly stopped walking. She noticed a brand-new delivery box abandoned in a nearby corner. Strangely, there were no paper or digital labels indicating its contents, which piqued her adventurous spirit.
Should she open it? Yes, absolutely!
Without hesitation, Stelle picked up the delivery box.
A cold robotic voice sounded:
"Beep—!"
"[Small Neutron Radiation Bomb] activated, countdown now commencing."
Stelle's pupils contracted sharply, and she hastily began dismantling the package.
Inside the box, shockingly, lay a "small neutron radiation bomb," with a timer already counting down: 04:59.
"March, here's a lovely explosive gift for you."
Stelle's eyes widened, and hastily stuffing the ticking bomb into March 7th's arms, she bolted away.
"Huh? What is this thing?!" March 7th's hands trembled as she summoned all her strength to catch up with Stelle, promptly returning the bomb.
"For heaven's sake! Aren't we best friends?" Stelle exclaimed, fear evident on her face.
"Exactly because we're best friends, I can't take it from you!" March 7th panted, breathless.
The small neutron radiation bomb was tossed back and forth between them, its countdown relentlessly shrinking.
A sudden idea struck Stelle, and she turned to shout, "Su Jinyan, do you want little March's panties?"
March 7th blinked, puzzled.
Su Jinyan swiftly sprinted to Stelle's side. "Yes, yes, absolutely!"
Without hesitation, Stelle shoved the timed bomb into his hands. "Take good care of it."
Su Jinyan's expression dramatically shifted. "What the f*ck?!"