Chapter 185 - 184: Unexpected Gratitude

Words : 1269 Updated : Oct 13th, 2025

"I... need to thank him?" Fu Xuan was full of questions. How did this all lead to her being captured, shoved in a barrel, and then... needing to thank him? Bailu replied seriously, "Of course. Isn't it right to show gratitude when someone has done you a favor?" Fu Xuan: "It does seem like the proper thing to do..." Though she was reclusive and somewhat inexperienced in worldly matters, Fu Xuan understood basic etiquette. Since Pei Guang had given her something so precious, it was only right to express thanks. She divined a lot to verify it and the trigrams showed that the coffee Pei Guang gave her was genuinely effective. With her current mental and physical state, she had managed to delay her eventual transformation by over five hundred years. Not only that—one-third of the mara-struck Cloud Knights and workers in Starskiff Haven could potentially return to normal lives thanks to the coffee... One-third might sound small, but Fu Xuan knew exactly what it meant: an actual solution for the long-unsolvable mara-struck condition. She also gleaned some peculiar details, like Pei Guang's preference for others to interact with him in the form of mission requests. She didn't fully understand why, but she made a mental note to approach him that way. With Pei Guang's gift of a potential cure for the mara, Fu Xuan was determined to show him gratitude, as long as he didn't force her to do anything against her principles or will. Still, something felt a little off. Fu Xuan couldn't shake the feeling that she was being led along like a puppet. "Could it be? Did that guy plan all of this from the start? I knew it was strange when I was given an urgent decree to find Kafka and bring her in for interrogation..." Fu Xuan started to see everything as part of Jing Yuan's plan. From the collision and the coffee to being stuffed into a trash can, it all seemed to fall into place. Even her quarrel with Pei Guang, fueled by frustration, might have been part of Jing Yuan's intricate scheme! But Fu Xuan was mistaken: Jing Yuan hadn't orchestrated nearly as much as she thought. His main aim was simply to have Pei Guang capture Kafka, make Fu Xuan aware of Kafka's intentions, and give Pei Guang and his group a plausible reason to remain on the ship. He trusted Pei Guang. As for everything else? Jing Yuan took a "let things unfold naturally" approach. Just as Fu Xuan was deep in thought, Pei Guang approached, having finished his tasks and wanting to check on her. He found her looking slightly lost in thought. "Hey, what's wrong? Did that coffee mess with your head?" Pei Guang reached out, placing a hand on her forehead. "You don't have a fever, do you?" Fu Xuan shook her head, brushing his hand away. "No, I simply had many realizations as I woke up." Pei Guang's eyes lit up. "Oh? So you're not going to compete with us for the credit of catching Kafka?" Fu Xuan smiled. "Why would I? I received the General's instructions to interrogate Kafka. When I met you, I was flustered and in a hurry, which led to some misunderstandings. I apologize for any confusion I caused." Pei Guang waved it off. "As long as you're not here to steal our mission, we're good to go." Fu Xuan looked at him. "Then allow me to take Kafka to the Divination Commission..." She hadn't even finished speaking when she suddenly felt an eerie presence. For a moment, she felt as though the abyss itself was watching her, sending shivers down her spine. She instinctively looked toward Pei Guang. His face held the same dangerous smile he'd had before she fell asleep, a grin that seemed to serve as a silent warning. In that instant, Fu Xuan experienced a strange sensation—though she had never known failure in her life, she suddenly felt an odd sense of shame, as if she were unworthy to be inside this barrel. Yes, she felt as though even the trash can itself found her presence distasteful. Realizing something was off, Fu Xuan activated her powers once more, seeking answers. This time, her divination revealed an unexpected possibility. With that, she adjusted her approach, ready to communicate with Pei Guang in a way aligned with what her divination suggested he would prefer. "Wait, wait! What are you thinking? I'm here under the General's orders. My role is to take Kafka to the Divination Commission for interrogation after you captured her. Ahem! As the heroes brought here by the Stellaron Hunters and tasked with capturing Kafka, naturally, you're also expected to join me in questioning her!" Fu Xuan didn't fully understand the circumstances, but she stated her objective based on her divination and purpose, refraining from any unnecessary words this time. As she finished speaking, she immediately felt the intense gaze from the abyss lift, replaced by Pei Guang's questioning tone: "Oh? So, after capturing Kafka, we're supposed to help escort her to the interrogation? If you'd said that sooner, we wouldn't have had this misunderstanding. But if we're heading to the interrogation, you might have to wait a bit. We'll go once my companions return." Fu Xuan let out a breath of relief and looked at Pei Guang. "Fine, a short wait is no issue. The sooner we finish the interrogation, the sooner I can report back to the General. As for rewards, I assure you, I'll make sure you receive a sizable bonus once this is over." Pei Guang looked at her, intrigued. "Really?" Fu Xuan crossed her arms. "You underestimate me. My word is my bond! Even if this realm collapsed, I'd keep my promise." As soon as Fu Xuan said this, she sensed a shift in Pei Guang's attitude. From treating her like an annoyance to now regarding her with respect, his demeanor had seamlessly transformed without a hint of pretense. Pei Guang replied, "Well, I'll admit I was at fault too. I should have watched where I was going and not bumped into the esteemed Master Diviner. Ahem, I apologize. How about this? As a token of apology, I'll give you an item that'll keep you energized later on." Fu Xuan: "..." Fu Xuan was now convinced that the divination-guided approach to communicate was indeed effective. In fact, it wasn't just effective—the shift in his attitude was a complete 180-degree turn. He had gone from wanting to fight her to addressing her respectfully and even offering a gift. "Looks like I really do need to learn more about social interactions..." Pei Guang was proving to be her toughest challenge yet. While others could be dealt with using straightforward divination, with him, it only served as a guide to understanding his preferences. And she knew that if it came to a fight, she would lose. At the same time, Fu Xuan, understanding a portion of Jing Yuan's plans, knew it wasn't wise to provoke Pei Guang and his allies. Losing a battle was one thing, but if it hindered Jing Yuan's strategy and led to disaster on Xianzhou, that was a responsibility she couldn't bear. In Jing Yuan's calculations, Pei Guang's team might be an unexpected asset, one that could minimize losses—so why not reduce harm rather than increase it?

Chapter 185 - 184: Unexpected Gratitude

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