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Fu Xuan touched the corners of her eyes, realizing only then that tears had fallen.
Holding the letter tightly, she said to Qingque, "Please go ahead and start packing your belongings."
Qingque hesitated, "But, you seem..."
Fu Xuan slightly lowered her head, "It's alright. I'm just feeling a bit sad."
Ever since witnessing the light arrow descend, Su Qing vanish, and the emptiness left behind in the starry sky, Fu Xuan's perception of time with her master had frozen at that moment.
Whether joy or sorrow, she stood on the other side of time, unwilling to take another step forward.
Now, Fu Xuan still wished to pause time as before. However, upon returning to Yu Que, memories from their past resurfaced piece by piece. The emotions stirring within her could no longer be easily suppressed simply because she desired it.
Gradually, as Fu Xuan looked down at the letter, tears began to slide uncontrollably down her cheeks. At first, just a few drops, like dewdrops gently falling onto the paper.
This wasn't the time for sorrow; she needed to organize her belongings, and Qingque was nearby...
Yet Fu Xuan could no longer control herself.
She always claimed that her relationship with her master was ordinary, just five years together after all.
But those five years led her to flee for over a century.
The time spent with her master constituted only a fraction of her life. Yet, what did this fraction truly mean to her?
Memories began flashing through Fu Xuan's mind.
A snowy street, the departing figure of her master as she left home.
Her first days at the Divination Commission, when her master gently tousled her hair—not softly, leaving it messy but easing much of her tension and unease.
Inside the Grand Divination Pavilion, swinging her legs while reading aloud the latest articles to her master.
During illness, huddled under blankets, gazing upon her master's concerned expression.
Her master's smile, his care for her, the warmth from his palm whenever he caressed her head...
Crowds bustling during yuanxiao festivities, lanterns illuminating Qixi night skies.
Scene after scene swept past before her eyes.
Fu Xuan had an excellent memory, yet at this moment, she almost resented its clarity.
Yet these memories were remnants of the past; remembering them clearly held no purpose. When Fu Xuan tried to grasp onto these recollections, she found they had become ethereal and unreachable.
So much time...over a hundred years have passed since then.
As Fu Xuan returned to the Grand Divination Pavilion, her past seemed vividly before her eyes. However, that empty expanse of stars and this unsent letter both signified one irrevocable truth: there was no going back.
Never again would she see her master.
Facing this harsh reality, the frozen time within Fu Xuan's heart began to flow once more, and the emotions she had suppressed started to surge forth.
At first, it was just a few tears. But soon, Fu Xuan could not hold back any longer. Her shoulders trembled, and her breaths quickened. The sorrow on her face became unmistakable as large teardrops streamed from the corners of her eyes, cascading down her lovely cheeks and splashing onto the letter, leaving damp stains across the paper.
Fu Xuan paid no heed to Qingque's presence nearby. Emotionally overwhelmed, she felt like standing on a rocky reef amidst surging waves, unable to maintain her footing or compose herself.
Fu Xuan's emotions intensified.
Her hands trembled even more fiercely, the knuckles gripping the letter turning pale white.
Her chest heaved rapidly as tears continued to flow, blurring her vision and smudging the words on the paper.
On their journey to Yu Que, she had told Qingque that her master was cold-hearted, focusing solely on divination. But who ultimately failed to keep their steadfast promise of staying by his side? Who, upon facing the prophecy, turned tail without hesitation, sought solace in divination, and never once reached out to him?
During this return to Yu Que, Fu Xuan learned previously unknown details from her mother. Yet despite these revelations, she realized with dismay that she still understood nothing about her master.
She questioned herself: Why? Why did I know Master wasn't an eternal life being yet never thought to understand him better...
Why did I bury my head, close my eyes, and flee—escaping almost half of Master's lifetime...
The words echoed in Fu Xuan's ears:
"Despite everything, I have always considered you my true disciple."
Throughout their journey together, her master consistently treated her as such—from the very beginning until the final moment, without any change.
But what about her?
Initially, Fu Xuan believed her master took her as a disciple solely due to the prophecy. Later, when confronted with it again, she chose flight rather than standing alongside him to face it together.
Perhaps her skills in the Dao of Divination had indeed improved.
However, within this master-disciple relationship, she had made every mistake and missed every opportunity.
Regretful, unwilling to let go. Painful, burdened with self-blame.
These emotions coalesced into an overwhelming sorrow.
As feelings suppressed for over a century erupted, unfreezing thirty years' worth of time, they began to flow anew.
Confronting her past and fully comprehending everything, Fu Xuan could no longer suppress her emotions.
The torrent of grief, like a breached dam, utterly engulfed her.
Overwhelmed by more than one hundred thirty years of pent-up sentiments, Fu Xuan disregarded any concern for maintaining composure, gradually breaking down into sobs.
Her cries carried an intense sorrow, as large tears streamed down her cheeks, onto her neck, and soaked her clothing.
Fu Xuan's shoulders shook violently, reflecting the immense anguish surpassing her capacity to bear it.
The sudden eruption of accumulated grief from over one hundred thirty years was profoundly devastating.
This intensity caused Fu Xuan's weeping to become equally forceful, a heart-wrenching sobbing that disregarded all restraint, both physical and emotional.
As she cried uncontrollably, the corners of her eyes quickly turned red, and her voice rapidly became hoarse.
Her heart-wrenching sobs echoed throughout the Grand Divination Pavilion.
It felt as though her throat was being scorched by the flames of sorrow, and each breath crushed under the weight of immense pain.
Fu Xuan's chest heaved violently, her body swaying uncontrollably, struggling to remain standing.
As she continued this relentless weeping, Fu Xuan soon found herself gasping for breath.
Holding the letter with her left hand, she tilted her head back, placing her right hand over her heart.
Even amidst the hoarse, trembling cries and labored breathing, she could not stop.
The bullet of past memories, flying after more than a century, struck straight between her brows. Despite her reputation as possessing all-seeing foresight, she was utterly defenseless against it.
This anguish cut deep.
Her master's departure had left an irreparable void within her.
It felt like a piece of her heart had been gouged out, forcibly torn away.
Fu Xuan cried for a long time, as if trying to release over a hundred years' worth of accumulated grief in one go.
But such profound sorrow cannot be fully poured out in a single bout of tears.
From initial drops, escalating to audible sobs, then full-blown wailing until her voice grew hoarse—
Even when physically drained, Fu Xuan continued to softly sob, unable to find respite for a prolonged period.
[The viewers are utterly speechless.]
[I'm genuinely stunned.]
[Even this time, no one is posting comments.]
[During Kafka and Jingliu's simulation, they were also deeply saddened.]
[But their grief was more restrained.]
[Fu Xuan's crying, however, is heart-wrenchingly intense.]
[Especially with her sobs so violent, she quickly becomes hoarse. The raw, unbridled sound of her anguish is truly overwhelming.]
[Viewers understand that it's not that Fu Xuan didn't want to conceal her emotions; she simply couldn't hold back any longer.]
[After suppressing such feelings for so long, when they suddenly erupted, neither Fu Xuan nor anyone witnessing her anguished weeping could resist its powerful and contagious impact.]
[March 7th, being highly emotional, felt the urge to cry even before Fu Xuan shed just a few tears.]
[As Fu Xuan's sobbing intensified, March 7th couldn't help but join her in tears.]
[Little March, once again, reached for tissues while empathizing deeply.] Fu Xuan's sorrowful cries were too distressing, causing March 7th to tear up alongside her.
[Himeko gently massaged the corners of her eyes.]
[Himeko felt that she wasn't typically prone to sentimentality, but Fu Xuan's emotions were genuine and heartfelt. The sorrow encapsulated within her tears was truly moving.]
[Jingliu remained silent.]
[As fellow eternal life beings sharing the same perception of time, Jingliu could empathize with Fu Xuan's feeling—that moments slip by in the blink of an eye, yet it seems as if nothing has been grasped.]
[Firefly and Silver Wolf were undoubtedly moved by Fu Xuan's emotions as well.]
[However, there was a difference: despite frequently posting "?" in the live chat, Firefly was actually a remarkably resilient young girl.]
[To put it simply, if they both watched together, Firefly might be emotionally touched only to turn and find Silver Wolf crying even more intensely than herself. She would then have to offer tissues and comfort to Silver Wolf.]
[Naturally, Silver Wolf would never admit this.]
[As a cool hacker, if anyone questioned her, she'd don sunglasses, feigning indifference as if she hadn't been affected at all.]
[Kafka, among the viewers, understood Fu Xuan the most deeply.]
[Upon closer thought, not only do Kafka and Fu Xuan share similar roles, but their experiences also bear some resemblance.]
[In fact, Fu Xuan's situation might be even more tragic.]
[Kafka realized her feelings but didn't have the chance to express them. Conversely, it took Fu Xuan over a hundred years after Su Qing's departure to recognize her own emotions.]
[Both later experienced regret, wishing they could rewrite their initial choices, feeling similarly...]
[As such, Kafka deeply empathizes with Fu Xuan.]
[However, at this moment, Kafka isn't much in the mood to send comments.]
[She too is moved, resting her forehead on her right hand, lost in emotion.]
[It continues until Fu Xuan gradually transitions from sobbing to quiet weeping, and some time passes afterward.]
[Sparkle: So, is nobody commenting at all this time?]
[Sparkle: Well, I can understand. Witnessing such intense sorrow burst forth from that petite pink figure is indeed quite overwhelming~]
[Sparkle: Let me add my two cents then.]
[Sparkle: Ahem...]
[Sparkle: Everyone, look quickly! Qingque is completely stunned!]
[Only now did viewers notice the reaction of the nearby little bird, which indeed merited attention.]
As for Qingque's response...
Sparkle's description was spot-on.
Qingque was utterly dumbfounded.
Fu Xuan cried for nearly fifteen minutes before her sobs subsided.
For those same fifteen minutes, Qingque remained frozen under this involuntary control.
Holding the divination toys, she stayed fixed in position, craning her neck to observe Fu Xuan's expression.
Throughout this ordeal, she was compelled to witness her direct superior—indeed, the head of Luofu's entire Divination Commission—weep heartbreakingly for a full quarter-hour.
The shock and panic evident on Qingque's face and in her eyes were no exaggeration; she was genuinely stunned.
If someone captured Qingque's current expression in a photograph or even sculpted it as-is...
It could likely be showcased at an exhibition or considered a work of art.
[Seeing Qingque's reaction reinvigorated the chat with activity.]
[Seele: ...Why does Qingque's reaction seem somewhat amusing?]
[Stelle: Indeed, tragedy and comedy often intertwine.?]
[Silver Wolf: Awestruck, panic-stricken, utterly bewildered, disbelieving...]
[Silver Wolf: Even using these words can't fully capture the essence of Qingque's expression!]
[Sushang: It feels like her jaw is about to drop from sheer shock!!]
[Bronya: Although Qingque hasn't moved at all...]
[Bronya: I never imagined such profound distress and astonishment could be conveyed through someone's eyes alone...]
Qingque seemed frozen in time, immobilized for a full fifteen minutes.
Not until Fu Xuan's sobs gradually subsided did anything change.
A few moments later, as if awakening from a dream, Qingque finally snapped back to reality.
The viewers began sensing her shock and turmoil through her movements.
Qingque's mouth gaped open: "Gaaah!"
What should she do? What?!
The Grand Diviner was actually crying!
And not just any tears—heart-wrenching, soul-deep sorrow! Her voice grew hoarse, her eyes intensely red!
In the past, Qingque had always thought:
Although the Grand Diviner might be short in stature, her abilities were unparalleled. If even the heavens were to crumble, Fu Xuan would hold them up.
But now...
Oh no, oh no, the heavens are collapsing! They're truly falling apart!
The Grand Diviner, ever dignified and composed, was sobbing with immense anguish!
Qingque felt completely at a loss.
Faced with this situation...
What...what should she do?!
[Sparkle: @Qingque, hee-hee, quick! Hurry and record Fu Xuan's current state!]
[Sparkle: Next time Fu Xuan tries to make you work, just say: "Grand Diviner, surely you wouldn't want others seeing you like this, crying?"]
[March 7th: Masked Fool, please calm down!]
[Stelle: In the next episode, Qingque, armed with incriminating evidence against Fu Xuan, ascends the throne of Grand Diviners! Past labor shall be (gritting teeth) repaid tenfold!]
[Silver Wolf: Laughing so hard! What kind of intense drama is this? Half-Zetsumatsu Qingque, am I right?!]
[Guinaifen: Ha ha, @Qingque, when you get promoted, remember to treat us all to dinner!]
[Sushang: Su Qing's place would be perfect!]
[Guinaifen: Agreed, Sushang!]
[As a viewer, Qingque finally manages to gather her wits.]
[Qingque (looking distraught): Sparkle, stop giving me such mischievous ideas, everyone! Don't joke around like this!]
[Qingque: If I had ambitions for rebellion or overthrowing anyone, do you think I'd have been slacking off for so long?!]
[Seele: Indeed, quite amusing.]
[Sushang: ? True enough.]
[March 7th: At the end of the day, Qingque only cares about slacking off. Even becoming the Grand Diviner's secretary terrifies her.]
[March 7th: Suggesting she strive for success might as well invoke sui yang possession!]
In reality, Qingque also comes to her senses.
However, with the Grand Diviner still sobbing uncontrollably nearby, Qingque dared not make any sudden moves, fearing she might inadvertently worsen the situation.
As Fu Xuan's tears gradually subsided,
she suddenly realized there was someone beside her. Turning her head and rubbing her eyes—still slightly teary—she murmured softly, "Qingque, I'm sorry you had to see me like this..."
[Stelle: Hmm, now Fu Xuan is calling Qingque by name... It seems another layer has been added.]
[Stelle: So, Fu Xuan perceives Qingque as...?]
[March 7th: Such nuanced expressions!]
[Ahhh, but it reminds me of earlier—Fu Xuan was crying so heartbrokenly...]
[Silver Wolf: Indeed.]
[Firefly: Indeed.]
[Qingque: Oh, Grand Diviner... Sigh, even watching from here makes me quite sad.]
[Bronya: But what intrigues me more is how this will conclude?]
[Bronya: Qingque witnessed Fu Xuan's anguish, not just ordinary tears, but such overwhelming grief—a complete loss of composure.]
[Sparkle: On that note, won't they silence Qingque?]
[Qingque: Ah?!]
[Stelle: No! Qingque! Don't get silenced!!!]
[Silver Wolf: Classic "don't get silenced" moment.]
[Silver Wolf: Then how do we explain Qingque being present in the stream right now?]
[Stelle: Uh... you mean her spiritual state?]
[Qingque: N-no, stop discussing this so seriously—it's actually scaring me!]
[Qingque: Don't make it sound like I'm really going to be silenced or something?!]