Pei Guang found Qingque's concern to be valid: if Fu Xuan was truly possessed by a ghost, then wouldn't the exorcism gear risk harming her as well? But it wasn't a big problem. Pei Guang quickly came up with a way to deal with it.
"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. Take a look at this, even if we don't use the gear, this will work just fine."
As he spoke, Pei Guang summoned Savory Truefire. Holding the flame, he swiped it across Qingque's body. The fire passed over her without burning her clothes or skin in the slightest.
Only then did Pei Guang explain, "Savory Truefire, one of my golden-tier tools. It deals magical damage specifically to enemies. But Fu Xuan is my friend, not an enemy. I'll use this to burn the thing possessing her—guaranteed to kill the parasite without hurting Fu Xuan at all."
Qingque stared at the flame in surprise. "That strong? Wait, my clothes and body didn't get burned, but… why does it smell kinda nice where the flame touched?"
Pei Guang replied, "Don't sweat the details! Let's go save Fu Xuan first."
Following Qingque into the Divination Commission, Pei Guang saw Fu Xuan and a group of diviners gathered around the Matrix of Prescience. If he listened closely, he could hear what they were saying.
"There is only ever one path."
"Divination is meaningless!"
The Matrix of Prescience had changed: something was clearly off.
Pei Guang muttered, "Seriously? I was only away from Fu Xuan for one night, and now this?"
Qingque shrugged. "Right? She's muttering to herself just like before—probably calculating the past or the future—but the Matrix isn't reacting at all. That's weird. Ah Guang, can you tell what's going on?"
Pei Guang started, "I—"
Before he could finish, Fu Xuan, who had been silent, suddenly turned around.
"Silence! The Divination Commission is no place for noise!"
But the moment she laid eyes on Pei Guang, her body trembled. Just for a second, though—after that, the Heliobus fully suppressed her consciousness.
When it came to willpower alone, Fu Xuan ranked among the top in the entire Xianzhou Alliance. Just the fact that she could wield her Third Eye without showing any signs of pain was proof of her mental fortitude.
Unfortunately, Heliobus corruption had nothing to do with willpower: it thrived on manipulating the dreams and desires of mortals. And this particular Heliobus had a preference for latching onto prophets and seers, challenging their view of fate and watching them suffer in confusion.
And who was the greatest seer on the Luofu? Fu Xuan. Naturally, she became its target and was possessed.
Now under the Heliobus's control, Fu Xuan paused when she saw Pei Guang and Qingque, then slowly approached them.
Seeing her, Qingque asked in surprise, "Huh? You're awake, Lady Fu Xuan?"
But Pei Guang shook his head. "Nope. Look closer: Fu Xuan's expression has disgust and anger in it. Sure, the real Fu Xuan might scold you for slacking off, but she'd never look at you with disdain.
At worst, she'd be disappointed, like 'you can do better.' But now? Her brows are furrowed, her eyes are cold: her face is practically screaming 'I hate this.' If this were a game, there'd be black mist rising off her to show she's been possessed."
Qingque pointed. "Wait—look! You're right, there is black mist coming off her!"
Like he had cast some kind of spell, black mist really began rising from Fu Xuan, visible only to Pei Guang and Qingque.
Pei Guang nodded. "Yup. That proves she's not acting like herself."
Qingque exclaimed, "Ah Guang, you're amazing!"
Pei Guang replied, "Nah, just average!"
While the two were complimenting each other, Fu Xuan in front of them looked at them angrily: "Divination is currently at a critical stage, and must not be disturbed. Even guests from the Astral Express are not allowed to behave so presumptuously here. Did you bring outsiders into the division again? Have you treated the rules I set as nothing but wind in your ears? Qingque! You're fired."
The Heliobus, named Keralum, wanted to remove the variable Qingque. According to the fate it foresaw, as long as Qingque left the Divination Commission, it still had a chance to survive.
Hearing she was fired, Qingque was momentarily stunned, then blushed: "Huh? Master Diviner? Really? I'm actually fired? This is…"
"Feels amazing, right?"
Qingque nodded: "Exactly! This is fantastic~ But Ah Guang, help me analyze this: do you think Master Diviner meant it or not?"
Pei Guang: "Of course she didn't. She can't bear to let you go. I bet if she ever becomes general of the Luofu, she'd drag you up to be the new Master Diviner of the Divination Commission."
That one sentence left Qingque frozen: "What did you say?"
Qingque knew how scary Pei Guang was: if he said she'd become the next Master Diviner, then it was basically fate. She knew the nature of the job all too well. Sure, if she had to do it, she could handle it… but becoming Master Diviner? That'd mean no more slacking off!
Immediately, Qingque looked at Pei Guang with a tearful expression: "Ah Guang! Almighty, invincible Ah Guang, think of something, I don't want to be the Master Diviner!"
Pei Guang: "Simple. Just make sure Jing Yuan doesn't retire, then Fu Xuan will have to stay as Master Diviner. And in the meantime, I'll find a way to forge a medical report for you and get you retired early. If Fu Xuan ever does become general, she couldn't possibly drag a retiree back to work, right?"
Qingque was stunned: "What? I can retire for health reasons? You're truly my savior! If you actually get me retired, Ah Guang, I'll do whatever you ask! Uh—except anything too tiring!"
Pei Guang: "No problem, no problem!"
Qingque: "Ehehe~"
The two of them exchanged a knowing smile.
Meanwhile, Fu Xuan standing in front of them had a frozen expression: partly because of the Heliobus, partly because of her own consciousness.