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Thinking that Su Jinyan hadn't heard clearly, Luocha repeated himself, "I challenge you to a duel."
"I know," Su Jinyan responded matter-of-factly.
Luocha smiled slightly. "Then, let the formal duel commence.
"If you lose, you must publicly apologize to me."
"Actually, Mr. Luocha," Su Jinyan said, "I'm a magician; I can guess what you're thinking."
Luocha chuckled lightly. "Oh? Then by all means, tell me what's on my mind?"
Su Jinyan's expression turned serious. "You want to transform into a spraying warrior."
Initially stunned, Luocha's composed demeanor abruptly shifted.
"Gurgle—"
Clutching his stomach, he grimaced in agony and gritted through clenched teeth, "G-General... The Seat of Divine Foresight, does it have restrooms...? I can't hold it much longer."
Su Jinyan glanced sidelong at him. "See that? He's a true master."
The two girls nodded simultaneously.
Jing Yuan, puzzled, asked, "Mr. Luocha, what do you mean 'can't hold it'? Can you speak up?"
A vein popped on Luocha's forehead as he growled, "Restroom! Is there a restroom? I can barely hold it any longer!"
Suppressing laughter, Jing Yuan replied, "Sir, I don't mean to make things difficult for you, but you must state the name. Who exactly is struggling to hold it?"
Luocha took a deep breath. "Luocha, I am about to lose control!"
Su Jinyan flashed a sly smile. "Excellent, Luocha. You've successfully caught my attention. Now, tell me, do you need to use the restroom?"
"Uh, I need to use the restroom!" Luocha stammered.
Su Jinyan slowly turned away from him. "Beg me," he said. "If you beg, I might let you go."
Tears welled up in Luocha's eyes as he clenched his teeth and pleaded, "I...I beg you... I really need to use the restroom!"
Su Jinyan glanced back coldly. "Louder! I can't hear you. Wanting to use the restroom with such a quiet voice? Can anyone here even hear that?!"
The crowd responded unanimously, "No, we can't hear!"
Luocha roared, "This humble one is Luocha, an outlander merchant, and I desperately need to use the restroom!"
Jing Yuan silently turned away, unable to help questioning himself.
Luocha is clearly Yaoshi's evil creation and an enemy of Xianzhou. Why am I feeling sympathy for him? Is there something fundamentally wrong with my perception?
Meanwhile, Stelle had discreetly started recording on her phone, capturing this scene surreptitiously.
Su Jinyan declared emphatically, "Very spirited, alright! You have my permission to use the restroom now!"
With admiration shining in her eyes, Stelle exaggeratedly remarked, "A-Yan, despite how poorly he treats you, you still consider his needs. How kind-hearted you are~"
Sighing, Su Jinyan replied, "Ah, if only everyone in this world could be as genuinely good-hearted as me, there would be no villains left."
Listening to their conversation, Luocha nearly fainted from exasperation.
Luocha suppressed the urge to lose control of his bowels and growled softly, "I'll ask one last time—where is the restroom?!"
Finally, Su Jinyan pointed him in the right direction. "See, just go straight ahead and turn left at the end."
Luocha shot him a deep glance before swiftly turning to leave.
"Wait," Su Jinyan leisurely called out, "there's one more thing."
Can't you wait to bring it up later?
Luocha slowly turned his head, clenching his thighs as his expression contorted. "What is it?"
He dared not ignore Su Jinyan; another dose of his abilities might make Luocha lose all restraint on the spot.
Su Jinyan grinned toothily. "Say 'thank you'."
Gritting his teeth, Luocha muttered, "Thank you."
March 7th whispered, "Look, he actually has quite good manners."
Qing Zhu remained silent, as did Jing Yuan.
Watching Luocha hastily flee, Jing Yuan felt a surge of sympathy for him.
Couldn't you develop some normal abilities instead, kid? With pregnancy, diarrhea, and fake dongs—it's getting downright eerie.
However, this ability did have significant drawbacks. Once an enemy appeared in public, they would completely let loose, causing their anger levels to skyrocket exponentially.
After Su Jinyan and his companions took their seats, Jing Yuan asked, "Minister Su, do you have any significant plans in motion?"
"Please enlighten me; I'd like to be mentally prepared."
Su Jinyan's expression turned grave as he replied, "Just moments ago, we were subjected to a terrifying attack by thugs from the Annihilation Gang."
"These two lovely young ladies beside me suffered considerable psychological trauma."
"General, when pushed beyond endurance, there is no need for further restraint."
"I intend to bring about the downfall of the Jepella Brotherhood."
With these words, Su Jinyan fully disclosed his plans for Jepella planet to Jing Yuan.
The Jepella Brotherhood was affiliated with the Annihilation Gang, with its headquarters located on Jepella itself. The residents there engaged in rampant acts of violence, pillaging, murder, and every imaginable evil deed.
Under the guise of loyalty to Nanook, the Aeon of Destruction, they transformed into interstellar raiders, plundering and slaughtering weaker planets, committing countless atrocities for personal gain.
Even the Interastral Peace Corporation, unless directly threatened, only issued symbolic warrants against members of the Jepella Brotherhood without actively pursuing them.
Coincidentally, the Stellaron Hunters were soon set to head towards Jepella planet.
Now, I, Su Jinyan, plan to execute divine justice by annihilating both the Stellaron Hunters and the Jepella Brotherhood in one fell swoop.
I hope the Xianzhou Alliance and the Interastral Peace Corporation can contribute financially, aiding me in this anti-pirate operation. Not asking for much, just eighty billion Credits should suffice.
Once successful, I will promptly return the Xianzhou Alliance's credits.
As for the Interastral Peace Corporation's credits, we'll divide them together—no, share them accordingly.
Initially, Jing Yuan dismissed the proposal, but as he listened further, his expression gradually turned serious.
Despite Su Jinyan's grandiose and righteous words, upon closer consideration, it was clear that he intended to collaborate with the Xianzhou Alliance. Under the guise of eliminating bandits, they would swindle the Interastral Peace Corporation out of a substantial number of credits.
"Minister Su, are you severely lacking in credits?" Jing Yuan asked.
"Not at all; to me, credits are just numbers."
"But who wouldn't want more credits?"
"If this Annihilation Gang dares to provoke me, then I must seek retribution to teach them a lesson," Su Jinyan replied. "By upholding the Emperor's Bow of Fate and adhering to The Hunt's principles, isn't this entirely justified?"
Su Jinyan's reasoning sounded logical and convincing.
Jing Yuan couldn't help but remind him, "Have you considered one issue? Just moments ago, you acknowledged Silver Wolf of the Stellaron Hunters as your 'Yifu' or godfather. For Silver Wolf's sake, you were willing to defy Herta by issuing a warrant, inciting the anger of many Herta admirers. By insulting their revered figure, you've stirred up widespread indignation against you, drawing both verbal condemnation and written attacks. They yearn to devour your flesh and scatter your ashes."
Su Jinyan sneered, "They're merely internet keyboard warriors, only good at pontificating online."
"I have an irreconcilable enmity with that old scoundrel from Herta."
Jing Yuan appeared somewhat speechless. "Yes, and it hasn't been long since you targeted the Stellaron Hunters again."
"And you even plan to apprehend them on Jepella planet."
"While we all know that the Stellaron Hunters were merely bait to lure in the Interastral Peace Corporation, others might not be aware of this," Jing Yuan remarked expressionlessly.
Su Jinyan was deeply moved. "General, could it be that you're genuinely concerned about my reputation?"
"Having such a good friend like you, I'd die without regrets in this lifetime."
"No, I think your reputation is already tarnished enough," Jing Yuan replied flatly. "You may not realize it, but your number of followers on the interstellar internet has surpassed Guinaifen's."
Su Jinyan, puzzled, asked, "Isn't that great? Seems like they've all fallen for my personal charm."
Jing Yuan took a sip of tea before responding, "But they are all haters."
"There's a user named [Raised Nanook Naturally] who meticulously lists your misdeeds," he continued. "He attributes every wicked act, whether committed by you or not, directly onto your head."
Su Jinyan frowned deeply. "Is there seriously such a thing?"
Jing Yuan picked up his phone and read aloud, "'Guided Phantylia, overthrowing Luofu.'
"'Established Disciples of Sanctus Medicus, inciting rebellion; violated innocent youths, causing unwed pregnancies.'
"'Dumped radioactive waste into the sea, turning merfolk dark.'"
"Coating his fists with peanut butter and assaulting neighbors allergic to nuts..."
Su Jinyan exclaimed, "Damn it, I didn't do that!"
"Framed, completely framed! Aha was responsible for all these incidents—it has nothing to do with me."
Jing Yuan continued, "In summary, he established a fan club dedicated to hating you on the interstellar internet forums."
"As a result, it resonated widely, and within just a few days, your number of haters surpassed tens of millions."
"After you posted the article denouncing Herta, the count escalated even further, exceeding one billion."
Su Jinyan clenched his fists tightly. "Dammit, those despicable trolls! I'll make every single one of them suffer a spiritual abortion!"
Upon hearing this, Jing Yuan felt a chill run down his spine, silently swallowing the rest of his words.
He himself was a die-hard member of the 'Su Jinyan Haters Club' and had now risen to become a moderator.
The two girls, who were secretly contemplating joining the hate club, also lost their enthusiasm.
Jing Yuan resumed speaking, "I'm doing this for the Xianzhou Alliance's sake."
"We're all friends here, so naturally I trust you," Jing Yuan said.
"However, if others found out that our Xianzhou Alliance harbors such an unpredictable and faithless Diviner Su, it could have undesirable repercussions."
Su Jinyan responded, "That's quite simple. The Xianzhou Alliance can easily issue a public notice stating:
"'As a Diviner of the Divination Commission, Su Jinyan shockingly fraternizes with the notorious Stellaron Hunters, displaying a lack of moral integrity.'
"This behavior violates the Xianzhou Alliance's regulations, contradicts the values of Emperor's Bow of Fate, and creates a highly detrimental impact.
"Therefore, he is ordered to sever ties with the Stellaron Hunters within a specified timeframe and redeem himself by capturing them.'
"With this, I would have ample justification to travel to Jepella planet."
Jing Yuan wiped his sweat, impressed. "Well, you seem to know your way around things, kid."
"I'll pass your words to the Xianzhou Alliance accordingly. However, as a friend, Minister Su, let me give you a word of caution.
"Have you noticed that your abilities might be veering towards the uncanny side? Be careful not to stray down the wrong path."
Su Jinyan responded earnestly, "If one has nothing to hide, there's no fear of ghosts knocking at the door. My abilities are perfectly normal."
"In fact, I am a positive and cheerful young man, always optimistic and refined in demeanor," he continued. "Don't believe me? Just ask them if that's not who I am."
Jing Yuan turned to the others, "What do you think?"
March 7th shrugged, "General, might I suggest that perhaps you have some misunderstanding about him?"
"Misguided? It feels like he's never strayed from being on the wrong path."
Stelle chimed in, "I don't see any refinement or agreeableness in him."
"However, I do agree with his optimism and enthusiasm."
"Hush, Stelle," Su Jinyan interjected.
Stelle obediently fell silent.
Unable to suppress his laughter, Jing Yuan chuckled heartily, "Ha ha ha!"
"It's my fault; proximity does influence character. How could I assume that those around you would be normal individuals? Clearly, age has clouded my judgment."
Smiling, Su Jinyan replied, "General, you should watch your words carefully. There are three of us here, after all."
Excitedly, Stelle stood up and exclaimed, "Are not all noble titles bestowed upon mere mortals?"
"If you can become a general, why couldn't we?"
March 7th nodded eagerly. "That's right, indeed! We of The Nameless also harbor ambitions."
Su Jinyan pushed at his non-existent glasses. "Once I usurp power and ascend to the rank of general, I'll bestow upon both of you the title of princess."
"March will be crowned as the Eldest Princess, and Stelle as the Second Princess."
March 7th pouted. "Why princesses?"
Stelle crossed her arms tightly. "Old Deng, I don't like the sound of that."
"Agreed," said March 7th.
"Why am I the second princess?" Stelle demanded.
March 7th looked puzzled.
Clasping her hands respectfully, Stelle declared, "Father Emperor, I want to be the eldest princess."
"You're acting strange," remarked March 7th.
Jing Yuan cleared his throat twice. "You might have overlooked one thing."
"With the Divine Monarch by my side, triumphing against overwhelming odds is my forte."
Unfazed, Su Jinyan retorted, "Well said. But what if the Divine Monarch becomes pregnant too?"
As Jing Yuan imagined the scenario, he broke out in a cold sweat. "I was only joking, Minister Su."
"We've hit it off instantly; engaging in conflict could harm our camaraderie."
"It wouldn't be good, no...not good..."
"Qing Zhu," Jing Yuan interjected, "don't you see that A-Yan's teacup is empty? Quickly refill it."
Qing Zhu hesitated momentarily.
Jing Yuan's Divine Monarch bore the full title "Heavenly Monarch of the Divine Firmament Thunder Palace, Governing Lightning Strikes to Pursue Demons and Purify Evil." This esteemed entity was bestowed by the Emperor's Bow of Life and Death, possessing its own divine intelligence.
As both a privilege for the general and a weighty responsibility tied to his position, any mishap involving the Divine Monarch could be disastrous. If Su Jinyan's glare were indeed potent enough to impregnate the Divine Monarch, how would Jing Yuan ever face the Emperor's Bow of Life and Death again?
Su Jinyan continued, "General, let us return to the matter at hand. The Annihilation Gang has been increasingly brazen lately, even resorting to small neutron radiation bombs against us. Why not seize this opportunity to launch a justified retaliation, giving them a taste of their own medicine? With the need to eradicate the Jepella Brotherhood, we now have yet another compelling reason to act, General."
The Annihilation Gang aligned with the faction of Destruction, being fervent devotees of the Embercalamity Ancestor Nanook. They had numerous branches, members scattered across various planets, making their suppression a formidable task even for the Xianzhou Alliance.
Coincidentally, the Jepella Brotherhood was one of the more prominent branches within the Annihilation Gang.
Eliminating the Jepella Brotherhood would serve as a powerful deterrent, sending a clear message.
Jing Yuan pondered for a moment before asking, "Minister Su, are you certain you don't require the Xianzhou Alliance to dispatch troops and commanders?"
"To assist you in wiping out the Jepella Brotherhood?"
"Or perhaps I should request the Xianzhou Alliance to send Galaxy Rangers for your protection?"
Su Jinyan waved his hand dismissively. "No need, General, please do not assign anyone to protect me."
"It might hinder my performance (read: share of plunder)."
"I shall strike down any who dare invade Luofu's territory!"
"Once I reach Yepele Planet, they will truly understand what cruelty means."
Jing Yuan nodded. "Then it's settled."
"As soon as I receive the Xianzhou Alliance's response, I'll inform you immediately via text."
"Oh right, regarding the division of spoils afterward—"
"No, after this matter concludes, how should we split the Credits?"
Without hesitation, Su Jinyan replied, "Fifty-fifty."
Jing Yuan lightly tapped on the tea table. "Minister Su has labored tirelessly with great merit; fifty-fifty is hardly sufficient."
"How about thirty-seventy? You get seventy million Credits. Is that fair enough?"
Xing Nu bristled indignantly, rising from his seat. "General, are you treating me like a stray dog?"
Su Jinyan blinked. Are you f*cking cursing me or helping me?
He firmly replied, "General, there seems to be a misunderstanding."
"What I mean is, the Xianzhou Alliance and Stellaron Hunters should evenly split those fifty thousand Credits," Su Jinyan clarified. "I'll take just half of the remaining Credit share plus a small additional amount."
Jing Yuan's expression hovered between a smile and not, "A small additional amount?"
Su Jinyan had always conducted himself with integrity, never coveting ill-gotten gains. Despite his significant contributions, he remained remarkably humble: "Yes, aside from the Credits for eliminating bandits."
"After splitting fifty-fifty, whatever extra amount we seize from the Jepella Brotherhood, that's what I'd consider my fair share."
Jing Yuan was momentarily speechless.
Shortly after, Luocha emerged, weakly leaning against the wall.
"Diviner Su, this is a duel, where knights strive for fair combat."
"Don't you think it's excessive to employ such underhanded tactics against me?"
Luocha initially believed he could effortlessly dispel the negative effects. However, he underestimated the situation.
The discomfort was truly unbearable, leaving him still unsteady on his feet. He couldn't help but feel an intense urge to strike down Su Jinyan.
The sensation was truly unbearable, leaving Luocha's steps still unsteady.
He seethed with desire to strike down Su Jinyan with his sword.
Su Jinyan frowned. "How is this excessive?"
"I clearly meant well by helping you."
"Ah, it seems you still haven't grasped the depth of my intentions."
Luocha, perplexed, asked, "Depth of your intentions? Sss..." A familiar abdominal pain surged anew.
His face paled instantly. "Again, already?"
Under Jing Yuan and others' pitying gazes, Luocha painfully leaned on the wall, retracing his steps back to the lavatory.
Only when Luocha fully comprehends these lessons and becomes completely indifferent will he gain the favor of the magnificent IX, embarking upon the fate path of Nihility.
With satisfaction written on his face, Su Jinyan thought, I'm truly such a good person.
Jing Yuan shook his head, silently chiding, Out of everyone, why did you have to provoke him?
Timely as ever, Su Jinyan spoke up, "General, I should be taking my leave now."
Jing Yuan asked, "Minister Su, won't you stay for a while longer?"
Su Jinyan gently shook his head. "I still have an outstanding commitment with Big Sister Jingliu."
The corner of Jing Yuan's mouth twitched. "Calling her 'Jingliu-jiejie'...such familiarity?"
Su Jinyan feigned innocence. "General, she was the one who called me Xiao Didi first."
"Minister Su," Jing Yuan said, "surely you don't harbor any peculiar feelings towards my esteemed mentor?"
"It's not that I wish to speak ill of her, but she has already surpassed her own limits and now hovers on the brink of Mara possession." Jing Yuan continued, "If either of you becomes too close, should she succumb to Mara, it would inevitably harm you as well."
With a serious expression, Su Jinyan replied, "General, there seems to be a misunderstanding. It is not my intention to become overly intimate with Big Sister Jingliu. Rather, Heavenly Monarch Joyseeker possesses a benevolent nature."
"He witnessed Big Sister Jingliu enduring repeated torment from Mara, and out of compassion, asked me to alleviate her suffering."
"For Big Sister Jingliu, I am akin to a remedy for her Mara-stricken state—"
Before he could finish, Stelle interjected, "A laxative!"
Jing Yuan blinked, puzzled.
Su Jinyan glared at Stelle. "Nonsense! A beneficial remedy!"
Stelle muttered under her breath, "Even if it's a beneficial laxative, it's still a laxative."
Jing Yuan remained speechless.
At the Alchemy Commission's Medicine Pavilion:
"Lady Bailu, most of the physicians here aren't reliable. I can only depend on you."
"You must help our benefactor regain his vigor, please."
"This humble maiden wishes to bear more children with him."
Tingyun covered her face, softly sobbing.
Bailu gently consoled her, "Aiya, Miss Tingyun, don't cry anymore."
"Can't this young lady just prescribe some medicine for you?"
"But these pills are quite potent; take only one at a time, remember that, okay?"
Tingyun's tears turned into a smile as she accepted the pill and kissed Bailu's chubby cheek. "Thank you, Lady Bailu."
"Our benefactor has always been proud, so please don't mention my visit to him."
Bailu placed her hands on her hips, responding, "This young lady understands—men, after all."
"Still, even if he values his pride, it's not wise to neglect treatment."
"I didn't expect Su Jinyan to suffer from such an ailment at such a young age."
"During my examination earlier," Bailu continued, "I didn't observe any signs of kidney deficiency in him."
Tingyun explained, "Lady Bailu, there's something you may not know. Our Benefactor has always been quite promiscuous, spending day and night with unsavory women. His lack of restraint led to excessive indulgence."
"Over time, these women drained his vital essence, leaving him unable to perform."
"I truly hope this medicine works and helps our Benefactor recover."
Bailu's beautiful eyes were earnest. "It will definitely work; after all, I personally developed this medication. How could it be ineffective?"
"In principle, for patients like him, a personal consultation is required to determine the appropriate treatment."
"Considering our friendship, I'm bending the rules by prescribing this medicine just for you. You mustn't let anyone else find out."
"Additionally, once Su Jinyan shows signs of improvement, you must immediately stop administering the medicine; otherwise—"
Tingyun asked, "Otherwise what?"
Bailu replied slowly, "Otherwise, there could be an imbalance between yin and yang."
"For ordinary individuals, it might not be too concerning, but with someone like him, a disruption in his yang energy could trigger a surge in bestial instincts," she explained.
"At that point, dear, I fear your delicate body may not withstand it."
Tingyun's tender cheeks flushed slightly as she gently bit her lip.
"Many thanks for Lady Bailu's warning; this humble one understands."
In matters of love, Tingyun always sought romance above all else. As long as their emotions were deep and the atmosphere ripe, things would naturally progress smoothly, leaving behind cherished memories.
True love endures through time, undeterred by distance apart.
Thus, despite being closest to opportunity, Tingyun had already lost to Sushang, Xueyi, Qingque, and shockingly, even March 7th yesterday! The little fox, ever pursuing romance, faced a grave dilemma.
At this rate, after losing to Fu Xuan and Hanya, who would she have left to compete against? Would she eventually run out of contenders altogether?
These women truly cared nothing for dignity!
With no choice, since Lady Yukong refused to ally with her, Tingyun had to fight solo. To avoid the worst-case scenario, she decided to seize Su Jinyan before losing any further ground, aiming for at least one victory.
Not just any victory, but a resounding triumph—to completely drain their Benefactor and leave those other women defeated and envious.
As footsteps approached from behind, Jingliu remained absorbed, gazing at the somber sky without turning around.
"Today's winds sure are quite boisterous, Jingliu."
"You've arrived, Xiao Didi. I've been waiting for you long."
"The shared past of five individuals should come to an end today."
"Walk with me."