AWB Chapter 107 Impersonating Xuan Yue: This is "cheating," isn't it?
Chapter 107 Impersonating Xuan Yue: This is "cheating," isn't it?
Jueyunjian—
"It seems my old friend is recovering quite well." Zhongli rarely gets to wander into this area, and just then he saw Xuanqing drinking tea in the pavilion.
“You too, enjoying your leisure time, even have time to come here.” Xuanqing poured another cup of tea and placed it opposite him. Zhongli sat down and raised his cup to drink with Xuanqing.
Zhongli: "Xuanyue has taken over your recent affairs."
“I know, he took over all of those.” Xuan Qing said calmly, “He just doesn’t like to get involved in things normally, but his abilities are truly exceptional.”
"Indeed, Xuan Yue has made a great contribution to the prosperity of Liyue Harbor today."
"Alright, let's end this small talk, Morax." Xuan Qing put down his cup, his tone flat. "Xuan Yue isn't even letting Liu Yun and the others in now. There's only one reason you've come to me. You have something important to discuss, and Xuan Yue can't make that decision, so you've had to come to me."
"As expected of an old friend, still so perceptive. I have indeed come with important business. I've come to inquire about two things: first, the bottom line of 'order,' and second, the rules of 'order.'"
"...These questions are indeed difficult to answer. 'Order' includes, but is not limited to, 'illusion' and 'reality.' When the boundaries between illusion and reality are blurred, 'order' emerges to maintain balance. For me, as long as 'divine punishment' has not been invoked, the bottom line of 'order' has not been crossed, and there is still room for maneuver."
"As for the second question... the rule of 'order' is to follow the natural course." Xuan Qing paused, then continued, "Could it be..."
Zhongli: "The traveler has already gone to Inazuma. Although he is capable of handling many troubles, I am still a little worried..."
Xuan Qing shook his head: "You know, gods from other countries can't interfere with their systems. Besides, now that you've come to me... I can't intervene..."
"Witnesses come to witness, and chroniclers are born to remember." Zhongli took a sip of tea and said, "You naturally have a part in this."
Xuanqing: ...
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Xuan Yue: "So, you agreed?"
Xuan Yue and Xuan Qing were walking on the road leaving Jueyun Realm when Xuan Qing told him about his conversation with Zhong Li.
Xuanqing: "Yes, but we need to go to Sumeru first to verify some things, and then we'll go to Inazuma."
Xuan Yue: "What is it?"
Xuanqing: "Regarding the current Grass God, the recent accounts only show the presence of the Order of the Instructions, with no trace of any deity. The fact that decisions on all major matters concerning Sumeru are not made by deities inevitably raises suspicion..."
Xuan Yue lowered her head in thought: "Indeed, Liyue also has many scholars from the Order of the Faith who come from Sumeru to study or do business, but from their few words, there is no information about that Grass God. On the contrary, the name Order of the Faith frequently appears in their reports... Wait..."
Xuan Yue suddenly turned around and stared at Xuan Qing: "Didn't I tell you not to handle the data?"
Xuan Qing: "...A Yue, I'm really alright now."
Xuan Yue: "Hmph! We've already discussed this. Next time we encounter a situation like that, you should repair part of it first, and then continue repairing it once your strength is fully restored. Although it's slower, at least it can prevent the situation from happening again."
Xuan Qing: "Yes, you're right. Is there anything you want to buy before you leave?"
Xuan Yue's eyes lit up at the mention of this: "Quickly buy me more fruit! Since we're going to Sumeru to listen to gossip... no, to gather information, then we definitely need to..." Xuan Yue said as she ran off into the distance.
Xuanqing: ...
Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.
Xuanqing was still preparing to enter the city under the identity of Qingyue, but Xuanyue felt that being in human form would be subject to too much surveillance in the city, so he transformed back into his original form and landed on Xuanqing's shoulder.
As they prepared to enter the city, two guards at the gate blocked their way.
"Sir, please wait a moment. This must be your first time in Sumeru City," a gatekeeper said.
Xuan Qing: "What? Can't I go in?"
The gatekeeper said, "Oh, that's not it, sir. The main issue is that there's no information about you in the 'Void' yet. However, you're very lucky. Previously, the Council only issued 'Void Terminals' to Sumerians and foreigners who stayed in Sumeru long-term; it was only recently decided to issue them to all travelers."
After he finished speaking, a gatekeeper took out the leaf-shaped "void terminal" and handed it to Xuan Qing.
"Simply hold it in your hand and silently recite 'May I hear the voice of divine wisdom' to activate it." This gatekeeper was quite dedicated, to say the least, but Xuan Qing hesitated to take it with him.
"Um... sir, is there anything you don't understand?"
After regaining his senses, Xuanqing said, "There are still some things I don't understand, but I have an acquaintance in Xumi, so I can ask him for help. I see there are a lot of people coming and going here, so you two should get to work first. I'll go in first."
The gatekeeper scratched his head, finding Xuan Qing's explanation quite reasonable, and returned to his post without pressing the matter further. Xuan Qing thus smoothly entered Sumeru City, and then found a secluded spot to communicate telepathically with Xuan Yue.
Xuan Yue: (Xuan Qing, is there something strange about this thing?)
Xuanqing: (They say this was invented by the Order of the Teachings, but as far as I know, this "void" was constructed using the power of the Grass God, and only divine power can maintain its operation. But does the current Grass God have such power?)
Xuan Yue: (As far as I know, no. She's not a machine, running 24/7. Doesn't she need to recover her divine power?)
(Machine…) Xuan Qing’s eyes sharpened. “Time Reversal” allowed him to see the origin of the device in his hand. At first, he saw the scholars of the Academy of Teachings conducting the experiment. Further ahead, a device was activated, and time flowed backward again. He saw the Heart of God inside the glass container of that device.
Xuanqing: ...
Xuan Yue: (A Qing, what's wrong? Is something strange? You look so serious.)
Xuanqing: (Ayue, you're right. The divine power to activate the "Void" device comes from a machine, and the core of that machine is the "Heart of God"!)
Xuan Yue: (Was it tacitly approved by the Grass God?)
Xuan Qing: (The conclusion is unknown at the moment, but I saw various personnel information in those people's research materials. I suspect there might be other clues about this terminal...)
Xuan Yue suddenly felt a little worried: (Maybe... we should just throw it away.)
Xuan Qing shook his head: (What if it gets lost? They'll definitely conduct a thorough investigation of everyone nearby. I've never worn this device, and there's no information about me in the "Void," so many people will become suspicious. Besides... I still have a use for this thing...)
Xuan Yue: (So what now? Since you're not wearing this, their terminals won't display your information when you walk down the street, and you won't be able to leave in front of everyone.)
Xuan Qing: (Well then, I'll use my special privileges...)
Xuan Yue: (?)
Then Xuan Qing put on the void terminal, which popped up asking him to enter his information. Xuan Qing didn't use his real identity, but instead registered as a student of the Order Academy. The terminal immediately warned him, but Xuan Qing's divine power was directly injected into the terminal, and then—it succeeded.
Xuan Yue was completely dumbfounded: (No... this, you... this is cheating, isn't it?)
Xuanqing patted Xuanyue's head: ("Order" can be used in many ways. This warning tells us that we have violated the "rules," but "order" is the "rule," and I am "order," so what I allow is the "rule.")
Xuan Yue: (Don't explain anymore, my head is spinning!)
Xuan Qing chuckled and then appeared openly on the street with Xuan Yue. No one suspected anything when they saw them, because now that they were in the "Void", Xuan Qing's information was that of a student from the Academy of Teachings.
(Really, no one doubts you...) Xuan Yue looked around and found that no one doubted Xuan Qingdu's identity. Some people even greeted them, but Xuan Qingdu pretended not to see them, and they didn't find it strange.
Xuanqing: (Ayue, snap out of it. We've arrived...)
Before them stood an academy, built on a tree trunk, its stained glass windows shimmering with iridescent colors in the sunlight. This was the largest academy in all of Sumeru, and also the most authoritative institution there—the Academy of Teachings.
Xuanqing: (Remember, we're here to gather information about the Grass God. Don't alert him. Safety is our top priority.)
Xuan Yue: (Understood!)