The Envoy of Abundance from Onphalus

"I ask you, with a million doctors dressed in white robes of benevolence but harboring madness inside... cough, extremely 'action-oriented' physicians stationed here, no matter how many spies Huanlong drops, how much of a ripple can they possibly make?" He deliberately emphasized the word "action-oriented".

"Of course I know that!" Fu Xuan said irritably. Her gaze swept over the exquisite Dream Eater scroll on the table, and she unceremoniously picked up a piece and stuffed it into her mouth. "If it weren't for today's use of the Qiong Guan Array to deduce the future fortune of Luofu and discovering that there were unusual movements and ominous signs in the direction of the Ten Kings Division, I wouldn't have specially put aside my official duties to come to the General's Mansion to discuss this with you!"

She chewed on her snack, as if venting her frustration. It was like the resentment that I was working overtime while you were enjoying life.

"The Ten Kings' Division?" Jing Yuan's nonchalant expression vanished instantly, like a sleeping lion opening its eyes, its hidden sharpness suddenly bursting forth. "Strange activity? Can Fu Qing divine the specific location or cause?" He sat up straight, his fingertips lightly tapping on the chessboard.

Fu Xuan swallowed his snack, his expression growing more serious: "The divination points to the depths of the Dark Prison, and the root cause... seems to be related to that prisoner bound by heavy chains—Hu Lei. It's a minor ominous sign; repeated calculations all point to him. There's no doubt about it."

“Hu Lei…” Jing Yuan pondered for a moment, and the name surged from the depths of his memory. That was the name of his master Jing Liu’s defeated opponent, who was eventually imprisoned in the lowest level of the Youju Prison and had long since become dust of the past, no longer capable of stirring up any waves.

If this guy hadn't been so incredibly resilient, he would have been killed long ago, and Yaoqing has been demanding the extradition of Hu Lei.

They were merely seeking revenge against the leader of the Bu Li people. The fox people on Yao Qing hated him to the core and wished he would die sooner.

However, considering the various problems that may arise at the transfer station, if Hu Lei were to escape, it would be another headache for the Immortal Boat Alliance.

Ultimately, the plan fell through, but even under these circumstances, Yaoqing Immortal Ship still stubbornly sent applications to Luofu every year to extradite Hu Lei, which shows how much this guy was hated.

"So it was him." He nodded thoughtfully. The divination was so clear that it seemed Huanlong's covert hand had indeed reached into the Ten Kings' Prison.

However… a cold glint flashed in Jing Yuan's eyes. She wants to play? Then he'll play along to the end. But his energy is limited; he needs to find a friend to keep an eye on that gloomy place.

“I am aware of this matter. Thank you for your trouble, Fu Qing.” Jing Yuan made a quick decision. “As the General of Luofu, I will handle this properly. Does Fu Qing have any other important matters to attend to?” He looked up at Fu Xuan with a questioning gaze.

Fu Xuan picked up another Dream Eater Roll and ate it while saying, "I am not as leisurely as the general. According to the divination, I must go to the Star Harbor within half an hour to meet with everyone on the Star Train, arrest the Star Core Hunter Kafka, and then use the Qiong Guan Array to observe and judge her."

"If the general has nothing else to do, I'm afraid I can't keep you company any longer." She finished her snack in a few bites, turned around and left without any hesitation.

Jing Yuan watched her figure disappear through the doorway, his smile slowly fading. He raised his hand and tapped the table three times.

"General!" A Yunqi soldier on duty responded and entered, bowing to receive the order.

"Go to the Ten Kings' Division immediately," Jing Yuan's voice was steady and powerful. "Pass on my order to the judges on duty: the prison needs to be more secure in the near future, especially the serious criminal Hu Lei. Also... tell them that in the next few days, unidentified individuals may attempt to infiltrate the Ten Kings' Division. If their target is only the deeper parts of the prison, they may... 'let them go at their discretion'."

A hint of surprise flashed in the eyes of the Yunqi soldier, but he immediately bowed his head: "Yes, sir! I will do it immediately!"

“Wait a minute,” Jing Yuan added, “Go to the central hub of the Star Chariot Sea again, and be sure to invite Mr. Russell, the Envoy of Abundance, and tell him that Jing Yuan has important matters to discuss with him, which concern the safety of the Ten Kings’ Office.”

"Yes!" The Cloud Cavalry soldiers accepted the order and quickly withdrew from the Shence Mansion.

Xingchahai Center

At this moment, the Starship Sea is bustling with activity like never before. Starships of all sizes are landing one after another, like flocks of birds returning to their nests.

The hatch opened, and emerging from it were all compassionate doctors dressed in simple white coats. They moved silently and orderly, forming a white torrent that surged toward the designated resettlement area.

A million people is just a cold number, but witnessing this endless "torrent" still evokes a silent sense of awe.

Russell stood on the high platform, looking down at the crowd below. His brows were slightly furrowed, and his fingertips unconsciously caressed an ancient jade pendant at his waist.

Perhaps... my appeal was a little too successful? The number far exceeded expectations, adding pressure to resettlement and subsequent management.

“Mr. Russell!” A Yunqi soldier ran through the crowd, panting, and bowed respectfully to him. “General Jingyuan of the Shence Army invites you to the Shence Palace for a chat. He has important matters to discuss with you, which concern the safety of the Ten Princes’ Division.”

Russell's gaze swept over yet another massive starship slowly descending, and new figures in white robes were emerging from the hatch. Should he leave now? He hesitated for a moment.

“Wait a moment,” Russell said calmly. He extended his right index finger and gently traced the pulse on his left wrist. A drop of blood, resembling liquid amber and radiating a rich life force, instantly seeped out, coalescing at his fingertip. The immense vitality it contained was almost tangible, like a miniature Jianmu fruit.

Amidst the astonished gazes of the Cloud Cavalry soldiers, Russell flicked his finger.

The drop of amber-like blood flew from his fingertip and landed lightly on the smooth stone slab. Upon contact, the blood instantly swelled, deformed, and reshaped—in a flash of light, a figure almost identical to Russell himself appeared on the spot! The same attire, the same demeanor, even the compassion and gentleness between his brows were exactly the same.

Russell himself stepped forward and gently patted the shoulder of the clone formed from his essence and blood, speaking in a calm tone: "The general has summoned me; the matter is of great importance. I will return shortly. I will temporarily entrust the affairs here to you."

The clone nodded slightly, a gentle smile on its face identical to Russell's: "Don't worry, leave it to me."

Russell said no more, turned and left with the still-shocked Cloud Cavalry soldier, leaving Russell's clone to continue to orderly direct the newly arrived Compassionate Physicians in registration and guidance.

The Yunqi soldiers and staff around were all dumbfounded by what they saw, and whispers arose among them.

……

Meanwhile, in Dan Ding Si, the traditional sacred site of medicine in Luofu, the atmosphere was somewhat subtle and oppressive.

The compassionate doctors' enthusiasm far exceeded expectations. They were not content with simply staying at the resettlement site and enjoying the hospitality.

Like water droplets seeping into a sponge, they left the resettlement point in regular groups of three or five, like white streams spreading into the streets and alleys of Luofu.

Relieving suffering and rescuing those in distress is a creed etched into their very bones. Soon, such scenes appeared on the streets and alleys: when faced with patients suffering from the torment of demonic possession, or other people afflicted with pain, the compassionate healers would often step forward without being summoned.

Their treatments are direct, efficient, and even possess an unquestionable decisiveness. Sometimes they soothe the pain with gentle herbal extracts, and other times they forcefully suppress the source of the lesion with swift and decisive measures.

For example, a certain unlucky, out-of-control demonic soldier was soothed by several doctors and instantly lost his ability to move.

Its efficiency was so high that it left the physicians of the traditional Dan Ding Si (a government office specializing in alchemy) speechless.

For a time, the various departments of the Pill Refining Bureau, which were originally bustling with activity and overwhelmed by the surge in cases of demonic possession, experienced an unusual... quiet period.

Many orthodox alchemists were happy to have some peace and quiet, and some even began to study the remnants of effective prescriptions left behind by compassionate physicians.

However, when the compassionate physician learned of this, he immediately donated all the prescriptions to these doctors for research. They were all doctors dedicated to saving lives, so why should they hide their skills in treating patients from each other?

A prescription in the hands of one person may save a hundred people; if a hundred or a thousand people have this prescription, it will surely save even more people, so they have no reason not to share it.

However, deep within the Dan Ding Division, the secret lineage of the Medicine King, led by Dan Shu, presented a completely different picture. Anxiety, like a dark cloud, hung over the hearts of everyone who knew the truth.

Dan Shu stood in his quiet alchemy room, his fingertips unconsciously stroking a medicinal herb, his eyes deep and thoughtful.

“Lord Dan Shu…” A trusted physician stood with his head bowed, his voice filled with barely suppressed anxiety, “Those compassionate physicians…they…they have almost taken our place!”

"Rumors are circulating that the orthodox medical skills of the Pill Refining Division are no match for those unorthodox practitioners of dubious origin! If this continues, we'll be in trouble in Luofu..."

Another physician chimed in, his tone urgent: "More importantly, once they completely take over the medical care of the Immortal Ship, how... how will we keep our identities hidden? The higher-ups of Luofu can't remain unaware forever!"

"The reason they haven't made a move against us is because the Dan Ding Division is far-reaching, and if they touch us, the entire medical system of the Immortal Ship will be paralyzed. But now..." He didn't dare to finish his sentence, but the meaning was self-evident—their greatest protection was being rapidly dismantled by the surging white-robed wave.

The atmosphere in the room was so heavy it was almost frozen.

All eyes were focused on Dan Shu, filled with fear, unease, and a sliver of hope for a turnaround in this desperate situation.

Dan Shu slowly turned around, the shadow under her hood obscuring most of her face, revealing only her slightly hard jawline.

Her voice was calm and even, as if she were stating something trivial: "What's the rush?"

She scanned the crowd, her gaze sharp as a knife: "Continue doing what you're supposed to do. Maintain the status quo. The turning point..." She paused slightly, her voice lowered, carrying a strange, seductive quality, "is right in front of you. Be patient."

She waved her hand, signaling everyone to leave. The door closed, leaving her alone in the alchemy room.

She walked to the window, her gaze directed towards the Shence Mansion, and then seemed to penetrate the layers of buildings, looking towards the even more secluded and mysterious Ten Kings' Office.

A faint, elusive smile flickered across the corner of her lips.

Meanwhile, at this very moment, in Echo Harbor...

.........

I'm still not feeling well today, so I'll only be 4K words and will miss one chapter. Goodnight everyone. Please give me your monthly votes and swords to help me recover.

Golden Branches Through the Ages: Chapter 148 Illusory Power Unleashed

The cold steel containers slept quietly in the vast port of Huixing Port, seemingly telling the story of this place, the air filled with the unique smell of engine oil mixed with stardust.

The points of light representing Kafka's trail flickered and converged rapidly in the void generated by the tiny mechanical core of the Listener, about to outline the clear silhouette of its prey.

However, just as the clues were about to pinpoint the target, those points of light were extinguished as if by an invisible hand, suddenly disappearing without a trace.

"Huh?" March 7th bent down, looking at the silver-blue, beast-like Di Ting at his feet with a puzzled expression. It was spinning around impatiently, emitting a faint buzzing sound.

"What's wrong with this little guy? Is he addicted to spinning around? And... why does Kaffa's trail suddenly stop here? It's so clean, like it was wiped off with a rag!" She looked up, her voice filled with disbelief.

Walter Young frowned, his sharp gaze behind his glasses scanning the mountains of containers and complex piping structures around him, trying to spot any possible anomalies.

Xing then squatted down, with the seriousness of a repairman facing a faulty piece of equipment, and tapped the smooth metal skull of Diting twice with his finger.

"Chirp—chirp!" Di Ting immediately let out two dissatisfied protests, nimbly twisting its body to dodge, its mechanical eyes flashing with aggrieved light. It was as if it was questioning Xing: Are you out of your mind? Why did you hit me?

Xing withdrew her hand, her face serious, and concluded, "Hmm...it seems the classic patting and tapping repair method is ineffective. Perhaps..." She paused, then said earnestly, "it's good to begin with?"

This abrupt conclusion was clearly beyond March 7's comprehension. "Hey, hey, hey!" she exclaimed, hands on her hips, her pink hair practically standing on end.

"What were you trying to do by slapping it twice? Did you expect this little mechanical monster to suddenly have a flash of inspiration and heal itself on the spot? And look at how lively and grumpy it is, how does it look broken?"

“Since the Listening Device isn’t damaged,” Walter’s deep voice rang out, tinged with seriousness, “then the only possibility is…”

"It means that when the prey's scent suddenly disappears, the hunter should be careful..." A lazy yet magnetic female voice echoed like a whisper in the empty cargo yard, clearly penetrating everyone's eardrums.

Immediately following, the crisp sound of high heels tapping on the metal container roof, "tap...tap...tap...", came from afar, carrying a rhythm of absolute control.

The three people on the train immediately looked up, their eyes focused on the source of the sound.

Kafka's figure appeared gracefully on the edge of a container high up, the hem of her deep purple trench coat fluttering in the wind.

She looked down at the three people below with a faint smile on her lips. What was even more unsettling was that dozens of heavily armed Yunqi soldiers stood silently beside her.

Their eyes were vacant, like the most intricately crafted marionettes, radiating a manipulated, cold, and chilling aura.

“Mom!” Xing blurted out, her tone filled with an almost instinctive affection.

"Kafka!" March 7 exclaimed, instinctively gripping the ice bow in his hand.

Walter's gaze swept over the cloud cavalry soldiers who were guarding Kafka like protectors, and a cold glint flashed in his glasses: "These cloud cavalry... are they using Word Magic?"

Xing's use of "Mom" immediately drew a look from March 7th that was a mixture of shock and a strong sense of "Has your brain been burned by Xing's core?"

Kafka's smile deepened, and she readily admitted, "Just as Mr. Walter deduced, it was merely a small 'hint' to get them to listen to me quietly. Simple, isn't it?"

She tilted her head slightly, as if she were talking about something trivial.

“Although staying here doesn’t do me any good,” she said, her gaze sweeping over the three members of the train crew, “according to Elio’s script, staying here right now is the ‘optimal solution’.”

She spread her hands slightly, her tone carrying a strange sense of drama, "So, congratulations everyone—you've successfully caught me."

Then, she gracefully turned to the side, her gaze falling on the cloud knights she controlled, her voice becoming like the gentlest lullaby: "Listen to me... you are very sleepy... extremely sleepy... so sleepy you can't even support yourselves... right here... fall into a deep sleep... you don't need to wake up for an hour..."

"Snap!" A crisp snap of fingers rang out clearly in the quiet freight yard.

As if their spines had been removed, dozens of Yunqi soldiers instantly lost all support, collapsing limply to the ground and falling into a deep, unguarded sleep.

Kafka turned back, her smile still composed. "Alright, everyone else, leave. Now, it's time for us to talk. Before that shrewd and capable diviner arrives..."

She glanced at a watch that wasn't actually on her wrist. "I think we should have enough time to talk things through clearly."

……

Meanwhile, at the Xingchahai Wharf on the other side of Luofu, several ships of different styles, appearing dilapidated and ancient, were clumsily moored at the noisy berth.

These ships bore no insignia symbolizing "Compassionate Pharmacist." Those who disembarked were all "fox people."

At the very least, they tried their best to imitate the fox-people's mannerisms and appearance. Under Modu's rigorous training, this group of elite Buli people had indeed imitated the fox-people's behavior perfectly before setting foot on Luofu, striving to be identical even in the most subtle habits.

However, plans can never keep up with changes. Among the many ships moored around the dock, those bearing the emblem of the Compassionate Pharmacist stood out.

What terrified these people even more was that among the bustling crowd at the dock, there were many figures dressed in the robes of the Compassionate Pharmacist, emanating a rich aura of a life of abundance.

This terrifying aura was like an invisible whip, lashing the nerves of the Buli people who had once been enemies of the Abundant Forces and had been brutally slaughtered by them.

Although they now appear friendly and accommodating to these immortal boat people, only those who have truly experienced the horrors of Bu Liren can recall the time when they plunged their spears into their companions' chests, their faces beaming with a sickly smile.

They roared at their torn comrades, "Do you know how hard it is for me to treat a patient? Who gave you permission to kill them?! I'm going to slaughter you all!"

Fear gripped them instantly. The carefully rehearsed script was thrown to the winds.

When confronted by the Cloud Cavalry soldiers, these "fox people" avoided eye contact, stammered and gave incoherent answers, and even trembled slightly from extreme tension.

The fox tail, which was originally hanging down naturally, looked particularly awkward due to the stiff muscles.

"Which star system did you come from? What is your purpose in entering the country? What is on board your ship?"

The Cloud Cavalry commander stepped forward, his eyes blazing, his hand already on the saber at his waist. In the current tense atmosphere of Luofu, the abnormal behavior of these "fox people" was like fireflies in the dark.

"We...we..." Cold sweat beaded on the forehead of the leading "fox-man," who was barely able to resist the urge to turn and run. The atmosphere suddenly became tense, and a conflict seemed inevitable.

Just then, a clear and melodious voice broke the silence: "Oh dear, Captain, what's going on up ahead? Why are you surrounding these merchant ships?"

Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw a graceful fox-woman with a charming smile walking towards them. She was none other than Tingyun, the ferryman from the Tianbo Bureau.

“Miss Tingyun?” The captain of the Cloud Cavalry relaxed slightly upon seeing her, but his vigilance remained. “It’s not that we intend to make things difficult for guests who have come from afar. It’s just a routine inquiry, but these…fox friends seem to know nothing, which is quite suspicious.”

"At this turbulent time, it is our duty to board the ship for inspection to ensure that there are no prohibited items or suspicious persons."

"Oh? I see." Tingyun covered her mouth and chuckled, her eyes conveying an irresistible persuasiveness. "Captain, you may not know this, but the fox people on these ships are coming to Luofu for the first time from a very remote star system, so it's understandable that they don't know our rules here."

“Lord Yukong has already given instructions,” she emphasized the words “Lord Yukong,” “I will personally be responsible for receiving this group of guests and guiding them to the Tianbo Bureau for accommodation. As for the inspection…” She smiled at the captain, her tone gentle yet carrying an undeniable air, “I think we needn’t trouble you all, right? The Tianbo Bureau has its own procedures.”

"Did Lord Yu Kong personally instruct you?" The captain was taken aback. Ting Yun's words seemed to have a magical power, causing his tense nerves to relax involuntarily, and his original strong suspicion was replaced by a strange trust.