Chapter 3065 A Wish Fulfilled

West Plain. Round three of the Hongmen banquet.

He was drunk and ready to sleep, but his hosts didn't need to leave. Once the liquor wore off, they could pick right back up.

At this moment, the phrase "both host and guest thoroughly enjoyed themselves" seemed taken to its absolute extreme.

During Excellency Corvos's grand reception, Fu Qian had completely let himself go.

Not only had he fallen asleep right on the floor in front of the reception staff, he even told them to keep the music playing and the dancing going so they could pick back up later.

"Interesting."

This was so wild and uninhibited that even the host, Corvos, seemed surprised his prepared program had been so well-received.

Watching Professor Fu's eyes slide half-shut in an instant—not even giving them a chance to object—he let out a heartfelt sigh of admiration.

"Is Professor Fu... using this method to shield himself?" Even Logan, who had barely spoken a word the entire way, finally couldn't hold back, looking at Corvos for soft confirmation.

Clearly, he had at least been listening to their earlier conversation.

Based on the description, anyone putting themselves in his position could easily feel how perilous the situation was. Isolating himself to the maximum extent to reduce the Crowd's "reflection" of him was obviously an idea that made perfect sense.

"If Professor Fu were the type of person to do that, he wouldn't have waited until now." Corvos glanced at him and shook his head.

It was clear that, putting aside their opposing stances, he already highly approved of Professor Fu's performance along the way.

"The wonder of fate lies in the fact that it doesn't cease to exist just because you refuse to look at it," Corvos said, looking at Stoss for the final sentence. "Since Professor Fu wants to rest, let him sleep for a while."

...

So they were really going to let him sleep? This whole group of people was just going to wait here?

Perhaps Professor Fu's behavior was a bit wild, but Excellency Corvos's reaction was equally astonishing.

The guest claimed he couldn't handle his liquor and needed to digest before continuing, so they really just put down their chopsticks and stood in a circle watching him?

Although the reception style was already rather abstract, the situation devolving to this degree was gradually challenging everyone's sanity. However, the meaning behind Excellency Corvos's previous statement was quite clear, and it was full of domineering confidence: whether he was asleep or awake, this method of covering one's ears to steal a bell wouldn't work.

To him, the Crowd would still outline the contours of fate; whether the person involved cooperated had no impact.

In fact, the subject acting this way even added a bit of amusement.

For instance, whether he was truly asleep or just faking it, and whether he could still sleep after hearing that assessment—these were reactions worth looking forward to.

All in all, Professor Fu's situation looked even worse now, giving off the feeling that he had outsmarted himself.

Facing Corvos's scrutiny at that moment, Stoss didn't make a sound, only staring intently at that young face.

It was as if he was worried the other party had truly fallen asleep, but also worried he wouldn't sleep—yet it seemed he was sleeping quite naturally?

And in the blink of an eye, the conclusion was drawn: Professor Fu had absolutely no reaction to Corvos's words.

...

It was indeed very natural.

It wasn't that he couldn't hear the conversation outside; to Fu Qian, the joys and sorrows of humanity simply didn't connect.

He didn't doubt the claim that sleeping was useless, either. As a trump card saved for the very end after advancing step by step, if it could be evaded simply by closing one's eyes, then Corvos would have wasted all those years for nothing. The latter's miscalculation here lay in underestimating his opponent's scope.

Why would a dignified Academic Leader stoop to such petty tricks?

He was genuinely satisfied with how lively the banquet was, and he genuinely needed to sleep for a bit right now.

In fact, in the blink of an eye, he had fallen asleep very naturally.

Having already experienced it once, he was much more familiar with the routine this time.

With both sides moving toward each other, the scene before him shifted once again.

Oh?

At a glance, this new setting was actually quite pleasing to the eye.

The somewhat claustrophobic Night Watchers Base was gone, replaced by an outdoor scene, and it appeared to be nighttime.

The lighting was a bit dim. The faint glow of the stars and moon spilled down through the gaps above, casting most of the area in indistinct, flickering shadows.

Of course, there were exceptions. Among the tangled base of tree roots, one could see blossoming flower buds.

White petals and yellow centers, swaying gracefully. Though bathed in only a sliver of light, they possessed a mirror-like clarity.

Flowing Frost Flowers?

Having seen similar scenes more than once, Fu Qian felt a sense of familiarity. Combined with the name of the one calling out right now, he easily realized something.

Was this the place beside Silver Mist Manor where the lady named Ji Xue liked to walk? The very place where Classmate Liushuang got her name?

Last time, he had lamented not having the chance to go take a look. Was Classmate Liushuang actually helping him make up for that regret in this way?

This filial piety was certainly touching, but wasn't it a bit too coincidental?

Or perhaps—

Recalling the topics they had discussed during their last exchange, Fu Qian realized something else.

Could it be that Classmate Liushuang had gone back home again?

...

That would actually make a lot more sense.

Strolling through the shadows of the trees and flowers, Fu Qian took in the unique rustic charm while seemingly understanding why the location was so precise. Was it possible that in reality, Classmate Liushuang was right here at this very moment?

Although she had just returned home not long ago, one couldn't forget the troubles Classmate Liushuang had confided last time.

Namely, what kind of stance the Ji Clan should maintain in the conflict between Anjing and Siren.

Staying neutral was impossible; they had long been secretly providing Siren with various forms of support.

The hesitation lay in whether they should get completely involved and step in directly to decide the outcome.

From what Classmate Liushuang had implied, the family's higher-ups were itching for action, leaning toward doing just that, and firmly believed they had the power to dictate the situation.

However, as the theoretical next family head, she disliked conflict and felt that such a move was too radical.

Frankly speaking, purely from a standpoint of interest, even if she felt that way, letting them do it might have been the better choice.

It also fit her consistent style and wouldn't easily rouse suspicion.

Yet, after he had helped analyze the current situation—especially the Night Watchers' attitude—Classmate Liushuang had looked as though she had faintly made up her mind.

Given this context, it had been a few days, so her running straight home from the Academy wasn't too surprising a development.

It was just that fate was full of tricks. While she was pondering how to minimize the resistance of the Ji Clan's upper echelon, a reception far away at the Birthday Party had pushed the highest person in charge's wariness of Classmate Liushuang to the absolute limit, causing the situation to deteriorate with unprecedented speed.

Of course, looking on the bright side, at least when she suffered this completely unprovoked disaster, this place where she took her walks was quite beautiful—oh?

In the very next moment, as he stepped past a slanting branch, a figure truly entered his sight, raising a hand to catch a falling beam of moonlight.

Did they come here to walk together? Did Ms. Ji Xue really like this place that much?

It was an incredibly aesthetic scene, but Fu Qian frowned slightly.

Because it was easy for him to recognize that this was not his assistant, but a student's parent.