Chapter 345: Trouble Tamed, Snacks Awaited

In the Exalting Sanctum of Xianzhou Luofu, one big and one small figure—a man and a dragon—sat together enjoying popsicles.

Yes, the two were none other than Pei Guang and Bailu. With Jing Yuan taking a back seat and refusing to handle the aftermath, Fu Xuan had no choice but to take matters into her own hands. The first thing she did was escort Bailu out of the area.

After all, if Bailu stayed any longer, the Preceptor, who had been pummeled by Pei Guang, wouldn't even survive for questioning—likely drowning in a barrel of slop first.

Here's a joke for you: a Preceptor of the Vidyadhara almost drowned in a slop bucket.

Although Fu Xuan had felt slightly nauseated at the sight when she first arrived, thinking back on it now, she could hardly suppress a laugh. After all, when that Preceptor was dragged out of the slop, his face was bruised black and blue. Pei Guang, always principled, had promised to leave the man alive for interrogation—and he'd done just that, leaving the Preceptor with just enough breath to be questioned.

Beyond that, Fu Xuan had also received some valuable intel from the Ten-Lords Commission. From Dan Shu, they had uncovered extensive evidence of collaboration between the Preceptors and the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus. This cooperation explained the Commission's rapid mobilization—barely had Pei Guang acted when the Ten-Lords Commission gleefully swooped in to mop up the rest.

Thus, when agents from the Ten-Lords Commission arrived to arrest the conspirators, they didn't trouble Pei Guang or Bailu at all. On the contrary, each was awarded a medal akin to a "Heroic Citizen" commendation. One of the agents even made a heartfelt plea to Fu Xuan:

"Master Diviner! General! Please, just take those two away from here!"

And so, Fu Xuan had whisked them off to the Exalting Sanctum, where they now sat enjoying popsicles.

Fu Xuan, mindful of Dan Heng's earlier reminders, addressed the two casually: "Thank you both for your efforts in capturing the suspects and gathering so much evidence. The rewards for this mission will be handled directly by the General. Once he's rested, you'll receive a suitable reward."

Pei Guang cheered, "Sweet! Guess all that hard work paid off. By the way, Bailu—can you even go back to your house now?"

Fu Xuan shook her head. "Not for the time being. However, the Divine Commission has arranged accommodations for her. Bailu, would you like to stay at the residence I prepared for you?"

Bailu, finishing her popsicle in one big bite, shook her head vigorously. "Nope! I've decided that as long as Ah Guang is staying in Xianzhou, I'm sticking with him. He's got all the best food and fun stuff! If he ever leaves, well… I'll go to that place you mentioned then."

Bailu reflected on her actions. Sure, her retaliation against the Preceptor—smacking him twice with her tail—had felt immensely satisfying, but she also realized it was a bit over the top. And though she seemed cheerful about the assassination attempt, the pain from the betrayal remained buried deep inside.

Pei Guang commented with a smirk, "That's a shame. Your people are great for dropping loot. If you were going back, I'd tag along and see if we could get them to drop another wave of loot for us."

Both Pei Guang and Bailu had walked away with quite the haul. Mission items handed in, culprits captured. And not to brag, but he had accomplished all this without taking a single life—a perfect track record! Now, all he had to do was wait for the rewards to roll in.

On most planets, Pei Guang might worry about corrupt officials pocketing the rewards, but with someone as generous as Jing Yuan, he had no such concerns.

As for Bailu, she couldn't have been happier. Giving that awful Preceptor two good tail slaps, exposing Vidyadhara traitors—it was exhilarating.

Bailu was sharp, though: she knew it was all thanks to Pei Guang. No matter what, she was determined to stick by him and never let go of this golden opportunity.

Fu Xuan added, "Alright, with Ah Guang around, I'm at ease. I've still got plenty of work to handle. You two enjoy your time in Luofu—go explore, have fun. If anything comes up, we'll be in touch."

Pei Guang: "No problem! You go handle your work, if there's anything, let us know. Meanwhile, let me take the time to fully enjoy Luofu's local culture and unique charm. Honestly, Luofu's food is fascinating: it reminds me of my hometown, but it's got its own flair that's truly one-of-a-kind."

For Pei Guang, the biggest draw of Luofu was the food. With its rich cultural backdrop, it would feel like a waste not to indulge.

At the mention of food, Bailu's eyes lit up. "If we're talking food, I know just the place—Aurum Alley! There are so many amazing snacks there. Ah Guang, my treat! Eat until you're full!"

Bailu was absolutely thrilled and determined to treat Pei Guang to a feast as a show of gratitude.

Pei Guang: "Oh? So generous? Well then, I'm definitely going to eat until you're broke."

Bailu: "No problem! You can spend all my pocket money—I don't mind! Oh, by the way, Lady Diviner, is Aurum Alley open now?"

Fu Xuan: "Yes, it's open. The shops there weren't affected, so they resumed operations once everything settled down."

Bailu: "Let's go then! Ah Guang, let me tell you, Aurum Alley is a hidden gem that only Xianzhou natives know about. The food there is truly authentic."

Pei Guang: "Let's go! But hang on, I'll invite Stelle and March 7th to join us too!"

Bailu: "Sure thing! It's a team outing—let's eat and enjoy!"

As they planned their food adventure, Bailu felt light and carefree. She wasn't one for schemes or power struggles. The joy of giving that obnoxious Preceptor two tail slaps and ridding the Vidyadhara of traitors had left her in high spirits—so much so that even her tail felt a little tingly from excitement.

What made Bailu even happier was that she didn't have to deal with the aftermath herself, and no one had criticized her for her actions. Being with Pei Guang was definitely the right choice.

Fu Xuan, overhearing their conversation about food, felt a bit relieved. She figured there was no way Pei Guang could stir up trouble while eating in Aurum Alley. After all, the shops there were just regular merchants. 

Surely, nothing could go wrong.

For added reassurance, Fu Xuan decided to cast a divination. Surprisingly, the result was very auspicious. Usually, Pei Guang's readings teetered between great fortune and great calamity—fortunes that didn't just reflect him but the entirety of Luofu. This time, it was unequivocally positive, which eased her worries.

Fu Xuan: "Alright then, you all go ahead and enjoy yourselves. I still have some official matters to attend to. Maybe when I'm free, I'll visit Aurum Alley myself."

Pei Guang: "Are you planning to join us later? Don't worry, we'll scout out the best spots first and recommend them to you."

Fu Xuan: "Alright, I'll hold you to that."

With that, Fu Xuan left to handle her duties. With the evidence secured and the suspects apprehended, the hard work was mostly done. She figured that once this wave of tasks was wrapped up, she might be able to relax a bit—and catching up with Pei Guang later didn't sound like a bad idea.

After Fu Xuan departed, Pei Guang pulled out his phone and messaged Stelle and March 7th in the group chat.

Pei Guang: "Hey Stelle, March—come to Aurum Alley! I heard there's a ton of delicious food here. Bailu highly recommends it!"

Stelle immediately replied: "What a coincidence—I just got to Aurum Alley. I ran into Qingque, who's been slacking off as usual. She invited me to hang out here."

March 7th: "Huh? Where's Aurum Alley? I'll head over now!"

Pei Guang: "Alright, I'll meet up with Stelle first and find a good spot for all of us to eat while waiting for you."

March 7th: "No problem!"

Stelle: "Ah Guang, get over here quickly! I just discovered that mung bean soda is actually amazing!"

Pei Guang: "Ha, trying to prank me? Mung bean juice, huh? I may not like it, but I don't hate it either. You won't get me!"

March 7th: "Whether it's a prank or not doesn't matter. Just don't start an eating contest before I get there! And if you do, at least cheat for me!"

Himeko: "..."

After sending his messages, Pei Guang tucked away his phone. "Let's go, Bailu! Time to have some fun."

Bailu cheered. "Let's go~ I'm telling you, I know all the best places for food and fun around here! And don't worry, if you end up with a headache, stomachache, or anything else, I've got you covered!"