Chapter 2571: Suspicion and Response

"Controlling the experimental field's progress is Master Xiao's prerogative; but managing the relevant personnel of the Spirit Essence Palace is the duty of Chief Overseer Deng." "Hu Xin" bowed with a smile, yet his words were neither servile nor arrogant, "Chief Overseer Deng is absent, and I am temporarily handling his affairs. I will certainly deal with Liu Qun according to palace regulations. Master Xiao has myriad affairs to attend to—how could he spare attention for these trivial matters?"

This was blunt yet polite speech, directly pointing to personnel changes outside the experimental field, which fall outside Xiao Ping's jurisdiction.

She has overstepped.

He also emphasized that handling matters according to regulations cannot be resolved with a mere "beat to death." The palace has palace rules—this is how a tightly organized institution operates.

Xiao Ping toyed with the tiger-head paperweight, smiling falsely: "Manager Hu suddenly acting so stern—I'm not quite used to it yet. Holding the command arrow, one's spine straightens, right?"

He stressed the word "suddenly."

Everyone in the Magnolia Garden held their breath, hearts tense. Just how suspicious had Xiao Ping become? Was she planning to act against the Nine Abysses?

Where exactly had the Nine Abysses revealed a flaw? This woman is too perceptive.

Zhu Xiuer also quickly said: "She hasn't reached immortal level—I can subdue her immediately. Using her as a hostage might even allow us to break out of the Spirit Essence Palace."

But their plan to infiltrate the Rosy Cloud Bay can only be declared a failure.

He Lingchuan observed Xiao Yun from the corner of his eye, noticing her gaze kept shifting between the paperweight in Xiao Ping's hand and "Hu Xin" below, his face showing tension.

"Oh dear, Master Xiao, don't put me on the fire to roast. If there's even a slight chance, I don't want to displease Master Xiao." He rubbed his hands and gave a bitter laugh: "The tasks Chief Overseer Deng left me are all offensive duties—I have to grit my teeth and carry them out. Just say I assigned work to Manager Wu, and he still rolled his eyes at me several times."

Hu Xin was originally just a manager, but in Lian Valley he held considerable influence. Yet Xiao Ping, as the actual person-in-charge of the Divine Descent Project, would normally not pay him any mind. However, the current moment is special—Chief Overseer Deng Yanlong is absent, and Hu Xin is temporarily handling his duties.

As one of the two chief overseers, Deng Yanlong interfaces with all major and minor affairs of the Spirit Essence Palace. Though not said to be on equal footing with Xiao Ping, she must still treat him courteously, after all, the Spirit Essence Palace still has a heavenly deity overseeing it—that is the true superior.

This is two sets of forces under heavenly deity control—mutually cooperative yet often at odds.

Thus, Hu Xin's current identity and authority are actually somewhat delicate.

Because of this suddenly added responsibility, he has briefly gained the confidence not to grovel before Xiao Ping.

But Xiao Ping has long been accustomed to bossing around mid-level staff, and she neither can nor wishes to change that in the short term.

And Hu Xin must also consider the future.

When Deng Yanlong returns to the Spirit Essence Palace and reclaims his duties, how will this mere manager face Xiao Ping afterward?

Therefore, as much as possible, he should remain polite and avoid giving offense.

He Lingchuan gauged Hu Xin's mindset: at this moment, he must carry out the tasks Deng Yanlong entrusted to him, yet he also does not wish to provoke Xiao Ping's displeasure.

He must make this conflicted mindset visible to Xiao Ping.

"Well then, let's not mention this." Xiao Ping picked up her brush again to write, while saying, "Earlier in the garden, I left first, leaving you and him behind. Then what happened?"

This "he" naturally refers to Duan He Yun.

So this is the real reason she summoned Hu Xin.

He Lingchuan recounted everything in detail—not only his interactions with Duan He Yun and A Lian in Lian Valley, but even the full process of following Duan He Yun into the Liuli Sea.

In the Magnolia Garden, not a sparrow stirred; even Zhu Xiuer was anxious, unsure whether laying everything bare like this was good or bad.

Is the Nine Abyss too honest? Though these things seem hardly unspeakable.

But He Lingchuan, following his agreement with Duan He Yun, concealed a small segment of the content.

Xiao Ping's eyes flickered: "You sought him to make up for the shortfall in the Great Sea Turning Vehicle?"

"Hu Xin" gave an awkward laugh: "We can't delay the experiment after dawn."

What does "actual person-in-charge" mean? It means when subordinates cause a mess, he must find a way to make up for it.

Without any administrative ability, can one strut arrogantly in that position?

Xiao Ping gave a dry laugh, then suddenly shifted the topic: "Has your stomach pain eased?"

Hu Xin instinctively covered his abdomen: "Thank you, Master Xiao, for your concern—it's nothing serious."

Xiao Ping then said to Xiao Yun: "Give Hu Xin a Gu Shen Dan."

"Yes."

Xiao Yun then took from the box behind Xiao Ping a pill the size of a fingertip, dark green in color, and handed it to He Lingchuan, who reached out, took it, and looked at Xiao Ping: "Master Xiao?"

"This is a good medicine for smoothing meridians and dispelling stagnation—take it." Xiao Ping watched him examine the pill, then turn it over in his palm, and couldn't help but smile faintly: "What, afraid I'd poison you?"

She wanted to see whether he would take it.

Xiao Yun also said from the side: "This is indeed a good medicine—hard to refine."

"Master Xiao jesting—having this good medicine, I couldn't ask for more." He Lingchuan placed the pill in his mouth, clasped his hands, and said, "Thank you, Master Xiao."

"If there's nothing else, I still have..."

Hu Xin is also a busy man—he won't just linger here.

Before he could finish his sentence, Xiao Ping interrupted him:

"One more thing—"

"Ten days ago I already asked you: wouldn't you like to come under my command?" She spoke rapidly, "You said you needed to think it over. Now ten days have passed in a flash—what have you decided?"

Ten days ago?

Of course, only the real Hu Xin himself knows what happened ten days ago.

In the Magnolia Garden, everyone's gaze turned to Hu Xin, and Zhu Xiuer even shouted sternly: "Ten days ago, did Xiao Ping want to transfer you to her service? Speak!"

"Ten..." Hu Xin startled, gave a shiver, "Ah..."

Zhu Xiuer shouted again: "If you dare speak falsely, I'll dig out your brains!"

Hu Xin immediately nodded repeatedly: "Yes, yes, I recall now—there was such a matter."

Zhu Xiuer immediately said to He Lingchuan: "Hu Xin says, indeed such a matter exists!"

At this moment, everyone felt fortunate to have the Magnolia Garden as a treasure—putting the captive inside, the crisis could be resolved in real time.

Xiao Ping, having finished her questioning, fixed her gaze on He Lingchuan, her fingers still on the paperweight, the motion now ceased.

How would he respond?

"Ten..." The "Hu Xin" before him scratched the back of his head, looking somewhat bewildered, "Ten days ago?"

Inside and outside the Magnolia Garden, everyone heard clearly: "Master Xiao, I don't recall having this matter."

"Hey..." Zhu Xiuer grew anxious, thinking He Lingchuan hadn't heard her message clearly.

Mingke Xianren, however, raised a hand to cut her off: "Stay calm, don't panic!"

Upon hearing Jiǔyōu's reply, he also sensed something was off. Could it be...?

"Your memory's gone bad?" Xiao Ping grew impatient, "Ten days ago you came to Quanyin Pavilion to fetch the talisman, and you were still here—I asked you then."

(End of Chapter)