Chapter 90: Could it be that you and another Jizi share a cup of coffee?

Ah, it's General Jingyuan!

Inside Takama‑ga‑hara, listening to Jingyuan's lazy voice, the plump woman unexpectedly shed her previously coarse manner, as if she were a twenty‑something high‑school girl in love, her cheeks flushed crimson.

Fortunately, General Jingyuan is not a cowherd and is not on Earth… otherwise Kaisa would truly struggle to accept a human being many times more powerful and far more charismatic than himself.

In the light screen, General Jingyuan stands with hands behind his back, wearing loose robes, a faint smile, his white long hair falling from his neck to his chest.

From Kaisa's viewpoint, only the soft jaw, partially hidden by the hair, is visible.

From this angle, even Kaisa himself would inevitably feel envy; no wonder he can easily capture these middle‑aged women.

"Unlike San Yueqi's optimism, Uncle Yang beside him keeps his brows furrowed: 'Jingyuan, he's no ordinary fellow.'"

"Uncle Yang thinks something's odd?" Xing asked curiously.

"It's not exactly odd, just feels off somewhere…" Walte squinted, thought briefly, then exclaimed, "…Hmm! I get it! He deliberately skipped Blade!"

"Since the Cloud Cavalry captured Blade, that should suffice to apprehend Kafuka; why ask them to 'draw out' Kafuka?" Uncle Yang paused, then continued, "The Celestial Boat refuses outsiders meddling in the Star Core disaster, yet why is it so magnanimous regarding the Star Core hunter?"

"Regarding this, I can only think of one reasonable explanation… at least for now, Blade may have escaped the Celestial Boat's control."

"Therefore, if Jingyuan wants to lure the Star Core hunter, we are the bait linked to Kafuka. That's why he subtly asked our help—because Blade's escape must not be known!"

Walte adjusted his glasses, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

"Look, I said he's the future you—can you refute that?" On the other end, Jizi's voice carried a teasing tone.

Walte stared at the "himself" in the light screen, his palm still trembling slightly.

…Although hard to believe, he truly couldn't think of a reason to refute it.

After hearing Jingyuan's words, Walte tried to apply his own line of thought to the train crew, but the result was exactly the same as the Walte in the light screen.

That means the "himself" in the light screen shares even the same way of thinking as him.

"Compared to that, I'm more concerned about one thing, Walte."

Jizi offered her speculation: "The man named Sangbo has already indicated that we have some connection to another world—he can easily observe our world through it. That 'connection'… or perhaps 'channel', might only the future you know, Walte."

"You want to get the method to that world from me?" Walte was shocked by Jizi's boldness, "Could it be that you want to have a cup of coffee and sit down to chat with another Jizi?"

"Why not?"

Jizi on the other end suddenly laughed: "At least you're my counterpart; we share the same appearance and name… yet our experiences are completely different, and we've tasted entirely different lives."

"Walte, don't you want to know what scene would appear when you meet another Mr. Walte?"

Without Jizi's prompting, Walte truly imagined that scene—but even though he was curious and yearning, rationality, considering the consequences of altering the timeline, warned him not to do it.

"Divine Strategy Office."

"Lord Tai Bu, you've heard our conversation; what do you think?"

Only after Jingyuan turned off the projection and slowly turned around did the pink‑haired short girl before him slowly step onto the stairs and approach Jingyuan's desk.

"What opinion? The heavens are lofty, human hearts subtle; do you want me to cast a divination for these few, probing their auspiciousness?" Fu Xuan, hand on hip, was displeased with Jingyuan's child‑like attitude.

"No need for that; the Starrail Train has nothing to do with this, I'm ten‑nine sure of that. We needn't probe their intentions—once the bait is swallowed, the fish is caught, and that's enough," Jingyuan said lightly.

"That's my suggestion, General," Fu Xuan said, pouting dissatisfiedly.

"Hmm, with Fu Qing's wisdom pearl in hand, the rest will all rely on you," Jingyuan praised.

The remark pleased Fu Xuan; she crossed her arms, lifted her chin proudly, and with a tsundere tone hummed, "Hmph, then you should abdicate sooner."

"It's not the time yet," Jingyuan made a rather embarrassed face, "If any variable arises, I must bear responsibility as General; I can't just walk away now and leave Fu Qing in injustice."

"Abdication? This girl really has confidence; she doesn't seem much older than the Hall Master," Hu Tao was surprised by the pink‑haired girl's confidence. She had also witnessed General Jingyuan's speaking and fighting skills—could Miss Fu Xuan be stronger than him?

"Hehe, Hall Master, the age of Celestial Boat people can't be judged by the naked eye," Zhongli reminded with a smile.

"I see… maybe they're a few hundred years old," Hu Tao gave Zhongli a puzzled look, "Lord Ke, do you think Miss Fu Xuan could replace Jingyuan?"

"The Hall Master jokes, of course not."

"Eh? Why say that?"

"Being praised as 'extraordinary wisdom and deep foresight' by General Jingyuan, Miss Fu must also be a person of great intellect. Yet a wise person is not necessarily a good leader—this principle Hall Master surely understands."

"Indeed so," Keqing's words struck a chord with Hu Tao.

In arranging funeral affairs, some seniors of the Hall of the Departed are no worse than she, and in erudition spanning past and present, Keqing surpasses her. Yet when it comes to the Hall Master's seat, it could still be her.

—Not because she inherited the Hall's secret arts and spear techniques, but because she can make decisions at critical moments, bear responsibility, and lead everyone steadily forward… In the Hall of the Departed, that person can only be Hu Tao.

"Miss Fu's temperament is overly flamboyant, perhaps due to her youth… she's like a freshly honed blade, too sharp, needing to be kept in its sheath. Once her edge dulls and she becomes steady, she can hold a key general position."

"As for now… Miss Fu's ambition is too great; she may not become a general, but can be a top aide beside one."

Zhongli's analysis was logical and well‑founded.

"Indeed, Keqing makes a lot of sense," Hu Tao leaned lazily onto the rattan chair, looking at Keqing's handsome, proper face, a teasing smile appearing.

"The General can't do without Fu Tai Bu's assistance, and I can't do without Keqing's help. Next time we go to watch a play, stroll birds, and drink tea, Keqing, lend me your assistance as well?"