Chapter 275: Dixiya's Successor

Midnight.

After a busy day, Dixiya returned home.

As the highest commander of Hope City's patrol unit.

Her work was always done perfectly.

But this perfect work state meant she had to put in several times more effort and energy than others.

Compared to holding this high‑official position that makes people both envious and jealous,

Dixiya still misses the days when she worked as a mercenary.

Back then, she was so free.

She could do whatever she wanted, go wherever she pleased.

Rather than now, when she has to spend large chunks of time each day on reporting work and coordinating patrol duties.

"Hurry up and get better."

Dixiya sighed.

She had originally trained an old comrade who once fought alongside her in the Blazing Light Beast Hunt to be her successor.

However, when she previously left Sumeru for Liyue on official business,

this brother, in whom she had placed high hopes, kept messing up one thing after another.

Especially when handling Youla's recruitment.

Dixiya was shocked to discover that the brother who once despised the Thirty‑Person Squad was actually helping those members of the Squad whom he called Academy wild dogs to deliberately obstruct Youla, who held a recommendation letter.

No one else knew who wrote that recommendation letter.

But Dixiya knew very well.

That letter was written by Luo De.

Because Luo De had told her.

In the future, a member of the Lawrence Family will come to Sumeru, and at that time someone might cause trouble for them.

Luo De also made this clear.

He gave the Lawrence Family's recommendation letter no signature of his own, but used a false name called Ya Suo.

Although the name was fake, the identity was genuine.

Under that name he held the status of a formally certified scholar of the Academy, accredited by Nadixa, which matches the standard procedure for recommending hires via the letter.

So anyone who creates obstacles for the holder of this recommendation letter

is a problematic person.

And the more Dixiya recalls these words, the worse she feels.

Because among those problematic people are too many old comrades who once shared life‑and‑death experiences with her.

Back then, in the desert, when things were so hard, nobody abandoned their beliefs to accept the Academy's recruitment.

But what's going on now? Could it really be as Luo De said?

Can a prosperous life corrupt a person's spirit?

"Huh?"

Dixiya, who had been lost in her own world, suddenly realized.

Why is the house so lively today?

You know she usually comes home very late.

Ke Lai and Luo De's sister Na Bu had already gone to sleep; only Ku Sai La was still waiting for her to come back and eat.

How come the lights are still on? From the kitchen, faint laughter could be heard.

"Strange."

"Could it be that Senior Fei Lu Shan has returned?"

Dixiya put down what she was holding and hurried toward the kitchen.

She calculated the time.

That doesn't seem right.

Senior Fei Lu Shan only went to the Academy the day before yesterday; given her usual habit, she should need at least four or five days to finish this assignment before coming back.

Just as Dixiya was pushing the door open,

What caught her attention most was not Luo De saying he had something to do and would return later, but Zhongli, who had been discussing with Na Bu how to properly prepare that roasted sandworm dish.

"Rock"

Knowing Zhongli's identity, Dixiya almost blurted out the title "Rock Sovereign."

Fortunately,

Luo De even came to her rescue.

"Dixiya, how could you even get Mister Zhongli's name wrong!"

This slightly reproachful tone

made Dixiya snap back to reality, and she replied, "Oh, right, right, it's Mister Zhongli—ah, look at my brain, I'm so busy I keep forgetting this."

"It's just a casual acquaintance; forgetting a name is only human."

Zhongli laughed and then nodded to Dixiya, saying, "Miss Dixiya, forgive my sudden visit."

"Nowhere, nowhere."

Dixiya waved her hands repeatedly, stammering, "Mister Zhongli, you can, you can come—our humble abode is honored by your presence."

Even though she knew Zhongli was approachable and lacked any divine airs, Dixiya still felt a bit nervous, racking her brain for words to cope with the situation.

At the same time she gave Luo De a fierce glare.

Just coming back quietly without making a sound is fine.

How come Zhongli, such a god, came without even giving a heads-up?

She almost ended up making a complete fool of herself in front of Zhongli.

Ah, sister-in-law, why are you being so distant?

Mr. Zhongli is an old friend of me and my brother; there's no need to be so formal.

At this moment, the Great Merciful Tree King, holding a plate of roasted sandworms and a plate of date coconut candy, walked over smiling and said: "Come, sister-in-law, it's time for a late-night snack; I made it, try my cooking."

Hiss

Luo De, who had been speaking and laughing, suddenly had a strange expression.

Who knows why the Great Merciful Tree King is so skilled.

Moreover, being called 'brother' by a god who is thousands of years old feels really awkward.

Nabu also knows Mr. Zhongli?

Dixiya, who had already shaken off her previous reserve, asked curiously.

Luo De knowing Zhongli is fine.

How come his sister also seems so familiar with the Geo Archon?

Mm.

Old friend; when I used to go to Liyue, he treated me to meals several times.

The Great Merciful Tree King is telling the truth.

But such truth, when it reaches Dixiya's ears, is just a simple scene of her going to Liyue to play and Zhongli treating her.

That's not exactly unacceptable.

After the Great Merciful Tree King placed the two plates on the table.

Realizing that Zhongli would make Dixiya uneasy here, he proactively said: "I'll go rest first; Luo De, Miss Dixiya, you keep chatting."

He left.

The Great Merciful Tree King naturally didn't have the habit of staying as a third wheel, and chuckled: "Brother, sister-in-law, I'm going to sleep~"

After saying that, they left together with Zhongli.

Only after the kitchen with just the two of them fell silent for a moment did Dixiya break the silence, asking: "That person, what's going on?"

While speaking.

Dixiya's finger subtly pointed toward the direction Zhongli left.

The Great Merciful Tree King's psychological hint works well.

Dixiya and the others not only didn't doubt her identity, they also didn't know she is also the Dendro Archon.

Moreover, we've been living together for more than just a day or two.

So there's not much of a barrier.

Even her calling herself sister-in-law made Dixiya blush at first, but she gradually got used to it.

The only exception is Zhongli's appearance.

After all, this is a god whose identity Dixili knows.

Even if he's no longer the Geo Archon.

His status as an Archon remains.

For such a great god to suddenly appear in one's home, Dixiya saying she's not nervous would be a lie.

Mr. Zhongli is here to visit Nadixa, and incidentally to be a guest in Sumeru.

Luo De said in a natural tone.

Given Zhongli's abilities, even lowering his voice wouldn't help; it's better to speak openly—if those two gods are idle and willing to gossip, let them listen; anyway, Luo De has already given up struggling.

Oh—

Knowing that Zhongli came on official business.

Dixiya relaxed a bit, then immediately ate a bite of the date coconut candy made by the Great Merciful Tree King.

No matter when.

That bite of candy is always something Dixiya can't quit.

Compared to the candy Luo De made for her.

The date coconut candy made by the Great Merciful Tree King is obviously more refined, with sweetness and texture on a higher level.

But I don't know why.

Dixiya smacked her lips: "It doesn't feel as smooth as yours."

Probably because my candy isn't that sweet.

Luo De chuckled.

Sweet food that isn't sweet.

This is actually the highest praise for sweet food.

Like that.

After Dixiya finished the candy in her hand, she began cleaning up the plate of sandworms.

Strictly speaking.

Sandworms are actually not insects; they just look like them.

Compared to the dark dishes Xiangling made with insects in Liyue.

Sandworms can still be considered a very proper ingredient.

After removing the entrails.

A sandworm the size of a chopstick, after being roasted, tossed with a special spicy sauce, and finally drizzled with a few drops of sesame oil that Luo De brought back from Liyue, tasted absolutely delicious.

Dixiya, who had been starving, wolfed down the Great Merciful Tree King's midnight snack in one fell swoop, like a gust of wind sweeping away clouds.

Her stomach finally felt settled.

Dixiya's original weariness also eased considerably.

But the gloom between her brows would not dissipate, lingering there and making even breathing feel a little strained.

"What's wrong?"

Luo De is someone who is very good at reading people's expressions.

Dixiya's expression was off, and he noticed it at a glance.

"Sigh—"

Dixiya sighed and said, "Do you still remember Huo Ke?"

"I remember."

Luo De nodded.

Back when he first arrived at A Ru Cun, the big-bearded guy who always plied him with drink at gatherings.

In the Blaze Light Hunting Beasts, Huo Ke was also considered an old-timer.

Later, Hope City absorbed the Blaze Light Hunting Beasts, and he was given the position of captain; it's said he recently married a wife, and he could be said to be living the good life that most desert folk dream of.

"What's wrong?"

"I missed his wedding, and I said I'd go see him these days."

Hearing Dixiya deliberately mention Huo Ke's name, and combined with her frustrated expression, Luo De seemed to realize what she was worrying about.

Indeed.

Dixiya's words confirmed Luo De's suspicion.

"The wife Huo Ke married is the daughter of an Academy official from the Academy."

Dixiya closed her eyes and sighed heavily: "That Academy official doesn't much like us."

"I understand."

Luo De nodded and said, "Then what do you plan to do with Huo Ke? Kick him out of the City Patrol Squad? Relieve him of his duties? Or what?"

"None of those."

"."

Dixiya paused, and the pain on her face grew worse.

After a good while.

She then said with a heavy heart: "He is the 'fish' you are looking for."

"Oh, is that so."

The thing she worried about most was also what Luo De could most easily foresee.

And it really happened.

In fact, even as Luo De was just beginning to prepare the City Patrol Squad, he had already anticipated such a thing.

The Blaze Light Hunting Beasts' horizons were still too backward.

These people, coming from mercenary backgrounds,

had little education and relied solely on their passion to sustain their ideals.

This destined them to not be able to settle down.

Once that passion cooled, corruption naturally followed.

Moreover,

The Blaze Light Hunting Beasts were widely recognized as the mercenary group closest to Luo De.

The Blaze Mane Lion was even more openly the person closest to Luo De.

So anyone who wanted to deal with Luo De

would inevitably target Dixiya and the Blaze Light Hunting Beasts.

Of course.

They wouldn't dare do something like killing someone.

Other corrupting methods, however, could be employed freely.

"For strong individuals, use bribes to lure them into the lure of money, or use other methods to plunge them into the depths of greed from which they cannot escape."

"For quick-witted, adaptable people, feed them corrupt ideas to shatter their calm, ultimately disturbing their judgment and decisions."

"For upright individuals, give them small shoes to wear, secretly sabotage them so that the honest find it hard to move, thereby restricting their actions and leaving them nowhere to practice their integrity."

"For warm-hearted people, assign them endless work, tasks that are hard to please everyone, use various empty promises, and finally pour cold water on them to completely extinguish their enthusiasm and vitality."

"For talented people, splash dirty water on them so that no one believes what they say, ultimately leaving them depressed and unfulfilled."

"For those who seek to blend in with others, give them a tail, pull their braids, slap on a hat, causing them to lose trust in people's eyes, severing their connections with others, forcing them to submit to manipulation."

"For those who wield punishment, one must start from within to corrode them, undermine their authority, erode their system, so that these harsh punishments exist only in name and cannot be enforced."

Luo De appeared to be talking about things unrelated to what Dixiya had said.

But if one savors it carefully,

Dixiya, however, was surprised to discover that many of the methods Luo De described for dealing with people, she had seen before—in fact, many had been attempted on her.

"Do you understand?"

Luo De spread his hands and said, "Faced with so many indefensible tactics, how long do you think Huo Ke and his group can hold out?"

"I'm afraid."

Dixiya's face fell, and she couldn't go on.

No doubt.

Ever since Huo Ke married the Academy's daughter, he had already betrayed his former brothers, making things difficult for You La—this is just a glimpse of his betrayal.

What do you plan to do about this?

I want to hear your opinion.

Dixiya is now very worried about her old brothers.

She fears that someone else might, like Huo Ke, forget their original oath and choose to throw themselves into the enemy's embrace again.

Wait.

Wait until the big fish behind him surfaces of its own accord, then try him and the fish together in a public trial, finally punish him according to his crimes; when the time comes, do not hesitate—Hope City has just been founded, its administration and law must be strict, allowing no favoritism.

Luo De's words amounted to stripping away the last shred of hope in Dixiya's heart.

She leaned back in her chair, staring at the white ceiling for a long time before speaking: "Luo De, I don't want to be this City Patrol Chief anymore—I'm exhausted."

Hmm.

I've already found a successor for you; you won't be bound by these matters anymore.

Even without the Huo Ke matter, Luo De had already made plans for Dixiya's future.

Upon hearing this news, Dixiya shot upright in her chair, staring at Luo De like a hawk: "Who?"

Na Bu.

Luo De grinned and said: "I've already worked it out with her—she doesn't have much to do anyway, so let her take over your position and properly share the burden you've been under."

(End of chapter)