Xianzhou Luofu... in Qingque's bedroom...
After a bout of passionate tumbling, Yun Fan looked at Qingque slowly falling asleep in his arms and gently kissed her forehead.
The intense battle just now had thoroughly exhausted this somewhat petite girl. Even though Qingque was now one of the top Aeon Emissaries, against a "beast" like Yun Fan, she still couldn't keep up.
The saying "there's no field too tough to plow, only oxen that die of exhaustion" only held true when the two sides were evenly matched.
"Days like this are truly leisurely..."
Gazing at the setting sun outside the window and watching the beautiful girl sink into deep sleep in his embrace, Yun Fan really felt like lighting a cigarette. Though in truth, he didn't smoke.
"The future me traveled back to the past—who was behind it? Or rather... did something unknown happen in between?"
"Was it an intruder like me? Or was it some native force pulling strings? Or perhaps... the future me has mastered the power to traverse time?"
Admiring the beautiful sunset outside the window and recalling what Qingque had just said, Yun Fan couldn't help but fall into thought. He had already used the authority of [Causality] to confirm that he was indeed the one who saved Yunli—there was no doubt about that.
But how exactly had he returned to the past? This left him utterly baffled.
An invasion by an external force? The possibility was extremely slim, because such a thing causing him to travel back in time felt far too far-fetched. Of course, it wasn't entirely impossible, so Yun Fan still kept it under consideration.
That he had obtained the power to traverse time in the future—this possibility was quite high. After all, he was a man with a "golden finger." It wouldn't be strange if he gained the ability to cross time in the future.
But there was one thing—one thing that didn't quite add up: the reason. If he had truly traveled back to the past of his own volition, why choose this particular point in the timeline? There didn't seem to be anything at Yunli's timeline node that was worth going back to change.
As for the final possibility—interference by a native force—to be honest, Yun Fan felt this was the most likely.
In the Honkai: Star Rail world, among beings whose abilities related to time and who were powerful enough to affect an Aeon-level powerhouse like himself, the only one who came to mind was that King of the End of [Finality].
Moreover, not long ago, he had sensed prying from [Finality]. He simply hadn't paid it much mind at the time because he was confident that [Finality] was definitely no match for him.
But now... he was probably going to have to take some precautions. The fact that he had traveled back to the past was very likely the work of [Finality].
"Heh... Why think so much? When soldiers come, block with generals; when water comes, block with earth. Life's joys should be fully savored—don't let the golden cup face the moon empty..."
The boy chuckled lightly and shook his head, simply deciding not to dwell on it anymore. He pulled the blanket a little tighter around them, and like Qingque, slowly drifted into dreamland.
...…
Let us turn our gaze to the other side—before the Seat of Divine Foresight...
Under the guidance of the Cloud Knight soldier, our Miss Yunli finally arrived at the location of the Seat of Divine Foresight.
Looking at the magnificent and imposing gates of the general's mansion before her, an embarrassed look appeared in the girl's eyes. So this was the general's mansion. The Seat of Divine Foresight was right here.
Though she was reluctant to admit it, she had actually been to this place before. About three hours earlier, when she had been "escorting" Qingque back to her home, she had passed by this very spot.
At the time, the girl had wondered to herself what this grand and imposing building was. Who would have thought it was actually the Seat of Divine Foresight...
"Miss Yunli, the task is complete. I shall take my leave now—there is still patrol duty waiting for me at Exalting Sanctum. Please excuse my departure."
The Cloud Knight who had guided her gave Yunli a salute before turning and leaving.
"Mm, soldier, thank you for your help."
After a brief exchange with him, the girl raised her head to look at the Seat of Divine Foresight once more, then walked up to the Cloud Knight captain guarding the gate.
"Halt! Please stop right there. This is the Seat of Divine Foresight. Unauthorized personnel are not permitted entry!"
Watching Yunli approach the Seat of Divine Foresight, the guarding Cloud Knight captain's gaze sharpened, and he immediately issued a warning.
Compared to the Cloud Knight soldier who had guided Yunli, this captain seemed somewhat stern and unapproachable. Yet there was no denying that both were Cloud Knights responsible for guarding Luofu—describing them as having "iron courage and tender hearts" would be entirely fitting.
However, compared to the latter, the Cloud Knight captain guarding the Seat of Divine Foresight bore far greater responsibility. Therefore, toward outsiders—toward anyone who might possibly pose a threat to the Seat of Divine Foresight—they had to eliminate risks at the source.
Hearing the Cloud Knight's reprimand that sounded almost like a warning, Yunli did not feel displeased. On the contrary, she was quite satisfied with this Cloud Knight's conduct and actions.
If the guards of Xianzhou Zhuming back then had been as dutiful and responsible as Luofu's Cloud Knights, perhaps the tragedy at the Blazing Wheel Forge Palace would never have escalated to such a catastrophe.
"My name is Yunli. This is my identification. I wish to see General Jing Yuan. He should have already informed you."
Upon hearing the name "Yunli," the Cloud Knight captain—who had previously looked somewhat unfriendly—immediately softened his expression. While it couldn't be called friendly, the earlier vigilance and wariness were gone.
After taking the identification from the girl and verifying it, the guarding Cloud Knight captain gave Yunli a proper Cloud Knight salute.
"Miss Yunli, forgive my earlier offense. Please enter."
"Mm, thank you."
With light steps, she passed through gate after gate. After about two minutes, the girl finally arrived at the reception hall of the Seat of Divine Foresight. At this moment, Huaiyan, Jing Yuan, Welt, and Fu Xuan were still seated around the round table, deep in discussion.
However, unlike before—when the round table had been empty—it was now covered with dishes.
Lotus root cake, hot mutton milk, tapir bread rolls , soda bean juice, Scaled Abyss ice spring...
Main dishes, desserts, beverages... every kind of delicacy was present in abundance. Aside from the food and main courses, a cup of Immortal's Happy Tea sat in front of Fu Xuan. While eating lotus root paste, our Master Diviner would occasionally take a sip.
In front of Jing Yuan, Welt, and Huaiyan were placed two bottles of "Five Grains Jade Nectar."