Honkai Star Rail: I Can Hear Their Secrets

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The deceased Shen Hai had already been placed in a body bag by the Underworld envoys.

Two Underworld Military Officials were questioning the predictors about the sequence of events, meticulously recording their accounts.

[Underworld Military Official: You have been friendly with Su Jinyan. Given that he's accused of being part of the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus remnants, what is your opinion on this matter?]

[Tingyun's testimony: I believe the defense of the Rising Immortal Ferry lies with the general, the helmsman, and all our loyal subjects. ]

[Our benefactor has shown unwavering loyalty to Luofu; how could one suspect him as a remnant of the Medicine King's disciples?]

[As for Shen Hai? Just a petty individual, truly deserving of thorough investigation.]

[Underworld Military Official: Thank you for your testimony. We will indeed focus on examining Shen Hai's belongings.]

[Qingque's testimony: Alright, I'll drop the act. I am the Bill of Life from the Imperial Jade Stronghold. Type '1' now to summon the Divine Monarch.]

[Allow me to assist you in commanding the Rising Immortal Ferry alongside General Jing Yuan.]

[Underworld Military Official: Really, Little Sister? 111111111 (redacted)]

As for the diviners, their testimonies were largely similar to those of other predictors. While they didn't particularly favor Su Jinyan, neither did they believe he was part of the remnants of the Medicine King's secret disciples.

Following this revelation, the Underworld Military Officials intensified their investigation into Shen Hai's social connections but unfortunately yielded no significant findings.

Upon opening Shen Hai's safe, they discovered a single piece of paper inside. It bore a QR code, with a line of small text beneath it: "Scan for additional information."

This could very well be the crucial evidence mentioned by Shen Hai.

The two Underworld Military Officials exchanged glances, feeling a surge of excitement. Hastily, they grabbed their phones to scan the QR code.

Ding—

After scanning, an adrenaline-pumping music intro began playing:

"We're no strangers to love, You know the rules, and so do I..."

"Damn!" Both officials simultaneously cursed out loud.

At the library within the Divination Commission,

"Qingque, Qingque—"

Ruoyue burst through the door, her expression anxious.

Startled, Qingque flinched and hastily closed the Luofu Forum page she was browsing.

"Sis Ruoyue, didn't you leave already? Why have you returned?"

Ruoyue's voice rushed with urgency. "Qingque, I know you must have a way. Only you can help Mr. Su Jinyan now. When I tried reaching the Seat of Divine Foresight, they wouldn't let me pass."

"No matter what I said, they refused entry, insisting I must wait until the meeting concludes before disturbing the general."

As Qingque accepted the divination report, she couldn't help but ask, "What exactly did you tell them?"

With a bewildered look, Ruoyue recounted her conversation with the Chi Yan guards at the Seat of Divine Foresight.

After listening, Qingque shook her head firmly. "It's no wonder they didn't let you in! Who would want to bear the responsibility for allowing your entrance?"

"Well then, leave it to me. I'll go to the Seat of Divine Foresight and meet with the general myself."

"Sigh, that A-Yan still needs me around after all."

The gates of the Seat of Divine Foresight were tightly shut, guarded by two Chi Yan sentries who strictly prohibited any disturbances during the meeting.

As soon as Qingque arrived at the Seat of Divine Foresight, she was intercepted by these guards.

"Halt! This is a restricted area of the Seat of Divine Foresight; unauthorized entry is forbidden. Please state your purpose."

Qingque urgently replied, "I am Qingque, a diviner from the Divination Commission, with urgent matters to discuss with the general. Could you kindly inform him?"

Both Chi Yan guards shook their heads. "Miss, please return or wait until the meeting concludes before we can notify the general."

"Just moments ago, someone from your Divination Commission already visited. Why has another come now?"

"Can't you make an exception?" Qingque asked.

The guards shook their heads again. "Apologies, but the general and other officials are currently in session. If our interruption disrupts their thoughts, none of us could bear the responsibility."

Qingque's expression turned serious. "I understand; guarding the Seat of Divine Foresight is your duty."

"Allowing me entry without authorization would be too great a risk for you to take."

"You fear that if you don't let me in, the general might hold you accountable, potentially leading to salary deductions and penalties."

The two Chi Yan guards nodded in agreement. "Qingque-wei truly comprehends our situation; precisely so."

Qingque spoke slowly, "However, the divination report I carry is of utmost importance."

"It's genuinely critical—there isn't a minute to spare."

"If any issues arise, you won't be able to escape responsibility afterward."

The two Chi Yan guards exchanged glances, their expressions somewhat troubled.

Qingque smiled slightly. "Gentlemen, how about this?" she suggested. "I forcefully intrude upon the Seat of Divine Foresight, and you pretend I've injured you in the process. This way, we avoid blame, your salaries and allowances remain intact, and afterward, you could even claim compensation for work-related injuries. Paid leave—wouldn't that be splendid?"

Overjoyed, the Chi Yan guards nearly begged Qingque to hurry up with her intrusion, but they still had to maintain appearances.

"Arrogant Qingque! The Seat of Divine Foresight is off-limits; who do you think you are, barging in uninvited?!" the two Chi Yan guards shouted, raising their long blades.

Their voices were neither loud nor soft, perfectly pitched for the generals inside to hear.

Fu Xuan was taken aback, his expression incredulous. What did this venerable one just hear? Qingque attempting to break into the Seat of Divine Foresight?

"Huh? Qingque? Breaking into the Seat of Divine Foresight?" Fu Xuan muttered, bewildered. "Is there something wrong with this venerable one's ears?"

Understanding the plan instantly, Qingque swiftly shoved aside the Chi Yan guards and hurriedly stormed into the Seat of Divine Foresight.

"Cough, cough, cough! Stop the intruder!" The two Chi Yan guards forcibly spat out mouthfuls of blood, feigning injury as they collapsed onto the ground.

Inside the Seat of Divine Foresight, witnessing Qingque suddenly burst in, Fu Xuan couldn't help but rub his eyes in disbelief.

Did Qingque truly just barge into the Seat of Divine Foresight? Is this venerable one dreaming?

Coincidentally, today all six heads of the Luofu divisions had gathered here to discuss important matters.

Witnessing Qingque's audacious intrusion alone, Jing Yuan couldn't help but feel intrigued by this impulsive diviner. If his memory served him right, wasn't Qingque known for her skill at card games?

Qingque urgently called out, "General, I am Qingque from the Divination Commission, and I have urgent news to report."

Fu Xuan remained silent, taken aback.

Jing Yuan, unperturbed, asked, "What is it? Speak your mind."

Under the gazes of the assembled division heads, Qingque spoke with a strained voice:

"Reporting to the General, today's duty-bound diviners were Ruoyue and Su Jinyan."

"As per routine, they conducted divinations using the Luofu maritime routes as the primary focus, predicting events within the next ten days."

"During the divination, disturbances arose from the Matrix of Prescience's foundation talismans, making it nearly impossible to form a complete hexagram-an occurrence unseen for thirty years."

"Ultimately, the resulting hexagram indicated fluctuations between Gen (Mountain) and Kan (Water), signifying grave misfortune."

"This is the divination report from the Matrix of Prescience; please review it, General, along with the Grand Diviner."

Duty-bound diviner Su Jinyan?

Dan Shu subtly furrowed her brow. She recognized that as the alias of Sun Xiaochuan, a Disciple of Sanctus Medicus.

If he was involved, why hadn't he informed their organization beforehand?

Jing Yuan's brow furrowed deeply as he accepted the divination report from Qingque and began to read it carefully.

The more he delved into the document, the more his frown eased. Upon reaching the signature of the duty-bound diviner at the end, Jing Yuan inadvertently allowed a hint of a smile to grace his lips.

"Fu Xuan," Jing Yuan started, "if I recall correctly..."

"This divination report should bear annotations by the diviners."

"And Fu Xuan's remarks should be added last before reaching me."

"Is Qingque overstepping their authority with this action?"

Unapologetically, Fu Xuan responded, "General, let's set aside concerns about overstepping for now."

"You might want to suppress that smile first, lest it tarnish your image."

Jing Yuan reined in his grin. The reason he had invited the heads of the other five divisions today was to convey the gravity of the situation. However, after much discussion, only Fu Xuan supported his viewpoint.

In essence, Jing Yuan proposed sealing off Luofu to search for the elusive Emanator.

Yet, his plan faced significant resistance.

Sealing Xianzhou Luofu without due cause was no trivial matter; differing opinions among the division heads were expected.

Dan Shu, the Pill Mistress of the Alchemy Commission, held an alternative perspective. She believed that Luofu could establish friendly relations with the Emanator, turning potential conflict into peaceful cooperation.

This idea garnered support from the Realm Keeper of the Realm-Keeping Commission.

After all, no one wished to unnecessarily provoke an Emanator.

Moreover, such action would severely impact Luofu's economy and the well-being of its people.

Yukong, the helmswoman of the Sky-Faring Commission, voiced her opposition. She believed that an Emanator infiltrating Luofu without declaring their intentions posed a significant threat. However, she did not support sealing off the entire city either, reasoning as follows:

Sealing off Luofu would drastically harm the economy and might even incite panic among the populace. Instead, it would be more prudent to discreetly issue a warning to the Emanator under the auspices of the Xianzhou Alliance, encouraging them to depart voluntarily.

As a general of the Seat of Divine Foresight, Jing Yuan could command cloud riders, placing him ostensibly above other heads of commissions. In reality, his position was equal to theirs; he merely held slightly greater actual authority.

No ordinary individual could ascend to such a role; however, each head had their unique perspectives on matters. With such a critical decision at hand, everyone held steadfast to their opinions, making it impossible for Jing Yuan to act unilaterally.

While they were still locked in heated debate, a diviner arrived with a divination report, bypassing all attempts to halt them and entering the Seat of Divine Foresight directly.

Jing Yuan found it hard to believe this wasn't orchestrated by Fu Xuan.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please take note: Two duty-bound diviners conducted a routine simulation using the Matrix of Prescience, resulting in this divination report."

"This is the outcome from the Matrix of Prescience, which has remained error-free for thousands of years."

"Isn't that right, Fu Xuan?" Jing Yuan's lips curved with a faint smile.

Fu Xuan replied evenly, "The general is entirely correct. You may choose not to believe the general or this venerable one."

"The conclusions provided by the Matrix of Prescience are invariably accurate."

After reading the divination report, Yukong and the others fell into silence.

Jing Yuan, still smiling, asked, "Official Dan Chu, shall I read the text on here aloud for you?"

Dan Chu, despite being the head of the pill division within the Alchemy Commission, was congenitally blind, with no known cure.

Thanks to Xianzhou's immortality traits bestowed upon its inhabitants, any innate disabilities could not be altered through subsequent means—Dan Chu's condition exemplified this.

Gently shaking her head, Dan Chu murmured, "There's no need to trouble you, General."

As she spoke, Dan Chu took the divination report, her fingertips lightly tracing the words, swiftly comprehending its entire content.

Jing Yuan asked solemnly, "Then, do any of you still have objections to sealing off Luofu?"

Fu Xuan spoke first, "The results from the Matrix of Prescience have never been incorrect."

"As expected, this time as well, I have no objections," he affirmed.

Dan Chu sighed, "General, I too have no objection."

"However, I must express my concern about hastily turning against the Emanator; it seems an unwise move."

A subtle shift flickered in Jing Yuan's gaze, but he did not respond further.

At this moment, the six divisions finally reached a consensus, agreeing to seal off Luofu.

"Lady Fu Xuan," Qingque hurriedly spoke up, "there is yet another matter I must report to you."

Fu Xuan nodded. "Proceed."

Qingque explained, "In truth, my unauthorized intrusion into the Seat of Divine Foresight and direct reporting to the general was a desperate measure with no other recourse.

"A-Yan submitted his divination report to the three diviners, but they rejected it outright."

"As a result, A-Yan vehemently rebuked them on the spot, expressing shame at being associated with such idle parasites."

Yukong felt intrigued. In her impression, Su Jinyan wasn't typically impulsive.

"Following that, A-Yan prepared to leave the Divination Commission," continued Qingque. "He intended to swiftly present the report directly to the general for review."

Unfazed, Fu Xuan prompted, "Go on."

Qingque glanced at Fu Xuan cautiously before continuing, "However, those diviners insisted on stopping A-Yan. They enlisted the assistance of all present diviners, forbidding him from bypassing protocol and reporting directly."

"During this confrontation, A-Yan encountered resistance, seemingly from Shen Hai, a cultivator secretly trained by the Medicine King..."

Dan Shu stared, taken aback!

Shen Hai had been covertly operating within the Divination Commission for years—when did he expose his true identity? Fortunately, she wasn't the only one caught off guard, so her surprise went unnoticed.

Yukong blurted out, "How did one of the Medicine King's secret cultivators infiltrate the Divination Commission?"

"Could it be that this cultivator had colluded with the diviners beforehand, thus seeking to obstruct A-Yan?"

Jing Yuan cleared his throat. "Commander Yukong, please note that Miss Qingque said 'suspected' earlier."

Fu Xuan's eyelid twitched slightly. "Continue..."

Qingque resumed her account. "In truth, it was A-Yan who uncovered his identity as a cultivator."

"In fury, A-Yan then executed the rogue disciple of the Medicine King."

The expressions on everyone's faces varied widely, but they all seemed convinced Shen Hai was indeed the rogue disciple.

"But before dying," Qingque continued, "that cunning Abundance Remnant retaliated by accusing A-Yan."

"He claimed A-Yan is also a cultivator and disciple of the Medicine King."

Dan Shu fell silent.

Cultivator, rogue disciple, Abundance Remnant—she couldn't help feeling that this diviner held significant bias against the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus.

It appeared that the traitor Shen Hai had fully aligned himself with the Divination Commission.

Previously, she had cautioned A-Chuan not to take action against Shen Hai unless absolutely certain. Now, it seemed likely that A-Chuan had either obtained or destroyed evidence incriminating the Disciples from Shen Hai.

No, she must find a way to secure A-Chuan's release.

Fu Xuan's face remained stern. "Go on."

Jing Yuan frowned slightly. If what Qingque said were true, there was a strong possibility that Shen Hai genuinely was a cultivator and disciple of Sanctus Medicus.

Only Fu Xuan and Jing Yuan knew that Su Jinyan had infiltrated the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus, successfully passing their test to become a cultivator. This information was classified, ensuring no fourth person could be aware of it.

In other words, Shen Hai would only assert with such certainty that Su Jinyan joined the Disciples if he too were a cultivator himself.

Realizing this, Jing Yuan and Fu Xuan exchanged glances and subtly nodded in understanding.

"Then where is Minister Su now?" Jing Yuan asked.

Qingque urgently responded, "That's precisely what I wanted to discuss. A-Yan has already been taken away by the Ten-Lords Commission's Judge."

Jing Yuan raised an eyebrow, puzzled.

With earnest conviction, Qingque continued, "General, A-Yan must have been wrongly accused."

"I hope you can investigate this matter thoroughly and restore justice for him, sparing him from suffering within the Ten-Lords Commission."

Fu Xuan stroked her chin, deep in thought.

In truth, she had foreseen the possibility of Su Jinyan being detained by the Ten-Lords Commission's Judge and imprisoned in The Shackling Prison. However, she couldn't be certain whether the vision she observed would inevitably come true. At the time, she assumed Su Jinyan might have committed some grave, unforgivable offense.

She never expected it to be a mere misunderstanding, which brought her relief.

Yukong carefully chose his words before speaking solemnly, "General."

"In fact, not long ago, I had already met Mr. Su Jinyan," he began.

"At that time, the star ferry carrying the Ming Huo Trading Company encountered a malfunction near Yaoqing's outskirts, placing them in grave danger," Yukong explained. "If we had arrived just minutes later, once the star ferry exploded, all members of the Ming Huo Trading Company would have perished amidst the inferno."

"Thanks to Mr. Su Jinyan, who happened upon the scene and risked his own safety, he managed to save the Ming Huo Trading Company. Consequently, everyone within our Sky-Faring Commission owes him a debt of gratitude."

Jing Yuan nodded with a smile, seemingly unsurprised. "Is that so?"

In truth, Yukong had hoped to leverage her connections within the Sky-Faring Commission to secure Su Jinyan's release. However, she never anticipated his impulsive actions.

By violating the Ten-Lords Commission's "Ten Unforgivable Crimes," once convicted, there was no one who could save him. The Ten-Lords Commission, entrusted with enforcing justice and punishing criminals, operated independently from the six rulers' authority. They were exempt from oversight by any division, holding a status even above the six rulers themselves.

To succinctly describe the Ten-Lords Commission's role, it was often said:

"What the six divisions cannot govern, the Ten-Lords Commission takes charge; what the six divisions can govern, the Ten-Lords Commission oversees more closely."

With their mandate to act first and report later, granted by the alliance itself, only the Ten Lords and the Xianzhou Alliance held jurisdiction over the judges of the Ten-Lords Commission. This meant that until the investigation concluded, none of the head honchos present could secure Su Jinyan's release.

To secure Su Jinyan's release, they needed to collectively exert pressure on the Ten-Lords Commission; otherwise, it would not budge.

Seeing Jing Yuan remain unmoved, Yukong grew visibly anxious and discreetly sent Fu Xuan a text message:

[Yukong: Fu Xuan, he's your disciple! Are you just going to let him be investigated by the Ten-Lords Commission?]

[Fu Xuan: Be patient.]

[Yukong: ?]

Unable to contain his worry, Yukong urgently spoke up, "General."

"I believe someone with such integrity could never join the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus. Why don't we jointly vouch for Su Jinyan's release?"

Jing Yuan flashed a cryptic smile. "Why so silent now, Minister Fu? Is it that you dislike speaking?

"Minister Su is your beloved disciple, yet you won't intervene?"

Fu Xuan glared at Jing Yuan. "Hmph, as if I need reminding," he retorted. "This venerable one has already pleaded with Judge Xueyi on his behalf long ago. However, she hasn't responded yet. Let me inquire again." With that, Fu Xuan picked up his phone once more and sent another text message to Judge Xueyi of the Ten-Lords Commission.

"Eh?" Fu Xuan's expression shifted slightly, involuntarily uttering a soft sound of surprise.

Yukong hastily leaned closer to peek at Fu Xuan's phone screen, barely managing to suppress his reaction.

[Xueyi has enabled friend verification. You are not their friend yet. Please try again later.]

Fu Xuan's face darkened slightly. "Ridiculous! This venerable one had already humbled himself to plead with her," he muttered. "And she even put me on her blacklist—truly disrespectful."

Unable to suppress his amusement, Jing Yuan chuckled. "It seems Fu Xuan's reputation isn't quite enough. Let me try." As he spoke, Jing Yuan took out his phone and sent a formal text message to Xueyi.

The gist was clear: Su Jinyan is not a Disciple of Sanctus Medicus but rather an undercover agent from the Seat of Divine Foresight.

Jing Yuan hoped that Judge Xueyi would not be misled by others' words, thereby disheartening loyal individuals.

Fu Xuan subtly edged closer, quietly tiptoeing to glimpse Xueyi's response.

Jing Yuan couldn't help but grimace, "She blocked me too."

Dan Shu remained expressionless, barely stifling her laughter internally.

Fu Xuan fell silent.

Yukong echoed with a pause.

General, just where does your confidence stem from?

Feeling somewhat embarrassed, Jing Yuan acknowledged there was little he could do; judges of the Ten-Lords Commission were known for their stubbornness.

Su Jinyan had indeed committed murder, witnessed by many—an indisputable fact. In the face of such concrete evidence, no amount of influence or reputation could sway matters.

Yukong sighed, "Seems like even my standing won't suffice."

With a stern look, Fu Xuan declared, "This venerable one will personally visit the Ten-Lords Commission to secure A-Yan's release."

"If this venerable one faces rejection, Lady Yukong shall step forward."

"And if Lady Yukong also meets resistance—"

Dan Shu interjected, "Then allow me to intervene."

Fu Xuan raised an eyebrow. When did A-Yan get involved with this woman?

Fu Xuan's gaze towards Dan Shu was subtly intrigued. "Head of the Pill Division, do you know this venerable one's disciple?"

Dan Shu's expression remained composed. "No, I have never met him before. However, recognizing talent is important to me."

"I am unwilling to see an upright individual unjustly accused by those deceitful Disciples of Sanctus Medicus."

"It is also my desire to contribute my utmost for Luofu's sake," added Dan Shu.

Fu Xuan nodded slightly. "Then we shall rely on your assistance, Head of the Pill Division."

In Jing Yuan and Fu Xuan's eyes, Su Jinyan had not only committed no wrongdoing but should be regarded as meritorious.

His infiltration of the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus was entirely voluntary; how could it be considered wrong? To Dan Shu, Su Jinyan represented a rare and exceptional cultivator with remarkably high efficiency in his undertakings.

How dare Shen Hai, that traitor, betray the secrets of Sanctus Medicus? Within three days, A-Chuan made it clear what fate awaited such disloyalty. Now, A-Chuan was the sole remaining undercover operative within the Divination Commission.

If they didn't swiftly extract him, there was a risk that Ten-Lords Commission judges might uncover something during their interrogation, potentially leading to significant losses for the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus.

Thus, both sides were eager to rescue their agent promptly.

Coincidentally, Yukong shared this sentiment.

Despite her public praise about Su Jinyan's exemplary character, it was merely surface talk. In private, Yukong had interacted with Su Jinyan several times and had gained some understanding of his modus operandi.

The Ten-Lords Commission's investigation couldn't be allowed to delve too deep; what if they unearthed something unexpected? Meanwhile, the Artisanship Commission had also made their stance clear—their Division Head was highly interested in the mechanical blueprints Su Jinyan had recently provided.

In Fu Xuan's view, anyone willing to contribute rare mechanical designs, regardless of their character flaws, could not possibly be a Disciple of Sanctus Medicus. Why would such a rogue divulge secrets to the enemy? It would make no sense at all.

Finally, the Realm-Keeping Commission's Divisions' Director felt compelled to express his position as well. Although he didn't personally know Su Jinyan, he was willing to extend this courtesy to Fu Xuan.

And even if it weren't for that favor, he still had to agree. With five other commissions in support, dissenting would only invite disapproval from Fu Xuan. Offending the Divination Commission would mean facing difficulties later when seeking diviners for missions.

Thus, the six divisions reached a high degree of consensus:

Seal off Luofu, apprehend the Emanator, and...bail out Su Jinyan!

Having achieved her objective, Qingque quietly prepared to slip away unnoticed.

"Qingque, hold your ground!" Fu Xuan's cool voice commanded from behind.

Startled, Qingque hastily raised her hands, exclaiming, "Ahhh Grand Diviner, I swear I wasn't trying to slack off!"

Fu Xuan looked puzzled. Who asked about slacking off?

Qingque belatedly sighed with relief; her repeated attempts at slacking off had always led to Fu Xuan catching her, almost becoming second nature.

Thankfully, this time she wasn't loafing but attending to important matters. Surely Lady Fu Xuan couldn't fault her now, could she?

Fu Xuan's expression softened. "Qingque, you've done exceptionally well this time."

"Truth be told, this venerable one has long appreciated your talents."

Qingque scratched her head, grinning sheepishly. "Eh hehe, Grand Diviner, there's no need for such praise," she said. "I'm fully aware of my shortcomings, so please don't overpraise me. Just giving me a ten-day or half-month break would suffice."

The corners of Fu Xuan's lips curved slightly upward. "No, given your outstanding performance, this venerable one must bestow significant rewards."

"After I attend to my current affairs, I will conduct a thorough reorganization of the Divination Commission."

"At that point, vacancies among the diviners will undoubtedly arise, and you shall fill one of those positions."

"In short, Qingque, you have been promoted."

Yukong and the others smiled warmly, applauding and offering their congratulations to the courageous young diviner.

Qingque's lips trembled, her bright eyes losing their sparkle.

No, not this! Why did I risk the general's wrath by infiltrating the Seat of Divine Foresight? All for whom? Your apprentice, right?

I provided you with crucial information, how can you repay kindness with ingratitude, Grand Diviner?