Honkai Impact 3rd: The Girl Who Chases the Flame

"At that time, Tingxue did not reveal her identity. She often sneaked out of the house. Once she got used to it, she took the fairy shuttle to the market to meet Ouyang, who was writing an investigation report on the fairy boat."

Speaking of this past event, Fu Xuan couldn't help but sigh that sometimes life is really like a play. If they could truly stay together forever, wouldn't that be a beautiful story for future generations?

"I think the people of the Immortal Ship are being pretentious. If they are truly in love, what does age matter? I have lived for 50,000 years, and the feelings of love and longing I had back then have never diminished."

Melutina shook her head.

"Fifty thousand years? I've heard you mention that before. Perhaps you were Tingxue back then."

Fu Xuan continued,

"There are no secrets that stay hidden forever. One day, the cargo shuttle was suddenly inspected, and the person in charge was none other than the helmsman who had not yet become a captain... Yu Kong."

"Is this really the reason?"

……

Tianbo Company

“I had just returned from the front lines and was given some easy tasks, which happened to be checking the safety of incoming and outgoing goods.”

Yu Kong gave a bitter laugh.

“The cargo ships have weight limits, and I naturally cannot be biased when it comes to safety… But now I think I was too rigid back then. I could have helped her privately, but after hearing her request, I still reported the matter to the Shangguan family.”

"So that's how it is... Then the Shangguan family will probably be furious when they find out."

Tingyun covered her mouth and said.

"He was not only furious, but the old man of that family fainted from anger, saying something like..."

Yu Kong thought for a moment,

"I am a daughter of a prestigious family, with three emperors in four generations. How could I marry into a lowly and short-lived clan? It would disgrace my family and shame my ancestors!"

"This is too much..."

……

"Isn't that a bit too arrogant?"

Melutina said in surprise,

"Is no one going to do anything about this? People should know that water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it!"

"Who can argue with that? Although treating non-civilized people differently is a regulation, it does not include human rights. I do not discriminate against non-civilized people either; it's just that according to the regulations, they cannot freely access certain important places."

Fu Xuan said helplessly.

“But Luofu… no, the Immortal Ship has many people who think highly of themselves because of their longevity, and regard other races as inferior. Such arrogant thoughts are really contrary to the will of the Emperor Bow Master.”

"I suppose Miss Tingxue will definitely not accept this?"

"Melutina asked."

"That's for sure, but what happened next... well, it's hard to explain."

……

Tianbo Company

"Broken her legs?! That's their own daughter!"

Tingyun's eyes widened.

"At that time, her father punished her by making her kneel in the mourning hall and copy scriptures for being unfilial. But every day he would curse Mr. Ouyang in her ear. According to the servants there, the curses were extremely offensive... It was really hard to say them."

Yu Kong's expression wasn't good either; this was also a painful memory for her.

"One day she couldn't help but argue back and even forced her way into the house, wanting to find Mr. Ouyang... but unexpectedly, the old man of the house broke her leg with a stick."

Even her father and mother couldn't help but try to dissuade her, but the old man said that even if she died in this house, it would be better than marrying a barbarian.

"Why did it have to come to this..."

This was the first time Tingyun had ever heard of a grandfather being so cruel to his granddaughter.

“I regretted it very much when I heard it... so I thought of finding Mr. Ouyang, letting him know the situation, and at least making some amends.”

To be honest, it wasn't exactly Yu Kong's fault.

She was simply following official procedures, but being new to the job, she lacked flexibility. Besides, she hadn't expected that family to go to such lengths.

……

General House

"Sigh... Yu Kong was still too young back then."

Jingyuan knew immediately that something was wrong. Ouyang was just a poor boy with no power or influence. What could he do if he knew?

"The general is absolutely right. Lord Yu Kong's actions... have only pushed this matter to an irreversible point."

Yanqing said.

……

"No one expected that it was precisely because of Yu Kong's good intentions that Mr. Ouyang later died tragically in front of the Shangguan family's gate."

Fu Xuan smiled bitterly.

"To be powerless and without influence is the greatest tragedy."

Melutina understood.

"But why is no one managing such a vast place as Luofu?"

"Because we don't know."

Fu Xuan sighed deeply.

"The Shangguan family had deep roots in Luofu. At that time, Yu Kong was still young. News was blocked and no one dared to talk about it. Over time, they disappeared from the world without leaving a trace."

.........

Tianbo Company

"That day, when Mr. Ouyang heard about this, he was furious and went to the Shangguan family to argue... but he was beaten half to death by the Yunqi at the gate."

Yu Kong's expression appeared somewhat gloomy.

"I was a step slower than him, and seeing this scene, I was naturally furious. I went up and taught those two Cloud Riders a lesson, but I never expected..."

"Could someone really kill someone in broad daylight?"

Tingyun asked in surprise.

“Three carriages suddenly drove out from in front of Shangguan’s gate, and while I was disciplining the Yunqi, they ran over Mr. Ouyang’s body…”

……

General House

"That incident... I suppose it was those two simple lines of text that Lord Shangguan gave me back then: 'While on duty, I unfortunately ran over and killed an innocent foreigner. I have already paid three times the compensation according to regulations, as a small apology.'"

Jing Yuan stood up, put his hands behind his back, and looked cold and hard.

……

"Then why has that Lord Sky Soaring never mentioned this matter all these years?"

"Melutina asked."

"The past is gone... Based on my understanding of the Sky-Driving Technique, the dead cannot be brought back to life, and the mistake has already been made. Mr. Ouyang's greatest wish is for Tingxue to be happy. If this matter were to spread, not only would the Shangguan family be disgraced, but Tingxue would also inevitably be affected by public opinion and the decline of her family."

After all, her parents treated her fairly well; her father only did that by deliberately badmouthing Mr. Ouyang in front of her so she would give up on him sooner.

Fu Xuan could only sigh.

"It's hard to be a person, but it's even harder to be a good person!"

"So, Miss Tingxue must resent that Lord Yukong no matter what, right?"

"Melutina asked."

"Perhaps. I only regret not taking it seriously back then. If only I had known... Ah, well. What's done is done. The most important thing now is to avenge Tingxue."

Chapter Eleven: If This Love Lasts Forever (Part Two)

"So you're the young lady who's going to join the Tarot Bureau?"

"I am Tingxue, not some young lady."

"The Grand Diviner does not employ idlers, so I will give you three questions to test you."

"May I ask, Diviner?"

"First, what is the Way of Heaven?"

"The way of Heaven cannot be changed by human effort."

"That's all?"

That's all.

"The greatest truths are the simplest; that's a good answer. Second, what is divination?"

"Seek advantage and avoid harm, and find opportunities to break the deadlock. Divination is a divination technique, and most man-made techniques are for making the best use of things. Even fate and destiny can be used as long as they are appropriate."

"And what about you?"

"It's all about counting heaven, counting earth, and counting oneself."

"Good, excellent answer. Thirdly, there are countless paths to enlightenment, so why choose the path of divination?"

As the ancients said, "Of all the waters in the world, a single sip is enough."

"That's true, then why did you only take this water?"

It's just fate.

"Very well, all principles boil down to fate, and divination is no exception. Since your answer pleases me, I will accept you."

"My daughter's family is probably unwilling. I wonder if the fortune teller will kick her out if her family comes to visit?"

"Entering the Imperial Divination Office means becoming a diviner. A diviner's fate, whether to stay or leave, is determined by Heaven and cannot be changed by human effort. Do you understand?"