"Lady Yukong, I'm not a Xianzhou native, so I don't know what happened in the past and can't comment on your decisions. As Mr. Sugata said, even if the petition isn't ultimately accepted, we shouldn't deprive them of the right to express themselves."

"..." After a moment of silence, Yukong agreed with Luka's point. "Sugata has already conveyed his voice to all of us." Yukong then looked at the Foxian woman beside her. "However, I also want to see the determination of another person."

"...As long as the petition can be achieved, I can sacrifice everything." Shemo lowered her head.

Yukong: "Shemo, in the lower arena of the Skysplitter, I will arrange a rematch for you and Luka. Unlike what you might expect, this duel will have no audience, no cheers, and no applause. No one on the Xianzhou Luofu will know the result of this match. If you can achieve victory, the Xianzhou Luofu will reconsider Danlun Temple's petition."

"Shemo... thanks Lady Yukong."

After a brief rest, Yukong quickly sent people to clean the arena. In the empty ring, only the thumping of a heartbeat could be heard.

Although Shemo showed her Borisin ferocity in front of Luka, she was still holding back her claws. The outcome of the fight was self-evident; Shemo was defeated in less than three rounds.

"The match ends here!"

Shemo staggered to her feet from the ground: "Wait... I haven't won yet! This humble monk can still fight! Only by winning can the Xianzhou hear Danlun Temple's voice..."

Yukong consoled her: "Shemo, you've done your best. The Xianzhou is not the arena of the Wardance; we listen to more than just the voices of the victors. On behalf of the Xianzhou Luofu, I acknowledge your determination."

"Then will Danlun Temple's petition succeed?"

Yukong: "I will arrange a meeting between General Jing Yuan and Shemo. At the same time, I will also strongly advocate for Danlun Temple during the Six Commissions' council. Regarding Danlun Temple's petition, I cannot give a definite yes or no answer."

"As long as there's a glimmer of hope, I can wait forever." Tears blurred Shemo's vision. "Although Master Tuona, Dharma Protector Pilu, and Sugata can no longer see it... I hope I can witness this day on their behalf, witness the day when the monks and children of Danlun Temple no longer have to worry and fear, and can find a place for their peaceful lives in a corner of this universe."

——

Genshin Impact.

"This outcome is good... Ah, finally, this hall master can eat this meal in peace."

Hu Tao used her chopsticks to pick up a steaming Golden Shrimp Ball. Unafraid of the heat, she took a big bite, immediately puffing out her cheeks like a squirrel stealing food.

"Mmm! Fragrant! Crispy! Karin's cooking has improved again!" She looked at Zhongli, who had been silently drinking tea across the table and hadn't touched his chopsticks. "What's wrong, Consultant? Is the food not to your taste this time? Let me tell you, Golden Shrimp Balls are best eaten hot; once they cool down, they lose that 'crunchy' crispness!"

Zhongli put down his celadon cup and smiled slightly. "You jest, Hall Master. Karin's cooking is among the best in all of Liyue. I was just thinking about Sugata."

"Tsk~ I thought the Consultant couldn't eat because he felt guilty about spending the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's annual budget at the exhibition recently." Hu Tao snorted in mock annoyance. "As for Sugata, this hall master also finds it quite regrettable. Who would have thought a robot could achieve nirvana... truly unheard of. Oh! Right, Consultant, about his name—'Good' plus 'Gone'—could 'Gone' mean 'passed away'? 'Sugata'—doesn't that perfectly match his ending?"

"The Hall Master is indeed observant. Sugata's name already foretold its future."

"What a pity, though. I still don't know what it comprehended before melting its own circuits." Hu Tao picked up another piece of tenderly stewed fresh bamboo shoot and mumbled with her mouth full: "It feels like it left with infinite wisdom... Consultant, why do you think Danlun Temple established precepts for itself and then upholds them?"

"Because humans have many desires." Zhongli picked up his chopsticks and took a slice of Salted Pork and Bamboo Shoot Soup from the bowl. "The desire to eat meat, the desire to fight, the desire for Mora, the desire for power... Desires are endless and ultimately become human obsessions."

Hu Tao tilted her head: "So upholding precepts is to remove these obsessions?"

"Precepts are a means, not an end. When a person can flexibly control their body and mind and manage their obsessions, then whether they uphold precepts becomes irrelevant. But it's difficult to flexibly control one's desires; it requires years of ascetic practice. Most people are controlled by their own desires."

"Difficult, huh... But I feel like you, Consultant, can control your obsessions." Hu Tao narrowed her eyes and began to scrutinize this Consultant she knew so well. "I always feel like you don't have any obsessions. If I had to name one... maybe the obsession with spending money? Consultant, you're not some ascetic master too, are you?"

"You jest, Hall Master. I'm just an ordinary Consultant at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor."

"What 'ordinary' Consultant spends a year's budget of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor at one exhibition?!" Hu Tao waved her hand. "Forget it, forget it. Even if you are some remarkable master, as your superior, I must be an even more remarkable person!"

——

"Luka has enough points; next, he'll face the mysterious 'iron arm' contestant."

In the contestant lounge, Luka felt incredible about his current state. Now, he was just one step away from challenging Yanqing, yet his heart was unexpectedly calm.

"I understand! That's exactly how I felt when I participated in the Interastral Peace Corporation's seventy-fifth round of interviews!" Camellia empathized.

"Seventy-five rounds... See, it's a good thing we didn't merge into the corporate system; now we don't have to suffer that."

As they discussed this 'iron arm' contestant, Camellia reviewed previous footage and found that in his earlier matches, he had worn a thick cloak, making it impossible to see his face... He probably requested the organizers to conceal his true identity, right?

With all this mysterious, Luka became even more curious. When it was time for the match, he stepped onto the arena, only to find a figure he never could have imagined.

"It's you, Hook???"

"Is the 'Dongdong Machine' her 【iron arm】?"

Luka slapped his forehead: "How did I not think of that!"

"Wh-what! The Dongdong Machine isn't any 【iron arm】! Brother Luka is so silly!"

A tall and burly figure stepped onto the arena. He removed the cloak draped over him, and the first thing that caught the eye was a familiar steel arm—the heavy steel plate armor on his upper body. It was actually Boss Svarog!

"I must apologize to you, Luka—I kept it from you and participated in the Wardance anonymously."