After March 7th explained, she glanced around but didn't see Fu Shi, so she asked curiously, "You must also be here for the Luminary Wardance, right? Did you come alone? Where's Fu Shi?"
--------------------------------------
"Himeko and Welt aren't here? What a pity."
Fu Lin chuckled at the remark, hugged Kiana☆ at his side, and introduced her to the three, "As for Fu Shi, who knows where she's gone off to play this time. And I'm not alone now, either, this is Kiana☆, my wife."
March 7th's gaze immediately fell on Kiana☆. She covered her mouth and gasped, "Your wife? Fu Lin, you got married? Looks like you'll be a dad soon?"
Stelle's eyes lit up as well, "Does that mean I'm going to have a little brother?"
Fu Lin nodded with a smile, then turned around to introduce the others one by one, "This is Sirin, my younger sister. She's a bit tsundere, shy, and a total homebody most of the time."
"Brother! How could you describe your sister like that!" Sirin puffed up angrily, cheeks bulging.
March 7th leaned in curiously, then asked, "Is she your real sister? Doesn't really look like it."
"Of course she's real!" The words hit Sirin's sore spot at once. Like a bristling kitten, she retorted sharply, her voice rising.
Fu Lin ruffled her hair with a smile. Only after Sirin calmed down a little did he continue, "These two are Elysia and Mei☆, my friends."
As soon as the Express trio's eyes landed on Mei☆, they froze.
March 7th's face was filled with shock as she blurted out, "Huh! Acheron? I didn't expect you to be here too?"
Mei☆ frowned in confusion, "Acheron? Who's that? Have we met before?"
March 7th immediately panicked, instinctively hiding behind Dan Heng, peeking out timidly, her voice trembling, "Just recently we were together, and now she's forgotten us already? This Nihility is way too scary...!"
"March, she's not Acheron. She just looks like her." Dan Heng rubbed his forehead helplessly, softly correcting her mistake.
Stelle, however, stared at Mei☆ for quite a while, captivated by her mature aura, and blurted out, "She's definitely not Acheron, but she totally looks like someone who could be my mom!"
The corners of Mei☆'s lips curved upward slightly. She turned to Fu Lin and asked softly, "Fu Lin, has she always been like this...?"
Fu Lin confirmed with a nod.
"Sorry, sorry. Normally Stelle is... well, normal, but when she's normal it's not that normal either!"
March 7th quickly covered Stelle's mouth, her cheeks flushed red, apologizing to Mei☆ again and again, terrified that this kid would say something even weirder.
Elysia, however, looked at Stelle with a smile. At some point, a pink crystal flower had appeared between her fingers. She handed it to Stelle, her tone cheerful, "Oh my, to be so bold on our very first meeting, you're really mischievous~ Take this crystal flower as a gift, don't dislike it, okay~?"
Stelle's eyes lit up as she grabbed the flower, breaking free of March 7th's hand, "This flower must be worth a lot if I sell it, right?"
March 7th slapped her forehead with a groan, "Hey, is it really okay to say that right to her face?"
Elysia only laughed it off. She conjured two more crystal flowers and handed them to March 7th and Dan Heng,
"It's fine, you two get one as well~" Dan Heng carefully put the flower away and nodded to Elysia,
"Thank you. It's beautiful." March 7th, a little embarrassed, quickly took the camera from her waist and said shyly, "This feels so rude, I can't just accept a gift for nothing... if you don't mind, how about I take your picture as thanks?"
"Of course~" Elysia happily agreed, light and carefree as ever.
Stelle immediately ran up, tugging on Elysia's sleeve, "I want to take a picture with the pretty big sister too!"
Elysia smiled warmly, patting Star's head, then turned to the others with an inviting look, "Mhm~ everyone can join in too~"
Watching the scene, Fu Lin couldn't help but sigh, "As expected of Elysia, she's already playing along with everyone so quickly."
Kiana☆ poked Fu Lin's arm with a bit of mock jealousy, "If I'd known, I'd have brought some gifts too..."
Meanwhile, March 7th was already backing up with her camera, adjusting the angle, "Everyone, get closer! Dan Heng, maybe smile a little? Stelle, stop staring at the flower and look at the camera!"
Elysia naturally draped an arm around Star's shoulder, radiant, "Alright, everyone look at the lens~"
Stelle, "..." Dad, she's really good at this~
Sirin shyly leaned against Fu Lin, while Kiana☆ and Mei☆ both held onto his arms. Dan Heng turned slightly, the corners of his lips curving up just enough to blend into the scene.
[Fu Shi: So, what about me?]
"Ready, three, two, one! Cheese!"
With March 7th making a peace sign and pressing the shutter, the crisp click sealed the smiling group photo.
She immediately checked the shot on her camera, swaying happily, "It turned out super nice! When we get back, I'll print it and give everyone a copy!"
Elysia clapped cheerfully, "Then I'll be looking forward to it~"
At that moment, Dan Heng's eyes shifted toward the distance. He spoke quietly, "March, Stelle, Yanqing seems to be here already."
"Really?!" March 7th perked up, quickly putting away the camera, then waved at Fu Lin's group, "Let's hurry and meet him! Fu Lin, are you all coming too?"
"Of course," Fu Lin agreed readily, following behind them. "We're strangers here, it's safer sticking with you."
"Right, then make sure you keep up." March 7th nodded.
With that, they quickly walked up to Yanqing.
Facing his probing gaze, March 7th warmly introduced the two sides.
Fu Lin looked at the blond boy and asked, "Your name is Yanqing, Ma Yanqing? Ma Feima?"
[T/N: Ma Feima was one of the seven disciples of Fu Hua. His real name was Ma Yanqing, which he later changed to Ma Feima...]
Yanqing's eyes flickered with surprise, "How do you know my family name? But... who is Ma Feima?"
"That doesn't matter." Fu Lin smirked mysteriously, brushing it off. "As for your surname, I guessed."
Inwardly, though, he sighed. To meet the counterpart of an "old acquaintance" right after arriving in the Xianzhou...
But it was hard to connect this delicate blond boy with that scruffy old man Ma Feima.
If Yanqing was here, then the old antique's counterpart must be somewhere in the Xianzhou too, and probably of high status.
Still, since Yanqing showed no surprise on seeing him, maybe he'd never met the old antique. Then who was his teacher?
Yanqing, puzzled by Fu Lin's cryptic air, muttered softly, "What a strange guy."
Before he could think further, Fu Lin asked again, "Ahem, let me ask you, who's your master?"
At the word "master," the confusion instantly vanished from Yanqing's face, replaced with unabashed pride.
He lifted his chin, speaking with obvious reverence, "My master is none other than Jing Yuan, one of the Seven Arbiter-Generals of the Xianzhou Luofu, known as the 'Divine Foresight General.'"
March 7th leaned toward Stelle, whispering teasingly, "See? The moment Jing Yuan's name comes up, Yanqing turns into a total fanboy."
Fu Lin's eyes flickered faintly in surprise, no wonder he wasn't recognized. So this wasn't the old antique after all.
As they spoke, a sudden commotion erupted in the distance. A fierce roar echoed through the skies, and nearby Cloud Knights rushed toward the source.
Yanqing's face hardened, his demeanor instantly turning serious. He addressed the group in a firm, urgent tone,
"The Xianzhou's safety cannot be compromised. Something must have happened over there. Forgive me, I must go check at once."
Kiana☆ tugged at Fu Lin's arm, eyes sparkling with curiosity, "Fu Lin, let's go see too!"
Fu Lin nodded, his gaze lingering on her with a hint of concern, "Alright. But you must stay close to me."
Sirin muttered sourly, "Brother only has eyes for Kiana☆~"
Fu Lin winced awkwardly, "You all be careful too. Stay safe."
Dan Heng added at the right time, "March, Stelle, let's check it out as well."
March 7th thumped her chest proudly, "Of course! Wherever there's trouble, there's the Astral Express!"