The trio had just stepped out of the Sky-Faring Commission's gates when Tingyun's message arrived right on cue.
Caelus couldn't shake the feeling that he was constantly under surveillance.
Glancing at his phone, he turned to Welt Yang and said, "Let's go. Tingyun's waiting for us at the port."
Before long, the three of them stood behind Tingyun, who sighed with the exhaustion of an overworked employee.
"Sigh… Lady Yukong assigned me the task of hosting you all again. It seems fate has bound this humble servant tightly to her benefactors."
"The Sky-Faring Commission has reserved the finest rooms at the 'Dustsettled Inn.' Once you've finished your business here, please accompany me for some tea and rest."
"Accommodations right after the meeting? Again?" Caelus instinctively reached for his bat.
Welt Yang quickly stopped him. "Calm down. Don't be so jumpy."
With that, the three followed Tingyun to the Dustsettled Inn.
March 7th yawned. "The moment I see an inn's sign, I can't help but feel drowsy."
Caelus shot her a skeptical look. "When aren't you like this?"
"This time's different! I've been on high alert, ready to bolt at any moment."
The scene shifted to Welt Yang discussing something with Tingyun, while March continued grumbling to Caelus.
"Honestly, when I saw Lady Yukong frown earlier, I almost expected a squad of fully armed soldiers to rush out and drag us to jail. Dealing with big shots is more exhausting than fighting monsters."
Suddenly, Tingyun stopped her conversation with Welt and turned to look at March.
Caelus, sensing trouble, blinked rapidly in warning.
Only then did March realize her mistake as her gaze landed on Tingyun's smiling face.
"Ah! I-I wasn't badmouthing Lady Yukong!"
Tingyun's smile grew even more enchanting. "Worry not, this humble servant isn't one to gossip~"
She then launched into a series of formal praises for her superior.
Noticing the lack of enthusiasm from the Express trio, she added,
"She also instructed that if you see anything you like or wish to eat, just inform the proprietor—it'll all be charged to the Sky-Faring Commission."
Caelus immediately seized the opportunity. "Quick, say 'Thank you, Sister Yukong!'"
March 7th, getting into the act, chimed in, "What's the use of wearing a suit and tie, carrying a boss's phone? Follow a leader like this, and you're set for life…"
"Enough, enough!" Caelus cut her off. "Don't go for the most meme-worthy line."
[Hahaha, the script got predicted hard.]
[That was a classic 'Wangmen Kajiao' moment—absolute gold!]
[Found a tiny web drama buried under all these memes.]
After some back-and-forth, Welt Yang steered the conversation back to the Stellaron Hunters.
Understanding the hint, Tingyun promptly displayed Kafka's recorded message.
Kafka's projection appeared before them.
"The coordinates are here. The rest is up to you."
"Though our goals differ, the paths of the stars will eventually converge. Farewell."
Caelus's ears twitched. "There was some noise when she spoke."
Tingyun nodded, explaining that craftsmen from the Artisanship Commission had identified the background noise as originating from the shipbuilding facilities at Twilight Cape.
"Please rest and recover your strength. Once you're ready, we'll set out to apprehend the culprits. The rest will depend on the skills of my benefactors~"
March nudged Caelus. "Hey, let's check in with the Express! Especially Dan Heng—ask what he's up to, then tell him how much fun we're having!"
Caelus nodded and pulled out his phone. "Hey, what's up?"
A few seconds later, a glaring red exclamation mark appeared.
"Huh? No signal? It was working just fine earlier…"
He tried again: "You good…?"
Another exclamation mark. "Message failed to send."
The screen cut to black, displaying the words: "A short while earlier, aboard the Astral Express."
The perspective shifted to Dan Heng—his face one of solemn grandeur—gazing melancholically at the starry sky at a 45-degree angle.
"You've been standing here for half an hour. It's rare to see you so troubled." Himeko approached, sensing his unease.
"Worried about those two? Welt's with them. You can relax a little."
Dan Heng fell silent for a moment before speaking.
"Himeko … You kept a recording of the Stellaron Hunters' transmission, didn't you?"
"May I see it?"
He scrutinized the footage until that man appeared.
"Stop!"
Blade's image filled the screen.
Even as just a recording, Dan Heng reacted viscerally—his usual composure shattered.
Himeko was taken aback. "You know him?"
Dan Heng's voice faltered. "The Xianzhou is in danger… This man—if he's there, then everyone—Mr. Yang, March, Caelus—they're all at risk!"
"But…"
Himeko, recognizing the gravity of the situation, gently pressed for details about Blade.
Dan Heng exhaled deeply and began recounting his past.
He had once been imprisoned in the Luofu's Shackling Prison. After an untold length of time, the then-Arbiter-General exiled him, forbidding him from ever setting foot on any Xianzhou Alliance world again.
Later, by chance, he boarded an Interastral Peace Corporation ship as a laborer.
And on that very day, he encountered Blade.
Without a word, Blade attacked—each time, it was a fight to the death. He chased, he hunted, unrelenting.
"It wasn't until I boarded the Express that things improved. He stopped pursuing me."
Himeko hadn't expected such a history. "He's connected to what you're running from… isn't he?"
"But I… can't abandon them. I fear… my burdens have finally caught up, dragging everyone into this…"
[T-T They used to be best friends, right? A fight to the death? How deep does this blood feud go?]
[Haven't you watched Myriad Celestia? It's all about Dan Feng and Yingxing—the whole 'Imbibitor Lunae's Rebellion' mess. Yingxing even became immortal.]
[Ohhh, so Blade started hunting Dan Heng the moment he was exiled. No wonder Dan Heng's so panicked—PTSD flashbacks!]
[How come Dan Heng and Blade fans aren't at each other's throats and are still shipping them?]
[Right? Isn't it wild?]
Himeko placed a reassuring hand on Dan Heng's shoulder.
"Don't overthink it. The Express has me and Pom-Pom holding down the fort. Do what you must—better than living with regret."
Dan Heng nodded twice in acknowledgment and began preparing to depart for the Luofu.
"Oh, and once this is over… you'll return to the Express and continue traveling with everyone, won't you?"
Dan Heng turned his head slightly. "Yes."