After a sumptuous meal aboard Sunday's ship, they said their goodbyes, promising to make their way to Penacony before the Charmony Glee began.
Sitting on the starskiff, Derick picked his teeth with a toothpick, savoring the memory of the meal.
The food Sunday had prepared for his sister's savior was, without a doubt, exquisite. Derick had never tasted Penacony-style cuisine before, and the experience was a profound satisfaction for both his curious mind and his stomach.
"Why are you going to Penacony? Is the Charmony Glee really that interesting?" Feixiao asked from the side.
After this war, she needed to report back to the Marshal and announce the annihilation of the Borisin to the universe. She was far too busy to accompany Derick to Penacony.
"It's more than just interesting." Derick paused in thought before saying to Feixiao, "I have a feeling that going to Penacony is my chance to become an Emanator."
"What? You can't be serious," Feixiao asked, astonished.
Although Derick's strength was nearly the greatest among those beneath the Emanators, there was still a vast chasm between him and a true Emanator.
"Which Aeon's Emanator do you plan on becoming? Don't tell me it's Harmony."
"Not an Emanator of any particular Aeon, Teacher. I feel like this is an opportunity to gain the power of an Emanator without being watched or restricted by any of them," Derick mused, speaking to Feixiao.
"I'm not certain, but I have this premonition."
Feixiao paced back and forth on the starskiff, mulling it over. Given Derick's power, his premonition was definitely not baseless.
"If that's the case, then I'll do whatever it takes to get you the position of the Yaoqing's General," Feixiao promised Derick.
She explained to him, "If you're already at an Emanator's level before becoming a General, and then you receive the power of the Reignbow Arbiter that comes with the position of a Xianzhou General... Derick, your strength might just ascend to the highest tier among all Emanators."
The highest tier—the same level as the Xianzhou's Marshal Hua, the Lord Ravager Zephyro, and that Forgotten Lord from the Genius Society.
Feixiao herself couldn't reach that level. Without the rank of Marshal, her strength was still inferior to that of an Emanator.
"Let's wait until I actually have the power of an Emanator before we talk about that," Derick said to Feixiao.
"Alright. In any case, since you have this feeling, I will give you my full support for this trip to Penacony."
Feixiao nodded in satisfaction.
Then, a thought struck her, and she said to Derick,
"Oh, right. It's best not to let any of this get out before you've succeeded. Remember to get the surveillance footage from this starskiff and delete it."
"Surveillance footage on the starskiff?" Hearing Feixiao's words, Derick was stunned.
What was this about?
Feixiao narrowed her eyes, then slapped her forehead.
"I forgot you weren't born on the Xianzhou and haven't served in the Cloud Knights for years. You wouldn't know that starskiffs are equipped with a recording function."
As Feixiao said this, a flash of insight struck Derick.
Derick asked Feixiao, "Teacher, are you saying that every single starskiff has this?"
"That's right. Any officially commissioned starskiff will have video recording. It makes it easier to find evidence if something happens."
Feixiao nodded.
"Case closed. The case is now closed."
Derick thought to himself.
He had never been able to figure out how Sushang knew about the situation between him and Yunli. Now, after hearing his teacher's explanation, the case was closed.
The video of him and Yunli had fallen into Sushang's hands.
"I'll settle the score with her when I get back," Derick thought.
"Derick, what are you thinking about?" Feixiao asked him.
"Nothing, just some personal matters."
Derick certainly couldn't tell Feixiao about what happened with him and Yunli.
Feixiao didn't press the matter, simply sitting by his side as they waited for the starskiff to reach the Xianzhou Luofu.
She still wanted to do something... physically pleasant with Derick. But with so many others watching, she couldn't bring herself to do it.
What Feixiao didn't know was that Cipher had also been intimate with Derick. Among the people on the starskiff, being completely honest with one another wouldn't have been much of an issue.
After a long journey through space, the starskiff finally returned to the Xianzhou Luofu.
Castorice hadn't followed the Cloud Knights to the battlefield. Having heard the news of Derick's return, she had been waiting for him at the port in Cloudford for some time.
"Dear Castorice, don't worry. Dear Derick and the others will be fine. News of the great victory has already arrived. You'll see him in a moment."
Hyacine waited alongside Castorice. Seeing her friend's worried expression, she offered gentle words of comfort.
"Mhm." Castorice nodded softly.
Soon, the starskiff slowly descended before them. The hatch opened, and the person Castorice had been longing for, Derick, emerged with the others.
Feixiao was the first one out.
Seeing her, Castorice and Hyacine offered their greetings.
Feixiao waved her hands dismissively and hurried off to the side.
"I know you're not waiting for me, so I won't be an eyesore here. I'm off to have some fun on the Xianzhou Luofu for a few days."
In the blink of an eye, Feixiao was gone.
After Feixiao left, Derick emerged from the starskiff, pushing Polyxia's wheelchair.
Polyxia looked at her sister, feeling a pang of guilt. While Castorice was distracted, she lightly nudged Derick's stomach with her elbow, reminding him not to reveal their relationship on such a happy occasion.
Derick understood. Besides, he had much more to confess to Castorice and naturally needed more time to prepare.
Castorice looked at Derick and Polyxia, sensing that her lover and her sister were hiding something from her.
However, this suspicion was quickly washed away by the joy of seeing Derick and Polyxia safe.
She rushed forward and took Derick's hand.
"You've worked so hard all this time," Castorice said softly to Derick.
"Our gains this time were immense. I'm more confident than ever about saving Amphoreus."
Derick assured Castorice.
Holding Castorice's hand, Derick began to walk, telling her about his increase in power and his subjugation of the three million Borisin.
Castorice listened quietly as Derick described his growth in strength. Her eyes filled with excitement at his progress and the prospect of returning to Amphoreus sooner.
As he was speaking, Derick felt the last of the Flame Reaver's memories filter into his mind.
With Castorice, Hyacine, Cipher, and Polyxia all present, these fragments of memory were no longer capable of causing any serious fluctuations in his mental state.
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