"Did you… not sleep at all last night?"
Qingque raised an eyebrow in confusion as she looked at the listless group. Even she wasn't this tired after staying up all night playing cards with her friends.
"Mmm… maybe we're not used to the environment here? Is the air conditioning in the Divination Commission turned up too high?"
March rubbed her eyes. Her head was throbbing, as if someone had been kneading her brain like dough all night long! I'm going to die!
"Err… is it? The temperature in the Divination Commission is always like this."
Hearing March's complaint, Qingque subconsciously rubbed her own arms. Tsk, it does feel a little chilly now.
"Uncle Yang, how are you feeling?"
Wende looked at Welt. Although he was acting like nothing was wrong, the fatigue in his eyes was still obvious.
"Don't worry, I'm fine," Welt said, shaking his head.
"Wende… I'm a little sleepy."
Stelle unconsciously leaned against Wende's arm like a lazy little cat, her drowsy eyes blinking as if she were about to fall asleep right there on him.
"Umm… how about I go talk to the Master Diviner and ask her to let you all rest for another day?"
Looking at the state of the Express crew, anyone who didn't know better would think the Xianzhou was exploiting them as foreign labor and not letting them rest at all!
"No… that won't be necessary, Wende."
Welt shook his head again and looked at Wende, the meaning in his eyes unspoken but clear.
"Mm, I understand."
Wende nodded knowingly, then quietly condensed three lightning needles in his hand.
Zzzt! Zzzt! Zzzt!
"Aiyo!"
"Abababa…"
"Mmph…"
"Retract."
Wende withdrew the lightning needles, feeling a little helpless as he looked at the three who were now as lively as dragons and tigers.
"Ahh… that was so tingly! Uncle Yang! And Wende! Next time you two plan something, can you give us a heads-up?!"
Instantly shocked awake, March stood with her back straight and hands on her hips, her little face tilted up in indignation.
She was awake, sure! But it hurt!
"Haha, wasn't this just to help everyone recover their spirits more quickly?"
Welt patted the black smoke off his clothes with a smile.
"Ngh…"
Stelle, however, still looked just as sleepy as before, as if the electric shock therapy had no effect on her.
Seeing the puzzled looks from March and Welt, Wende motioned for them not to worry. He then took out a bottle he had prepared earlier from his backpack.
"!!!"
Welt's normally placid face suddenly showed a look of shock. March, at his side, was so frightened she stumbled backward!
"Ew! Wende, why are you carrying that stuff too! Did you get infected by Stelle?"
March shrieked in panic, staring at the bottle of Fermented Mung Bean Soda in Wende's hand.
"I would never drink this stuff…"
Wende quickly defended himself, handing the bottle to Stelle.
"Hm?"
Stelle tilted her head, then took the bottle and began to chug it down. Gulp, gulp, gulp.
"Hic…"
Stelle's eyes sharpened. She now felt completely filled with power!
"Ah, this… sometimes, this little lady truly envies Benefactor Stelle~ To be able to savor a delicacy that ordinary people cannot… hehe."
Tingyun gave an awkward laugh as she watched Stelle's heroic display.
"Miss Tingyun, the Master Diviner said that once we arrive at the Artisanship Commission, she would trouble you to guide the members of the Express. I will pilot the starskiff to take you all there. According to the Master Diviner's calculations yesterday, your trip should not be overly difficult, so please rest assured."
Qingque relayed the Master Diviner's message with vigor. The thought of the seven-day vacation Fu Xuan had promised her instantly filled her with energy!
"Mhm, 'not overly difficult'… which means it's still going to be difficult."
March said with a subtle expression.
"Then there's no time to lose! Let's head to the Artisanship Commission now!"
"Uncle Yang? Uncle Yang! Stop looking, it's time to go!"
March called out to Welt, who was standing transfixed before a giant golden automaton. Honestly, he's so old, yet he acts like a little kid who can't walk away from a big robot.
"Err… maybe you should look over there?"
Stelle looked a bit embarrassed as she tugged on March's sleeve, pointing towards Wende.
"Hm? What's wrong… Huh?! Wende too?!"
March exclaimed, completely baffled.
Wende was deep in discussion with a master craftsman from the Artisanship Commission. In front of them, a newly activated golden automaton stood by, awaiting orders.
"Maybe this is like my love for trash cans? Is it the same kind of hobby?"
Stelle pondered, pinching her smooth, small chin, a thoughtful look in her golden eyes.
"No, I think their hobby is a bit more normal," March replied flatly, rejecting the comparison.
"Sigh… why are there no trash cans on the Xianzhou…"
"Hey! Don't suddenly get all sentimental on me here! No, wait… why are you getting sentimental over trash cans?! I didn't even see you get this sad when Kafka left!"
"Hehe, it's a good thing to have one's own hobbies. Just like how this little lady enjoys collecting rare trinkets, and March enjoys photography."
Tingyun said with a light laugh, her beautiful eyes looking softly at Stelle.
"Although Benefactor Stelle's hobby is indeed a bit… peculiar, one cannot dismiss it entirely."
"Mhm, mhm! Exactly!"
Stelle nodded in firm agreement.
"Err… alright, then let's let them play for a little while longer. By the way, Miss Tingyun, I was just looking through my camera. Where did those photos we took in Changle go?"
March took out her small camera and moved closer to Tingyun, her slender fingers gently swiping through the pictures.
Besides photos of herself and the various places she'd visited on the Xianzhou, there were pictures with her friends from the Express. But there were only a few photos of Tingyun.
That's strange. We were clearly with Miss Tingyun the whole time… why are there photos missing?
March was completely bewildered.
"…"
Wende, who was still observing the tall and imposing automaton, suddenly frowned.
Have we… been with Tingyun the whole time? Although Tingyun had been their guide for most of the time…
"Hm? We didn't take that many photos in Changle, did we? Little March must be misremembering."
Tingyun said with a calm smile, fanning herself with her folding fan.
"Is that so?"
Little March patted her head in frustration. Did I get muddled from sleep last night?
"Yes… that's how it was."
Tingyun chuckled lightly, a complicated look flickering in her eyes.