Clack…
"Sigh, no matter how many times I see it, it always feels so novel. The power of the [Trailblaze], a magical device that allows one to travel across star systems…"
Tingyun said with deep feeling as she watched Stelle activate the Domain Anchor.
If only we had something like this…
"Yeah, if Miss Tingyun could use Domain Anchors for your business, you probably wouldn't have to go through the hardship of traveling between stars, right? Leaving home for twenty or thirty years at a time, it's sad just thinking about it."
March shook her head. If she were away from the Express for too long, she would miss her own little room too!
Oh, right… I still haven't finished making the plushie versions of Wende and Stelle. I wonder when we'll be able to get back to the Express. Maybe I should ask Sister Himeko to help me!
"Yes… if only we had something like this…"
Tingyun closed her eyes, her thoughts unreadable.
"Um… should we keep going? It's really open up ahead…"
Stelle looked at the vast, empty plaza before them and asked Wende uncertainly.
"Based on my trailblazing experience, whenever we run into a place like this, it's basically guaranteed to be a boss fight! I think we'd better go around!"
The clever little March declared decisively.
"Indeed, isn't there a side path over there? Let's go take a look first."
Wende agreed. If they suddenly got into a boss fight now…
Wouldn't that mean he'd have to get his own banner ahead of schedule?
Thinking it over, it was still a bit too early for that. It was best to avoid conflict where possible.
"Getting to the Alchemy Commission is so much trouble…" March couldn't help but complain.
All these different Commissions on the Xianzhou, with their winding paths, were giving her a headache.
"Alas, that's just how it is working for others. Even if we were dragged into this, and our salary is still unclear."
As they descended the stairs of the side path, Wende faintly saw a figure and several automatons. The automatons seemed to be surrounding the person.
"Not good, someone's surrounded over there," March reported immediately, spotting the distant figure.
"March, put a shield on that person. Wende, can your lightning needles reach that far?"
Welt's gaze fell on the needles in Wende's hand, which were faintly crackling with arcs of lightning.
"Don't worry, Uncle Yang. This distance is more than enough."
"Good. Let's begin," Welt said with a nod.
"Watch this maiden's one-shot soul-piercer!"
March materialized her longbow and aimed it at the "surrounded" person. She drew the bowstring into a full moon as the light of the Six-Phased Ice shimmered on the arrowhead.
Swoosh!
A piercing arrow shot accurately to the person's feet. The figure seemed startled, but before they could react, a wall of ice separated them from the four automatons in front.
"Go!"
Wende's four lightning needles followed immediately, striking the four automatons with perfect accuracy. He successfully detonated two of them, and the remaining two were caught in the blast, turning into scrap metal along with the others.
"NOOOOOOOO!!!!"
A blood-curdling wail came from the other side of the ice wall.
"? What happened? Did they get hurt in the explosion?"
March tilted her head, completely confused.
"Let's go see."
Wende ran ahead. If someone was injured, he could still provide first aid.
But when he arrived, he froze on the spot, staring at the utterly tragic scene before him.
"Dense-Cloud Goldcecada! Lamp-Illuminated Cagelark! What happened to you! How could you fall!! Who was it! Which scoundrel! To dare to trick! To sneak attack! Me, your senior! Who was it?! Show yourself!!!"
"What happened… err…"
March, who had come running late, saw Wende frozen in place. She was about to ask what was wrong, but then she saw the scene for herself.
A man with glasses, a full beard, and wearing an Artisanship Commission uniform was hugging the wreckage of the automatons, repeatedly slapping the ground. Snowflakes drifted down from the sky (the remnants of the shattered Six-Phased Ice), and paired with the man's heart-wrenching screams… it painted a picture of pure grief and desolation.
"You, you people! Why did you ambush me! Do you think you outlanders can do whatever you want in my Artisanship Commission just because the Cloud Knights aren't here?! You could have just fought me, but you had to blow up these creations, which I view as my own flesh and blood, into smithereens! AHHHHH! You'll pay for this!!!"
Watching the old coot throwing a tantrum on the ground, Wende instinctively turned his head away.
March immediately looked over at Welt, her expression screaming, "This has nothing to do with me."
"Err…"
Welt gently rubbed his forehead. It seemed he had indeed orchestrated a major screw-up…
However…
Looking at the old coot who was still making a scene, Welt silently walked forward.
"Excuse me, are you Master Gongshu? Is that right?"
"!"
Master Gongshu, who had been rolling on the ground trying to extort compensation, immediately shot up from the ground the moment he heard Welt speak his name. He straightened his clothes, tidied his appearance, and put on a very serious expression.
"Ahem, to think my great name is so renowned as to be known even by you outlanders. State your business. What are you here for?"
"Can he finally talk properly now? I feel like this old man's personality is… a little too direct."
March peeked out from behind Wende and quietly complained to Stelle, looking at the Master Gongshu who was like a completely different person from moments ago.
"We were sent by General Jing Yuan. We wish to obtain passage to the Alchemy Commission…"
"What! You were sent by General Jing Yuan! Oh, my, my, the great flood has washed away the Dragon King's temple! It was all just a misunderstanding. Those little trinkets are broken, so be it. This old master isn't some stubborn fool…"
[The Face.jpg]
[It's hard to imagine what the scriptwriter went through.]
[One can only say this is all based on experience.]
[On the Matter of Me Learning How to Talk by Playing a Game…]
[Wait? Where's the streamer?]
The chat room suddenly realized their streamer had left her computer chair at some point, leaving only a static VTuber avatar staring blankly at the audience.
"Hello! Who is this? Don't you know I'm streaming!"
"Ah? Oh, oh, so you're a fan… But how did you get my number?"
"What! A sponsorship deal! Thank you, thank you, Papa Sponsor, for the opportunity! I don't know if our company is… huh? Fiji Water? Ah… Oh, oh, you're joking, right? Hah, I was just saying… Oh, oh, yes, yes, yes, I'll arrange it in the next couple of days! You can rest assured!"
[The Face]
What you all love most
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