In Changle, within the inn where the Astral Express crew was staying, the once-quiet lodging, which had fallen silent after the Xianzhou lost contact with the outside world, was now bustling with life again.
In the lobby, Fu Xuan, Qingque, Welt, and Tingyun were engrossed in a heated game of Qiongyu Cards. Stelle was furiously tapping away at a mobile game, the screen flashing with light and shadow, a clear sign of an intense battle. March 7th was contentedly munching on her small pastries, occasionally wandering over to the others to snap a few photos to send to Himeko, who was still on the Express.
The Universe's Cutest Girl, March 7th!
"Himeko! Look! Everyone's here! Dan Heng is coming soon too!"
[Photo.jpg]
I Really Want Some Coffee~
"Mm, that's nice. While you're resting, remember to take lots of pictures of the Xianzhou scenery for me."
The Universe's Cutest Girl, March 7th!
"Don't worry, Himeko! Uncle Welt said that if we confirm we'll be staying on the Xianzhou long-term, we can return to the Express anytime! Then we can take turns on duty, and you can go out for a stroll!"
I Really Want Some Coffee~
"Mm, that's thoughtful of you, little March. By the way... where's Wende?"
Himeko looked at the photo and noticed that aside from Dan Heng, someone else was also missing.
"Uh... Wende..."
Scratching her head a little awkwardly, March looked around and confirmed that Wende was indeed nowhere to be seen. He was probably in the kitchen cooking, right?
She swung her feet down from the table. With Welt busy playing cards, no one was around to supervise her.
Barefoot, March tiptoed to the inn's back kitchen and, sure enough, found Wende deep in the heat of battle.
"Hm? March? What are you doing there?"
Wende caught sight of March out of the corner of his eye, sneaking a photo of him with her phone from the doorway. His brow twitched slightly. Why wasn't this child wearing any shoes? Wasn't she afraid of catching a cold?
"Ehehe, Himeko was asking why she couldn't see you, so I came to take a picture of you! Here! Say cheese!"
Click...
With a flash of white light, March's camera had acquired another photo of Wende!
"I'm heading back now! I'll come get you when Dan Heng and the others arrive!"
Like a child whose little plan had succeeded, March clutched her phone and scurried away, the pitter-patter of her bare feet echoing on the floor.
"Sigh... why does it feel like March is starting to get assimilated by Stelle lately?" Wende shook his head helplessly, sighing like a housewife lamenting her children's changing ways, all while caramelizing sugar for the braised pork belly in the pot.
---o---
"Slap!"
Qingque played a tile with a complicated expression. She had already lost three rounds in a row.
Across from her sat her superior, the patriarch of the Astral Express, and an Amicassador from the Sky-Faring Commission whose rank was higher than hers...
It wasn't that she was throwing the game! It was that she genuinely couldn't win!
"Mm, Lord Diviner is truly worthy of her title as the foremost of the Divination Commission. Her skills with the tiles are impeccable," Tingyun said with a smile, playing a Qiongyu tile and praising Fu Xuan.
"Hmph, but of course. Before this outing, I specifically performed a divination. My luck with cards today is prosperous, making it suitable for a few lighthearted games," Fu Xuan declared. After taking the tile that was just played, her gaze shifted to Welt.
"However, that Mr. Welt is also proficient in our Xianzhou's Qiongyu Cards is something that I find rather surprising."
"Slap."
To Qingque's miserable expression, Welt pushed all his tiles forward, revealing his winning hand. He then picked up his cup of hot tea and took a gentle sip.
"The Lord Diviner praises me too highly. I merely watched Miss Qingque play for a few rounds."
"Aiya~ but doesn't that just prove Mr. Welt's outstanding talent? I have played cards for so many years, yet I am still no match for you, sir."
"Haha, it was just good luck."
Amidst the cheerful laughter of the three, Qingque typed "GG".
"Wuwuwu... is it just not a good day to play cards..." Qingque thought, her heart weeping as she stared at her disastrous hand.
---o---
"This should be the place, right?" Dan Heng looked at the destination on his phone's navigation, comparing the inn before him with the photo on the screen.
"Awu... Mmm!! Qiongshi Bird Skewers are so good! Sweet and sour!" Sushang was holding a bright red skewer, eating as she walked, her face flushed from the food.
"Indeed... we haven't eaten properly these past two days," Luocha remarked with a sigh, watching Sushang. If he hadn't brought so many dry rations, and if they hadn't encountered so many supply points along the way, they would probably still be wandering around the Artisanship Commission right now.
"Heehee, Dan Heng, Dan Heng! What's your teammate's name! Is his cooking good?" Sushang looked at Dan Heng with anticipation, little stars practically floating in her eyes.
If she didn't know a big feast was waiting for her tonight, she wouldn't have bought a Qiongshi Bird Skewer just to whet her appetite! She couldn't take it! Her mouth was about to start watering!
"Mm, his name is Wende. And his cooking is excellent."
At the thought of Wende's dishes, a rare smile graced Dan Heng's typically cold face. He had greatly missed Wende's cooking since they last parted ways.
"Clang..."
"..."
"My apologies, something inside must have fallen again. I will secure the contents once we find a place to stay," Luocha said, holding the coffin on his back, a flash of embarrassment crossing his handsome face.
"Er... let's just go inside first."
Dan Heng put down his phone with a deadpan expression and sent March a message telling her they had arrived.
---o---
"Oh! That guy Dan Heng is finally here! Let's go! Let's go meet them!"
Seeing the message from Dan Heng on her phone, March immediately sat up from the sofa, put on her shoes, and then slipped shoes onto the feet of Stelle, who was still absorbed in her game. She then dragged her toward the inn's main entrance.
"Hey! Wait! I'm in the middle of a team fight!!"
---o---
"Hiss..."
Staring at the DEFEAT screen on her game console, Silver Wolf slumped back in her chair, wondering what had gone wrong.
"Er... maybe we should stop playing?" Kafka's voice came through the comms, sounding slightly awkward.
"Sorry," Blade said, full of self-reproach.
"No, this round had nothing to do with you. It's this 'I Love Trash Cans' player! How dare she ditch us during the most critical team fight! I'm going to punish her properly today!!"
Silver Wolf furiously left the team voice channel. She was about to unleash her legendary doxxing ability!
"So, is it really okay for you guys to be playing games here instead of carrying out your mission?" a distinctly electronic male voice commented in the channel.
"Sigh... this is a necessary wait. And right now... we can only 'Simply Wait'."