Chapter 57: Is Dan Heng on the Chopping Block? Has Feathered Spirit Already Picked His Grave?!
"Ladies and gentlemen, General Jing Yuan certainly has a silver tongue!"
In Guinaifen's livestream, Sushang now sat beside her, sipping a cup of Immortal Delight Tea with relaxed contentment. Though she wasn't playing the game herself, she'd heard plenty about it from her colleagues and had even caught glimpses of Little Gui's streams.
The game's allure wasn't limited to the Cloud Knights—rumor had it the Divination Commission was tuning in too! That's why they'd assigned her to protect Guinaifen.
Little Gui's really made it big now… Sushang mused. Better start buttering her up for those late-night barbecue runs.
Meanwhile, Guinaifen was utterly absorbed in the unfolding story. Even if no one was watching, she'd still be hooked—she had to know what happened next!
"They didn't let us help hunt the Stellaron, but they gave us something even bigger—tracking down Kafka, who's hiding somewhere in Luofu!"
"Little Gui, this mission feels impossible…"
"Who even is Kafka? We might not even find a trace of her!"
As they debated, Tingyun displayed an image of Kafka from earlier—when she'd hijacked the train's comms.
"The coordinates are here; your path is yours to choose. Though our goals may differ, the stars' paths will cross again. Farewell."
Rewatching the clip, Guinaifen frowned. She leaned in, listening closely—there was something odd in the background noise.
"What's special about this?"
"Coordinates? Converging orbits?"
"Or… those faint sounds underneath her words?"
She picked the third option.
"Correct," Tingyun praised. "To most, those noises mean nothing. But to the Artisanship Commission, every machine hums like a distinct note in a symphony. The General had artisans analyze it—Kafka's transmission came from the shipyards at Stargazer Navalia."
"Rest and prepare. When you're ready, we'll move to apprehend her—with your help, of course."
"Miss Tingyun, all this 'benefactor' talk is making me blush!"
"Kafka's at Stargazer Navalia? Heh, I'm heading there now!"
"Don't assume she'll welcome you with open arms. You won't even see your death coming."
"I'll admit, she's got charm in the story. But in reality? I'd run—the Stellaron crisis isn't over yet."
"Dying under Mother's feet would be a worthy end."
"Someone's been brainwashed by the Stellaron Hunters—get 'em!"
Glancing at the chat, Guinaifen sighed.
They've changed so much since the start…
Back to the plot!
Find Kafka. Now.
Welt suggested a short break first. "Chasing Kafka won't be easy."
March 7th chimed in, "Oh! Let's message the train to reassure them! Especially Dan Heng—ask what he's up to and tell him we're having a blast!"
Guinaifen's eyes sparkled. "Dan Heng! Does that mean… he'll join the Luofu storyline?"
She quickly sent him a message.
Both failed to deliver.
The scene shifted—to the Astral Express.
Dan Heng stood frozen in a compartment.
Himeko approached. "You've been spacing out for half an hour. Rare to see you so troubled. Worried about the kids? With Welt there, they'll be fine."
After a pause, Dan Heng asked, "Himeko, do you still have the Stellaron Hunters' transmission? I need to see it."
When Blade's image appeared, Dan Heng's pupils shrank.
"The Xianzhou is in danger! If he's there, then Welt, March, Stelle—they're all at risk!"
Himeko understood instantly. "He's tied to what you were running from, isn't he?"
"I can't abandon them. But my past might drag them down…"
"Everyone carries burdens. Even March, with no memories, has her own weight."
"Every step we take, everything we see—it's all part of us. It's heavy, but it's also what keeps us moving."
"Don't overthink it."
Himeko added softly, "The train's docked for seven days. Passengers are free to come and go. Pom-Pom and I can handle things here."
"Do what you must. No regrets."
As Dan Heng turned to leave, Himeko called after him, "You'll come back to us afterward, right?"
Without a word, he nodded.
"Feels like a real family. I love this group dynamic," Guinaifen murmured, touched.
But the chat was in chaos:
"NO! Don't hurt Dan Heng!"
"Luofu's his hometown—he can't die here!"
"This is giving me bad vibes…"
"If I were Feathered Spirit, I'd already have his grave picked out!"
"Someone find the Astral Express crew! Tell Dan Heng to get back on the train and LOCK THE DOORS!"
Guinaifen's hands trembled. Now controlling Dan Heng alone, she logged into Luofu and messaged the group chat:
["Stelle, March, where are you? I'm coming."]
Both messages failed.
With only Dan Heng, she had to navigate monster-infested Cloudford.
The chat's mood grew darker.
Even Sushang whispered, "Is Feathered Spirit really going to kill Dan Heng? Can anyone save him?!"
---
In the Palace of Astrum, Jing Yuan gave the Astral Express crew time to deliberate.
Old Yang, March, Stelle, and Dan Heng huddled together. The decision rested on Dan Heng—Blade's connection to him was too deep. If he refused, they'd decline Jing Yuan's request.
Dan Heng took a breath. "Since we're already here, I think—"
A message from Himeko interrupted:
"Dan Heng, if you're planning to seek out Blade, watch the latest plot first. In it, you leave alone out of concern for the others. It feels… final. Like a goodbye."
Silence.
Dan Heng's voice was quiet. "Even Feathered Spirit thinks I'll… die on this journey?"
March 7th's eyes welled up. "Don't say that! We're not taking this mission! Let's go back to the train—straight to Penacony! It's safe there!"
Dan Heng shook his head gently. "March, I'll be fine. But… let's see how the story unfolds before deciding."