---o---
"Warp jump initiating in three..."
As Pom-Pom began the countdown, the others quickly settled into their seats. March 7th, however, stood up from the sofa, planted her feet wide in the aisle, and began muttering to herself while clenching her little fists.
"Won't fall... won't fall... won't fall..."
Fu Zhu watched her, completely bewildered, and turned to the others. "What is March doing?"
Welt shook his head with amused exasperation. "Little March always likes to challenge herself not to fall during a warp jump. Of course, she's never succeeded."
Xing chimed in from the side, "Old Bro, you were looking out the window during the last jump, so you missed it. This time... just watch. I'm definitely better than little March!"
With a "Heh!", Xing also jumped up from the sofa, ran over to March 7th, and mirrored her stance, planting herself firmly in the aisle.
"A 'don't fall down' challenge? Interesting."
Fu Zhu's interest was piqued. Mostly, he wanted to see them make fools of themselves and, incidentally, beat them. He stood up and joined them.
However, unlike March 7th and Xing, who had adopted wide, stable stances, Fu Zhu simply stood there casually with his arms crossed.
Seeing Fu Zhu join in, March 7th shot him a challenging glare. "Hmph, even if it's you, Fu Zhu, you can't beat this battle-hardened young lady! How about a bet? The loser has to treat the winner to a nice meal in Penacony!"
"Ho ho, worried about yourself, yet you're challenging me?" Fu Zhu's amusement grew. He pointed a finger back at March 7th. "Then I accept your challenge. Get ready to have your wallet squeezed dry, little March."
Beside them, Xing had originally planned to team up with March 7th to fleece Fu Zhu, but seeing his confidence, she suddenly got cold feet and decided to quietly pretend to be part of the scenery.
But how could Fu Zhu let this opportunity slip by? He turned to Xing with a mischievous grin. "Little Sis, this is a game for the three of us. You can't back out now. How about this: the loser has to pay for the winner's in-game microtransactions?"
Hearing this, Xing's expression changed. She instinctively covered her pocket and asked nervously, "Let me ask first, Old Bro, what kind of game do you play?"
She was a regular online gamer and knew how expensive microtransactions could be. If she could win, it would be a huge score! As for her big bro... he probably played some single-player AAA games, right? Even if she lost, it couldn't be that much money!
"The game I play is pretty niche. It's a multiplayer card game based on the historical warriors of a certain planet."
Xing's worries vanished. A card game? How much could that possibly cost?
"It's a deal! Just you wait, Old Bro, you'll be funding my game!"
Pom-Pom had deliberately waited for the three of them to finish their banter before continuing the countdown.
"Two..."
"One!"
The next moment, the Express shuddered slightly, followed by a powerful inertia that slammed into March 7th and Xing. With a dual cry of "Aiya!", both girls tumbled and landed on their behinds.
Fu Zhu, however, stood perfectly still in his original spot. Not a single strand of hair moved, as if nothing had happened at all.
Welt, Himeko, and Dan Heng, who had been watching the whole spectacle, gave Fu Zhu a round of applause after the contest concluded. Himeko smiled and announced the result.
"The winner of this competition is Fu Zhu."
Dan Heng looked at March 7th and Xing, who were rubbing their sore behinds on the floor, and shook his head, looking utterly speechless.
"Fu Zhu is an Envoy of Finality. Did you two really think a little turbulence from a warp jump would affect him?"
Fu Zhu just chuckled. Dan Heng's reasoning was partially incorrect. He didn't fall, not because of his Envoy powers, but because of his settings.
In Steve's dictionary, the word 'fall' simply didn't exist!
Even an Aeon could only kill him; they couldn't make him stumble.
"Remember our bet," Fu Zhu said with a grin as he walked over to help the two girls up. At the same time, he pulled out his phone, opened the game he occasionally played to kill time, and showed it to Xing.
"Little Sis, I want to pull for a new hero. It's not expensive, only two hundred thousand credits."
Xing took one look at the number, and her eyes rolled into the back of her head as she fell backward. Fu Zhu swiftly caught her by the waist.
He looked down at Xing, whose eyes were squeezed shut, and teased, "Even if you pretend to faint and then claim amnesia, it won't work."
"Tch!"
Xing clicked her tongue, opened her eyes, and wriggled out of Fu Zhu's embrace. She then stood with March 7th, both of them glaring at him with resentful little eyes.
"Alright, that's enough playing around. We've arrived. Let's go check in." Himeko stood up and clapped her hands, breaking up the trio's antics. She then turned to Fu Zhu. "Fu Zhu, their luggage is all packed. Only you haven't packed yet. We'll go ahead and queue for check-in, you can pack up your things."
Fu Zhu shook his head. His belongings were basically all carried on him. The only things left on the Express were some items that were more decorative than practical.
"No need, I don't have anything to pack. Oh, right, I almost forgot something."
Fu Zhu took out a pile of Totems of Undying and distributed them evenly among everyone present, including Pom-Pom. Each person received three.
"Totems of Undying! So many?"
March 7th and Xing had seen these before and recognized them at first glance. The others, however, looked at Fu Zhu with confusion.
Fu Zhu explained the effects and usage of the Totems of Undying to them.
After hearing that a Totem of Undying could negate a fatal blow, everyone couldn't help but look astonished. Such a divine object was exceedingly rare anywhere in the universe.
Pom-Pom, who had also received totems, held them out to return them to Fu Zhu.
"Passenger Fu Zhu, Pom-Pom appreciates the thought, but I don't leave the Express, so I won't be in any danger. You should keep these wonderful items for yourselves."
Fu Zhu gently pushed Pom-Pom's outstretched paws back.
"Conductor, what are you saying? We're all family. If the others have something, you have to have it too, whether you need it or not! And don't worry, I have ways of getting more. Just take them."
A warmth spread through Pom-Pom's heart. No longer refusing, the Conductor carefully put the totems away.
"Thank you, Passenger Fu Zhu. I wish you all a smooth journey, Pom."