"Ouch~! What are you doing?"
Letting out a standard shriek, Stelle glared resentfully at her troublemaker brother who had just squeezed his way in.
Inside the starskiff, she and March 7th were sticking their heads out of the cabin to enjoy the breeze when Caelus, who knows what got into him, suddenly got up from Bronya's lap and forcefully shoved his head over.
Getting bumped in the chest was a minor issue; the main thing was that he had startled her.
The moment she came into close contact with Caelus, Stelle sensed something unusual through their connection and looked up in the direction of the feeling.
The glazed tiles were dyed a warm gold by the setting sun. Gilded tassels hung from the bronze bells on the eaves, and the passing wind startled the finches perched on the chaofeng beast ridge ornaments.
A beautiful scene with a distinct Xianzhou charm, but was there anything special about it?
"Hey, hey, hey, stop squeezing! Little March is about to be squished into Flat March!"
March 7th was leaning out the window with her chest facing up when Caelus forcibly shoved his head under her raised left arm, pressing her against the porthole like a sticky rice cake.
The subtle sensation of her curves brushing against his cheek made March 7th's face flush red, but just as she was about to scold Caelus, she noticed his strange expression as he stared into the distance.
"Hmm?"
After adjusting her position, March 7th tilted her head in confusion and looked over: "Caelus, what are you looking at?"
"Some entertainment."
"Entertainment? What entertainment? Where is it?"
The moment you mention entertainment, Stelle is wide awake!
The gray-haired girl, who had been trying to pull Caelus away in disgust, had her eyes light up. She expertly wriggled her way out like a fish in water, ignoring the deformation of the slimes on her chest against Caelus's body as she squeezed through.
The three of them formed a human double-stuffed Oreo.
"It's gone now."
Caelus withdrew his gaze, pulling himself out from between the two soft, delicate bodies.
That Aha guy is seriously fast!
For a brief moment, he had felt a fluctuation from the Path of Elation, a laugh that seemed to echo from the ends of the world.
Perhaps because of his special mask, coupled with how far he had walked the Path of Elation, he could clearly feel that energy fluctuation. It was the gaze of the God of Joy!
Without a doubt, He had turned His attention to Three of Dots of the Zuowang Dao!
Caelus wasn't surprised that the Zuowang Dao would walk the Path of Elation. In this galaxy, every single one of those guys would end up on it; there was nothing more to say.
He was worried that if that guy Aha obtained information about the Dajuan world from the Zuowang Dao and created a few Xinsu in the galaxy for fun, then someone was going to have a bad time.
As for the Zuowang Dao, as long as they didn't try to trick him, Caelus had no interest in a mere Three of Dots.
"You three, be careful."
Old Yang sounded like he was earnestly advising children who had stuck their heads out of a car window.
Amidst March 7th's and Stelle's curious questions, the starskiff slowly came to a stop.
"How are you piloting this starskiff? Is this where the Divination Commission is?"
They had just left the starskiff's interior, not yet on the deck, when they heard Master Diviner's furious voice.
"Oh, my, Master Diviner, please calm your anger! This was the route indicated by the Cycrane. According to the rules, I could only follow its instructions."
Being told off by her angry superior, Tingyun's fox ears drooped pitifully.
Caelus clicked his tongue inwardly. Given the current probabilities, he could just treat Tingyun as the Lord Ravager. Her acting was truly superb!
"Who was operating the Cycrane?"
Master Diviner leaped lightly from the starskiff, landing as gently as a leaf, and looked toward the Sky-Faring Commission operator near the dock.
The so-called Cycrane was a jade abacus tool used to plan and guide the routes of starskiffs, found in every corner of every dock on the Xianzhou.
Each Cycrane was responsible for the starskiff routes in a specific area. No matter who was piloting a starskiff, they had to obey the Cycrane's instructions regarding speed limits, docking, and inspections.
It was equivalent to a command instrument that integrated all the functions of a highway control station, including command and inspection.
A Cycrane operator could be roughly compared to a traffic cop.
"Ma-Master Diviner!"
The operator Master Diviner was staring at wiped the beads of sweat from his forehead.
To put it in Earth terms, it was like a traffic cop giving one of the nation's seven highest leaders the wrong directions.
It was clearly a major work-related blunder.
"Master Diviner, the Cycrane has malfunctioned again! The commands are scrambled, and we can't send out any instructions right now!"
An older-looking member of the Sky-Faring Commission came running over, reporting anxiously.
"The Cycrane malfunctioned?" Master Diviner frowned.
As it concerned traffic safety, the Cycrane, jointly created by the Divination Commission and the Artisanship Commission, had a self-diagnostic system. It was almost impossible for it to break down without any warning.
Feeling something was amiss, Master Diviner ordered the Sky-Faring Commission personnel at the dock to repair the Cycrane quickly.
The third eye on her forehead glowed faintly. She lifted her jade-like arm, and talismans swirled, combined, and broke apart between her slender, fair fingers.
March 7th blinked, a look of novelty on her face. "Is this the Xianzhou's divine divination art? Why does it just look like she's wiggling her fingers? It's just like when I count."
"You still use your fingers to count?"
Caelus looked at March 7th's fingers, which were as nimble and cute as a tap-dancing elf's.
"What's wrong with that! It's just a little help. It's a waste not to use all ten fingers!"
March 7th stuck out a slender white index finger and poked Caelus's chest forcefully.
"Marchy, do mine!" Stelle puffed out her chest.
"Eek~! What kind of weird thing are you saying!" March 7th immediately retracted her little hand.
As Seele explained the wonders of Xianzhou divination to Bronya, Bronya's gaze flickered slightly.
Li Sushang, Dan Heng, and Luocha had finally made their way out of the maze-like Cloudford and boarded a starskiff to leave the port with some commoners.
That starskiff's destination was supposed to be a residential grotto-heaven two or three grotto-heavens away from Changle, a straight-line distance of less than 300 kilometers, but its Cycrane also malfunctioned en route.
The starskiff deviated from its original course, moving farther and farther away from them.
With the smart devices malfunctioning simultaneously, Caelus immediately thought of his dear daughter Silver Wolf.
Was this also part of the script?
After a moment's consideration, Caelus decided against asking.
Wolfie was busy helping him investigate the survivors of the Lord Ravager's attack. It was best not to disturb her. Dan Heng would just be a little late to meet up; it wasn't a big deal!
The group's chatter made a muscle in Master Diviner's brow twitch. Her expression gradually changed, this time because of the hexagram.
The hexagram fluctuated between Dui and Kan. Water below the marsh: nothing can grow, the boat is stranded, mired in mud.
"Everyone, I have just performed a divination. The Divination Commission is also afflicted by the Stellaron and has run into some trouble... Please forgive me for not being able to invite you to be guests at the Divination Commission."
"Please do as you must, Master Diviner. I imagine the affairs of the Divination Commission require your authority. There's no need to be polite," Welt said.
"Wait, what about my mommy?"
Stelle looked concernedly at the bound Kafka, who returned a faint smile.
"The prisoner, of course, must not leave my side for a moment. You…"
Seeing the worry on Stelle's face, Master Diviner was at a bit of a loss for words.
Stelle kept calling her 'mommy.' If not for the gaze of the Reignbow Arbiter and the results of her divination, Master Diviner would find it hard not to suspect that Stelle and Caelus were with the Stellaron Hunters.
"If Mommy goes with you, what if Jing Yuan doesn't give us the money?"
Kafka's smile froze. Master Diviner was speechless.
"So you were worried about the bounty money this whole time?" March 7th couldn't help but retort.
"As a General of the Xianzhou, Jing Yuan's word is his bond. Rest assured, you two will not be short a single Strales."
On this point, Master Diviner could certainly vouch for Jing Yuan.
"By the way, when will Kafka be interrogated? We want to be there too."
Although Caelus didn't know much of the proper plot, he had seen some clips while browsing fan works. Kafka would remove her makeup during the interrogation, transforming from a Makima-like villainess into a soft and gentle woman.
It's hard not to let one's filial piety... mutate!
"You may all go about your own activities for now, or return to the inn to rest. The matter of the Stellaron Hunters is quite complex. After I have dealt with the Divination Commission, I will send a disciple to fetch you before the interrogation."
To be honest, Master Diviner didn't want Caelus and Stelle to attend Kafka's interrogation. Although their performance was appallingly filial, what if they did something during the interrogation?
But Jing Yuan had already agreed.
"No problem, Headmaster," Caelus nodded cheerfully.
"Head... master?" Master Diviner tilted her head in confusion.
"We'll meet again if fate allows!" Stelle gave a martial arts world salute.
Master Diviner fell silent. She felt that perhaps she shouldn't take these two seriously. After all…
Thinking back to the scene at Divergent Star Port that looked like a Mara-struck episode, and the antics of the two gray-haired individuals from their first conversation at the Sky-Faring Commission until now, she found it difficult to comprehend them with logic.
Afterward, amid Stelle's sorrowful reluctance as she bit on a white handkerchief, Master Diviner disappeared into the crowd with the Cloud Knights escorting Kafka.
Tingyun bid everyone farewell and returned to the Sky-Faring Commission. It seemed Yukong had something to discuss with her.
"Haa, what should we do next?"
As soon as the official business was done, Little March immediately shifted into Samoyed mode, as if she would charge forward the moment someone took the lead.
"Due to the Stellaron eruption, disturbances have been caused all over the Xianzhou. Interrogating Kafka is important, but dealing with these constant uprisings is equally important. Besides, the Master Diviner said she needs to use special methods, so it will probably be a long wait."
Old Yang spoke after some consideration.
"Let's all have some free time for now."
"Yay~! Time to play!"
With the senior who called the shots in the team having spoken, March 7th jumped for joy.
"Woooah! Treasure chests! Time to find treasure chests!"
Stelle struck a pose as if ready for a big fight.
Bronya activated auto-battle, called over Little Duck, and Silver Wing's consciousness went to the Honkai world.
Seele, Veliona, and the original Seele—three in one—went shopping with Little Duck.
Caelus didn't go with Stelle. A place as big as the Luofu, it was more efficient to split up to find treasure chests.
March 7th was hesitating whether to go play with Stelle or Caelus when the Stellaron creature used her superior strength to drag her away.
"Your emblem is gone!"
Forcibly dragging away my straight man and my bundle of joy, Caelus struck a JoJo pose and pointed at Stelle, declaring loudly.
"Emblem? What emblem? Trying to trick me again? Pfft!"
Stelle playfully stuck her tongue out at Caelus and dragged March 7th off on the path to find treasure chests.
Caelus stood in place, watching Tingyun's gradually receding figure get blocked by the buildings, then turned and left as well, searching for a golden glow on the bustling streets of the Luofu.
At the same time, atop a distant pavilion, stood an exquisite and beautiful figure.
She sat sideways on the glazed tiles with her chin propped on her hand, swinging a wooden clog that was half-off her foot.
Her jade-like feet were as white as new snow under the moon, her nails dyed a pale cherry blossom color that crushed balsam flowers could not replicate. The faint blue veins on the top of her feet were like patterns on blue-and-white porcelain, and the very movement of her toes revealed an exquisite curvature that even a divine artisan could not design.
"Oh my, oh my~~"
The goldfish pattern on her skirt hem churned the evening clouds. Her gradient-colored twintails were lifted by the twilight breeze, and a cunning glint flashed in her sakura-pink eyes.
"Let's start with a little game~"
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