Baizhi frowned slightly, her delicate brows knitting together. "After overclocking, there were no signs of manifestation, nor any harm to the body…"
"You… truly are special."
Meanwhile, Jué reviewed the report and mused, "It seems your body is still far from reaching its limits."
Abby crossed his arms, nodding approvingly. "Not bad. Reminds me of my younger days."
Lucian: "…Since when did you start putting on airs?"
Rover: "I guess this is what they call 'a fox borrowing the tiger's might.'"
Lucian excitedly asked, "What about Rover's report? Let me see it!"
Baizhi shook her head lightly. "No. The Magistrate has ordered that Rover's report be classified as top-secret."
Lucian: "?"
He immediately protested, "But I'm Rover's man! Doesn't that make me family? Even family can't see it?"
Baizhi remained firm. "No means no. These are the Magistrate's orders."
Lucian: "Hey—I'm the Magistrate's intelligence officer! Doesn't that count for something?"
Baizhi replied impassively, "Even if you were the Magistrate's husband, the answer would still be no."
Lucian: "…"
"Then you better classify my report as top-secret too!"
"And it has to be the highest level!"
Abby patted Lucian's head. "Lucian, don't compare yourself to others. Just be yourself, steady and true!"
Lucian: "?"
"Since when does a little Echo like you lecture me?"
Grabbing Abby by the scruff of his neck, Lucian grumbled incessantly as he walked out, intending to check on Jinhsi's condition at the City Hall.
After everyone left, Mortefi approached Baizhi. "I do think Lucian's report should also be classified."
"After all, his uniqueness is no less than Rover's."
Baizhi nodded slightly. "I will seek the Magistrate's approval for this."
"Previously, the Magistrate likely didn't anticipate Lucian's capabilities to be this extraordinary."
...
City Hall.
By the time Lucian and the others arrived, Jinhsi was already seated, handling official matters.
It seemed her recovery was going well, with no major issues.
Changli and Sanhua stood by her side.
Jinhsi smiled warmly. "You're here. And… Sentinel."
Sanhua had already informed Jinhsi and Changli that Jué was the Sentinel's human form.
Jué spoke solemnly, "There's no need for formality. My transformation was not just for recovery."
"It was also to experience the world's joys and sorrows firsthand. I believe this will lead to deeper realizations in the future."
Lucian asked with concern, "How's your condition?"
Jinhsi's eyes curved gently. "Thanks to you, I've never felt better."
Lucian's palm glowed green again as he used Healing Art on her.
Even though Jinhsi claimed she was fine, he wanted to ensure no hidden injuries remained.
But just as she had said, her condition was flawless—his Healing Art didn't even drain his energy.
Jinhsi inquired, "What are your plans from here?"
Rover: "We'll stay in Jinzhou for the Moon-Chasing Festival, relax for a while, then set out for the Black Shores."
Jinhsi nodded. "That's perfect. The Moon-Chasing Festival is also called the Reunion Festival."
"As the heroes who helped Jinzhou repel the Threnodian, your presence is essential."
"I'm sure everyone would love to see you during the celebrations."
Abby pumped his fist. "Yeah! I'm a hero! I'm gonna eat a hundred Plumpcakes!"
Rover covered Abby's face. "That title kinda applies to you… but not really."
Abby: "…"
Changli chuckled softly. "For Jinzhou, the moon's phases at the border are tied to the Threnodians' resurgence. Twin moons in the sky are an omen of disaster."
"Chasing the Moon is more like racing against it—the people of Jinzhou must halt the Threnodian's incubation before the full moon."
"To honor the soldiers and civilians who contributed, the Magistrate named the full moon season the Moon-Chasing Festival."
"When only the single, round moon remains in the sky, people no longer race against its light but follow its glow home to reunite."
Abby scratched his head. "Huh? So it's not because of Hsin?"
Changli looked puzzled. "Hsin?"
Jinhsi smiled faintly. "Probably something from storytellers' tales."
"Folklore often prioritizes entertainment over accuracy—it keeps the audience engaged."
Lucian asked, "Then does Hsin really exist as a Sentinel?"
Jinhsi nodded. "That part is true."
Lucian pondered briefly before recalling something. "Yangyang once mentioned that some regions coexist with Echoes?"
Jinhsi thought for a moment. "Yes. Rinascita, near Jinzhou, is one such place."
Lucian: "Rinascita?"
Jinhsi smiled. "Rinascita is completely different from Jinzhou."
"If you ever visit, I'm sure you'll love it."
Abby's eyes sparkled. "I can't wait! I wonder if they have good food!"
Rover asked curiously, "What's it like?"
Jinhsi considered her words. "Jinzhou, as the frontline against Tacet Discords, has a mostly solemn atmosphere—you've felt it yourselves."
"And with the city still in post-disaster reconstruction, its architecture is designed for combat, giving it a more 'mechanical' style."
"Rinascita is the opposite—richer in culture, with more diverse and innovative lifestyles."
"I don't know much about Rinascita, but once you're there, you'll see how different it is."
Lucian asked, "What form does Rinascita's Sentinel take?"
He suspected the Sentinels were based on the Twenty-Eight Mansions, given Jué.
Jinhsi paused. "Rinascita's Sentinel… even I don't know its form. But I do know one of its regions, Ragunna, has a Sentinel resembling a 'seahorse'—though not exactly."
"Like Jinzhou's Sentinel, Jué, we usually call Laguna's Sentinel 'Imperator'."
Jué belongs to the Azure Dragon's Seven Mansions in the east. In Lucian's memory, Imperator is also one of the Twenty-Eight Mansions, but under the Vermilion Bird's Mansions in the south, taking the form of Celestial Steed.
Given the correlation between Sentinels and celestial mansions, Lucian voiced his theory.
Changli nodded slightly. "You've deduced quite a lot already."
"The Sentinels across the lands are indeed linked to the Twenty-Eight Mansions."
"But the exact reason… you'll have to uncover yourselves."
"Of course, you could always ask Sentinel Jué directly…"
Lucian turned expectantly to Jué, only to see her expressionless, as if they were strangers.
"Tch…"
Lucian: "?"
Who pissed her off this time!?