"Huh? Sushang? What are you doing here?"
After following Sushang for a while, they encountered a group of Cloud Knights stationed nearby. Sushang's arrival immediately caught their attention, and several of them approached her.
"What brings you here?" one of them asked.
"Of course! I'm here on official orders to evacuate the civilians. See? These three are the ones I'm helping." Sushang stepped aside, allowing the Cloud Knights to see Luocha, Dan Heng, and Lumina behind her.
The Cloud Knights showed no reaction to Luocha. Dan Heng looked vaguely familiar, but they couldn't quite place him. However, when their eyes fell on Lumina, their hearts skipped a beat. They glanced back at Sushang, who seemed completely oblivious. The Cloud Knights exchanged meaningful looks before nodding in unison, as if reaching a silent agreement.
Sushang: ?!
Observing the Cloud Knights' behavior, Sushang flashed a hilariously clueless smile. Her eyes blinked rapidly, and a large question mark seemed to materialize above her head, radiating an aura of mock wisdom.
"Um... well, it's too dangerous here. I need to get them out of here quickly..."
Though Sushang couldn't fathom what they were thinking, she knew she had to escort Luocha, Dan Heng, and Lumina safely out of Cloudford.
"Yes, a colleague of ours encountered a monster nearby and was injured. We just managed to rescue him," one of the Cloud Knights said.
"We're under orders to cover the retreat and will be withdrawing soon. You should leave immediately."
The Cloud Knight glanced at Lumina but didn't reveal her identity.
"Got it," Sushang replied, waving to the three behind her. "Let's go."
The three followed Sushang without a word, departing the area.
"No matter how you look at it, Miss Lumina has an impeccable air about her..." one of the Cloud Knights murmured as the group disappeared from sight.
"This is the third time she's appeared here. I remember her leaving with Miss Tingyun not long ago."
"What could her purpose be for returning this time?"
The apparent leader of the Cloud Knights narrowed his eyes, pondering Lumina's actions, his thoughts unreadable.
"Report Miss Lumina's movements immediately... and increase our vigilance toward her."
"Though I can't believe she would do anything wrong..."
"Still... she's currently the most suspicious person."
"Three times? Lumina has been to Cloudford three times?"
"This feels like foreshadowing."
After Sushang led Lumina and the others away, the Cloud Knights' conversation naturally became visible to the players.
Little Bear was astonished that Lumina had visited Cloudford three times. There was the time with the Astral Express Crew, this current situation, and... when was the third time?
[I have a theory: First, Lumina came to Cloudford with the Stellaron and detonated it to draw the attention of the Luofu Cloud Knights. Second, she returned to unleash the power of Abundance, plunging most of the Cloud Knights into Mara-induced chaos and disrupting the order of the Luofu. Third, she came to Cloudford to negotiate a partnership with Luocha, perhaps plotting the joint destruction of the Luofu?]
[If that's true, then Tingyun, who spent so much time talking with Lumina earlier, might also be an accomplice...]
[Holy crap! Let's get the Astral Express moving ASAP! What's the point of fighting this?!]
[Wait! I have a bold theory. Although Lumina and Luocha have joined forces, they might not truly be on the same side...]
[To the commenter above, I get what you mean... Luocha: Miss Lumina, I did not lie...]
"Why don't you all become writers?" Little Bear chuckled, amused by the comments. "I think you could do a better job."
With their wild imaginations, it would be a waste for them not to pursue editing.
While most of the comments were just random speculation, a few made surprisingly coherent points.
Take the one about Lumina's journey to Cloudford, for example.
Chronologically, Lumina's first arrival at Cloudford could indeed coincide with the Stellaron's eruption.
But Lumina had dedicated her entire life to good deeds, selfless service, and earning the affection of people across the cosmos.
How could she suddenly harbor such malice upon arriving at Xianzhou? It seemed highly unlikely...
Little Bear shook his head, dismissing the thought.
The story wasn't over yet, and more information would surely emerge. He just hoped it wouldn't end on a cliffhanger...
-
Xianzhou Luofu, Seat of Divine Foresight
"General, this report was sent by the Cloud Knights stationed at Cloudford."
A Cloud Knight presented the document to Jing Yuan, who was resting with his eyes closed.
"Hmm, you may leave."
Jing Yuan opened his eyes, nodded to the Cloud Knight, and lazily picked up the report to read.
As he read, his relaxed demeanor gradually vanished, replaced by an increasingly grave expression.
"Could my initial assessment have been wrong?"
After finishing the report, Jing Yuan placed it on the desk, took a deep breath, and his face showed a hint of complexity.
While Lumina's three appearances at Cloudford didn't definitively prove she was an enemy of Luofu, it was close enough.
Three appearances in the same place within a short period—especially at the epicenter of the Stellaron's eruption, the area most severely affected—made Lumina a prime suspect.
Tap, tap, tap...
Jing Yuan rested his palm on the table, his fingers drumming a steady rhythm as he pondered something deeply.
"Lumina, Luocha... what exactly are your true motives?"
He rose from his chair and walked to the window, clasping his hands behind his back as he gazed at the cityscape of Xianzhou Luofu.
"Is it the Ambrosial Arbor?"
A profound look settled in his eyes.
Luocha aside, Tingyun... Lumina had no reason to target her.
Perhaps she's no longer the Tingyun we once knew...
After a moment of contemplation, Jing Yuan called out to the Cloud Knight stationed outside the door.
"Someone!"
Hearing his command, a Cloud Knight immediately entered and saluted.
"General."
Jing Yuan turned to face him and instructed, "Notify Yukong of the Sky-Faring Commission. Have her investigate Miss Tingyun's Starskiff travel logs."
A glint of understanding sparked in his eyes, as if he had pieced something together.
"Understood!"