"Huh?"
The group stared in stunned silence as Lumina effortlessly dealt with the Ambrosial Arbor's roots.
"Sister Lumina... really!" March 7th was the first to react, planting her hands on her hips and puffing out her cheeks, her displeasure clear. "You knew how to solve this all along! Why did you have to mess with us like that?"
"Alright, alright, I was wrong," Lumina said, her heart warming at March 7th's adorable display. She raised her hands in mock surrender, admitting her mistake.
"Hmph," March 7th huffed, turning her head away as if genuinely annoyed. But her eyes, darting repeatedly toward Lumina, betrayed her act. Silly March 7th couldn't possibly harbor any real malice; she simply wanted Lumina to pat her head.
When they were alone, Lumina would instinctively reach out to pat March 7th's head without any prompting. But with so many eyes watching, Lumina felt she needed to maintain some dignity.
Lumina deliberately ignored March 7th's blatant hint, shifting her gaze to Welt and explaining her earlier actions.
"The situation on the Xianzhou is far more complex than you imagine. I won't go into the specifics."
"To prevent unnecessary casualties, I came here to test your strength."
"Of course, obtaining the Abundant Ebon Deer was also one of my objectives."
As Lumina spoke, she waved at the deer, as if signaling something.
Noticing her gesture, the Abundant Ebon Deer lowered its head slightly, then transformed into a golden light that coalesced around Lumina's wrist, forming a deer-shaped bracelet with a hint of green in its golden hue.
"So, did we pass your test?" Stelle asked, her gaze fixed on Lumina's wrist and fingers, lost in thought.
"Of course," Lumina replied, suppressing a pang of conscience with a nod. "Your 'united efforts' and 'seamless coordination' should serve you well when facing the challenges ahead."
"Do those idioms really have anything to do with us?" March 7th immediately retorted.
Lumina simply smiled at March 7th's remark.
Sensing Stelle's gaze, she subtly curved her lips upward and said, "Making the rings will take some time. I'll give them to you when you're ready to leave the Xianzhou."
"Lumina—"
"And you too, March," Lumina interjected, anticipating March 7th's next words.
"Yay!"
Although March 7th had been slightly disgruntled earlier because Lumina hadn't understood her unspoken wish, hearing this instantly erased her pout, replaced by a cheerful grin.
"So easy to please..." Lumina thought, watching March 7th's expression change.
So naive, so easily won over, and so utterly adorable... Lucky for her she met me. If she'd fallen into the wrong hands, she'd probably be scammed blind, help them count the money, and then thank them for the privilege.
[It's lucky March 7th ran into you. Otherwise, she'd have been scammed blind, forced to count the money, and then made to thank you for the privilege...]
Hearing Lumina's words, the long-dormant System immediately piped up with a snide remark.
"Shut up," Lumina replied gently, her smile never wavering.
"Oh, Lady Lumina, you truly frightened this humble one earlier..." Tingyun said, patting her chest with a sigh of relief. "I thought you were actually going to start a fight with us..."
Seeing that Lumina's conversation with the others had ended, Tingyun spoke up, still a little shaken.
"Rest assured, Miss Tingyun," Lumina replied with a mischievous twinkle in her eye. "Even if I were to fight you, I'd never raise a hand against little March and her friends."
Tingyun: ...
Astral Express Crew: ?
Tingyun's eyelid twitched. If not for Lumina's warm smile and joking tone, she might have mistaken her for a fanatical devotee of the Abundance.
She's about to flip the table and snatch the Ambrosial Arbor by force...
Tch... I'm never working with a lunatic like this again, Tingyun thought to herself.
Lumina, obsessed with Abundance Divine Miracles, was capable of anything.
Fortunately, they were on the Xianzhou. Whatever Lumina did would harm the ship, which in turn would benefit Tingyun.
"Hmm? I was just joking," Lumina hummed, noticing the crew's silence. "Did my little scare completely dispel your lingering fear?"
March 7th's face crumpled in exasperation. "Seriously? How is that supposed to be reassuring?"
Tingyun: ...
Tingyun couldn't shake the feeling that Lumina was subtly hinting at something to the Astral Express Crew. Yet Lumina's demeanor was flawless, leaving no tangible evidence.
"Aha, then this humble servant thanks you, Lady Lumina," Tingyun said after a moment, forcing a weak smile as she lowered her head in gratitude.
"You're welcome," Lumina said, shaking her head with a gentle smile.
"Hmm... I get the feeling you two are hiding something," March 7th mused, glancing between Tingyun and Lumina, a thoughtful expression on her face.
"Little March," Lumina said patiently, gently poking March 7th's cheek with her pinky finger, "everyone has secrets they can't share. Me, Miss Tingyun—everyone."
"Not me!" March 7th retorted, pouting. "I'd tell you all my secrets, Sister Lumina, if you just asked!"
"Alright, alright," Lumina chuckled, her smile widening as her fingers itched to tousle March 7th's hair.
The urge to ruffle March 7th's hair was overwhelming—an ordinary person might have been unable to resist. But Lumina was no ordinary person; she was destined for greatness. Suppressing the urge, she surveyed the chaotic scene in the Artisanship Commission and remarked:
"Now that our business at the Artisanship Commission is completely resolved, you should all proceed to the Alchemy Commission immediately," Lumina said. "It borders the Ambrosial Arbor and will likely be far more troublesome than this place."
"Huh? Sister Lumina, aren't you coming with us?" March 7th asked, puzzled.
"No," Lumina replied with a gentle nod and a smile. "This is Luofu's affair, and General Jing Yuan hasn't requested my assistance. Therefore, I have no right to interfere."
"If my meddling were to make General Jing Yuan view me as an enemy, suspecting me of coveting Luofu's Ambrosial Arbor, the price would be too high."
"Ugh... I take back my earlier praise of General Jing Yuan's strategic prowess," March 7th grumbled, her face twisting with exasperation. "How can such a brilliant secret weapon like Sister Lumina be left unused by that blindfolded General? What a fool! Honestly, I could do a better job as the Divine Foresight General myself!"
March 7th's impression of Jing Yuan plummeted sharply in that moment.