"By the way... where's Jingliu now?"
Beneath a tree in the corner of a large park, Baiheng asked Lucian with a worried expression.
Earlier, after undergoing identity verification in the Xianzhou Yuque, she had heard about Jingliu's deeds from General Yao Guang.
Evidently, after killing her draconic abomination form, Jingliu had killed her own people, broken out of prison, and then escaped from the Xianzhou Alliance—it was exactly the same as the dream Lucian had told them about before.
"I don't know where she went, but she'll definitely come to the Luofu..." Lucian gently patted Baiheng's head, trying to ease her worries.
He truly had no idea where Jingliu was now, since the story in the game never revealed her location. All he knew was that she would show up on the Xianzhou Luofu and cause trouble, so if he wanted to meet her, he could just wait here.
Or perhaps, once she heard about him being on the Xianzhou Luofu, she would immediately come looking for him?
"Then... what about Jingliu's wanted notice?" Baiheng asked again, her voice tinged with helplessness.
"I'll find a chance to fix that..." Lucian replied calmly, gazing absentmindedly at the sky. "Don't worry, I'll make the Alliance revoke her charges."
Hearing him say this, Baiheng didn't press further, since she knew that if he said he would do something, he would definitely make it happen.
Just as Lucian and Baiheng were getting all lovey-dovey, an untimely voice cut in.
"Hey, Baiheng, are you done yet? I want to talk to my brother too."
Lucian and Baiheng glanced toward the source of the voice and saw a giant man, Teng Xiao.
Seeing Teng Xiao, Baiheng's fox ears instantly shot up in fright, and she quickly jumped out of Lucian's arms.
"A-Ah? Oh..."
Baiheng let out an awkward sound, then grabbed Lucian's arm, standing close at his side with an embarrassed smile.
Lucian, on the other hand, smiled at the giant man before him, feeling a little amused.
Charging over just to be a third wheel—that was just like Teng Xiao.
"I really didn't want to interrupt, but you two are way too clingy and lost in your own world. I couldn't wait any longer." Teng Xiao rubbed his nose, looking a little apologetic.
"Honestly, your return was totally unexpected." Lucian raised his fist and thumped it lightly against Teng Xiao's chest. "But from the bottom of my heart, congrats on returning to the world of the living."
Now that Teng Xiao had already removed the heavy armor he usually wore, he couldn't help but marvel at Teng Xiao's rock-solid chest muscle as he thumped his fist against it—it was as if a steel plate was embedded there.
"Guhahaha! Whether you meant it or not, I lived thanks to you." Teng Xiao laughed heartily, slapping Lucian's shoulder. "In short, I owe you, brother. From now on, your business is my business. I'll always have your back!"
"Alright." Lucian chuckled softly. "Don't forget what you just said. If I ever need your help, don't deny me."
Truth be told, he admired Teng Xiao quite a bit—especially his personality, which was straightforward, bold, clear about love and hate, cautious yet daring, and deeply loyal.
No wonder both the High-Cloud Quintet and the Cloud Knights respected him so much—he really was a good man.
"As for Jingliu's matter, I'll discuss it with Yuan and see how we can make amends." Teng Xiao thumped his chest with firm conviction. "Don't worry, brother, I'll definitely give you a satisfying outcome."
Lucian was about to say it wasn't necessary when he sensed someone else approaching.
"Unfortunately, that matter won't be so easy."
Everyone turned toward the voice and saw Jing Yuan approaching.
Because of Lucian's visit, Jing Yuan had hurried through his assessment of the Xianzhou Cangcheng and rushed back to entertain him, but just as he arrived at the park where Lucian was, he happened to overhear them discussing a forbidden topic.
In the current Xianzhou Alliance, Jingliu was taboo—so much so that even history books had erased her existence, as if she had never existed.
In truth, he also wished there were a solution, but the truth was, there wasn't one.
"Baiheng..." Jing Yuan smiled with somewhat teary eyes. "It's been so long... Welcome back..."
As soon as he saw the real Baiheng, he could no longer hold back the tears welling at the corners of his eyes.
Back then, when he had only seen her holographic projection in the group chat, he had been shocked and incredulous, but seeing his dear friend alive again before him, he truly couldn't stop the tears.
"Oh, c'mon, Jing Yuan, don't cry~" Baiheng teased with a smile. "You're a general now, aren't you? How can you still act like a kid?"
Just like in the past, she treated everyone equally, regardless of status.
Jing Yuan smiled helplessly, but when he saw Baiheng clinging tightly to Lucian's side, he paused and recalled that dream where both of them were always together, basically inseparable.
"Looks like my dream wasn't false after all, Lucian—no, Teacher." Jing Yuan turned serious and bowed deeply to Lucian. "Thank you... Thank you for easing the regrets in my heart. It really helped delay my mara quite a lot. I can probably endure for a few more centuries now."
Even the judges of the Ten-Lords Commission had said that if an ordinary Xianzhou native had gone through what Jing Yuan endured, just one of his regrets would've triggered mara-struck, yet he had persisted until today, which showed just how extraordinary his spirit was.
"Well, since today's a reunion of old friends, why don't we have a drink together?"
Lucian proposed with a carefree smile, and everyone immediately agreed.
===
As night came, the four of them enjoyed a small gathering in Jing Yuan's bamboo grove—they drank heartily, fully content.
An hour later, Jing Yuan arranged for Lucian and Baiheng to stay in a nearby residence so he could easily call on them if needed.
Lucian, now back in his room, lay on his bed with both hands behind his head, staring absent-mindedly at the ceiling.
Feeling the night wind drift in through the window and brush against his skin, he couldn't help but wonder who would be the protagonist of the next script—and how many years would pass inside it.
*Thump-Thump-Thump—*
Just then, someone knocked on the door.
Lucian merely waved his hand, and the door opened by an invisible force.
*Creak—*
First, a pair of fox ears poked in through the crack, then half a head with a pair of round eyes blinked rapidly.
"Lucian, I want to sleep with you~" Baiheng said softly, then slipped inside, closing the door quietly like a thief.
"Seriously, this is someone else's home, behave yourself."
Even though Lucian scolded Baiheng like this, he had already reached out and pulled her into his arms.
"I don't care... I'm scared that when I wake up, you'll be gone again..." Baiheng hugged him with a small smile. "If I sleep with you, I can keep you here."
Lucian, increasingly feeling that she was just a clingy little fox spirit, instinctively held her close with one arm, though his hand accidentally brushed against her soft breasts.
"You did that on purpose?" Baiheng asked with a pout.
"No, it was an accident—one hundred percent." Lucian said while raising both his hands.
"Heehee, but I did it on purpose." Baiheng giggled, and before Lucian could react, she suddenly pressed herself against him.
"Looks like you need a little discipline, little fox." Lucian smirked.
As the night wind blew gently and the moon shone brightly, the silence around them was so deep that even the faintest sound rang like thunder.
*Slurp~*
"No one's going to disturb us, right?"
Baiheng asked casually as she sucked Lucian's 'little brother.'
"No way, who'd be dumb enough to—"
Before Lucian could finish his words—
*Beep-Beep!*
On the small table beside the bed, his jade abacus suddenly rang and vibrated.
'Damn it.'
Lucian cursed inwardly, remembering that Baiheng's mouth was a powerful jinx.
Baiheng, startled by the ringing jade abacus, suddenly tightened her mouth grip.
"Hisss—!"
Lucian took a sharp breath as he felt the sudden tight grip on his 'little brother,' then picked up his jade abacus with a trembling hand.
As he looked at the caller's name, it was Jing Yuan calling.
[Hey, want to go grab some late-night snacks?]
"Not tonight. I'm busy. Let's do it tomorrow."
[Busy? Alright... I won't bother you then...]
Just like that, the call ended abruptly.
===
In another residence, Jing Yuan frowned in confusion as he gazed at his jade abacus.
"What could he possibly be so busy with this late at night?"
===
Xianzhou Luofu, Cloudford, Cargo Lane.
In this area, goods from countless planets flowed in and out of the Xianzhou Luofu.
Taking advantage of a loophole, someone slipped past the identity checks at the main gate without anyone noticing, infiltrating the Xianzhou Luofu.
"Master... wait for me... I'll be seeing you very soon..."
===
[A bonus chapter for every 500 Power Stones.]
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