The next morning, Wei Qing slowly woke from sleep.
Rubbing his eyes, he recalled everything from the night before and felt momentarily dazed.
Was Jingliu still in the guest room?
After hesitating, he decided to go check.
Outside the guest room door, he didn't even need to open it—one sweep of his spiritual perception told him she was already gone.
Sure enough, when he pushed the door open, the bed had been neatly made, and Jingliu's figure was nowhere to be seen.
Not even a word before leaving?
Did she see he wasn't awake yet… or was she just embarrassed?
Wei Qing shook his head and stopped overthinking. Just as he was about to head out and buy breakfast, another message popped up.
Seriously—who was this bored first thing in the morning?
[Super Wings: 111]
[Super Wings: Busy man, you there? You there?]
[Super Wings: Ahem. I've got something very important I want your help with (￣▽￣*)]
"Super Wings"—that was the nickname of a certain fox pilot who practically lived in the Sky-Faring Commission.
Wei Qing raised an eyebrow.
[Lone King, PhD-to-Doctorate: ?]
[Lone King, PhD-to-Doctorate: What is it?]
Given Baiheng's personality, she should've been sneakily sprawled in bed at this hour. Was this about Jingliu?
[Super Wings: Hehe. I've got a cousin who just returned to the Luofu. She heard about you being blessed by the Reignbow Arbiter, and she really wants to meet you~]
[Super Wings: So—busy man—do me a favor, yeah? (◕ᴗ◕✿)]
Cousin?
[Lone King, PhD-to-Doctorate: Cousin?]
[Super Wings: Ahh, distant cousin! But honestly, I only found out recently too.]
[Super Wings: The kid's pretty pitiful. She grew up traveling the galaxy with her merchant parents… but last year, they died in an accident involving the Antimatter Legion.]
That plot sounded… weirdly familiar.
Wei Qing stared at the jade communicator for a long time without replying.
Because three hundred years ago, that was exactly how he'd infiltrated the Luofu.
Dead parents + merchant orphan… wasn't that literally his template?
It felt inappropriate to suspect people without reason. It was probably just coincidence.
That's what he told himself—then he sent his reply.
[Lone King, PhD-to-Doctorate: Fine. When do we meet?]
[Super Wings: Noon! (★ω★)]
[Super Wings: Let's do it at Yunlai Pavilion—I've been craving their tea and snacks forever!]
[Lone King, PhD-to-Doctorate: Alright. See you at noon.]
After setting the communicator down, Wei Qing washed up quickly, then decided to buy a small meeting gift first.
Even if she was the one who wanted to meet him, she was still Baiheng's cousin—technically his junior.
At noon, Wei Qing arrived at Yunlai Pavilion on time.
The place was elegantly decorated—a well-known teahouse on the Luofu. The moment he entered, he spotted Baiheng on the second floor waving at him.
"This way, this way!"
Wei Qing went upstairs—and sure enough, there was a strange foxian girl seated beside Baiheng.
She looked about seventeen or eighteen by short-life standards. Her brown hair was tied in a high ponytail, and her amber eyes were lively and bright.
"This is my cousin," Baiheng introduced. "Her name's Linglong. Cute, right?"
The girl named Linglong stood and bowed to Wei Qing.
"I've long heard of you, Brother Wei Qing. Seeing you today… you really are as impressive as they say." Her voice was crisp and sweet, with a hint of shyness.
Wei Qing nodded politely and handed over the gift box in his hand. "First meeting—just a small token."
Linglong accepted it, eyes curving into crescents. "Thank you, Brother Wei Qing! Can I open it now?"
"Of course," Wei Qing said with a smile.
She carefully undid the wrapping. Inside was a delicate jade pendant carved with a traditional Xianzhou auspicious-cloud motif.
"Wow! It's so beautiful!" Linglong exclaimed, holding it up like she couldn't bear to put it down.
Baiheng teased from the side, "Oooh~ Wei Qing, so you do know how to pick jewelry to sweet-talk girls."
"Cousin!" Linglong's cheeks flushed as she shot Baiheng an embarrassed look.
The three sat down. A waiter quickly brought tea and pastries. As Baiheng poured tea for both of them, she asked casually:
"Wei Qing, what've you been busy with lately? I heard General Teng Xiao has been piling tasks on you again?"
Wei Qing lifted his cup and took a light sip. "Yeah—mostly trivial stuff. How about you? Work at the Sky-Faring Commission going alright?"
"Don't even mention it," Baiheng sighed. "Route adjustments lately—I barely have time to sleep. If my cousin hadn't come, I wouldn't have had time to come out at all."
Linglong sat quietly, glancing at Wei Qing now and then, clearly wanting to ask something but holding back.
Wei Qing noticed and asked gently, "Linglong, is there something you want to ask?"
After hesitating, she spoke softly: "Brother Wei Qing… I heard you've seen the Reignbow Arbiter?"
"Mhm. That was a long time ago," Wei Qing nodded.
"Then… what were they like?" Linglong's eyes were full of curiosity.
Wei Qing thought back and gave a wry smile. "Honestly, I didn't see clearly. An Aeon's existence isn't something mortals like us can look at directly."
"Oh…" Linglong looked a little disappointed, but quickly followed up.
"But I heard that anyone personally blessed by an Aeon is an Emanator. Brother Wei Qing… are you an Emanator now?"
"In theory, yes," Wei Qing said with a small smile. "But my 'Emanator' status probably isn't what you're imagining."
He didn't elaborate—because Lan's "blessing" felt more like a mark than true Emanator authority.
Linglong, clearly fascinated, pressed on: "Then why do you think the Reignbow Arbiter chose you?"
"Well…" Wei Qing stroked his chin. "Maybe because I'm handsome?"
Baiheng nearly spat her tea. "Cough—cough—Wei Qing, have some shame!"
Linglong giggled, eyes becoming crescents again. "Brother Wei Qing, you're really funny."
They chatted and laughed, and the atmosphere warmed. Yet Wei Qing couldn't help noticing that while Linglong was young, she spoke with unusual poise—and had sharp, thoughtful takes on Xianzhou history and Aeon legends.
"Your cousin really knows a lot," Wei Qing remarked casually.
"Because I traveled the galaxy with my parents since I was little… heard a lot of stories…" Linglong replied modestly.
And right then, the system's voice rang out again.
[Ding! Detected: colleague with ill intent toward the host—Annihilation Gang Lord Phantylia.]
[Unforgivable! As a fellow Annihilation Gang Lord loyal to Destruction, Phantylia is showing far too much interest in the Hunt Aeon. She must be planning to defect—become a traitor!]
[New side quest issued: Host, properly "correct" this disloyal colleague and make her abandon any thoughts of switching sides.]
Join here to read ahead.
In Star Rail, Ultra-Beast Armored — Have I Caught "Equilibrium"? l (Chapter 80)
Uma Musume, But I Only Have Five Years Left to Live (Chapter 80)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 80)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League (Chapter 80)
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter50)
Yu-Gi-Oh! — Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl (Chapter50)
"Is this chat group even serious?" (Chapter50)
I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (Chapter50)
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