Hearing Bai Heng's question, Wei Qing's gaze swept the room as well.
Sure enough, that familiar cold figure wasn't here.
If this was really about arresting him, then how was it that Jingliu and Teng Xiao—the two most obvious "must-invite" choices—weren't present?
Wei Qing couldn't figure out what Jing Yuan was trying to do. Even if he wanted to come clean, he should've called in more people, right?
Jing Yuan gave a helpless smile and poured himself a cup of wine.
"Fine. Since Sir Dian Dao likely knows some of the inside story already, I won't bother pretending."
"The Luofu really is preparing to lure and capture the Emanator Qingzhou. My master is personally guarding the Stellaron right now—she can't step away."
Truthfully, Jing Yuan had wanted Jingliu to come tonight and relax with everyone. But to prevent that man from slipping in while they weren't looking, Jingliu hesitated and ultimately refused.
Though, after hearing about this "Dian Dao" and Bai Heng, she did tell Jing Yuan to keep a close eye—so Bai Heng wouldn't end up trusting the wrong person.
After Jing Yuan's explanation, Wei Qing felt a wave of absurdity.
Was Jing Yuan taking a swipe at him?
The man in question was literally sitting right here—and Jingliu was still camping the bait point like a statue?
Was this supposed to be some elaborate joke at his expense?
Just then, Ying Xing snorted from across the table.
"Kid. It's only been a few days. Why didn't you bring your little sister tonight?"
Wei Qing's hand paused slightly as he lifted his cup. Ying Xing's tone sounded… weird.
He took a quiet sip, then smiled smoothly. "Ah Xing's still young. She played hard all day and got tired, so I told her to rest early. Master craftsman, did you need something from her?"
"Nothing." Ying Xing answered bluntly—then tipped his head back and downed a large mouthful of wine.
Dan Feng let out a soft chuckle. "Sir Dian Dao, your bond with your sister is admirable. But I wonder—your sister… is she truly your blood sister?"
"We share the same blood, naturally. Isn't our matching hair color proof enough?" Wei Qing replied without missing a beat. "Why does Your Excellency the Dragon Venerable ask?"
"Your names, that's all. Their style doesn't quite sound like something siblings would choose. I was curious."
For a moment, the atmosphere turned faintly strange. Bai Heng squirmed in her seat and hurriedly cut in.
"Hey, hey—what are you doing, running a census interview?!" she barked, forcing a laugh.
"Dian Dao and Star are obviously real siblings! What's there to interrogate? Drink, drink!"
She grabbed the wine jug and went around filling everyone's cups, trying to steer the conversation away.
Jing Yuan watched her with a barely-there smile and raised his cup as well.
"Bai Heng's right. This is a private dinner—no official business, no digging into people's backgrounds. Sir Dian Dao is our guest; we should enjoy ourselves."
"Come. I'll toast you first—thank you for helping the Luofu these past days."
Everyone raised their cups.
After a few rounds, the mood seemed to loosen slightly—yet Wei Qing could still feel those lingering, half-hidden glances. The scrutiny hadn't actually gone away.
What was wrong with these three?
Were they really going to be this blatant? Like they couldn't even be bothered to pretend anymore?
Ying Xing drank the hardest. A few cups in, he started talking more—pulling Jing Yuan into complaints about the Artisanship Commission, shortages of materials, bureaucratic nonsense. Every so often, he would glare at Wei Qing like he was warning him: watch yourself, kid.
Dan Feng remained calm and detached, occasionally exchanging a few quiet words with Jing Yuan. But his eyes would still drift over to Wei Qing from time to time, cool and analytical—like he was dissecting a mechanism.
Bai Heng was the most lively, chattering about funny incidents in the Sky-Faring Commission, trying her best to keep the table warm. But the tension in her eyes never fully vanished.
Then Dan Feng spoke again—cleanly slicing through the lingering awkwardness.
He wore a faint, unreadable smile, his voice light but impossible to dodge.
"Sir Dian Dao, as a Pure Beauty Knight who travels the stars, you must be widely experienced. But I wonder… what is your current financial situation? Do you have any stable assets?"
"Spreading Pure Beauty across the galaxy requires funds. It isn't something built on air."
The question was so blunt it bordered on rude—completely unlike Dan Feng's usual restrained style.
Bai Heng sucked in a sharp breath. The piece of roasted bird she'd just picked up almost dropped back onto the table.
She whipped her head toward Dan Feng, eyes screaming: Why would you ask that?!
Even Ying Xing—who'd been drinking like his life depended on it—stopped and frowned at Dan Feng. He pressed his lips together, didn't interrupt… but he also looked toward Wei Qing, clearly waiting for an answer.
Wei Qing's brows rose a fraction.
Financial situation?
The way Dan Feng asked wasn't casual curiosity. It was a superior, evaluative "weighing"—like measuring a man's worth. The whole thing felt increasingly like some bizarre "meet the family" gauntlet… and not a friendly one.
Maybe there was an information gap here.
After all, Wei Qing knew Bai Heng: she was a lovable idiot—bad at lying, excellent at spouting nonsense. It wouldn't shock him if she'd created a misunderstanding so enormous it now had gravitational pull.
"Your Excellency the Dragon Venerable jokes," Wei Qing replied serenely. "Pure Beauty resides in the heart and manifests in form. What has it to do with mere gold and silver?"
"My sister and I follow the traces of the Aeon Idrila. The stars are our home, and beauty itself is our permanent property."
Dan Feng didn't let him slide.
"Spiritual wealth is precious, but life still requires a foundation. Without a modest stable base, you may face hardship later. Would that not wrong your sister?"
"And you're young now, but one day you'll marry and raise a family. Living like this hardly speaks of a responsible man."
Ying Xing slammed his cup onto the table with a heavy thunk and finally joined in.
"Dan Feng's words are rough, but the logic's sound. Young people chasing ideals is fine, but you can't live on wind and dew."
"You've got ability. You've never thought of building something stable? It'd beat dragging your sister around everywhere."
Wei Qing fell silent for a beat.
He stared at these two pivotal figures of the Luofu—who were, in all seriousness, jointly grilling him about his personal finances.
"Your concern is noted," he said slowly, setting his cup down. "But I must ask—why are the two of you suddenly so interested in my 'family assets'?"
His gaze swept over Bai Heng, who looked tense enough to snap, then landed on Jing Yuan—who was pretending to be uninvolved while clearly listening with both ears.
Jing Yuan caught that look and gave an awkward cough, trying to salvage the situation.
"Ahem—Dan Feng, Ying Xing—Sir Dian Dao is a guest, we—"
"Jing Yuan," Ying Xing cut him off with an elder's unquestionable authority, "this matter is serious. It concerns Bai Heng's future happiness. Don't you dare interrupt."
Dan Feng added calmly, "If he is the man Bai Heng favors, then as her friends, we must vet him."
"If he has only ideals but no footing, then he'll only bring her trouble later."
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 178)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 142)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League ( 126 )
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter110)
Yu-Gi-Oh! — Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl (Chapter181)
"Is this chat group even serious?" (Chapter103)
I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (Chapter192)
Can Playing Games Save the World? 65
Crossover Anime Multiverse: The Demon Hunter of an Unnatural World 77
From Junkman to Wasteland 66
Weekly Refresh of Overpowered 31
I'm Grinding Proficiency Like 46
From Kiana, Lord Ravager, Onwa 173
Honkai: Is This Still the Prev 42
Elf: My Starter Pokémon Is Inc 65
Warhammer: My Primarch Is Remi 166
From Demon Slayer to Grand Ass 110
The Way the Umamusume Look at 68
Uma Musume, but My Cheat Power 190
Naruto: Weaving the Future, Be 65
Zenless Zone Zero, but Kamen R 76
Multiverse Crossover: The Perf 66
My Cyberpsycho Girlfriend 65
Uma Musume: The Dark Trainer 165
Uma Musume: A Calamity Born fr 156
I, a Reincarnation-Loop Player 81
The Violent Girl Group Is Beat 102
Uma Musume: The Horse Girl Who 66
Uma Musume: From Beginner 120
Becoming a Horse Girl, I Will 80
Uma Musume: I Want All 95
I Can Copy Unique Skills 84
Summoning an Evil God, but the 66
Supernatural Multiverse 83
My Harem Is Indescribable 75
Jujutsu Kaisen: Heroic Spirit 81
"I'm just a Valkyrie passing through." 67
Uma Musume: Today Is Another Romantic Battlefield 75
Still playing traditional Honk 55
The Most Filial Son Under Heav 60
What Should I Do After Switchi - Volume2/3
Reincarnated as a Demon, Skill 57
Hell-Difficulty Dungeon? 45
Transmigrated as Sukuna 55
Checking In in Demon Slayer 60
The Reincarnating Trainer of Tracen Academy 65
I Refuse to Become a Heroic 35
My Best Friend Into a Slime? 35
A Saiyan Stands Above Marvel 39
What Do You Mean by Using a Lab Mod to Be the Hero? 58
Tanya Starts from Re:Zero 30
Why did they assign me to Uma 35
MYGO Beauties 42
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