Another three days passed.
Asdana System.
Outside Penacony's dreamscape—within the Family's territory—the Astral Express was docked in a quiet stretch of space.
Inside the train, Dan Heng was alone in the carriages, holding cleaning tools and meticulously tidying the Observation Car. The cloth swept across the polished table; everything was calm, orderly, and precise.
Conductor Pom-Pom had extremely strict standards for cleanliness. With Dan Heng currently the only Nameless staying behind on the train, the work naturally fell to him.
He didn't mind.
He just hoped Stelle and March were having fun.
But then, a sound came from behind him.
Dan Heng didn't turn immediately. By habit, he asked, "Pom-Pom? Still worried about March and the others?"
No reply.
His wiping motion paused. Frowning, he turned around.
Standing there wasn't the small conductor Pom-Pom—but a tall stranger.
The man wore a faint, unreadable smile, calmly watching Dan Heng.
Dan Heng's instincts snapped tight. Cloud-Piercer flashed into his hands, its point leveled without hesitation.
"Who are you? How did you get onto the Express?"
Facing the cold spearpoint, the intruder showed no panic at all. If anything, he looked mildly amused as he studied Dan Heng—and the familiar weapon in his grip.
"So it really is Cloud-Piercer," the man said lightly. "You're still using this?"
Dan Heng's brows drew together. The man's tone carried an unsettling familiarity—yet Dan Heng was certain he'd never met him.
"Answer my question."
"Who am I?" The man chuckled, then blatantly ignored Dan Heng's hostility and flopped onto a nearby sofa like he owned the place.
"By my current identity, I'm the previous navigator of this train. You can call me Yi Qing."
"Previous navigator?" Dan Heng's suspicion deepened.
He knew the Astral Express's history. He also knew there had been a navigator named Yi Qing—the shortest-tenured navigator, the last one before the Express went dormant, and an Emanator of the Trailblaze.
And according to what Dan Heng had heard, the Galaxy Ranger who had recently made a name for himself in the Xianzhou Alliance's war against the Abundance enemies… was also called Yi Qing.
"Do you have proof?" Dan Heng said evenly. "And the way you spoke just now—you seem to know me."
"But this should be our first meeting."
Cloud-Piercer remained steady in his hands, unwavering.
The Astral Express was currently docked near Penacony. A figure who appeared out of nowhere—claiming to be an eight-hundred-year-old former navigator—was suspicious to the extreme.
"I know you." Yi Qing spoke lazily. "But yes, we're meeting for the first time."
Then he added, almost casually:
"I know your previous life—the Vidyadhara High Elder named Dan Feng."
Dan Heng's pupils tightened. His grip on the spear hardened.
"That is in the past. I am Dan Heng now."
"I can tell," Yi Qing nodded.
Dan Heng blinked at the unexpected response, then quickly regained his composure.
"Even if you knew Dan Feng, that doesn't prove you're Yi Qing. This is the Astral Express—no one enters without verification."
"Provide stronger evidence."
Yi Qing seemed to have expected that. He tossed something over.
Dan Heng caught it cleanly.
An Astral Express ticket.
The moment it hit his palm, Dan Heng felt it—the same-origin Trailblaze aura embedded within. It couldn't be forged.
At that moment, the Observation Car door opened again. Pom-Pom hopped in, bustling as usual.
"Dan Heng passenger, is today's cleaning finished, Pom—"
Pom-Pom froze mid-sentence.
Its round eyes widened as it stared at the stranger sprawled on the sofa.
After a heartbeat of shock, Pom-Pom practically exploded with excitement, ears shooting upright.
"That aura… It's Yi Qing! Yi Qing passenger!"
Yi Qing smiled and waved. "Long time no see, Pom-Pom. Looks like you still remember me."
"Of course I remember, Pom!" Pom-Pom dashed up to the sofa. "Even if you only served for a short time, Pom-Pom remembers every Nameless!"
Then Pom-Pom tilted its head, confusion surfacing as the excitement settled.
"But why are you back all of a sudden, Pom? And it's been eight hundred years—why do you look exactly the same, Pom?"
"It's a long story." Yi Qing sat up and ruffled Pom-Pom's head. "I'm here to borrow the Express's invitation and get into Penacony."
"Eh? Yi Qing passenger wants to go to Penacony too, Pom?" Pom-Pom brightened.
Yi Qing nodded.
Dan Heng finally lowered Cloud-Piercer, though the last edge of vigilance didn't fully leave his eyes.
"Pom-Pom, are you certain he's Yi Qing—and not someone disguised?"
"Absolutely certain, Pom!" Pom-Pom nodded hard. "Yi Qing passenger is an Emanator—his Trailblaze aura is unique. Pom-Pom cannot be wrong, Pom!"
Yi Qing gave Dan Heng a small smile. "Satisfied now?"
Dan Heng was silent for a moment. Then he straightened and offered a formal salute.
"Senior. I was rude earlier."
He continued, voice steady:
"As the train's guard, allowing an unknown individual to board during docking is already dereliction. Faced with a powerful stranger who appeared without warning, caution is part of my duty."
"Please forgive the offense."
Wei Qing—still wearing Yi Qing's face—watched him carefully. Something like quiet reflection flickered in his eyes.
This young man was nothing like the proud, razor-edged Vidyadhara High Elder of memory. The sharpness of Dan Feng had been worn down by time and responsibility.
"No harm done," Yi Qing said, waving it off. "You did the right thing. Guarding the Express requires suspicion."
"If anyone could claim to be an old acquaintance and you dropped your guard, that would be true negligence."
Dan Heng nodded. He accepted the logic… but his curiosity lingered.
After a pause, he asked the question he couldn't swallow.
"Senior mentioned Dan Feng. What was your relationship with him?"
"Relationship?" Yi Qing shrugged. "Not close. We crossed paths a few times on the Luofu. That's all."
Dan Heng heard the deliberate evasion and didn't press.
Pom-Pom bounced in place, eager to smooth things over.
"Alright, alright, everyone's on the same side, Pom! Yi Qing passenger coming back is a good thing, Pom!"
It turned to Dan Heng and patted his leg with a tiny paw.
"Dan Heng passenger, since Yi Qing passenger wants to go to Penacony as a Nameless, please take him to register, Pom!"
Dan Heng frowned. "But if I leave too, what about the train?"
"The others already entered Penacony's dreamscape. Right now, the train is only guarded by me. If I leave, safety can't be guaranteed. Pom-Pom can run basic systems, but if something happens—"
"Dan Heng passenger, don't worry, Pom!" Pom-Pom puffed out its chest. "Pom-Pom is a very capable conductor!"
"And Yi Qing passenger is back, Pom—he can help too, right, Pom?"
Yi Qing spoke calmly. "Leave the Express's safety to me."
As he spoke, a brilliant golden flow appeared, encircling the entire Astral Express like a living ring.
Dan Heng focused. The Trailblaze power in that barrier was so condensed it was beyond his framework—more refined than anything he'd felt even from Herta.
Pom-Pom's eyes sparkled. "So amazing, Pom!"
Yi Qing continued, voice flat but absolute. "With this barrier, even an Emanator can't force their way in."
"And Pom-Pom can use the train's authority to assist with control. If anything abnormal occurs, I'll sense it immediately."
Dan Heng's last hesitation dissolved.
He clasped a fist in genuine respect. "Senior's methods are profound. I overthought it."
"Then—when do we depart for Penacony?"
"Now." Yi Qing nodded, glancing out at the glittering starfield. "I'm curious about this Charmony Festival."
"And little Pom-Pom—when I'm done, I'll come back and catch up."
Pom-Pom waved its paws enthusiastically. "Then, Yi Qing passenger and Dan Heng passenger—have fun on Penacony, Pom!"
"And please keep an eye on March 7th passenger and Stelle passenger, Pom! Don't let them cause trouble, Pom!"
Dan Heng smiled faintly, and he and Yi Qing headed for the exit passage together.
Penacony. The famed planet of festivities.
But things were… not quite as Wei Qing had expected.
Inside The Reverie hotel, there seemed to be a problem.
"Welcome to The Reverie. How may I assist you?" a staff member asked, addressing Dan Heng and Yi Qing.
"Hello. We're the Astral Express Nameless. We're here to check in," Dan Heng replied.
"The Astral Express?" The staff member looked puzzled. "But… earlier—"
"Earlier our companions already checked in," Dan Heng explained patiently. "My name is Dan Heng. The system should have my information."
"I see." The staff member hesitated, then said, "But your companions told us your plans changed, and that you wouldn't be staying."
"And this gentleman is…?" The staff member looked to Yi Qing.
"I'm a new Nameless who just boarded the Express. My name is Yi Qing," Yi Qing answered evenly.
Dan Heng added, "He's with us. We accepted the Family's invitation before he boarded, so the system likely doesn't have his record. Can you make an exception?"
The staff member seemed surprised. "Oh! Among the Nameless who checked in earlier, there was also someone in a similar situation."
"Seems more and more people are stepping onto the Trailblaze lately."
He paused, then nodded. "Since there's a precedent, it should be possible. Please wait a moment—I'll contact your companions to confirm your identity."
A moment later…
"…I'm sorry." The staff member looked troubled. "I can't reach the Astral Express guests."
"Can't reach them?" Dan Heng froze.
"The system shows they're still in the dream," the staff member apologized. "But I can't establish contact right now."
Wei Qing's eyes narrowed faintly.
This was starting to smell exactly like the problem he'd been expecting.
"How about this," Wei Qing suggested. "Give us a room number. We'll go check."
"I'm afraid I can't." The staff member shook his head. "Without verifying your identities first, I can't disclose guest information."
Denied.
Family incompetence—yet the burden was dumped on the guests.
Dan Heng stated the deadlock bluntly: "But it appears you need to verify our identities before you can contact our companions."
The staff member's face tightened. "That's… correct…"
Wei Qing sighed. "Kid, your Family's getting a little arrogant."
"If you don't have the authority, bring someone who does."
The staff member bowed again. "Please don't be angry. I believe this was handled personally by Sunday, head of the Oak Family. Please wait—I'll contact him immediately."
He hurried off.
Dan Heng lowered his voice. "Senior, something feels wrong."
Before leaving the Express, Dan Heng had already tried to contact the others. No response. He'd assumed it was due to Penacony's dreamscape—yet the situation was persisting here too.
Wei Qing looked around the dazzling lobby and replied calmly, "No rush."
"Let's see how this Mr. Sunday plans to perform."
Assuming Sunday even shows up.
But this, at least, surprised Wei Qing.
Not long after, a man in formal attire approached—elegant, composed—followed by the same staff member.
The man bowed slightly, voice warm. "You must be guests of the Astral Express. I am Sunday. I apologize for the inconvenience."
Wei Qing appraised him and cut straight in. "Since the head of the family is here personally, you can solve our check-in problem, right?"
Sunday's smile tightened. "I'm afraid that by Family policy, guests without pre-registered information can't check in directly. However…"
His gaze slid toward Yi Qing.
"If Mr. Yi Qing is willing to check in under the identity of an Xianzhou Alliance representative, I can arrange the highest-tier suite immediately."
"After all, you are fully qualified to represent the Xianzhou Alliance as an honored guest."
Wei Qing and Dan Heng exchanged a look. So the name Yi Qing really had spread across the universe.
"No." Wei Qing answered flatly. "I came as a Nameless. I won't change identities."
"And your Family invited the Astral Express, yet can't even manage basic reception. That doesn't look very good, does it?"
Sunday's smile strained. "You're being too harsh, sir."
"Then allow me to do this," he offered smoothly. "Please rest in the public lounge. I'll personally contact Mr. Welt. Once your identities are confirmed, I'll complete your check-in at once."
"How long?" Dan Heng asked.
"That…" Sunday hesitated. "Given the current situation, I cannot promise."
Which made the intention clear: in whatever was unfolding inside the dream, Sunday didn't want an extra variable like Yi Qing entering the stage.
Wei Qing smiled. The Family truly thought the Astral Express was something they could squeeze.
"Then I won't trouble you."
Under Sunday's puzzled gaze, Wei Qing snapped his fingers.
A crisp sound echoed through the lobby.
A vast presence began to spread.
Sunday's smile froze.
"Wait!" Sunday stepped forward. "Sir—please stop. This is Penacony. This is the Family's territory. What you're doing is a provocation against the entire Family."
Wei Qing didn't answer.
As Harmony fully unfurled from him, the space of The Reverie rippled visibly. Everything began to resonate, vibrating with a soft yet unmistakable hum.
"That is… Harmony?" Sunday blurted out.
This Galaxy Ranger wasn't only an Emanator of the Hunt and a Nameless of the Trailblaze—he was also a Harmony pathstrider?
But it didn't stop there.
As that Harmony resonance sharpened, Sunday's composed facade cracked, replaced by raw disbelief.
He knew Harmony better than anyone—yet the aura Wei Qing was releasing was far beyond what Sunday could conceptualize.
At least Emanator-class.
But how?
A true Harmony Emanator didn't exist in the ordinary sense. The only being worthy of that title was the Harmonious Choir, the very manifestation of Xipe.
So what, exactly, was this "Yi Qing" in front of him?
A terrifying thought punched through Sunday's mind:
Had Xipe noticed their attempt to revive Order—and sent an emissary to stop them?
Sunday went dizzy.
In The Reverie, every ornament seemed to come alive under Harmony's resonance. This wasn't just power—it carried an undeniable will of unification, as if it could pull all of Penacony into a single, forced melody.
A being who could wear Hunt, Trailblaze, and now something approaching Harmony's highest echelon…
This was completely outside Sunday's preparations.
"Sir, please stop," Sunday said quickly, forcing his voice steady through the shock. "There must be a misunderstanding. The check-in problem can be handled as a special case."
Wei Qing's oppressive resonance slowly calmed. The lobby returned to normal—as if the earlier phenomenon had been a hallucination.
But the pressure in his gaze didn't fade.
"Oh?" Wei Qing said lightly. "Now you can make an exception?"
Sunday inhaled, then reassembled a professional smile.
"Prepare two rooms for Mr. Dan Heng and Mr. Yi Qing. No—prepare them according to the Astral Express's highest reception standard, immediately."
The staff member jolted back to reality and hurried to the terminal.
Dan Heng watched in silence. In the cosmos, strength remained the most efficient passport.
This unexpected senior's conduct and the weight of his power were far beyond Dan Heng's first impression.
And then Wei Qing spoke again.
"Wait."
The staff member froze mid-entry. Sunday's barely-repaired smile stiffened again.
"Senior?" Dan Heng asked, confused.
Wei Qing ignored him and looked at Sunday.
"I changed my mind. If the Family insists on making things difficult, we don't have to force it."
Sunday's alarm bells blared. "Sir, you misunderstand. The Astral Express is the Family's honored guest—this is only proper—"
"No." Wei Qing cut him off with deliberate calm. "What I mean is—since the Astral Express check-in requires such a tedious verification chain…"
"I'll just check in under a different identity."
Sunday blinked. "A different identity?"
"Correct." Wei Qing nodded once, slow and sharp.
"I, Yi Qing—Xipe's emissary."
"Harmony's Emanator."
"Is that identity enough for the Family—who claims to worship Harmony—to issue me a fresh invitation letter, right here and now?"
Join here to read ahead.
In Star Rail, Ultra-Beast Armored — Have I Caught "Equilibrium"? l (Chapter 80)
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TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter110)
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I'm Grinding Proficiency Like 46
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Honkai: Is This Still the Prev 42
Elf: My Starter Pokémon Is Inc 65
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From Demon Slayer to Grand Ass Volume2/20
The Way the Umamusume Look at 68
Uma Musume, but My Cheat Power 248
Naruto: Weaving the Future, Be 65
Zenless Zone Zero, but Kamen R 76
Multiverse Crossover: The Perf 66
My Cyberpsycho Girlfriend 65
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Uma Musume: From Beginner 145
Becoming a Horse Girl, I Will 85
Uma Musume: I Want All 120
I Can Copy Unique Skills 115
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My Harem Is Indescribable 100
Jujutsu Kaisen: Heroic Spirit 105
"I'm just a Valkyrie passing through." 67
Uma Musume: Today Is Another Romantic Battlefield 105
Still playing traditional Honk 80
The Most Filial Son Under Heav 85
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Reincarnated as a Demon, Skill 78
Hell-Difficulty Dungeon? 55
Transmigrated as Sukuna 80
Checking In in Demon Slayer 85
The Reincarnating Trainer of Tracen Academy 100
I Refuse to Become a Heroic 85
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The Gacha Merchant Who Started 80
Honkai's Otherworld? Wait—Who Are You People?! 100
Emiya Shirou, Determined to Slay Every Curse and Evil Spirit 60
The Uma Musume Who Became 60
I'm Definitely Not the King of 80
After Maxing Out Every Class 80
Naruto: I'm Konoha's Local Men 44
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I, the Elden Sword Saint 50
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No One Knows Pokémon Better 50
I, Sakazuki, Won't Go Down Tha 45
From Trilobites to Titans 45
Chainsaw Man: Contracted with 55
DanMachi: My Party Members Are 60
An Anime Heroine Darkened 55
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