"Folks, our General Jing Yuan really has a way with words."
In Little Gui's livestream room, Sushang was now sitting behind Guinaifen. Sushang held a cup of Immortal's Delight, squinting her eyes in pure bliss as she watched the live broadcast. It was the definition of comfort!
Although she hadn't played the game herself yet, she had spent her entire shift discussing it with her colleagues. She had even snuck a few peeks at Little Gui's stream. Consequently, she was well aware of how extraordinary this game was.
It wasn't just the Cloud Knights; word was that even the Divination Commission was keeping a close eye on Little Gui's broadcast! That was exactly why she had been dispatched to protect the streamer.
Little Gui, you've really hit the big time now... Sushang thought to herself. You'd better be the one treating me to late-night skewers from now on.
Guinaifen, meanwhile, was completely immersed in the story. Even if there wasn't a single person in the room, she wouldn't have been able to stop herself from pushing the plot forward. She was dying to know what the future held for these characters.
"Even though they aren't letting us help with the Stellaron anymore, they've given us an even bigger taskfind Kafka, who's hiding somewhere on the Luofu!" Guinaifen told her audience. "Personally, I think this mission is impossible. Who even is Kafka? We probably won't even be able to catch a glimpse of her shadow!"
As they spoke, Tingyun displayed an image of Kafka. It was a recording of her hijacking the communications on the Astral Express earlier in the story.
"The coordinates are here. The decision is yours. Though our paths may be different, the orbits of the stars will eventually converge. Goodbye."
Seeing this clip again, Guinaifen felt something was off. she leaned her ear closer to the speakers, listening intently. Sure enough, there was a faint, rustling sound in the background.
[Is there something special about these words?]
[Coordinates? Converging orbits?]
[There's a sound in the background when she speaks.]
Guinaifen decisively clicked the third option.
"Precisely," Tingyun praised. "To most people, such a sound might mean nothing. But to the Artisanship Commission, which is responsible for maintaining the facilities, the operation of every machine has a unique rhythm and pitch, much like a melody."
"The General summoned the craftsmen, and by comparing and analyzing the sounds, they discovered that Kafka's background noise comes from the shipbuilding facilities at Stargazer Navalia."
"Please rest for a while and gather your strength. Once you are ready, we shall set out to capture the thief. We will be relying on your skills then, Benefactors~"
...
"This Miss Tingyun... every time she calls me 'Benefactor,' my whole body goes numb."
"Kafka is at Stargazer Navalia? Hehe, I'm going to find her right now!"
"Do you really think you'll just run into Kafka and she'll smile and wave? You'll be dead before you know it."
"I admit she's charming in the story, but in real life, I'm definitely taking a detour. We still don't have an explanation for the Stellaron business."
"If I die at Mommy's feet, my life will have been worth it."
"Someone's been brainwashed by the Stellaron Hunters! Throw them out!"
...
Guinaifen's mouth twitched as she glanced at the bullet chat. When they first started, the fans weren't like this at all! But now... well, even she was feeling the same way.
Ahem... back to the main story! I'm going to find Kafka! Right now!
She initiated a conversation with Welt.
"Everyone, rest for a moment," Welt said. "Tracking the Stellaron Hunter Kafka will undoubtedly be a tough battle."
March 7th suddenly chimed in, "Oh, right! Let's send a message to the Express to let them know we're safe~"
"Especially Dan Heng! Hehe, ask him what he's doing, then tell him how much fun we're having here!"
Guinaifen's eyes lit up. "Dan Heng!" she blurted out. "Could it be... is there going to be a story arc for Dan Heng on this Luofu trip?"
She immediately sent a message to Dan Heng. However, both messages failed to send!
Suddenly, the screen cut away. The perspective had shifted back to the interior of the Astral Express!
In the car, Dan Heng stood with a dazed expression. Himeko walked over and said, "You've been standing there for half an hour. I rarely see you looking so worried."
"Are you concerned about the safety of those two children? With Welt there, you can relax a bit."
Dan Heng remained silent for a moment before asking, "Himeko, you should have a recording of the Stellaron Hunter's remote transmission, right? Can I see it?"
"Sure."
When Blade appeared on the screen, Dan Heng's pupils instantly contracted.
"The Xianzhou is dangerous!"
"...This man, this man"
"If he is on the Xianzhou, then everyoneMr. Welt, March 7th, and Stellethey're all in danger!"
"But..."
"This involves... something you're trying to escape from, doesn't it?" Himeko saw through to the heart of the matter immediately.
"But... I can't just leave them. I only fear... that my past has finally caught up with me, and it's dragging everyone else into it..."
"Who doesn't have a past they carry? Even Little March, who remembers nothing, has something heavy on her shoulders."
"We walk upon invisible Paths. All we see, hear, and Trailblaze becomes our luggageboth a heavy burden and the strength to keep going."
"Don't overthink it, Dan Heng." After a short pause, Himeko continued softly, "According to the rules, the train stays at a stop for seven standard days. During this time, passengers are free to spend their time as they wish."
"With Pom-Pom and me guarding the train, it'll be fine."
"Do what you feel you must. It's better than living with regret."
Dan Heng's gaze became resolute. He walked toward the door.
"By the way, once this is over, you'll return to the Express to continue traveling with us, right?" Himeko's voice sounded from behind him.
Dan Heng said nothing. But in the end, he nodded.
"It really feels like a family. I love this protagonist group," Guinaifen said, feeling moved.
She looked at the chat, expecting her viewers to be equally touched, but the result was... a sea of wailing!
...
"No, no, no! Don't knife Dan Heng!"
"The Luofu is Dan Heng's hometown, right? Is he going to be knifed by Blade right here?!"
"Don't even ask, I'm genuinely panicked now..."
"You have to keep traveling together! We can't lose a single one!"
"It's over! This atmosphere, this feeling! If I were Yu Ling, I'd probably have decided where to bury Dan Heng already."
"Does anyone know where the Express crew is right now? Hurry and tell Dan Heng to get back on the train and lock the door tight!"
...
Guinaifen hadn't thought much of it at first, but seeing the fans' reactions, her hands began to tremble slightly. The character under control had now become Dan Heng alone.
After landing on the Luofu, he tried to send a message in the [Astral Express Family] group.
[Stelle, March, where are you?]
[I'm coming to meet up with you.]
However, both messages failed to send. Now, Dan Heng was all alone, forced to traverse the monster-infested Cloudford.
The atmosphere in the chat became even heavier and more sorrowful. Even Sushang couldn't help but sigh, "Could it be... is Yu Ling really going to knife Dan Heng?"
"Can't someone come and save him!"
Inside the Palace of Astrum, Jing Yuan thoughtfully gave the Express crew time to deliberate.
At this moment, Welt, March 7th, Stelle, and Dan Heng were gathered together. Whether or not to accept Jing Yuan's commission really depended on Dan Heng. After all, the man named Blade was deeply connected to him. If Dan Heng wanted to avoid him, the crew would reject the commission without a second thought.
Everything was out in the open now.
"Since we've already come to the Luofu, I think..."
Just as Dan Heng was about to express his thoughts, everyone's phone vibrated. Immediately after, a communication from Himeko came through.
"Dan Heng, if you were going to say you've decided to go find that man, I suggest you finish watching the latest plot update first."
"In the new update, you left the train alone because you were worried about your friends' safety."
"I can't help but feel that the way this plot is presented is... off."
"It feels like a 'final farewell'."
As soon as she said this, the four of them froze. Dan Heng's eyes grew dim, and he muttered to himself, "Even Yu Ling thinks I'm going to... die during this journey."
March 7th rubbed her eyes. "I told you guys not to talk nonsense! We're not taking this mission!"
"Let's go back to the Express..."
"We'll go straight to Penacony! There's absolutely no danger on that planet of festivities!"
Dan Heng shook his head slightly. "March, don't worry about me."
"If that's the case..."
"Let's finish watching the plot before making a decision."
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