"Alright, I was just joking."
"Our next meeting might be sooner than you think... That's why I have nothing more to say."
Seeing Lumina fall into silence, Jingliu smiled faintly and spoke softly.
As the Emanator of Abundance, Lumina would inevitably clash blades with her, according to the natural course of events.
But... before that day arrives, Jingliu would search for a way.
A way to spare Lumina from harm... Perhaps killing the Aeon of Abundance and befriending Lumina wouldn't necessarily conflict.
The death of the Plagues Author would create a void in the Path of Abundance. At that moment, perhaps Lumina could...
Jingliu's thoughts swirled with such possibilities.
Though the idea seemed like a pipe dream, it wasn't entirely impossible to try.
After all... killing an Aeon with a mortal body was already a fantastical feat.
So why not add another fantastical feat to this fantastical endeavor?
Hmm... But this plan hinged on being able to kill the Plagues Author first.
If the sword had to be pointed at Lumina to slay the Plagues Author, Jingliu would simply have to wait until her next life to apologize to her.
"Hmm?" Unaware of Jingliu's inner thoughts, Lumina hummed softly at the two farewells she'd heard.
Well, two farewells have become four. It's still a small number, but at least it's doubled...
"Then, goodbye, Little Jingliu."
No longer dwelling on the matter, Lumina waved her hand in farewell.
Lumina didn't particularly care about the number of farewells exchanged. What truly mattered to her was whether Jingliu considered her a friend.
Now that her suspicion had been confirmed, Lumina had no intention of pressing the matter further.
We will meet again eventually... Since Jingliu's target was the Aeon of Abundance, Lumina was certain their paths would cross once more.
The prospect of reunion didn't worry her. Her only concern was whether they could maintain their current connection when they met again.
"Mm, goodbye," Jingliu replied with a faint nod, stepping away, one measured step at a time.
But just a few steps later, she abruptly halted, her footsteps ceasing. She seemed to have remembered something crucial.
Slowly, she turned her head, her gaze settling on Lumina. Her delicate pink lips parted slightly as she uttered the words:
"Goodbye, Little Lumina."
Lumina: o(* ̄▽ ̄*)ブ
"What's this? Is our Divine Foresight General just going to let a notorious criminal, destined to be remembered for eternity, walk away on her own?"
After Jingliu left, Lumina chuckled, trying to lighten the mood as she watched Jing Yuan behind her fall silent.
When Jingliu had called her "Little Lumina" earlier, Lumina had been quite thrilled.
But before Lumina could even open her mouth to speak, Jingliu acted as if she'd never spoken at all and simply left.
There was nothing Lumina could do about it.
Since Jingliu was gone and no more amusement could be found with her, Lumina decided to switch targets.
Without a doubt, Lumina's focus now shifted to Jing Yuan.
"Hahaha, Miss Lumina, their goal is to meet the Marshal, so she won't pass up the Alliance as a shortcut."
Hearing Lumina's words, Jing Yuan understood she was trying to lighten the mood, keep him from dwelling too much on his sadness, and remind him of the situation at hand.
Realizing Lumina, an "outsider," was still present, Jing Yuan snapped out of his daze and offered an explanation.
Tap... Tap... Tap...
As Jingliu departed, Dan Heng slowly approached Jing Yuan.
"Dan Heng, to your new self, this must seem like a crude performance," Jing Yuan said with a wry smile, gazing at the man before him—similar yet utterly different.
"Watching a former friend sink deeper and deeper into darkness, even to the point of drawing blades against me, while I remain powerless to do anything..."
Jing Yuan couldn't help but let out a self-deprecating chuckle. It was unclear whether he was mocking his own helplessness or something else entirely.
Dan Heng: ...
Hearing these words, Dan Heng fell silent for a moment before asking Jing Yuan with a solemn expression:
"Do I need to take responsibility for Dan Feng's actions?"
Jing Yuan shook his head and waved his hand dismissively. "The question of who we are can only be answered by ourselves."
"Even though the Preceptors' manipulations prevented your true reincarnation..."
"But without a doubt, you are now Dan Heng, a Nameless of the Astral Express."
"As for Imbibitor Lunae's High Elder power, consider it a gift from the Xianzhou Luofu to the Astral Express in gratitude for your contributions to resolving this crisis."
Jing Yuan smiled as he spoke.
"Mm..."
Dan Heng knew that Jing Yuan's words were merely meant to comfort him, to ease any lingering guilt he might feel. Yet a warmth spread through his heart...
Regardless of what Dan Feng had done, or how the Preceptors had acted, at least in Dan Heng's eyes, Jing Yuan genuinely considered him one of their own...
"I should be going now."
Warmth aside, and despite being considered one of their own, Dan Heng still needed to bid farewell.
"Mm, it's time for you to depart, Dan Heng..." Jing Yuan nodded, signaling that he was free to go.
"..."
After a moment of silence, Dan Heng turned and left without another word.
"Mmm... Uh..."
Shortly after Dan Heng left, the figure lying on the ground with closed eyes slowly began to stir.
"They're all gone, huh?" Blade rose to his feet, surveying the three remaining figures on the battlefield, and shook his head.
"Blade... it's time for you to leave the Xianzhou."
Remembering their past friendship, Jing Yuan offered Blade a warning.
"Leave the Xianzhou..." Hearing those words, Blade closed his eyes...
After a moment, he stood up again, his crimson eyes fixed on Jing Yuan. He spoke slowly, deliberately:
"There are five people, but only three must pay the price... Jing Yuan, you are not one of them."
With these words, Blade turned and departed with the slow, measured steps of an aging grandfather.