Ding~ Ding~ Ding~
After finishing Immortal's Delight with Guinaifen and the others, Lumina said a quick goodbye and returned to her booked room.
She had just finished a bath and was lounging around with nothing to do when the ringtone for her [Special Group] on her phone rang.
Lumina, who had been sprawled out on the bed in a "大" shape—clothes disheveled, completely slacking off—instantly sat bolt upright at the sound.
She went from a "大" shape to a perfect "L" shape, sitting straight up on the bed.
Grabbing her phone from the bedside table, she focused her gaze on the screen.
It was a message from March 7th.
[March 7th: Sister Lumina, you're on the Luofu!!!]
[Lumina: That's right, I'm on the Xianzhou Luofu right now.]
[Lumina: By the way, how did you know, March?]
Lumina knew exactly how March 7th had found out, but she feigned confusion anyway.
[March 7th: It's all over the internet! Sister Lumina, you're dominating the Trending Topics again. It's impossible not to notice!]
No doubt, Lumina thought. After all this time, my appearance on Little Gui's live stream must have gone viral across the Cosmos again.
[Lumina: Is that so?]
[Lumina: Why are you so surprised that I'm on the Luofu, March?]
[March 7th: Eh? Was I surprised? Was it that obvious? I don't think so, right?]
[Lumina: Take a guess.]
Three exclamation marks —anyone would know you're surprised and happy about this, Lumina thought with a helpless smile.
She's so naive. If she ever ran into a truly wicked woman, she'd be devoured whole and then probably help that woman count her money.
Oh, and after counting the money, she'd likely call out the wicked woman's name over and over, exposing her white belly in gratitude and apology.
[March 7th: The Xianzhou is about to hold a grand Wardance Ceremony, and the Astral Express was invited by General Jing Yuan to attend!]
[Lumina: I see. I suspected General Jing Yuan would invite you all. I didn't expect it to actually happen, though. (smile)]
[March 7th: Hehehe, Sister Lumina, you and the Astral Express are so fated to meet! It would be even better if you could join us! (crying)]
[Lumina: Then let's keep this fate going. Who knows, maybe the Astral Express's next destination will be the same as mine.]
[March 7th: Hehe, I'll hold you to that, Sister Lumina! Our next destination has to be the same!!!]
Three exclamation marks again. It was clear March 7th was desperately praying for this to happen.
[March 7th: Sister Lumina, I have to go now. I'm going to sleep. The warp starts tomorrow, and I want to be at my best when I see you!]
[Lumina: Alright. Good night. (sleeping)]
[March 7th: Good night!]
[March 7th has gone offline]
Ding-dong~ Ding-dong~ Ding-dong~
As March 7th's profile picture dimmed, it wasn't long before the notification sound for Lumina's [Special Group] began flooding her phone like an endless tide.
Lumina showed no impatience, happily replying to each message one by one.
By the time she had answered all the questions, a full system hour had passed.
"Mmm... Ahh!"
After waiting a moment and seeing no new messages, Lumina set her phone down and stretched luxuriously.
Then, in a seamless sequence, she turned off the lights, lay down, pulled up the covers, closed her eyes, and drifted into sleep. Soon, the quiet, dark room was filled with nothing but the sound of a single, faint breath.
-
Early morning, eight o'clock. Lumina forced herself out of her warm, irresistibly soft bed. After a quick wash, she grabbed the list the Borisin had given her earlier and headed out.
"It's much less crowded."
Central Starskiff Haven on the Luofu was still bustling, but perhaps because it was early, most of the offworld visitors were still asleep. While the foot traffic remained immense, it was a far cry from the sea of people she'd seen before.
With the crowds thinned out, Lumina bought a bag of steamed buns from a breakfast stall and made her way to Feixiao's residence on the Luofu.
Soon, she arrived at Feixiao's home.
"Let's eat before we start the treatment," Lumina said, placing the bag of buns in front of Feixiao.
She then picked up a bun, took a bite, and nodded in satisfaction.
"I didn't expect Sister Lumina to like steamed buns," Feixiao remarked. Although buns were common on the Xianzhou, it was rare for an "outsider" like Lumina to enjoy them.
"I wouldn't say I like them, exactly. They're just very convenient." Lumina finished the bun in a few bites, then picked up another and took a bite.
Feixiao nodded without saying anything more. Cheeks puffed out as she ate, she asked, "Sister Lumina, is something happening today? Why did you come so much earlier?"
Sister Lumina usually schedules her visits for around two in the afternoon. Why is she here at nine in the morning?
Though it wasn't a major issue, Feixiao couldn't help but feel a little puzzled.
"Um, I don't mean to question your actions or anything. I'm just curious about it," Feixiao quickly added, realizing her words might be misinterpreted. She wanted to make it clear she had no ill intentions, just simple curiosity.
"It's fine. It's nothing worth hiding," Lumina said with a gentle shake of her head and a smile. "It's because some of my friends are arriving on the Xianzhou Luofu today to watch the Wardance Ceremony."
"Around noon, I need to go to the Starskiff Jetty to pick them up, so I won't have much time to treat you."
"I see." Hearing this explanation, Feixiao nodded, not bothering to ask who Lumina's friends were.
Anyone who could pass the Jade Gate's verification and enter the Luofu during this special period was unlikely to be a vicious criminal.
Feixiao wasn't worried about that.
Even if some vicious criminal did manage to get in, it would surely be because that cunning, Closed-Eye General had personally allowed it.
"By the way, Feixiao, this is for you." After finishing her bun, Lumina handed Feixiao the note the Borisin had given her.
"What's this?" Feixiao took the slip of paper. Seeing the densely packed names and various positions, a small question mark appeared above her head.
"This is intel I got from a Borisin earlier."
"It lists some of the Borisin's disguises on the Luofu."
Lumina felt no guilt about backstabbing the Borisin within Luofu territory.
"Given the Borisin's intelligence, Jing Yuan probably figured them out completely long ago. He wouldn't even need to backstab them himself; they'd likely expose themselves after a while anyway."
"Borisin? Borisin on the Luofu?"
"What are they planning to do during the Wardance Ceremony?"
Feixiao nodded as she spoke, pulling out her phone and photographing the entire list.
"That, I don't know."
"But it's definitely related to something happening during the Wardance Ceremony."
Lumina didn't elaborate further. She simply tidied up the items on the table, then pointed to Feixiao's large, soft bed. "Alright, take off your clothes and get on the bed. It's time for your treatment."
"Oh, okay." Feixiao nodded, casually sending the photos she'd taken to Jing Yuan.
This was the Luofu's internal affair, and Feixiao knew better than to meddle.
Besides, with so many Borisin involved, it was impossible that a General like Jing Yuan wouldn't know about them. If he was letting them be, he must have his reasons. Feixiao certainly wasn't going to disrupt his plans.
Without overthinking it, she quickly composed herself, stood up, and followed Lumina's instructions to begin the treatment.