Within the Xianzhou Alliance, undercurrents have always surged; factions are deeply entrenched and each harbors its own agenda. Just the millennia-old internal grievances of the Xianzhou Luofu alone could fill several volumes of book.
The upcoming Luminary Wardance Ceremony is far more than the festive celebration it appears to be.
On the surface it is a holiday for the Xianzhou, yet in truth it concerns the long-standing mutual suspicion and checks-and-balances inside the Alliance, the Luofu's current embarrassment of a talent-gap among its top fighters, and the enmity between the Xianzhou and the Borisin.
In short, a single glance shows a knot that can't be cut or untangled—like a pair of earphones twisted together, irritating just to look at.
But none of that headache is him to bear.
Bai Luan had no wish to wade into the Xianzhou's mess; after all, it was a matter for the Xianzhou themselves.
If he followed his own habits, he would simply yank out the tangled earphone cable and plug in a brand-new one.
Yet reason told him the world is not a lab circuit; when a civilization's thousand-year accumulations and grudges are involved, a violent swap usually brings an even harsher collapse.
If he used his ability to extract the Mara-Struck as a trump card and schemed step by step… Bai Luan shook his head and stopped that train of thought right there.
The Xianzhou Isn't Herta's backyard; why should I stick my neck out so far?
Even if I wanted to help, some old codgers here would still suspect me of ulterior motives.
Besides, that ever-languid yet inwardly shrewd Strategist General Jing Yuan has always been adept at handling such convoluted situations.
He trusted that battle-hardened old general to weigh and arrange things, keeping everything on a relatively safe track.
While Bai Luan's mind wandered, the Astral Express Crew had already finished dividing into teams.
The Express would first head to the Xianzhou Luofu; Dan Heng, March 7th and Stelle would stay as the crew's representatives to participate in the Martial Arts Ceremony.
After that, Himeko and Welt Yang would set out for the Gilded Reefs on commission from Ruan Mei, to retrieve the remains of an ancient bestial carcass.
Now there was only one more matter to discuss; once it was settled, they could depart.
Everyone's gaze turned to Bai Luan, whose thoughts had drifted. Feeling several stares lock on, he snapped back to reality, blinked, and put on an innocent look.
"Hmm? Why's everyone looking at me? Did I forget to wash my face?"
Himeko explained for him:
"We're about to split into two groups—Welt Yang and I will be one, while Stelle's gang will be the other. The question now is: which itinerary do you prefer to join, Bai Luan?"
"Of course I'm sitting at the kids' table."
Hearing that, Stelle's mouth curved in an "I knew it" grin; no further words were needed.
Seeing his choice, Himeko nodded in understanding.
"Looks like you prefer livelier places."
"With you beside them…"
Welt Yang adjusted his glasses, his calm tone carrying a hint of reassurance.
"Himeko and I will feel much safer while we're away on commission."
March 7th couldn't help muttering:
"Feels like Sister Himeko and Uncle Yang just hired us a babysitter."
Dan Heng stood nearby, arms folded, offering no direct comment, yet a flicker in his placid eyes seemed to say: 'With Bai Luan around, at least some of your firepower will be split away.'
After all, handling the combined occasional chaos of Stelle and March 7th solo was no small pressure.
As for Stelle, she was fully on the pro-babysitter side and had zero objections to Bai Luan joining.
Welt Yang nodded. "Looks like everyone's fine with it."
At that moment Pom-Pom spoke up.
"Since all passengers have agreed, let's prepare to warp to the Xianzhou Luofu, pam!"
With everything settled, the Express entered a brief pre-departure phase.
The three youngsters were discussing what they wanted to do once they reached the Xianzhou.
Stelle punched the air, flames seemingly blazing in her eyes:
"The arena! I want to watch arena duels! I heard lots of experts will cross blades this time—I want to see rivers of blood!"
"Aren't you being too brutal? If it really gets that messy, the Alchemy Commission will be swamped."
"Hmm… poor word choice, but the feeling's what counts."
"I'm not into all that fighting; food and drink are more my thing~"
March 7th's face shone with anticipation as she counted on her fingers:
"A festival this big must mean streets full of snacks you can't usually get, right? All those old Aurum Alley shops might even offer limited-edition goodies!
"This time I'm eating from one end of the street to the other, making up for everything I missed last time!"
"So you're giving up on your weight?"
"Wha—? Couldn't you remind me after I'd eaten? At least let me enjoy it first…"
Dan Heng glanced at the two of them and stated his core plan in the fewest possible words:
"Watch you two—prevent accidents."
As for whether he'd have spare time for anything else…
He silently assessed the probability of his companions staying out of trouble and concluded… not likely.
Although Bai Luan had chosen to travel with Stelle's group, during this brief prep period he didn't discuss food or fun with the trio; instead he walked over to the adults.
Yet he didn't join Welt Yang and Himeko's bewildering conversation about hypothetical astro-biochemistry, trans-dimensional evolution, and other cross-field topics either.
'I was already mulling this stuff on the Space Station; if I keep thinking about it after leaving, did I even leave at all?'
'I'm here to relax, not to swap one workplace for another.'
When their discussion paused, Bai Luan asked Welt Yang for updates on the production of Honkai Impact 3rd and EVA.
From what Uncle Yang reported, both projects were progressing nicely.
As expected, reliable old Yang.
Before long the short prep time ended and the Express initiated warp.
March 7th still refused to give up, trying yet again to keep her balance during the jump.
As usual, she failed.
The train dropped them at the Port and goes to get commission done.
His feet once again on the Xianzhou's fragrant wooden ground, laced with faint ley-line energy.
March 7th gazed at the familiar bustling wharf and the shuttling starskiffs, planted her hands on her hips, and exhaled in heartfelt nostalgia:
"Revisiting an old place, this lady is filled with emotion…"
Stelle immediately played along, clearing her throat and mimicking a show host, holding an imaginary mic toward March 7th:
"Next, let's invite March 7th to recite a poem…"
Bai Luan chimed in at just the right moment:
"Oh my goodness, March 7th declaimed: 'I'd buy osmanthus blooms, wine aboard we go—yet nothing can youth's outings bestow!' A performance that left everyone awestruck!"
March 7th shot him a look.
"That line sounds way too world-weary for a forever-young, drop-dead gorgeous girl like me to say, right?"
She waved her hands. "Besides, I wasn't moved enough to recite poetry—I just remembered how bumpy and terrifying our last arrival was. This time we're neither half-coerced nor chasing some criminal, nor…"
At that point Bai Luan cut in:
"Sounds like wherever you go, feathers fly."
"Heaven knows we don't mean to! Who asked trouble to grow eyes and zero in on us—ptui, ptui, let's not jinx it!"
She shook her head hard, as if to scatter any bad omen.
"At a time like this we mustn't speak ill! Anyway, starting off so smoothly and peacefully is such a rare luxury—let's celebrate!"
"Feels like…"
Stelle rubbed her chin:
"We're so easily satisfied—how pitiful is that?"
"Now that you mention it, I feel the same…"
March 7th glared at her. "Don't say that next time! Right, Dan Heng?"
Dan Heng nodded.
Just then Stelle's phone chimed. She glanced at it and said:
"Yanqing's message—he's already waiting at Central Starskiff Haven. Let's go meet up with him."