Sylvia was still reeling from March 7th's breathtaking display of intellectual prowess.
Meanwhile, Stelle, spotting such commotion, instantly perked up with interest.
She hurriedly stepped forward, putting on an equally 'shocked' expression, even raising a hand to point at Sylvia and Bailu.
"You… what… whose child is this?! Honey—"
"Huh?!"
Bailu, who had been ready to swat each of them with her tail, froze at Stelle's final words.
Her tail hovered mid-air, unsure whether to strike or not. Wide-eyed, she tilted her head up, her gaze darting between Sylvia and Stelle.
She even forgot to be annoyed at being mistaken for a child—let alone Sylvia's child.
After all, the Xianzhou practiced population control, so relationships between people of the same gender were relatively common and open.
But… well, such preferences were still in the minority.
To Bailu, though, she was still just a kid!
This was too much for her young eyes.
So, Sylvia stepped in for Bailu—who hadn't swung her tail—and raised her own fist instead.
Thump! Thump!
Two solid knocks landed on March 7th and Stelle's heads.
Bonk—!
"Oww—! Easy there! What if you knock the brains right out of us?!"
March 7th rubbed her forehead, puffing out her cheeks at Sylvia in complaint.
Stelle, meanwhile, was made of sturdier stuff. She simply reached up and rubbed the spot on her head that had emitted a crisp tap, then flashed Sylvia a bright, cheerful grin.
As if the whole silly act from moments before had never happened.
After dealing with the two troublemakers who clearly lacked supervision, Sylvia finally looked down at Bailu to explain:
"Don't listen to their nonsense. They're from the Astral Express, friends of mine."
"Oh, I see," Bailu nodded with a smile, though her expression seemed a little strained.
Whether she actually believed Sylvia's words… was hard to say.
Sylvia then shot a stern glare at the two 'overgrown children'.
"You two just need a good scolding. She's a member of the Xianzhou's Vidyadhara, a dragon-kin. She has no relation to me whatsoever."
"So this is the Vidyadhara… but the resemblance really is uncanny."
Because of Sylvia, the Express crew had taken the time to look up information on dragon-kin.
Clearly, the Vidyadhara were the closest match to Sylvia's transformed state.
And now, having met a living Vidyadhara, March 7th found the resemblance even stronger.
The horns, the tail—apart from the color being different, everything about them felt like they could be family.
March 7th was itching to comment, but when she looked up and met Sylvia's warning glare, she obediently shut her mouth, even miming a zipper across her lips.
Only then did Bailu cross her arms, tilt her chin up with a proud little hmph, and strike an adorable pose:
"Hmph—! We Vidyadhara are self-sufficient through reincarnation. We have neither father nor mother, and I am no child! This young lady has been studying medicine ever since emerging, and I am a fully licensed physician at the Alchemy Commission!"
March 7th didn't doubt Bailu's words.
Instead, she looked up somewhat blankly at Stelle, then back at Sylvia.
"Are all kids on the Xianzhou this impressive? Kids in Belobog are still playing in the mud, but here they're already licensed to treat patients?"
Sylvia ignored March 7th's antics and asked instead:
"What brings you here anyway? And where's Mr. Yang?"
"Ah, now that's a long story. Let this girl fill you in slowly. As for Uncle Yang, he went off to explore on his own," March 7th puffed out her chest proudly. She was still quite pleased about them capturing Kafka together.
"But Sylvia, what were you all planning to do?"
"We were just about to go for dinner."
As she said this, Sylvia glanced sideways at Bailu.
Bailu, who hadn't planned to speak, caught Sylvia's look and understood her meaning.
"Since they're guests from afar, why not join us for a meal? I don't mind, but you're paying—I didn't bring much with me this time."
Bailu patted her purse and spread her hands. She only carried a little spending money—enough for two, but for four? That was pushing it.
Sylvia smiled and nodded, then waved to the other two.
"Let's go, dinner first! I'm guessing you haven't had time to eat after all that hustle. Let's invite Mr. Yang too, or anyone else who's with you."
"Yay—! Finally, a chance to catch our breath and have a warm meal!"
March 7th immediately lit up, a wave of exhaustion washing over her face.
"Don't even mention it, Sylvia. Now that you've brought it up, I suddenly feel starving. Thinking about it, I haven't stopped since we set foot on the Xianzhou."
March 7th bounded over generously, slinging both arms over Sylvia's shoulders.
"Hah… I'll go ask Uncle Yang if he wants to join," Stelle said, pulling out her phone. "And I'll check with Miss Tingyun too. Not sure if she's headed back yet."
Sylvia blinked, unable to hold back a laugh.
Tingyun hadn't crossed paths with them at Cloudford, but it seemed she still couldn't escape getting roped into work.
Probably because she'd just returned from Cloudford and didn't have anything pressing on her plate.
"Then let's go find a place first! Come on! Allow this young lady to take you to the most authentic Xianzhou restaurant!"
Seeing that things were settled, Bailu waved a small hand and strutted ahead to lead the way.
Bailu had never been the shy type. Being confined so often made her all the more eager to make friends.
So running into March 7th and Stelle along the way, she happily welcomed them into the group without a second thought.
--+--
Soon, inside a rather upscale restaurant in the Exalting Sanctum.
Six figures gathered around a table.
Mr. Yang, having nothing else to do, had happily come over upon hearing Sylvia was here and offering a meal.
And Tingyun, upon hearing that Sylvia and Bailu were organizing a dinner gathering, immediately turned back with great interest, even though she'd been planning to return to the Sky-Faring Commission.
Sylvia had Stelle on her left and Tingyun on her right.
Next to Tingyun sat Bailu, followed by Mr. Yang and March 7th.
With everyone gathered, conversation naturally turned to the day's adventures of March 7th and Stelle.
And as they chatted, at some point…
Tingyun's large tail quietly crept over to Sylvia's waist, as if trying to coil right around her.
Thankfully, Stelle wasn't looking back at that moment, or who knows what shocking remark she might have made.
Meanwhile, March 7th, sitting across from Sylvia and sipping through a straw, was holding forth:
"…So anyway, Kafka's been taken away by that Master Diviner. She told us to wait here in the Exalting Sanctum until she sends someone to fetch us."
At this, March 7th sighed.
"Sigh… who knows how long we'll have to wait. Sylvia, is there anything fun around here to pass the time?"
"Sure there is. After dinner, I'll take you all to play some cards."
Sylvia remembered that in the game, the Express crew never got the chance to learn how to play.
What a shame that would be.
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.