Seeing the slightly aggrieved look on Bailu's face, Bai Heng couldn't help but laugh.
She nodded in satisfaction and gently rubbed Bailu's head.
"You all are…"
"No—Bai Heng, you clearly already—"
"Already died, right?"
Bai Heng gently set Bailu down, the smile on her face fading slightly.
"All I remember is that back then, I went down together with Shuhu…
my consciousness was torn into countless fragments…"
"After that, in a daze, I felt like I became… a dragon."
"And then, I saw Jingliu…"
"Hmph—those two bastards, Imbibitor Lunae and Yingxing.
Even in death, they couldn't let me rest."
"After that, everything was just a blur.
I slept for a very, very long time… until not long ago, when that one 'revived' me."
"That one?"
Just as Jing Yuan voiced his confusion, a consciousness descended.
The world seemed to flicker.
When they came back to their senses, they found themselves standing in a vast starry sky.
Along with a laugh that was impossible to describe, Aha appeared.
"That's right, that's right—Aha did it!"
Aha suddenly popped right up in Jing Yuan's face, freezing his expression on the spot.
Before Jing Yuan could react, Aha zipped over to Bai Heng and started circling her.
"My poor little Emanator~
You cried and begged me for sooo long~"
"So don't disappoint him, okay~
Aha is very much looking forward to the fun things you'll bring."
"Hahahaha…"
Back in the Scalegorge Waterscape, Jing Yuan rubbed his temples.
"So it was the Aeon of Elation…
That means even more trouble now."
"Hm? Am I troublesome now?"
Bai Heng placed one hand on her hip and raised an eyebrow.
"No, no, not at all—how would I dare?"
Jing Yuan raised both hands in surrender.
Perhaps because he was reunited with an old friend, his whole demeanor seemed lighter.
"Hmph."
Bai Heng let out a soft snort.
In the past, she probably would've teased Jing Yuan for a bit longer.
But now…
Things had changed.
That general's seat wasn't easy to sit in.
Jing Yuan truly had no freedom of his own anymore.
Even now, though he laughed and chatted with her, Bai Heng knew—
His mind was already racing through countless concerns.
The scene fell silent.
Bailu tilted her head, looking left at Jing Yuan, then right at Bai Heng, pressing a finger to her lips in confusion.
"Ha~ Jing Yuan, tell me about these past years!"
"These past years… that'd take a long time~"
"That's fine. I'm not short on time anymore."
Jing Yuan nodded, about to speak—
When an explosion rang out in the distance.
Turning toward the sound, Jing Yuan immediately understood.
Welp.
The Dragon Elders were suffering again.
"Alright—explain this to me properly.
What do you mean by 'crying and begging for a long time'?"
Xun Yu looked at Aha with an extremely benevolent smile.
"Eh-heh~ Dear~ Aha doesn't know anything at all~"
Aha winked at Xun Yu.
Critical hit. Silence applied.
Xun Yu wordlessly tossed Aha aside.
The deed was already done—and this time, Aha had personally stepped in.
Any attempt at explanation would be meaningless.
Xun Yu chose to drop it.
But Aha didn't.
They floated back, leaned close to Xun Yu's ear, and whispered:
"What's wrong? Not talking anymore?
Dear really is a little trash fish, huh~
Trash fish, trash fish~ Hahahaha!"
Alright.
The bratty gremlin energy was off the charts.
Xun Yu's fist clenched.
He grabbed Aha in one swift motion—
The laughter cut off instantly.
...
Perspective shifts back to the Scalegorge Waterscape.
After completing their perfect crime, Jingliu's group returned to the spot where they'd gathered earlier.
Dan Heng was currently in his small azure dragon form, walking while deep in thought.
Ever since being engulfed by that pink smoke, the three of them had felt… off.
Glancing back toward the Dragon Elders' location, Dan Heng subtly shook his head.
Just then, a familiar figure entered their vision—
The three of them stopped at the same time and instinctively clutched their heads.
Jing Yuan saw them return, straightened his expression, and stepped forward.
"Everyone—long time no see. Right under my watchful eyes—"
"Bai Heng?!"
In a flash—fast, very fast—
Jingliu darted past Jing Yuan and pulled Bai Heng into a tight embrace.
Feeling the warmth in her arms, the once-cold former Sword Champion of the Luofu burst into tears.
Dan Heng and Blade watched the scene with complicated emotions.
Endless guilt and unease surged within them.
The two exchanged glances.
No words were spoken, yet their eyes conveyed everything.
Dan Heng & Blade: What do we do?
Dan Heng: How about you keep chasing me? Let's get out of here first?
Blade: Good idea.
A cold glint flashed in Blade's eyes.
Under Dan Heng's twitching expression, Blade was already reaching for Shattered Blade.
"Hey! You two!"
"That's right—you two! I'm talking to you!
Don't just stand there—get over here!"
Instantly, both Dan Heng and Blade stiffened.
They turned toward Bai Heng with mechanical movements.
"One-two-one, one-two-one…"
Xun Yu's voice chimed in, perfectly synced with their steps.
No helping it—their march looked exactly like military training from his past life.
"Uh… carry on, carry on. I'm just passing by…"
Xun Yu quietly scooped up a slightly bewildered Bailu and retreated a short distance away.
"Hmm~ Little Bailu, what shampoo do you use?
Smells pretty nice…"
Xun Yu sniffed lightly, though his eyes never left the High-Cloud Quintet.
Bailu, in his arms, wordlessly slapped his hand away.
"Big brother, I feel obliged to remind you, that's the maximum death penalty, you know~"
"Big brother, you don't want to go to jail, right?"
Xun Yu: "..."
He silently set Bailu down, speechless.
"I don't have that kind of thought."
"And if we're talking legally,
you'd be the one going to prison."
"After all—big brother here hasn't even been a month old yet."
"Huh?! You're joking, right?!"
Swatting away the hand trying to pat her head again, Bailu stared at Xun Yu in shock.
"I'm serious. Didn't lie.
If you don't believe me—check my bones."
Bailu, utterly unconvinced, proceeded to poke and prod Xun Yu all over.
And then—
She arrived at a truly shocking conclusion.