Qingque announced lazily:
"I'm gonna return to my post. Or at least to a location technically within my assigned jurisdiction."
Fu Xuan's eye twitched faintly.
"You will return to your duties."
"That is what I said."
Her gaze drifted to Sunny.
"Try not to mess up when activating him. Otherwise, we'll be even more screwed than we'd be without him."
Sunny adjusted the Celestial Jade board under his arm.
"As if that would happen."
With that, Qingque sauntered off, humming to herself, leaving the others to proceed.
The walk to the hotel where the Astral Express crew had been staying was quieter than usual. March maintained her usual cheerful exterior, pointing out familiar storefronts and making idle remarks, but her attention remained divided. She stayed slightly closer to Sunny than normal, as though unconsciously compensating for the earlier confrontation.
Fu Xuan walked ahead, posture impeccable, robes swaying with precise rhythm. If she noticed the tension trailing behind her, she gave no indication.
When they arrived at the hotel, the lobby was calm, bathed in filtered daylight. Welt Yang was exactly where one might expect him to be: seated at a small table near the window, a cup of tea cooling untouched at his side while he read through a data slate. He looked up as they approached, brown eyes steady and thoughtful.
"You have returned sooner than expected."
Sunny set the Celestial Jade board against the side of the table, leaning it upright. March took a breath and summarized what had happened, her words quick but clear. She explained the arrival of the Emanator of Destruction, and the conclusion that they would soon be confronting Phantylia directly at Scalegorge Waterscape.
Welt listened without interruption, fingers loosely interlaced before him.
When she finished, a brief silence followed.
"You are asking me to accompany you."
March nodded.
"Yeah. We're going to need all the help we can get."
Welt's gaze shifted to Fu Xuan.
"How likely is victory?"
Fu Xuan did not sugarcoat her answer.
"The odds are unfavorable. However, they are not negligible. With proper coordination, the outcome could tilt either way."
Welt absorbed that quietly.
Then he shook his head.
"I will not be fighting alongside you."
March blinked.
"What?"
"I am severely limited at present. My strength is not what it once was. What remains cannot be squandered on uncertainty. If I intervene recklessly now, I may be unable to act when it truly matters."
Sunny had no idea what Welt was capable of at full strength. He had seen glimpses — subtle distortions of gravity, faint hints of something vast held carefully in check — but nothing concrete. Still, he did not argue.
He simply nodded once.
"Fair enough."
Welt's gaze softened slightly.
"That does not mean I will abandon you. I will observe. And if the moment arrives when my intervention is necessary… I will decide then."
March exhaled slowly. She had hoped for more, but she understood the weight in his tone. Welt did not speak lightly.
By the time they departed once more, the sun had climbed high.
Noon light poured over Scalegorge Waterscape when they arrived, reflecting sharply off fractured stone and scarred terrain. The path they followed bore unmistakable signs of recent devastation. Deep gouges split the ground. Sections of carved railing lay shattered. Burn marks and cleaved stone told the story of violent clashes.
March slowed as she took in the damage.
"What happened here?"
Fu Xuan did not break stride.
"Two former warriors of the Xianzhou had a reunion earlier."
They continued until the shrine overlooking the sea came into view. The ocean beyond stretched vast and deceptively peaceful, waves rolling beneath the cliffside as though nothing monumental had ever occurred here.
Dan Heng stood near the shrine's edge, silent and still. The wind tugged at his clothing and brushed against the emerald horns that now curved elegantly from his head. He had been watching the horizon when he sensed their approach.
Beside him stood Jing Yuan, relaxed as ever, golden eyes thoughtful.
As Sunny, March, Welt, and Fu Xuan arrived, Jing Yuan stepped forward to greet them, leaving Dan Heng momentarily alone with his thoughts.
Fu Xuan did not waste time, her voice sharp:
"General, you could have informed the Seat of Divine Foresight earlier. Instead, we were left to piece together scattered reports while you—"
Jing Yuan smiled easily, allowing her words to roll over him.
"I accept your criticism, Lady Fu. It is well earned."
Her irritation only deepened at his good-natured composure.
Jing Yuan continued calmly.
"The Seat of Divine Foresight relayed the reports to me. I have been briefed on the developments. Tell me — what of Phantylia's plans?"
Fu Xuan composed herself enough to respond succinctly.
"The Ambrosial Arbor was her focus. Lord Ravager Phantylia sought to exploit it in order to disseminate the Abundance across the Luofu. Her intent was to incite civil strife, to rot us from within by unleashing an endless legion of undying abominations."
Jing Yuan nodded.
"That aligns with my understanding."
His gaze then shifted toward the three members of the Astral Express.
"I have brought someone you would be eager to see."
Dan Heng stepped forward.
Three pairs of eyes landed on him.
Sunny's gaze remained steady, though there was a faint hint of disappointment flickering through it, quickly suppressed. Welt regarded Dan Heng with quiet relief, as though such transformations were simply another entry in a long list of extraordinary events. March, however, stared openly.
She pointed at the emerald horns.
"Since when did you have those? Do you have some hidden strength you've been keeping from us this whole time?"
Her finger shifted toward the distant statue of Dan Feng.
"Wait. Is that your twin brother?"
Jing Yuan chuckled softly.
"Perhaps we can save reminiscence for later."
He straightened slightly, addressing them with formal gravity.
"My astral guests, when you first appeared on the Luofu, your stated aim was the resolution of the Stellaron crisis. I was concerned that the Stellaron Hunters harbored ulterior motives and refused your offer. I see now that I was overly anxious. Nevertheless, it is true that the motives of the Stellaron Hunters were not what they appeared."
He took a moment to laugh.
"In order for the Express and the Xianzhou to fight side by side, Kafka lured you here and broadened the scope of the crisis. In doing so, she succeeded in making clear that your sincerity is beyond doubt."
He inclined his head slightly.
"The Luofu is in your debt, and I have no right to seek further assistance from you. However, as Lady Fu has explained, the appearance of Phantylia means that the situation is far from under our control. As general of the Luofu, it would be foolish of me not to ask Dan Heng and the rest of you for your strength at this critical moment."
Welt stepped forward slightly.
"Even if the crisis on the Luofu had nothing to do with the Stellaron, I would be willing to help. Unfortunately, I am unable to provide assistance however I wish. But I cannot speak for the other members of my crew."
He looked at Sunny and March in turn.
"Explore, understand, establish, and connect. As the crew of the Express, that is the Trailblaze creed we follow. Still, when the journey grows difficult, those words can feel distant. Fear, risk, enemies, and death are the obstacles we face in pursuit of that creed. That is why the Nameless who remain steadfast are few. Whether our destination lies ahead or behind us, the decision is ours. Here, as on the Express, every vote counts."
March felt heat rise faintly to her face as she remembered her conversation with Sunny, as well as the small crack in his heart. She folded her hands behind her back and stepped beside Welt.
"I'll… abstain."
Sunny adjusted the Celestial Jade board beneath his arm. His voice was smooth as silk and sharper than blades, completely unlike his usual vulgar tone.
"I have a personal vendetta against Phantylia. I would not miss this."
His gaze shifted to Dan Heng, who stood quietly, uncertainty flickering across his features.
"How am I still one of the Nameless? I stand here at the mercy of others without true freedom to speak…"
Something in that phrasing caused Sunny's expression to darken abruptly.
"Without true freedom? Don't tell me you suddenly became a slave in only a few days."
The wind stilled around him, shadows at his feet deepening subtly.
"If you are going to run, do it properly. If you want to fight, then make sure you win. If you think you do not have a choice, then think until you find one. Do not compare yourself to those who have had their Fates decided for them."
The heat in his voice was unusual, raw and unfiltered.
Dan Heng stared at him, surprised, but not offended.
After a long moment, he inclined his head slightly.
"As a descendant of the Vidyadhara, I will fulfill my duty to the Luofu."