Yanqing.
Had been sent flying.
"Lord Yanqing, are you alright?!"
"Call an ambulance, quick! Call an ambulance!!"
A cold wind blew gently.
At this moment, Yanqing was hanging upside down from the branches at the top of a large roadside tree. His protective sword formation had been shattered into pieces, completely broken apart and scattered all over the ground.
Below the tree, the Cloud Knights were extremely anxious upon seeing this scene.
"Damn it, what the hell is that creature? It even broke Lord Yanqing's sword formation!"
"Someone get Lord Yanqing down from there. His eyes are rolled back."
"The tree is too tall, and the branch he's hanging from is too thin. If I climb up with my build, what if it snaps?!"
"Does anyone have a fork? Fork Lord Yanqing down!"
Just as the Cloud Knights were panicking and at their wits' end.
Welt led Diting and slowly searched his way over.
Seeing the scene ahead, three black question marks popped up over his head.
"What happened here?"
"Ah! It's Yang Transcendent! What does he want this time?!" One Cloud Knight pointed at Welt and shouted.
"..."
"..."
After a moment of silence, Welt quickly turned and left in the opposite direction.
His footsteps carried the wind as he walked.
...
March 7th rode her mount, charging past the teahouse that never closes and past the snack stalls, rampaging all the way until she finally spotted Tingyun's figure in a shady spot.
"Hm?!"
Hearing the noise behind her, Tingyun turned around, still holding a cup of milk tea and sipping it casually.
"Oh~ You guys arrived so quickly? How was it? Is Diting useful?"
"Diting?"
March 7th disdainfully dismounted from her steed and said scornfully, "That thing is still leading Uncle Yang around in circles. It even needs to ask for directions. What use is it?!"
"Eh?!"
Tingyun swallowed a sip of milk tea and looked at what March 7th was riding. Her pupils suddenly shrank. "Wait… you're riding something like this on the Xianzhou? Did you follow traffic rules?"
"No."
"?"
"Don't tell me you came all the way here like this?!"
March 7th crossed her arms, looking pleased with herself. "Of course! Surprised?"
"I…"
After a moment of silence, Tingyun asked tentatively, "You haven't told anyone that I know you two, right?"
"No."
"Phew, that's good."
Tingyun patted her chest.
As long as no one else knew she was connected to these two, no matter how much social suicide they committed, it wouldn't drag her down.
"But they seem to know you're the one hosting us."
"..."
"Then… what about Mr. Welt?"
"Uncle Yang is probably still out for a stroll."
Tingyun covered her forehead speechlessly and complained, "You didn't even wait for him. With just the two of you, we can't proceed with the follow-up actions."
"What's the problem?"
March 7th patted the steed beside her and smiled. "As long as my mount is here, finding the Stellaron Hunter is a sure thing, right?"
"That may be true."
Tingyun reached out and removed a pale red-and-white feather that had landed on her forehead. "But… shouldn't the benefactors have more team spirit?"
"The opponent is Kafka from the Stellaron Hunters, and… Miss March also mentioned it might be a trap, right?"
While the two people and one horse were talking, a large group of Cloud Knights arrived one after another.
"We received a report that unidentified individuals riding an unknown mount have even knocked Lord Yanqing flying! We Cloud Knights are under orders to thoroughly investigate this matter!"
"?"
March 7th turned around and said disdainfully, "What unidentified individuals? We were just test-riding. Have you never been beaten by Uncle Yang or something?"
"Ah… So it's you!"
"So you really are guests from the Astral Express? Although we had some suspicions before… it really is you."
"However, the Luofu has its own rules and regulations. You violated traffic rules, so according to the rules, we have to confiscate this horse!"
"Confiscate?"
Hearing this, March 7th immediately became unhappy.
"This is mine. What right do you have to confiscate it?!"
"Hey, do you think our horse should be confiscated?" March 7th asked the blonde girl on the horse.
"Uh… My opinion?"
The young girl held a riding lance, her golden long hair cascading down her back. Her white light armor sparkled under the sunlight.
"If it has caused trouble for everyone, then I'll put it away."
"Clara, come back."
The black-and-blue steed let out a long neigh, transforming into flowing light that entered the girl's body and formed a set of armor around her.
"See, now our crime tool is gone!" March 7th shouted in delight.
"..."
The group of Cloud Knights silently watched this scene.
The leading Cloud Knight captain brushed off a feather that had fallen from who-knows-where and said awkwardly, "We will report this matter to Lady Yukong truthfully."
After speaking, they left dejectedly.
March 7th craned her neck to look over there. They were even carrying a stretcher, though it was unclear who was injured.
"Sigh."
Tingyun let out a difficult sigh. "Benefactors… forgive this little lady for speaking bluntly, but could you please not cause such a big commotion every time? It always makes others suspect whether you are truly here to help the Xianzhou."
"Of course we are. Isn't that obvious?!"
March 7th said confidently, "Once Uncle Yang arrives, we'll go find the Stellaron Hunter. If there's danger, we can just have Zeig feed Uncle Yang some good stuff again!"
"Oh? From what you're saying… Mr. Welt's earlier behavior wasn't his own intention?"
"Of course not. Uncle Yang is such a nice guy. He can't even scold people as well as I can. If we don't give him some flair, we'll never see him acting domineering in this lifetime."
"I see."
Tingyun nodded and looked at the blonde girl beside her. "Then let's wait for Mr. Welt a bit longer."
Clara: "Mm."
...
Welt led Diting, walking farther and farther away.
The pedestrians around him grew increasingly sparse.
"?"
It was only after he killed several creatures and Mara-struck soldiers in one go.
That he realized there were no signs of any living people having wandered nearby.
Thus.
Welt's gaze fell on Diting below him again. "Is our destination really here?"
"Woof—!!"
"..."
Given the last bit of trust he had left in Xianzhou clockwork creatures.
Welt steeled himself and pressed deeper inside.
This place seemed very different.
Countless square culture dishes around him floated small orbs wrapped in thick wood.
"Is this the embryonic form of starskiffs…?"
Following Diting's guidance, Welt quickened his pace.
The Mara-struck soldiers here were almost endless.
"..."
After charging in for a short distance, Welt already regretted it.
It was obvious that this clockwork hound had a problem with its head. There was no one here at all.
"Sigh, I should head back."
Just as Welt stepped on the bodies of the Mara-struck and was about to turn back.
Suddenly, feathers drifting in the sky caught his attention.
"?"
Red-and-white feathers floated with the wind, glowing faintly. They drifted over from the direction of Central Starskiff Haven.
"…Fenghuang Down." Welt murmured.