Stelle: What's that?
Bronya: What's that?
Bronya: Ahem, I looked it up. Mara-Struck is something unique to the people of the Xianzhou...
As she spoke, Bronya privately explained it to the Astral Express crew, while Dan Heng added some key details.
March 7th: Ohhh, got it. So, Liuge, are you okay?
Liuge: What did you get?
March 7th: The Mara-Struck thing! So, are you okay?!
Liuge: Oh, that's what you meant.
Stelle: ...That felt deliberate!
Bronya: Liuge, no girl is going to like you if you act like that!
March 7th: I'm so mad!
Liuge: Ahem, sorry, sorry! I'm fine, but...
March 7th: But?
Liuge: How should I put it? The Disciples of Sanctus Medicus were behind this descent into mara.
Dan Heng: The Disciples of Sanctus Medicus...
March 7th: What's that now?
Before Liuge could answer, Yanqing emerged from the General of the Xianzhou Mansion. He cupped his hands toward Liuge and made an inviting gesture.
"Sorry to have kept you waiting. The General has been waiting inside for some time."
Though he said Liuge had been waiting a long time, it had really only been three or four minutes.
"It's fine!"
Liuge nodded and followed Yanqing into the General of the Xianzhou Mansion.
Before long, they reached a grand hall.
Virtual chess pieces resembling cyber chess were arranged across the floor before the hall. Seated beyond them was General Jing Yuan, his white hair and perpetually sleepy look making him seem like an inscrutable riddle wrapped in a man.
"General Jing Yuan!"
Liuge looked at Jing Yuan and cupped his hands in greeting.
"You've come."
Jing Yuan looked at Liuge, a trace of curiosity appearing in his eyes.
"Come to think of it, you haven't been back on the Xianzhou for long, yet you've already helped the Xianzhou twice."
"Just lending a hand, that's all. Besides, I encountered the disturbance at the Dan Ding Division this time because Diviner Fu Xuan asked me to inspect the area."
"Is that so?"
Hearing this, Jing Yuan nodded as though deep in thought.
"Oh, right, General Jing Yuan."
"Hmm?"
Jing Yuan paused and turned to Liuge.
"It's like this. Before I appeared on Tingyun's merchant ship, I was a Nameless of the Astral Express."
"You're a Nameless?"
This time, Jing Yuan was genuinely somewhat surprised.
He knew of the Astral Express.
It was the train ridden by followers of the departed Trailblaze Aeon Akivili's will. Wherever they traveled and whatever they did, they continued blazing trails to connect the universe in friendship.
No matter where they arrived, as long as there was a Stellaron crisis, they would head there without hesitation to seal it away.
They were a group of people worthy of respect.
"Yes!"
Liuge nodded.
"Then why bring this up all of a sudden?"
"What I mean is, my companions may arrive at the Luofu before long."
"I see! There's nothing bad about that. We Xianzhou people are always happy to welcome friends from afar."
Jing Yuan did not seem particularly surprised. Instead, he seemed to have begun considering something.
A moment later, he looked at Liuge.
"Speaking of which, young friend Liuge, does your ability to transform into others have any limitations?"
"Hm?"
Liuge was a little stunned when he heard that.
But he quickly understood. Jing Yuan probably wanted to use his ability against the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus.
"General, you mean...?"
"You know about the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus, right?"
"Yeah!"
Liuge nodded.
"I want you to take on someone else's appearance and infiltrate the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus."
"..."
Listening to Jing Yuan, Liuge fell into thought.
You want me to be an undercover agent, huh!
"My apologies, but I refuse!"
Liuge rejected him outright.
Leaving everything else aside, his acting skills were genuinely lacking.
If he had an acting Stat-Stick, he might actually have been able to carry this out, but for now, it was an absolute pass!
"What a pity."
Jing Yuan smiled, not pressing the matter.
"How should I put it, General Jing Yuan? My transformation ability only gives me these two transformations."
As he spoke, Liuge equipped Tingyun's transformation Stat-Stick and transformed into a foxian on the spot for Jing Yuan.
Jing Yuan, who had known about this already, was not surprised. Yanqing, watching from the side, widened his eyes instead.
How had he suddenly turned into the chief representative of the Minghuo Merchant Guild?
Then, Liuge replaced it with Kazami Yuuka's Stat-Stick.
In the next instant, he became the queen-like Tyrant of the Flower Fields.
That made Jing Yuan's eyes widen slightly.
There was no other reason. The Tyrant of the Flower Fields, Kazami Yuuka, had far too overwhelming an aura. It would be impossible to send her undercover too; she would stand out like a sore thumb!
As for Tingyun, she was too famous, so that was out as well.
He sighed, tacitly accepting Liuge's refusal.
What he did not know was that Liuge had one more transformation state.
That was Haxxor Bunny Bronya's form!
But since this was about going undercover, it was better not to mention it. Undercover work was simply too troublesome!
Brave March, Unafraid of Hardship!
After leaving the General's Manor, Liuge found a seat in Chang'le Sky-Garden and sat down, looking up at the sky.
In reality, though, he was looking at the brand-new Stat-Stick he had just acquired in the Stat-Stick Library.
This Stat-Stick had dropped in the General of the Xianzhou Mansion, or rather, from Jing Yuan.
That alone was nothing unusual.
The problem was that this Stat-Stick was crimson, the kind of blood-red crimson that looked deeply unsettling, as though it had been soaked in blood.
One Awesome Attack Quality: Crimson Description: I will unleash one awesome attack! Special Note: There are side effects. Please use this Stat-Stick only after ensuring your own safety.
It was the one and only crimson-quality Stat-Stick he had ever obtained, as well as the only Stat-Stick with a special note.
Every part of it proved just how special this Stat-Stick was.
Though he really wanted to try it out, Liuge suppressed the urge.
Trying this thing might just get him killed!
After all, it specifically stated that he should use it only after ensuring his own safety.
After thinking for a moment, Liuge temporarily put the Stat-Stick away.
At the same time, he was curious what kind of new Stat-Stick it could form later.
Liuge would never admit that the moment he got this Stat-Stick, the image of Might of An-Utu had popped into his mind.
"Liuge, so you're here!"
Suddenly, a soft voice rang out beside him.
Liuge turned and saw a foxian woman walking toward him, dressed in red-and-white Hanfu and looking like an immortal descended from the heavens.
"Tingyun, are you done with your business?"
The person before him was none other than Tingyun.
"Uh... yeah!"
Tingyun froze for a moment, then nodded.
In truth, Tingyun had still been busy with the merchant guild's affairs earlier. But when she heard that Liuge had encountered a mara incident at the Dan Ding Division, she immediately set aside her work and rushed over.
However, halfway there, she heard that the Mara-Struck Soldiers and the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus at the Dan Ding Division had been forcefully suppressed by a mysterious traveler from beyond, while Liuge was safe and sound at the General of the Xianzhou Mansion. Only then did she stop rushing.
"What's wrong?"
Liuge found Tingyun's hesitant manner rather strange.
"N-Nothing."
Tingyun opened her Six-Ribbed Folding Fan, partly covering her lower face and revealing her beautiful eyes. She seemed to be smiling.
But only Tingyun herself knew that she was not smiling at all.
She did not even know how to bring it up. She wanted to invite Liuge to eat with her, but she was too embarrassed to ask.
It was really strange.
She had never felt like this before, so why was it happening now?
"It's getting late, Miss Tingyun. Would you honor me with the pleasure of sharing lunch with me?"
"...That's such a weirdly formal way to say it, Liuge. Just talk normally!"
Hearing Liuge's words, Tingyun laughed and teased him.
"So?"
"Naturally!"
Before you continue