Liuge, unable to wait any longer, sat directly in Yukong's seat and started playing his game as if no one else were around.
This sight left Welt utterly dumbfounded.
No, Liuge. Even though you had been on the Xianzhou for a while now, wasn't this attitude... a little too dismissive of Yukong, one of the Six Charioteers and a senior official?
Yukong, on the other hand, seemed completely unconcerned by Liuge's behavior. Instead, she glanced at Tingyun beside her.
That single look left Tingyun flustered, and she immediately pulled Liuge out of that seat.
Liuge was also a little confused. When he looked up, he saw Stelle giving him an enthusiastic thumbs-up with a face full of admiration.
As for March 7th, she wore a blank expression, as though she had just witnessed some celestial being.
"...Did I do something wrong?"
Liuge still had not realized what had been inappropriate about his actions just now.
It was only after Tingyun quietly explained things into his ear that he realized he had been so eager to play the game that he had failed to notice his surroundings.
"Sorry, sorry, Lady Yukong!"
"It's fine. But you... it's really rare to see you this absorbed in something."
"Ahahaha, well... I rarely come across something I like so much, so I got carried away without realizing it."
Liuge's words made Yukong feel that this kid was still just a child.
"Lady Yukong, it's getting late. A diviner from the Divination Commission is waiting for us in Chang'le Sky-Garden~"
At that moment, seemingly to ease the awkwardness, Tingyun suggested that they leave first.
"Alright!"
Yukong nodded, then resumed speaking with Welt.
"By the way, March, Stelle, Bronya, do you want to come with me and take a look around Chang'le Sky-Garden?"
"Huh, can we?"
Though they said that, the three had already walked over to Liuge's side. This left Old Yang, their leader, both amused and helpless, though he did not mind.
He was currently discussing the Xianzhou's situation with Yukong.
At this time, perhaps because Liuge's early arrival on the Xianzhou had changed part of the course of events, Yukong did not directly say that the Stellaron matter could simply be handled internally by the Xianzhou.
Instead, she discussed the matter of resolving the Stellaron and its details with Old Yang...
Stelle: Mom!
Meanwhile, because many alchemists from the Dan Ding Division had withdrawn following the earlier mara-struck incident, they were now gathered at a temporary outpost on the outskirts of the Dan Ding Division.
However, compared to the originally numerous and almost entirely unrestrained alchemists, the alchemists gathered here appeared extremely disciplined.
It was as though... as though they belonged to an organization?
If they truly had to be described, they should perhaps be called by another name.
The Disciples of Sanctus Medicus!
The earlier mara-struck incident within the Dan Ding Division had also been triggered by these people from within. They had caused almost everyone who was not part of the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus to become mara-struck.
Inside the room of Dan Shu, the Master Alchemist of the Dan Ding Division.
Dan Shu was currently refining medicine. Though nearly everyone on the outskirts belonged to the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus.
There were still quite a few ordinary alchemists here. However, they were insignificant pawns and did not deserve much attention.
Before completely exposing herself as a member of the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus, Dan Shu still fulfilled her duties as the Master Alchemist of the Dan Ding Division.
Suddenly, Dan Shu's brows furrowed slightly, as though she had sensed something extra in the room.
"Who is it?"
As a Flawed One, Dan Shu had lost her sight, but her other senses were far keener than those of ordinary people.
She sharply detected a strange presence that had appeared in her room.
"Your senses are quite sharp!" An emerald-green flame appeared in the corner, its tone carrying a hint of surprise.
"But should I address you as the Master Alchemist of the Dan Ding Division, or as the leader of the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus?" The emerald-green flame drifted from side to side, seemingly teasing her.
Dan Shu listened to that voice but did not speak. Instead, she became even more vigilant.
"Don't be so guarded! After all, we're here to cooperate!"
"Cooperate?"
Dan Shu paused, puzzled by the owner of that voice.
"That's right! You know about Stellarons, don't you?" The emerald-green flame continued on its own. "I happen to have one here. With it, The Ambrosial Arbor can be reborn!"
"...What is your objective?"
"Very simple: destroy the Xianzhou! Our goals are the same!"
Though Dan Shu was somewhat tempted, she did not agree immediately.
After The Ambrosial Arbor was reborn, its arrival would bring an immortal body, and they could gain Abundance power just like the Xianzhou ancestors from thousands of years ago.
But she knew what price she would have to pay to obtain all of that.
After all, there was no such thing as a free lunch, was there?
"So, what price do we need to pay?"
"Very simple. Just continue doing what your Disciples of Sanctus Medicus have always done..."
Upon hearing that, Dan Shu instantly guessed the identity of the person before her.
"You're Lord of Ruin: Phantylia?!"
"Oh, very clever! You figured it out right away!"
Phantylia sounded somewhat surprised.
"It was an easy deduction. You want to destroy the Xianzhou, and you use this sort of internal collapse. Besides, there have recently been search orders for you across the Xianzhou, so the conclusion was easy to reach!"
Dan Shu's words made Phantylia fall silent for a moment.
She had originally planned to slip quietly into the village, but because of one unexpected person, she had been exposed the moment she entered the Xianzhou.
It had forced her to detonate part of her heliobus body just to leave safely.
Though she could recover quickly, this was an utter humiliation to her.
She had actually fallen for the trick of an ordinary person who had not even set foot upon a Path.
"So, will you cooperate?"
Phantylia's voice was full of temptation.
"If it is you... then I agree to cooperate with you!"
Dan Shu wore a faint smile.
"Good. Then wait for my message! There will be results soon..."
After leaving behind those words, Phantylia directly dissipated before Dan Shu.
Seemingly sensing Phantylia's departure, Dan Shu turned and continued refining her medicine.
Yet judging from her expression, she seemed to be eagerly anticipating that moment.
On the other side, Tingyun had originally wanted to go with Liuge and the others, but just as she was about to leave, Yukong sent someone to call her back.
Tingyun's eyes filled with resentment, but due to official duties, she did not linger any longer.
However, that subordinate did not leave immediately. Instead, he bowed to Liuge.
"Lord Liuge, Lady Yukong also instructed me just now that Kafka of the Stellaron Hunters seems to have appeared near the port. If possible, she requests that you and your companions head there..."
"...So she wants us to go fight, right?"
The subordinate said nothing, but that was roughly what he meant.
Liuge pondered for a moment.
In the original plot, Kafka's appearance seemed to be meant to prove that the Stellaron Hunters had nothing to do with the Xianzhou's Stellaron crisis.
So she was easily captured on the spot by Fu Xuan.
How should he put it... it counted as an iconic scene, right?!
"Uncle Yang, what do you think?"
March 7th looked toward Old Yang beside her and asked.
After all, Welt, with his extensive experience, was the leader of this group of veteran play... people.
"By general... we should go take a look."
Liuge, who had been preparing to hear Old Yang's opinion, nearly stumbled and fell over.
Just now, for a moment, he seemed to see a certain old gentleman who never liked carrying money but gave everyone an overwhelming sense of security.
"What's wrong, Liuge?"
Stelle found Liuge's reaction rather strange as well.
"No, it's nothing. I just thought of a certain old gentleman."
"An old gentleman?"
Upon hearing that, Bronya glanced at Welt and nodded almost imperceptibly.
If they really had to put it that way, Welt could indeed be considered an old gentleman.
After receiving everyone's unanimous agreement, Liuge and the others abandoned their plans to visit Chang'le Sky-Garden and headed instead for the port at the Star-Skiff Sea.
Before long, the group arrived at the port.
The port looked the same as before, practically filled with shipping containers.
However, when they arrived, they saw several Cloud Knights Army soldiers surrounding and attacking a purple-red-haired woman wearing a long coat and wielding two firearms.
When the woman saw the Astral Express crew arrive, there was not the slightest trace of surprise on her face. Instead, it was as though she had known this would happen.
After easily dealing with the Cloud Knights Army soldiers besieging her, the woman stood in place and looked at the Astral Express crew with a faint smile.
However, when she saw Liuge and Bronya, a trace of surprise appeared on her face.
"Elio's script does not seem to include these two."
She murmured in a voice only she could hear.
"You're here~"
Kafka sounded as though she were welcoming old friends, her voice carrying a hint of laziness.
"Kafka..."
Welt adjusted his glasses but did not say much.
Instead, March 7th and Stelle behind him looked at Kafka with curiosity.
"Hmm?"
Kafka saw Stelle, and a faint smile appeared on her face.
"..." Stelle fell silent for a moment, then said, "Mom?!"
March 7th froze instantly.
Welt was stunned as well!
Kafka herself could only helplessly rub her forehead...
Trait: Sunshine and Cheerful Boy
Because of Stelle's single remark, everyone present fell into silence, including Liuge.
Although Kafka was universally recognized as Mom among the players, this was reality!
Before you continue