Jingliu: She Used to Love Acting Affectionate

"Bailu was handpicked by Dan Feng as High Elder. If anything happens, remember to have evidence ready."

Bai Tang's words carried a deeper meaning. The Second Elder keenly sensed the warning in them and gave her a questioning look.

"You'll find out later. Second Elder, I'll only help this once. Don't come looking for me afterward."

Nor should he look for Dan Feng. If Dan Feng still wanted to pursue the Dragon Transformation afterward, she would grab him at once, haul him onto the Express, and keep an eye on him.

Dan Feng: Failing last time doesn't mean I won't fail this time! Dragon Transformation, activate!

Dan Heng: Dan Feng's failure doesn't mean I'll fail. Dragon Transformation, activate!

Bailu: I'm better than Dan Feng, so I'm sure to succeed. Dragon Transformation, activate!

Bai Tang: She's coming back, and so is he. All of you, come back to life! I don't need the Dragon Transformation. I have my own way to bring them back exactly as they were! I... I want to go find my friends too!

You Vidyadhara High Elders (pointing fingers.jpg).

"Put my name on the list."

Whether or not she was on the Vidyadhara's list made no difference, but Bai Tang chose to add her name anyway. It might come in handy someday.

Meanwhile, Jing Yuan had finished taking care of things. Dan Heng and Stelle returned to the Express before noticing her, then continued studying the panel.

"You've come this far, so you probably won't let go. This can't be rushed. Take it slowly, and you'll eventually get results."

The summon option was still locked. Bai Tang was growing a little anxious. She was only a tiny step away from bringing them back, so why was she stuck here?

Hadn't she found a way back here precisely so she could bring them back safely?

As for the place she had lived before crossing over, there was probably a news report saying that a top student cosplaying a Foxian from Honkai: Star Rail had been hit and killed by a truck while protecting a little girl.

That wasn't important. Bringing them back was!!!!

If she couldn't succeed, what was the point of going to all this trouble? She might as well continue...

Older Jing Yuan had developed a psychological shadow over resurrection. Back then, the Dragon Transformation had torn the High-Cloud Quintet completely apart, beyond any hope of putting them back together.

But he still had his own memories and thoughts, and Bai Tang had come too far to be stopped. Even if death lay ahead, she would stubbornly charge straight in.

No matter how wonderful Jing Yuan, Himeko, and the others here were, they weren't her own. Otherwise, Bai Tang wouldn't have been thinking about bringing them back. Bringing them back was different from resurrecting the local Dan Feng and Baiheng. Those two had anchors all over this world, while Bai Tang was the only anchor left for the ones in the panel.

Under the circumstances, Older Jing Yuan chose to be cautious. Bai Tang was different from Dan Feng back then. At the very least, if she failed, she really did have enough strength to clean up the mess she made.

"Aventurine is throwing a tantrum because he can't communicate with you."

Older Jing Yuan tried to divert Bai Tang's attention. This really couldn't be rushed.

Since he couldn't stop her, all he could do was calm her down.

"I'll tell them when I get the chance."

Bai Tang didn't want to tell them outright. Whether they would believe her was one thing, but she didn't want her past to become a joke for others to talk about.

If she told everyone she met, rumors would be flying everywhere. Naturally, the story should wait until the right time to be told.

Special mention went to Zhongli, who played dumb, and Venti, who only sang after everything was over.

"You're changing the subject!"

Bai Tang's attention had been diverted a little, but she quickly caught on. She didn't particularly mind, though. "But you're right. This can't be rushed. Let's bring this world's Dan Feng and Baiheng back first, so Jing Yuan can put them to work."

Dan Feng was the main one. Once he was back, he could help manage the Vidyadhara and assist Jing Yuan. In any case, after bringing them back, Bai Tang planned to tell Jing Yuan to let her know if they didn't listen.

She had ways to handle them anyway. Hmph.

Bai Tang went to sleep.

After his conversation with Bai Tang, Older Jing Yuan couldn't sleep. He gathered everyone who had already awakened on the Luofu that didn't appear on the panel to discuss the matter.

This empty Luofu was one of Older Jing Yuan's own weapons. What Bai Tang had summoned was a phantom of this very Luofu.

"That girl has grown up."

A cup of coffee sat before Himeko, and a trace of sorrow showed in her gentle eyes. She hadn't wanted Bai Tang to grow up because of those things.

"She used to love acting affectionate."

Jingliu sipped her tea. She had never experienced the Imbibitor Lunae's rebellion, nor had she become Mara-Struck, so she wasn't as cold. She even joked around sometimes. Baiheng had obviously been a bad influence on her.

"Master."

Older Jing Yuan was helpless.

Older Jing Yuan's own master wasn't among those Bai Tang was bringing back. This Jingliu didn't mind that her own disciple had split into two, and accepted them both without hesitation. As a result, the strange sight of Older and Younger Jing Yuan being scolded side by side by Jingliu occasionally appeared here.

Older Jing Yuan hadn't seen Jingliu in hundreds of years, much less such a warm Jingliu. He was overjoyed whenever she scolded him, a stark contrast to Younger Jing Yuan beside him, who secretly wanted to go play.

"There's obviously no stopping her now. Bai Tang's getting more and more stubborn. We can't hold her back."

March 7th sat beside Evernight. Evernight was only there to keep March 7th company and had no desire to interfere.

"She's pushing herself too hard. We can only hope the versions of us outside notice."

Dan Heng had no solution either. None of them could get out, so how could they help Bai Tang relax? She was constantly anxious about bringing them back, and Bai Tang was their only anchor.

"Dan Heng, don't worry. Bai Tang is much better now than she used to be."

Himeko offered him comfort.

She was doing much better already. Bai Tang spoke fluently now and was livelier too. She had even started causing trouble and leaving messes behind.

The biggest difference from before was that they used to follow behind her and clean up those messes. Now she either left them alone or cleaned them up herself, and she even helped others clean up their messes.

"Sigh."

Even so, Bai Tang was still so different from how she used to be. Their hearts ached for her, and they wanted her to get some proper rest.

"I don't seem to have a way, but you're different."

Aventurine wore a resentful expression. He was the only one who couldn't talk to Bai Tang. Right now, he desperately wanted to grab his counterpart outside and make him listen carefully to Bai Tang's story.

Aventurine said nothing more, but the clever ones thought of something.

Older Jing Yuan couldn't stop smiling. "Shall I go?"

Younger Jing Yuan was dejected. "Why is there another me?"

Jing Yuan was the sort of person who would even tease himself. Older Jing Yuan often fooled Younger Jing Yuan, using his greater experience to keep the other firmly under his thumb.

"And while you're at it, lend the friends who haven't awakened yet a hand."

While Aventurine was offering help, he wanted them to help him too and find a way to get the story to his ears!

"Now that we've discussed it, everyone, let's get to work."

Himeko also prepared to do her part to help Bai Tang live a little better on the outside.

March 7th was baffled. "Huh?" Who am I? Where am I? What am I supposed to do?

Evernight wasn't planning to go. What was there to say? But she still took March 7th aside and explained.

A thoroughly bewildered Yanqing was led away by Older Jing Yuan. If he couldn't figure it out, he didn't need to think about it. Older Jing Yuan could teach him.