Chapter Summaries

Bai Luoming woke in high spirits and teased Pom-Pom, leaving Himeko and Welt puzzled about his sudden happiness. As the crew discussed possible Trailblaze destinations, March 7th arrived and sat close beside him, hinting at the reason for his mood.

• Bai Luoming lifted Pom-Pom off a stool, then put the Conductor down and left the kitchen in high spirits.
• Himeko and Welt noticed Bai Luoming's unusual cheerfulness, but he refused to explain what had happened.
• Bai Luoming changed clothes and washed his face before returning to the Parlor Car.
• Himeko presented Melustanin, Lushaka, and Penacony as candidate destinations for the Astral Express.
• Himeko asked Bai Luoming what had made him so happy, and he said they would find out soon.
• March 7th entered the Parlor Car and sat beside Bai Luoming, prompting Himeko to realize why he was cheerful.

After the Astral Express prepared to leave Jarilo-VI and considered its next destination, Kafka appeared with a warning that the Xianzhou Luofu faced a Stellaron disaster. The crew discussed verifying her claim, while Dan Heng revealed he was forbidden from returning to the Luofu.

• Pom-Pom announced that Fragmentum activity on Jarilo-VI had fallen and the Express was ready to depart, while March 7th fetched the sleeping Stelle.
• Himeko, Welt, and Dan Heng questioned Bai Luoming about March 7th, then Himeko presented Melustanin, Lushaka, and Penacony as possible destinations.
• Kafka hijacked the Parlor Car communications and warned the crew that the Luofu faced a Stellaron disaster, offering coordinates and asking them to help rescue Blade and clear the Stellaron Hunters' names.
• March 7th suspected Kafka was setting a trap, while Stelle defended her; Himeko decided to verify the coordinates and Stellaron readings before choosing whether to go.
• Bai Luoming asked Dan Heng about the Luofu, and Dan Heng said he could not go there because he had been forbidden from setting foot in any place under its rule.

The Astral Express crew voted to investigate the Xianzhou Luofu despite Dan Heng’s banishment, and Dan Heng chose to stay aboard the Express. Bai Luoming, March 7th, Stelle, and Welt prepared for the expedition and arrived at the Luofu, where communications interference suggested trouble ahead.

• Stelle stopped March 7th from asking Dan Heng about his banishment, and the crew eased the tension without pressing him about the Luofu.
• Himeko added Kafka’s coordinates to the destination options, and the crew voted to make the Luofu their next stop, with Dan Heng abstaining.
• Welt assigned himself, Bai Luoming, March 7th, and Stelle to the expedition and warned them to follow his orders; Himeko reported severe communications interference from the Luofu.
• Bai Luoming packed his belongings and kept the sealed black box Herta had given him as a possible trump card.
• The expedition team gathered in the Parlor Car, received Himeko’s safety warning, and saw the enormous Luofu fill the Express’s window.

The Astral Express group arrived at an abandoned Returnstar Harbor and encountered Cloud Knights fighting Borisin. Bai Luoming’s overwhelming strength turned the battle around, leaving one Borisin alive.

• Welt led March 7th, Stelle, and Bai Luoming through the deserted harbor after warning them to stay alert.
• The group found Cloud Knights facing a larger force of Borisin, and March 7th’s camera shutter drew everyone’s attention.
• The Cloud Knight captain ordered a young soldier to escort the newcomers to safety, but the Borisin charged before he could leave.
• March 7th, Stelle, and Welt joined the fight, freezing, striking, and restraining Borisin to aid the Cloud Knights.
• Bai Luoming tested his increased stats by killing Borisin with his bare fists, and the group quickly defeated all but one.

Bai Luoming and the Astral Express crew helped the Cloud Knights defeat a Borisin attack at Returnstar Harbor and learned that Mara-Struck cases had risen abnormally. As the group headed to the Sky-Faring Commission, Fu Xuan’s plan to approach them was spoiled, and she was joined by the teasing Yaoguang, a general from the Jade Abacus Xianzhou.

• The Borisin leader released wolf poison and self-destructed, but Bai Luoming, Welt, and the others took cover and survived the blast.
• The Cloud Knight captain thanked Bai Luoming’s group and explained that the harbor had been evacuated before the Borisin attack.
• The captain revealed that backup was delayed because several Cloud Knights had suddenly become Mara-Struck, an unusually early development that was under investigation.
• Welt and Bai Luoming grew wary of the attack and rising Mara-Struck cases, then agreed to accompany the captain to the Sky-Faring Commission to register and report what happened.
• Fu Xuan watched Bai Luoming’s group leave and regretted that his strength had ruined her plan to rescue them and make contact.
• Yaoguang arrived and teased Fu Xuan, who angrily left for her business while Yaoguang followed her through the harbor.

The Astral Express crew reached the Sky-Faring Commission and warned Yukong that the Luofu might face a Stellaron crisis. Yukong decided to take them to the Seat of Divine Foresight so the general could hear their report.

• A Cloud Knight captain escorted the group to the Sky-Faring Commission while the other knights searched Returnstar Harbor, and Bai Luoming bluntly said they had come to help resolve the Stellaron crisis.
• A staff member registering the group recognized Bai Luoming's name and summoned them to meet Yukong.
• Yukong acknowledged Bai Luoming's connection to Herta, then listened as Welt explained Kafka's warning, the Borisin attack, and the Mara-Struck outbreak.
• Yukong decided to report the crisis to the Seat of Divine Foresight and personally guide the group there after finding no suitable escort available.
• Bai Luoming accepted Yukong's offer and asked whether they could get food on the way, and the group set off for the Seat of Divine Foresight.

The Astral Express crew met General Jing Yuan at the Seat of Divine Foresight and warned him about a possible Stellaron crisis on the Luofu. Jing Yuan withheld judgment pending verification, until a woman at the entrance confirmed the Luofu had indeed encountered serious trouble.

• Yukong took Bai Luoming, March 7th, Stelle, and Welt by Starskiff to the Seat of Divine Foresight.
• While waiting outside, March 7th celebrated how smoothly the Trailblaze had gone, and Stelle wondered whether Bai Luoming attracted helpful acquaintances.
• Jing Yuan received the group and thanked the Astral Express for reporting the Stellaron intelligence.
• Jing Yuan said the Stellaron Hunters' information needed verification before he could act, prompting Welt and Bai Luoming to urge him to consider it carefully.
• A woman entered the hall and told Jing Yuan that the Luofu had encountered serious trouble.

Yaoguang arrived at the Seat of Divine Foresight, confirmed the Stellaron crisis, and declared that she had come to find the man destined for her. Fu Xuan saw her as a rival for Bai Luoming, while Jing Yuan realized Yaoguang had disrupted his plan to delay the Astral Express for Jingliu.

• Yaoguang entered the hall with Fu Xuan and explained that she had received the Marshal’s approval but had arrived without notifying the Luofu.
• Yaoguang said she had come to help resolve the crisis and find the man destined for her, prompting Fu Xuan to suspect she wanted Bai Luoming.
• Fu Xuan resolved to compete with Yaoguang, reassuring herself that her experience on the Luofu and her careful plans gave her two advantages.
• Jing Yuan accepted the Stellaron intelligence as credible because Yaoguang had vouched for it.
• Jing Yuan recalled that Jingliu had asked him to keep Bai Luoming on the Luofu, and suspected that Jingliu was currently fighting Yingxing in the Prison of Deep Seclusion.

Jing Yuan tried to delay deciding how to handle the Stellaron and arrange for the Astral Express crew to stay at a hotel, but Bai Luoming’s mention of Herta made him quickly insist the Luofu could manage alone. As he searched for someone to escort the visitors, Qingque arrived with divination reports, and Jing Yuan seized on her timely appearance.

• Jing Yuan said he needed time to discuss the Stellaron and offered the Astral Express crew lodging at the finest hotel on the Luofu.
• March 7th and Stelle recognized Jing Yuan’s approach from their experience in Belobog and grew wary of his delay.
• Bai Luoming joked that he could bring someone in to help, prompting Jing Yuan to reject involving Herta, an Emanator of Erudition.
• Fu Xuan wondered how Bai Luoming had become close enough to Herta to summon her, while Yaoguang reacted with interest.
• Jing Yuan ruled out Yukong and Fu Xuan as escorts, then Qingque arrived with the latest divination reports and he greeted her as coming at just the right time.

Qingque eagerly accepted Jing Yuan’s order to escort the Astral Express guests after spotting Bai Luoming, while Fu Xuan grew suspicious of her sudden enthusiasm. Yaoguang teased Jing Yuan, then discovered Fu Xuan’s concern about where she would stay and playfully scooped her up.

• Jing Yuan told Qingque to escort the honored guests to the Luofu’s guest hotel, and Qingque eagerly agreed after recognizing Bai Luoming among them.
• Fu Xuan suspected Qingque’s excitement was unusual as Qingque led the Astral Express party out of the hall.
• Jing Yuan dismissed the work for the day and ordered Yukong to register Yaoguang and arrange her lodging.
• Yaoguang asked whether she would stay at the same hotel as the Express guests, prompting Fu Xuan to insist that Yaoguang stay with her.
• Yaoguang scooped up the flustered Fu Xuan and teased her for being considerate of her senior sister.

Qingque escorted the Astral Express crew through Aurum Alley to their guesthouse and introduced them to the Luofu’s sights and Imperial Jade. After arranging a way to contact Bai Luoming through March 7th, she left, and the group settled in.

• Qingque led March 7th, Stelle, and Bai Luoming through Aurum Alley, pointing out its attractions, food, and distinguished guesthouse.
• Qingque’s card-playing friend was surprised to see her working overtime, and she explained that General Jing Yuan had assigned her to escort the guests.
• Bai Luoming asked Qingque about Imperial Jade, recognized its rules as mahjong, and promised to try a game another day.
• Qingque checked the group into the guesthouse and asked Bai Luoming for his terminal number.
• Bai Luoming explained that his terminal was only his in name and directed Qingque to add March 7th instead, so they could arrange a game through her.

Bai Luoming settled into his guesthouse room on the Luofu and called Herta, who warned him to stay away from other women and told him to explore the contents of her box. He tried a pair of glasses from the box, discovered their analysis and X-ray functions, then went to wash up as someone silently entered his room.

• Welt sent the group to rest, and March 7th invited Bai Luoming to explore Aurum Alley for food, but he postponed the outing until tomorrow.
• Bai Luoming called Herta, admitted he missed her, and declined her offer to come keep him company.
• Herta warned Bai Luoming to stay away from other women, then called back to tell him the gadgets in her box were for him to explore.
• Bai Luoming put on a pair of glasses from the box and found that they displayed detailed analyses and could see through walls, though their X-ray mode showed only bones through bodies.
• Bai Luoming put the glasses and other gadgets away and went to wash up, while a figure silently slipped into his room.

Bai Luoming was surprised in bed by Evernight, who seduced him and warned him to keep their encounter secret from March 7th. After Evernight left, he used one of Herta’s gadgets to clean the bed and wondered whether that meant Herta was indirectly involved.

• Bai Luoming went to bed at the Luofu guesthouse, then tensed when he felt someone beside him in the darkness.
• Evernight revealed herself, teased Bai Luoming, and overpowered his protests despite his warning that March 7th might find out.
• Near dawn, Evernight told Bai Luoming to keep their encounter secret from March 7th and left the room.
• Bai Luoming used a cleaning gadget from Herta to restore the bed, then wondered if Herta had become indirectly involved.

Stelle woke Bai Luoming and March 7th near noon after they had both slept unusually late, while March 7th acted awkwardly around Bai Luoming after the previous night. The trio ate at the guesthouse and learned that Welt had gone to the Seat of Divine Foresight to seek more information from Jing Yuan.

• Stelle repeatedly knocked until Bai Luoming finally opened his door, then told him she had also been trying to wake March 7th.
• Bai Luoming checked that Evernight had left no visible marks on him, while March 7th grew flustered after waking and abruptly shut her door.
• Stelle told Bai Luoming she had studied the guesthouse trash cans and called her findings “trash can sociology.”
• March 7th joined Bai Luoming and Stelle downstairs, where Stelle said Welt had gone to the Seat of Divine Foresight to seek more information.
• Bai Luoming gave March 7th a lotus pastry, and Stelle remarked that the two of them were acting weird.

Stelle, March 7th, and Bai Luoming joined Qingque at a teahouse to play Imperial Jade after Welt said the Astral Express crew could explore the Luofu on their own. As the game began, Bai Luoming wore Herta’s X-ray glasses and secretly saw the tiles, but switched off their vision so he would not overwhelm the beginners.

• Welt messaged Stelle that talks at the Seat of Divine Foresight were still underway and the group could explore freely.
• Qingque invited March 7th and her companions to a teahouse, explaining that Fu Xuan was away from the Divination Commission and she had taken the chance to skip work.
• Bai Luoming retrieved Herta’s X-ray glasses, then led Stelle and March 7th to buy seven new Jade Abacuses before they went to meet Qingque.
• Stelle tried to leave the teahouse to investigate nearby trash cans, but Bai Luoming and March 7th persuaded her to stay so they could play Imperial Jade.
• Qingque explained the rules and started the game; Bai Luoming used his glasses to see the hidden tiles, then turned off their X-ray vision to spare the beginners.

March 7th’s extraordinary luck let her defeat Qingque and Bai Luoming at Imperial Jade, leaving both experienced players stunned. After Fu Xuan summoned Qingque to the Divination Commission, Stelle departed too, leaving March 7th and Bai Luoming to take a walk together.

• March 7th repeatedly won at Imperial Jade despite Qingque’s skill and Bai Luoming’s analytical glasses, leaving both of them despondent.
• March 7th offered to treat everyone to food, but Qingque received a call from Fu Xuan demanding that she come to the Divination Commission immediately.
• Qingque refused March 7th’s offer to accompany her and headed to the Divination Commission alone.
• Stelle made an excuse about her Luofu trash-can sociology project and left Bai Luoming and March 7th together.
• March 7th asked Bai Luoming to take a walk with her, and he took her hand and accepted.

Qingque returned to the Divination Commission expecting Fu Xuan to punish her, but instead received an urgent workload while Fu Xuan privately brooded over Herta beating her to a plan. Meanwhile, March 7th and Bai Luoming found a barbecue shop claiming ties to Glamoth, and they went inside to eat.

• Qingque imagined turning her dismissal into a chance to join the Astral Express, then followed Fu Xuan into the Divination Commission.
• Fu Xuan assigned Qingque formation calculation documents to distribute and ordered the teams to finish preliminary results before the night ended.
• Fu Xuan revealed to herself that Herta had claimed the prize she had been planning for, then resolved to secure second place.
• March 7th and Bai Luoming browsed the Luofu night market while she shopped and asked where they would eat.
• March 7th spotted the Glamoth Veteran Barbecue shop, and Bai Luoming agreed to go in with her despite doubting its claim.

Bai Luoming and March 7th visited Firefly's barbecue shop on the Luofu, where Firefly's illness eased while she stayed near Bai Luoming. After March 7th asked about her helmet, Firefly removed it and explained that her complicated family and serious illness had forced her to open the shop.

• Bai Luoming and March 7th entered Glamoth Veteran Barbecue, and Bai Luoming recognized the helmeted owner as Firefly.
• March 7th ordered food while Firefly felt her illness suppressed by Bai Luoming's presence.
• Firefly served grilled meat, and March 7th asked whether she could remove her helmet.
• Bai Luoming stopped March 7th from pressing the question, but Firefly offered to take the helmet off herself.
• March 7th complimented Firefly's appearance, and Firefly explained that she ran the shop to support her family despite being seriously ill.

March 7th pitied Firefly after hearing about her family’s burdens, but Bai Luoming laughed at the misunderstanding and angered March. After March accidentally hit him harder than intended, Firefly’s touch suppressed her Entropy Loss Syndrome, and Kafka later noticed Firefly’s improved condition.

• Firefly described her internet-addicted younger sister, emotionally unstable elder, and extravagant older sister, leaving March 7th sympathetic and Bai Luoming amused by the misunderstanding.
• March 7th punched Bai Luoming after catching him laughing, and he fell when the stool beneath him broke.
• Firefly helped Bai Luoming up and felt her Entropy Loss Syndrome become temporarily low-risk through contact with him.
• Bai Luoming teased March 7th, who blushed, apologized to Firefly, paid for the broken stool, and dragged him out of the shop.
• Firefly lingered over the warmth Bai Luoming had left in her hand until Kafka returned and noticed her improved condition.
• Kafka seized Firefly’s wrist, felt her steady pulse, and asked about her Entropy Loss Syndrome, which Firefly acknowledged.

March 7th pulled Bai Luoming to a secluded observation deck, where she kissed him after he pretended to be hurt. She grew jealous when his experience showed, but forgave him and left holding his hand.

• March 7th hurried Bai Luoming from Glamoth Veteran Barbecue to a secluded observation deck in Central Starskiff Haven.
• Bai Luoming pretended to feel hurt, prompting March 7th to kiss him first.
• Bai Luoming pulled March 7th close and deepened the kiss, but she broke away when she suspected he was experienced.
• March 7th confronted Bai Luoming about his experience and grew hurt and jealous when he apologized.
• March 7th started to leave with her shopping, then returned, stomped on Bai Luoming's foot, and pulled him along by the hand.
• March 7th said she would let it go this time and warned Bai Luoming not to let go of her hand.