Yunli

Just as Jingxing was loading the last box of paint into the Chasing the Moon's cargo hold, his phone rang. When he answered, his teacher gave him a reminder. "When you get to the Zhuming, remember to pay General Huaiyan a visit first. It's been ten years since you last saw him. If you go straight to Furnace Palace, I'm afraid you won't get through the door."

"I'll remember, teacher."

Kamar grunted in acknowledgment. He seemed to have something else to say, but in the end, he simply said, "Don't embarrass our academy," and hung up.

Jingxing smiled at the darkened screen, slipped his phone back into his pocket, and prepared to leave.

The hatch closed, and the engine rumbled twice. Carrying Jingxing and his anticipation, the Chasing the Moon set off into the depths of the sea of stars.

On the second day of the journey, Jingxing watched Robin's comeback press conference aboard the ship.

On the screen, the press conference hall in Thousand Stars City was as bright as day. Robin stood at the center of the stage. The gauze on her neck had been removed, replaced by an elegant choker that cleverly concealed the scar.

Standing onstage, she answered more than a dozen questions in succession, handling every one flawlessly.

Some reporters asked what had happened on Vesna IV, while others asked whether she had been attacked. Robin deflected them all with a smile.

For the final question, a reporter asked about the progress of her new album.

"I'm working on the music," Robin said, breaking into a radiant smile. "This time, my inspiration came from my experiences on Vesna IV, and a... group of wonderful people I met there."

Jingxing leaned back in his chair and noticed the subtle pause. Still, after receiving a warning letter from Interastral Peace Entertainment, no newspaper would dare focus on her hesitation.

The livestream camera swept over the audience. Jingxing spotted Sunday sitting in the center of the front row at a glance. Whenever a reporter probed an inch further into the subject of Vesna IV, Sunday would look their way, and the next question would obediently change direction.

Jingxing watched it happen. With the head of the Oak Family there in person, no one would dare cause trouble at the press conference today.

After the press conference ended, he sent Robin a message. "You were amazing at the press conference. I'm really looking forward to your new songs. I'll definitely buy the album as soon as it's released."

A few minutes later, Robin replied, "It would be even better if you could collaborate with me on the album."

Jingxing smiled and put his phone away. He was still a long way from being prominent enough to collaborate with Interastral Peace Entertainment.

Two days later, the Chasing the Moon emerged from the last stretch of star rail along its route.

Jingxing straightened up in the pilot's seat and saw Stella I, the most prosperous planet in the Stella-Yamazaki Star System, hanging ahead. Near Stella I, a colossal ship was moored in orbit. No, it was called a Xianzhou, but it actually looked more like a golden lotus lantern.

This was the Zhuming, one of the six great flagships of the Xianzhou Alliance, a place where artisans across the universe dreamed of pursuing further study.

Through his glasses, he could see the channels of Imaginary Energy flowing slowly beneath the hull, like underground rivers or surging magma.

"If I didn't have my glasses, one look would probably hurt like hell," Jingxing murmured, slowing down as he guided the Chasing the Moon into the queue to enter the port before Bright Heaven.

Although the Zhuming had been stationed here for ten Amber Eras, the security inspection for incoming ships was still extremely strict. Cloud Knights boarded to verify his identity, opened and inspected every box of paint in his painting case, and even flipped through his sketchbook. After checking the terminal and reporting a few things, the captain suddenly looked up and asked, "You're from the Klimt Central Academy of Fine Arts? Do you know Mr. Kamar?"

"He's my teacher."

As soon as he said that, the Cloud Knight captain's attitude visibly softened. As he stamped the clearance, he also handed Jingxing a Zhuming brochure. "Welcome to the Zhuming. Please obey local laws and regulations, and do not commit the crime of seeking immortality."

Could he be an acquaintance of my teacher's? After muttering to himself, he took the brochure and nodded. "Thank you, I understand."

After parking the Chasing the Moon at the port, Jingxing stored all his luggage in the sachet Robin had given him and disembarked.

As the Zhuming's port of entry and departure, Bright Heaven was even livelier than when Jingxing had visited ten years ago. Hundreds of walkways stretched out from the docks, Cloud Knights patrolled in formation, and vendors' cries mingled with the hum of Starskiff engines. The air smelled of charcoal fires and machine oil, and carried a comforting sense of everyday life.

He had barely taken a few steps through the crowd when he heard a clear voice calling from behind him. "Jingxing!"

He turned around. A young girl was approaching from the other end of the walkway, her neat low twin tails swaying gently with her steps. On her back was a greatsword taller than she was, yet its blade had no edge at all. Its tip scraped along the ground with a faint scratching sound.

She had bold, heroic features, and her gaze was frank and direct. How to put it... she was like a pampered cat.

Jingxing stared at her for a few seconds before he recalled who she was. "Miss Yunli?"

"Good memory." Yunli stopped in front of him and looked him up and down. "I haven't seen you in a few years. I didn't expect you to grow so tall. And why are you being so polite? When I commissioned you, didn't I say you could just call me by my name?"

Jingxing chuckled. "I'm an ordinary person, so naturally I grow a little faster than a Xianzhou native. But Yunli, what are you doing here? Aren't things busy at Furnace Palace?"

"Grandpa sent me to pick someone up," Yunli explained. "I didn't expect it to be you."

Before he could answer, she had already turned and started walking away. "Keep up. We're going to see Grandpa. He hasn't seen you in a while either."

Jingxing hurried after her, finally getting a chance to take a closer look at her. A few years ago, this young lady had commissioned him online and paid five thousand Strale upfront. At the time, he had assumed she was a young lady from a wealthy Xianzhou family. Only when he delivered the finished work did he learn that she was a sword hunter, one of the Flaming Wheel, Eight Leaves. Though she looked young, she was actually quite a bit older than him. Judging by the age difference between ordinary people, he could probably have called her "auntie" without any problem.

Yunli turned her head, her gaze sharpening. "I get the feeling you're thinking something rude."

"Ahem, no. I was just thinking you haven't changed at all these past few years, Yunli." Jingxing coughed and answered awkwardly.

"You came at just the right time. If you'd been two months later, we'd be leaving here too."

"So you're leaving..."

"Yeah. From the start, we decided to hold an exchange with your Klimt for ten Amber Eras. Now that the time's up, it's time to go." Yunli paused. "The whole city has been preparing to set sail lately. Grandpa's been run off his feet, so it's rare for him to find time to see you."

The sights along the way confirmed her words. The blast furnaces on both sides of the walkways were all burning, their flames painting half the sky a warm red. Squads of Cloud Knights hurried past carrying maintenance equipment, and the entire city was like a bow being drawn to its limit.

Jingxing nodded. After a moment's thought, he brought the conversation around to the matter at hand. "Actually, besides paying the general a visit, I came this time to ask an artisan from Furnace Palace to make a Curio for me."

Yunli's steps faltered.

"A Curio...?" Her voice was swallowed by the wind, making it impossible to hear.