Unfortunately, the strange expressions on their faces had nothing to do with March 7th, so her entrance instantly killed the mood.
"Ugh, Kiana, they're bullying me. They're ignoring me."
"Good girl. Something must have happened. March 7th, stop fooling around."
Fortunately, March 7th had only noticed that the atmosphere at the scene was too strange and wanted to fool around a little to lighten it.
However, after hearing Himeko explain that Kafka had appeared earlier under the guise of giving them advice, but was actually threatening them, March 7th fell silent as well.
"It's that dangerous? But we know there's danger, and there's a very high chance this is a trap set by the Stellaron Hunters. If you ask me, maybe we shouldn't go. Or couldn't we contact the people on the Xianzhou and have them take precautions themselves?"
"We can't put it that way."
"The Stellaron Hunters claim that a Stellaron has erupted on the Xianzhou Luofu, and the train is very close to it. If we go to the Luofu, we might have a chance to save many innocent lives."
"It's also possible that we're simply being used by the Stellaron Hunters and have fallen for their deception. Welt and I both believe that the Stellaron Hunters weren't telling the truth, but we can't completely ignore their information either..."
They had now reached a difficult decision. Whether they went or stayed, the Express would be caught in a dilemma. On one hand, there might be a trap. But if Kafka's words were true, then refusing to go would leave many people who could have been saved to die needlessly.
As for Kafka merely joking around?
Although Himeko had not often come face-to-face with the Stellaron Hunters, this was simply how they operated. If they truly did not go, then even if Kafka had been lying, the Xianzhou would still face an enormous crisis.
"So, to decide whether we should change course and head for the Xianzhou, we'll vote democratically. Raise your hand to agree. Keep it down to oppose."
"Three, two, one."
In the end, five of the six people raised their hands. The only one who did not was Dan Heng, who had a considerable connection to the Xianzhou.
"Five to one. By majority vote, the Express crew agrees to head for the Xianzhou."
Dan Heng was not surprised that the others had agreed. After spending this much time together, it was clear that the two elders of the Express crew and Kiana, despite each having their own minor flaws, were all kind-hearted people who would lend a hand to strangers in need.
That was not meant as an insult. Precisely because of this, he felt reassured by these companions.
As for Stelle, she had been unable to take her eyes off Kafka after seeing her just now. It was no different from seeing a trash can, so Dan Heng was not surprised that Stelle had voted in favor either.
But March 7th was different. Regarding this "ally," Dan Heng did not understand. She had been the first to object just now, so why had she suddenly changed her mind?
Facing Dan Heng's gaze, March 7th stuck out her tongue, looking rather embarrassed.
"Uh, after calming down and thinking about it, what if that woman wasn't lying? If we don't go to the Xianzhou, lots of innocent people could get hurt. This isn't the time to be willful. Hehe."
"March 7th, you have no principles at all."
"Hmph, I do too! I call this understanding the greater good! Do you actually want me to oppose it?"
"No. It doesn't really matter anyway. Whether it's five to one or four to two, the outcome doesn't change."
"All right, all right. March 7th is just like that."
At that moment, Himeko looked toward Dan Heng, who had remained silent.
"What do you say, Dan Heng? Are you staying behind?"
"Yeah. I won't be going this time."
"Welt, what do you think? I'll leave this trailblazing expedition to you?"
Uncle Yang had just been about to accept when he heard Kiana's voice.
Kiana seemed to be off to the side, and said, "And so, Uncle Yang met the blond man destined to be his one true love on the Xianzhou, and from then on lived a..."
Kiana had just been about to say "happy and blissful life" when March 7th covered her mouth from the side.
March 7th leaned toward Kiana and whispered,
"Kiana, stop. Uncle Yang's gaze is terrifying."
"Forget it."
In the end, Himeko stepped in to smooth things over. Otherwise, considering Uncle Yang's current state, she was genuinely worried that he might lose control and teach the little rascal Kiana a lesson in the observation car.
But Kiana really had no sense of danger. Didn't she know what kind of situation her mouth could get her into?
Or did Kiana know, but simply find it fun?
Thinking back to when Akiwilli had not yet disappeared, there had been a certain passenger who was just like this. However, during one of that passenger's journeys after joining the train, they directly destroyed a planet and half the train.
Later, they discovered that the passenger was none other than the Aeon of Joy, Aha.
"Wait, isn't Kiana on the Path of Abundance? Why does she have such a strong prankster streak from the Path of Joy?"
Himeko did not say it aloud, though. Everyone had their own secrets.
"Since you seem a little hesitant, Welt, let me go instead. I can give you all a lesson while I'm at it."
At those words, Kiana's heart skipped a beat.
Himeko. A lesson.
If those words appeared separately, Kiana would not have cared. But Himeko getting off the train to give Kiana a lesson, combined with the possibility of encountering danger—
The scene of the final lesson suddenly appeared in Kiana's mind.
"No! Himeko, don't get off the train! I don't want to attend the final lesson!"
Chapter 53: Falling Into Mara
Seeing Kiana, who looked like she was about to cry, Himeko did not know what had happened to the white-haired, red-eyed girl in front of her and hurriedly looked toward Uncle Yang.
After all, the two of them knew each other. With Uncle Yang's experience, he should surely know the reason and find a solution.
Himeko had thought that Uncle Yang would comfort Kiana, but the man who had originally been hesitating over whether to leave the train instead pushed up his glasses and took the initiative to propose leading the team this time.
"Himeko, let me go this time."
After the members of this trailblazing expedition had been decided, the group returned to their seats. Only then did Uncle Yang speak quietly to Himeko.
"Himeko, don't mention the final lesson to Kiana again. That child went through something with an old friend of mine—a student of mine—so the final lesson gives Kiana some PTSD."
Himeko nodded and did not ask further.
However, she had already guessed that the so-called old friend and student might also have been a Himeko. It was just not her, but someone from Uncle Yang's world who looked similar to her.
"Why is everyone in the Express crew's past like this? Let's not talk about Welt for now. March 7th and Stelle don't have many memories, but Kiana is still at the age when she should be attending school if she were on an ordinary planet. Sigh..."
Thinking this, Himeko's gaze toward Kiana grew gentler.
Fortunately, Kiana's attention was not focused in this direction at the moment. Otherwise, seeing that look in Himeko's eyes might have given her PTSD again.
As the train initiated its jump, it left Jarilo-VI in an instant. Meanwhile, in Belobog's city of Klipoth Keep, Bronya and Seele stood hand in hand before the window, offering their blessings to the departing group.
And in an unknown corner, someone else had also chosen to leave and embark on a new journey.
Once the train's meteor-like trailing glow vanished, Belobog returned to its usual life.
"The Jade Gate is opening. On behalf of the Xianzhou Alliance—the Luofu—I welcome guests who have traveled from afar. Please follow the instructions and dock in an orderly manner."
The train arrived at the Xianzhou. Although the broadcast continued as normal, Himeko was unable to contact the Luofu and could not obtain a docking permit.
Even so, the Express crew chose to enter first. The relevant permit could be supplemented later. If something had truly happened to the Xianzhou Luofu, it would be far too rigid to insist on following the procedures step by step.
"The Alliance and the train haven't had much contact in the past, so our arrival may not necessarily be welcomed. But Trailblazers don't seek fame or profit. We must provide the Xianzhou with whatever help we can and do our best to prevent disaster."
"Hold fast to this original aspiration, explore and understand, establish and connect, and carry on the path of the Trailblazers."
"Yay!"
As it turned out, the moment they stepped onto the Xianzhou, they discovered that the area was filled with all kinds of containers, neatly arranged nearby. Although there were no constructed roads, the containers had formed a clear route that guided everyone forward.
"You know, these containers are stacked so high. What if the Xianzhou goes too fast and shakes a few times? Wouldn't all the containers fall down?"
Before Kiana could consider March 7th's question, Uncle Yang stopped up ahead and began explaining a whole lot of knowledge to March 7th.
Kiana could no longer clearly remember the details of the explanation. She only remembered Uncle Yang's final conclusion: no, it would not happen. Unless something unexpected occurred or a battle broke out on the Xianzhou, the situation March 7th described would not happen.
Because of this explanation from Uncle Yang, the group's earlier worries about being led to this place and concerns over a hidden mastermind gradually faded.
After being cleansed by knowledge, however, the group felt their minds growing drowsy.
What hidden mastermind?
Wait, what was a hidden mastermind?
Kiana felt that her thoughts were a little muddled. For some reason, she had suddenly started thinking about stockings.
Following the path formed by the stacked containers, they discovered quite a few members wearing identical uniforms by the roadside. Without exception, however, they were all lying on the ground. There were also traces of battle and blood nearby.
"Ah! Uncle Yang, someone's injured up ahead."
"Kiana, I'll leave these people to you. Help treat their wounds."
"Sure thing."
Kiana took a small first-aid kit from her spatial storage, sprinkled on medicine, wrapped the wounds in bandages, and then used the power of her Path to heal them.
The Cloud Knights seemed to have something to say, but after Kiana treated them, the pain made them grimace and gasp. They no longer had the strength to say what they had originally wanted to.
Uncle Yang pushed up his glasses, his grip tightening slightly around his cane.
He had originally been relieved that Kiana had embarked upon the Path of Abundance, finally giving the Express crew some logistical support. Combined with Kiana's previous record of taking care of March 7th, he had not been too worried.
But now it seemed he had still underestimated the influence of the Kaslana family bloodline. He had nearly forgotten that the people of that family often had no sense of proportion when doing things. That was why they had earned the reputation of being a family of knights.
"Kiana, be gentler. Or use the power of Abundance to treat them. Leave the bandaging to March 7th."
Looking at the bandages wrapped around the Cloud Knights on the ground, Uncle Yang could not understand how Kiana had managed to embark on this Path.
Fortunately, not everyone was seriously injured, as though they were all clinging to their last breath and would die the moment they finished speaking. The farther they went, the lighter the Cloud Knights' injuries became. Later on, Kiana only needed to use the power of her Path to heal them slightly and prevent their wounds from worsening.
The Cloud Knights could then brace themselves against nearby buildings and stand up, after which they took out the medicine they carried and gave themselves simple treatment.
"Thank you all for your assistance. I'm a member of the Cloud Knights. This place is dangerous, so you should leave immediately."
"What happened? Did you encounter some kind of danger?"
The Cloud Knight had originally not intended to say anything. But when he thought about how he and his comrades had received treatment from these people and therefore did not have to continue waiting to die here, he sighed and revealed what he could.
"Fallen into mara? There's no way to treat it?"
"No. It's all a curse from the Scourge of Abundance. Once long-life species fall into mara, they can't be cured. Even Lord of the Bow can do nothing about it."
Seeing that the group still had not sorted out the situation, the Cloud Knight with the lightest injuries seemed to realize something and hurriedly said,
"Everyone, if possible, please leave as soon as you can.
"Or continue forward. Our comrades and Miss Tingyun are still there..."
As he said this, despite having the lightest injuries, his body suddenly jerked. In front of everyone, he fell into mara.
Before you continue