Tingyun watched the interaction between Lin Shuang and Acheron with great interest.
She had some guesses about the relationship between the two.
"Why don't you two benefactors accompany this little lady to the Minghuo Merchant Group's local base? This little lady will host you and let you rest there. This starskiff is hardly a suitable place for conversation right now."
Seeing that the people from the Minghuo Merchant Group had already gathered their belongings and bandaged their wounds,
Tingyun invited Lin Shuang and Acheron to disembark with them.
Acheron naturally had no objections, while Lin Shuang, harboring thoughts of 'getting friendly' with the little fox, naturally agreed.
"Sure."
Lin Shuang and Acheron followed beside Tingyun. After winding their way through countless turns, the group finally left the starskiff.
They arrived at a devastated, abandoned valley.
The valley was barren, and the air quality was terrible.
Lin Shuang immediately found it unbearable and started coughing.
Just then, a pair of delicate fingers gently brushed across Lin Shuang's neck. As the life-support device activated, Lin Shuang finally felt much better.
Then, a warm and alluring voice sounded by her ear.
"This is a life-support device. Are you feeling better, Benefactor? It can purify the outside air, but it would still be best to enter the city as soon as possible."
Lin Shuang turned around and saw Tingyun smiling brightly, bent at the waist with one hand held beside her lips as though sharing a secret.
She was truly captivating.
"Cough... Thank you. I feel much better."
Lin Shuang coughed twice. After straightening up, she put a little distance between herself and Tingyun, then leaned against Acheron's arm.
Isn't this little fox supposed to be smooth and tactful? Why does she seem like she's enjoying the show?
Sooner or later, I'm going to grab your ears and give them a good rub!
Lin Shuang quietly added it to her little notebook, while her gaze drifted into the distance.
The atmosphere of this planet was rather dazzling, with several colors intertwining into a strikingly beautiful display.
Only the bare wilderness and the massive warehouses standing in the distance ruined that natural beauty.
When they had looked down from high above earlier, Acheron had told Lin Shuang that this was not a habitable planet.
Only the modified cities and Starports served as gathering places for life.
Most of the remaining areas were used as large warehouses.
In the direction of the city, everyone could already see the tardy guard ship approaching.
Perhaps seeing that matters here had already been settled, the guard ship noticeably accelerated and soon landed before them.
While Tingyun stepped forward to negotiate with them,
Lin Shuang rose slightly onto her toes, leaned against Acheron, and said:
"How did I do just now? Did I at least pass?"
"Just now?"
Acheron blinked, tilted her head to look at Lin Shuang's face so close to hers, and after thinking for a moment, said:
"Miss Tingyun has a good impression of you, and she probably recognized me. Since you called yourself my companion, she most likely took you for a Galaxy Ranger. I imagine she'll take the initiative to invite you to visit the Xianzhou Luofu."
Acheron spoke with perfect logic, leaving Lin Shuang dumbfounded instead.
Lin Shuang turned her head in confusion and stared straight into Acheron's gemlike eyes.
Compared to when they had first met, Lin Shuang did not know whether she had simply grown used to Acheron's eyes or something else, but she always felt that Acheron's gaze now carried a little more humanity.
"What is it?"
Lin Shuang's puzzled expression made Acheron puzzled as well. Had she said something wrong?
Judging from how things were developing, wouldn't Tingyun inviting Lin Shuang to the Xianzhou Luofu be the natural course of events?
Lin Shuang was speechless.
"I meant how I did in the fight. Who was asking about that..."
"..."
This time, Acheron fell silent for a moment.
She withdrew her gaze and looked toward Tingyun.
"Not bad. Your sword strikes were decisive, yet each left room for adjustment. It seems you didn't slack off while playing games during those days aboard the ship."
"Mm... How did you know I'd been playing games the whole time?"
Having her secret gaming over the past few days suddenly exposed, Lin Shuang could not help blushing a little, but Acheron did not seem to mind.
"There were several times I came looking for you during the journey. You didn't respond when I knocked, and when I went in, I found you playing."
"Eh, if you were looking for me, you could've just woken me up."
"You'd worked hard for more than ten days on that planet. It was normal for you to relax. I didn't want to disturb you."
Hearing Acheron say that made Lin Shuang feel embarrassed instead.
She felt a subtle sense of guilt, as though she had neglected the company of the person beside her for the sake of her own amusement.
Chapter 21: Tingyun: This Little Lady Truly Wants to Carry Her Benefactor Home
In Lin Shuang's eyes, what could possibly have happened on that ship?
If Acheron had come looking for her, it surely could not have been anything important. She probably just wanted to talk to her.
After escaping the ruins, Lin Shuang had become too excited after entering a safe environment and had ended up overlooking Acheron.
Or rather, Acheron's initial impression had nearly made Lin Shuang forget that over the past half month, Acheron's changes, though not dramatic, had been obvious.
Both her initially somewhat wooden demeanor and her taciturn style had improved to some extent.
"If you want to find me later, you can wake me directly. Even if we're temporarily apart in the future, you can message me. When it comes to you, Acheron, I'll respond right away."
"Mm."
Acheron nodded and gave a soft reply, with nothing further to add.
At this moment, Tingyun, having finished negotiating with the guards, returned with that pleasant smile of hers and announced the good news.
"There is good news. All expenses incurred by the Minghuo Merchant Group within the city will be free this time, so if you two benefactors have anything you wish to play or buy, this little lady will be at your call."
Holding a folding fan, Miss Tingyun looked at them with a smile, her tone as gentle and refreshing as ever.
In truth, this could hardly be considered good news for the Minghuo Merchant Group. Most of this shipment had been destroyed, and they had suffered immense losses.
What use was a little free spending? Many goods were not even sold here. More importantly, they still needed to contact the Xianzhou as soon as possible to fill the gap with their trading partners.
Naturally, Tingyun would not tell Lin Shuang and Acheron any of this.
Yet with a slight furrow of her brows beneath her smile, a faintly pitiable expression, and a touch of difficulty in her features,
she could cleverly convey that the Minghuo Merchant Group was in trouble. Anyone perceptive could naturally understand the group's predicament.
It was not as though she hoped Lin Shuang and Acheron could offer much assistance.
After all, Galaxy Rangers were skilled at fighting, but business was another matter entirely.
She merely wanted to leave a deeper impression on the two benefactors, make them think of Tingyun a little more, and incidentally keep them here for a few more days. That would be enough.
Lin Shuang blinked and smiled as she met Tingyun's gaze.
Adding another entry to the notebook. Once I get the chance, I'm definitely going to thoroughly ravage that big tail!
"Thank you for your kindness, Tingyun. We were actually thinking of staying here for a few days."
"That is wonderful. Would you two benefactors permit this little lady to accompany you?"
Just then, Acheron suddenly spoke.
"Lin Shuang saved you. You do not need to call me Benefactor. Just call me Acheron."
Tingyun did not stand on ceremony. She immediately nodded, and the smile on her face grew even brighter. Although they had lost a batch of goods this time, they had also made two powerful friends.
Perhaps that was what it meant for fortune and misfortune to depend on one another.
After the matter was resolved, the people of the port planet suddenly became much friendlier.
They not only assigned a craft to take everyone to the city, but also promised to recover the fallen starskiff and place it in a nearby warehouse until Xianzhou personnel arrived to take it over.
They had even assigned a guide, and any needs could be brought directly to this guide.
Lin Shuang and Acheron's act of abandoning the ship and jumping away was naturally glossed over as well.
Soon, Lin Shuang stepped into that enormous steel city-state.
A thin, transparent protective barrier covered the entire city. Under the sunlight, if viewed from the right angle, it produced an exceptionally brilliant halo.
Along the city walls and across the ground, countless strangely shaped air purifiers operated at full speed without pause.
They provided the life within the city with ample, clean air.
Of course, not every species required the same air composition. In fact, many cities on this planet had been divided into various types to accommodate different species.
Compared to the desolation outside the city, the interior was prosperous and full of life.
Lush vegetation could be seen everywhere, along with passing pedestrians and small flying vehicles darting through the air.
Buildings of vastly different styles stood scattered throughout the city-state, creating a chaotic but distinctive mixed aesthetic.
Broad, straight roads stretched from the city gates toward a distant horizon that could not be seen clearly.
"Benefactors, Miss Acheron, please follow this little lady."
After delegating the merchant group's affairs to the others, Tingyun personally attended to Lin Shuang and Acheron.
Of course, though she was said to be attending to them, Tingyun had a fine grasp of boundaries.
After arranging the two of them in the most luxurious hotel under the name of the Minghuo Merchant Group, Tingyun prepared to take her leave.
"Benefactor, this is this little lady's contact information. If you need anything, you may contact this little lady at any time."
Her fair fingers held a Jade Seal as she presented a QR code to Lin Shuang.
Along the way, Tingyun had roughly realized that most matters could be discussed directly with Lin Shuang. Acheron seemed utterly unconcerned with what they did or where they went.
After successfully adding Tingyun's account to her contact list, Lin Shuang smiled.
"Then I'll thank you in advance for your kindness, Miss Tingyun."
But Tingyun held her device and revealed a slightly aggrieved expression.
"You jest, Benefactor. It is clearly this little lady who owes you a debt of gratitude. How could this little lady dare accept your thanks? Besides, calling me Miss is far too distant. If you do not mind, Benefactor, simply call this little lady Tingyun."
Lin Shuang had never dealt with this type of girl before.
And perhaps because she had noticed Lin Shuang's good temper, Tingyun's words had become increasingly alluring and bold.
Lin Shuang found herself somewhat unable to handle it.
"...Then, as you wish."
Seeing Lin Shuang's slightly shy appearance, the amusement in Tingyun's eyes deepened, and her gaze at Lin Shuang nearly seemed to turn silky.
"Benefactor is truly adorable. You do not look at all like the valiant warrior who slaughtered enemies in every direction earlier. If it were appropriate, this little lady would truly like to carry you home in her arms."
Seeing that if she let this little fox continue, there was no telling what she might say next, Lin Shuang hurriedly said:
"There should still be many matters to handle on the merchant group's side, right? Why don't you go take care of them first, Tingyun? If I need anything, I'll contact you."
"Hehe~"
Tingyun took out her folding fan again and covered her face with it as she smiled. Though she still wanted to tease Lin Shuang a little more, there truly were many matters on the merchant group's side that required her personal attention, so she could not linger here forever.
"Benefactor is truly considerate. This little lady has already instructed the staff that if you need anything, feel free to ask."
"This little lady will not further disturb Benefactor and Miss Acheron's rest. I shall take my leave first."
Tingyun put away her folding fan. After bidding Lin Shuang farewell, she left alone, her steps hurried, clearly not as relaxed as she had made herself appear.
Before you continue