Rescue Arrives

"Holy crap, you just found it? Did SEC shuttles grow out of the ground? You can just pick one up? Wait, you can even use the comms. How did you get aboard?"

"Hey, that's not how you should put it. Heavenly treasures grow naturally and belong to no one, so of course they go to whoever's destined to find them. Before I picked it up, I asked three times in my head if anyone had lost it. Nobody answered, so doesn't that mean it was meant for me? How is that not finding it?"

"Damn, you've got some nerve!"

"All right, I've been talking this whole time. Your turn. Who are you?"

"We... Hey, you called us! Shouldn't you introduce yourselves first?"

Her master's sudden appearance had just scared Qiong Ying half to death, so she couldn't help being cautious. But she was naturally clever, and quickly realized that she probably shouldn't go around telling people she was "Qiongqi, a Second-Class Soldier of the Legion." While Yang the Blind bantered with them, she composed herself and answered.

"This humble girl is Wei Qiong Ying. My master instructed me to contact you. I assume you two must be his friends. We're trapped and being pursued by the Xuan Sect. Our situation is perilous, so I beg you to come to our aid."

"Qiong Ying? That's... the new disciple, right? But where did you get this ship...?"

"Doesn't matter. Let's get her back first. Qiong... Ying, listen. This channel isn't safe. Stay put after we hang up. If anyone calls, don't answer. We'll send Kun to pick you up."

Yang the Blind said, "Kun?"

But there was no reply. The voice had vanished.

Qiong Ying hesitated, then waved her hand to close the star map. In the darkness, she and the blind