Seeing someone suddenly appear in the snow, the three Trailblazers from the Astral Express felt puzzled and approached him. "Sir, may I ask..."
At that moment, a panel showing Natasha's affection level appeared before Jing Yan once more.
[Natasha's affection level increased by 2%. Current affection level: 82%]
Jing Yan was taken aback when he saw it. He was confused as to why her affection level had continued to rise even after he had left, but he quickly figured out the reason.
It had to be the divine-power-infused item he had left with Natasha: the "Emotion Stone."
The item must have affected her, filling Natasha with a joy as bright as a spring day, and that in turn had increased her affection for Jing Yan, the one who had given it to her.
It seemed that using an item as a medium to apply his divine power and influence others really did work. The system could recognize it as a viable way to win over girls.
That was good news.
Of course, Jing Yan still had some doubts about the system's criteria. Had his earlier use of divine power directly on Natasha, stirring her desire and suppressing her sense of self until she was in a daze, meant that her intimacy with him didn't count as an increase in affection? Or was his own understanding correct—that as long as he used some kind of medium to influence others with his divine power, the system would accept it?
His main reason for having these doubts was that he hadn't used a controlled-variable method just now.
The divine power he had imbued in his Emotion Stone was "joy"—in other words, "happiness."
But the divine power he had used on Natasha at the clinic had been "desire."
He had been afraid that someone else might pick up the stone, or that once it affected Natasha, it might make her desire someone else. That would have been bad.
So he had played it safe with the divine power he'd used in his second attempt.
As he pondered this, the three people in front of him had already come over.
"Hey, buddy, you..."
March 7th had been taking pictures of the surroundings with her camera. When she spotted Jing Yan, she naturally raised it to take a picture of him, too.
"May I ask if you live around here?"
"I heard that this city is the only surviving stronghold on this planet. Is that true?"
Dan Heng asked.
Stelle put her hands on her hips and pointed at Jing Yan's clothes. "Is this style popular around here?"
Jing Yan was at a loss for words.
He wasn't exactly standing there stark naked, but he was relying on his divine power to keep the cold at bay, so he hadn't dressed warmly. The fierce wind had blown his clothes out of shape.
They looked rather disheveled.
Still, Jing Yan quickly straightened them out before replying, "You three don't look like you're from Belobog."
"Of course not," March 7th said with a smile.
"Good eye, sir."
She turned to Dan Heng. "It's been ages since we met a local this smart. I thought we'd have to patiently explain everything to him for ages, like Aunt Himeko always says we should."
Jing Yan was at a loss for words.
By all rights, since the three members of the Astral Express had arrived, Gepard, the Silvermane Guard captain who had been pursuing Sampo here, should be arriving soon, too.
Of course, March 7th had said there was no need to explain because he was a transmigrator. If that weren't the case, Jing Yan would have been just like the other people of Belobog and been surprised by their "strange clothes."
"Since you're not from Belobog, and it's all snow out here with nowhere for people to live, are you legendary 'visitors from beyond the stars'?" Jing Yan asked, feigning surprise.
"Y-you're so smart!" March 7th blinked.
Her eyes shimmered with light, their colors mostly pink and blue.
"What did you come here for? Don't tell me it's... the Stellaron?!"
That left all of them stunned.
Even Dan Heng furrowed his brow, scrutinizing Jing Yan as if he were surprised.
"Judging by your appearance, you look a little like someone from the Xianzhou. Could you be descended from Xianzhou people who were stranded on this planet after a spaceship accident?"
"Maybe." Jing Yan rubbed his chin and pretended to think before replying, "I don't know where I came from. All I know is that I was found in the snow, so it's entirely possible I'm descended from the Xianzhou people you mentioned."
"Wow!" March 7th looked from Dan Heng to Jing Yan in surprise. "Dan Heng, how do you manage to meet someone from your hometown on every random planet we visit?"
"How come nothing like that ever happens to me?"
She sighed, then shivered.
"Brr, it's cold."
Hugging her arms, March 7th looked around, then began huffing warm air into her hands and stomping her feet.
Stelle, who had just joined the Astral Express, looked at her helplessly. "Who told you to come out dressed for summer? Your shoulders are exposed."
"They are not!" March 7th protested.
"My shoulders aren't exposed at all. That's my collarbone. My collarbone, okay?"
Dan Heng seemed a little exasperated by their bickering. He simply stood to one side and ignored them. Then he noticed that Jing Yan didn't seem cold at all, and his brows lifted slightly in surprise.
"Looks like you're quite capable, young man. You must hold a fairly high position in Belobog, right?"
Dan Heng began examining Jing Yan closely, looking him up and down. Partly, he wanted to confirm whether Jing Yan, like himself, came from the Xianzhou; partly, he was looking for other details that might reveal Jing Yan's identity.
"Besides, you mentioned the Stellaron just now."
At Dan Heng's reminder, the other two realized it as well.
Stelle in particular.
There was a Stellaron inside her, and she might be the first person in the universe to have a Stellaron implanted in her body and still survive unharmed.
Jing Yan ignored the three people's confusion and continued.
"Since you know about the Stellaron, you should understand one thing: it's extremely dangerous and can bring destruction."
"So what exactly did you come here for?"
Jing Yan asked, even though he already knew.
The three exchanged glances before answering, "Of course we came to seal it."
"Good."
Jing Yan smiled when he heard that.
"Then our goals are aligned, though that's not the whole story."
"In my view, sealing it might not be enough to ensure our safety. Besides, before that, I'd like you to help us deal with another problem: the eternal winter that has engulfed Belobog."
Before you continue