"Stellaron Hunters, you helped the Luofu Xianzhou with a small favor. This time—just this once—I can pretend I didn't see you. Leave now," General Jing Yuan said gravely.
"We wouldn't want to make things difficult for you, General Jing Yuan. Blade, let's go." With no one stopping them, Kafka and Blade would be allowed to leave—at least this time.
Only Yanqing seemed to have something more to say, but after a moment's hesitation, he decided against it.
Then Jing Yuan and Dan Heng spoke.
"Should I say it's been a long time?" Jing Yuan was the first to speak, after all.
"You know I'm not him. Dan Heng isn't Dan Feng." Dan Heng paused, his voice tinged with coldness.
"Of course. It's just that seeing you as you are now inevitably brings back a few memories of the past." Jing Yuan smiled faintly, as though he had finally let go.
"...My companions are over there." Dan Heng opened his mouth, but instead of responding to Jing Yuan, he changed the subject.
"Look at me, forgetting my manners. I was just about to tell you about that. Our subsequent investigation revealed that the Antimatter Legion had allied with the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus, who were hiding on the Luofu Xianzhou."
"Those two factions, together with other people harboring ulterior motives, intend to overthrow the Luofu Xianzhou. The Antimatter Legion's Lord Ravager and the resurrected Ambrosial Arbor are at the Scalegorge Waterscape right now. That's why I'd like to ask you... Dan Heng, to try opening the gates to the Scalegorge Waterscape..." Jing Yuan explained in detail why he had come.
"...I told you, I'm not Dan Feng. I may not be able to do what he could." Dan Heng didn't give him a definite answer.
"You have to do it..." Jing Yuan's voice was low.
"General Jing Yuan, I can't agree with you there." Xiao Xi gently but firmly interrupted them. "Though I don't know what history there is between Dan Heng and your people, to be fair, our Astral Express has helped the Luofu Xianzhou quite a bit by now."
"And after all we've done, all we get in return is you telling him he has to do it?" Xiao Xi stepped forward, shielding Dan Heng, who was clearly feeling very low.
"Dan Heng is a member of the Astral Express and our companion. Since you're speaking to us in your capacity as a general of the Luofu, please treat us as partners instead of using your personal feelings to pressure him."
"I'll say it again: when a member of the Vidyadhara is reborn through reincarnation, they become a different person. From what your disciple said earlier, the 'Dan Feng' of the past never tried to evade responsibility for his crimes."
"If the dead have paid their debt, why should Dan Heng be the one exception? If he can do it, you should be grateful to him. If he can't, you have no grounds to blame him. General Jing Yuan, do you understand what I mean? I don't want to see anyone else treat my companion that way."
"I see... I suppose I was too attached to my own perspective. You're right, Miss Xiao Xi. Dan Heng, Dan Feng... ha. Perhaps, in the end, you're no longer the same person." For a moment, Jing Yuan looked as if some dream had shattered. It was a painful sight.
"...I admit I may have been a little harsh, but I can't help it—I'm fiercely protective of my friends, and I had to say what I did. Of course, once everything's over, it might be better for you to talk in your own capacity..." Seeing Jing Yuan's expression, Xiao Xi pressed her lips together, unsure what to do, then offered a quiet word of comfort.