Conflict

"Stellaron Hunters, you have done the Luofu Xianzhou a small favor. This time, and only this time, I can pretend I didn't see you. Leave here now," Jing Yuan said in a deep voice.

"We naturally wouldn't want to make things difficult for General Jing Yuan. Let's go, Blade." With no one standing in their way, Kafka and Blade's departure would not be hindered, at least not this time.

Only Yanqing seemed to want to say something, but after a moment of hesitation, he chose to give up.

Then came the conversation between Jing Yuan and Dan Heng.

"Should I say long time no see?" In the end, it was Jing Yuan who spoke first.

"You know I am not him. Dan Heng is not Dan Feng." Dan Heng paused, his voice tinged with a hint of coldness.

"That is only natural. It is just that seeing you as you are now, I cannot help but recall the past," Jing Yuan said with a faint smile, as if he had found some sense of relief.

"...My companions are over there." Dan Heng opened his mouth, but instead of responding to Jing Yuan, he changed the subject.

"Look at my memory. I was just about to discuss this with you. According to our subsequent investigations, the Antimatter Legion has colluded with the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus hidden within the Luofu Xianzhou."

"These two factions, along with others harboring ulterior motives, are attempting to subvert the Luofu Xianzhou. At this very moment, a Lord Ravager of the Antimatter Legion and the resurrected Ambrosial Arbor are at the Scalegorge Waterscape. For this reason, I would like to ask you... Dan Heng, to attempt to open the gates of the Scalegorge Waterscape..." Jing Yuan explained his intentions in detail.

"..., I have said before that I am not Dan Feng. What he could do, I may not necessarily be able to do." Dan Heng did not make any promises.

"You must be able to do it..." Jing Yuan's voice was low.

"General Jing Yuan, I cannot agree with that statement." Xiao Xi interrupted their conversation, her tone soft yet firm. "Although I am not clear on the grievances between you and Dan Heng, in all fairness, our Express has helped your Luofu Xianzhou quite a bit so far."

"And after all we have done, is this 'you must' all we get from you, General?" Having said this, Xiao Xi stepped forward to shield Dan Heng, who was clearly feeling quite dejected.

"Dan Heng is a member of the Astral Express and our companion in the Astral Express Crew. Since you are speaking to us in the name of a Luofu General, please show the attitude of a partner, rather than using personal sentiments to coerce us."

"I stand by what I said: after the Vidyadhara reincarnate, they are different people. As can be seen from your apprentice's words earlier, the 'Dan Feng' of the past never evaded his own guilt."

"If the debt is cleared upon death, why should Dan Heng be the sole exception? If Dan Heng can do it, you should thank him; if he cannot, you have no standing to blame him. General Jing Yuan, do you understand what I mean? I do not wish to see anyone treat my companion with this attitude again."

"Is that so... I suppose I was blinded by my own attachments. You are right, Miss Xiao Xi. Dan Heng, Dan Feng... hah, perhaps they truly are no longer the same person." For a fleeting moment, the expression on Jing Yuan's face looked as if a dream had been shattered; it was, in a way, quite heartbreaking.

"...I admit I may have been a bit blunt, but I can't help it—I am very protective of my own. I had to say that. Of course, once everything is over, it might be better if you two talk as yourselves..." Seeing Jing Yuan's expression, Xiao Xi pursed her lips and offered a soft, slightly flustered word of comfort.