"Submit the loss reports to General Jing Yuan, then bring in the people from the Divination Commission. With trouble on this scale, how could they possibly stand apart from it..."
The moment he entered, Zhang Xiu saw a woman wearing a long dress that resembled a paper kite, with teal hair, violet eyes, fox ears, and a fox tail.
She had just finished a call. Following the sound of footsteps, she turned toward Zhang Xiu and the others. "Guests from the Astral Express, welcome."
"Tingyun has already reported your intentions to me in full. Receiving travelers is not normally among my duties."
"But since you know about the Stellaron and have stated your desire to help the Luofu, both sentiment and reason demand that I give you a chance to meet me face-to-face..." Yukong folded her arms across her chest, then narrowed her eyes slightly and lowered her brows.
"So I can decline your offer in person."
"Decline!?" Stelle's eyes widened. She could not understand why Yukong would say such a thing.
"It is merely a Stellaron. The Alliance has long known of such objects, and naturally has ways to deal with them." Her gaze swept over the group, lingering on Yaoshi for a moment. "The Xianzhou has soared for eight thousand years. We have seen our share of crises that threatened our very survival."
"Though this disaster has come upon us with fierce momentum, the Xianzhou still has the strength to handle it. We have no need to borrow outsiders' power to quell the trouble."
"Hoho, quite the imposing air. Just what you'd expect from one of the foremost powers in the Universe." Zhang Xiu nodded. He was just about to say something cheeky when Yaoshi, nestled in his arms, lifted his mask with her small hands and covered his mouth.
"Husband, do not say too much."
Hearing the pair, Yukong was not particularly surprised. The Universe held far too many strange people and peculiar things. This girl looked cute, but she might already have been several hundred years old.
If anyone really needed to be zapped, it might well be Yaoshi.
"You have come from afar as our guests. There is absolutely no reason for you to become embroiled in this matter-have I made myself understood?"
Welt, the mature man of the group, responded calmly. "Judging by the current situation, the Stellaron's influence has yet to take deep root."
"If we can locate it promptly and contain it, both the corroded space and whatever has been infected still have a chance of recovering."
His eyes held a serious look. "We have stopped Stellaron disasters before. We came this time only to lend you a hand."
"I have made myself very clear. This is an internal matter of the Xianzhou Alliance. There is no need for the Astral Express to intervene." As she spoke, Yukong closed her eyes in thought for a moment. "Out of respect, I made a point of receiving you personally to convey our final decision. It is not open to change."
"But-" Welt had wanted to say more, but March 7th, growing somewhat impatient, interrupted him.
"Forget it, Uncle Welt. If the Alliance can handle it themselves, why should we bother worrying? Let's just go."
"You cannot leave." Yukong's tone brooked no refusal.
Zhang Xiu raised his brows. "Hey, Lady Yukong, you don't suspect us of bringing the Stellaron here, do you?"
Stelle blinked and silently positioned Zhang Xiu in front of her as a shield.
"The Stellaron was discovered aboard the Luofu only a few days ago. Starskiff Haven has been completely sealed off, and no one has left-how did you know beforehand, and how did you determine that all of this was connected to a Stellaron?"
"I retrieved Starskiff Haven's entry and exit records. Not long ago, someone hacked into the system, opened the Jade Gate, and guided a ship into port. That was you: the Astral Express..."
"And the hacker was highly skilled. They even deliberately left a signature, as though issuing a provocation-Silver Wolf, a member of the Stellaron Hunters. How do you explain that?"
Stelle poked her head out from behind Zhang Xiu, her expression solemn. "This is a scheme to drive the tiger into devouring the wolf!"
Yet Yukong did not even look at her. "Until the investigation is complete, you are not permitted to leave the Sky-Faring Commission."
A mechanical startup sound rang out. Everyone looked toward it and saw a projection slowly approaching them.
The newcomer wore armored robes and had long white hair. His bangs covered his right eye, while the single golden eye left exposed held a languid look.
"Yukong, don't be so fierce. If word got out, wouldn't the whole Galaxy laugh at the Xianzhou Alliance for not knowing how to treat its guests?"
One of the Seven Arbiter-Generals, the Divine General, an Emanator of The Hunt: Jing Yuan.
"General Jing Yuan-" Yukong had wanted to say more, but Jing Yuan raised a hand to interrupt her.
"How could the Astral Express possibly be allied with the Stellaron Hunters? They're sworn enemies. Before I introduce myself, I have a few questions I'd like to ask this gentleman..."
"Why did the two of you head straight to Aurum Alley not long ago, and even make contact with our Cloud Knights?"
Jing Yuan looked at Zhang Xiu and Yaoshi. The languor in his eyes did not diminish in the slightest, leaving his thoughts unreadable.
At those words, Yukong abruptly realized her own oversight, though she also wondered how the pair had managed to slip beyond her notice and reach Aurum Alley.
"My wife and I wanted to go shopping. A honeymoon and all that. You don't have a wife, Jing Yuan, so of course you wouldn't understand~" Zhang Xiu shook his head flippantly.
"Is that so? Then why were our Cloud Knights so respectful toward the lady in your arms?"
"My wife stepped in to save them when they were trapped amid fire and flood. As for where that fire and flood came from... I'm ashamed to say it, but who knew that one casual shout into the Universe would bring the Antimatter Legion running?"
Zhang Xiu told his lies without blushing or missing a heartbeat, leaving not the slightest flaw. Jing Yuan had no way to verify any of it, either.
The two stared at each other through the mask for a long while. Finally, Jing Yuan chuckled. "I am Jing Yuan, general of the Luofu's Cloud Knights. My apologies for interrupting your meeting."
"General, the Stellaron is an internal matter of the Luofu..." Yukong reminded him from the side, only for Jing Yuan to answer somewhat perfunctorily.
"Yes, yes, an internal matter-I completely agree with Helmsman Yukong." With that, he turned back to the five of them.
"My apologies, members of the Astral Express crew. There is indeed a Stellaron aboard the Luofu, but I must decline your kind offer. This is a Xianzhou problem, and we must resolve it ourselves."
To keep the atmosphere from growing somber, Jing Yuan continued with a smile. "-But since you're already here, how could we let you return empty-handed? Though we cannot accept the Astral Express crew's assistance with the Stellaron, there is another matter for which I truly must ask your help! This way, please!"
He extended a hand, inviting everyone to move aside. Yukong said nothing and quietly withdrew.
Once Yukong had left, the relaxed smile on Jing Yuan's face grew even broader. "The Astral Express-I have long heard of you and yearned to meet you. What a great fortune it is to finally see you today!"
"What a great fortune!" Stelle imitated Jing Yuan, puffing out her chest.
"Your reputation precedes you, General. What would you like our help with?" Welt adjusted his glasses, intending to get straight to the point.
Seeing that they were about to discuss business, Zhang Xiu yawned and stepped behind the others, beginning to tease Yaoshi in his arms with his fingers.
"Will you not listen, husband?" Yaoshi caught Zhang Xiu's fingers with her right hand and rested her left gently against his neck.
"It's just going to be pleasantries and commissions and such. Boring... Do you want to listen, honey?"
"Since you are unwilling, husband, I have little interest either. Rather... there is something I wish to discuss with you."
"Hey, there's no need to discuss it. You're my wife, so I'll do what you say~ Hehe."
"Mm... Once our journey aboard the Xianzhou ends, would you be willing to beget a child with me, husband?"
Before you continue