The two had been locked in combat for quite some time, and Stelle and the other three had already arrived at the scene.
"Zhang Xiu! We're here to help!" March 7th pointed with her right hand, and a great bow materialized between her arms.
Seeing this, Stelle drew her bat and charged at Kafka, while Welt already had his cane at the ready.
Only a few breaths after they joined the fight, Kafka realized the timing was right and leaped away from them.
"Mmm... hm~"
She raised both hands, taking her index fingers off the submachine guns' triggers, seemingly ready to surrender.
"You're finally here."
The next instant, Kafka squeezed both triggers again, firing straight overhead!
Everyone looked up and saw a pink figure descending from the sky through the hail of bullets. Time seemed to slow at that moment.
She plucked away and flicked aside the bullets flying toward her, her movements graceful and effortless.
"Paltry tricks. Your every move was already foretold by the Eye of Truth."
The Eye of Truth on her forehead shone with a pinkish-purple light. The bullets scattered between her fingers, until she had neutralized every last one.
The pink figure landed steadily and straightened up. She first looked at Kafka, then glanced at Welt beside her.
"Fu Xuan of the Divination Commission. I am taking custody of the suspect."
With a clatter, Kafka dropped her guns and quietly raised both hands, waiting for Fu Xuan's next move.
Fu Xuan tapped the air with her right hand, and a pair of handcuffs seemingly made of light clamped around Kafka's wrists.
Once Kafka was restrained, Fu Xuan's taut nerves relaxed, and she turned to Zhang Xiu and the others.
"Members of the Astral Express crew, a pleasure to meet you. No, I should say that I have already foreseen our meeting." Her gaze lingered on Yaoshi for a moment before she continued.
"I am Fu Xuan, Master Diviner of the Divination Commission, one of the Xianzhou's Six Charioteers."
"When friends arrive from afar, fine wine should welcome them. Yet the three elements of heaven, earth, and humanity are out of alignment. Our welcome must wait a few hours. Let us discuss business first."
Hearing Fu Xuan's equally bookish way of speaking, March 7th leaned toward Stelle in front of her and whispered in her ear, "Oh no, another one I can't understand..."
"The legendary walking quotation book..." Stelle was a little bewildered too.
With her keen senses, Fu Xuan naturally heard them. Though somewhat embarrassed, she had to maintain her dignity. "Ahem! If you take issue with my manner of speech, you may say so directly."
"We came in pursuit of the Stellaron Hunters at the behest of the Luofu's general. We offer our heartfelt thanks for the Master Diviner's assistance. However, the prisoner should be escorted by us."
Seeing Fu Xuan speak in this manner, Yaoshi stepped forward to meet her head-on. Somehow, the sight of her petite back offered everyone a measure of reassurance.
"Huh? Ahem, that won't be necessary. I have a written order from the general. Please look." As she spoke, she produced a passage of glowing blue text. "Once you have apprehended the Stellaron Hunter, the Divination Commission shall take over the interrogation."
After glancing over the text, Yaoshi nodded. "Very well. However, the general promised to share the intelligence with us. We must also know all that the prisoner says."
Caught completely off guard, Fu Xuan widened her eyes and blankly uttered, "...Huh?"
Realizing what had happened, Fu Xuan tilted her head and muttered a complaint. "That man... could he stop digging holes for me—"
"Rest assured, we need only observe and listen."
"Very well. Urgent circumstances warrant exceptions... You five, come with me to the Divination Commission."
Hearing that they still had to travel with Kafka, March 7th frowned. "Can't we interrogate her here? Stellaron Hunters are so slippery. What if she escapes again?"
"Right, and... won't she be uncomfortable?" Stelle looked worriedly at Kafka's hands, tightly bound by rings of light in front of her.
Thanks to Zhang Xiu's earlier guidance, she still cared somewhat about Kafka.
Kafka was a little surprised by her question, and couldn't help feeling a warmth in her heart. "Don't worry, darling. I'm fine."
"Are you worried she might lash out because of the discomfort?" Fu Xuan lifted her little face, looking at Stelle in puzzlement.
"But with me here, she cannot escape. The method that can pry open a Stellaron Hunter's mouth and make her reveal the truth will only work at the Divination Commission."
"The auspicious hour has arrived. It is time to depart." Fu Xuan extended her right hand in an inviting gesture. "Everyone, if you please."
"Oh my, it seems I've arrived at just the right time~ The Starskiff is ready." Phantylia, who had long since finished preparing, stepped out from the side with a smile.
And so, they boarded the Starskiff once more with Kafka and waited quietly inside as it flew toward their destination.
During the journey, Kafka kept her gaze on Stelle. Only when she noticed how uncomfortable her attention was making Stelle did she look away and turn her attention to her own hands.
After watching the show for a while, Zhang Xiu gently stroked Yaoshi's hair and spoke to her in a low voice. "Honey, I want to see you in one of those old-fashioned Xianzhou dresses. Would that be okay?"
"If it is my husband's wish, of course. I, too, wish to see you dressed in ancient attire." Enjoying Zhang Xiu's touch, she leaned against him.
"Should I grow my hair out?" Zhang Xiu scratched his head.
"If you wish, my husband, the power of the Path would suffice."
"Then let's get our hair done together when we go shopping later~"
The Starskiff was fast, and before long, they reached their destination. It was not the Divination Commission, however, but the Exalting Sanctum.
After stepping off the Starskiff, Fu Xuan looked around before fixing her gaze on Phantylia. "...Though I rarely venture out, I still recognize the territory under my jurisdiction."
Her face fell. "What route have you taken us on? Is this where the Divination Commission is?!"
Seeing Fu Xuan's anger, Phantylia put on an aggrieved expression, apology in her eyes. "Oh dear, please calm down, Master Diviner! The Celestial Instrument is malfunctioning. Finding the entrance to a Cavern of Abundance isn't easy." She shook her head.
"I wanted to handle everything efficiently too, but this is the only place where we can dock the Starskiff right now." As she spoke, Phantylia looked toward the scenery within.
"Look—the Exalting Sanctum. You can tell at a glance that it's safe. We'll just have to walk a little farther for the rest of the journey."
Following her gaze, they saw an ancient tree standing peacefully in the distance, towering into the heavens. Yet it had lost all its leaves and looked bare and empty, with wisps of hazy dust drifting from it.
It was none other than the Ambrosial Arbor, the miracle Yaoshi had bestowed upon the Xianzhou all those years ago.
Seeing her slick manner, Fu Xuan gave a soft huff, then closed her eyes and began forming divination gestures with her fingers.
"The hexagrams rise and fall, between Dui and Kan. The vessel struggles, its feet mired, unable to advance..."
The sight of Fu Xuan divining with her fingers made March 7th blink and lean toward Stelle.
"I've heard the Xianzhou has some miraculous divination technique, but why is she just moving her fingers around? It looks like me counting."
Stelle spotted the real issue. "You still count on your fingers?"
At that, everyone except Fu Xuan turned to look at March 7th. She planted one hand on her hip and protested.
"What! They're just there to help. It'd be a waste not to use all ten fingers!"
Zhang Xiu was filled with solemn respect. He couldn't help admiring how March 7th could still manage to count with an intellect like hers...
Before you continue