She's So Pretty

"Wow, you guys have already started drinking? Get a cup for this girl too."

"Sure. Honey, serve March 7th some tea." Zhang Xiu gave March 7th a mischievous look. Yaoshi instantly caught his meaning and took out a teapot.

"Huh? Your wife brewed it? Then, uh, never mind..." March 7th remembered those Mara-Struck Soldiers with leaves sprouting from their bodies and immediately took a frightened step back.

This left Fu Xuan puzzled. To her, the tea was of the finest quality. Although she had no idea how Yaoshi had made it, there was certainly nothing wrong with it.

"Oh my, it seems I've arrived just in time. My benefactors, I've brought everyone some Immortal's Joy Tea. Would you like some?"

Phantylia held a shopping bag in her left hand. Including the cup of milk tea in her right, she had seven cups in total.

"No thanks, I'm not thirsty. What about you, honey?" Zhang Xiu looked at Yaoshi, who shook her head as well.

"Uh, thanks. I was just getting a little thirsty..." March 7th had wanted to refuse, but she was afraid of making Phantylia suspicious, so she could only accept the milk tea.

Welt also thanked her before taking a cup of milk tea.

"I have no need of it either."

Seeing everyone's reactions, Stelle scratched the back of her head. Then, spotting the four cups of milk tea left in the bag, she declared with a determined expression:

"I'll drink four cups."

"Since everyone is here, let us begin. I will now interrogate Kafka. Anyone standing in the center may experience some... impact."

Seeing that everyone was ready, Fu Xuan set down her teacup, stood up, and turned toward Kafka, who was approaching at a leisurely pace under the escort of two Cloud Knights.

"Is such a grand reception necessary? I told you I'd cooperate."

Kafka had removed her makeup by now. Pupils had appeared in her formerly hollow eyes, and she had taken off her coat as well.

"You are a wanted criminal skilled in Spirit Whisper. I have no interest in anything you say." Fu Xuan knitted her brows, her expression stern.

Paired with her height, however, this look carried no intimidation whatsoever. She looked more like a kitten.

"Say whatever you wish, but I will only trust the divinations of the Matrix of Prescience."

Kafka blinked lightly as she walked toward the center of the Matrix of Prescience. "Then please, Diviner, bear witness to my destiny."

Once the prisoner was in position, Fu Xuan nodded to the people behind her. Zhang Xiu and the others stepped back a little.

Pinkish-purple beams of light gathered in Fu Xuan's hands, and the Eye of Truth on her forehead began to shine. Where her hands met, a formation came into being.

"Rise!"

Light radiated in every direction, spreading toward the three formation nodes and sending ethereal blue beams bursting into the sky.

At the center, Kafka was lifted into the air by a pinkish-purple formation. A ring-shaped mechanical device began to turn, and two wisps of spirit fire emerged from her eyes.

Amid the faint glow and stellar divination patterns, Kafka's lips curved into a dangerous smile. Her hair floated around her like that of an angel descending into the world.

"She's so pretty." Zhang Xiu nodded to Stelle, who returned a look of agreement.

The next moment, the formation in Fu Xuan's hands shattered. She began gasping for breath, staring in disbelief at Kafka as she slowly descended to the ground.

"You... did all this for something like that?"

The smile at the corners of Kafka's lips faded slightly. "Well? Do you like the truth?"

"Unbelievable..." Fu Xuan stood rooted to the spot, struggling to accept the result. "But... the Matrix of Prescience cannot be wrong."

Having finally finished her milk tea, Stelle stuck out her bloated belly and spoke with difficulty. "So... what... actually happened?"

"Kafka has nothing to do with the Stellaron. Rather, you... it was actually you..." Fu Xuan's expression remained tense.

"Ha! Absurd! To think such a thing could happen..."

Although it had been a long time, Zhang Xiu still knew a little about what Fu Xuan had seen. Simply put:

The Stellaron had not been brought here by the Stellaron Hunters. On the contrary, they wanted to help the Xianzhou weather this crisis. Kafka's goal was to encourage friendly relations between the Xianzhou and the Nameless.

All of this naturally made Fu Xuan suspicious of Zhang Xiu and the others.

"Ask Kafka yourselves. I must report to the general. You will have to excuse me!"

With that, Fu Xuan left without looking back.

"Go on, Stelle. It's your turn to take the stage. Pry your mother's mouth open! You can use your tongue too." Zhang Xiu rested his right hand on Stelle and gave her an encouraging look.

"Hey, hey, hey, don't listen to Zhang Xiu. Whatever you do, don't let a mature older woman fool you."

"You kidding...? I... I'm an expert at this." Stelle burped.

"Huh? Give you a little sunshine and you bloom already?" Seeing her like this, March 7th said no more.

"Honey, do you have popcorn?"

"I only have corn. Will that do?" Corn stalks sprouted from Yaoshi's body. She snapped them off and handed them to Zhang Xiu.

"Hmm... that'll work. Hey, anyone want some roasted corn?" Looking at the corn stalks in his hands, Zhang Xiu waved to the others.

"I'll pass." Welt shook his head and averted his gaze somewhat awkwardly.

"Get one for this girl. I'm getting a little hungry anyway." March 7th saw nothing wrong with it.

In the end, only March 7th, Yaoshi, and Zhang Xiu joined the foodie army.

"What about you, Kafka? Want some? There's one more." Black Flame rose from Zhang Xiu's left hand as he looked at Kafka, who was hovering with her hands bound.

"No, thank you. I don't have much of an appetite right now." After politely declining, Kafka turned toward the approaching Stelle with a touch of warmth.

"Hi, Stelle. Long time no see... you haven't changed much." Her expression hovered between a smile and no smile, a little detached and a little tender.

"Are you okay? Are you hurt?" Stelle was no longer in the mood to joke, but she didn't know what expression to wear now either.

Kafka looked a little surprised at her words, her eyes widening slightly. "Are you worried about me? I'm fine. The Xianzhou has always treated its prisoners courteously."

This time, Zhang Xiu could see it clearly from a distance: a gentle smile blossomed on Kafka's face at Stelle's concern.

However, she turned her exquisite face aside, seemingly a little embarrassed, though her gaze remained on Stelle.

"On the Astral Express, I didn't speak to you because I already knew then that you and I would have a private conversation here."

After saying this, the shyness in Kafka's heart eased a little. "So I thought, why not save everything for now? You seem to have a lot of questions for me."

Indeed, ever since regaining consciousness, Stelle's heart had been filled with questions: Who am I? Who knows me? What is this world all about?

There were far, far too many things she wanted to say, yet the only person she could pour her heart out to was this "mother."

But she also understood that she should deal with the immediate problem first.

"What did Fu Xuan see?"

Watching the interaction between the two of them, Zhang Xiu felt a wave of comfort wash over his entire body. He turned to Yaoshi beside him and said:

"Kafka's the top."