It's Very Polite to Talk to Short People Like This

"Husband... the Ambrosial Arbor." Yaoshi sensed something was wrong and immediately looked at Zhang Xiu.

He raised a hand. "Shh, I know. Don't worry about it, honey."

He motioned for Yaoshi to look at Kafka and Stelle, while he glanced at Phantylia.

She was gazing at the decaying Ambrosial Arbor in the distance, amusement hidden in her eyes. When she noticed Zhang Xiu's gaze, she returned it with a smile.

Stelle and Kafka's conversation had also reached its end. Kafka said softly, "Wait a moment. It should be about time."

"Oh, it's starting!"

The clouds churned, and the Ambrosial Arbor surged upward. Golden light burst from deep within the trunk of the giant tree, which had been dull and barely clinging to life.

It reached toward the higher heavens, its countless budding branches bursting with life.

Then those shoots began to burn, turning into billowing spirit fire of mingled green and yellow, while countless Sanskrit characters appeared in the sky around it.

"A miracle of Abundance, the Ambrosial Arbor. What do you think of it?" Kafka spoke again, drawing Stelle's gaze.

At some point, the ropes of light binding Kafka had dissolved. She had landed on the ground and was flexing her wrists as she walked backward.

Stelle tried to stop her, only to be interrupted by a figure descending from above.

The newcomer had blue-black hair and crimson-gold eyes. It was the Stellaron Hunter, Blade.

He stood between the two of them, pointing the sword in his right hand at Stelle and stopping her in her tracks.

Zhang Xiu had also arrived behind Stelle by then. He rested his left hand on her shoulder, smiling without the slightest alarm at Kafka's escape.

March 7th snapped out of her shock at the Ambrosial Arbor's transformation and hurried toward Kafka and Blade.

Yaoshi, Welt, and Phantylia remained unmoved.

Kafka had already reached the edge of the platform. Looking down, she said, "Let's go, Blade. We still have two places to visit."

She spread her hands and turned around, leaning backward as she elegantly fell over the edge.

Blade gave a quiet huff, lowered the Shard Sword to his waist, and plunged headfirst after her.

"Kafka got away? Ugh, how are we supposed to explain this to that Diviner?!" March 7th had reached Zhang Xiu's side.

"Why didn't you stop them?"

"If we stopped them now, something bad might happen, March. Besides, Diviner Fu probably anticipated their escape long ago."

He removed his hand from Stelle's shoulder and rolled his ankles and neck instead.

Stelle nodded in agreement. "If she wasn't lying to me, we probably won't have to explain anything..."

"Hey, you two haven't been brainwashed by her, have you?!" March 7th's eyes widened, and she covered her mouth with both hands.

"Come on, have some faith in my wife. With her around, nobody can tamper with my mind." Zhang Xiu curled his left hand into a fist and lightly tapped his head.

"Now, let's go find Fu Xuan and Jing Yuan."

"Take a guess. I knew where the Stellaron was all along, so why did I hold my troops back?"

There was anticipation in the eyes of Jing Yuan's projection, but even more amusement. After thinking it over, Fu Xuan, standing before him, suddenly understood.

"General."

"Well?"

"...You scoundrel."

"Haha, when you cut down weeds, you must pull out the roots. The Disciples of Sanctus Medicus choosing this moment to act means the Cloud Knights have the situation under control, and the traitors can no longer sit still. Now we can catch them all in one net."

Jing Yuan folded his arms, thoroughly satisfied with Fu Xuan's reaction.

"You're just sitting here doing nothing! If something unexpected happens, how will you take responsibility for the losses, General?!"

Faced with her rebuke, Jing Yuan chuckled and shook his head. "Fu Xuan, oh, Fu Xuan. I still have a surprise force I haven't deployed."

"What a crafty old fox you are, old Jing. All your power went into the story instead of your gameplay, huh?"

"Ha, we need all the help we can get right now. Since you're willing to forge an alliance with us, I won't stand on ceremony."

Zhang Xiu walked straight up to the two of them. "Go on, then. How are you planning to boss us around this time?"

Behind him, March 7th saw the smile on Jing Yuan's face, and the corners of her mouth twitched. Even her voice sounded listless.

"I knew it. Whenever the General smiles, we're about to get sent on another errand... Hehe."

Fu Xuan sighed. "This is my fault. My fault for expecting anything more of the General..."

She turned to Jing Yuan. "Have a heart! You've deployed this surprise force far too often. Is there no one else on the Luofu you can use?!"

Jing Yuan merely turned to look at her in silence.

"Why... are you staring at me?" Fu Xuan blinked. "I must remind you, General! The Ambrosial Arbor's location is a secret among secrets. Allowing Outsiders access-"

"-Violates regulations. And I must remind you, Fu Xuan, that the Xianzhou came first, and regulations came afterward. In a crisis, use the regulations if they serve us, and discard them if they don't."

"So, next I shall make a decision that violates regulations. Ah, perhaps more than one." At that, Jing Yuan laughed.

"Haha, just thinking about it is rather liberating."

"Leaving that aside, Fu Xuan, doesn't your neck hurt from looking up all the time?" Zhang Xiu interrupted.

His words plunged the scene into silence, but he crouched without hesitation until he was at eye level with Fu Xuan, then looked at Jing Yuan.

"Hey, Jing Yuan, just do what I'm doing. I heard it's very polite to talk to short people like this. Though if Fu Xuan jumps up to hit you, your knees might hurt a little."

"Polite, my foot! You idiot! Get up!" Her face flushed with embarrassment and indignation, March 7th grabbed the back of his clothes and hauled him upright.

Everyone except Yaoshi, Phantylia included, stared at him in shock! This man's courage was no less than Nanook's!

Fu Xuan's brow darkened-no, her entire face darkened...

"You, you-! Scoundrel!"

She leaped into the air! And struck Zhang Xiu right in the stomach!

"Urgh!" He obligingly went flying backward.

Holding back her laughter, Yaoshi hurried over and helped him up.

"Husband, whenever things turn solemn, you always have to say something ridiculous."

"Uh... well, back then, it was my glance at Aha that made them the Aeon of Elation..."

Once the commotion had more or less run its course, Jing Yuan was about to return to the previous topic, only for Stelle to fail to contain herself and burst out laughing.

March 7th immediately covered her mouth and dragged her to the back.

"...Ahem. Ha. Fu Xuan, I'll give you the military command seal. You will command the Cloud Knights and provide support outside the Alchemy Commission's cavern, near the Ambrosial Arbor."

Having calmed down, Fu Xuan looked at him, still slightly out of breath. "Me? You want me to lead the troops?"

"Haven't you always wanted to experience what it's like to be a general?"

"...Whew. Normally, you won't let me, but now, all of a sudden... I understand. We'll do as you say."

Seeing that Fu Xuan understood his intent, Jing Yuan turned to Stelle.

"As for our friends from the Astral Express crew... I now openly invite you to join the operation to seal the Stellaron."

"Fu Xuan will deploy the Cloud Knights. I'd like you to go on ahead, taking the shortcut through the Artisanship Commission, then rendezvous with her."

Once things had settled down, Zhang Xiu blinked and stepped in front of everyone again.

"Ahem. I hereby declare Operation Stellaron! Code name X! Begin!"