The God's slash fell.
In the golden light, it was Jing Yuan whose eyes were fully opened!
Jing Yuan first glanced at Yanqing, ensuring he was unharmed. Then, his gaze swept over each person present.
To his left stood Jingliu, emanating an icy aura. The black veil covering his eyes hid those ruby-like orbs from memory's sight. Jing Yuan's lips momentarily moved, but ultimately, he refrained from uttering that particular identity.
As his gaze fell upon the individual next to Jingliu, his agitated heart instantly calmed.
"It's you..."
"We've never met before, yet General recognizes me? Luocha is truly flattered."
"Not just recognize," Jing Yuan replied, "I'm quite familiar with your type."
"A friend once told me that individuals like you have a seventy percent chance of being profoundly wicked and vile."
"And if they possess exceptional power, that probability doubles."
"Doubles?" Luocha chuckled self-deprecatingly. "So in the General's eyes, I must be an utterly irredeemable villain."
Jing Yuan did not continue further. Instead, he turned his attention to the trio on the other side.
"Stellaron Hunters, what an impressive display—deploying three at once."
Earlier, the Divine Monarch's attack had interrupted Blade's assault. Despite intending to relentlessly pursue Jing Yuan, Kafka whispered something in Blade's ear, which managed to calm him down.
In a deep voice, Blade said, "Jing Yuan."
"There are five of you," Jing Yuan continued. "Three have already arrived."
"One remains."
"Where...is he?"
Jing Yuan sighed, "He won't be coming."
Upon hearing this, the blood-red glow in Blade's eyes slightly diminished, reflecting a mix of disappointment and dejection.
Seizing the moment, Jing Yuan pressed on, "Blade, Kafka, Silver Wolf... all three of you are wanted criminals with exorbitant bounties placed by the company."
"However, today, I can pretend not to see you and let you leave."
Blade remained expressionless.
Yanqing, upon realizing that Jing Yuan intended to allow these three notorious criminals to depart, nearly burst into tears from anxiety. However, Jing Yun extended a hand, signaling that there was his own reasoning behind this decision.
Blade's gaze shifted towards Jingliu. Despite being veiled in black silk, Jingliu distinctly felt the weight of that stare. In a cold tone, he declared, "My presence here has nothing to do with you."
The atmosphere instantly grew tense, as if layers of ice were forming in the air.
"Boring," Blade muttered disdainfully.
He turned around, ready to leave the area.
"Kafka," Blade called out.
"Go back and ask Elio for me."
"When is our next script due, mine and [that guy]'s?"
"Certainly," Kafka responded.
Jing Yuan watched as the trio prepared to depart.
Internally, Blade sighed with relief.
This situation had already been quite challenging!
Fortunately,
he managed to send away the Stellaron Hunters first.
Now, she could focus on dealing with Jingliu and this Mr. Luocha.
Meanwhile, on another front...
Dan Heng's group remained completely unaware of the situation unfolding at The Shackling Prison as they hurried towards their destination.
Inside the star ferry, March 7th couldn't help but exclaim, "I never expected Dan Shu to be the elusive leader of the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus! When traveling with her before, I thought she was such a good person!"
"Wonder if the Seat of Divine Foresight can apprehend Dan Shu based on this plot development in time?" Tingyun, standing at the helm, smiled gently and replied, "Miss March 7th, you truly remain innocent-hearted."
"Although the leader of the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus is blind, their senses in other aspects are remarkably keen."
"It's possible that they might have already detected some signs and fled."
"After all, the crime of 'betrayal' carries exceedingly severe punishment."
March 7th pondered for a moment and agreed, "Miss Tingyun makes a very valid point."
At that instant,
Old Yang lightly adjusted his glasses and asked, "While piloting the star ferry, Miss Tingyun manages to attentively follow the live-streamed storyline."
"Not only that, but even catching the detail about the leader being born blind—such acute perceptiveness is genuinely impressive."
Tingyun responded matter-of-factly, "As the merchant group's envoy, my livelihood relies on being observant and well-informed."
"Don't take it personally, Mr. Welt!"
Old Yang nodded, then seemed to recall something and said, "Ah, Miss Tingyun, since entering Xianzhou Luofu, regardless of where we've gone, you've always accompanied the Astral Express crew throughout this game scenario.
"Now, as we're about to head to the Divination Commission for Kafka's interrogation, you remain present once again. It's quite evident that your role is significant."
"Oh? Is that so?" Tingyun's ears twitched slightly. "I haven't played this game myself; I'm still quite clueless about its specifics."
"Could it be that Miss Tingyun knows 'Honkai: Star Rail' developer Feathered Spirit? Perhaps out of personal bias, they gave your character such extensive development?"
"Aiya... Mr. Welt, please don't flatter me too much! Knowing individuals like the Astral Express Crew already feels like a stroke of immense luck, let alone someone as renowned as the game developer?
"If Mr. Welt continues teasing me, I might not withstand it."
Inside the star ferry, the atmosphere seemed to spiral into an eerie tension with Old Yang's probing questions.
As Old Yang's questioning continued, the atmosphere seemed to spiral into an eerie vortex.
March 7th whispered to Stelle, "Hey, what's up with Uncle Yang?"
"Why is he suddenly so curious about Miss Tingyun?"
Stelle scratched his head and responded skeptically, "Could it be that Uncle Yang fancies her?"
"Should we...assist him somehow? Wait—what?!"
The star ferry abruptly began to shake violently.
The entire cabin jolted fiercely, sending March 7th and Stelle tumbling toward the back of the compartment.
Dan Heng managed not to lose his footing by gripping onto a seat with one hand.
As for Old Yang, seated calmly like a rock, he remained utterly unfazed—even unnaturally so! Enveloped in a dim crimson glow, no matter how intensely the star ferry shook, he didn't budge an inch, as if gravity had no effect on him. With remarkable composure, he spoke:
"You, indeed, have something to hide."
Up front, Tingyun had already relinquished control of the star ferry. Her demeanor underwent a dramatic transformation from moments earlier.
"Well done, truly well done," she said. "Welt...you, you're even more intriguing than I imagined."
Tingyun's voice was no longer soft and gentle but resonant, akin to the clang of metal.
She radiated like a regal queen!
Her body shimmered with light and swiftly began to dissipate.
From within emerged a ball of golden flame.
Unbeknownst to others, Old Yang had already retrieved his walking stick and forcefully pressed it downward.
Instantly, a small black hole formed.
However...
Although the golden flame appeared tangible, it seemed to exist beyond physical form, navigating through phase space effortlessly.
In a flash, it evaded capture by the black hole.
Its voice echoed throughout the cabin:
"I initially wanted to entertain you all for a bit longer."
"Unfortunately, that incompetent pawn Abundance ruined my plans."
"Phantylia must take her leave now."
"May you enjoy your time...with these performers."
The star ferry, deprived of power, started tilting downwards.
On the brink of colliding with another star ferry on its course,
Welt gently tapped his cane on the ground.
An invisible force immediately lifted the star ferry, guiding everyone safely down onto the surface below.
"But...but...what just happened, Uncle Yang?! Why did Miss Tingyun suddenly change so drastically? Her body disappeared, and what was that fiery orb emerging from her?" exclaimed March 7th.
"March, I'll explain later," replied Old Yang. "The enemy is approaching."
Following Old Yang's gaze, March 7th looked up.
A massive black vortex appeared in the sky, unleashing wave after wave of monsters from the Antimatter Legion!