The starskiff drew closer to the port, and as it neared the shore, Pei Guang and his companions leapt off one by one.
Kafka wished that fate could remain within her control, but reality simply wouldn't allow it.
Blade stood silently nearby, holding his sword. Kafka turned to him and asked, "How do you feel? Did that 'coffee' modified by the player help you?"
Blade: "It did."
He could confirm that his chaotic emotions had stabilized, but that didn't change his determination to strike at Dan Heng today. Part of it was for their shared mission, but part of it was also personal grievance.
As they waited, they noticed a starskiff approaching across the water. Kafka glanced at the time and nodded. "A little ahead of schedule due to uncontrollable factors. And there are a few more people than expected. Blade~ is that a problem?"
Blade: "No problem."
Whether it was one person or several, it didn't matter. He had already decided that today he would strike Dan Heng, Stelle, and March 7th—no matter what.
At first, the people getting off the skiff seemed normal enough. But when the last two disembarked, even the usually composed Kafka and Blade were momentarily stunned into silence.
They both knew that Dan Heng had received some help from the player, but the extent of that assistance was absolutely absurd.
Dan Heng's outfit was a perfect example. To avoid trouble, he was completely decked out in the Abundant Ebon Deer set, fully covering his appearance. Beneath the set, he layered the silver albinauric mask, which provided a massive mental attack boost. The result was an outfit optimized for psychological warfare.
And then there was the Pink Fluffy Bunny he held in his hands.
The sight of it filled Blade with a mix of humiliation and fury. While a warrior could accept death, they could not accept dishonor—and this bunny weapon embodied pure mockery!
Feeling Blade's gaze, Dan Heng looked back, as if fate itself had drawn their attention to one another. Blade knew Dan Heng's past life and the many terrible things both had done.
But Dan Heng didn't share that same knowledge. He didn't know what crimes his past self had committed, though he was willing to bear those sins. From the moment he arrived on the Xianzhou, he had done everything within his power to help.
In his eyes, Blade might have been wronged by his past self, but after being hunted relentlessly for so long, even Dan Heng had his limits.
As Pei Guang had said before, "If you can't kill Blade physically, then kill him socially." Whether it worked or not didn't matter—what mattered was the satisfaction.
Seeing the Stellaron Hunters blocking their path, Fu Xuan frowned. "You…"
Kafka interrupted with a sly smile. "Ah~ The Divination Commission already knows our purpose here. This time, we're here to help you find the key to unlocking the seal. Blade~"
Blade stepped forward, sword in hand. "You're here. It's time to pay the price. Did you think changing your appearance would let you escape?"
Before anyone else could respond, Dan Heng stepped forward, holding the Pink Fluffy Bunny, and cut him off. "I've already told you—and that other woman—many times: I am Dan Heng. I have nothing to do with you. If you keep pestering me, don't blame me for being rude."
Blade laughed loudly. "Hahaha! You think changing your face and name will erase your past sins? You haven't even experienced death! I'll make you feel that pain, Dan Heng! I'll make you understand the agony of dying!"
As he shouted, Bailu suddenly popped out from a nearby trash can. "Is someone injured? Is someone dying? Do they need treatment?"
Blade's demeanor shifted dramatically upon seeing Bailu. Meanwhile, Bailu, oblivious to the tension, tilted her head and studied Blade. "Hey, you over there! Yes, you! Dark complexion, unfocused eyes—you're on the verge of falling into Mara-struck madness, aren't you? Lucky for you, I happen to have medicine to suppress that condition. With some luck, it could extend your life by a century or so!"
As Bailu rambled on, Silver Wolf reached over and pulled her back into the trash can. At the same time, Silver Wolf held up a small sign toward Blade. The sign read in large characters:
RUN!
But Blade's attention wasn't on Silver Wolf at all. It was entirely focused on Bailu. Memories flooded his mind, and the emotions tied to those memories only deepened the transformation in his body.
"You!!!"
At that moment, Blade's mind was flooded with memories of the past—the chaos of the Imbibitor Lunae rebellion. His emotions spiraled out of control as he raised his sword, pointing it directly at Dan Heng.
Seeing this, Dan Heng waved a hand, signaling his friends that he could handle it. He then stepped forward, ready to speak.
But before he could say anything, Yanqing, who had been following them the entire time, suddenly stepped in front of him. "Hmph! You won't harm anyone today, fugitive, because you're coming with me."
Fu Xuan looked like she wanted to say something, but after a moment of thought, she decided to stay silent.
Blade sneered at Yanqing's sudden interruption. "Ah, the little tag along from Jing Yuan. Didn't he teach you to assess the situation? Do you even know who you're standing in front of? Let me introduce him to you!"
Before Blade could finish, Pei Guang stepped up, placing himself in front of Yanqing. "Of course we know. This is our companion, Dan Heng—the heinous criminal who committed unforgivable sins on Xianzhou, incited rebellion, and was banished for eternity!"
Did Pei Guang actually know Dan Heng's past? Not at all. He had no clue. But given what Blade had said and the bits and pieces Dan Heng had shared about being exiled from Xianzhou, Pei Guang decided to embellish the story for dramatic effect.
Yanqing's eyes widened as he looked at Blade, then back at Dan Heng. "Huh?"
He froze, staring at Dan Heng, suddenly realizing—this was the previous Imbibitor Lunae? Before he could process it further, Dan Heng summoned the Herta Puppet, which had been given some… special modifications by Pei Guang.
Dan Heng spoke calmly but firmly. "Yes, my previous life was Imbibitor Lunae—Dan Feng. But I am now Dan Heng. I am not the Imbibitor Lunae you're looking for. If you refuse to see me as Dan Heng, then don't blame me for what happens next."
He didn't feel the need to explain further. He had done so much to prove that he was Dan Heng and not the Imbibitor Lunae. His past sins—whether as Imbibitor Lunae or Dan Feng—were his to bear. He was willing to accept any punishment for them.
But for anyone who denied that he was Dan Heng? They'd have to deal with the Pink Fluffy Bunny in his hands.
Almost as if it could sense his intent, the Pink Fluffy Bunny vibrated slightly, emitting a low, angry purring sound—reminiscent of a cat ready to attack. As Dan Heng gripped the weapon tightly, it let out a distinct hum, signaling it was ready for combat.
Yanqing, seeing Dan Heng in full battle gear, felt utterly stuck. Moving forward or retreating both seemed impossible. Desperate, he looked toward Fu Xuan for guidance.
But Fu Xuan only smiled and said, "Go on, Yanqing. Don't worry, you won't die. Look, Bailu's right here. With the healer dragon lady present, how could you possibly die?"
Yanqing didn't know how to respond. Sure, his physical body might not die, but his social standing was certainly about to!
It wasn't just Yanqing—Blade, too, hesitated upon seeing Dan Heng armed with the Pink Fluffy Bunny and the Herta Puppet beside him. He sought death, but he didn't want to face social death while alive, nor did he want it to haunt his legacy after death.
Imagine the humiliation: if people remembered Blade not as the fearsome Stellaron Hunter, but as the pitiful guy who got smacked around by a bunny while meowing like a cat. Who could bear such disgrace?
Dan Heng, however, didn't give them time to hesitate. He and the Herta Puppet launched their attacks. Dan Heng charged at Blade, while the Herta Puppet took aim at Yanqing—starting with a swift hammer strike to the face.
Yanqing fared better, but Blade? Blade was in pure agony as he saw the Pink Fluffy Bunny heading straight for his face. And worse yet, it was already letting out meows of anticipation.