The conversation between the two was brief, quickly reaching a consensus.
Most players could tell they each had their own motives, temporarily traveling together.
Not long after, a cutscene played.
Yanqing arrived on a flying sword, swiftly dealing with enemies emerging from a corner, and struck up a conversation with Leon and Jingliu.
After a brief inquiry, he decided to escort them to a safe location.
Their casual chatter along the way subtly fleshed out the world's lore while also fishing for information.
Most players didn't think too deeply about it.
But when Yanqing asked Jingliu and then turned to Leon, asking if he'd seen a black-clad, long-haired man—
Leon's inner thoughts left countless players momentarily stunned.
"(Likely, Yanqing's referring to the Stellaron Hunter Blade. But Kafka said Blade was captured by the Luofu's Cloud Knights.)"
"(Yet Yanqing's now tracking Blade, meaning he's escaped the prison.)"
"(Escaping so easily? He's not even pretending to hide it.)"
"(Could it be, the moment the Express crew was confirmed to enter the Luofu, they let Blade slip away like a cicada shedding its shell?)"
"(Kafka's motives seem a bit inexplicable.)"
"(To draw the Astral Express into this, the Stellaron's influence alone would've been enough. Why push Blade into the spotlight?)"
"(It's not like he's indispensable.)"
"(Kafka has some connection to Stelle, but Blade? He has no ties to the Express crew—)"
"(Wait—she said something…)"
Kafka: "('Ah~ Perfect timing, everyone's here… well, almost everyone.')"
"(Could her 'perfect timing' be sarcasm, actually hinting at Dan Heng, the only one not present?)"
"(Otherwise, why add that 'almost everyone' bit?)"
"(Dan Heng's past is tied to the Luofu. He might've been part of the Xianzhou Alliance.)"
"(His main reason for joining the Express was to hide from something—or someone.)"
"(Did Kafka deliberately leak Blade's portrait because Dan Heng's hiding from him?)"
Leon's inner monologue ended, leaving Ah Xian dumbfounded.
"Good grief… he pieced it together…"
"From just Yanqing's hint that Blade's out of custody, he deduced the rough truth…"
"My husband Leon is amazing!"
[Awesome, Father's come to the Luofu, we're saved!]
[Finally get what Jing Yuan meant in 1.0.]
[Which line?]
[He told Fu Xuan that the moment he saw Blade, he knew the Stellaron Hunters weren't behind this, just luring the Express to the Luofu.]
[But the Trailblazer, March, and Welt already went. Why drag Dan Heng into it?]
[I don't get that either. What's Dan Heng got to do with it?]
[Maybe something. Didn't Dan Heng say he's banned from the Luofu?]
[Chill, listen to Leon's next analysis. If he knows or has guesses, he never holds back.]
But his next question threw everyone off.
He asked Yanqing about the Vidyadhara High Elder, Imbibitor Lunae.
And it was the first time players heard the name Imbibitor Lunae.
Learning that the High Elder was no longer Imbibitor Lunae but Bailu left players confused.
So, there was another High Elder before Bailu.
What did this Imbibitor Lunae have to do with the story?
"I'm still lost. Weren't we thinking about Dan Heng's past? What's the High Elder got to do with it?"
Ah Xian voiced her thoughts aloud.
"No way Dan Heng's the Vidyadhara High Elder before Bailu, right?"
[…Don't say that, just don't!]
[Whoa, those who picked Dan Heng for Belobog, remember the Fight Club story?]
[Cold Dragon Young! The nickname Sampo tricked him into using for the ring.]
[My god, no way?]
[And, and—when Bronya was chasing him, March 7th told Dan Heng to use his hidden power. So it's real?]
Ah Xian clicked the screen to continue, hearing Leon's inner voice again.
It hit like a thunderbolt.
"(The Stellaron Hunters went to great lengths to drag Dan Heng here. Could he play an indispensable role in this Luofu crisis?)"
"(But not sealing the Stellaron—that's child's play for the Luofu. No need for Dan Heng.)"
"(The Luofu's General, a Hunt Emanator, couldn't possibly miss a Stellaron's infiltration. Some equal-level force must be meddling.)"
"(If I'm here for that hidden Emanator to protect my companions, within the Stellaron Hunters' script, then—)"
"(Dan Heng's role and duty in this script must fundamentally differ from mine…)"
"(The Xianzhou and Vidyadhara are allied. The High Elder's title is inherited through every reincarnation.)"
"(Yet Yanqing says the Luofu's High Elder isn't Imbibitor Lunae but the Medicine Dragon Girl.)"
"(At this critical juncture, the odds of a fateful coincidence are slim.)"
"(Is Dan Heng somehow tied to Imbibitor Lunae…?)"
"(Yanqing's just a kid. No point asking him more. Looks like I need to see the Luofu's General.)"
Others might see these as mere guesses from Leon.
But for lore enthusiasts who'd scoured every 1.0 text, his words were as good as confirmed.
When Old Toby shared his thoughts, some questioned them.
Namely: Leon knowing about the Vidyadhara-Xianzhou alliance is one thing, but how did he know about the High Elder's inherited title?
Why suddenly ask about the Vidyadhara?
How did he conclude Dan Heng's tied to them?
Players have a god's-eye view; he doesn't.
"Your doubts aren't complicated."
Old Toby's simple explanation dispelled everyone's confusion.
"No one knows how long Leon's lived. He might've had dealings with the Xianzhou Alliance."
"Or more directly, with a past High Elder."
"How can you be sure the 'friend' he mentioned to Yanqing isn't himself?"
"Leon's backstory is a blank slate, with endless points to explain later."
"Don't rush to call out plot holes—you might get boomeranged."
[Makes sense. Characters with that excuse usually invent friends out of thin air.]
"Exactly. The Xianzhou's soared for 8,000 years. Who knows when the Vidyadhara allied with them?"
"But it's been a few thousand years at least. It's not weird for Leon to have met a High Elder from some era."
The story moved briskly. Right after Leon's thoughts, he encountered blocking enemies.
Yanqing: "A little trouble to handle. Sister Jingliu, Brother Leon, stay here and don't move. I'll be right back."
Leon: "(Stay here and don't move? Tsk, this kid… treating me like a grandpa…)"
"Hahaha!"
"Yanqing's flipping the hierarchy! Not just Leon—Jingliu's also ancient."
"There's in-game text: Penacony fell 1,800 years ago, and Jingliu says she's from there. She's at least a thousand-something years old."
…