"Wah!"
Baiheng was startled, nearly bouncing off the small cart.
She whipped her head around, only to see Jingliu standing silently in the shadows of the alley entrance, having watched for who knows how long.
She was still dressed the same way: a black eye mask, a snow-white high ponytail, and an aura of coldness that warned others to keep their distance.
The alarm bells rang loudly inside Baiheng's mind: 'When did she catch up?! I clearly shook her off! Did she install a starship engine on her legs?!'
Yet, she quickly plastered on a professional fake smile, her tone laced with exaggerated surprise: "Uh! It's, it's Guest! Speaking of which... no, wait, Esteemed Lady, your speed is quite impressive!"
"Well, Guest, uh, today... hmm, we closed early! Yes, closed! Look, it's getting late. How about... you come back tomorrow? My little shop is honest and guarantees your satisfaction!"
As she spoke, she secretly tried to climb back onto the small cart, ready to bolt at any moment.
Jingliu seemed to ignore her excuses, simply tilting her head up slightly. Although she wore an eye mask, it gave the impression of her "gazing at the sky," as she calmly stated, "It is still early. Why the rush?"
Baiheng's mind raced, and she started rambling nonsense: "Uh, something came up at home! Yes, I have soup simmering at home! Oh dear! I think I left the stove on! Look at my memory!"
She acted as if slapping her head, swiftly moving to pedal the cart. "I need to hurry back and check, or it will be trouble if the house catches fire!"
However, just as she stepped on the pedal, a slightly cool hand gently pressed down on the cart's handlebar. The force wasn't great, but it carried an undeniable authority, instantly freezing her movements.
Jingliu's voice remained flat: "I have not bought anything yet."
Baiheng: "..."
She felt the smile on her face was about to freeze into a mask.
Helpless, she had no choice but to get off the cart again, setting up her stall resignedly, and weakly saying, "Then... Guest, which one do you like? Feel free to browse, feel free to choose."
Jingliu's gaze swept over the pile of Herta merchandise before settling on Baiheng's face: "You, recommend one."
Baiheng sighed internally, realizing Jingliu wasn't going to let her off easily.
She casually picked up the most inconspicuous small metal piece from a pile of charms, which was printed with a simplified Herta Space Station emblem, and handed it over: "How about this one? It's low-key, durable, and... and it wards off evil!"
She really couldn't think of any other merits this thing had.
Just as Jingliu reached out to take the charm, her attention seemingly diverted, Baiheng seized the opportunity, swiftly turning to jump onto the cart seat like a startled rabbit—
"Stop."
The two cold words, carrying an invisible chill, instantly froze Baiheng's movements.
A fierce Sword Intent seemed to lock onto her, sending a chill down her spine, making her dare not move an inch.
Baiheng turned around slowly, her face twisted in distress, forcing out a smile uglier than a cry: "G-Guest... do you have any other instructions?"
Jingliu walked forward unhurriedly until the distance between them was so close that Baiheng could see the subtle patterns on the eye mask.
She raised her hand, her fingertips holding the small charm, her tone utterly calm:
"I haven't paid yet."
Baiheng: "!!!"
She was so focused on running that she forgot about this!
"N-No need to pay! No need to pay!"
Baiheng quickly waved her hands, wishing she could shove the item directly into the other party's arms. "Just consider it... fate! A gift from me! Yes, fate!"
Jingliu did not speak, merely "looking" at her.
That gaze, even through the eye mask, seemed to carry immense weight, causing Baiheng tremendous pressure.
Baiheng surrendered, weakly changing her tune: "Then... can you just pay what you think is fair?"
Jingliu took out some currency from her sleeve and placed it in Baiheng's open palm.
Baiheng saw that the amount far exceeded the value of that shabby charm by more than tenfold.
"I c-can't take this much..."
She tried to make change.
Jingliu, however, had already withdrawn her hand, saying faintly, "It is all fate."
Baiheng: "..." (Your fate is truly expensive!)
She looked at the heavy currency in her hand, then at Jingliu, whose expression clearly stated, "I decide," and completely lost her spirit.
Fine, you have money, you call the shots.
She carefully put away the currency and cautiously asked again, "Then... Guest, this time... can I really leave?"
Jingliu slightly nodded.
Baiheng felt as if she had been granted a general amnesty. She practically scrambled onto the cart, twisted the handle, and the cart wheels screeched against the ground, shooting out with a "swoosh," leaving only an afterimage, vanishing at the other end of the alley in the blink of an eye, terrified of being called back if she delayed for even a second.
Jingliu stood alone in place, rubbing the cold metal charm in her hand, "gazing" in the direction Baiheng had disappeared, remaining motionless for a long time.
She muttered softly to herself, her voice so faint it nearly vanished in the wind:
"Is it really you..."
Pure White Space
Yae Sakura suddenly opened her eyes, and what greeted her was an endless expanse of pure white.
There was no sky, no ground, no sense of distance; it felt like being suspended in nothingness.
(Where is this...? The world after death? No, that's wrong... I am data in the Elysian Realm, so true death shouldn't exist in theory... So where is this...?)
Just as her thoughts began to function, the agonizing memory instantly flooded back—Pardo's terrified face, the blade piercing her body, the shattered, dissipating figure, and Black Herta's cold whisper... "Pardo...!"
She subconsciously cried out softly, and a strong sense of guilt overwhelmed her like a tide.
She closed her eyes in pain, her body trembling slightly, her tightly clenched fists turning white at the knuckles.
It was her, personally... "Sakura?"
A slightly hesitant and familiar cat-like voice softly rang out, seemingly right next to her ear.
Yae Sakura stiffened all over, suddenly opened her eyes, and looked toward the source of the sound in disbelief.
Not far in front of her, Pardo was standing perfectly fine, tilting her head, her eyes filled with pure worry as she looked at her: "Sakura? Are you alright? You look terrible..."
Is this not an illusion? Not a false image?
That familiar aura, that unique feeling... "Pardo!"
Yae Sakura practically lunged forward, embracing the petite cat-eared girl tightly. Her arms trembled slightly from the effort, and her voice carried uncontrollable sobs, "I'm sorry... I'm sorry... Pardo... I..."
She repeated her apologies over and over, as if only this could alleviate her deep-seated self-reproach.
"Woah! Ying, Sakura! Too tight! I can't breathe!"
Pardo's face was flushed red from being squeezed. She frantically patted Yae Sakura's back, trying to struggle free. "Sister Elysia! Help! Sakura seems unwell!"
"Oh my, it seems even our'Setsuna' Flame-Chaser can get this agitated, huh?"
A cheerful and pleasant voice came, laced with laughter.
Yae Sakura lifted her head, only then noticing that, at some point, Elysia and Griseo had also appeared in this pure white space.
Elysia had her hands clasped behind her back, her pretty face bearing her usual bright smile that seemed capable of dispelling all gloom.
Griseo stood quietly beside her, her pair of purple, glass-like eyes curiously glancing at Yae Sakura and then at the tightly hugged Pardo. At some point, a small drawing board had appeared in her hand, and she was unconsciously sketching on it with her fingertips.
Elysia walked forward and gently patted Yae Sakura's shoulder, her tone gentle yet carrying undeniable strength: "Alright, Ying, how about you let go of little Pardo first? Look, she's practically turning into a squished kitty cake! Whatever you need to say, we can take our time."
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