Hidden Express · Lounge Car
The carriage door slid open with a soft pneumatic hiss, and Baiheng practically stumbled inside.
She grabbed the kettle from the coffee table, ignoring the need for a cup, and gulped down several large mouthfuls directly from the spout with a "gurgle gurgle." Only then did she let out a long sigh, collapsing onto the soft sofa as if she had just been pulled back from the brink of dehydration.
"Phew... I'm, I'm saved..."
Cyrene, who was sitting on the opposite sofa reading, was startled by Baiheng's frantic manner. She looked up from the pages, her azure eyes under her pink short hair showing slight confusion: "Miss Baiheng? What is this...?"
"Don't even mention it!"
Baiheng waved her hand, a look of lingering fear on her face. "To shake off Jingliu and then find a completely deserted corner to activate the warp, I nearly scoured every nook and cranny of the Xianzhou Luofu! My legs are about to break from running!"
"Jingliu?"
Cyrene closed the book in her hand—a volume on interstellar plant taxonomy—and tilted her head slightly. "Is that... the very powerful Sword Master you mentioned before?"
"More than just powerful!"
Baiheng took off the round sunglasses she used for disguise, rubbed her aching nose bridge, and made an exaggerated expression. "That's the former Luofu Sword Master! After several hundred years, I feel like she's even more... more terrifying than before! You wouldn't believe it, today she actually..."
She stopped mid-sentence, seemingly finding the act of 'touching her face' too embarrassing to mention, and glossed over it vaguely. "In short, it's a long story! If she zeroes in on me a few more times, my disguise is definitely going to be exposed."
She looked around the quiet carriage. "Where's the Master? Not back yet? And Jack isn't here either?"
Cyrene shook her head gently, her tone mild. "We never know Madam Herta's whereabouts. Miss Jack... seems to be on a mission as well."
"Is that so..."
Baiheng leaned back against the sofa, looking at the soft light source on the carriage ceiling, her fox ears drooping slightly. "I originally wanted to report to the Master about Jingliu and ask if I could switch jobs... The job of a peddler is getting riskier and riskier."
Cyrene looked at her somewhat dejected appearance and gently comforted her: "Miss Baiheng has worked very hard. At least you successfully escaped the pursuit and returned safely."
"That's true..."
Baiheng sighed. "It's just that my feelings are a bit... complicated. After all, Jingliu is..."
She didn't finish her sentence, but Cyrene could see a hint of complex emotion for an "old friend" in her eyes—it wasn't just fear, but also mixed with a certain inexpressible helplessness.
Just then, the door at the other end of the lounge car silently slid open.
Long Night Moon leaned out. She was still wearing her black and red dress, her crimson eyes holding a hint of post-sleep laziness, and she was carrying a closed small black and red umbrella.
"Oh? What's the lively discussion about?"
Long Night Moon's voice held a casual air. She strolled over and naturally sat down in the empty seat next to Baiheng, glancing between the two of them. "I heard you sighing from a distance, Baiheng. Did you run into an 'old friend' on the Xianzhou again?"
Baiheng glared at Her irritably. "What do you mean 'again'! And why does your tone sound a little gleeful?"
Long Night Moon gently tapped the ground with the tip of her umbrella, a slightly wicked smile curving her lips. "How could that be? I'm just concerned for my companion. After all, an 'old friend' who can make Miss Baiheng, who fears nothing, look so ragged, is quite rare."
She deliberately emphasized the words "old friend."
Cyrene watched the two bickering and couldn't help but smile softly.
On this Hidden Express, such interactions, flavored with everyday life, actually diluted the tension.
"Miss Long Night Moon,"
Cyrene spoke, curiosity in her voice. "How is your side... progressing? I mean, with Miss March 7th..."
Mentioning her "little sister," Long Night Moon's smile deepened, carrying the composure of someone in control. "Very smooth indeed~ That innocent little girl now completely believes that I am her long-lost older sister, burdened with the important task of the 'Amphoreus Heroic Epic.' Last night, she even pulled me aside and asked if I remembered watching the stars together when we were 'little.'"
She perfectly imitated March 7th's energetic tone.
Baiheng couldn't help but retort, "I've almost memorized the stories you've made up for her about the 'black tide' and 'Golden Boughs'! Be careful not to make up too many lies, or you won't be able to cover them up later."
"Don't worry~"
Long Night Moon leaned back lazily against the sofa. "The seed of the story has been planted; now I just need to water it at the right time and let it slowly grow in her heart. As for you, Baiheng, if you get cornered by the person you mentioned next time, you might need the Lady to show up. Maybe she'll let you off the hook out of respect for the Lady?"
"Give me a break!"
Baiheng immediately shook her head. "Wouldn't that make things even messier! I'm better off relying on my own two legs and this precious little car!"
Elysian Realm · Mobius Laboratory
The laboratory was filled with spectral green flowing light, and various indescribable instruments emitted a low hum.
Doctor Mobius's petite body was nestled in a large chair, her snake eyes focused as they scanned the dozens of floating light screens before her, across which dizzyingly complex data streams flowed.
"Pardo" was huddled in a relatively "safe" corner of the laboratory—at least far from the instruments that looked like they might suddenly extend mechanical arms or spray unknown gas—clutching a data recording pad, pretending to diligently check the continuously scrolling parameters, yet her ears were alert, catching any movement from Mobius's side.
Black Herta, using Pardo's shell, had her internal little drama starting up again, but externally, she perfectly maintained Pardo's timid appearance.
Suddenly, Mobius's fingers stopped tapping the virtual keyboard.
Only the background sound of the instruments running remained in the lab, making it exceptionally quiet.
She slowly turned her chair, her snake eyes, which seemed capable of seeing into the soul, locking directly onto "Pardo."
"Hey, you."
Mobius's voice carried a lazy yet dangerous tone.
"Pardo" jolted, nearly dropping the recording pad in her hands. She quickly stood up straight, forcing a smile onto her face: "Huh? Sister Snake? Do you have any instructions? Do you need me to fetch something, or..."
Mobius didn't answer immediately. Instead, she scrutinized "Pardo" from head to toe with an examining gaze, her eyes so sharp they seemed ready to peel her layer by layer.
After several seconds, she spoke slowly, her tone flat but carrying an undeniable certainty:
"You are not Pardo, are you?"
!!!
Black Herta's reaction was instantaneous; Pardo's panicked expression appeared on her face almost immediately, her cat eyes wide and round, and her voice tinged with a sob:
"S-Sister Snake! What are you saying! I am Pardo! The genuine article! Look at my ears, my Tail!"
To increase credibility, she even vigorously shook her fluffy yellow Tail, trying to prove she was the "real deal." "Did I do something wrong to upset you? Just tell me directly, and I promise to change!"
---------------------------------
If you'd like to read the next 70 chapters in advance, you can support me on Patreon.
I regularly post chapter previews there, so you'll always be up-to-date and won't have to wait too long.
patreon.com/SolyuraMT
And if you enjoy the story, don't forget to give me a Power Stone. Your support really motivates me to continue translating!