Vill-V excitedly flipped open the booklet: "Oh? Instructions for a new script?"
Mobius, with a hint of disdain, picked up the booklet with two fingers, as if afraid of dirtying her hands: "'Even Fools Understand'? Hmph, I hope the content lives up to this 'humble' title."
The system's voice sounded at the opportune moment, explaining: "This manual contains some of the most basic concepts and common knowledge of the new universal framework you are currently in—the Astral Express universe. Basic settings such as Path, Aeon, Envoy, and Curio are briefly explained. Reading it will help you understand Madam Herta's identity, and... your own future positioning."
The Flame-Chasers, with various expressions, opened the small booklets in their hands.
(Path? Aeon? Elation? Preservation? Destruction?... Are these all of them?)
(Swarm Disaster? Aeon War?)
(Envoy... Lord Ravager... So that's it...)
Perspective shift.
Baiheng, or rather, the current Bai Heng, felt like she was about to fall apart.
She had never imagined that selling goods could be so "thrilling."
Thanks to Guinaifen's unintentional "traffic generation" and the genuinely exquisite and novel products, her stall was unprecedentedly popular, with queues almost blocking half the street.
Even her body, strengthened by Madam Herta, felt the long-lost muscle soreness and mental exhaustion.
(Miscalculation, miscalculation... I should have set a daily limit of one hundred items... No, fifty items!)
The only thing that gave her a slight sense of "relief" was that Jingliu had reappeared near the stall at some point. She didn't get any closer, just stood quietly on the periphery of the crowd, holding her sword.
That chilling sword qi, which kept strangers away, acted like an invisible barrier, making some people who wanted to cut in line or cause trouble give up. The Order was surprisingly good.
Baiheng glanced at the snow-white figure with complex emotions, her heart a mix of feelings.
Finally, after almost all the brought goods were sold out, Baiheng almost collapsed as she announced, "Sold out for today, please come early tomorrow."
Amidst the disappointed sighs of the crowd, she clumsily packed up her cart, feeling more exhausted than if she had fought the Abundance.
(What does she want to do? Is she specifically here to help me maintain Order? That's not like her style...)
Looking at Jingliu, who was still standing there as if waiting for her, Baiheng gritted her teeth.
No matter what, she had to keep up appearances, at least... she should thank her, right?
Although this thank you might come with great risk.
And so, the current scene unfolded.
In the quiet private room of the eatery, the atmosphere was a few degrees colder than the outside temperature.
Baiheng lowered her head, almost burying her face in her bowl, mechanically shoveling rice as if it wasn't rice but some miraculous elixir that could make her invisible.
Jingliu sat opposite her, her posture still elegant, eating little, only occasionally moving her chopsticks, spending most of the time "watching" Baiheng.
The silence was like a constantly tightening string.
Finally, Jingliu put down her chopsticks, and her clear, cold voice broke the stagnation: "You, are called Bai Heng, right?"
"Ah?"
Baiheng, lost in thought, was startled by the sudden question, almost biting her tongue. She quickly looked up and forced out an incredibly stiff smile, "Y-yes, yes! I'm Bai Heng! The genuine article!"
"A very well-chosen name."
Jingliu's voice betrayed no emotion.
"Yes, yes, my parents named me..." Baiheng continued the conversation, just wanting to end it quickly.
"Bai Heng..."
Jingliu softly repeated the name, as if savoring something, "Born in Yaoqing, living as a traveling merchant... yet quite familiar with the streets and alleys of Luofu, especially some... relics of old acquaintances?"
Baiheng's heart skipped a beat, and she forced herself to explain: "Ahaha... people in our line of work travel everywhere, right? You have to be familiar with the environment to find good stalls, don't you? As for relics of old acquaintances... that's purely a personal hobby, yes, a hobby! Listening to stories, enjoying the scenery..."
"Hobby?"
Jingliu tilted her head slightly, her black eye patch seeming to see through people's hearts, "Then do you know the High-Cloud Quintet?"
Baiheng's hand gripping the chopsticks tightened, her heart pounding like a drum: "I-I know a little... they were great heroes from hundreds of years ago, who in Luofu doesn't know them? It's just the details... I'm not too clear on them."
"One of them was named Baiheng."
Jingliu's voice remained steady, yet it was like a precise scalpel, cutting straight to the point, "She was also from Yaoqing, once the most outstanding pilot. Lively, loved to laugh, liked novelties, and... was very good at dealing with people."
Baiheng felt cold sweat almost soaking her clothes. She let out two dry laughs: "I-is that so? That's really... a coincidence. But Hero Baiheng, she's a legendary figure, how could a small merchant like me compare..."
"She sacrificed herself a long time ago."
Jingliu interrupted her, her tone seeming to fluctuate slightly, but quickly returning to silence, "I have been without a home for a long time."
The sudden change in topic surprised Baiheng.
Jingliu continued in that flat tone, as if stating a fact unrelated to herself: "Luofu could not be stayed in for long, and my old residence... is now empty. Helping you maintain Order today can be considered forming a good connection. I wonder... Miss Bai Heng, could you do me a favor and allow me to stay for a night?"
!!!!
Baiheng's mind instantly went blank.
(Stay?! I live on the Astral Express! I haven't even booked a room in Luofu! Where am I supposed to take you to stay?!)
"Th-this..."
Baiheng was so anxious that sweat beaded on her forehead, and her tongue tied in knots, "Miss Jingliu, this might not be very convenient! My, my place is especially small, especially messy, it's just a temporary warehouse, piled high with goods, there's no room to even stand! And the environment is noisy, it will definitely affect your rest! It's really not suitable!"
She refused almost incoherently, wishing she could carve the words "not convenient" on her face.
Jingliu was silent for a moment, and just when Baiheng thought she would give up, she spoke again, her tone carrying an undeniable persistence: "It's fine. Even under a bridge, one can find shelter. However, if Miss Bai Heng finds it troublesome, I will go find another place."
Saying this, she actually made a move to get up.
(Under a bridge?!)
A picture instantly flashed in Baiheng's mind: Jingliu in her plain clothes, sitting alone under a cold bridge.
That guilt and the complex emotion of "how did this person become so shameless after hundreds of years" erupted like a volcano in her heart, breaking through the dam of reason.
"Wait!"
Almost instinctively, Baiheng blurted out, "...It's-it's not entirely impossible... I... I'll think of something..."
As soon as the words left her mouth, she regretted it.
She wished time could rewind so she could chew up those words and swallow them back!
Jingliu heard this and sat back down. Did a slight curve seem to flit across her face, hidden by the eye patch?
Baiheng wasn't sure; she just felt her vision go dark.
A tasteless meal finally ended.
Baiheng paid the bill as if in a trance, and walked out of the eatery one after the other with Jingliu.
The cool air on her face suddenly jolted Baiheng, bringing her fully back to her senses.
(What... what did I just agree to?! I agreed to let her stay?! Where am I supposed to conjure up a place for her to live?! I'm done, done, done for! This is really going to expose me! Master, save me!)
She looked at Jingliu's tall and solitary back ahead of her, her heart racing like ten thousand Di Tings.
What... what should she do?
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