As the first ray of sunlight poured over Jinzhou, the city that had been quiet for an entire night woke up once again. But unlike usual, a few people followed the stream of incoming crowds and entered Jinzhou City.
"Why is it suddenly so lively today?"
"You don't know?" Zane looked at Stelle, who was curiously glancing around. As a local of Jinzhou, he naturally had to explain the Moon Chasing Festival to her. "The Moon Chasing Festival is coming."
"Moon Chasing Festival?"
"Yeah. During this festival, every household chooses a brave warrior to enter the arena. Then every seven people form a squad to hunt Remnants, and afterward use the Remnants they hunted to fight each other."
"The winner will be thrown into a space filled with supplies to compete, and only those who successfully evacuate can win."
"Huh?" Stelle let out a couple of confused sounds. "Your Jinzhou's Moon Chasing Festival is that… complicated? Then why is it called 'Moon Chasing Festival'?"
Zane grinned. "Only the final winner gets the chance to chase the moon, then beat it up hard."
"Oh oh oh, so awesome!"
Listening to Zane's explanation, Stelle's eyes sparkled. The moment she heard there would be fighting during the festival, her thick and sturdy club immediately started itching for action.
She hadn't had a chance to make a move back at Black Coast. Now that she was back in Jinzhou, she could finally let loose.
Seeing that Stelle was almost convinced by Zane's made-up history, a "vein" mark popped on Rover's smooth forehead.
She couldn't hold back and raised her hand, smashing a punch onto the back of Zane's head.
"Don't listen to this guy. The Moon Chasing Festival is just an ordinary festival for family reunions. It's not some violent event like that!"
"And wipe that disappointed look off your face. Girls shouldn't be thinking about fighting and killing all the time!"
Zane, 'But you just hit me…'
Still…
Zane rubbed the back of his head and cast a puzzled glance at Rover.
Maybe it was just his imagination, but on the way back to Jinzhou, Rover had clearly been a bit irritable, and her temper didn't seem very good.
Including just now, this was already the fourth time he had been hit today.
A new personal record.
"According to Jinzhou's archives, in the days leading up to the festival, the people of Jinzhou go to Taoyuan Village, write their wishes on paper rafts, then hang them on high branches or throw them into tree hollows."
Considering Zane's tendency to fabricate history, the Doctor, who knew Jinzhou's past best, stepped in and took on the role of guide.
"It's said that wishes made during these two days will come true…" Rover added after the Doctor, but as she spoke, her white teeth lightly ground together, carrying a faint sense of restrained irritation.
'What's wrong with her?'
'No idea. Maybe it's that time of the month?'
Zane and Stelle exchanged a glance. After a brief silent communication, they both decided to stay as far away from Rover as possible today.
"I'm going to the Village. What about you?"
Facing Rover's question, the Doctor thought for a moment and decided to go with her to Taoyuan Village for a look.
As a high-IQ talent, Zane's external brain, and the team's strategist, the Doctor naturally didn't believe in this kind of baseless superstition.
"I request treasure hunting." Stelle left behind those words and then dashed off in a flash.
Zane thought for a while and decided to return to Border first. After being away from home for so long, he should at least report back to the elders.
After parting ways with the three of them, Zane set off toward Border.
Looking at the familiar streets around him, even though he hadn't been gone long, Zane still felt like he was returning home in glory.
"Good morning, Uncle Fu."
"Zane, haven't seen you for so long. Did you get into trouble again? Let me tell you, the Moon Chasing Festival is coming, and the Magistrate is swamped with work. Don't go making her angry. Otherwise, the neighbors might beat you up!"
"Haha, come on, how would I dare?"
"Zane's back? Come try the Mapo Tofu Auntie just made."
"Thanks, Auntie, I'll eat after I get back to Border first."
"Big Brother Zane, you said you'd come marry me, don't forget~"
———
A red-haired girl on the street suddenly paused when she noticed the unusual liveliness. With a single glance, she spotted him in the crowd, smiling apologetically as he declined the neighbors.
The jade on her chest trembled slightly, and a bright smile bloomed on her innocent, untainted face.
At the entrance of the patrol office at the end of the street, a tall girl quietly stopped her hurried steps.
Her black hair shone under the morning sun, and the strands that had feathered due to her resonance ability added a touch of purity to her.
She also noticed that familiar figure in the crowd, and a faint smile appeared on her delicate face.
At the same time, deep within Border, an elegant figure gently placed a letter onto a desk piled high with scrolls.
On this desk lay everything concerning Jinzhou. The woman seated there raised her hand to tuck a strand of red hair behind her ear and smiled faintly.
"Let's treat it as a surprise for that child."
———
Meanwhile, in a laboratory at the Huaxu Research Institute, a man and a woman stopped their work.
"Zane is back. Aren't you going to take a look?"
The girl beckoned to a cloud-like creature beside her, her head still lowered as she focused on her work.
"Since he's already back, he probably won't be leaving anytime soon. As for you, I remember rumors about you two spreading throughout the institute."
Facing the girl's teasing, the brown-haired man shook his head with a smile. "What are you talking about? The rumors were about him and Mortefi, not me."
As soon as he finished speaking, the temperature in the lab suddenly rose by several degrees. A fierce-looking red-haired man kicked the lab door open and stormed in, cursing loudly…
Having finally escaped the enthusiastic encirclement of Jinzhou's residents with great difficulty, Zane naturally had no idea that news of his return had already caught the attention of several people.
He ran all the way to Border as if fleeing for his life. Following the familiar path, it didn't take long before he saw a familiar figure.
A white-haired girl in a black dress stood in front of a desk, her back facing him.
She naturally noticed the footsteps behind her, but at the moment she was troubled over how to arrange shifts during the Moon Chasing Festival, so she didn't turn around.
"The Magistrate is not currently in Border. If you have urgent matters, please..."
Before Sanhua could finish speaking, she suddenly felt her body lighten. She had been directly lifted into a bridal carry.
Startled, Sanhua instinctively drew her swift blade and placed it against the person's neck. A chill spread outward from her body in an instant, stirring waves of cold wind.
"Hey... Sister Sanhua, don't attack! It's me!"
Hearing that voice, Sanhua finally focused her gaze. The eerie, terrifying apparitions that seemed to linger around her vanished in that instant. In the quiet Border, only that figure who brought her peace remained.
"… Zane?"
"Yeah, I'm back."