"How despicable!"
"Not only did they steal the planet's resources, but they took over completely! These Denizens of Abundance are just pure evil!" March clenched her fists in anger.
"True. But what intrigues me more is that they actually killed the IPC personnel. That means these Denizens of Abundance are no pushovers," Himeko frowned, deep in thought.
"I don't know their exact strength. I arrived two days before you did. The information I gathered is all I have," Jingliu replied frankly.
She now knew Yuki and the others were Nameless of the Astral Express, so she felt comfortable sharing what little she knew.
"None of that matters. They are Abominations of Abundance. They deserve death." Jingliu's voice dripped with pure, icy killing intent, startling March and Himeko.
"Wow... the Xianzhou and the Abundance really are locked in an endless war," March scratched her head weakly.
"Not all Denizens of Abundance are like that, actually. A tiny minority live peacefully on their planets engaging in normal trade and diplomacy. Even the Xianzhou Alliance trades with them. So you can't completely generalize," Yuki added some necessary context.
March looked to Jingliu for confirmation. The swordswoman nodded slightly.
"Oh, I see! So the Abundance's blessing isn't inherently a curse or a poison. It's really just mortal greed at work." March hit the nail on the head.
Himeko nodded in agreement. "Our little March is so smart!"
Despite being blessed with immortality, a minority of the Abundance species do choose peaceful coexistence and normal relations with other civilizations, rather than resorting to violent plunder.
"Exactly. It's ultimately about personal morality. You can't just blame the Aeon's blessing," Yuki said, pleased that March saw things so clearly—better than most people did.
Jingliu fell into deep thought as she listened to them.
In her long, agonizing wanderings, she had visited many planets and witnessed many civilizations, slaughtering countless Abominations of Abundance along the way. Her heart had burned with absolute hatred for the root of it all, Yaoshi, the Aeon of Abundance. As her mara worsened over the centuries, that hatred had spawned a singular, arrogant thought: to kill Yaoshi.
But her remaining reason told her she was a mere mortal. What right had she to slay an Aeon? Even Lan, the Reignbow Arbiter—born from the Abundance wars, burning with celestial vengeance—still hadn't managed to hunt down Yaoshi. What was she, someone not even at the level of an Emanator, compared to that? The thought was laughable.
But now, hearing March and the others, her blind hatred for Yaoshi softened by a fraction.
She gained a slightly different perspective on the Aeons. Yes, Aeons embody Paths. They respond to prayers. They grant blessings. That is all they do. The Abundance's Path encompasses selflessness and altruism. Whoever seeks longevity, They give it.
Hating Yaoshi for that? It was almost unfair. It was like blaming a knife forge because someone bought their blade and used it to murder rather than protect. The knife is in your hands; how you use it is on you.
In that quiet moment, a sliver of Jingliu's deep-seated obsession eased.
"What do we do now? Those Denizens of Abundance didn't invite us here for nothing. They'll probably attack tonight," March said, looking between Himeko and Yuki.
"Now that we know the full situation, we need to think carefully. If the IPC fell here, they will definitely retaliate," Himeko analyzed.
"We could just leave. Let the IPC handle it. But..."
"But we're Nameless of the Astral Express! Future trailblazers of countless worlds! Champions of cosmic justice! We can't just stand by! Right, Himeko?" March cut in, enthusiastically finishing the thought.
Himeko smiled and nodded. "Little March is getting ahead of herself! Good, good."
"Heh. And yet someone keeps calling me stupid," March glanced pointedly at Yuki.
"I call you stupid because it's true," Yuki shrugged.
"See?! You—"
She started to protest, but Yuki's hand gently landed on top of her head.
"But you're a cute little idiot." His voice was soft, his smile gentle as he affectionately ruffled her pink hair.
March's heart raced.
Thump-thump. Thump-thump. The sound echoed loudly in her ears. His simple gesture threw her thoughts into total chaos. A furious blush flickered across her face.
"Hey! Stop that! People are watching!" She shoved his hand away, suddenly overwhelmingly shy.
Under Himeko and Jingliu's amused gazes, she ducked her head like an ostrich, far too embarrassed to meet their eyes. Himeko watched, feeling just a little envious. If she were March's age, maybe she'd react the exact same way.
Jingliu, however, found herself briefly lost in memory.
Scenes with her old comrades from the High-Cloud Quintet surfaced. A flicker of painful nostalgia. Then—the memory of a very specific, bloody day.
Her body trembled violently. She bit her lip. Forcefully, she suppressed the memories, clawing her way back to reality.
As the horrific images faded, she gasped for breath. In—out—in—out— She wiped a sheen of cold sweat from her forehead. There was no mara outbreak.
Glancing at her shaking hands, touching her pale cheek, she remembered Yuki's words from earlier: he had completely suppressed her mara.
Could he really... suppress it? Even eliminate it entirely? The impossible thought firmly took root in her mind.