The next morning, sunlight filtered through the thin mist and fell across the Luofu's narrow streets.
Wei Qing came alone—once again—to the museum where the Stellaron was being "publicly exhibited."
After last night's near-showdown with Bai Heng, he'd decided he really was leaving the Luofu.
As for inviting Bai Heng to join the Stellaron Hunters… he'd been thinking about that for a long time.
In the future Luofu, the "Cloud Quintet" faded into obscurity. And at the root of it all, Bai Heng's fate was inescapably part of the cause.
Just like Blade said in that later age: five people, three prices—and those three prices were paid because none of them could accept how Bai Heng's story ended. So they each walked down a completely different road.
But now?
Huohuo—no, Shuhu—no, Shuhu was already dead.
Meaning Bai Heng didn't need to die with him.
If Bai Heng didn't fall, then the subsequent cascade—the Imbibitor Lunae disaster, Jingliu's Mara descent, Yingxing becoming Blade, the Stellaron Hunters' entanglements—wouldn't happen either.
Those were exactly the tragedies Wei Qing had spent so long trying to prevent.
But now he'd joined the Stellaron Hunters.
If the mainline future changed too much, it would inevitably interfere with Elio's script.
So he wanted to "borrow" Bai Heng using Qingzhou's name—different outcome, similar emotional effect.
At least that way, even if the timeline shifted, the shape of the pressure on the people left behind would remain roughly consistent.
"If I'm going to ruin your friend group anyway," he thought with bleak humor, "then I'll do it with maximum efficiency."
Still, before taking the Stellaron, Wei Qing wanted one thing clarified:
What was the Silent Lord trying to do?
Polka Kakamond hadn't shown overt hostility, hadn't made any overt moves—but having someone like that looking in his direction was uncomfortable in a way that had nothing to do with raw power.
As for how to lure her out…
Wei Qing had no idea.
So he'd chosen the most practical option:
Go poke the other geniuses.
Polka was infamous as the "strictest mother" of geniuses. If she was watching anyone, it might not only be him—it might also be Herta and Ruan Mei.
When Wei Qing entered the museum, security was still tight—but the atmosphere was noticeably calmer than the first time.
There were no tourists now.
Only scattered staff remained.
So the Luofu had clearly changed tactics.
And yet…
He'd still been allowed in.
That was mildly interesting.
So my "Dian Dao" identity has already been labeled as "one of ours," huh… Wei Qing's lips twitched.
I almost feel honored. Let's just hope Jing Yuan doesn't completely lose it when I disappear.
Just then—
A small figure approached with brisk tap-tap-tap footsteps.
A doll-like face lifted, eyes full of scrutiny.
It was Herta.
"What are you doing here?" she demanded, hands on hips, irritation obvious. "This place isn't open to unrelated personnel. Why would the Luofu let you in?"
"I'm also curious," Wei Qing said with exaggerated innocence. "Perhaps the guards recognized me from helping the Cloud Knights clean up the Annihilation Gang, so they decided not to stop me?"
Herta's expression made it clear she didn't buy it.
The Luofu was treating this Stellaron bait plan like a religious ceremony. They wouldn't "open permissions" just because someone did a few good deeds.
This rainbow-colored weirdo had definitely been given special treatment.
But Herta didn't seem to care much beyond the annoyance of it.
"What are you here for now?" she asked. "Don't tell me you came to see me."
Then she smirked with that signature genius arrogance.
"I remember someone rejecting my invitation pretty decisively last time. Regretting it now?"
"Hmph. My invitations don't come twice. If you missed it, go repent."
Wei Qing chuckled. Then he crouched down so their eyes were level.
Herta's brows immediately knit together—she clearly disliked being approached with "equal footing" like this.
"I'm actually here to find Madam Ruan Mei," Wei Qing said calmly.
Herta: "???"
Her face darkened instantly. Her beautiful eyes almost lit on fire.
"Ruan Mei?!"
Her voice jumped an octave.
"You rejected me, and now you're here to find Ruan Mei? What is this supposed to mean? You think I'm inferior to her?!"
Wei Qing blinked once.
Ah. So it's that kind of morning.
"You misunderstand," he said quickly. "I have some questions about… life sciences."
He improvised smoothly, as if he'd planned the line the whole time.
"Madam Ruan Mei is an authority in that field."
"Life sciences?" Herta looked him up and down, unconvinced. "You're a Pure Beauty Knight asking about life sciences—what, you want to engineer a prettier face? Or optimize your little sister's genes?"
Wei Qing coughed lightly. "What I want to ask isn't convenient to disclose."
Then he countered, very politely and very deliberately:
"Or… does Madam Herta take interest in this area as well?"
"I'm not interested!" Herta huffed, crossing her arms and turning her face away.
But even as she said that, a gentle, elegant presence approached from behind.
"—Ahem."
A calm voice, soft as falling snow.
Wei Qing turned.
Ruan Mei was walking over.
She wore a simple moon-white dress today, her temperament quiet and still, like a lake without wind—an almost perfect contrast to Herta's bright hostility.
Wei Qing stood and inclined his head.
"First meeting. You must be Madam Ruan Mei. I've heard much about you."
Ruan Mei returned a small nod, her gaze resting on him with faint curiosity.
"Mr. Dian Dao is looking for me?"
Herta looked like she had things to say—many, loud things.
But Ruan Mei simply placed a hand on Herta's shoulder, a gentle signal to restrain herself, then turned back to Wei Qing.
"Please speak freely," she said softly. "If it's within my knowledge, I won't withhold it."
Unlike Herta, who preferred isolating herself from the world, Ruan Mei had heard of this newly arrived "Pure Beauty Knight."
A Pure Beauty pathstrider with an unusually sharp sensitivity to Destruction's aura.
And Ruan Mei knew enough about "Pure Beauty" to find that claim… suspicious.
Pure Beauty did not naturally "oppose" Destruction in the tidy way he described. His rhetoric about "extreme opposition" had no solid theoretical basis—at least none she'd ever found.
Wei Qing paused, then spoke with deliberate caution.
"What I'm about to ask may be… private."
He glanced toward Herta—whose ears were practically standing up in the form of her entire posture.
"Madam Ruan Mei," Wei Qing said politely, "perhaps we could speak somewhere quieter?"
Join here to read ahead.
In Star Rail, Ultra-Beast Armored — Have I Caught "Equilibrium"? l (Chapter 80)
Uma Musume, But I Only Have Five Years Left to Live (Chapter 178)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 147)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League ( 126 )
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter110)
Yu-Gi-Oh! — Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl (Chapter185)
"Is this chat group even serious?" (Chapter105)
I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (Chapter215)
Can Playing Games Save the World? 65
Crossover Anime Multiverse: The Demon Hunter of an Unnatural World 77
From Junkman to Wasteland 66
Weekly Refresh of Overpowered 31
I'm Grinding Proficiency Like 46
From Kiana, Lord Ravager, Onwa 185
Honkai: Is This Still the Prev 42
Elf: My Starter Pokémon Is Inc 65
Warhammer: My Primarch Is Remi 170
From Demon Slayer to Grand Ass Volume2/1
The Way the Umamusume Look at 68
Uma Musume, but My Cheat Power 206
Naruto: Weaving the Future, Be 65
Zenless Zone Zero, but Kamen R 76
Multiverse Crossover: The Perf 66
My Cyberpsycho Girlfriend 65
Uma Musume: The Dark Trainer 190
Uma Musume: A Calamity Born fr 154
I, a Reincarnation-Loop Player Volume4/23
The Violent Girl Group Is Beat 106
Uma Musume: The Horse Girl Who 67
Uma Musume: From Beginner 125
Becoming a Horse Girl, I Will 85
Uma Musume: I Want All 105
I Can Copy Unique Skills 90
Summoning an Evil God, but the 70
Supernatural Multiverse 90
My Harem Is Indescribable 80
Jujutsu Kaisen: Heroic Spirit 86
"I'm just a Valkyrie passing through." 68
Uma Musume: Today Is Another Romantic Battlefield 81
Still playing traditional Honk 65
The Most Filial Son Under Heav 65
What Should I Do After Switchi - Volume2/3
Reincarnated as a Demon, Skill 57
Hell-Difficulty Dungeon? 45
Transmigrated as Sukuna 59
Checking In in Demon Slayer 59
The Reincarnating Trainer of Tracen Academy 73
I Refuse to Become a Heroic 45
My Best Friend Into a Slime? 36
A Saiyan Stands Above Marvel 40
What Do You Mean by Using a Lab Mod to Be the Hero? 60
Tanya Starts from Re:Zero 30
Why did they assign me to Uma 35
MYGO Beauties 43
DanMachi: Emiya the Giant Hero 30
The Gacha Merchant Who Started 31
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