Chapter 242: That's Fainting, Not Falling Asleep
Pixelating a face... what an abstract way to handle the situation.
The mere thought of a certain video game character walking around with blurry, mosaic squares plastered over their features was both utterly absurd and undeniably hilarious. As expected of Leon, his mind always operated on a completely different wavelength, effortlessly producing the most unexpected ideas.
As for Kafka and Himeko's rather colorful reactions to the joke... the older members of the group shared a knowing, quiet smile. No one pressed the issue.
Only March 7th, Stelle, Caelus, and Sushang stood there blinking in unison. Their faces were pictures of pure, unadulterated bewilderment. What exactly was everyone laughing at? The punchline had flown right over their heads.
In any case, the specific pixelated location Kafka and Himeko were imagining definitely could not be the eyes. If it were just a simple eye-censor, the two elegant women would never have reacted with such flustered amusement.
Stelle was absolutely convinced of this fact. She crossed her arms, her golden eyes narrowing in deep thought. She would figure out the dirty secret sooner or later.
Every grand banquet eventually had to draw to a close.
One by one, the guests pushed back their chairs and stood up to exchange their goodbyes. The soft, melodic sounds of laughter and warm well-wishes echoed gently through the ornate wooden pavilion, blending with the cool evening breeze of the Xianzhou Luofu.
"Are you leaving so soon?" Yukong turned her gaze toward Leon. The usually strict and authoritative Helm Master spoke with a voice several degrees softer than her usual military cadence. "It is the Xianzhou's great fortune to have had you all visit the Luofu. Now that we are parting ways, I offer my deepest blessings on behalf of the Sky-Faring Commission."
She paused, her foxian ears twitching slightly in the cool air. "If you require any supplies, provisions, or support during your continued journey among the stars, please do not hesitate to ask."
After delivering her promise, Yukong smiled and offered a graceful nod, tucking any remaining unspoken sentiments neatly beneath her elegant, professional demeanor.
Once the local guests had been seen off, Himeko turned her attention back to her own crew. The crimson-haired navigator smiled warmly, her eyes sweeping over the group. "Is everyone planning to return to the Astral Express right away, or would you like to wander around the Luofu a bit more?"
"Let's head back to the Express," Serval chimed in with a bright laugh, stretching her arms above her head. "Anyway, there are space anchors scattered all over the Luofu. We can always pop back down whenever the mood strikes us."
The blonde rocker had stayed on the Luofu long enough to satisfy her curiosity, and she actually found herself missing the incredibly comfortable sofa in Leon's living room. More... she vaguely sensed that the atmosphere around Leon was getting a bit too lively lately. If she did not take the initiative to stick close to him, she might really end up pushed to the very back of the line.
"Indeed, there really are a staggering number of anchors on the Xianzhou Luofu!" Himeko nodded in agreement, her gaze shifting thoughtfully. Then, a curious glint flashed in her eyes as she changed the subject. "I would actually like to ask... who exactly placed all those beacons down in the Shackling Prison?"
Hearing Himeko's sudden question, a ripple of laughter swept through the group.
"About that, I definitely didn't place them. I just know that before we even set foot in the Shackling Prison, those world anchors were already sitting right there." March 7th raised her hand high, her expression a mix of innocence and lingering trauma.
The pink-haired girl could never forget that specific location. That was the exact spot where she had the misfortune of meeting Aha, and she was still hauling around that utterly terrifying light cone the Aeon of Elation had gifted her.
"Alright, alright, I am just kidding." Himeko waved her hand gracefully, her smile widening. "Those who wish to return to the Express are more than welcome to head back now."
"Great, great, back to the Express!" March 7th nodded enthusiastically, her pink hair bouncing.
"Great, great, back to the Express!" Stelle immediately followed suit, nodding with a perfectly deadpan expression.
"Great, great, back to the Express!" Caelus mirrored the girls, bobbing his head in perfect synchronization.
"You guys are like broken records!" March 7th threw her hands up, unable to hold back her complaints at the twin Trailblazers' teasing.
"Are we... going back already?" A soft, slightly disappointed voice broke through the banter. Pom-Pom stood near Leon's leg, the conductor's long, fluffy ears drooping sadly. This was the little creature's very first time leaving the confines of the Express, and the sheer novelty of the outside world had not even begun to wear off yet.
"How about I accompany Pom-Pom for another stroll around the Luofu?" Leon suggested, looking down at the drooping conductor with an amused smirk.
"I will do it," Himeko interjected gently, stepping forward. "I have been cooped up on the Express long enough myself. Since I am already down here, I might as well take the opportunity to look around properly."
"Then I will come too!" Bai Heng's eyes instantly lit up with excitement. "It has been a very long time since I last visited the Luofu's night market. I wonder if the stalls and snacks have changed much compared to a thousand years ago."
"In that case, why don't we all just go together?" March 7th clapped her hands, her previous desire to return completely forgotten in the face of a potential late-night adventure.
"Great, great!" Stelle and Caelus exchanged a quick, knowing glance before agreeing in perfect, robotic unison once again.
"I will pass." Dan Heng shook his head slightly. His usually stoic tone carried a faint, lingering weariness, like a man who had finally set down a mountain-sized burden. "I am a bit tired. I want to head back to the Express to rest and organize my thoughts."
The complicated matter with Bailu was finally settled, the heavy inheritance of the High Elder had been decided, and the suffocating shadow of the High-Cloud Quintet's thousand-year entanglement had temporarily come to a peaceful end. He truly needed some quiet, undisturbed solitude to let his chaotic mind settle.
"I will head back to the Express as well." Welt pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose, the lenses catching the ambient light. "I have some environmental data that needs organizing, and..." He cast a brief, subtle glance toward Dan Heng. "It would not be right to let Dan Heng go back alone."
As the senior member of the crew, Welt was always thoughtful and deeply considerate of the younger generation's emotional needs.
"Then we will officially split into two groups." Leon chuckled, taking charge of the final decision. "Dan Heng and Mr. Welt, you two head back and get some good rest. The rest of us will go explore the Luofu's night scene together. Sound good?"
"Okay!" The remaining group readily agreed.
Although the hour was growing late, the famous night markets of the Xianzhou Luofu were still brightly lit, decorated with glowing lanterns and bustling with endless streams of people. The Luofu was unimaginably vast, making it physically impossible to explore every vibrant street and hidden alleyway in a single night. They compromised by choosing a few of the most famous scenic spots and bustling food streets to stroll through.
Even with their abbreviated tour, by the time they finally finished their walk, the night had grown incredibly deep. The crowds had thinned, and a quiet tranquility had settled over the ancient ship.
"Once you have finished packing your luggage, we will come down to pick you up and bring you onto the Express," Himeko said to Bai Heng, offering the foxian woman a warm, welcoming smile.
"Great, great! I will contact you guys the second I have everything packed!" Bai Heng waved energetically, her fluffy tail swaying behind her.
The legendary archer had officially decided to board the Astral Express, but her personal luggage was not quite ready for the journey. During her temporary stay on the Luofu, she had accumulated a few personal items and trinkets in the small, quiet house Jing Yuan had arranged for her. Bai Heng planned to go back, rest for a little while, and then pack her belongings before waiting for the Express crew to fetch her.
With their plans set, Leon and his group prepared to return to the Astral Express to finally get some sleep. After a brief round of farewells, the crew stepped into the glowing light of the space anchor and vanished from the Luofu.
"Phew... finally back! It feels like I haven't been back to the Express in ages. I actually missed it a little." March 7th sighed happily the moment her boots touched the familiar carpet of the parlor car. She immediately hugged her favorite Ice Pop doll tightly against her chest.
"Everyone worked hard wandering around all night. Would you like a cup of coffee to warm up?" Himeko suggested, a sweet, perfectly innocent smile gracing her lips.
"Eh? Wait, I am going to sleep soon. If I drink coffee right now, I will definitely get insomnia!" March 7th quickly waved her hands in frantic refusal, taking a large step back.
Drinking Himeko's coffee? Absolutely no way.
"No... after drinking it, you will sleep even more soundly. You might even fall asleep instantly," Leon added with a low, teasing laugh.
"That is called fainting, not falling asleep!" March 7th could not help but shout her retort, glaring at Leon.
"Oh—so that is how it is!"
"No wonder!"
"I knew it!"
"Why didn't you say so earlier!"
Stelle and Caelus immediately cooperated, throwing their hands up with exaggerated expressions of sudden realization. Their deadpan comedic timing made everyone in the room burst into laughter.
"Alright, alright, enough joking around. Everyone must be exhausted, so go get some rest early." Himeko was not the least bit angry. Her tone remained as gentle and soothing as ever.
In truth, she was perfectly aware of the terrifying potency of her special, custom-blended coffee. She could certainly brew a perfectly normal, delicious cup of coffee if she wanted to, but whenever she brewed a pot for the Trailblazers on the Express, she simply could not resist adding a bit of extra kick.
After all... as Stelle often said, how could a true Trailblazer refuse to trailblaze a brand-new path in the world of coffee?
Speaking of which, Bai Heng had not tasted her special brew yet, right?
Himeko suddenly thought of the new arrival, a dangerous hint of a smile flashing briefly in her elegant eyes.
One by one, the Trailblazers trickled out of the parlor car, returning to their respective rooms for the night... except for Serval.
The blonde musician had come to the Xianzhou Luofu immediately after leaving Jarilo-VI. Since she did not have an independent room assigned to her on the Express yet, she was still crashing in Leon's living room.
"There is still some time before we reach our next Trailblaze destination, Penacony. We can put the arrangement of your independent room on the schedule tomorrow, Serval," Leon said with a warm smile, looking at the rocker who was already making herself comfortable on his sofa.
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