"Excuse me."
"Have you seen this person?"
A young woman with chestnut twin-tails pushed through the crowd, a simple blue sword strapped to her back and a jade pendant hanging at her waist.
From among the Silvermane Guards, Stelle peeked out curiously at the portrait the girl held—an elderly white-haired man with an immortal aura, holding a sword.
"Strange... I feel like I've seen him, but can't quite recall."
"Uh, do normal people usually ask prisoners for directions?" March sighed. Most wouldn't approach a group under armed escort for casual inquiries.
"I am Qingque. You don't seem like locals. Might you have business here as well?"
Qingque hadn't chosen them at random. To her, this backwater planet wasn't worth visiting unless one sought specific information.
Her sharp eyes quickly caught sight of Dan Heng's Cloud-Piercer, widening slightly in recognition.
Dan Heng, too, noted the origin of Qingque's blade—Luofu craftsmanship. His guard rose. Was she here to apprehend him? Surely this wasn't Blade in disguise.
"We're the Astral Express Trailblazers, here regarding the Stellaron," March declared brightly. Honesty avoided complications.
"Trailblazers..." Qingque's wariness lessened. Her gaze flicked to Stelle's guileless expression—hardly the seasoned adventurer type. More like a sheltered fool.
"Who drew this portrait?"
"The Master Divi— Wait, why do you ask?" Qingque eyed Dan Heng suspiciously. She recognized him instantly, but her mission was finding Anming, not dredging up ancient grudges.
The sins of Dan Feng meant little to her.
"He's here," Dan Heng stated, studying the painting's style. The artist had to be the same person who'd given him Nightless.
"Oh?" Qingque's eyes narrowed, probing for more.
March blinked, baffled. Was Dan Heng bluffing? That seemed unlike him.
"Wait, that sword looks familiar..." Stelle adjusted her round glasses, peering closer before gasping. "Nightless?!"
March's jaw dropped. Nightless was Anming's sword!
"Don't tell me—" Before March could finish, Stelle clapped her hands in revelation. "I get it! Anming's the secret love child of an ancient Xianzhou sword immortal! A second-generation sword prodigy!"
That explained his absurd strength! The truth was out!
Dan Heng: "..."
Qingque leaned toward Stelle, impressed. "Sis, you're scarily perceptive."
Stelle: "Huh?"
"Tell me more about this 'Anming.'" Qingque's eyes gleamed like twin stellar cannons. The name confirmed it—these Trailblazers knew her grandmaster.
Following them would lead her straight to Anming!
Joy surged through Qingque. Fu Xuan had been right—Anming had returned from death itself! And from their tone, he wasn't some undead horror, but fully human again.
Not just a medical miracle—a true divine act!
She'd never truly believed resurrection possible, yet here was proof. The urge to notify Fu Xuan overwhelmed her, but Jarilo-VI's spotty signals thwarted her.
No matter. First, find Anming.
Linking arms with Stelle, Qingque beamed. "Miss Trailblazer, as fellow travelers, the Xianzhou say fate binds those who meet. Let's journey together!"
For Fu Xuan's happiness, Qingque resolved to put in at least 50% effort. Surely after this, the Master Diviner would grant her access to Dawn's Edge?
"My mom said not to trust strangers," Stelle declared, hands on hips. This girl was definitely after Anming's kidneys.
March's eye twitched. "Since when do you listen to Cardy?"
"I, too, possess a modest grasp of swordsmanship," Qingque offered, drawing her blade without aggression. Yet the sheer pressure radiating from her stance made the Silvermane Guards tense.
No malice—just the weight of a honed edge.
"Dan Heng, does Luofu just mass-produce sword saints?" Stelle whispered. Every random girl here was OP!
"No ill intent detected. She may accompany us," Dan Heng conceded.
Qingque rolled up the portrait, smirking. "I'm just here to find someone. I won't be a bother."
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