Chapter 143: A Quiet Voyage

The starship cut a steady path through the void, its destination the fabled Scalegorge Waterscape.

Inside the main cabin, the lingering adrenaline from their recent, ferocious battle was slowly being replaced by the relative tranquility of the voyage. The hum of the engines was a low, comforting thrum that vibrated through the deck.

Chen leaned against a viewport railing, his gaze sweeping across the star-dusted expanse. He was searching for any sign of Dan Heng—the five-star, dragon-powered version of him—but there was nothing to be seen. He sighed, withdrawing his attention from the view outside and letting it fall upon his companions nearby.

Qiong stood not far from his side, seemingly observing the outside world as well.

But her attention was clearly focused more on him. The moment his gaze shifted, she seemed to sense it, turning her head to meet his eyes. The soft, almost cherubic contours of her face were cast in the cabin’s gentle light, a clean innocence still clinging to her features.

The most striking thing about her, however, were those golden eyes, as clear and bright as a sun-drenched morning. At this moment, they held a perfect reflection of his own figure, their focus absolute and quiet. There were no complex emotions swirling within their depths, just a simple, unwavering gaze.

Looking at Qiong like this, the restlessness in Chen’s heart—a nervous energy stirred up by the thought of facing the full power of both Dan Heng and Jing Yuan—seemed to settle without him even realizing it. A playful impulse sparked within him. He wanted to see if he could coax any other expressions onto that little face, which always seemed so excessively calm.

“Precious Qiong,” he said, turning to face her fully. His voice was light and relaxed. “What are you looking at? Is there something on my face?”

He even made a show of touching his own cheek as he spoke.

Qiong shook her head, her golden eyes tracking his hand for a moment before returning to his. “There’s nothing. I was just thinking about something.”

“Oh? Thinking about what?” Chen leaned in slightly, his interest piqued.

Qiong tilted her head, a simple motion that somehow amplified her youthful air. “I was thinking about that Mr. Tingyun from before.”

Her voice was soft. “He was our guide. He spoke so politely and even reminded us to be careful. Why did he turn into… a bad thing that wanted to destroy everything?”

The question, so direct and guileless, left Chen momentarily speechless.

“Well…” He carefully weighed his words, his hand habitually rising as if to ruffle her hair. He stopped the motion mid-air, changing its trajectory to a light tap on her forehead instead.

“Some villains like to pretend they’re good people. They hide among everyone else because it’s more convenient for them when they decide to do bad things,” he explained. “The real Mr. Tingyun has probably been hurt or locked up by that imposter. That’s why we have to be more careful, and why we have to get stronger—so we can expose them and save the real good people, right?”

His touch was gentle, the gesture surprisingly intimate.

Qiong didn’t dodge. She just blinked from the light tap, her brow furrowed slightly as she processed his explanation. After a moment, she nodded with solemn gravity.

“I understand,” she said. “Like… a wolf in sheep’s clothing.”

She used a metaphor she must have heard somewhere, and it was unexpectedly apt.

“Exactly! That’s exactly what I mean! Our Precious Qiong is so smart!” Chen was genuinely amused, realizing the girl’s ability to learn and apply new information was actually quite sharp. She just didn’t speak much, which sometimes made her seem a bit slow on the uptake.

Having received his affirmation, Qiong’s eyes seemed to brighten. Though there was still no obvious smile on her face, her entire demeanor felt softer, more relaxed.

“Chen, are you tricking Qiong again?”

March 7th had sidled over at some point, a mischievous grin plastered on his face as he chimed in. “Qiong, don’t listen to his nonsense. He just loves showing off how much he knows.”

Qiong looked at March 7th, then back at Chen, and stated with objective fairness, “He’s not talking nonsense. He’s right; villains do disguise themselves.”

Chen shot a triumphant look at March 7th, raising his chin smugly. He then extended his arm, draping it casually over Qiong’s shoulders.

“See? Our Precious Qiong has the best judgment!” he declared, before adding with a wink, “But Little March is also right. I do happen to know just a little bit more than most.” He deliberately dragged out the word “little,” his tone theatrically exaggerated.

The slightly over-the-top delivery finally did it. A small, fleeting smile bloomed on Qiong’s lips, instantly making her entire face come alive with an adorable charm.

“She smiled!” March 7th, ever sharp-eyed, immediately pointed at Qiong’s face as if he’d just discovered a new continent.

A faint blush seemed to dust Qiong’s cheeks, and she looked a bit embarrassed. She quickly composed herself, her expression returning to its usual calm, but she didn’t deny it. Instead, she just whispered, “I didn’t.”

Standing by the window, Ms. Welt had been taking in the interaction between the youngsters. A rare, subtle smile touched the corners of her usually serious mouth.

“Alright, alright, I’ll stop teasing you,” Chen said, deciding to quit while he was ahead. His tone became more serious, though the gentleness in his gaze remained. “We’re almost at Scalegorge Waterscape. The situation there might be even more complex than what we’ve faced so far.”

He looked directly at Qiong. “Remember to stay close to the group, but don’t just focus on protecting me. You need to look out for your own safety too, okay?”

Qiong nodded, her answer crisp and clear. She tightened her grip on the baseball bat in her hand, and the focus in her eyes returned, now tinged with the eagerness of a fledgling warrior ready for her next test.

“I’ll be careful.”

Chen met her determined gaze with a warm smile.

[Elysian’s Note:

Having a good time with the story?

Every single bit helps immensely:

Thanks a ton for making this journey possible!]