Chapter 155: It's Good to be Young

Before him stood General Jing Yuan—petite in stature, yet radiating an extraordinary aura from her frame. Her hair was a cascade of pure white, a stark contrast to her piercing golden eyes.

Chen’s mind was still buzzing, caught between the thrill of unlocking the Imbibitor Lunae icon and the lingering satisfaction of having just teased Yanqing. It was in that pleasant haze that a sudden, sharp chime echoed in his thoughts.

[Ding!]

The sound jolted him, reminding him of another crucial matter he had temporarily forgotten in all the excitement.

Jing Yuan’s icon hadn’t been lit up yet!

This was the undisputed master of the Xianzhou Luofu, the Divine Foresight herself, a Five-Star character of the Erudition Path! A living, breathing Jing Yuan was standing right there, mere feet away!

The atmosphere moments ago had been far too grave. Between a sea being parted and solemn talk of final arrangements, followed by his admiration for Dan Heng’s new ‘skin’ and the fun of riling up Yanqing, he had somehow let such a monumental task slip his mind.

This was an unacceptable oversight. He had to rectify it immediately.

Almost on instinct, Chen began to shift his weight, taking a small, seemingly casual step that brought him closer to the General. He plastered what he hoped was a natural and friendly smile onto his face and quietly raised his right hand. His plan was simple: find an opportunity for a handshake, or perhaps a comradely pat on the shoulder. A quick, “Good work, comrade,” to complete the historic first contact.

However, before his fingertips could even brush the corner of Jing Yuan’s elaborate robes, another hand shot out like a viper, seizing his wrist with unerring accuracy. The grip wasn’t heavy, but it was firm enough to freeze his movements instantly.

Stunned, Chen turned his head. He was met with Dan Heng’s eyes—as calm and placid as a still lake, yet possessing a depth that seemed to see right through every one of his little schemes. Dan Heng had, at some point, closed the distance between them again and was now standing right at his side.

In a volume meant only for the two of them, he pressed his voice into a low, dangerous hiss.

“What. Do. You. Think. You’re. Doing?”

Each word sounded as if it were being ground out from between his teeth.

Chen blinked, his mind scrambling to play dumb. “Ah? I… I saw the General walking through these ancient ruins and was worried she might trip. I just wanted to… you know, lend her a hand?” He added, with a touch of feigned sincerity, “To demonstrate the friendly and helpful spirit of our Astral Express crew?”

Dan Heng’s eyes narrowed, and the hand clamped around his wrist tightened just enough to be a clear warning. “…Put away those messy thoughts of yours.” His gaze flickered for a split second toward Jing Yuan, who continued her unhurried pace, seemingly oblivious. He then turned his sharp focus back to Chen. “Right now, don’t do anything out of line.”

His stare was unequivocal: Don’t you dare try anything.

Chen sheepishly withdrew his hand, muttering under his breath, “I just wanted to say hello… why so tense…”

Deep down, however, he knew Dan Heng’s caution was justified. Jing Yuan wasn’t some simple, easily fooled kid like Yanqing; the General was a woman of deep depth and cunning. If he rashly made contact now, she might read far more into it than he intended, sparking a whole new set of complications.

“Got it, got it. Not moving, not moving,” Chen grumbled, curling his lip as he temporarily abandoned the idea of unlocking Jing Yuan’s profile in the field. He made a mental note, however, filing this away as a debt to be collected. Five-Star Jing Yuan, just you wait. I’ll find the perfect time and place!

Seeing that he had finally settled down, Dan Heng released his wrist. He didn’t move away, though, maintaining a proximity from which he could intervene again at a moment’s notice. After one last warning glare, he turned his head forward, his expression smoothing over as if nothing had happened.

March 7th, who was walking just ahead, looked back curiously at the two of them, who were now trailing slightly behind the group. “What are you two whispering about again?”

“Nothing!” Chen and Dan Heng replied in perfect, unrehearsed unison, then immediately shot a glance at each other.

“We were just discussing… the impact of air humidity in submerged structures on weapon maintenance,” Chen spouted, his face a mask of utter seriousness.

Dan Heng offered a clipped, “…Mm.”

March 7th’s brow furrowed. “???” He felt like something was off, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on what it was.

Up ahead, Jing Yuan slowed her steps, her gaze drifting back to the youths who had gone from a brief, hushed commotion to a state of forced seriousness. In the dim passage of the ruins, shafts of pale sunlight cut through the gloom.

The light fell on March 7th’s curious, pink-haired head.

It fell into Chen’s golden eyes, which, despite their attempt at quiet focus, still held a restless, mischievous glint.

It fell on Ms. Welt’s steady figure as she held her cane, a pillar of calm amidst the younger crew members.

And it fell on… Chen, who was now rubbing his nose with a sheepish grin after being glared at by Dan Heng, his eyes still darting restlessly in her direction. And on Dan Heng himself, who appeared cold and aloof on the surface but was, in truth, keeping a constant, vigilant watch over a certain troublemaker.

Watching the unspoken, natural rhythm of their interactions—the lighthearted banter highlighted by a genuine, mutual concern—a flicker of complex emotion stirred in Jing Yuan’s golden eyes.

Once upon a time, in days long past, before she was weighed down by the passage of years and the burden of her office, her life had also contained such vivid, noisy scenes. There was someone cold and serious with a sword, someone else who was poor at expressing themself, another who was steady and reliable, and one who always, always loved to stir up trouble. They required constant supervision, a watchful eye to keep them in line, yet they could make one smile in spite of it all…

Those figures, those voices, had long since been washed away by the river of time, sinking into the silent sea of her deepest memories.

Only she remained, standing in her current position, carrying the heavy responsibility for millions of lives upon her shoulders. Every step she took required careful calculation and deliberation; every word she spoke could influence the fate of the Luofu.

The liveliness belonged to others; the responsibility was hers alone.

Yet, looking at this group of travelers from beyond the stars right now… looking at the pure, vibrant bond that connected them, the long-dormant waters of Jing Yuan’s heart seemed to be disturbed by a tiny pebble, sending out the faintest of ripples.

It felt as though… she, too, had once found a place where she belonged. A group of companions who could walk side-by-side, noisy and warm.

The thought flashed through her mind, carrying with it a hint of relief and… an envy so subtle that even she hadn’t fully registered it.

But just as quickly, the emotion evaporated, vanishing beneath her usual, slightly lazy smile. As the General of the Luofu, she had long grown accustomed to the weight of loneliness. She knew all too well that the path she had chosen offered no opportunity to turn back.

While the warmth of others was certainly something to be cherished… protecting everything that lay behind that warmth was the very reason she stood here now.

“General?” Ms. Welt’s slightly puzzled voice cut through her thoughts. She had noticed that Jing Yuan seemed to have zoned out for a moment.

Jing Yuan drew her gaze back from the crew and looked toward the grand halls at the end of the passage.

“It’s nothing,” she replied softly, her tone having regained its usual placid composure.

“I was just thinking… it’s good to be young.”

[Elysian’s Note: Having a good time with the story? Every single bit helps immensely: