Chapter 92: Jing Yuan-yuan

The moment Chen saw Yukong’s authoritative posture, he knew the familiar, tedious quest-giving segment of the story was about to begin.

He immediately snapped into character, seizing the brief pause in Yukong’s speech. Stepping forward with a sincere and enthusiastic smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes, he extended a hand.

“Helm Master Yukong, hello! I’ve heard so much about you! My name is Chen!”

A firm handshake. Physical contact established.

Buzz.

An icon in his mind lit up. Four-star Yukong, acquired.

Nice! Another one for the collection!

A flicker of triumph crossed Chen’s face before he expertly wiped it clean and shifted into standby mode. Diplomatic rhetoric, quest acceptance, situational analysis… that was all stuff for Ms. Welt to handle. He was the muscle, the wild card, the… well, he was the guy who could turn into other people. That was his job. Everything else was just noise.

He decisively switched his mental CPU to power-saving mode.

And so, as Ms. Welt began a polite but pointed conversation with the Helm Master, discussing the current state of the Luofu and the Astral Express’s intentions, Chen had already perfectly and completely zoned out.

His thoughts had drifted to more pressing matters.

‘What would the General of the Luofu look like as a woman?’he mused.’Based on the average level of beauty and sheer presence in this world, she’d have to be an absolute stunner, right? White hair, a single long ponytail? A lazy yet majestic air? The thought alone is… intriguing.’His mind wandered further.’And Fu Xuan… the head of the Divination Commission… please, for the love of all that is holy, don’t let her be some balding, middle-aged man. I’ve had enough of those nightmares.’

He began to populate his imagination with various gender-swapped versions of the Xianzhou’s most famous figures. A subtle, curious smile, tinged with anticipation, played on his lips. His eyes were vacant, his gaze fixed on nothing, clearly not registering a single word of the critical discussion happening between the two powerful women before him.

Qiong, standing quietly beside him, noticed the shift in Chen’s state. She tilted her head, her own silver eyes blinking as she studied his obviously distracted expression. To her, this must be some kind of required, formal standby posture for important events.

And so, she decided to learn from his example. She relaxed her stance, let her eyes go unfocused, and stared blankly into the middle distance. Her small face worked hard to mimic what she perceived as Chen’s deep, “contemplating the mysteries of the universe” expression.

Beside them, March 7th was still trying his best to follow the complex conversation between Ms. Welt and Yukong. He happened to turn his head and saw Chen and Qiong standing side-by-side, both wearing identical, dazed expressions of “Spaced Out and Indifferent to the Mortal Realm.”

He was stunned for a moment. Then, a grin spread across his face. That looked… fun? And it seemed neither of them had any intention of seriously listening to this stuffy, solemn talk. If he was the only one paying attention, wouldn’t he be losing out?

The logic was flawless. March 7th quickly joined the mimicry show. He shuffled over next to Qiong, consciously relaxing his shoulders and letting his eyes begin to wander. A look of, “Who am I? Where am I? What am I doing?” settled on his features, and he even shot a conspiratorial wink in Chen’s direction.

Thus, in the solemn main hall of the Sky-Faring Commission, set against the background drone of Ms. Welt and Helm Master Yukong’s vital conversation about the security of the entire Xianzhou Luofu, an extremely eerie yet strangely harmonious scene unfolded.

The three junior members of the Astral Express stood in a neat row behind Ms. Welt. From left to right:

Chen (Zoned out, a faint smile on his lips).

Qiong (Mimicking with intense seriousness, expression completely blank).

March 7th (Happily joining the group, eyes darting about playfully).

The three of them looked as if they’d been struck by a collective stupefy spell, uniformly projecting a dazed state of poor signal reception. They were utterly, comically out of place with the serious and tense atmosphere of the hall.

Ms. Welt, deep in negotiation with Yukong, caught a glimpse of these three statues suddenly entering power-saving mode from the corner of her eye.

Her eloquent speech faltered for a fraction of a second.

She could even see the moment Yukong’s gaze swept over the trio—a flash of astonishment, followed by an indescribable and complex look in her eyes.

Ms. Welt sighed, a long, weary exhalation that existed only in the confines of her own mind. On the outside, her expression remained impeccably steady. She gave a light cough, drawing Yukong’s attention back to her. While skillfully using her body to slightly obscure the view of the dazed delinquents behind her, she continued smoothly.

“…What Helm Master Yukong says is very true. The current situation on the Luofu is indeed worrying. As interstellar travelers merely passing through, we of the Astral Express are willing to provide appropriate assistance within our capabilities.”

Yukong seemed to accept this explanation and was about to speak again when—

A ripple tore through the space in the center of the hall. A new, crystal-clear holographic projection flickered into existence, interrupting her thoughts.

The newcomer was clad in stark black and white. Her brilliant white hair was tied back in a neat, single ponytail that cascaded down her back. Her face was a study in contrasts—impossibly beautiful yet radiating an obvious majesty. Her golden eyes, however, held a hint of laziness, a casual weariness that seemed to see right through to a person’s soul. She stood with her arms crossed, a casual posture for a projection, yet she naturally commanded an aura that could lead armies.

It was the General of the Luofu.

As soon as her projection solidified, her gaze rested on Ms. Welt for a moment. Then, it swept over the row of the dazed trio standing behind her, and the corner of her mouth seemed to curl into a playful, almost imperceptible smile.

Only then did she turn her attention to Yukong, her voice laced with a touch of appropriate teasing.

“Yukong, don’t be so fierce. To guests from afar, especially… such interesting guests, one should always show a little more patience.”

The beautiful, white-haired female general’s projection gave a slight nod, her voice as clear as a bell and carrying a calm composure that suggested everything was already under her control.

“Forgive the intrusion. I am the General of the Luofu, Jing Yuan.”

Jing Yuan!

The name struck Chen’s ears like a bolt of lightning, snapping him out of his daydream with an almost audible crack. His eyes instantly widened, his gaze locking onto the projection with laser-like focus.

Wow! So this is what General Jing Yuan looks like gender-swapped… This is… this is just too good!

White hair, single ponytail, golden eyes, that perfect blend of lazy charm and regal authority. That hint of a half-smile… This look, this presence—it instantly cured the lingering depression he’d felt from seeing so many other cool female characters turned into dudes!

The Xianzhou General was the absolute GOAT!

Chen’s heart swelled with admiration, but it was immediately punctured by a sharp jab of reality.

‘Such a magnificent General… and it’s just a projection! She’s not a physical entity! I can’t touch her! I can’t unlock the icon!’

The sense of loss was devastating.

Jing Yuan continued in a gentle, measured tone. “The matter of the Stellaron concerns the very foundation of the Xianzhou and is, indeed, an internal affair of the Luofu. However, you have come from afar, happened upon this crisis, and graciously lent a helping hand. On behalf of the Luofu, I thank you.”

Her gaze returned to Ms. Welt, her smile deepening. “The fame of the Astral Express is widespread, and the spirit of the Trailblaze is admirable. We cannot simply let you return empty-handed after coming all this way. The Luofu is currently in a turbulent state, and our manpower is stretched thin. As it happens, there is a thorny matter that might benefit from the… special methods of you Trailblazers. I wonder… if we might discuss this further in private?”

Ms. Welt considered this for a moment before nodding. “The General is too kind. If this is to be a cooperation, it is only natural that we should understand the details.”

The smile on Jing Yuan’s projection became more obvious. She glanced at the still-tense Yukong. “Yukong, you may return to your duties. Port scheduling and the security of the Xingcha Sea still require your attention. You can leave this place to me.”

Yukong’s lips parted as if she wanted to object. But in the end, she simply offered a crisp salute to Jing Yuan’s projection. She took one last, deep look at Ms. Welt and the three youths behind her, who had finally snapped to attention at the General’s appearance, then turned and strode away, her retreating form still radiating a vigorous and resolute air.

Now, only the Astral Express crew and Jing Yuan’s projection remained in the hall. The atmosphere relaxed slightly, but the General’s powerful presence was still evident.

Jing Yuan’s gaze swept over them one by one. With that same unfathomable smile playing on her lips, she spoke slowly, her voice carrying the weight of ages.

“The Astral Express, trailblazing the sea of stars… I have long yearned for it in my heart. To see it today is truly a great fortune.”

This archaic, poetic sigh, paired with her beautiful and naturally powerful face, should have created an extremely solemn and stylish scene.

However, upon hearing that final phrase, “a great fortune,” a reflexive switch in Chen’s brain was flipped. Without a single thought, he subconsciously blurted out the next line, and his voice was not quiet.

“I sing to express my aspirations!”

The moment the words left his mouth, the entire hall fell into an abrupt, ringing silence.

Ms. Welt: “…”

March 7th: “…?”

Qiong blinked, looking from Jing Yuan to Chen and back again, her head tilting in confusion.

Even Jing Yuan herself was clearly stunned for a moment. Her golden eyes widened slightly as she looked at Chen, who now wore an expression of, ‘Oh no, I think I said the wrong thing, but that’s what the textbook says to say!’

Then, the surprise in her eyes melted away, replaced by an even deeper, more deep interest. Her smile became a bit more genuine, as if she had just discovered a fascinating new specimen.

“‘I sing to express my aspirations’…?” she repeated softly, then nodded. “Hmm, a fine response. Very fitting for the occasion. It seems young friend Chen not only possesses extraordinary courage but also a rather high degree of literary literacy? Quite different from a martial person like myself, who has only a smattering of ink to her name.”

Chen: “…”

‘I’m not! I didn’t! I was just reciting a textbook on reflex! General, please, let me explain!’ he screamed internally.

But Jing Yuan clearly had no intention of listening to his explanation, or perhaps, she simply interpreted his panicked expression as a form of humility.

She said with a light laugh, “Unfortunately, the Luofu is beset by many complicated matters at present, and I am worn out by paperwork. I’m afraid I have not the leisure to sing and express my aspirations.”

Her tone shifted, smoothly guiding the conversation back to the main topic. “However, when the matters here are settled, if there is a chance, I would very much like to brew tea and discuss the Dao with you, young friend. To have a proper talk. I am sure… it will be very interesting.”

Chen managed a dry, hollow laugh, feeling as though he had just accidentally triggered the General’s strange, hidden “literary resonance” flag. All he wanted now was to physically reach into his own throat and stuff the words he’d just blurted out back into his stomach.

Jing Yuan ceased her teasing and turned her full attention to Ms. Welt, her expression becoming a shade more formal.

“Now then, Ms. Welt, and everyone from the Astral Express, about that matter I wished to entrust to you…”

“The details shall be explained here.”

[Elysian’s Note:

Having a good time with the story?

Every single bit helps immensely:

Thanks a ton for making this journey possible!]