"Today I've acquired quite a few curiosities, and with Lady Herta's joint research project with the Luofu about to begin, I have many matters to attend to. I'll be taking my leave."
Before Qingque, Fu Xuan instinctively straightened her back, regaining her dignified Master Diviner composure as she bid farewell to Sylvester.
Seeing her calm, confident demeanor restored, Sylvester no longer pushed the catgirl topic—some things simply couldn't be forced.
He chuckled lightly. "That's fine. We'll be seeing each other again tonight, after all."
"Oh… that's true." Fu Xuan blinked for a moment, then understood what he meant.
Right—she'd just agreed to cover his meals for the next three weeks.
She shook her head. This man's obsession with food… honestly, he was just like that aide serving under General Feixiao.
Fu Xuan led Qingque and Herta away from the small shop, heading toward the Divination Commission.
On their way back aboard the Starskiff, Herta leaned against the window, her eyes scanning the distance in search of the two children wielding their supreme weapons in battle.
That Conceptual Power relic—the only curiosity she hadn't obtained herself.
But since she had made a pact with Fu Xuan—Luofu providing the curiosities, and she providing the knowledge—they would together uncover the secrets of conceptual force.
That meant, aside from the [Bari-Bari No Mi], those two other curiosities would also become subjects of research.
Even after searching for a long while, she still didn't see the two children's silhouettes. Had their battle already ended?
Herta shook her head slightly.
No rush. Once the research begins, it's only a matter of time before we meet again.
…
Back at the Spaceport.
Yunli and Stelle were each clutching a massive Berrypheasant Skewer, the size of a human head, taking big, messy bites out of it. At their feet ran a clearly marked white line.
Yanqing stood to the side, watching the two of them—both with sugar and fruit bits smeared on their noses—completely speechless.
"Even if you like it that much, you shouldn't eat like that, right?"
"You don't get it!"
Half-hidden behind her fruit, Yunli raised her head defiantly. "Eating it like this, taking big, satisfying bites—that's the real way to enjoy it! Those dainty little bites like the noble ladies in storytelling clubs? Please. You'd starve before finishing one."
Stelle lifted her head too, mouth full of fruit and syrupy sugar, mumbling, "Mhm! Exactly!"
Yanqing could only sigh. "Teacher, you're joining her in this nonsense too?"
He rubbed his forehead and slowly shook his head.
Why did it feel like he was the oldest one here?
As they spoke, a large figure appeared in the distance.
The person wore a mechanical exosuit and carried a massive training weight, sprinting straight toward them.
Within moments, they arrived. The instant they crossed the white line, they dropped the weights with a boom, cracking the floor beneath them.
Then the figure lost balance entirely and collapsed face-first onto the ground.
The exosuit's locks disengaged, and March 7th slid out, completely sprawled on the floor.
Her dazed eyes spun like spirals as she gasped for breath, her voice trembling on the brink of death. "I—I can't go on anymore… Trailblazer, make sure my memorial photo turns out pretty…"
"Don't worry," Stelle said, making an OK sign before pulling March 7th's camera from her pocket and circling behind her. Click click click! Continuous shots fired.
"Hey! What do you think you're doing?! You can't take pictures in this pose!"
Using the last of her strength, March 7th rolled onto her back, flustered and protesting weakly.
"But I think it looks great from this angle," Stelle said with complete innocence.
"Enough already!" March 7th wailed, sweating profusely and on the verge of tears.
Yanqing, unable to watch this tragic scene any longer, stepped forward. "Alright, that's enough. Help her stand up."
March 7th's voice grew faint. "No… just let me stay like this. If I move even a little more, I'll die on the spot…"
Seeing her state, Yunli came over, frowning slightly.
"That's odd," she said. "With your swordsmanship aptitude and physical conditioning, this regimen should be tiring, yes, but not this bad."
At the mention of "swordsmanship aptitude," March 7th gave an awkward laugh. "Heh… well, actually, I used a Memory Bubble with a thousand sword swings' worth of experience. I just wanted to make a good impression. But I didn't think…"
"You didn't think we'd all overestimate your real ability," Stelle finished for her, explaining on her behalf. "So, the training plan ended up way beyond your limit."
"Ah, I see now."
Yunli sighed. "I was wondering why someone with that much sword talent would've ever picked up archery in the first place. In that case, tomorrow's training—"
"Can be canceled?" March 7th perked up immediately, her face lighting with fragile hope.
Yunli thought for a moment. "We won't increase the workload tomorrow. But we'll add more the day after."
"WHAT?! You're still going to add more?!"
March 7th cried out in despair, nearly fainting again.
"Here, Miss March 7th—take this pill." Yanqing handed her a small round medicine. "It restores blood and energy. You'll recover faster."
"Uh… and if I don't take it, and still can't recover tomorrow… does that mean I can take a sick day?" March 7th asked hopefully.
"March 7th! Think of your heroine dream!"
Stelle cheered her on—and then promptly shoved the pill into her mouth, kindly following it with half a glass of water to help her swallow.
After a while, March 7th finally regained her strength, and the group chatted idly.
Suddenly, the sound of an argument echoed from afar.
They turned toward it and saw, near a cargo dock, several Interastral Peace Corporation employees standing guard over a shipping container, facing off against Luofu's officials.
Yanqing frowned. "What's going on? Don't tell me the Interastral Peace Corporation's smuggling contraband?"
"I'll check!" Yunli said decisively, already dashing off.
Moments later, she returned with news. "It's the Interastral Peace Corporation's mech transport ship—it was attacked en route and had to make an emergency stop here on the Luofu. But there's a life signal inside one of the containers, so the return crew wants to open it for inspection. The Interastral Peace Corporation staff refused. I heard the newly appointed Cauldron Master Lingsha is nearby, and the port officials went to call her."
"With Lady Lingsha handling it, we don't need to interfere," Yanqing said, relieved, turning his thoughts back to his student's training plan.
March 7th, still sitting on the ground, tilted her head, pondering. Then suddenly she shot up, pointing skyward with sparkling eyes. "A Interastral Peace Corporation mech, huh…? Wait—what if the Interastral Peace Corporation people came to challenge us? You know, like in those stories—where the tech-wielding villains face off against the traditional martial artists?"
"Uh… probably not," Yunli said, glancing toward the dock. "The Interastral Peace Corporation's supervisor is an old automaton—not the arrogant type."
"Aww, what a shame." March 7th drooped her head, sounding genuinely disappointed. "Feels like something's missing."
Stelle smirked. "At your current level, even if you did accept a challenge, you wouldn't be able to pull a comeback anyway. Unless, of course, you found a secret technique in a trash can…"
The words were half-joke—but they lit a fire in March 7th's heart. She snapped her head up, eyes sparkling. "Right! That's it! That's exactly how it goes! The protagonist always stumbles upon a miracle! There's still hope!"
Her gaze turned toward the distant Exalting Sanctum, thinking about her [Memory Bubble of a Swordsman].
Maybe… maybe I really could find enlightenment in a trash can—and ascend right then and there as the Astral Express's Sword Champion!