Chapter 108: On Wanaque, You're Just a Loli
"So, what exactly is Dan Heng's past?"
The three of them—Rekka, Stelle, and March 7th—sat at a respectable distance, chins propped on their hands as they watched Jingliu, Jing Yuan, and Dan Heng in a quiet, heavy discussion.
"Come to think of it," March 7th said, a sudden spark of realization in her eyes, "I only just found out Dan Heng is a Vidyadhara. Wait a minute." She turned to Rekka. "When you transformed into a being of Permanence, you must have known he was a dragon, right? Is that why you didn't say anything?"
"You actually got smarter?" Stelle stared at March 7th, her expression one of pure shock. "You shouldn't have that kind of intelligence. You're not March 7th. Who are you?!"
"What do you mean I shouldn't have this kind of intelligence!" March 7th's cheeks puffed out in indignation.
"You really are acting a bit strange today." Stelle stroked her chin, slowly circling the pink-haired girl. "Usually, you believe whatever we say, but today you managed to deduce such a complex conclusion all on your own. Speak! Have you been possessed by something weird?"
"I am who I am! This young lady is the real deal!"
"Then how did you suddenly get smarter?"
March 7th, growing a little dizzy from being circled, found herself subconsciously accepting the premise that "I got smarter" rather than "I was this smart all along."
"Stop, stop, stop." Rekka waved a hand between the two of them, breaking up the interrogation. "She was always this smart. She just doesn't use it very often."
"Got it, got it." Stelle nodded with an expression of deep sincerity. "So March is actually a hidden genius. She just uses a silly exterior to disguise herself."
The three humans and one insect, having waited for what felt like an eternity, were already bored enough to start a game of Three Kingdoms Kill on the ground.
"March, do you dare take on the role of Governor?"
"Why wouldn't I dare!"
"I say victory is already a foregone conclusion, do you guys understand, buzz?"
"Buzz, buzz."
Little Blue Light stared intently at its Guan Yu card, falling into deep thought. 'Martial Saint... the effect is that red cards count as Slash, buzz. Why does it feel like I'm playing a different game than Boss and the others, buzz? Where is the punchline, buzz?'
"What are you guys doing?"
Dan Heng's voice suddenly cut through their game from behind. The three humans and one insect turned their heads in perfect unison.
He stood not far away, his expression a complicated mix of emotions. He looked as if he had just endured a deeply unpleasant conversation, but upon seeing the chaotic scene before him, that complexity melted away into pure, unadulterated helplessness.
"Playing Three Kingdoms Kill," Rekka said.
"Flourishing," Stelle added.
"I envy that," March 7th sighed.
"Outrageous," Little Blue Light buzzed.
In the distance, Jing Yuan and Jingliu watched them.
"They are very happy," Jingliu said softly, her voice a whisper on the wind. "But the past will catch up to him one day. They are like we were back then... like the High-Cloud Quintet."
Rekka gathered the cards from the ground, stuffing the whole pile into his pocket. "The Stellaron matter is settled, and the guy who framed us ran away. Now we can finally get back to some real Trailblazing."
At that moment, Jing Yuan had no idea what Rekka meant by "real Trailblazing."
"Compared to that," March 7th stretched, "shouldn't we go back to the Astral Express to rest? I'm so tired."
"Let's go, let's go!"
"Cheers!"
Inside the Parlor Car, which had been temporarily converted into The Tavern, everyone raised their glasses. The clinking of crystal echoed through the carriage, the atmosphere buzzing with life.
[Notice: The Astral Express Tavern. Aha and the Masked Fools are not permitted inside.]
"Here's to a successful Trailblaze! A great success!"
"That was so much fun!"
"You didn't take me with you to play!"
Liliya and Rozaliya's resentful gazes were so intense they were practically tangible.
"Ahem," Rekka coughed. "Then let's team up and go together next time."
At that moment, the Conductor zipped past, riding atop a Lord Ravager. Pom-Pom looked absolutely delighted upon discovering that Little Blue Light had grown a pair of small horns on its head.
"It actually grew a handle, pa!"
"Cheers—"
The three who had just completed their mission clinked their glasses again. But as four glasses chimed together, Rekka suddenly froze, a flicker of confusion on his face.
"Dan Heng, did you clink glasses just now?"
"...No."
'Then why were there four hands just now?'
"Right," Stelle said, her eyes narrowing. "Is that right?"
"Did you drink too much?" March asked.
"What do you mean, 'drank too much'? This is a carbonated drink in my hand..." Rekka trailed off. "Then why were there four hands?"
Stelle held up her glass, examining it from all angles before looking down at her own hands, confirming she only had two.
March 7th looked down and began carefully counting her fingers. "One, two, three, four, five..."
A slightly eerie feeling settled over the group. What was going on?
"Let's not talk about that," Rekka said, changing the subject. "Where are we going next? The city of hot nights?"
"We've been to that place before," March 7th said, thinking for a moment. "Last time we went, Uncle Welt and I were detained by the local city-state's private police the day we arrived. They suspected the Astral Express was cooperating with some messengers to smuggle a virus called the 'Neural Linguistic Virus'."
"Then... Kael'thas Star?"
"That place is quite fun. I went bungee jumping there before," March said. "And the people there are made of clay! Although now... the IPC has taken over. They came to make the clay people spit out rare earth. Sigh, the IPC... sigh, capitalism."
"In seven days," Himeko's voice cut in, "we will go to Wanaque."
The Birth Island of Wanaque.
"Wanaque, huh..."
Wanaque was a small, crowded planet, a world blanketed in dense rainforests and scattered islands. Vigorous, untamed vitality was its most striking symbol. The most famous location on this planet was an island also called Wanaque, a land of lush, overwhelming green dominated by a giant tree called "System." Hanging from its branches were all kinds of animal-like fruits.
"The 'System' tree on this planet is actually a species restoration system left by an advanced civilization," Himeko explained with a smile. "It releases countless life equations in a decoded format to restore the planet's ecology."
But now, the ecology of Wanaque seemed a bit... overpowered.
The weakest plant there was called the Six-Tooth, a species that had almost gone extinct on Wanaque simply because it was too weak. Its teeth, however, were as hard as diamonds.
On Wanaque, if you weren't a predator, you were just a loli.
Stelle nodded thoughtfully. "So that place is a nice little vacation island?"
"There are plants everywhere that can eat people, and you call that a vacation island?" March cried.
Stelle wagged a finger. "Only a place like that is challenging. It's boring to stay in a safe place all day. Sometimes you need some excitement."
"Buzz, buzz!" Little Blue Light chirped. 'Boss, is there extra food, buzz?'
"Speaking of which," Rekka mused, "when we go to Wanaque, do we have to become crazy cavemen? Like those ones wearing animal skin skirts, holding stone spears, and chasing wild beasts through the jungle?"
"Wouldn't that be even more interesting?" Stelle slapped her thigh, her eyes gleaming.
"The cavemen in that place seem to be gone," Himeko said with a helpless smile. "And if we go, we might not be able to have much of a vacation." She turned her attention to the twins. "How is Liliya's body recovering?"
"I have no problem!" Liliya declared. "I'll be with Rozaliya!"
"So we'll just treat it as wilderness survival?" Stelle rubbed her hands together, already impatient to get to Wanaque.
"Feels pretty Trailblaze-y...?" March offered tentatively.
"But I think," Dan Heng finally spoke up, his voice calm and measured, "we had better go to the Luofu to buy some wilderness survival equipment first."
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