Chapter 79: Sushang's Farewell Letter, and Luocha Smothered by False Accusations

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On the streets of Exalting Sanctum.

A girl with orange hair and golden eyes, her long ponytail swaying, held up a selfie stick. Adjusting the angle, she beamed brightly at the phone screen.

"Hello-hello, can you all hear me?"

Guinaifen was an outlander who fortuitously found herself staying on Xianzhou. Now, she thrived as a vibrant street performer, juggler, and live streamer. Her original name was "Guinevere," while "Guinaifen" was the Xianzhou nickname given to her by her dear friend Sushang.

Embracing her new life in Luofu, fueled by her love for Xianzhou culture, Guinaifen swiftly honed her skills, becoming adept at various acts. These included eating noodles upside-down, throat-locking with a metal rod, crushing boulders with bare hands, catching bullets with bare fingers, and more—all garnering rave reviews from her audience.

However, these stunts required assistance, so—

For chest-crushing boulder feats, Guinaifen wielded the hammer;

For bullet-catching tricks, she fired the gun;

During inverted noodle-eating displays, she held the bowl;

And even when throat-locking with a metal rod, it was still Guinaifen holding the rod.

Poor Sushang, constantly manipulated by her good friend Guinaifen.

As the live stream had just begun, the chat room was rather quiet with few viewers, allowing Guinaifen to casually engage with her audience.

"Where's Shangshang? She's part of the Cloud Knights—there's a shortage of riders, so she has to go on patrol."

"Will the host bite down on a lighter? No biting lighters, thank you!"

"Diting + friend... Why is it always you? Mod, mute this user immediately!"

"I want to see Shangshang! Is Little Gui not as attractive as Shangshang? Seriously?!"

Guinaifen's expression darkened; having been away from streaming for quite some time, her popularity had waned.

Why were there only trolls and lurkers in the chat? Are there no genuine fans left?

"It seems like chaos in Luofu today, with Cloud Knights patrolling everywhere. What's your take on this, Little Gui?"

"Hush, that's a topic we can't discuss here. Please don't ask about it."

[System Notification: Lady Fu Xuan's Dog has activated a fan badge in the live stream.]

Guinaifen beamed widely. "Thank you, Lady Fu Xuan's Dog, for the fan badge!"

Su Jinyan tipped 100 SC and commented, "What kind of work do you do, Host?"

Slightly at a loss for words, Guinaifen responded, "Thank you, Lady Fu Xuan's Dog, for your eye-catching message."

"What kind of work do you do, Streamer? Little Gui is a positive energy broadcaster!"

"I often perform acrobatics around the Exalting Sanctum; everyone is welcome to come watch."

"Recently, I feel that acrobatics might be better suited offline, so Little Gui plans to try streaming some other content."

"There are so few people in the live stream—everyone can chat and interact."

"If you enjoy it, remember to follow, share, and send gifts to participate in the live stream giveaways!"

"For any questions you have, feel free to ask Little Gui; advice comes free of charge."

[System Notification: Lady Fu Xuan's Dog has gifted Little Gui 10 Judge's Brushes.]

Instantly, a wave of '666' comments flooded the quiet live stream chat.

[JingYuanFanatic: Damn, one Judge's Brush costs 100,000 credits! Ten Judge's Brushes equal nearly two months of my salary.]

[MilkLover: Looks like Little Gui found her true fan.]

[LegHairPrince: Does this big shot need more accessories on their legs? Seeking sponsorship.]

[Playing with Fate: Caught someone slacking off at work, secretly watching the live stream!]

[Jing Yuan, My Original Husband: First Encounter, Adorable, Sole Supporter, Marriage, and Eventually Burial.]

[Jing Yuan's Solo Fan: Encountered a love rival? Who are you, commenter above?]

Excitedly, Guinaifen somersaulted. "Many thanks to Lady Fu Xuan's dog for the generous tip! Thanks, boss, for the gift!"

"Since you said Little Gui isn't as pretty as Shangshang earlier, well, let it be—Little Gui forgives you."

Just this single tip equaled her earnings from performing street acts for an entire week.

[Lady Fu Xuan's Dog: I'll ask you a few questions. If you can answer them correctly, for each correct response, I'll reward you with a Dawning Expanse.]

Guinaifen's heart began to race uncontrollably.

A single Dawning Expanse was worth 5 million Credits and could also trigger a full-channel broadcast on the live streaming platform, attracting significant attention.

With such immense wealth within reach, she knew she must seize this opportunity.

"Go ahead, oh mighty one, just ask away. As long as Little Gui knows the answers, she'll gladly share everything."

[Lady Fu Xuan's Dog: Would a clergyman's passing count as promotion or resignation?]

Guinaifen blinked, perplexed.

[Lady Fu Xuan's Dog: Foot therapy is still therapy—why isn't it covered by Luofu Health Insurance?]

Guinaifen stared, bewildered.

[Lady Fu Xuan's Dog: If I attempted to bribe a general with Strales and he refused, would that be considered illegal?]

[Should I report this to the Realm-Keeping Commission or the Seat of Divine Foresight?]

Guinaifen remained speechless.

[Lady Fu Xuan's Dog: It's said that even tigers don't harm their cubs. So if I encounter a tiger in the wilderness and kneel down claiming it as my father, will it still eat me?]

Clutching her cheeks, Guinaifen wore an expression reminiscent of Edvard Munch's painting "The Scream."

What kind of ridiculous questions are these?

Indeed, the world of the wealthy was beyond my comprehension.

Guinaifen strongly suspected that this "Lady Fu Xuan's Dog" had a penchant for messing with people's minds. Just from his username, it was evident that he must be a fervent fan of Fu Xuan.

[Lady Fu Xuan's Dog: With so many questions, surely the little streamer can answer at least one, right?]

Feeling flustered, Guinaifen urgently asked, "Excuse me, do you have any more normal questions?"

"Just give me a regular question, and Little Gui guarantees she'll provide an answer!"

[System Notification: Lady Fu Xuan's Dog has fed Little Gui, Guinevere, 20 Judge's Brushes.]

[Lady Fu Xuan's Dog: Here's a consolation prize first.]

[System Notification: Lady Fu Xuan's Dog gifted Little Gui (Guinevere) 30 Judge's Brushes.]

[Lady Fu Xuan's Dog: Here's an encouragement prize.]

The live stream chat once again flooded with "666" comments.

Due to the late hour, fewer viewers were watching at this time. However, after three rounds of generous tips, Guinaifen's live stream ranking surged directly into the platform's top six.

Being in the top six granted her channel a featured spot on the homepage, instantly drawing a large wave of new viewers.

Guinaifen's cheeks flushed with excitement as she repeatedly expressed gratitude, "Thank you so much for the tip of 50 Judge's Brushes! You're incredibly generous, truly grateful!"

[Lady Fu Xuan's Dog: Last question, does Shangshang have any hobbies?]

Sushang was her closest friend. Normally, Guinaifen would undoubtedly refuse to answer without hesitation. However, having failed to respond to all previous questions posed by Su Jinyan and thus narrowly missing out on Dawnbreak Expanse, her resolve began to waver.

After the repeated stimulation from those hefty tips, Guinaifen's judgment had become somewhat clouded, and her mental defenses gradually crumbled. In psychology, this phenomenon is known as the Induction Effect.

When a specific point in the cerebral cortex experiences either excitation or inhibition, adjacent regions undergo opposite neural processes. This leads to temporarily ignoring external stimuli and focusing instead on the anticipated "positive feedback" that may follow.

As a result, she temporarily disregarded external stimuli and focused solely on the potential "positive feedback" she might receive next.

At that moment, only one thought echoed in Guinaifen's mind:

If she could answer the question correctly, she would earn a tip of five million Credits.

Forget asking about Sushang's preferences; even if it involved her more intimate secrets, Guinaifen would unconsciously blurt them out.

Without hesitation, she responded, "Oh, isn't it obvious?"

"Shangshang loves listening to storytelling sessions, especially tales from 'The Chronicles of Cloud Rider Heroes' by the storyteller."

"She also enjoys helping others and hopes to leave her mark in history someday!"

[System Notification: Lady Fu Xuan's dog feeds Little Gui (Guinevere) with Dawn-ing Expanse Luofu 1.]

"Thank you, generous boss, for the Dawning Expanse Luofu. You're truly magnanimous..."

"But wait, why do you want to know Shangshang's interests?" Guinaifen belatedly realized and cautiously asked.

[Lady Fu Xuan's dog: Little Gui, believe me when I say just one word from me can make you lose control and end your broadcast.]

Guinaifen's beautiful eyes widened with surprise. "Oh? Quite a bold claim there?"

"Little Gui here has faced countless storms; my mental resilience is strong as ever."

"Go ahead, throw your best shot. Nothing can rattle me!"

[Lady Fu Xuan's dog: Dear Streamer Big Sister, actually, I'm underage.]

Guinaifen's face turned pale, her heart momentarily stopping.

[Legs Prince: Talk about maximum drama! Is this some plant arranged by Little Gui?]

[Playing Cards with Life on the Line: You're overthinking it. I know him; there's no way he's underage. He's just teasing the streamer.]

[Diting + Howling Friend #2: Ha ha ha, killing me with laughter! How does Little Gui keep falling into his traps step by step?]

[System Notification: User 'Diting + Howling Friend #2' has been muted by the moderator.]

[Jing Yuan's Sole Supporter: Good thing I'm recording this screen. Heading to the forums to post it right away.]

[System Notification: Streamer 'Little Gui Guinevere' has ended their broadcast.]

[Playing Cards with Life on the Line: Wait, something's off. Last night, didn't he suddenly change from being an adult to underage?]

[On Xianzhou, anyone under 200 years old is considered underage. He's only 20, definitely still a minor.]

[MilkpowderFanatic: So, reversing age now, huh?]

Unbeknownst to Guinaifen, the mastermind behind this, Su Jinyan, stood nearby, quietly observing the shifting expressions on her face.

Sensing an unusual gaze, Guinaifen instinctively turned around and met eyes with Su Jinyan.

Huh, why does this person seem somewhat familiar? Have I seen him on the forums before?

Su Jinyan flashed a friendly smile. "Miss Guinaifen, is something wrong?"

"Uh, do you know me?" Guinaifen asked, puzzled.

She was certain that this person wasn't one of her offline viewers, as her local popularity remained modest, allowing her to remember each viewer's face distinctly.

So, perhaps he must be a fan of Little Gui'zi Guinevere online?

Su Jinyan enthusiastically extended his hand. "I'm your fan; I watch your streams every day without fail."

Guinaifen didn't take his hand but scrutinized him with suspicion. "Every day? Recently, I've been busy with circus performances and haven't gone live for quite some time."

"Oh..." Su Jinyan hesitated.

Guinaifen leaned closer to Su Jinyan, her sharp gaze fixed on him. "Quickly, since you claim to be my fan, show me your fan badge."

Su Jinyan silently produced a token instead. "Apologies, let me introduce myself - I am Su Jinyan, currently serving at both the Seat of Divine Foresight and the Divination Commission."

Guinaifen's eyes widened in surprise. "The Su Jinyan who received joint commendations from the Ten-Lords Commission and the Seat of Divine Foresight?"

"Hold on, hold on, don't arrest me! I was just streaming, why would someone like you personally come to apprehend me?"

"I didn't intentionally entice minors into making donations, and I can refund the money."

"But how did you from the Seat of Divine Foresight act so swiftly?"

Su Jinyan explained, "Don't misunderstand; I was simply dispatched to the Exalting Sanctum to handle some matters."

"I happened to see your live stream and out of curiosity, watched for a bit—it was quite intriguing."

Guinaifen couldn't help but grumble, "These days, minors are just too cunning."

"Little Gui, I've had 'Minors Prohibited from Spending' displayed prominently on the live stream chat all along."

"Who would've thought minors were still spending money? And even trying to learn Shangshang's interests through my stream—does he have ulterior motives towards her?" Guinaifen fretted, her expression shifting uneasily. "Shangshang... Surely she wouldn't fall for such tricks that easily, right?"

With grave concern, Su Jinyan replied, "Miss Guinaifen, as a member of the Seat of Divine Foresight, I cannot stand idly by."

"It's better to be safe than sorry. Contact your friend immediately and ask her to share her location."

"If someone indeed harbors malicious intent towards Sushang, this could be an opportunity to add another achievement to my record."

Sushang's Sensing Letter

Dear Mother and Father,

By the time you read this letter, the original Sushang may no longer be among the living.

With a heart filled with regret, I begin writing this testament. However, please do not grieve for Sushang's departure.

During my training days with the Luofu forces, I have grown significantly and even befriended a close companion—an outlaw whom I had previously influenced. Her true name is Gneve, but I bestowed upon her the name Guinaifen. "Gui" signifies noble wood, "nai" means "indeed," and "fen" represents fragrance—a memorable and melodious name.

Last night, a Stellaron exploded at Luofu. While on duty outside, Sushang inexplicably lost consciousness.

Upon waking, another version of myself appeared before me—she excelled in every aspect far beyond Sushang.

She claimed to understand Sushang's regrets and promised to accomplish what Sushang could not.

The disaster caused by the Stellaron explosion would be effortlessly resolved by her, posing no challenge whatsoever.

She can effortlessly wield Xuan ○ Sword and will become everything you both hoped...

"How do you write the character for 'anticipate,' as in 'what I anticipate'?" Sushang asked.

The other Sushang took up her pen and wrote it down.

"Thank you," Sushang genuinely expressed her gratitude before continuing to write.

And become what both of you had hoped for.

Now my name will surely be remembered alongside those heroes in history!

How fortunate, Sushang managed to strike a deal with this presence:

As long as Sushang relinquished her resistance, opened her heart to accept the newcomer, she would be granted three days of unfettered freedom.

During these three days, Sushang could still perceive the world through her own eyes and experience its beauty according to her will.

Oh right, Sushang had accumulated some savings which she wouldn't need anymore.

Let's leave them all for Little Gui'zi then. Although she streams, her income remains quite unstable.

Though not much, it should at least make a difference in her life!

Even if you might not see this letter, one can always hold onto hope, right?

Well, that's about it from me, folks!

After completing her will, Sushang meticulously tucked the letter inside her boot.

At any moment, that "Sushang" could forcefully seize control of her body and even dictate what she said.

In three days, this original Sushang's consciousness would dissipate from this form.

While uncertain if the imposter "Sushang," upon taking over, would destroy the will or not, as she had mentioned earlier, one must always have hope.

If Su Jinyan truly contracted the disease where he'd die without kissing, it was unclear whether the impostor Sushang would help him.

"Would you assist him?" Sushang asked.

The imposter rolled her eyes impatiently. "Yes."

Relieved, Sushang patted her chest. "That's good to hear."

"In times of need, aid is offered; every plea met with response. Perform one good deed daily, reflect thrice upon oneself. This maiden takes her leave!"

From afar at Cloudford, Sushang spotted a golden-haired young man being steadily forced back by three Mara-Struck Soldiers.

"Yah! Take this sword!" With a fierce cry, Sushang wielded the Xuanyuan Sword in both hands, repelling the trio of Mara-Struck Soldiers.

"Just stay here safely on the sidelines."

"Leave the rescues to the professionals," Sushang confidently declared with a smile, addressing the golden-haired man.

Luocha scrutinized the young girl before him, his expression unchanging.

Meanwhile, Phantylia, residing within Sushang's body, also observed Luocha, inwardly sneering.

As Sushang exerted great effort to finally defeat the three Mara-Struck Soldiers, one of them seized a momentary lapse and abruptly lunged from the ground.

Caught off guard, Sushang couldn't evade in time, and her right arm was sliced open by its razor-sharp wrist blade.

Phantylia made no move to intervene; immortal beings were exceptionally difficult hosts to assimilate. Even for her, completely seizing control of Sushang's will would take considerable time.

However, whenever Sushang sustained injury, her body accelerated the healing process, consuming the subtle energy vital for sustaining life. While this expenditure might be negligible for an eternal life being like an immortal, with Heliobus present inside her, each additional drain tipped the balance further in favor of the celestial entity.

Seeing Sushang cornered and outmatched, unable to retreat any further...

A young man with black hair and azure robes emerged from the shadows, wielding a long spear. With swift precision, he defeated the Mara-Struck Soldier.

An annoyance, Phantylia cursed silently to herself.

Perhaps due to the commotion they caused, several more Mara-Struck Soldiers rushed over, cornering Dan Heng and Sushang.

Among them were remnants of the Medicine King's secret teachings—Form Refiners.

At that moment, Luocha approached steadily, holding her sword. She gently planted it in the ground. "Since you two fought for my sake, how could I stand idly by? 'Behaving' is not an option."

Instantly, a vibrant green Abundance Barrier enveloped all three figures, healing Sushang's wounded body.

Phantylia struggled to control her emotions, nearly seizing control of Sushang's body to strike Luocha from behind with the Xuanyuan Sword.

Sushang's recklessness had allowed Phantylia to accelerate the takeover process by at least an hour. However, Luocha's timely use of the Abundance Barrier reversed much of the progress she had painstakingly gained.

Phantylia strongly suspected that Luocha might have already recognized her presence, but she couldn't be certain.

Once the Heliobus took root within its host's body, as long as it remained undistruptive and refrained from interfering with the host's nervous system, no outsider could discern whether the individual was parasitized—not even their closest companions.

Moreover, Phantylia belonged to one of the strongest strains of Heliobus, having seamlessly integrated her presence into Sushang's being through fusion, creating an indistinguishable unity.

At present, there wasn't the slightest hint of deception; everything appeared driven by Sushang's own will. That pretentious Luocha had no chance of suspecting anything amiss.

After a fierce battle, the remnants of the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus were completely defeated.

Sushang sighed in relief. "Are you two alright?"

Dan Heng and Luocha exchanged glances, both gently shaking their heads.

With this reassurance, Sushang relaxed. "Ah, that's good," she exclaimed.

"I'm Cloud Rider Sushang, recently transferred here from the Yaoqing Immortal Boat!" As she spoke, Sushang couldn't resist placing her hands on her hips and glaring at Luocha. "I already told you not to interfere! Swords have no eyes; what if you got hurt?"

Luocha smiled. "If I hadn't intervened, you would've been injured."

Oh, spare me—if I hadn't intervened, you would've been injured.

Luocha, this version of you disgusts me.

Hidden within Sushang's body, Phantylia clicked her tongue with a sigh.

It had to be said, Luocha was truly skilled at acting. If not for knowing the real Luocha, even Phantylia might have been fooled by this harmless facade.

In comparison, that sly Su Jinyan wasn't much better; if anything, he might have been even more treacherous than Luocha.

To Phantylia's discerning eye, there were subtle differences in their modus operandi.

Su Jinyan openly schemed to bring about your demise—at least when you met your end, you'd know who was behind it. Luocha, on the other hand, masqueraded as an innocent and benevolent individual, stealthily plotting your downfall from the shadows. By the time you perished, you wouldn't even grasp how or why.

But neither of them held a candle to this humble one.

Luocha asked, "Miss Sushang, what happened to Xianzhou?"

"I've traveled for trade many times, but I've never seen Starcross Sea like this," Sushang stammered. "Um, well, it's not convenient for me to disclose details. I only received orders to rescue civilians."

"Aiya, honestly, I'm not sure either. Just follow me, both of you."

"Hey, uh...what was it again? Mute Melon? What's your name? I need to register you; can't leave it blank, now can I?"

"My name is Dan Heng," he replied mildly. "I am traveling through here, intending to meet up with my friends."

"No need for Miss Sushang to worry—I'll depart from the port myself."

Sushang shook her head. "That won't do. Look around—there's no one else at Starcross Sea."

"If your friends haven't met any trouble, they must be within the safe zone," Sushang said, bewildered.

"Don't worry, just follow me. You'll see them once we arrive," Luocha reassured her gently. "Shouldn't you ask for my name?"

"Didn't you introduce yourself during the fight?" Sushang replied, still disoriented. "'Lu—Lu something... Luocha! That's right, this maiden remembers.'"

"Let's move out! Stay close to me; as a Cloud Knight, I will ensure your safety!" added Sushang. "Oh, and later on, could you both help me sign your names..."

"I'm not very proficient with characters; I might write it wrong..."

Phantylia was utterly displeased, nearly disgusted by Luocha's nauseating act. This certainly wasn't his usual demeanor around her.

Moreover, Phantylia noticed something suspicious about Dan Heng—he was far from ordinary.

Within Dan Heng's body lay an incredibly potent and pure power, making dispatching the remnants of Sanctus Medicus' disciples as effortless as turning over one's hand.

Furthermore, the strength dormant inside Dan Heng seemed sufficient to rival even her own prowess at its peak.

Yet, Dan Heng deliberately feigned weakness before Sushang, concealing his true capabilities.

Tsk, Dan Heng is quite cunning himself.

When did such a formidable enemy infiltrate Xianzhou Luofu's ranks? Could it be that Jing Yuan summoned reinforcements?

Jing Yuan is truly f*cking cunning—when did Xianzhou Luofu become like this, with everyone so enamored by schemes and machinations?

At this thought, Phantylia felt even more relieved about her decision.

Thankfully, she always prioritized caution in her actions. If Feng Feng had been sent to attack Luofu instead,

his Antimatter Legion likely wouldn't have reached the Jade World Gate before being decimated by Jing Yuan's Divine Monarch forces. Any survivors would then face interception during their escape by Jing Yuan's covert agents.

Under the Destruction Aeon Nanook, each Lord Ravager possessed power capable of igniting entire star systems, while every single Harbinger of Calamity could individually annihilate stars.

However, strength varied among different star systems and planets. With the precedent set by the Abundance Emanator Shuhu's defeat, the Xianzhou Alliance became a territory where Lord Ravagers dared not tread lightly.

In Phantylia's memories, Starseer—a fellow Lord Ravager—had demanded around stardate 5700 for Zhu Ming Immortal Ship to surrender resistance. Starseer was unyielding from the start, issuing an ultimatum right away, ordering Zhu Ming Immortal Ship to change course and assist her in attacking the Winged Ones' world.

The story's ultimate conclusion was that Lord Ravager Starseer returned unsuccessful, abandoning his assault on Zhu Ming Immortal Ship due to more pressing matters—this was the internal narrative within the Antimatter Legion.

Thus, her destructive aesthetics were most likely to bring about the downfall of Xianzhou Luofu.

Following the Stellaron explosion, there would be some time before the Tree of Foundation fully revived. She needed to carefully strategize during this period.

Su Jinyan's fatal weakness lay in his fondness for beautiful women, conveniently matched by Sushang's striking attractiveness.

Phantylia could exploit Sushang's allure, harnessing the absolute power of Destruction Destiny, to transform Su Jinyan, highly esteemed by Luofu's leadership, into a harbinger of annihilation and chaos.

Her goal was to completely subjugate Su Jinyan, ensuring his unwavering loyalty to herself rather than to the Destruction Aeon Nanook.

Once Su Jinyan obeyed her unconditionally, she could ensure he delivers a devastating betrayal at a critical moment against Jing Yuan.

At this thought, Phantylia couldn't resist cursing Dan Shu under her breath—the fool had such valuable talent under her control yet failed to utilize him effectively.

Reflecting inwardly, Phantylia believed that if she had been the leader of the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus, she would have long collaborated with the Abundance Lands Allied Forces to strike down Luofu.

Buzz...

Sushang received a text message.

Little Gui'zi Guinevere: Shangshang, I'm about to lose some pearls.

Shangshang's Sole Account: What happened, Little Gui'zi?

Little Gui'zi Guinevere: Just now, a boss showered me with lots of tips but later revealed they're underage.

Shangshang's Sole Account: Ha ha ha, that's so unfortunate.

Little Gui'zi Guinevere: They also managed to pry your interests from me.

Little Gui'zi Guinevere: If someone named "Lady Fu Xuan's Dog" tries to add you as a friend, don't acknowledge them under any circumstances.

Shangshang's Sole Account: ?

Shangshang's Sole Account: But what if they claim to have a condition called "Kiss Deficiency Disorder," saying they'll die without a kiss?

Little Gui'zi Guinevere: It's definitely fake, silly! Ignore them!

Shangshang's Sole Account: I don't think he seems like a bad person though.

Little Gui'zi Guinevere: Where are you? I'm coming over right away.

[Shangshang's Account has initiated location sharing.]

Anxious beyond measure, Guinaifen thought, Shangshang, don't fall for this underage trick! Wait, considering Shangshang hasn't yet reached two hundred years old, doesn't that make her also technically underage?

"Mr. Su Jinyan, let's hurry; we can't let any scoundrel deceive Shangshang."

Grasping Su Jinyan's hand, Guinaifen rushed frantically towards Cloudford.

Su Jinyan gently patted Guinaifen on her fragrant shoulder, signaling her to remain calm.

"Miss Guinaifen, walking there would be too slow. Let's take a star ferry instead."

Impressed, Guinaifen asked, "At such a young age, you already own your own star ferry, Mr. Su?"

Upon reaching the star ferry dock, Su Jinyan cautioned, "I'm quite confident in my piloting skills."

"When we set off, hold onto my hand tightly and stay seated without using the safety belt."

Confused, Guinaifen replied, "Isn't that the opposite of what one should do, sir?"

Su Jinyan smiled but said nothing further.

At Cloudford, Sushang expressed her apologies with sincerity, "Sorry, sorry."

"Little Gui insisted on coming to find me, so could you both please wait here for a moment?"

Dan Heng and Luocha nodded understandingly.

Luocha showed keen interest in Dan Heng, constantly initiating conversation, while Dan Heng responded absent-mindedly. Just moments ago, he had tried sending messages to Welt and his companions one by one, but due to possible interference from the Stellaron, all attempts failed.

Feeling increasingly anxious yet unable to show it lest it arouse suspicion from this cloud rider girl, Sushang strained to find topics of conversation to ease the awkward atmosphere.

"You know, we've encountered quite a few outlanders today," she began.

Luocha smiled slightly, "Oh? Aside from us, have you met any other outlanders, Miss Sushang?"

Sushang started counting on her fingers, "Yes, besides you two, I recently came across three more outlander travelers."

Dan Heng's expression shifted subtly, "Three outlander travelers?"

Sushang nodded innocently, "Indeed, they seemed like esteemed guests invited by Lady Yukong."

"They're from some Star... what was it? The 'Star Vault Train,' maybe? They're here to help Luofu address the crisis of the impending Stellaron explosion."

"The Astral Express!" Dan Heng exclaimed urgently. "Those are my companions—where are they now?"

Sushang nodded. "Yes, indeed it was the Astral Express. Who would've thought such words could elicit that expression from you, Mr. Silent Type?" she teased. "Seems like your relationship with them is quite unique."

"As for their current whereabouts," Sushang continued, "the friend I mentioned said they were being taken to the Sky-Faring Commission to meet Lady Yukong."

Dan Heng let out a slight sigh of relief. "The Sky-Faring Commission? That's good."

Based on his understanding of Blade, no matter how unhinged he might be, there was absolutely no way he'd unleash carnage within the Sky-Faring Commission. For now, at least, Dan Heng could ease his worry.

Smiling, Luocha asked, "Brother Dan Heng, are you also from the Astral Express?"

"To be honest, I've longed to experience the Astral Express for some time," Dan Heng replied mildly. "Despite frequently traveling through the Galaxy, due to business demands, I've never had the chance to truly appreciate the beauty of the stars."

"If given the opportunity, you should definitely visit the train," suggested Dan Heng.

While Sushang and the others engaged in casual conversation,

a star ferry burst rapidly out of the clouds, veered away from Cloudford, and careened straight towards Luocha.

At such close proximity, all three could hear the terrified screams of a girl inside the star ferry.

There was also the sweet voice of the star ferry's navigation system announcing, "Your destination is nearby; guidance complete."

Luocha stared incredulously. Are you saying you navigated me right onto someone else?

Do you see that blonde man over there? His name is Luocha, an outlander merchant.

Find any excuse to apprehend him—claim there's something suspicious hidden in his coffin and demand he opens it for inspection.

If you can't arrest him outright, issue a bounty warrant instead. Don't ask why, just capture him—it'll save a lot of trouble.

As the star ferry hurtled toward Luocha, seemingly about to crush him,

Dan Heng and Sushang swiftly leaped forward, bracing themselves alongside Luocha to halt the oncoming collision.

Guinaifen huddled in Su Jinyan's arms, sobbing uncontrollably.

She couldn't quite understand why the star ferry had suddenly malfunctioned. It felt as though she'd narrowly escaped death.

Unexpectedly, when danger struck, Su Jinyan had instinctively pulled her close, shielding her with his own body.

Thump, thump, thump.

Sushang pounded on the star ferry's cabin door, shouting excitedly, "Are you okay, Little Gui?! I'm coming to rescue you!"

Guinaifen lifted her tear-streaked face, still hiccuping between sobs, "Sha... Shangshang, let...let me catch my breath first..."

Crack!

With one strike, Sushang shattered the star ferry's windshield.

She also gently took Guinaifen from Su Jinyan's arms.

"It's okay now, don't cry, Little Gui Zi," Sushang said soothingly as she stroked Guinaifen's hair.

Su Jinyan finally opened the cabin door and stepped down from the star ferry with a serious expression.

"My sincerest apologies, sir. The braking mechanism of my star ferry malfunctioned just now; I hope it didn't frighten you."

Luocha remained composed. "No harm done. However, Mr., please be more cautious when piloting your star ferry in the future."

"This time, we were fortunate to have the assistance of Miss Sushang and Brother Dan Heng. We might not be so lucky next time."

Dan Heng frowned deeply, watching Su Jinyan, his own displeasure evident. If they weren't all Fate Travelers, surviving such a violent collision would have been impossible.

As Su Jinyan prepared to respond, he noticed Guinaifen wriggling free from Sushang's embrace and rushing into his arms, sobbing.

Sushang looked on, puzzled.

"Don't worry, everything's fine now... It's alright..." Su Jinyan hastily comforted her.

Sushang curiously observed them both. "When did you two get acquainted?"

"Just moments ago, Little Gui was badmouthing you, yet here she is, crying in your arms already?"

Guinaifen managed to stifle her sobs, confusion written across her face. "Huh?"

"When did I ever speak ill of him? Shangshang, don't accuse innocent people without cause."

Sushang puzzled over this. "Little Gui, didn't you know? He's that 'Lady Fu Xuan's dog' you mentioned."

Guinaifen's eyes widened incredulously. "You're Lady Fu Xuan's dog?"

Su Jinyan sighed. "I wanted to interact with you as an ordinary person, but instead—"

Before he could finish, Guinaifen clung tightly to his leg. "Shangshang, run! This guy is a creep!"

"Go quickly, I'll hold him off for you!"

Would a normal person choose such a deranged username like "Lady Fu Xuan's Dog"? Would a normal person impersonate a minor just to troll streamers with gifts? Would a normal person dare use the names of the Seat of Divine Foresight and the Divination Commission falsely?

This man likely had ulterior motives for approaching them—to get close to Shangshang. Given his audacity, he must have already amassed considerable knowledge about her. There was a chilling possibility that he would mercilessly toy with both Shangshang's body and mind before heartlessly discarding her.

As Sushang's best friend, Guinaifen couldn't let her fall prey to Su Jinyan's sinister intentions.

Dan Heng raised his spear, pointing it directly at Su Jinyan's throat. In a cold voice, he commanded, "Let her go!"

Luocha's gaze remained cold. "Sir, I advise you to abandon any resistance."

Sushang hastily stepped between them. "Wait, have you misunderstood something? He isn't a bad person."

Luocha furrowed her brow. "Miss Sushang, please step aside; I'll explain later." She added firmly, "If he takes you hostage as well, we won't be able to intervene."

Sushang's eyes brightened. "That's right! How did I not think of it?" She had been pondering how to clarify the situation to Muen Lu and Luocha, never expecting that Luocha, with her keen intellect, would swiftly grasp the essence of the matter.

Luocha smiled slightly but didn't relax just yet. Suddenly, she watched as Sushang voluntarily approached Su Jinyan, took his hand, and placed it on her own snow-white neck.

Dan Heng stared, bewildered.

Luocha was equally taken aback.

With a serious expression, Sushang declared, "I am now being held hostage by him. Quickly, lower your weapons and stop resisting unnecessarily."

Still perplexed, Luocha couldn't respond immediately.

Guinaifen felt utterly dumbfounded, nearly fainting from frustration. No, does anyone willingly walk into such a situation? Can't you see Little Gui here has already created a perfect opportunity for your escape? Even those gentlemen were trying hard to dissuade him—why aren't you listening?

Sushang earnestly explained, "He's not a bad person; I can vouch for him."

"You may not know his true identity, but I do," Sushang declared. "He risked his life to infiltrate the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus, gained their leader's trust, gathered evidence, and ultimately led to their downfall."

"Moreover, he is none other than the celebrated hero honored by both the Seat of Divine Foresight and the Ten-Lords Commission—Su Jinyan himself!"

"He even defeated the brilliant Cloud Knight Lieutenant Yanqing from the Seat of Divine Foresight. How could such a person possibly be evil?"

Guinaifen despairingly covered her face, realizing her mistake.

She had forgotten about Sushang's deep admiration for heroes. Guinaifen was well aware that Sushang idolized the High-Cloud Quintet and loved hearing stories about them. In the past, Shangshang often expressed her awe for Yanqing, frequently murmuring to her:

At such a young age, he's already a prodigy Cloud Knight Lieutenant at the Seat of Divine Foresight, with a sword embryo martial bone!

Yanqing is so incredible; does he have an even more formidable mother behind him, pushing him to excel?

Ever since Su Jinyan defeated Yanqing, Sushang's admiration shifted from Yanqing to Su Jinyan.

After learning about Su Jinyan's remarkable deeds, Sushang's admiration for him only grew stronger.

Guinaifen couldn't fault her—after all, who doesn't idolize heroes? But there was no way the person before them could be Su Jinyan!

To explain Guinaifen's certainty, one crucial point sufficed. Throughout history, every renowned hero had always conducted themselves with integrity and forthrightness. What kind of hero would choose a username like "Lady Fu Xuan's Dog"?

Take General Jing Yuan, deeply revered by the people. Would he ever name himself something akin to "I am Little Gui Zi's Dog"? The very thought seemed absurd!

Su Jinyan's expression remained grave. "It seems you may have some misconceptions about me, especially you, Little Gui Zi."

"Let me clarify: I am not a pervert; the true culprit is someone else."

"That someone," he continued coldly, "is Luocha."

Luocha blinked in confusion.

"By order of the Seat of Divine Foresight," Su Jinyan declared, "I am here today to arrest the outlander merchant selling counterfeit dongs to Xiang Xianzhou citizens—Luocha."

Dan Heng's pupils contracted sharply.

Despite suspecting that Su Jinyan might be lying, Guinaifen instinctively took several steps back from Luocha.

Guinaifen's charming face showed shock as she stiffly turned her neck to glance at Luocha with disbelief.

Sushang, perplexed, asked, "What does that mean?"

Hidden within Sushang's body, Phantylia felt an unprecedented delight. This was truly captivating and exhilarating—as expected, wherever Su Jinyan went, entertainment was never far behind.

Luocha often told others he was an outlander merchant who came to Xianzhou Luofu for business purposes. However, no one knew that his trade involved adult novelty items, specifically selling fake dicks! Not even Lord Ravager herself had been aware of this!

Luocha stared, utterly bewildered.

There's a saying that goes: Only those falsely accused know the depth of their injustice!

Even Luocha himself, let alone Phantylia, had no idea he was supposedly engaged in such commerce!