Chapter 151: Reunion

The suffocatingly narrow path leading to the Scalegorge Waterscape finally began to widen.

With a final, silent implosion of distorted light, Ms. Welt erased the last of the Voidrangers from existence. As the motes of corrupted data faded, the oppressive corridor gave way to a vast, open cavern, the air growing heavy with an ancient, briny moisture.

It was then that new footsteps echoed from a side passage they had just cleared—sharp, distinct, and approaching with a steady cadence.

“Dan Heng!” March 7th was the first to turn, his voice bright with relief.

The relief, however, lasted only a fraction of a second. His eyes went wide, his jaw fell slack, and the hefty bow in his hands nearly slipped from his suddenly numb fingers.

“Y-you… what in the world is with this look?!”

The woman walking toward them was, unmistakably, Dan Heng. The same cool, reserved features, the same slender frame. But everything else was utterly transformed. Her entire presence had shifted, radiating an aura of deep antiquity and power that was completely alien.

The most striking change was the pair of small, elegant horns that now graced her brow. They were the color of polished jade, curving gracefully back into her dark hair like the branches of some mythical tree. This was not the quiet, reliable Teacher Dan Heng who carried the Cloud-Piercer and spoke in measured tones. This was a figure of legend, a Dragon Lady who seemed to have stepped directly out of an ancient, water-stained mural.

“Y-you really were hiding some secret power?!” March 7th exclaimed, recovering from his initial shock. He began to circle her, his head tilted as he took in every detail, a low whistle escaping his lips.

“These dragon horns… this whole aura!” he chirped, his voice a mixture of awe and playful accusation. “Teacher Dan Heng, you’ve been holding out on us for so long! Why didn’t you bust out a form this cool before? What, were you looking down on us?”

Dan Heng looked utterly helpless under the barrage of his rapid-fire questions. The immense, almost powerful aura she had been projecting seemed to recede, drawing back into her like a tide, but the fundamental change in her being remained.

She let out a faint sigh. “It wasn’t hidden. The situation was… unique. I had no other choice. It’s a long story.”

Her gaze drifted past March 7th’s bouncing form, finally settling on Chen, who was standing just behind him.

For his part, Chen’s eyes had lit up the very instant Dan Heng had come into view, shining with the unmistakable fervor of a collector who had just stumbled upon a priceless artifact.

Seeing her look his way, he immediately scurried forward, closing the distance and giving her shoulder a familiar, enthusiastic pat.

“Whoa! Teacher Dan Heng! Not bad, not bad at all!”

His expression was one of pure, unadulterated admiration. His eyes, wide and gleaming, scanned her up and down as if he were appraising a masterpiece.

“This outfit… tsk tsk, it’s more than a few levels cooler than that drab old Astral Express uniform!” he declared. “And the horns, the special effects, the whole vibe! Awesome! Now this is the kind of presence you should have!”

The envy and appreciation in his voice were so thick they were practically dripping, his tone exactly that of a gamer critiquing a newly released, top-tier cosmetic skin.

Dan Heng stared at his carefree, utterly foolish expression, an expression of someone who was purely, genuinely admiring her new ‘skin.’ Her mind flashed back to the stone platform not long ago—to the sight of Jingliu, a figure of white hair and crimson eyes, so aloof and extraordinary that she could freeze time and space with a single swing of her sword. The dissonance between that terrifying memory and Chen’s giddy fanboying was staggering.

Wordlessly, she reached up and brushed his hand off her shoulder. Her face became an emotionless mask.

“I was forced by the circumstances,” she said flatly. Then, her gaze sharpened, and she placed a pointed emphasis on her next words. “As for you… you didn’t happen to run into any ‘special circumstances,’ did you?”

“Special circumstances? Me? Nope!” Chen threw his hands up, a picture of perfect innocence. “I just went back to the Express, gave my gun a good polish, tuned the energy circuits, and… you know, contemplated the philosophy of life for a bit.”

He leaned in, his face a mask of earnest curiosity, his acting so natural it was flawless. “What’s wrong, Teacher Dan Heng? Did you run into some special circumstances? Judging by this whole getup, the battle must have been pretty intense!”

Dan Heng fell silent, staring into Chen’s clear, guileless eyes—eyes that practically screamed, ‘Hurry up and let me see more of your new skin so I can appreciate it properly.’

For a moment, she had no idea where to even begin her retort. The man’s ability to play the fool was truly in a league of its own.

“Ahem.”

A light, polite cough cut through their exchange.

Standing beside Dan Heng was a petite woman with flowing white hair and striking golden eyes. She carried herself with a unique, commanding grace, and a gentle smile played on her lips as she spoke.

“It seems you all have much to discuss upon your reunion. However, there appear to be more pressing matters at hand.”

Only then did March 7th seem to notice there was another person present. He squinted, a flicker of recognition crossing his face. “Ah! You’re… you look familiar… Are you the General Jing Yuan we saw in the projection earlier?”

“Precisely,” Jing Yuan confirmed with a serene nod. Her gentle, intelligent gaze swept over the members of the Astral Express crew, assessing each of them in a single, fluid glance. “It seems Lady Dan Heng has already begun to explain the situation to her companions.”

She clasped her hands before her, her tone shifting from pleasant to purposeful. “To make a long story short, the crisis at the Ambrosial Arbor’s core is imminent. We require your strength to venture into its depths and resolve the matter. Shall we discuss the details as we go?”

Her calm, authoritative suggestion instantly pulled everyone’s attention back to the mission.

Ms. Welt gave a firm nod of agreement. Caelus, who had been standing quietly beside Chen, remained silent but attentive. Even March 7th, though his mind was still buzzing with a thousand questions about Dan Heng’s incredible new form, managed to suppress them for the time being, understanding the gravity of the General’s words.

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