Chapter 96: Dan Heng Disembarks

Tingyun guided the group through the somewhat deserted streets and winding alleys of the Luofu. Their footsteps echoed softly in the quiet air until they finally came to a stop before an elegantly styled inn, an establishment that possessed a evident, ancient Xianzhou charm.

“Benefactors, please make this your place of rest for the next few days,” Tingyun said, his voice a smooth and pleasant tenor.

He pushed open the exquisite wooden door, its surface carved with complex cloud patterns, revealing a clean and tidy lobby. The air inside was cool and smelled faintly of sandalwood.

“The rooms have all been prepared, and all necessary amenities are quite complete,” he continued, gesturing to the polished interior. “If you should find yourselves in need of anything, feel free to inform the innkeeper. Alternatively, you may contact me directly.”

He produced several small, carefully carved jade talismans, handing one to each of them. “These are temporary communication jade slips. They function in most public areas of the Luofu and can be used to send short-distance messages.”

Ms. Welt accepted the cool, smooth jade, examining it for a moment before nodding in understanding. “Thank you for your trouble, Mr. Tingyun. This place is very nice indeed.”

She then turned her attention to the youngest member of their landing party. “March, please try to contact the Astral Express. Let Uncle Himeko and Dan Heng know we’re safe.” Her tone was calm and methodical. “Briefly explain that we’ve arrived and settled in, and that we are proceeding according to plan.”

“You got it, Lady Welt!” March 7th chirped, immediately pulling out his communication terminal. With practiced ease, his fingers flew across the screen, bringing up the Astral Express’s internal channel as he began to compose a message.

A few seconds later, however, a small, surprised “Huh?” escaped his lips.

His fingers moved even faster, tapping and swiping, a frown creasing his brow. “Strange… the signal shows full bars,” he mumbled to himself. “But the messages I sent to the Express and to Teacher Dan Heng both have red exclamation marks… ‘Failed to send’?”

He switched modes. “Trying to connect a call… it’s just a busy tone? What’s going on?” He tried again, and then a third time, but the result was stubbornly the same. “I can’t send anything! Not even a basic text can get through!”

Ms. Welt took the communication terminal from March 7th’s hands and began her own inspection. On the screen, the signal strength indicator for the Luofu’s local network was indeed at maximum. Queries for various basic services returned responses almost instantly.

But the moment she switched to the interstellar communication protocol or attempted to connect to the Astral Express’s exclusive, encrypted channel… it was as if the data packets were being swallowed by a black hole. They vanished without a trace, leaving no echo, no response whatsoever.

“Failed to send… Connection timed out…” Ms. Welt whispered, reading aloud the error reports that repeatedly popped up on the terminal. A thoughtful, serious expression settled on her face. “Is it communication interference? Perhaps caused by the Stellaron’s energy field?”

Meanwhile, far at the edge of the Luofu’s sprawling spaceport, the Astral Express floated in quiet, silent orbit.

Inside, Dan Heng was not immersed in the Data Bank as she so often was. Instead, she stood perfectly still before the grand observation window, her gaze fixed on the colossal, ship-like city that, from this distance, appeared somewhat desolate under the artificial starlight.

She had been standing there, motionless, for nearly half an hour.

Uncle Himeko walked in, a steaming mug in each hand, entirely unsurprised to see Dan Heng’s solitary vigil.

“Worried about them?” he asked, his voice a gentle rumble. He walked to her side and offered her one of the hot drinks.

Dan Heng finally stirred, taking the cup. Its warmth seeped into her cold fingers.

She offered a soft “Mm” in acknowledgment, a sound barely louder than a breath. Her gaze, however, remained locked on the Luofu, as if by sheer force of will she could pierce through its layers of buildings and mist to find her companions.

After a long moment of shared silence, Dan Heng suddenly spoke, her voice low and tight. “Himeko… the Stellaron Hunters… have there ever been any communication records of them trying to contact the Astral Express before?”

Himeko was a bit taken aback by the sudden, specific question, but he saw the gravity in her expression and didn’t press for an explanation. He simply nodded. “Yes. Do you want to see them?”

“If you don’t mind,” Dan Heng replied, her tone serious.

Himeko moved to a nearby console, his fingers dancing over the controls. He brought up a secured file, bypassed the encryption, and a moment later, a holographic display flickered to life in the space between them.

Dan Heng’s eyes were laser-focused, scanning the logs. Suddenly, her gaze froze, locking onto the most recent entry.

A figure appeared in the recording—a figure that was more than familiar to her.

It was Blade.

She was actually on the Luofu.

In an instant, the color drained from Dan Heng’s face. The vague worry that had been gnawing at her coalesced into a cold, tangible dread. She set her cup down on the console with a quiet click and looked up at Himeko, her eyes filled with an unmatched weight, a terrifying resolve.

“Himeko,” she said, her voice firm. “I have to go down there.”

Himeko looked at her sudden, stark transformation and understood immediately. Though he wasn’t entirely clear on the history between Dan Heng and the Stellaron Hunters—especially the deep, tangled past that seemed to exist between her and this woman, Blade—he could see the unshakeable determination in her eyes. He could feel her deep concern for their friends.

“She is very dangerous,” Dan Heng stated, her voice a low warning.

“Everyone might be in danger,” she added, her jaw tight. “I… have to go help.”

Himeko was silent for a long moment, neither questioning her nor trying to stop her. He simply reached out and placed a steady, reassuring hand on Dan Heng’s somewhat slender shoulder.

“Since you’ve decided, then go,” he said softly. “Don’t wait until later… only to regret the hesitation you feel now. The Express has me and Pom-Pom. Don’t you worry about us.”

Dan Heng took a deep, steadying breath and gave a sharp nod. She turned and walked towards the exit without another word.

Just as she was about to step through the door, Himeko’s voice called out again.

“Dan Heng.”

She stopped and looked back over her shoulder.

Himeko met her gaze, his own warm and filled with a paternal light. “After this is over… you’ll still continue the journey with us, right?”

Dan Heng was stunned for a moment, seemingly not expecting the question. She looked at the quiet plea, the unwavering acceptance of an elder in Himeko’s eyes. She lowered her head, and her nod was almost imperceptible, a slight dip of her chin.

“…Mm.”

Then, she hesitated no longer. She turned and walked quickly toward the Express’s exit, her figure soon disappearing into the connecting passage.

Himeko stood in place, looking at the empty doorway. He let out a soft, weary sigh, but a small smile touched his lips as he whispered to the empty room, “Go on, child. Some paths, you have to walk yourself to know where the next one leads.”

After leaving the Express, Dan Heng moved with purpose, quickly vanishing into the complex shadows of the Luofu Spaceport’s towering architecture.

She pulled out her phone, attempting to send a message to the Astral Express Crew’s internal group chat.

‘Where are you? Report status.’

The screen, however, only displayed a single, frustrating line.

[Failed to send.]

She tried a few more times, even changing locations to see if it would help, but the result was the same. The communication network was severely compromised.

Dan Heng pursed her lips, a flicker of annoyance crossing her features before it was replaced by stoic resolve. She put away her phone.

It seemed she would have to find them on her own.

[Elysian’s Note:

Having a good time with the story?

Every single bit helps immensely:

Thanks a ton for making this journey possible!]