Chapter 251 - 251: New Account, Don't Mess Around

Stelle and Caelus leaned in simultaneously, their eyes glued to the glowing screen. For three agonizing seconds, the loading bar crawled across the display. When the final results popped up, both of their shoulders slumped in unison. A heavy, synchronized sigh escaped their lips, their faces painted with utter disappointment.

"What on earth are you two so disappointed about?!" March stomped her boot against the floorboards, her pink hair bouncing with indignation. "Are you really that determined to collect my data and turn me into an Aether Spirit?!"

Stelle and Caelus slowly turned their heads, exchanging a deeply suspicious glance. Without a word, they looked up at the ceiling and began to whistle a terribly off-key tune, feigning complete innocence.

Meanwhile, deep within the tranquil borders of the Xianzhou Luofu.

The low hum of a hair dryer finally clicked off. Tingyun set the device aside, letting out a soft breath. She had just finished washing up, spending an exorbitant amount of time carefully grooming her fur. In the past, she only had to brush out a single, elegant tail. Now, looking at the nine magnificent tails fanned out behind her, she realized her daily routine required significantly more effort.

Yet, she found no reason to complain. Tingyun gathered the massive bundle of fluffy, cloud-like tails into her arms, burying her face in the soft fur. A faint, soothing fragrance lingered at the tip of her nose, so incredibly comfortable it made her eyes flutter shut in pure bliss. 'Truly worthy of being my tails,'she thought, a satisfied hum vibrating in her throat.'Simply the best.'

"Tingyun, are you awake?"

The wooden door slid open, revealing Yukong stepping into the room. Seeing the younger Foxian sitting by the edge of the bed, completely lost in a daze while hugging a mountain of fluff, a warm, fond smile reached Yukong's eyes.

"Sister Yukong." Tingyun looked up, the corners of her lips curving into a gentle, welcoming arc. "I feel much better now." She hesitated for a fraction of a second, her voice dropping to a softer register. "Are the benefactors... still here?"

"You mean Leon?" Yukong walked over, taking a seat beside her and gently resting a hand on her shoulder. "He has already returned to the Astral Express. However, the train is still docked at the Luofu's port. If you need him for anything, you can contact him at any time."

"It is nothing particularly urgent." Tingyun lowered her eyelashes, casting a delicate shadow over her cheeks. "I merely wished to express my gratitude to him in person."

The sensation of simply being alive felt like a miracle. She had fully expected to wake up battered, her body torn apart by agonizing pain. Instead, she felt almost no discomfort at all. Was this entirely due to her benefactor's intervention? The memory of that voice—the one that had reached into the suffocating abyss and pulled her back to the light—surfaced in her mind. It had been so gentle, yet so absolutely certain. It carried an unspoken promise that as long as he stood there, she had nothing left to fear.

"Could you... tell me a bit more about him?" Tingyun looked up again, a glimmer of eager anticipation shining in her eyes, though she hardly noticed it herself.

Yukong blinked, slightly taken aback by the request. Seeing the earnest expression on Tingyun's face, an inexplicable tightness gripped her chest. A powerful hero swooping in to save a damsel in distress, not to mention a benefactor with such striking looks... It would be entirely natural for a young woman to develop feelings under those circumstances. It was just... Yukong suppressed a heavy sigh.

"Alright. I will tell you everything I know."

Time drifted by as Yukong recounted the events. Tingyun remained perfectly still, absorbing every word in deep silence. A sharp, icy glint of resentment flared in her amber eyes at the mere mention of Phantylia, but she buried the emotion just as quickly as it surfaced.

"Sister Yukong," she finally spoke, her tone light but carrying an unshakeable firmness. "I wish to leave the Luofu."

Yukong's grip on the bedsheets tightened. "Why such a sudden decision?"

"Phantylia operates with absolute ruthlessness. Yet, the one piece she should have eliminated without hesitation is still drawing breath." Tingyun offered a small, placid smile. She looked entirely too calm for someone who had just clawed her way out of the grave. "Lord Leon and Lady Ruan Mei hold no deep ties to the Xianzhou Alliance. Why would individuals of their standing go to such lengths to save this humble girl, a complete stranger?"

She paused, the curve of her lips deepening into something far more knowing. "I suppose this little Foxian has unknowingly become a pawn on a much grander chessboard."

Yukong fell silent, the weight of those words hanging heavy in the air. After a long moment, she answered in a hushed voice. "There are those within the Alliance... who share that exact sentiment." She looked away, her expression grave. "Because of this, General Feixiao of the Yaoqing and General Huaiyan of the Zhuming have already arrived on the Luofu. They are initiating a full investigation into the matter."

"Just as I suspected." Tingyun nodded slowly, showing no surprise. "Then I absolutely must not remain on the Luofu to add further chaos to this delicate situation. It would be far better to... go with the flow, and allow myself to be put to good use."

"Put to good use?" Yukong's brows knitted together.

"Currently, the brand of Destruction maintains a highly precarious balance within my body. And this very brand was forged by the hands of a Lord Ravager." Tingyun raised her arm, studying the pale skin of her palm. "I would like to ask you to report my condition to the General, and arrange for me to have an audience with the Marshal."

She closed her hand into a loose fist. "This body might just be the key to helping the Alliance step closer to the true enemies of the Xianzhou."

Yukong stared at her, completely robbed of words. The silence stretched on until the older Foxian finally let out a long, weary sigh. Tingyun was still so young. This should have been the most carefree era of her life, yet here she was, calculating her own value as a weapon of war.

"Actually..." Yukong began, her pacing slow and deliberate. "Lady Ruan Mei already mentioned the specifics of your condition. At almost the exact moment the Astral Express forwarded the intelligence, the Generals came to a consensus. They judged that your survival was absolutely not a variable in Phantylia's grand design."

"If used properly, you could become the ultimate wildcard, a piece that helps the Alliance seize the initiative against the Destruction." Yukong paused, her gaze softening with a complex mixture of pride and sorrow. "I truly did not want to burden you with this... but seeing the resolve in your eyes, I suppose there is no longer any reason to hide the truth."

"However, if we proceed down this path, the news of your miraculous survival must be strictly concealed from the public." Yukong reached out, taking Tingyun's hands in her own. "Before any final decisions are made, I needed to hear your own thoughts on the matter."

Her grip tightened, her voice dropping to a solemn vow. "If you wish to stay here on the Luofu, I will personally stand against all opposition to protect you."

"Sister Yukong." Tingyun squeezed her hands back, a bright, genuine smile breaking across her face. "Fortunately, this humble girl has saved you the exhausting effort of arguing against the high command."

Yukong looked at the radiant smile, a faint, metallic bitterness rising in the back of her throat. "The road ahead is fraught with unimaginable danger. If you insist on walking it, I naturally possess no right to stop you."

She hesitated, her rigid posture relaxing slightly. "Perhaps it is merely my own selfishness speaking... but I need to know if this choice truly stems from your own heart, and not just a sense of duty."

Tingyun did not offer an immediate reply. She tilted her head slightly to the side, a hazy look of fond reminiscence washing over her features. "Sister Yukong, do you still remember?"

"Perhaps to a seasoned pilot like you, it was nothing more than an ordinary, routine flight." Her voice took on a melodic, nostalgic quality. "But for a certain little girl... that was her very first encounter with the boundless sky."

Yukong blinked, startled by the sudden shift in topic, before her lips curved upward in a genuine smile. "Of course I remember. Back then, you were still small enough for me to easily carry in my arms."

"It is not entirely impossible now, either." Tingyun winked playfully, her tails swishing behind her. "You are more than welcome to try picking me up anytime."

"I am afraid my back might give out if I tried carrying you now." Yukong laughed in spite of the heavy atmosphere.

"I am only joking." Tingyun stuck out her tongue mischievously. Slowly, the playful smile faded into something far more deep. "Looking back on those days, I used to pester you endlessly to let me board the starships. I even declared that becoming a pilot was my lifelong dream."

"Yet, the moment we actually broke through the clouds and flew into the high sky, you were so terrified you gripped the corner of my uniform and absolutely refused to let go." Yukong picked up the memory, gentle ripples of affection softening her gaze.

"But it was that exact flight that changed the trajectory of my life." Tingyun murmured softly. "In that moment, seeing the world spread out beneath us without end, I was completely captivated. It was not because I was standing at such a dizzying height. It was because a sudden realization hit me..."

She paused, letting the memory breathe. "I realized that in this vast universe, we can always go further."

She looked up, her amber eyes crystal clear and free of any doubt. "Because of that realization, even though I possess zero talent for piloting starships, and my personality is entirely unsuited for the brutal reality of combat, this humble girl still chose to travel the stars with the merchant guild." She placed a hand over her chest. "Even today, that exact same thrill of excitement beats fiercely within my heart. It has never faded."

"And now, Tingyun is ready to set out once again." She smiled, a quiet, unyielding strength radiating from her posture. "This time, I will travel in the capacity of One Who Has Forgotten the Way Home, charting a course toward an even further horizon."

Yukong absorbed her words, remaining silent for a long time before she finally spoke again. "The Whistling Flames... has everything been properly arranged with the guild?"

"I have left the daily operations to Yanming to manage on my behalf." Tingyun nodded confidently. "You know his careful character better than anyone. There is absolutely no need to worry."

"It is just that his particular method of handling affairs can be a bit... aggressive. I am afraid his style does not quite align with your usual diplomatic business principles." Yukong frowned slightly, a hint of exasperation in her tone.

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