Upon hearing Welt's words, Yukong's expression darkened. She then shook her head and said, "Let her calm down on her own. This time, she stole the Helm Master's token and took on a major mission without authorization—such actions are already a grave violation..."
"Helm Master Yukong, though this is your family matter, I must still speak up. Qingni's current state is likely directly related to you. May I ask what conflicts exist between you and your daughter?"
"This..." Yukong hesitated, but in the end, she spoke up. "The truth is, Qingni has always wanted to become a pilot..."
Yukong briefly explained the conflict between them—Qingni's dream and her own opposition.
After listening to Yukong's account, the members of the Express Crew exchanged glances. So, Qingni's current state was because you've been stopping her from becoming a pilot all this time? This kind of love is... a bit too overwhelming, isn't it?
"Actually, Qingni is not my biological daughter..."
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"Wuwuwu... Why? Why must you keep stopping me?!"
Outside the Stargazer Navalia, Qingni, who had just fled from Yukong's presence, leaned against a stack of cargo containers and wept. At this moment, the foxian girl's heart was filled with grievance and sorrow. She simply couldn't understand why her mother—the Helm Master of the Sky-Faring Commission—would consistently oppose her dream of becoming a pilot. Was she afraid that Qingni might surpass her?
Amidst her anguish, Qingni's heart gave rise to thoughts that should never have existed—even some malicious speculations about her own mother.
What should I do? What should I do? What must I do for her to finally agree to let me become a pilot? Could it be that I must...
"My, my, what have we here? Ah, what a lovely young lady." Just as Qingni's thoughts spiraled uncontrollably, a voice—both proper and slightly playful—sounded before her.
Instinctively raising her head, she saw a handsome black-haired man standing before her, a warm smile on his lips that shone into her heart like winter sunlight.
"You are...?" Qingni's sobs halted as she stared blankly at the young man before her. It wasn't until he sat down beside her that she finally snapped out of her daze.
"Y-You...!"
"I am Yun Fan, merely a passing gentleman."
Indeed, the newcomer was Yun Fan.
Ever since the Express Crew arrived on the Xianzhou Luofu, his divine sense had left a mark on each of the Nameless.
Of course, this didn't mean Yun Fan intended to spy on them. It was just that, due to his birth and interference, Elio's script had long since become a worthless scrap. Though, thanks to the world's corrective force, events were still unfolding somewhat according to the original plot.
But what if? What if some deviation occurred, leading to March or "Welt Yang Sit-ups" meeting an untimely end? That would truly be a regret beyond remedy. Even if the power of causality could bring them back, the experience of death was better left unexperienced.
Hm? Then how did Yun Fan know about Qingni's situation? Well... occasionally checking in on the crew's movements through the mark wasn't entirely unreasonable.
"A gentleman? Hmm, you do seem like one."
Hearing this, Qingni's gaze wandered over Yun Fan's figure—his handsome features, neatly trimmed hair, and deep eyes—all fitting the image of a gentleman.
"Then... what brings you to me?" For a moment, Qingni forgot her sorrow and instead looked at Yun Fan with curiosity.
"Nothing much. It's just that seeing such a beautiful lady crying here, I couldn't help but come over to offer some comfort." Yun Fan replied with a smile.
As for Qingni, the daughter of the pilot Caiyi, he held some appreciation for her—though it was merely appreciation. During his earlier... observation, he noticed the girl's unstable emotions and feared she might do something reckless. Thus, with a mere thought, he appeared before her, intending to offer some solace.
"Pfft—" Qingni couldn't help but laugh, her gloom temporarily forgotten. "Mr. Yun Fan, you're quite good at cheering girls up. Could it be... you're actually a playboy?"
"A playboy? I suppose so. After all, I'm entangled with quite a few girls." Yun Fan admitted with a frank smile, concealing nothing.
"This..." His words left Qingni momentarily speechless. After a brief silence, she spoke again, her expression complicated.
"Mr. Yun Fan, you're unexpectedly honest."
"Haha, you flatter me." Yun Fan accepted her words, whether they were praise or criticism.
"Miss..."
"Qingni. My name is Qingni."
"Mm." Yun Fan nodded slightly. "Then, Miss Qingni, would you mind telling me why you were crying?"
His words lingered in Qingni's ears, and she fell silent for a moment.
"Mr. Yun Fan, what are your thoughts on Helm Master Yukong?"
"Helm Master Yukong? She's a fine leader. But at the same time... she's a pitiable person."
"Pitiable?" Qingni was stunned by Yun Fan's assessment. This was the first time she'd heard someone describe her mother with such a word.
"Yes, pitiable. During the Third Abundance War, Yukong participated as a pilot. In that brutal conflict, her comrades and closest friends fell one after another.
"That battle claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of soldiers, including her dearest friend, Caiyi. Yet in the end, what truly turned the tide?
"A single divine arrow from the Reignbow Arbiter."
Here, Yun Fan paused, glancing subtly at the silent Qingni beside him before continuing.
"For an Aeon, annihilating those Abundance followers would have been effortless. If so, then what was the meaning behind those hundreds of thousands of sacrifices? After that, a disheartened Yukong relinquished her right to soar the skies as a pilot. Instead, she adopted Caiyi's daughter and assumed her current position as Helm Master."
"Y-You... what did you say...?" Qingni's voice trembled as she covered her mouth in disbelief, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Caiyi's... daughter..."
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New Genshin Fanfic is Up!