She led the group to a private meeting area.
Yukong's light purple eyes studied the group before her, her gaze falling upon the silver-gray-haired beauty and the sweet, navy-blue-haired girl. Her expression was neutral.
"Are you the two who cured the Mara-struck?"
After the Cloud Knight reported the incident, it caused a massive uproar within the Luofu.
At first, some people didn't believe it, thinking the severely injured soldier's account was a hallucination brought on by a dazed state.
It wasn't until other Cloud Knights testified, confirming they had watched the soldier who was reverted from a fully Mara-struck state succumb to it with their own eyes.
Only then was the matter thoroughly confirmed to be true.
That soldier, reverted from a fully Mara-struck state, was swiftly escorted to the Alchemy Commission by the Cloud Knights who arrived later. Physicians are currently examining the soldier's condition.
There are no detailed results yet.
The Seat of Divine Foresight has already issued a temporary gag order to the Cloud Knights and Tingyun. For now, only the upper echelons of the Six Commissions and related personnel are aware of this matter.
"It wasn't a cure. We just helped suppress it for a while."
Bronya crossed her arms, a calm and placid smile on her face.
"Suppressed... is that so."
Yukong seemed lost in thought, nodding slowly.
Even if it was just suppression, there was no precedent on the Xianzhou for reversing a fully Mara-struck state.
What method did these two use?
It seemed that Bronya and Seele's suppression of the Mara-struck was an extraordinary event for the Xianzhou. After a moment's thought, Welt took a step forward:
"Greetings, Helm Master. I am Welt of the Astral Express."
"Greetings, Mr. Welt. Tingyun has already reported your purpose to me in full."
Yukong said calmly, "Please forgive me for declining your kind offer."
"Huh? Declined?"
March 7th stared blankly, her expression uncomprehending. Another one who won't even accept free help?
"But why?"
"The Xianzhou has sailed the stars for eight thousand years and has seen its share of life-and-death crises. While the current disaster is fierce, the Xianzhou is more than capable of handling it. We have no need to rely on external forces to quell this calamity."
Yukong spoke with the unwavering certainty of a mountain.
"From the current situation, the Stellaron's influence has yet to fully take root..."
The kind-hearted old Welt was unwilling to give up, trying his best to explain the dangers of the Stellaron and the Express's expertise in handling them, hoping to get involved.
"This is an internal matter for the Xianzhou Alliance. The Astral Express need not interfere," Yukong refused again, her tone sharp and decisive.
Hearing this, March 7th's enthusiasm cooled, and only Welt wanted to continue clarifying the situation:
"But..."
"Uncle Yang, how can you be so disrespectful to the Xianzhou?"
Caelus raised a hand and placed it on Welt's shoulder.
"Hm?" Welt was taken aback. Had he been disrespectful to the Xianzhou?
Welt reviewed his previous words. No.
He had been very polite.
"Lay down your savior complex and respect the destiny of others."
Stelle put her palms together in a solemn gesture, like a cyber-Buddha with a great holy light shining behind her.
Stelle never hesitated to help those in need—as long as there was a reward—but if they didn't need it, there was no reason to insist.
The corner of Yukong's eye twitched slightly.
Why did she feel like she was just scolded?
Even though she was, in fact, the one who had refused their help.
"Let's just treat it as a vacation. Trailblazing is trailblazing, no matter where we are. I saw a lot of delicious food on the way here."
Caelus had indeed been captivated by the Xianzhou's snacks and delicacies.
"Yay! Seele, Bronya, let's go shopping~!"
Remembering the food she saw on the way, March 7th swallowed and cheered with delight.
"Wait a moment," Yukong interrupted, raising a hand.
"Is there something else?" March 7th knitted her pretty brows.
Her warm offer had been met with a cold shoulder. Little March was sulking.
"It has only been a few days since the Stellaron was discovered on the Luofu. The Starskiff Sea is completely sealed; no one can get in or out..."
Yukong's words grew sharper, though her gaze softened slightly as it swept over Bronya and Seele. "May I ask how all of you knew about the crisis on the Xianzhou?"
"Furthermore, I checked the entry and exit records for the Starskiff Sea and discovered traces of a system hack. A hacker took control of the Jade Gate to guide the Astral Express into the port."
"And from the signature left by that highly skilled hacker, we have confirmed her identity as Silver Wolf of the Stellaron Hunters. Could you please explain this?"
"What?" March 7th was a bit bewildered.
"..."
Welt fell silent, recalling the unusual circumstances of their arrival.
Seele looked at Caelus, who gave her a slight smile and immediately took out his phone to ask Silver Wolf.
"[Returning Wolf King: That's how the script was written. What's up? Need help?]"
Although the script didn't mention Silver Wolf having a role on the Xianzhou, as long as the clearly written parts were completed, the rest could be improvised without issue.
"[It's fine, you're busy.]"
Caelus knew his good buddy wouldn't screw him over; he was the only one who got to screw her over.
"Oh, that~"
Stelle thought for a moment and decided to tell the truth. She nodded calmly and said, "My mom told us."
As soon as she spoke, the expression on March 7th's face became priceless. Welt's hand, which was adjusting his glasses, trembled, nearly dropping them.
"Your mother?"
Surprise and astonishment flashed in Yukong's eyes. She looked at Stelle intently, then glanced at Caelus, who looked like her twin. "And who might your mother be...?"
"It's Kafka," Stelle said with a shrug and a wide grin.
"Kafka... Ahem, Kafka!?"
Her expression changed abruptly and bizarrely, her voice rising with the shock she felt. Yukong stared at Stelle and Caelus in disbelief.
"The Stellaron Hunter, Kafka, is your mother?"
"That's right... Mmph!"
Stelle puffed out her chest proudly, only to have her mouth covered by a small hand from March 7th, who had scrambled over.
"What nonsense are you spouting? I told you not to say anything stupid!"
March 7th's eyes were filled with panic and a bit of terror, so much so that she looked like she was about to suffocate.
She was about to be scared to death by Stelle's insane antics!
In front of a high-ranking official of the Xianzhou, especially when the Stellaron Hunter Silver Wolf had just hacked the Jade Gate to let them in.
If she believed this, they'd never be able to clear their names, not even if they jumped into the galaxy itself!
"Please, don't mind her."
Even though she was very unhappy with the Helm Master's attitude, March 7th still forced a gentle, sheepish smile and tried to make excuses for Stelle.
"She has mental problems."
"Mmph mmph!"
Stelle tried to struggle, but little March held on tighter. Stelle's brow twitched, and she immediately stuck out her tongue and started licking March 7th's palm.
She learned this from Caelus~!
However, perhaps due to the gender difference, being licked by Stelle didn't make March 7th feel shy.
Caelus felt the cool, moist sensation transmitted to the tip of his tongue and the scent unique to March 7th, and he glanced at the Stellaron-kin.
"Caelus, don't just stand there! Hurry up and explain that Kafka isn't your mother!"
Seeing Yukong's darkening expression and deepening frown, March 7th grew more frantic. With both hands covering Stelle's mouth, she could only nudge Caelus with her shoulder to urge him on.
"Oh, right." Caelus took a step forward, his expression righteous and noble.
"She's talking nonsense. Kafka is not my mother."
Yukong's gaze was fixed on Stelle and Caelus's faces, still thick with suspicion.
Seeing this, Caelus placed a hand on his chest and, in a cadenced, sincere, and earnest tone, recited a certain bishop's classic line.
"Lady Yukong, I am not lying!"
With a voice similar to Kevin's and a posture reminiscent of Otto's, Welt, who had been trying hard to keep his blood pressure down after Stelle's antics, felt his eye begin to twitch.
Then, Caelus's next sentence made Welt completely lose his composure, and he couldn't stop coughing.
"Kafka is actually my wife!"
Caelus's posture was that of a gentleman introducing his wife.
"???"
Yukong's face was a big question mark.
"Caelus!"
March 7th, on the verge of frenzy, went to cover Caelus's mouth, only to smear the Stellaron-kin's saliva from her palm all over his lips. Her brain trembled slightly.
"Argh! I'm done with this."
March 7th gave up trying to fix the situation, deciding to leave it all for Uncle Yang to handle.
She pulled a tissue from her skirt pocket and began wiping her hand, now covered in the saliva of two people, then looked over at the smiling Bronya.
She thought Bronya's composure was truly impressive. Her fiancé was right in front of her, calling another woman his wife, and she wasn't even angry. Didn't Bronya and Caelus usually seem so close?
Welt felt weary, truly weary. His head ached, and his blood pressure was high.
How much effort would it take to explain all this?
"You two..."
Yukong stared intently at the two gray-haired individuals, her expression solemn and slightly grim.
She had never heard that the Stellaron Hunter Kafka had a child, or a husband...
Of course, just because she hadn't heard it didn't mean it wasn't true. After all, with the Stellaron Hunters' methods, it wouldn't be difficult to settle down and have a family without being easily discovered.
Otherwise, the nations and civilizations ravaged by the Stellaron Hunters would have long ago targeted her family as hostages to force Kafka's hand.
The key point was, no normal person would make this kind of joke upon arriving at the Xianzhou and having a formal meeting with the Helm Master of one of the Six Commissions!
"What exactly is your relationship with Kafka?"
Yukong's tone was extremely serious.
She didn't know whether to believe them or not.
If they were really related to the Stellaron Hunters, it seemed unlikely they would expose themselves so willingly.
"Mother!"
"Wife!"
Stelle and Caelus spoke in unison.
"Hey, Caelus, you're taking advantage of me again!"
"How am I taking advantage? Who's to say Kafka can't be both your mother and your wife?"
"...You kinda have a point! So she's my mother and my wife."
Stelle stroked her small chin, seemingly grasping some hidden truth, and amended her statement.
"..."
Yukong fell silent, her tone growing stately and cold. "Are you two perhaps making a fool of me?"
"How could we? Why would I lie in such an important setting? If you don't believe me, Lady Yukong, I can show you proof."
Caelus said something that baffled Welt and March 7th, shattering their composure.
Huh?
Proof?
They really are related?
While even Stelle looked bewildered, Caelus took out his phone and held it in front of Yukong.
"Wh-what is this!"
When Yukong saw the image on the phone, her fox ears shot straight up. Her eyes widened in utter shock, and her fur stood on end, as if she had seen something more terrifying than a ghost.
"No need to overreact, it's a very nice picture... Ah, sorry, wrong one."
Caelus smiled sheepishly and swiped the screen, having accidentally displayed the picture of Lan and Yaoshi.
The next photo, sent by Silver Wolf as a thank-you to her adoptive father, was of Kafka after her bath and after changing, showing off the fit of her clothes. The intimate relationship between the purple-haired beauty and the photographer was obvious.
"See? You believe me now, right?"
Faced with Caelus's brilliant smile, Yukong fell completely silent.
The photo could have been fabricated, but a simple verification would reveal if it was original or edited.
But regardless of whether it was real or fake, the situation was baffling.
If it was real, it confirmed Caelus's connection to the Stellaron Hunters. If it was fake, what was the benefit of deceiving their host in what was essentially a diplomatic meeting?
For a moment, she couldn't tell if Caelus was crazy or if she was.
Just as the atmosphere grew inexplicably tense and Yukong was debating whether to order the Sky-Faring Commission's Cloud Knight guards to restrain the group...
A laugh cut through the grim tension, and a translucent blue figure appeared behind Yukong.
"Hahaha, Yukong, you don't need to be so rigid when entertaining guests."
"General Jing Yuan..."
Yukong turned to the side, making way for the man with the high, white ponytail who was now stepping forward with a cheerful smile.
"How could the Astral Express possibly be allied with the Stellaron Hunters? They're mortal enemies."
"And besides..."
Jing Yuan's half-closed eyes opened slightly, his bronze-gold irises glinting. His expression was a mixture of amusement, curiosity, and deep meaning.
"These two were recently gazed upon by the Reignbow Arbiter."
"What!?"
As Jing Yuan's words fell, not only Yukong, but also Welt, March 7th, and Seele all turned to stare at Stelle and Caelus in astonishment.
________________________________________
If you want more chapters, please consider supporting my page on Patreon. with 50 advanced chapters available on Patreon
patreon.com/Leanzin