"Ah?!" March 7th cried out in shock. Dan Heng had always been secretive about his past life, so she never imagined there was such hidden truth behind it.
Did that mean Dan Heng had been locked in endless battles with a friend from his previous life? Why would it turn out like this?
Stelle put away her bat, recalling when Kafka once used an anonymous account to arrange a meeting with her. At that time, the one immobilized and tormented by Mara was Blade.
To cover for him, she even pretended to be under Kafka's command spell and fought Yanqing.
Her gaze drifted between Dan Heng and Sylvester, confusion clouding her thoughts.
In a situation like this, what can I even do?
If Dan Heng had tried to end his life just now, she could have knocked him out with her bat. But now?
Once again, the two of them worried over Dan Heng's state of mind. Yet this time, they realized they might not be able to do anything at all.
As for Sylvester, he had an entirely different mindset when facing Dan Heng's questioning.
He didn't feel offended—in fact, he seemed almost pleased.
Not because of some strange fetish.
But because he had finally gotten the answer he wanted.
Blade bore no grudge against him. He had no reason to give Dan Heng advice out of pity.
What Sylvester truly cared about was the irreconcilable conflict between those two. He had promised to return Jingliu's life to its proper course. With the [Samsara Elixir], the solution to the Mara was within sight.
The only thing left was reconciling the surviving members of the High-Cloud Quintet.
With others, it was manageable—at worst, they were strangers once close, and there was still room for maneuver.
But Dan Heng and Blade were different. They had initiated and taken part in resurrecting Baiheng.
After causing a catastrophe, Blade's only wish—besides seeking death—was to drag Dan Heng down with him to the underworld. In his eyes, as the instigators, only meeting again in hell could atone for their sins.
To turn such a pair of life-and-death companions into forgiving friends was no ordinary feat.
For example, this [Orb of IX]—if Blade got his hands on it, there'd be no doubt. He would cling to Dan Heng, and the two of them would share the exalted treatment of a golden Curio together.
But now, Dan Heng resisted Sylvester's proposal. On the matter of permanently ending Blade's life, his stance was crystal clear.
No!
And with that, the matter still had room to turn.
"Although you're both part of the High-Cloud Quintet, you've been mortal enemies for a long time, haven't you? How long has he hunted you? And how many times have you 'killed' him? What's so bad about ending this painful journey early? To keep repeating this meaningless chase isn't just harmful to you—it's a hidden threat to the Astral Express as well, isn't it?"
Sylvester expounded on Blade's threat, emphasizing the benefits of using the [Orb of IX] against him.
Halfway through, he tilted his head to glance at Stelle and March 7th. They played an enormous role in swaying Dan Heng's mindset.
Then, leaning back in his chair with legs crossed, his voice was casual, as if none of this mattered to him: "Besides, Blade has probably been looking forward to this day for a long time, hasn't he?"
Though Sylvester's words urged Dan Heng to kill Blade, he knew that the more he pressed, the more determined Dan Heng would be to refuse.
"You!" Sure enough, upon hearing his words—especially that last line—Dan Heng's eyes trembled violently, though he couldn't utter a single response.
Because Sylvester had spoken nothing but the truth.
It was true that he couldn't endure the endless pursuit.
It was true that Blade, in madness, might lash out at his companions.
And Blade's yearning for death—there was no questioning it. No one desired it more.
But… should sending him into hell really fall to his own hands?
Dan Heng's fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles cracked.
No… I can't accept this! How could I possibly accept it? The Dragon Transmutation Secret Art and the Transmutation Arcanum to resurrect Baiheng should have been completely feasible.
If it had succeeded, even if he were to be eternally imprisoned at the bottom of the Shackling Prison, he would not have regretted it.
Then Baiheng and Blade might have been forced to live as fugitives, Jingliu and Jing Yuan might have cursed him endlessly. But at least they would have all lived, walking their paths to the end of life.
If only that ritual had succeeded.
But he—he had ruined it!
Until he suffered the Molting Rebirth, through the endless days and nights of the Shackling Prison, he had let regret bleed away.
Yet even after reincarnating as Dan Heng, he realized it wasn't over.
The memories remained. The power remained. He hadn't been reborn so much as rejuvenated.
He lived by the creed that a Vidyadhara's molting signified the death of the past life, and the present person bore no ties to the one before.
But he had never considered that after such a disastrous mistake, he would have to shatter his past glory with his own hands?!
What a joke!
"What a joke!"
Before Dan Heng could shout it aloud, a clear female voice roared out first.
He turned his head, stunned, to find March 7th beside him.
But March 7th didn't even glance his way. Instead, she shouted at Sylvester: "I may not know the full story, but I do know this—the Nameless of the Astral Express would never betray their companions! Past or present, when a comrade is suffering, you don't abandon them and say something like, 'to spare him pain, let him die.' I won't agree with a single word of that!"
"March?" Dan Heng stared blankly at the usually silly, cheerful girl who now blazed with energy.
He instinctively tried to deflect: "This is my own—"
"What do you mean your problem? On the Express, it's our problem." Stelle stepped forward, cutting him off. "Even if the past is a mess, as long as there's a sliver of hope, we'll seek the best outcome possible. That's the Path of Trailblaze of the Astral Express!"
She laid a hand on his shoulder. "It's okay, Dan Heng. I may be the latest to join, but we've already saved multiple worlds together. From Belobog to Penacony, didn't we resolve every hardship we saw? If we can help so many others, there's no reason we can't resolve our own struggles too."
"That's right, Teacher Dan Heng!" March 7th slapped her hand onto his other shoulder. She still grinned with her usual carefree charm, but her smile carried a pure sincerity: "With us, and with Himeko and Uncle Yang, there's nothing we can't achieve. That man was once your companion too. If he's suffering, we won't just ignore it."
"You two…" Dan Heng's eyes flickered between them. Seeing their identical playful stance, just like the first time they teased him, his vision blurred with moisture.
So that's it… the one who always acted calmest, most orderly, was actually the one who understood companionship the least.
He chuckled, self-deprecating yet warmed with gratitude: "Blade is extremely dangerous."
Stelle and March 7th exchanged a look, then smiled in satisfaction. They knew Dan Heng had agreed.
Now, together, they could help him mend the regrets of the past. Even if they didn't yet know the full truth of what happened back then, one thing was certain—the Express would never ignore a companion's suffering.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
Sylvester's applause rang out suddenly. Smiling at the three, he said, "I'll be counting on you to redeem Blade, then."
Yes, with Stelle and March 7th's help, Dan Heng's problem had been neatly resolved.
Now that his knot had unraveled, only the final goal remained.
Not bad for a bit of wordplay and effort.
Eh? Dan Heng, 'neatly resolved'… that sounds like a hell joke.
"Shopkeeper Sylvester, though we've only just decided on this…" Dan Heng recalled what had happened just moments ago and finally understood Sylvester's true intentions. Folding his hands in a respectful salute, he said solemnly: "Shopkeeper Sylvester, Dan Heng thanks you."
Sylvester didn't decline. Sitting upright, he accepted the gratitude before replying: "Mr. Dan Heng, you're too polite. For the sake of my little amusement, you'll have to put in some real effort."
"With Boss Sylvester's generosity, any effort of mine is hardly worth mentioning." Dan Heng gripped the [Orb of IX] he'd drawn from the trash can, certain now that Sylvester had intentionally guided it into his hands.
Given its immense power, there was no doubt Sylvester had paid dearly.
One measure of respect deserves another. Yet with its value, he might never truly repay him.
"If there's ever a need, I'll give my utmost to help."
"Wow! Boss, you're so sly!" March 7th finally caught on, realizing the merchant had pushed so hard only to reunite the High-Cloud Quintet.
Maybe this boss wasn't such a bad person after all.
She laughed. "If you need me, I'll help too!"
"Eheh, if both of you are helping, does that mean I get to slack off?" Stelle teased mischievously from the side.
March 7th scolded through laughter: "Hey! Be serious—it's not the time for that!"
"Ahem. By the name of the Galactic Baseballer, O shopkeeper of trash cans, I will do my utmost to help you!" Stelle deepened her voice, imitating some line she'd heard somewhere, sealing the promise.
"I don't need much from you. Just buy more trash cans from me," Sylvester joked, enjoying the moment's harmony.
"Alright then, watch me! I'll clean out your shop's treasure stock all at once!" Stelle bounded toward the shelves with enthusiasm.
"Trailblazer, Shopkeeper Sylvester has already given us plenty. The [Orb of IX]'s value can't even be measured in money," Dan Heng reminded solemnly. His respect for Sylvester now was nothing but genuine.
"It's fine. Better if you do draw something good." Sylvester waved it off with carefree ease.
Honestly, I don't even know what my shop's true treasure is supposed to be.
With a gaze pure as if admiring a bathing beauty, Stelle scrutinized every inch of each trash can before finally selecting her chosen one.
She tugged the lid open with brimming confidence.
This is it! I can feel it calling to me!