System Space
Just as Madam Herta, her spirit traumatized by Anaxa's abstract dance, was about to calm her inner turmoil, a slightly hesitant footsteps approached from afar.
Black Herta turned her head and saw Baiheng cautiously approaching, her azure eyes flickering with hesitation, her snow-white fox ears trembling slightly due to nervousness, as if she had something to say but dared not.
"How is she?"
Black Herta spoke first, her voice flat, referring to Cyrene.
Baiheng, seeing Black Herta speak first, slightly relaxed and quickly replied, "Cyrene... her emotions are more stable. I talked with her for a while... but..."
She paused, her gaze unconsciously drifting towards the black door leading to the underground space, her voice dropping, "...The environment there might not be... very good for her recovery."
Her tone carried a cautious hint, not daring to directly complain about the harsh environment, but the worry in her eyes was evident.
Black Herta naturally understood her meaning.
(Inner thoughts: Poor environment? It's more than just poor... it's a materialized cage of past trauma from the Iron Tomb's power.)
She also wanted to improve it immediately, but the reality was that she either had to achieve
"I know."
Black Herta didn't offer much explanation, simply responding.
Saying more now would be pointless.
Baiheng looked at Black Herta's emotionless face, struggled internally for a moment, and finally mustered the courage to tentatively speak, "Um... Madam... uh..."
Black Herta's purplish-black eyes lightly swept over her.
Baiheng met that gaze, immediately shivered, and corrected herself, "...Master! May I ask... is there anything I can do?"
(Inner thoughts:...If I could get a chance to go out and look around, find some opportunities or something...)
Evidently, Baiheng had some ulterior motives.
"What do you want to do?" Black Herta's tone betrayed no emotion.
Baiheng chuckled, trying to make her intentions less obvious: "Whatever Master tells me to do, I'll do! I'm very useful! I can pilot a starship, I can... I can shop!"
Black Herta looked at her thoughtfully for a few seconds, making Baiheng's heart pound, before slowly speaking, "In that case... you will make a trip to the Luofu Immortal Boat."
"Go to Luofu?"
Baiheng's eyes instantly lit up, her face showing undisguised surprise.
That was her familiar place, with her familiar streets and alleys, and her friends whom she missed... "Mm."
Black Herta nodded, her tone still flat, "Purchase some household items..."
After all, the Astral Express still needed some things.
Baiheng was stunned for a moment, then reacted, secretly glancing around with her peripheral vision, and nodded in agreement: "I see... indeed, some things need to be acquired..."
Then Baiheng immediately straightened her back, a smile blossoming on her face.
Being able to return to Luofu, even on a mission, made her genuinely happy.
The figures of Jingliu, Dan Feng, Yingxing, and Jing Yuan involuntarily appeared in her mind. She wondered how they were doing now?
They must all be doing well, right?
A warm anticipation welled up in her heart.
Black Herta took in Baiheng's irrepressible joy and the nostalgia in her eyes. She was silent for a moment, then stated a fact in a nearly cruel, calm tone:
"You are already dead."
Baiheng's smile instantly froze: "...Eh?"
Black Herta looked at her stunned expression and continued to explain in her unruffled voice: "You died in the war against Shuhu. I brought you back. Due to the differences in time flow between different spaces, hundreds of years have passed on the Luofu Immortal Boat since the moment of your'sacrifice'."
She paused slightly, allowing this information to sink into Baiheng's mind.
"Similarly, the name 'Baiheng' has long been recorded in the history of the Xianzhou as a hero who bravely sacrificed herself, becoming a... thing of the past."
Baiheng was completely dumbfounded, her mind a blank.
Hundreds of years... hero... passed... these words struck her heart like heavy hammers.
She subconsciously looked down at her hands; how could this real body... Black Herta took a step closer, almost face to face with Baiheng, her purplish-black eyes, lacking highlights, stared directly into Baiheng's suddenly lost azure eyes, her voice lowered, carrying an undeniable warning:
"I do not wish for you to continue using the identity of 'Baiheng' outside. Because once it is discovered that someone who should have died has revived, the chain reaction it could trigger... you should be able to imagine. Especially for your 'friends' who are still alive, and perhaps already hold high positions."
These words were like a basin of ice water, completely extinguishing Baiheng's newly ignited enthusiasm for returning home.
She understood that her return might not bring surprise, but unforeseen trouble.
Time returns to the present - Xianzhou Loufu
Baiheng stood on the bustling streets of the Xianzhou Loufu, feeling as if a lifetime had passed.
The streets were still bustling with people, and the familiar vermilion beams and upturned eaves were still visible, but the style of many buildings had changed, the starships traversing the skies were more novel and streamlined, and the pedestrians' clothing incorporated more fashion elements she had never seen before.
The air was no longer completely familiar either, mixed with many strange spices.
She felt truly like a country fox who had just entered the city, finding everything novel yet with a hint of bewilderment.
Hundreds of years were enough to change too many things.
She subconsciously touched her pocket, her fingertips brushing against a cool, textured card—it was the "black card" given to her by the system puppet, said to contain unlimited credits.
When the system handed her this card, it added a few words in its inorganic voice:
"Miss Baiheng, please use it properly. From the moment the Lady saved you, your existence has been bound to the Lady. You are the Lady's property; I hope you always remember this. Do not harbor unnecessary thoughts, unless..."
The system didn't finish its sentence, but the cold data stream that flashed in its inverted cross-shaped eyes, and the implied meaning in its unfinished words, sent a chill up Baiheng's spine at the time.
She slapped her cheeks hard, trying to cheer herself up.
(Inner thoughts: Don't think so much! Complete the mission first! Purchase household items... Yes, purchase household items!)
She took a deep breath, trying to suppress the emotion of things having changed and the confusion of her identity, and began searching for a list of items that might need to be purchased on the strangely familiar streets—although Madam Herta hadn't given a specific list, only saying "household items," which was a broad category, and also to see if she could get something for Cyrene.
System Space
Madam Herta still remained in that pure white space, seemingly with no intention of leaving.
The system puppet stood quietly by her side, and after a moment, spoke, "Lady, do you not need to follow Miss Baiheng's actions? The Luofu Immortal Boat has many talented individuals, and unforeseen events may occur."
Black Herta waved her hand casually, her gaze fixed on the empty space ahead, as if she could see the scene of Luofu through space.
"It's fine." Her tone was flat. "I have a 'backdoor'."
"And we have more important matters."
---------------------------------
If you'd like to read the next 40 chapters in advance, you can support me on Patreon.
I regularly post chapter previews there, so you'll always be up-to-date and won't have to wait too long.
patreon.com/SolyuraMT
And if you enjoy the story, don't forget to give me a Power Stone. Your support really motivates me to continue translating!