Chapter 167 - 166: A Dragon in a Trash Can

Words : 1573 Updated : Oct 11th, 2025

While Dan Heng, Seele, and Silver Wolf set off on their mission, Pei Guang, Stelle, and March 7th continued exploring the Luofu. Stelle took a good look around. "So many roads are blocked by Cloud Knights... can we even explore properly like this?" Pei Guang considered this for a moment. "Looks like we'll have to progress a bit in the main quest to unlock more areas." March 7th, unconcerned, chimed in, "Whatever! Let's check out all the places we can go for now. Oh, hey! You two, get over here! This spot is perfect for a group photo. Say... cheese!" Pei Guang joked, "Squeeze!" March 7th blinked. "Huh?" Pei Guang laughed. "Sometimes I just like to go with something a bit offbeat, you know?" March 7th rolled her eyes but played along, snapping the photo as she said, "Squeeze!" The two playfully jabbed at each other before Pei Guang darted off, laughing, "Bet you can't catch me!" Meanwhile, Stelle, watching the two bicker, calmly pulled out her phone to dive into a quick game. To anyone who stumbled upon the scene, this didn't look like a crisis team but more like carefree travelers enjoying a day out. As Stelle was about to join the chase, her gaze fell on a stack of abandoned delivery boxes by the side of the road. For a moment, they almost seemed to glint with the promise of treasure. No way am I getting distracted by a few random boxes, she thought, trying to step away. But just as she did, a golden glimmer caught her eye again, and suddenly the urge to peek inside was too strong to resist. Pei Guang's chase with March 7th was interrupted when a quiet voice called out nearby. "It's hard to stay cool in this dry weather. External heat needs inner cooling, internal heat needs outer soothing, and if you're still not sure... there's more than one cure!" Pei Guang and March 7th stopped in their tracks, intrigued by a cheerful voice. Turning, they saw a girl with horns, her tail swishing as she sat on the railing, taking in the scenery. Sensing someone behind her, the girl—Bailu—turned around, blinking as she spotted Pei Guang. Pei Guang matched her gaze, giving her a cheeky blink of his own. Curious, March 7th asked, "Hey, kiddo, where's your dad?" Bailu shook her head. "I don't have a dad." March 7th was taken aback, a pang of sadness in her heart. "What about your mom?" Again, Bailu shook her head. "Nope, no mom either." "Ah..." March 7th turned to Pei Guang, feeling a bit guilty. If she could, she'd have given herself a smack for asking those questions. Pei Guang, unfazed, looked her over thoughtfully. "Horns, a dragon tail? Are you... a dragonkin?" Bailu blinked in surprise. "Huh? You don't recognize me?" "Should I?" Pei Guang asked back. Bailu replied, "Oh, you must be outsiders then. Guess it makes sense you don't know me. I'm actually..." But she trailed off, hearing a distant call for her. "Lady Bailu! Lady Bailu!" Looking toward the source, she saw a familiar face along with a group of Cloud Knights. She was about to make a run for it when she saw more Cloud Knights approaching from another direction. "Oh no... I'm totally busted," she sighed. Pei Guang raised an eyebrow. "You don't want to get caught?" Bailu nodded eagerly. "I managed to sneak out, but now the city's under lockdown, and I didn't even get to try a meat bun or milk tea before they found me." Feeling sympathy, March 7th turned to Pei Guang, whispering, "Poor kid—no parents, strict guardians. Why don't we show her around?" Pei Guang shrugged. "Why not? I get the feeling tagging along with her could lead us into some juicy side quests. Big family, power struggles, inheritance issues... it's got potential!" Hearing their exchange, Bailu sighed, realizing these strangers didn't fully understand her situation as a Vidyadhara, without parents by nature. But at this point, she'd given up explaining. "Guess I'll be taken back anyway," she said, resigned. Pei Guang asked, "So... you really don't want to go back?" Bailu nodded, "Exactly! Back there, everything I do has to follow rules and proper etiquette. With all that, can I even call myself a dragon?" Pei Guang grinned. "Whether you're a dragon or not, I've got a plan to keep you hidden." Bailu's eyes lit up. "What's the plan?" Pei Guang pulled out a trash can. "Get in here, and they'll never find you." Seeing the trash can from Belobog, Bailu gave it a wary look. "This can work? ...Isn't this a trash can?" Pei Guang answered with a mysterious look. "Trust me. As long as you're out of their direct line of sight, you'll be invisible to them." Skeptical, Bailu asked, "Can it really work? No one would be stupid enough to overlook such an obvious trash can, right?" March 7th put a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "If it's Pei Guang's idea, it'll work like magic. Pei Guang is... well, let's just say he's the most unique Trailblazer of all. He's even been hit by the Astral Express itself." Surprised, Bailu's eyes widened. "Wait, are you... the Nameless?" Pei Guang proudly declared, "That's right! The one and only Galactic Wooden Swordmen, Pei Guang, at your service!" Bailu gave them a serious look, taking note of March 7th and Pei Guang's "tickets" attached to their clothing, subtle markers that indeed verified them as Nameless. The symbol of a Trailblazer was impossible to miss on their gear, making Pei Guang and the others easily identifiable as official representatives of the Astral Express—a status that was not only authentic but also indisputable. Bailu gave Pei Guang a sweet, trusting smile. Then, without a second thought, she nestled herself right into the trash can. Pei Guang casually placed the lid on top, sealing her in. It wasn't long before a foxian girl approached with five Cloud Knights in tow, another group converging from the opposite direction. Once they regrouped, the foxian anxiously asked the others, "Did any of you spot Lady Bailu?" The other group shook their heads. "Not here!" "Same on our side. Where could she have gone?" she muttered, frustrated. Pei Guang raised his voice, calling out, "Hey! If we tell you where Bailu is, is there a reward involved?" The foxian nodded eagerly. "Yes, yes, absolutely! You've seen Lady Bailu?" Inside the trash can, Bailu's eyes widened in alarm. She trusted Pei Guang and March 7th as Trailblazers, but Pei Guang's question made her suddenly worry she'd been double-crossed. Still, despite her fears, she stayed hidden, waiting to see what would happen. Pei Guang leaned in closer to the foxian and nodded confidently. "Yep, Bailu is right here in this trash can." The foxian girl eyed the trash can, then shook her head, sounding more than a little annoyed. "Sir, please don't waste our time. We're in a hurry." With that, she directed her Cloud Knights. "Alright, keep searching both sides of the street. We have to find Lady Bailu, no matter what." Pei Guang's truthfulness was, to her, just nonsense. After all, the Xianzhou didn't even use trash cans; she assumed it was just some kind of "art piece" by Pei Guang and March 7th. Even if she had noticed it, there was no way she'd believe anyone was hiding inside it. As the search team left, Bailu's heart raced as she listened to their retreating footsteps. "Did... did that actually work? They didn't even check inside! This trash can really is magical!" She was curious, but she also wasn't about to risk peeking out just yet. Moments later, Stelle joined them, proudly carrying a package she'd just swiped off the roadside. Catching sight of the trash can, she walked over. "So, what's inside here? Did you hide something cool while I was gone? Let me take a look!" Stelle opened the lid and found herself face-to-face with Bailu. She glanced at Pei Guang and March 7th, her mind working overtime before she finally spoke, "Wait... did I just unlock a secret item? A... daughter?" March 7th couldn't hold back her laughter. "Stelle! What are you even saying? She's a kid we ran into, from a pretty strict family. No parents, and she's being dragged back home. Super sad, honestly." Bailu was about to interject, but Stelle's eyes sparkled. "So she's our new teammate, right?" Bailu shook her head vigorously. "No, no! I'm not joining the Trailblazers. I..." Before she could finish, Pei Guang reached in and patted her head. "No worries. You don't have to be a Trailblazer to be our friend. Look, here's my contact info. Whenever you want to hang out, just give us a call, and we'll take you anywhere you want to go." Bailu's eyes lit up. "Does that mean... I can have milk tea too?" Pei Guang nodded solemnly. "Whatever you want to drink, it's yours!" Bailu laughed. "Alright, then I'll be your friend."

Chapter 167 - 166: A Dragon in a Trash Can

Comments (0)