Chapter 58 - 57: Is Dan Heng Getting the Axe? Feathered Spirit Already Planned His Burial Spot, Right?!

"My dear friends, General Jing Yuan truly knows how to speak eloquently." In Little Gui's live stream room, alongside Guinaifen now sat Sushang. Sushang held a cup of Immortal Delight Tea, sipping it leisurely while watching Little Gui's live broadcast. Her eyes narrowed contentedly, radiating pure relaxation. Although she wasn't personally playing the game, during her shifts, she had extensively discussed it with her colleagues and even peeked at Little Gui's streams. As a result, she fully understood the extraordinary nature of this game! It wasn't just the Cloud Knights; rumor had it that even the Divination Commission was following Little Gui's broadcasts closely! That's why they dispatched her to protect him. "Little Gui, you're really hitting the big time now..." Sushang inwardly sighed. "I'll be counting on you for late-night barbecue treats from here on out." Meanwhile, Guinaifen was deeply engrossed in the unfolding narrative. Not only was the stream immensely popular, but even if there were no viewers, Guinaifen couldn't resist pushing the story forward! She was now intensely curious about the future destinies of these characters. "Although they didn't allow us to help search for the Stellaron, they entrusted us with an even more significant task—finding Kafka, who is hiding within Luofu!" "Little Gui, I think completing this mission seems quite impossible..." "Just who is Kafka? We might not even catch a glimpse of her trail!" As they discussed, Tingyun displayed an image of Kafka from a previous scene—the moment when she hijacked the train's communication system. "The coordinates are here; your course lies entirely in your hands. Though our pursuits may differ greatly, the stars' orbits will inevitably converge. Farewell." Upon seeing this clip again, Guinaifen found it somewhat peculiar. She leaned closer to the audio output, listening attentively. Sure enough, amidst the background noise, faint sounds could be heard. "What's special about these words?" "Coordinates? Orbits converging?" "There were some noises while she was speaking." Guinaifen decisively chose the third option. "You're correct," Tingyun praised her. "For most people, these sounds might seem insignificant. However, to the Artisanship Commission responsible for maintaining facilities, every machine's operation resonates like distinct melodies in a symphony. "The General summoned artisans, and after comparing and analyzing the sounds, they determined that Kafka's background noise originated from the shipbuilding facilities at Stargazer Navalia. "Please take a brief rest and gather your strength. Once prepared, we shall set out to capture the culprit, relying on your esteemed skills at that time." "Miss Tingyun, all this 'benefactor' talk makes me shiver with delight." "Kafka at Stargazer Navalia? Heh heh, I'm off to find her right now!" "Don't seriously think she'll greet you with a smile if you encounter her. You won't even know how you died." "I admit, within the story, she does have some charm. But in reality, I'd definitely steer clear—there's still no resolution regarding the Stellaron issue." "Dying beneath Mother's feet would make my life worth it." "Somebody's been brainwashed by the Stellaron Hunters; fork them out!" Glancing at the chat, Guinaifen couldn't help but feel her lips twitch. At the beginning, the streamers weren't like this at all! But now... Ahem... Back to the main storyline! I need to find Kafka right away! Immediately! Without delay! Welt addressed the group, "Let's take a short break first. Pursuing Stellaron Hunter Kafka will undoubtedly be a tough battle." March 7th suddenly interjected, "Oh right, let's send a message to reassure everyone on the train!" "Especially Dan Heng, hehe. Ask him what he's up to and tell him we're having so much fun here!" Seeing this, Guinaifen's eyes lit up, and she blurted out, "Dan Heng!" "Could it be..." "Is there...a plotline involving Dan Heng during our Luofu journey?" She promptly sent a message to Dan Heng. However, both messages failed to deliver! Suddenly, the scene shifted— It transitioned to the viewpoint inside the Astral Express! In one of the compartments, Dan Heng stood with a blank expression. Himeko approached and said, "You've been standing there, lost in thought, for half an hour already. It's rare to see you so worried." "Worried about those two kids' safety? With Welt around, you can relax a bit more." After a moment of silence, Dan Heng asked, "Himeko, did you save the remote communication from the Stellaron Hunters? Can I take a look?" "Sure." As Blade's image appeared on screen, Dan Heng's pupils instantly contracted. "The Xianzhou is in grave danger!" "...This man, this person—" "If he's aboard the Xianzhou, then everyone—Welt, March 7th, Stelle—they're all at risk!" "But..." "He and you... have something to do with what you both sought to escape from, don't they?" Himeko immediately grasped the crux of the issue. "But I... can't just abandon them. I fear... my burdens have finally caught up with me, involving everyone else as well..." "Who doesn't carry burdens? Even someone like little March, who remembers nothing, shoulders a heavy weight." "We tread unseen paths of fate. Everything we witness, every experience, everything we Trailblaze becomes our baggage. It's both a burden we bear and the strength that propels us forward." "Don't overthink it, Dan Heng." After a brief pause, Himeko continued softly, "According to protocol, the train will be docked for seven standard days. During this time, passengers are free to use their time as they wish." "With Pom-Pom and me on duty aboard the train, it should be enough." "Do whatever you feel is right; it's better than regretting later," Himeko advised. Dan Heng's gaze grew resolute as he headed towards the car door. "Oh, by the way, after everything is settled, you'll return to travel with us on the train, won't you?" Himeko's voice called out from behind him. Without saying a word, Dan Heng eventually nodded. "Feels like a real family dynamic. I love this kind of protagonist group," Guinaifen said, somewhat moved. She glanced at the chat. Expecting similar sentiments from her viewers, she was surprised to find... a flood of wailing instead! "No, no, no! Don't harm Dan Heng!" "Luofu is Dan Heng's hometown, right? Surely he won't meet his end here?!?" "Don't ask, I'm genuinely panicking..." "He must continue the journey! Losing even one of them would be unbearable!" "Oh no! This atmosphere, this feeling! If I were Feathered Spirit, I'd probably already have planned where to bury Dan Heng." "Does anyone know where the Astral Express crew is now? Hurry up and tell Dan Heng to get back on the train, then lock the doors tight!" Initially, Guinaifen didn't feel too concerned. However, seeing these comments from her viewers, her hands began to tremble slightly. Now, the character she controlled had become Dan Heng alone. Upon logging onto Luofu, she sent messages within the group chat "Astral Express Family": ["Star, March, where are you?"] ["I'm coming to join you."] However, both messages failed to send successfully. With only Dan Heng by himself, he needed to traverse Cloudford teeming with monsters. The atmosphere in Chat grew even heavier and more sorrowful. Even Sushang couldn't help but lament, "Could it be... Feathered Spirit is truly going to cut down Dan Heng?" "Is there anyone who can save him?!" Inside the Palace of Astrum, Jing Yuan considerately allowed time for the Astral Express Crew to deliberate. At that moment, Old Yang, March 7th, Stelle, and Dan Heng were gathered together. Whether to accept Jing Yuan's commission largely depended on Dan Heng's decision. After all, the man named Blade shared a deep connection with him. If Dan Heng wished to avoid this encounter, the Astral Express Crew would unhesitatingly reject Jing Yuan's request. Now, it was time to lay their cards on the table. "Since we've already arrived at Luofu, I think..." Just as Dan Heng was about to express his thoughts, everyone's phones suddenly vibrated with an incoming message from Himeko. "Dan Heng, if you were going to say that you've decided to seek out that person, I suggest waiting until after watching the latest plot developments." "In this recent storyline, your character also disembarked alone due to concern for your companions' safety." "I can't shake the feeling that something is off about this scene... It has a sense of finality, like a farewell." Upon hearing these words, all four members froze momentarily. Dan Heng's gaze dimmed slightly as he muttered, "Even Feathered Spirit thinks I will...die during this journey?" March 7th rubbed her eyes. "I told you not to speak carelessly! W-we're not taking this mission now!" "Let's return to the train..." "We'll head straight to Penacony; there's definitely no danger on the Festival Planet!" Dan Heng gently shook his head. "March, don't worry about me." "In that case..." "Let's watch the plot unfold before making any decisions."