Chapter 701

translation

Tokyo's night colors streamed through the floor-to-ceiling window, smearing the lovers' suite's ambiguous light across the carpet. Lu Mingfei kept shoving barbecue-flavored chips into his mouth, but as he ate, he suddenly sensed something off…… How did these chips turn cucumber-flavored?

Watching the train crew finally about to return to Luofu, he inexplicably felt a sense of finally coming home—perhaps because there were too many demons and monsters outside Luofu? Anyway, he deliberately ordered a late-night snack, planning to eat it with Hui Li Yi.

But right now…… he quickly understood.

"Late-night snack!" he exclaimed, clapping his hands enthusiastically.

The door opened, and Lu Mingze walked in carrying a tray that gleamed with silver light, though this time he wasn't wearing that awkward chef's outfit and French tall hat.

"First, don't mess with your magic breakfast; second, put down my late‑night snack. Spit it out if you've got gas!" Lu Mingfei was about to kick him out.

"Alright, we're devils—we occasionally need to pay a visit to our clients." Lu Mingze set the tray on the table, "The train crew is about to return to big brother's happy hometown; how do you feel about that?"

"Bullshit, when did I ever think the Astral Express was my happy hometown?"

"What, big brother doesn't like Fu Xuan anymore?"

"Pfft, when did I ever say that?"

"That… is Miss Tingyun?"

"Hey hey hey, how dare you bring up a limited‑edition character?" Lu Mingfei glanced sideways at Lu Mingze.

"How could that be? I know, but there's nothing we can do—the client is supreme; if the client says they don't like it, they don't like it, and we devils dare not say 'no.'" Lu Mingze smiled, "It's not that I guessed wrong; the client has changed."

"I've changed? What have I changed into? Turned into Ultraman?"

"Maybe you've turned into a monster," Lu Mingze shrugged. "No wonder—I almost forgot that big brother now sits with Japan's most precious beautiful girl… oh wait, it's a little monster sitting together; even I would defect and become a monster together, no big deal."

"Go go go, stop saying depressing stuff—if you've got nothing to do, don't delay my takeout."

"Alright alright, big brother really forgets loyalty for beauty." Lu Mingze tiptoed to the door, turned back, and said, "Cherish it well."

"Cherish what? You little—"

Lu Mingfei hadn't finished speaking when the door clicked shut.

The scene beside him returned to normal; Hui Li Yi, leaning on his shoulder, breathed softly. He turned his head slightly and saw the girl's chest rising and falling faintly.

She had fallen asleep.

——

"The Luofu Astral Express has just survived a crisis; holding the martial arts demonstration is also to outwardly show its peaceful and safe state."

"March 7 pursed her lips: 'Before going to Pinokangni, everyone was saying the same thing! "Under the family's protection there'll be no danger at all~"'"

"Dan Heng said calmly: 'There's no need to be overly suspicious. The martial arts demonstration isn't like the Harmony Gala, which hides many secrets. It's merely a festival set up to commemorate the feat of Emperor Bow and Cloud Knights defending against the Abomination of Abundance and saving the Astral Express. Aside from the Star Shuttle cruise performance, it's basically just sword‑fighting contests, no different from the Teketium motorball we watched.'"

"Miss Jinzi, what do you think? Given the train's current condition, we've accepted Ms. Black Swan's proposal and should arrange an expedition to Ulanov to replenish fuel."

"Miss Jinzi pondered a moment: 'Time isn't exactly urgent. This expedition is special; before heading to the next stop, the train should also make preparations for supplies and support. Coincidentally, Ms. Black Tower has arranged a connection, and I had originally planned to bring back an ancient beast fossil from the Jinkael Deep Realm for Ms. Ruan Mei of the Genius Club #81 before departure, as a favor exchange. But at this rate, we'll need at least a few weeks before we can return.'"

"March Seven's eyebrows drooped instantly: 'Oh, that means… we can't go to Luofu anymore.'"

"Miss Jinzi smiled faintly: 'Little March, maintaining relationships is a cost adults must bear. Since the Luofu Astral Express has sent an invitation, as friends the Stellar Express ought to keep the appointment.'"

"Miss Jinzi's plan is simple: she and Walter will fulfill the appointment with Ruan Mei, while Star, March Seven, and Dan Heng will attend the ceremony as the train's observance representatives."

"I want to play with the ancient beast fossil!" Star raised his hand.

"March Seven yanked hard on the strap behind Star's back: 'Miss Jinzi and Uncle Yang are off to do serious research! How is an ancient beast fossil more fun than watching the martial arts swordplay?'"

——

Baki

"Oh? The Astral Express is about to start martial arts swordplay? That's equivalent to opening a grand arena tournament."

Upon hearing there would be a duel, the group led by the Tokugawa instantly became excited beyond control, especially the Fierce Sea King, whose shoulders trembled slightly: "Could we take this chance to witness the strong from every corner of the cosmic galaxy? In martial skill, could we see those stronger than Jing Yuan and Mirror Flow…?"

"Are there people whose martial skill surpasses Mirror Flow and Jing Yuan? That's hard to imagine…" Miyamoto Musashi still remembers the awe and shock Mirror Flow's sword technique gave him, but just thinking that somewhere in this universe there exists someone even more outstanding in swordsmanship than her makes his heart surge.

"Frowning, the Fierce Sea King said: 'However, for this Astral Express martial arts demonstration, is Luofu still sending only Lord Xuanqing as its representative? Among the young generation of the Astral Express, is he truly the only genius?'"

"Lord Guo Hai shook his head in disagreement: 'That's not how to put it. The Astral Express has a huge population; there are certainly many hidden masters among the common folk. Surely some have strength equal to Lord Xuanqing… perhaps even surpassing him. But they may be old and no longer wish to compete with the younger generation for fame and profit.'"

"That's a shame…" The Fierce Sea King had previously watched Su Shang wield a sword; her technique wasn't bad, but hearing that her swordsmanship was hereditary, he assumed her parents were the hidden masters Lord Guo Hai mentioned among the common folk. If they were willing to come to the Astral Express, perhaps this martial arts swordplay could give them a chance to outshine Lord Xuanqing.

——

"Besides, you have the most friends in Luofu; if you don't go, I wouldn't know where to play! You've got to show me around."

"Since everyone's opinion is now unanimous, Pam prepared to jump, and soon the three of them successfully reached Luofu. Luofu remained as tranquil as ever; countless star shuttles streaked across the sky like meteors, dragging long trails of light beneath the azure heavens."

"The vendors hawking on both sides of the street, the storytellers and opera singers on the road…… everything was exactly as remembered."

"Revisiting this old place, I truly have a flood of feelings…"

"Now please listen to March Seven's poetry recital…"

"March Seven waved her hands repeatedly: 'It's not that we've reached the point of reciting poetry for this scene! I was just thinking back to the twists and terrors when we first arrived at the Astral Express… this time we haven't been half‑coerced, half‑tricked, we're not chasing any fugitive, and we didn't disembark from a cargo dock—everything's gone smoothly… how rare!'"