Chapter 941: Day Eight Departure (17)

"Earlier, Ruan Mei visited Luofu alone and mentioned you, and the message from the Star Rail arrived almost at the same time," Yu Kong said, "The Heavenly Generals have judged that your survival is not within the Illusory Plan; if used properly, you could become a surprise force to help the Alliance regain the initiative."

Yu Kong's eyes showed a hint of worry: "But that means we must conceal your 【Death and Rebirth】 from the inside. I truly wish, before making a decision, to hear your thoughts. If you want to go home…"

"Then I will certainly push aside all opposition."

"Fortunately, Ting Yun also saved you the tongue‑wagging of pushing aside opposition," Ting Yun said with a faint smile.

"The road ahead is treacherous; if you are determined to go, I have no reason to stop you. But… perhaps my selfishness is excessive, I still wish to know clearly whether your choice comes from your true heart."

Ting Yun: "As the saying goes, misfortune brings blessing; it is precisely this beautiful dream journey that made Ting Yun see herself clearly. And at this moment, there is also a piece of corroborating evidence that can show Lord Yu Kong my true heart."

——

Aotu World.

"This fox woman who looks so soft and weak actually has quite a backbone!" Peli exclaimed, slapping his thigh, then turned to Camille, "Camille, you always say this fox woman is clever, but I don't think she's that smart. After barely salvaging a life, she doesn't cherish it—why does she have to go looking for death?"

"Because she seeks revenge," Camille said softly.

"Huh?"

"'Revenge' is also part of the hunt," Camille lifted her eyes to look at Peli, "Miss Ting Yun only appears fragile on the surface; now she is probably already able to wield the power of 【Destruction】 for herself."

"Heh heh heh, so what? Camille, in front of the true Extinction Sovereign, what can her power accomplish? Before the Imperial Envoy, the lingering Destruction within her is probably weaker than a firefly, right?"

…

Camille lowered her hat brim, no longer intending to continue arguing with this fool.

Peli only worships strength, and it's because his big brother is strong enough that he follows him. Perhaps in his eyes, all so‑called schemes are merely manifestations of insufficient strength? But he himself does not think so.

"Peli, don't underestimate fireflies, okay?" Palos grinned, "Before the Star God, even the Imperial Envoy is just a firefly. Yet these fireflies are now plotting the War of the Gods, preparing to kill the Star God."

"The Star God has the Star God's game board, mortals have the mortals' game board; in the end, everyone is a pawn moved by fate, no real difference. Peli, if Yu Kong has power but no brain, he'll be the first to be devoured."

——

Ting Yun led Yu Kong onto the deck of the Luminous Longstone, and from a distance the two saw a Ting Yun standing at the rail, gazing into the distance.

"That is…"

Ting Yun explained, "Earlier, because of a strange encounter, I shattered in my dream into many 【Ting Yun】s. They are all parts of me, each focusing on different memories. One of them, at that time, went so far away that she could not return to this body until now."

Yu Kong looked at the silhouette of that "Ting Yun": "…Are you talking about her? What is she… doing?"

"She is immersed in something that fascinates me beyond measure. As a feeling, she is no different from a newborn child. Boarding this ship is merely driven by an inner tremor." Ting Yun walked slowly to her front, "Lord Yu Kong, do you remember? Perhaps to you it was just an ordinary flight. But when she actually rose high into the sky, she panicked, clutching tightly onto a bystander's hem."

"That was her first encounter with the sky."

Yu Kong smiled and nodded, "Of course I remember. Back then you were still at an age I could hold in my arms. Looking back, you kept pestering me to take a ride on the Star Chariot, treating the flight as your lifelong ideal. Yet when we actually rose into the heights, you panicked, clutching tightly onto a stranger's sleeve."

"But it was that very flight that shifted my whole life," Ting Yun leaned on the rail, gazing at the glittering shards of light beneath the Luminous Longstone, "At that moment, the heavens and earth unfolded before my eyes, boundless. I was deeply fascinated, not because I stood high, but because I realized one thing—"

"In this world, we can still go farther."

"Therefore, even without the talent to pilot a Star Chariot and with a temperament unsuited to fighting, I still chose to travel with merchant caravans. To this day, that excitement still stirs within my heart."

"Still unchanged?" Yu Kong asked.

"Never changed," Ting Yun said word for word, "Now, Ting Yun can set out again, as a 【Forgotten Returner】, heading toward a farther horizon."

——

Attack on Titan.

"I also support Miss Ting Yun, but the problem is, after Miss Ting Yun meets the Marshal, where will she go afterward?"

Eren sat on the edge of the city wall, his legs dangling over the side, below a vertical wall dozens of meters high. Wind blew from afar, ruffling his hair, but he sat quietly, gazing at the massive sky canopy above.

"That depends on the Marshal's orders," Armin guessed with interest, "…most likely she'll stay at the Yaoqing Celestial Vessel, which has the largest fox population among the celestial vessels and is more suitable for Ting Yun's cultivation. Also, Yaoqing is said to be the celestial vessel most closely linked with the Interstellar Peace Corporation, so Ting Yun staying there could make good use of her old line of work."

"Or go to the Yuqie Celestial Vessel; aren't Luocha and Jingliu currently detained there? I suppose the method they call 'contending with the gods' also cannot do without Ting Yun's participation."

"I only hope that the divine war won't affect us then."

Mikasa followed Eren's gaze, looking up at the sky. What worried her most was the upcoming divine war; if the celestial vessel intended to use the remnants of 【Breeding】, would a second locust plague occur? Then the universe would be overrun by insects again, and in an instant humanity would be devoured completely.

Perhaps for those great figures in the sky canopy who are stirring the divine war, their home planet is merely an insignificant footnote in the war, but for her, it is everything she possesses.

——

"That said, is Ming Huo all right over there?"

Yu Kong said, "I've temporarily entrusted Yan Ming to handle it. You know his character, so there's no need to worry. It's just that his methods are somewhat aggressive, perhaps not aligning with your usual merchant principles."

"Merchant principles…" Ting Yun closed her eyes, repeating with interest, "'Abandon what you contend for, take what is abandoned, then you can communicate with the world and obtain what you desire'—this eight‑sided brilliance, I will not change in the future."