Chapter 109: Ge Lei Xiu, I'm Coming

"Could it be that something has happened 'outside'?"

Wei Er Wei stroked her chin, a probing light flashing in her eyes, "Could anyone bypass Letu's defense mechanisms and directly snatch Ailixiya?"

Qianjie, though still silently leaning against the wall, let his gaze beneath the Mask sweep over everyone present like tangible Flame, and the suppressed anger seemed ready to ignite the air at any moment.

The atmosphere in the hall instantly dropped to freezing point.

Watching the Ying Jie on the Light Screen grow solemn and suspicious over Ailixiya's disappearance, Heimu's mouth twitched upward, tracing a curve that suggested everything was under control.

"The plan is in effect."

She murmured to herself, a hint of satisfaction in her voice, "And indeed they... didn't let Ge Lei Xiu attend the meeting."

In those dull violet‑black eyes, a glint of calculation flashed, "This omission, born of 'protection,' is precisely my opening."

She no longer lingered; as she raised her hand, a Light Gate edged with violet‑red data streams silently opened beside her.

Heimu stepped forward, and his figure vanished instantly from before Letu's facilities.

In the next instant, she appeared in a completely different space.

This place lacked the solemnity of Letu Hall; instead it was a... studio brimming with childlike whimsy and dreamlike colors.

Countless canvases covered almost every wall, painted with bold, pure colors depicting starry skies, flowers, strange creatures, and some indescribable yet vibrant swaths and lines.

A faint scent of paint lingered in the air.

In the studio's center, a petite figure sat back‑to‑back with her at a small easel, earnestly holding a brush and dabbling on a blank canvas.

She had blue hair, quiet as if she were part of the painting itself.

It was Ge Lei Xiu.

Heimu silently slipped behind her, not disturbing her immediately.

However, Ge Lei Xiu seemed to possess an uncanny sensitivity; her brush paused briefly, then she slowly turned her head to look at the unexpected guest behind her.

In her crystal‑clear blue eyes, there was no fear, no guard, only a curiosity akin to observing a new hue.

She stared quietly at Heimu, as if trying to identify this suddenly appearing, oddly‑auraed "big friend."

Kesi Mo walked alone through Letu's corridor; his reticent nature made him uncomfortable joining noisy, talkative meetings.

Although he sensed Letu's atmosphere had grown odd, a subtle tension spreading through the data‑filled air, he thought nothing more of it.

(Just do what I'm supposed to do.)

He whispered to himself, deciding to follow his usual habit and go see Ge Lei Xiu.

That quiet child who paints always gives him a hint of Calm.

He arrived at Ge Lei Xiu's studio doorway, habitually not knocking, and gently pushed the door open.

"Ge Lei Xiu, I'm here..."

His words abruptly halted.

Inside the studio, no one was present.

Only unfinished paintings covered the walls, and the lone easel stood in the center.

The pigments on the palette hadn't dried, as if the owner had only stepped away briefly.

Kesi Mo's brows immediately knit.

His gaze swept the floor, then froze.

A brush lay on the floor beside the easel.

On its shaft was a blue thread that Ge Lei Xiu herself had wound around it—her favorite brush, never far from her hand.

(Just stepped away? Went somewhere else?)

A flicker of hope rose in Kesi Mo, but he hurried forward, crouched, and carefully picked up the brush.

The shaft still retained the warmth of Ge Lei Xiu's fingertips.

He looked around again; the studio was eerily quiet, save for his own breathing and heartbeat.

There was no sign of Ge Lei Xiu, nor the soft humming she sometimes sang while painting.

A chilling cold shot up his spine in an instant.

(Trouble... has grown.)

Kesi Mo clenched the lost brush tightly; for the first time, clear anxiety marred his previously placid face.

Outside the Starry Dome Train·Party Carriage

Dan Heng still lurked outside the Party Carriage door, peering through the narrow slit, watching the interior's movements, trying to glean more information from their vague lip‑talk and expressions.

At that moment, an icy hand suddenly slapped his shoulder!

Dan Heng jolted, nearly reflexively striking back!

He whirled his head sharply, his heart pounding.

He saw Xing standing behind him, though he hadn't noticed when she arrived.

Yet, seeing Xing's current appearance, Dan Heng was startled again.

Xing's complexion was as pale as if she had just been scooped from a flour sack, with dark circles under her eyes like ink splatters, exuding an exhausted aura as if her soul were about to ascend, looking close to death by overwork.

"Xing... are you okay?"

Dan Heng couldn't help lowering his voice, his concern tinged with disbelief.

Xing weakly waved her hand, her hoarse voice still low, replying, "Just... a little thing..."

She leaned close to Dan Heng, mystically, raising a thumb as she spoke, though the thumb trembled slightly, "You know... Black Tower... is truly impressive..."

Dan Heng: "...?"

(What is this again?)

Xing continued in her world‑weary tone, "Lately... Black Tower applied something to the simulated universe... a time‑expansion module... it's quite something... Hey, guess what?"

Dan Heng, carried away by her disjointed words, instinctively replied, "... what?"

"When you have 1 system…… I'll directly give you…… turn into 10 systems!"

"Xing's eyes seemed to have a strange light flickering, matching her deathly pale face and dark circles, making her look especially abstract, "You say…… impressive? Hehe……""

"She said while letting out intermittent low laughs: "You know…… I've been in there…… working myself to death…… fighting life and death…… I thought…… the time had come…… I could rest…… but hey! Only a tenth has passed! Hehe…… hahahaha……""

"She seemed to find it more and more "fun" the more she thought about it, and her laughter gradually showed a tendency to get out of control volume-wise."

"Dan Heng looked at her increasingly abstract mental state and quickly made a hushing gesture: "Keep it down!""

"Xing then seemed to come to her senses, blinking her unfocused eyes, glancing at the tightly closed cabin door, then at Dan Heng who was obviously "on stakeout", and asked puzzledly: "Dan Heng…… what…… are you doing?""

"Dan Heng furrowed his brows slightly, looking at Xing like that, and weighed things in his mind."

"Although Xing's state was strange, after all she was a trustworthy companion, and sometimes her unconventional thinking could notice details that were overlooked."

"He hesitated a moment, turned sideways to make space, and gestured for Xing to look through the gap in the door."

"Xing approached doubtfully, squinting her eyes for a while, then drew back her head and looked at Dan Heng with a solemn expression."

"Dan Heng asked softly: "You…… what do you think?""

"He thought Xing would give some opinion about that mysterious woman or San Yue Qi's abnormality."

"However, Xing did not answer his question."

"She first silently glanced at Dan Heng, then, as if confirming something, turned her head left and right, looked up and down the hallway, and even tiptoed to look at the corner of the ceiling."

"Dan Heng was bewildered by her inexplicable action and asked doubtfully: "……What's wrong? What are you looking for?""

"Xing looked at Dan Heng with a serious expression, her tone carrying the gravity of having discovered a major secret, and she said word by word:"

"I…… am looking for a second Dan Heng."