Chapter 131: Lodging

Wei Er Wei excitedly flipped open the booklet, "Oh? The description of a new Script?"

Mei Bi Wu Si, with a hint of disdain, pinched the booklet with two fingers, as if afraid to dirty her hands: "'Fool‑proof'? Hmph, may the content live up to this 'humble' title."

The system voice sounded in time, explaining: "This manual contains some of the most basic concepts and common knowledge of the current new‑universe framework you all are in—the 'Star Rail' universe. Basic settings such as 'Fate', 'Star God', 'Envoy', 'Strange Artifact' are briefly explained. Reading it will help you understand the identity of the Heimu Lady and… your own future positioning."

Ying Jie opened the small booklet in their hands, each with a different expression.

(Fate? Star God? Joy? Preservation? Destruction?... these are?)

(Universal Locust Plague? Star God War?)

(Envoy… Extinction Great Lord… I see…)

Perspective shift.

Bai Hang, or now "Bai Xing", feels like she's about to fall apart.

She never imagined selling goods could be so "thrilling".

Thanks to Gui Naifen's inadvertent "drainage" and the product's genuine novelty, her stall became unprecedentedly bustling, the queue nearly blocking half the street.

Even her body, which had been reinforced by the Heimu Lady, felt long‑absent muscle soreness and mental fatigue.

(Blunder after blunder… Should've set a daily limit of a hundred portions… no, fifty!)

The only thing that gave her a hint of "relief" was that Jing Liu reappeared near the stall at some point; she didn't approach again, just held her sword and stood quietly at the edge of the crowd.

That aura of "no‑one‑gets‑close" sword qi acted like an invisible Barrier, causing would‑be queue‑jumpers and troublemakers to lose interest; the order was surprisingly good.

Bai Hang glanced at the snow‑white figure with mixed feelings, a swirl of emotions in her heart.

Finally, after the brought‑in goods were almost sold out, Bai Hang announced in a nearly limp voice, "Sold out today, please come early tomorrow."

Amid the crowd's disappointed sighs, she hurriedly packed up the cart, feeling more exhausted than fighting Abundance.

(What is she trying to do? Come specifically to keep order for me? That's not her style…)

Watching Jing Liu still standing where she was, as if waiting for her, Bai Hang clenched her teeth.

Anyway, the outward show must be done, at least… a thank‑you is needed, right?

Even though this gratitude might come with huge risk.

Thus, this scene unfolded.

In a quiet restaurant private room, the atmosphere was a few degrees colder than the outside temperature.

Bai Hang lowered her head, almost burying her face in the bowl, mechanically scooping rice as if the bowl contained not rice but a spirit‑pill that could render her invisible.

Jing Liu sat opposite her, still elegant, eating little, only occasionally moving chopsticks; most of the time she was "watching" Bai Hang.

Silence was like a constantly tightening string.

Finally, Jing Liu set down her chopsticks, and her cool voice broke the stillness: "You, you're Bai Xing, right?"

"Ah?"

Bai Hang was daydreaming, startled by the sudden question, a jolt nearly made her bite her tongue; she quickly looked up, forcing out an extremely stiff smile, "Yes, yes! I'm Bai Xing! No doubt about it!"

"The name is well chosen."

Jing Liu's voice revealed no emotion.

"Indeed, indeed, my parents gave it…" Bai Hang continued, just wanting to end the conversation quickly.

"Bai Xing…"

Jing Liu gently repeated the name, as if savoring something, "Born of Yaoying, a traveling merchant by trade… yet familiar with Luofu's alleys, especially some… relics of old acquaintances?"

Bai Hang's heart thumped, and she forced an explanation: "Ah ha ha… In our line of work, we run everywhere, need to know the terrain to find good stalls, right? As for old‑friend relics… purely a personal hobby, yes, a hobby! Listening to stories, watching scenery…"

"A hobby?"

Jing Liu tilted her head slightly, the black Eye Mask seeming able to pierce hearts, "Then do you know the 'Five Heroes of the Clouds'?"

Bai Hang's grip on the chopsticks tightened, her heartbeat like a drum: "K‑know some… they were great heroes from centuries ago, everyone in Luofu knows them, but the details… not too clear."

"Among them, one is named Bai Hang."

Jing Liu's voice remained steady, yet like a precise Surgical Knife, striking the core, "She too was born of Yaoying, once the most outstanding flyer. Lively, loves to laugh, enjoys novel gadgets, and… is very good at dealing with people."

Bai Hang felt cold sweat soaking her clothes, forced a dry laugh: "Is—is that so? What a… coincidence. But Hero Bai Hang, that's a legend; how could a little vendor like me compare…"

"She sacrificed for a long time."

Jing Liu cut her off, her tone showing a hint of fluctuation before sinking again, "I, haven't had a home for a long time."

The sudden shift left Bai Hang stunned.

Jing Liu continued in that flat tone, as if stating an unrelated fact: "Luofu cannot stay long, the old residence… is already vacant. Helping you keep order today counts as a good bond. I wonder… Miss Bai Xing, could you do me a favor and let me borrow a place to stay for one night?"

!!!!!

Bai Hang's mind went instantly blank.

(Borrow a place?! I live on the train! I don't even have a room in Luofu! Where would I take you to stay?!)

"Th‑this…"

Bai Hang sweated on her forehead, tongue tangled, "Miss Jing Liu, this is probably inconvenient! My place is tiny and chaotic, just a temporary warehouse piled with goods, no spot to stand, and it's noisy, surely would disturb your rest! Truly unsuitable!"

She almost babbled incoherently, wishing she could carve the three words 'inconvenient' onto her face.

Jing Liu was silent for a moment, and just when Bai Hang thought she would give up, she spoke again, her tone bearing undeniable insistence: "No problem. Under the bridge arch, one can also settle. Only, if Miss Bai Xing finds it troublesome, I'll look elsewhere."

As she spoke, she actually made a move to stand.

(Bridge arch?!)

In Bai Hang's mind instantly flashed the image of Jing Liu in plain clothes, sitting alone beneath a cold bridge arch.

The guilt and the complex feeling of 'how has this person become so cheeky after centuries' erupted like a volcano, breaching the dam of Reason String.

"Wait!"

Almost instinctively, Bai Hang blurted out, "… it's… not entirely impossible… I… I'll think of a way…"

The moment the words left her mouth, she regretted it.

I wish time would reverse, so I could chew up and swallow back those few words just spoken!

Jing Liu, hearing that, sat up straight again; a hint of a curve seemed to flicker across the face concealed by the Eye Mask.

Bai Hang wasn't sure; she only felt darkness before her eyes.

At last, the tasteless meal was finished.

Bai Hang settled the bill as if sleepwalking, and she and Jing Liu walked out of the eatery one after another.

A cool breeze blew on her face, and Bai Hang suddenly shuddered, fully regaining her senses.

(What… what did I just agree to?! I let her stay over?! Where am I supposed to find her a place to stay?! Done, done, done! This time I'm really going to be exposed! Master, save me!)

She stared at Jing Liu's tall, lonely back ahead, her heart panicking as if ten thousand sorrows were running wild.

What… what should I do?