Chapter 142: Tonight

Yan Qing, standing nearby, watched the general's series of abnormal actions—first almost choking, then suddenly straightening his back, and showing that kind of … toward a strange gray‑haired girl.

A smile he had never seen before, then he fell into contemplation—he was completely stunned.

"General... you... recognize that person just now?"

Yan Qing couldn't help but ask in a low voice, his face full of confusion, "Who is she? Why are you..."

Jing Yuan was pulled out of his contemplation, glanced at Yan Qing, and realized the youth had not recognized the Marshal's identity.

He took a deep breath, resumed his usual lazy demeanor, though a hint of solemnity still lingered in his eyes.

"A... unexpected 'distinguished guest'."

Jing Yuan vaguely explained, gently patting Yan Qing's shoulder, "This matter must not be publicized. Tonight's wandering will likely have to end early."

Rest Carriage

Heimu still lazily reclined on the sofa, with Xi Lian gently draped at her side, immersed in story fragments from another world.

In a corner of Heimu's view, the semi‑transparent Light Screen that only she could perceive was clearly broadcasting the "chance encounter" beside the Xianzhou Luofu snack stall—Jing Yuan's entire progression from astonishment to composure, then pretentiously "understanding" as Hua nodded in acknowledgment.

Watching Jing Yuan's expression, as if confronting a great foe yet silently calculating, Heimu's mouth involuntarily curled into a faint smile, revealing a hint of triumph.

(It seems Jing Yuan was convinced... and utterly so.)

She mused inwardly, (Adjusting Hua's Simulated Body data a bit, using the shield of 'Joy' to blur perception, then deploying it into Xianzhou, which hosts a counterpart of the Hua Marshal... the effect exceeds expectations. This 'misjudgment' will grant us more leeway for future maneuvers, making it easier to sow confusion.)

Satisfied, she withdrew part of her attention and sensed a ripple within the nearby Star Dome Train.

The ripple triggered by the "gift" had not yet subsided; instead, the chaos of those involved made it appear even more "active".

(Soul swapping... actually succeeded. Though it was just a casual 'trick' with a short duration, I didn't expect it to have such a pronounced effect on this particular group.)

Heimu thought with amusement, (I wonder how many unexpected "fun" this director's timed farce can spark?)

The chaos inside the Party Carriage temporarily settled, yet the problem remained far from resolved.

Walther, donning the "Shut Up (Cocktail Technique)" robot shell, spoke with a tone tinged with annoyance:

"It seems we must wait a while before we can return to normal. This time... we indeed became lax."

His mechanical arm made a gesture akin to rubbing his forehead, "Did not expect the opponent to employ such... unconventional tactics. Judging by the prank's style and its ability to bypass the train's defenses and act directly on the consciousness layer, it must be linked to that group of 'Mask Fools'."

He paused, his tone growing more solemn: "Especially this familiar sensation... one cannot help but suspect that the earlier fabricated incident involving 'Black Tower's Sister' may have been orchestrated by the same group behind the scenes."

Dan Heng crossed his arms, standing nearby, and concisely added, "The opponent deliberately used a 'gift' as bait, meticulously disguised the meeting; the ultimate purpose may be precisely this moment—to sow chaos, watch our response, or... merely for fun."

His gaze swept over the variously‑expressed "companions", his brows slightly furrowed.

Using Jizi's mature body, San Yue Qi was now gloomily tugging at the overly snug dress, his voice tinged with confusion: "But... why would sister do this? She was so kind to me... and said she wouldn't blame me..."

Recalling how that "sister" gently stroked his hair, and contrasting it with his current predicament, San Yue Qi felt both aggrieved and bewildered.

Jizi, seeing this, let out a soft sigh, using San Yue Qi's clear voice, earnestly offering comfort: "Xiaosanyue, don't be too upset. This matter likely isn't Chang Yeyue's own intention."

She pointed to the now‑empty gift box on the bar, "She said clearly before she left that the gift was prepared by 'The Lord'. The true behind‑the‑scenes puppeteer is that 'Lord' we know nothing about. Chang Yeyue may also be acting against her will, or... likewise kept in the dark."

This analysis eased San Yue Qi's mood slightly, yet the confusion and unease were not entirely dispelled.

The few of them engaged in another brief discussion, analyzing the current state, but aside from waiting for the "48 system time" to elapse, there seemed no instant remedy.

Walther proposed that everyone return to their rooms to rest, conserve stamina, and avoid venturing outside as much as possible to prevent further unnecessary trouble or panic.

However, just as they were preparing to disperse, a practical issue arose before Jizi and San Yue Qi.

"Then... tonight,"

Jizi glanced at her small hands, then at the mature, elegant yet tear‑less "self" opposite her, and asked hesitantly, "Do we return to our respective rooms, or...?"

San Yue Qi instantly shook his head, adopting a pitiful expression with Jizi's face, "No! Sister Jizi's room is so big, everything is so complicated! I—I can't fall asleep!"

Jizi thought for a moment and agreed, "You're right, but... Xing is still resting in my room."

"If we rush in now, with this appearance and voice, we might frighten her or cause a larger misunderstanding. Especially since her current condition seems unstable..."

Thus, they reached a consensus: Jizi would use San Yue Qi's body to return to San Yue Qi's room to rest; meanwhile, San Yue Qi would use Jizi's body, gritting his teeth to adapt to Jizi's room.

Walther and Dan Heng each returned (Dan Heng feeling fortunate to have escaped a disaster).

Jizi moved lightly and quietly to the door of San Yue Qi's room.

She inhaled deeply, attempting to adjust to the slightly lower viewpoint and different sense of balance of this body, then gently turned the door handle.

The door slid open silently.

The room was unlit, with only the faint glow of the Star Sea outside the window casting vague outlines of the furniture.

In that dim light, Jizi could see the bed's position—the blanket appeared to be puffed up.

(Fortunately, she wasn't woken.)

Feeling slightly reassured, Jizi gently closed the door from the other side, preventing corridor light from spilling in.

Relying on her memory and knowledge of the room's layout, she felt her way in the dark, cautiously moving toward the bed.

However, as she passed the bedside—

An anomaly suddenly erupted!

In the darkness, a vague silhouette, like a long‑hidden cheetah, silently sprang from the opposite shadow!

The movement was so swift it left only a lingering after‑image in the air!

"Bang!"