Chapter 175: Experience

She hadn't finished speaking when she suddenly noticed something odd about Xi Lian beside her.

Xi Lian, sitting on the sofa, tensed for an instant when her gaze met Kevin, her azure eyes widening slightly; although she quickly concealed it and resumed a docile posture, that brief lapse did not escape Ailixiya's keen observation.

"Hmm? What's wrong, little Xi Lian?"

Ailixiya immediately leaned in, softened her voice, "Did Kevin's appearance scare you a bit? Don't worry, he's just a little fierce‑looking, actually…"

"No, it's not!"

Xi Lian quickly waved her hand, a faint embarrassed flush on her face, "It's not that I'm scared… it's just that… this Mr. Kevin looks a lot like someone I know."

"Oh?"

Now even Yidian became interested; she gracefully set down her wine glass, her gaze sweeping over the similar faces of Ailixiya and Xi Lian, then glancing at Kevin, a playful curve at the corner of her mouth, "Another look‑alike? Could it be… that in your Weng Fa Luo Si there's also a 'Little Kevin'?"

Her words carried good‑natured teasing, clearly drawing the astonishing resemblance between Xi Lian and Ailixiya.

"No! Not a 'Little Kevin'!"

Xi Lian's face turned even redder; she realized she'd caused a bigger misunderstanding and hurriedly explained, "It's a companion named Bai E, he and I come from the same small village called AiLi Mi Xie. He and Mr. Kevin… really look very similar, about the same height, hair also this silvery white, even the facial contours are somewhat alike…"

The more she spoke, the softer her voice became, as if she also found this cross‑world similarity too bizarre, "It's just… the temperament is a bit different. Bai E… is a bit more cheerful."

"I see, a hometown, look‑alike old friend? What a marvelous fate."

Yidian nodded knowingly, gently easing Xi Lian's awkwardness.

Ailixiya's eyes lit up as she listened, "Ah! How interesting! Are there any other 'look‑alikes'? I'm getting more and more curious about Weng Fa Luo Si!"

Xi Lian hesitated, recalling the thrilling chase earlier, whispered, "Earlier… when I was rescued, on the road I met a hooded girl with cat ears and a tail, her name is Pa Duo Fei Li Si. She… quite resembles another companion I know, named Sai Fei Er, also with cat ears, personality… hmm, in some ways also similar."

"Cat ears! Sai Fei Er!?"

Ailixiya's eyes seemed about to burst with stars, "Sounds like an ultra—cute bishoujo! I really want to meet her! My bishoujo radar is beeping!"

She cupped her face, showing an immensely yearning expression.

Xi Lian smiled helplessly, a slight bitterness in the smile, "I'm afraid… we can't meet for now. They… we all come from a special group called 'Golden Descendant', and due to certain reasons, most companions' conditions aren't great, trapped in some… special places."

She gave no detailed explanation, just brushed it over.

"Golden Descendant…"

Yidian softly repeated, committing the unfamiliar title to memory.

She didn't press for details, but thoughtfully shifted the topic, recounting their origins to Xi Lian: "We come from a planet called 'Earth'. We jointly fought a disaster named 'Honkai', and thereby gained the power of Fusion Warriors and long lives. 'Yingjie' is the collective title of the thirteen companions who ultimately persisted."

She used concise language to sketch a civilization struggling in the apocalypse.

Xi Lian listened raptly, her azure eyes filled with awe.

The Honkai disaster, the warriors' sacrifices, the civilization's legacy…

The weight of this story is no less than the tragic grandeur of Weng Fa Luo Si's reincarnation.

Two completely different worlds, both birthing such profound pain and resilient life.

"So… you too have gone through so much."

Xi Lian sighed softly, her tone full of respect.

"Then, while there's still time,"

Yidian gently suggested, her gaze seeming able to soothe all unease, "Xi Lian, would you also share with us the story of your hometown 'Weng Fa Luo Si'? We're eager to know what kind of world it is."

Everyone's gaze refocused on Xi Lian.

This time, the gaze held not only curiosity but also sincere listening.

Xi Lian took a deep breath and nodded.

She clutched the slightly cool drink cup in her hand, as if drawing a strand of courage to tell.

About that complex and heavy past, she began to unfold it gently in her soft voice.

Meanwhile, Xianzhou Luofu.

Bai Hang was fretting over the dazzling array of goods on her Small Cart.

The Black Tower Doll remained cute, the mechanical Little Toys glimmered enticingly, business wasn't bad; scattered customers, both Xianzhou residents and travelers, came by.

But the key is—none of the target persons showed up.

Gui Naifen and Su Shang's data have been collected, Jing Liu and Bai Lu were contacted, but the trouble they bring exceeds the data.

The remaining few—Jing Yuan, Qingque, Fu Xuan and others—none are ordinary characters you can "accidentally" meet by setting up a stall.

Jing Yuan resides deep within Shen Ce Fu, Fu Xuan oversees Tai Bu Si, Qingque is said to be either goofing off or on the way to goof off but is elusive, and several others are from the Ten Kings Office; such ordinary street markets could hardly encounter them.

(This can't go on like this…)

Bai Hang's mental abacus clacked loudly in her mind, while she had to maintain a friendly merchant smile, feeling the corners of her mouth stiffening.

(Should I take the initiative? Set up a stall at the gate of Shen Ce Fu? I'm afraid I'd be immediately seized by the Cloud Cavalry as a suspect…)

She massaged her throbbing temples, feeling this "lurking" task truly draining.

"Boss, how much is this?"

A slightly lazy‑smiling male voice rang out at the stall.

Bai Hang reflexively looked up, a radiant smile instantly blooming, "Dear customer, great eye! This Black Tower Head‑Shaking Doll is a limited edition, for only…"

Her voice, together with her perfect smile, abruptly stopped the moment she saw the person clearly.

Standing before her stall was a tall man.

He was not in armor, only wearing an exquisitely made moon‑white casual robe, his white long hair tied at the back with a simple headband, a few stray strands hanging over his forehead.

His face bore a leisurely smile as if everything were under control, golden eyes that seemed to see through everything, landing on her face.

Luofu General, Jing Yuan.

Bai Hang felt as if her blood stopped flowing for a fraction of a second, her muscles tensing involuntarily, her heart thudding hard in her chest.

She instantly thought of countless questions: How did he get here? Disguised private visit? Coincidence? Or… coming straight for her?

Can disguise fool him? Does he know about Jing Liu? What about Bai Lu?

All the tumultuous waves were forcibly pressed beneath that smiling mask by her, but that smile inevitably stiffened for a moment.

She quickly lowered her eyelids, using the motion of tidying the merchandise to hide her lapse; when she lifted her head again, she had already composed herself, though her tone was even more 'flattered and startled' than before.

Oh! This, this honored guest… you, you might want to look at something else? This doll is a child's toy, unworthy of your stature! We also have newly arrived Interstellar Town Paper here—take a look!

She tried to divert the other person's attention away from her face.

Jing Yuan seemed not to notice that moment of stiffness, still smiling with calm ease.

He even actually followed Bai Hang's words, picking up the Black Tower Head-Shaking Doll that Bai Hang had dismissed as a child's toy, and examined its haughty yet comical expression with interest.

No problem, it looks interesting.

Jing Yuan's voice was unhurried, but his gaze shifted from the doll back to Bai Hang's face, especially to her peculiar Round Sunglasses: 'Boss, are you a Fox People? How long have you been setting up shop here? Is business still okay?'

His question sounded ordinary, like casual small talk.

But Bai Hang felt each word as if it were tapping on her heart.

Bai Hang struggled to keep her voice steady: 'Yes, yes, it's a small business, just to make a living. I've been here for a while… thanks to the neighbors' care, I'm still managing, still managing! General, you're burdened with myriad affairs—how do you have time to come to this small market?'

Her last remark carried just the right amount of surprise, and was also a probe.

Jing Yuan lightly laughed, put the doll back in its place, and his gaze seemed to casually sweep over the uniquely styled goods on her stall.

Just happened to be passing by, saw the boss's wares were distinctive, so I came to take a look.

He paused, the smile deepening in his golden eyes, his tone still gentle, yet it sent a chill down Bai Hang's spine: 'Boss, you seem… somewhat familiar. Have we met somewhere before?'

Bai Hang's breath caught.