Chapter 200: Details

Return to Present.

Heimu puts down the cup, looks at Ti Bao: "Sai Fei Er has gone to experience her new life. So, TirixiBiyosi, what about you?"

Her gaze is calm with a hint of inquiry, "You have gained Freedom, you don't have to stay here forever. You can also go out and see Xianzhou, or other worlds."

Ti Bao, upon hearing, was slightly startled, then a gentle yet somewhat playful smile spread across her face.

She set down the teacup, hands clasped on her knees, tilted her head slightly, and in a slightly coquettish tone retorted, "What, does 'Mama' not want me to stay by your side?"

Heimu: "…"

Ti Bao saw Heimu's momentarily stiff expression, the smile in her eyes deepened, and she deliberately pursed her lips, making a slightly aggrieved look.

This time Heimu's mouth corner twitched noticeably.

She looked at the poised yet suddenly teasing young woman before her, feeling helpless.

(When did... Ti Bao become like this? Could... she have been influenced by Sai Fei Er?)

Of course she didn't say that out loud.

In the end, Heimu merely sighed, her tone returning to its usual flatness, but with a hint of indulgence even she hadn't noticed: "As you wish. However, you have to find something to do. Staying in the carriage all the time gets boring."

She raised her hand, tracing in the air, and a Light Screen materialized, displaying numerous flowing images and information— a system‑filtered and organized basic chronicle, major events, and key figures overview of another world—the Honkai world.

"How about,"

Heimu looked at Ti Bao, "Shall I accompany you to watch stories from other worlds? For example, a world completely different from ours, yet also full of struggle and sacrifice."

Ti Bao's eyes brightened slightly, she put away the joking expression, and nodded seriously.

She shifted her seat, sitting a bit closer to Heimu, her gaze fixed on the Light Screen.

"Alright."

She replied softly, "I'm looking forward to it, Mama."

Heimu fell silent again, choosing to temporarily ignore that title.

The morning mist had not fully cleared, and the long street appeared somewhat desolate.

Dressed in a plain robe, her eyes veiled by black gauze, Jing Liu, clutching the erhu she never parts with, silently appeared under the eave of the street‑corner stall where Bai Hang usually sets up.

The view here was still adequate, allowing observation of the stall's activity without being too conspicuous.

She skillfully set up the erhu, adjusted the tension of the non‑existent strings, and then drew the bow.

A low, wailing melody flowed out again, clashing with the waking market yet strangely becoming part of its backdrop.

Her gaze seemed not fixed on the instrument, but through the thin morning mist, aimed at the spot where the stall cart should have been set up, displaying various novel Small Gadgets.

A quarter hour passed.

Two quarters of an hour passed.

Usually at this time, the fox merchant "Bai Xing", always wearing round sunglasses, would have already opened, even greeting the first passing regular customers warmly.

Yet today, that spot was empty.

Only the ground's dew‑wet traces proved a cart had once been there.

Jing Liu's music, after drawing the final lingering note, abruptly stopped.

She silently packed away the erhu, her movements still steady, but the already cold aura around her seemed to condense a few more degrees.

Beneath the black veil, her features were unreadable, only the tightly pressed lips revealed meaning.

(Is it coincidence? Avoiding me? Or... has something changed?)

She didn't linger, lifted the erhu, turned and merged into the growing crowd, heading not toward her temporary lodging but toward the area where Bai Hang's small courtyard lay.

Soon, that inconspicuous courtyard came into view.

The courtyard wall was low, but it cultivated some lush spirit plants, their branches and leaves sprawling.

Jing Liu did not rashly approach the main gate.

She moved like a true phantom, using the morning mist and alleyways as cover, slowly circling the courtyard's perimeter, her gaze a cold probe, trying to glimpse the interior from various angles.

Yet, soon she discovered something unusual.

The courtyard's architecture and surrounding plantings seemed casual, but several key sightlines were cleverly blocked by visual blind spots formed by wall corners, eave angles, or dense canopy.

No matter which preset spot she looked from, her view was perfectly obstructed, only a small irrelevant patch of floor or wall within the courtyard visible.

Jing Liu's steps halted in the shadow of a narrow alley, facing the courtyard.

(Previously... I never noticed such details.)

She recalled that the last time she stayed over, it was night, and her attention was more on "Bai Xing".

Now, observing deliberately in daylight, she realized the courtyard, though seemingly ordinary, was imbued with a meticulously designed concealment.

Was it "Bai Xing", or someone behind him, who did this intentionally?

Since she couldn't see clearly, she'll just knock on the door.

Jing Liu no longer concealed herself, stepping out of the shadows, moving steadily toward the tightly shut courtyard gate.

Beneath the black Eye Mask, her expression was inscrutable.

She wanted to see why today there was an absence.

Inside the courtyard.

The atmosphere inside was completely different from outside, even a bit... lively.

Bai Hang sat on the stone bench in the courtyard, letting out a long sigh, finally able to rest.

Beside her, Xi Tong sat leisurely, cradling a cup of hot tea, sipping small sips, as if all the surrounding turmoil mattered not to her, simply enjoying the rare morning tranquility.

And sitting opposite Bai Hang, Sai Fei Er, having just satisfied herself by finishing the last bun, lifted the tea that Bai Hang had poured for her, gulped it down with a "glug glug", then casually wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and clapped.

"Alright! The 'Precautions', the 'Xianzhou Basic Law', the 'Low-key Conduct Guidelines'... I've basically got them all down!"

Sai Fei Er stretched a big lazy yawn, her cat ears trembling, blue cat pupils flashing with eager light, "Don't worry, I know the stakes, I won't cause big trouble for you and Heimu!"

Bai Hang looked at her carefree "the world is all reachable" demeanor, couldn't help rubbing the slightly aching side of her forehead.

The happiness is real; to see another Golden Descendant break free from restraints and appear alive before my eyes, that joy is indescribable.

But the headache is real, too.

Sai Fei Er's unrestrained nature, together with her novel attitude toward this world, is literally a moving uncertainty bomb.

Master, this isn't giving her a helper; it's plainly tossing a big trouble that demands constant vigilance!

"Sigh…"

Bai Hang sighed helplessly, "As long as you know. Xianzhou isn't like other places; it has many rules and many capable people, especially places like the Ten Kings Office and Tai Bu Si…"

"All right, all right~"

Sai Fei Er waved her hand, cutting off her worry, then shifted the topic, her blue eyes sparkling as she looked at Bai Hang, "By the way, is there anything you need me to help with? I can't just live here for free, can I? That would be so rude!"

She spoke with righteous confidence, as if the wind that swept up the lingering clouds and devoured the two of their breakfasts wasn't her doing.