Chapter 46: Tsk

The San Yue Qi on the bed merely unconsciously smacked her lips, turned over, and continued to sleep.

But the A Xing lying beside her suddenly opened her eyes!

Perhaps because the Star Core carrier's perception surpassed ordinary humans, or perhaps it was some combat instinct, at the moment A Xing woke up, her consciousness was not yet fully clear, but her gaze precisely caught the abnormality in the room—three blurry figures!

Especially the figure extremely close to San Yue Qi, with its palm still hovering before her forehead!

Danger!

A Xing's pupils suddenly contracted, all sleepiness gone, she instinctively opened her mouth to shout, while her body tensed, ready to leap—

However, her voice hadn't yet burst from her throat, and her motion had only just begun, when a petite figure had silently taken its place at the head of her bed.

It was a system puppet.

She had already sneaked to this point, holding in her hand a tiny-looking small hammer.

That hammer looked harmless, but at the moment A Xing opened her eyes to shout, it had already delivered precise calculation and just-right force, lightly tapping her head—exactly on the spot of the previous big bump.

"Bang!"

A sound like a cork popping.

"Hic……"

A Xing only managed to let out a short gasp; the newly gathered strength instantly dissipated, her eyelids flipped, her head tilted, and she fell back into sleep, even deeper than before.

The whole process was as fast as lightning, silent and soundless.

Heimu's hand, hovering before San Yue Qi's forehead, also slowly retracted, that strand of purplish-black data flow quietly fading away.

She turned her head, her purplish-black eyes glancing briefly at the frozen Bai Hang who dared not breathe, then at the expressionless system puppet gripping a small hammer.

Without reproach or dissatisfaction, Heimu merely gave a slight nod, acknowledging the system puppet's timely response.

Afterward, her gaze swept over the A Xing once again "peacefully asleep" and the San Yue Qi sleeping soundly, and she turned elegantly.

"Data collection complete. On to the next target." She said softly, her voice like a night breeze brushing the window, and she led the way out the door.

The system puppet silently put away the small hammer and followed.

Bai Hang patted her chest, let out a long sigh of relief, grateful no major disaster had occurred, hurriedly followed, and before leaving couldn't help glancing back at the "settled" A Xing, silently shedding a tear of sympathy for her.

【Next Day - Starry Sky Train Observation Car】

A Xing woke up amidst a familiar dull ache.

She dazedly sat up, instinctively reaching toward the pain—her fingertips felt a distinct, round, sizable new bulge announcing its presence on the left side of her head.

"Hiss…" she inhaled a breath of cool air, and her sleepiness instantly dissipated by half.

"Good morning, A Xing!"

San Yue Qi's energetic voice came from beside, she had already changed into her daily clothes and was arranging her pink‑blue hair in front of the mirror.

However, when she turned around and saw the conspicuous bulge on A Xing's forehead, as noticeable as a small planet, she was so startled that the hairpin in her hand almost fell to the ground.

"Waaah! A Xing! Your head! Why is it swollen again?! And in a different place?!"

San Yue Qi lunged to the bedside, cupping A Xing's face, looking left and right, her eyes full of shock: "Bigger than yesterday's! What on earth is this strange physique of yours? Do you grow bumps while sleeping?"

A Xing looked bewildered, struggling to recall last night's experience: "I… I seemed to have had a dream? I dreamed… there were three black shadows… and… a small hammer?"

The memory was hazy, as if behind a thick fog, only the pain of that moment was unusually clear.

"Black shadows? Small hammer?"

Dan Heng walked over with a cup of hot water, hearing this he glanced at the bulge on A Xing's head, his brows slightly furrowed: "Unexplained external injuries have appeared twice in a row. I suggest reporting to Miss Jizi or Mr. Walther for a detailed examination. It could also be some unknown cosmic radiation or microbial infection."

Soon, Jizi and the others arrived as well.

Jizi carefully examined A Xing's forehead, her elegant face showing a hint of confusion: "Hmm… it looks like a pure physical impact injury. Strange, the train's safety factor is high; it shouldn't happen."

Walther pushed up his glasses, the lenses reflecting the light of wisdom: "From the wound's shape, it indeed looks like being struck by some small object. A Xing, after you fell asleep last night, did you feel any abnormality? Or… sleepwalking?"

A Xing thought hard, but ultimately shook her head.

Sleepwalking?

She had barely been like this before she started sleepwalking, and San Yue Qi hadn't noticed anything either.

After a serious discussion, considering the need to protect passengers' (heads') safety, Jizi made a suggestion: "A Xing, come rest in my room tonight. It's also a good chance to observe the situation."

A Xing gratefully nodded.

【However, things were not yet over】

The next day, when A Xing woke from the comfortable bed in Jizi's room, she almost reflexively reached for her forehead.

Familiar sensation, familiar dull ache.

Only this time, the bulge had shifted to the rear right.

She silently walked to the mirror, looking at the two symmetrical bulges on her head in the reflection, and fell into a long silence.

"Tsk."

View shifted.

When the system puppet presented that message on the light screen, the slight heaviness that had lingered between Black Curtain Lady's brows finally dissipated like spring snow melting.

【Star Core Hunter Communication: Goods ready, coordinates locked, delivery can proceed at any time. —Kafka】

"Finally…"

A sigh barely audible, bringing the relief of having set down a heavy burden.

One Star Core means the replica A Xing's power will receive an essential completion, and also means she gains a crucial trump card in her hand.

She lightly tapped her fingertip, restoring the approval command, and had the other party select a safe handoff location.

Her gaze drifted, landing on Bai Hang, who was lounging on the sofa, idly swaying her snow‑white fox tail.

This guy, now that he no longer has to worry all day, has become increasingly relaxed—just that excess energy needs to be given something to do.

"Bai Hang."

"Here!" Bai Hang sprang to her feet, ears ramrod straight, thinking there was some task.

"There is a Task I'll give you." Heimu said in a flat tone, "Go to a place, fetch something and bring it back."

"Fetch something? Where? What?" Bai Hang looked bewildered.

"The coordinate system will send you the location. As for the thing..." Heimu's purplish-black eyes flashed with a hint of deep meaning, "It is a 'Star Core'."

"Star Core?!"

Bai Hang's voice suddenly rose, her azure eyes filled with shock, "That's... the Cancer of Ten Thousand Worlds? The Star Core that can cause planetary disasters? You want me to fetch it?"

She felt the fur on her Tail about to explode.

"Don't worry, it's just a handover."

Heimu then briefly summarized the Task: go to the designated coordinates, receive a specially made sealed container from two women with distinct features, confirm it's correct, and then return.

After understanding, Bai Hang let out a slight sigh of relief, but still felt immense pressure.

That's a Star Core!

If I hold it in my hands, will it explode?