Chapter 460: Passed Out

(This…)

(The spiciness of that bowl of noodles, just by smelling it, is several times more terrifying than mine… she didn't even flinch?)

He glanced at the bowl of ramen before him, already worthy of the "Hell Level", then looked at A Xing's bowl, which seemed like a "Hell Eighteenth Floor Special", and finally observed A Xing's completely unruffled way of eating.

Yan Feng Qili seemed pleased with A Xing's reaction, nodded, and then redirected his gaze toward Sha Jin.

That look seemed to say: "Can you handle it?"

Sha Jin read the silent "challenge".

The smile on his face brightened again, even tinged with a hint of excitement.

Very good, it seems this Master is quite interesting.

He no longer hesitated, picked up the chopsticks before him. The golden chip he casually placed on the table edge.

"It looks, Master, that this place truly hides tigers and dragons."

Sha Jin smiled, flicked the bright red broth in the bowl with the tip of his chopsticks, and said, "Even such special guests are here."

Yan Feng Qili gave no reply, merely stared at him quietly, his gaze unfathomably deep.

Sha Jin said no more.

He lifted a small handful of noodles, each strand coated with red oil and crushed chilies.

He even mimicked A Xing's manner, not blowing to cool, sending it straight to his mouth.

(Let me see how severe this so‑called "show of force" really is.)

The instant the noodles entered his mouth—

"Boom—!!!"

It was as if a lump of liquid flame exploded violently in his mouth!

The extreme burning sensation instantly swept over his taste buds!

Immediately after came the intense numbing tingle of Sichuan pepper shaking his tongue root!

The dry aroma of chilies mingled with the scalding broth's impact, and the salty, savory heft of fermented bean and minced meat…

All flavors, catalyzed by the high heat, formed a raging gust of taste that forcefully shattered every defense!

Sha Jin's smile froze on his face instantly.

His pupils suddenly contracted!

His brain, under the extreme spicy stimulus, emitted a sharp alarm!

His body's instinctive reaction far outpaced his conscious control!

"Uh…!"

He only managed to emit an indecipherable grunt before everything went black before his eyes!

The next second, under Yan Feng Qili's calm gaze—

Sha Jin, this one from the Star Rail Universe who has witnessed countless tempests, one of the Stoneheart Ten…

Tilting his head, with a "thud" sound, his whole face solidly slammed into the bowl of bright‑red Mapo Tofu ramen before him.

The broth splashed everywhere.

He became motionless.

He passed out.

Killed instantly by a bowl of Mapo Tofu ramen.

Yan Feng Qili nodded with satisfaction, as if having completed a trivial task.

He picked up another clean white cloth and began wiping the few drops of red oil that had splattered onto the counter.

In the shop, only the faint sound of A Xing slurping noodles remained.

Sunlight streamed through the huge floor‑to‑ceiling windows into the dining room, casting warm patches on the snow‑white tablecloth.

Xing, half‑asleep and groggy, yawned, standing with the tray in front of the self‑service area.

Xing was still a bit not fully awake—last night in a dream they chatted with Qiana for half the night; the white‑haired girl talked at length about Saint Freya Academy and training, and Xing heard it in a haze but found her quite interesting.

While chatting, they fell asleep, and when they woke up they were already lying on the soft bed of the Xianzhou Hotel.

"Free breakfast… how civilized."

Xing looked at the dazzling array of dishes before them and genuinely expressed admiration.

Xianzhou's breakfast was indeed abundant.

Steaming hot wonton noodles, golden fried dough sticks, translucent shrimp dumplings, richly flavored soy‑sauce chicken feet, and various nameless yet delicate pastries.

Xing hesitated for three seconds, faced a decisive choice dilemma—so they took a bit of everything.

Carrying the piled‑high tray, they turned and at a glance spotted the familiar figure by the window.

Walther sat there, a steaming cup of coffee in front of him.

He wore the dark coat, black‑framed glasses, and was gazing out the window lost in thought.

Outside, Xianzhou's scenery was beautiful—cloud seas roiling, Star Chariot traversing, distant pavilions gilded by the morning light.

But Yang Shu's gaze seemed not truly on those sights.

"Good morning, Uncle Yang," Xing said, carrying the tray over and sitting opposite him.

Walther came to himself, looked at Xing, and nodded: "Morning."

Xing set the tray down, picked up chopsticks, and lifted a shrimp dumpling.

She looked around, suddenly recalling something: "Hey, where's Black Tower Lady?"

Walther was silent for a moment.

"…Black Tower Lady has already left ahead."

His voice was steady, revealing no particular emotion, "Last night she received an emergency transmission from the Space Station, saying a research project required her personally, so she set off overnight."

Oh…

Star took a bite of the shrimp dumpling and felt an inexplicable regret.

Although Black Tower Lady always wore that haughty air of "I'm not interested in mortals," she turned out to be rather interesting to get along with.

She didn't notice that Walther's motion of pushing his glasses was a few seconds slower than usual.

In fact, when General Jingyuan suddenly appeared at his door last night, Walther's alertness spiked to the maximum.

And the news Jing Yuan brought was even more bizarre than the mere fact that a general knocked on the door late at night—Black Tower Lady's departure was real, but the "urgent research project" excuse was told to him by Jing Yuan himself.

"Last night, all the electronic screens on Xianzhou, at the same moment—"

Jing Yuan was standing at the doorway, his voice pressed low, but a hint of helpless smile at the corner of his mouth, "They all turned into a single meme."

Walther furrowed his brows, "What meme?"

Jing Yuan didn't answer immediately.

He simply took out his Jade Tablet, tapped it, and handed it to Walther.

On the screen was an emoticon smiling face.

Below it was a line of text—

"Hi~☆"

Walther: "……"

Jing Yuan retracted the Jade Tablet, sighed, "The people from the Construction Office investigated all night and concluded it was an electronic signal anomaly that could not be reproduced and caused no substantive damage. Yukong also confirmed there were no intrusion traces, no data leaks, no system backdoors. It was as if… the entire Xianzhou network collectively played a joke in a single second."

He paused, his golden eyes holding a certain meaning as he looked at Walther, "So, in the report to the Alliance I wrote—electronic incident."

Walther remained silent for a long while.

He didn't follow up.

Because pursuing it further would yield no answer.

He simply nodded and said, "The general handled it well."

Jing Yuan smiled, turned, and before leaving left a remark, "Mr. Walther, Xianzhou has had… a lot of incidents lately. Please, everyone on the train, be extra careful."

…

At this moment, sunlight streamed into the restaurant just right, and Star was focused on a piece of horse‑hoof cake, completely unaware of the bizarre events of last night.

"What about San Yue Qi?" Star suddenly asked again.

Walther's gaze flickered.

He set down his CoffeeCup, looked at Star, and his voice carried a hint of softness:

"I was just about to tell you that. San Yue Qi… is back."

Star's chopsticks froze mid‑air.

"…Really?!"

She widened her eyes, her voice pitched higher, "When did this happen?!"

"A message Jizi sent last night."

Walther said, "San Yue Qi suddenly returned to the train; she was a bit dazed herself, but she's indeed safe. Jizi said after she rests a bit, she'll come to Xianzhou to meet us and explain in person where she's been these past few days."

Star's eyes lit up instantly.

She immediately set down her chopsticks, fumbling to pull her phone from her pocket.

"I'll message her!"

Walther watched her frantic shouting, didn't stop her, and simply lifted his CoffeeCup, a faint smile at the corner of his mouth.

Young people are always this impatient.

Star typed rapidly:

"San Yue Qi! San Yue Qi!!"

"Yang Shu says you're back!!! Where are you now? Are you okay? Any injuries?!"

Sent.