After the dust settled, Wei Qing followed the lingering aura of the Hunt through the air and arrived at the Skywatch Mirror platform.
The silver-armored woman straightened at once and delivered a formal military salute.
"General Yueyu of Yaoqing. On behalf of the countless lives of Xianzhou Fanghu—thank you for your timely aid!"
Jing Tian forced himself upright and cupped his hands.
"Diviner Jing Tian of Yuque. I offer my thanks, Ranger."
Only Fei Xiao—leaning on her broad, door-panel of a mo dao—stared at Wei Qing with bright eyes full of pure curiosity and unconcealed awe.
"You're really strong!"
"Two strikes and you—this is insane! You're stronger than the General—no, you're stronger than the Marshal, aren't you?!"
Yueyu's brow twitched. She coughed and barked, "Fei Xiao—watch your manners!"
Then she turned back to Wei Qing, saluted again, and spoke with full solemnity.
"My disciple is unruly. Please forgive her. Xianzhou will never forget this debt."
Jing Tian also held himself rigid despite the blood loss.
"If you hadn't intervened in time, Fanghu would already be scorched earth."
Wei Qing didn't answer immediately. His gaze swept over the three and settled on Fei Xiao.
He recognized that face.
In the "original" flow of events—if the Third Abundance War hadn't been delayed—this girl should have already become Yaoqing's general by now.
He gave a small nod to Yueyu and Jing Tian as acknowledgement, his tone flat.
"I only did what I was asked. That's all."
Then he looked at Fei Xiao.
"So you're General Yueyu's disciple… Fei Xiao?"
"Huh?" Fei Xiao blinked, clearly not expecting the mysterious powerhouse to call her name. She snapped to attention anyway.
"Yes! I'm Yaoqing Cloud Knight—Fei Xiao!"
Wei Qing inclined his head and said nothing more, turning to Yueyu instead.
"This place isn't safe to linger. The Abundance troops here are wiped out, but there may be follow-ups."
"Your words are wise," Yueyu replied at once. She hesitated, then couldn't help asking, "What do you plan to do next? Xianzhou will repay you—"
Wei Qing lifted a hand and cut her off.
"No need. I have old ties with Huà. Consider this repaying a favor."
"Sir…" Yueyu chose her words carefully. "Your relationship with the Marshal is—"
"Just friends." Wei Qing kept it short, clearly uninterested in elaboration.
His eyes passed Yueyu and landed on the floating Skywatch Mirror behind them.
"Looks like you won't be needing this anymore."
He even stepped closer, studying the mirror—the device said to "summon" a god.
It looked ordinary, but the Hunt embedded within it was dense—dense enough that it didn't lose to his own.
Still, from the feel of it, this was essentially a one-use beacon. Not something you could swing as a regular weapon.
"Who could've expected the situation to flip like this?" Jing Tian gave a bitter smile. "At least it saved the Reignbow Arbiter the trouble of loosing an arrow."
At that moment, Huà's projection sharpened again, her voice sounding once more.
"Yi Qing… thank you. When this is over, come to Yuque and speak with me?"
Wei Qing drew his gaze away from the Skywatch Mirror and shook his head at Huà's projection.
"I won't be going to Yuque."
"Those three conditions I promised you back then—consider them all fulfilled."
Huà didn't look surprised. She simply watched him in silence.
"Agreed."
"From this day onward, you and I are even," Huà said softly.
After a pause, her eyes swept the battered Fanghu below.
"But the Xianzhou Alliance will always remember this."
"The Alliance welcomes you, should you ever come as a friend."
Wei Qing smiled, neither accepting nor rejecting.
"Spare me. Save those polite lines for yourself."
"Go on—ask it. With that look on your face, you clearly have something you want to know."
Huà paused, then spoke.
"As expected… I can't hide it from you."
"I'm curious—about the living planet you cut down just now. Did you notice anything?"
"…Half a day ago, Yuque also faced a living planet like that."
"Oh?" Wei Qing raised a brow. "Yuque had one too?"
He recalled the sensation when he split that blood-flesh world. It wasn't purely Abundance-grown. Its internal structure was too precise—more like a manufactured weapon than a natural monstrosity.
"Yes." Huà's expression was grave. "Yuque's was almost identical to Fanghu's."
Yueyu and the others immediately tensed.
That thing wasn't ordinary. It felt even stranger than the "Jidu Mirage" recorded in Alliance archives—something so unnatural that even a Hunt Emanator like Yueyu had no clear answer for it.
"…Relax. I already shot it down," Huà added, as if sensing their alarm.
But the set of her eyes suggested it hadn't been easy.
"It carried an Emanator-level energy signature, and it demonstrated a capacity to learn and adapt."
"It evolved during battle. If I hadn't used that, Yuque's losses would've been far worse."
Huà didn't name what that was, but Yueyu and Jing Tian both showed brief flashes of understanding—and awe.
Wei Qing guessed it was either some Alliance strategic weapon… or a personal trump card Huà kept buried.
"The 'catch'…" Wei Qing began, thinking it through. "That planet wasn't a pure Abundance creation."
"At the core of its blood-growth was an extremely subtle—yet fundamentally high-grade—trace of Destruction. Not a natural evolution. It felt… grafted on."
"Destruction?" Yueyu blurted, face changing instantly.
Jing Tian sucked in a breath. "Could the Legion have joined hands with the Abundance spawn?"
Historically, those two calamities rarely cooperated. They even fought one another at times.
But if they were cooperating now…
Huà fell silent for a moment.
"So it really was that."
"The one at Yuque—its last counterattack also carried the will of Destruction. If I hadn't feared collateral damage, I wouldn't have needed to use the Sky-Patrolling Light Arrow."
"…But then—who among the Destruction Lords is behind this strike on Xianzhou?"
As she said it, Huà's gaze slid meaningfully toward Wei Qing.
The implication was obvious.
She wanted an answer out of him.
Wei Qing didn't give one.
"Could it be Xingxiao or Phantylia?" Yueyu said, thinking aloud. "In recent years those two have clashed with us the most."
"It's possible." Huà nodded slightly. It was clear she'd been thinking the same.
But as they spoke, a cool, blue figure streaked down from the horizon and landed lightly on the Skywatch Mirror platform.
A woman in Cloud Knight armor—straight, sharp, and cold as winter steel.
Jingliu.
Yueyu looked surprised. "Jingliu?"
"Sorry. I'm late," Jingliu said first. Then she turned her gaze to Huà.
"I heard what the Marshal just said."
"But I don't think this operation necessarily came from Xingxiao or Phantylia."
Huà gave a calm nod. "Oh? And what's your view?"
"It may be Qingzhou's handiwork."
Wei Qing: "…?"
Me again?
"Qingzhou?" Yueyu and Jing Tian exclaimed in unison, faces instantly turning ugly.
The Destruction Lord Qingzhou had deep history with the Alliance.
As an Emanator who walked both Abundance and Destruction, the probability was high—he'd simply been absent for eight hundred years, so Yueyu and Jing Tian hadn't immediately connected it.
But the moment Jingliu said it, it clicked in their minds like the final piece of a puzzle.
They weren't born in the era when Qingzhou was active, but they'd heard enough about what he'd done.
Jingliu then reached into her sleeve and tossed a small, unknown sphere onto the ground.
A projection flickered into being.
Jing Yuan.
"Everyone," Jing Yuan greeted with a gentle smile, "long time no see."
"Jing Yuan?" Yueyu's brows drew together. "Why are you projecting here now?"
Jing Yuan's projection swept the group. His eyes paused on Wei Qing for the briefest moment before returning to Huà.
"Marshal—Master is right."
His expression tightened.
"Based on recent intelligence from Luofu, the Stellaron Hunters have been increasingly active. It may not be long before Qingzhou appears again."
That line hit Yueyu and Fei Xiao first.
They didn't know Qingzhou personally.
But they did have history with one Stellaron Hunter.
Baiheng—the foxian who left Luofu alongside Qingzhou all those years ago.
After that incident, the Stellaron Hunters vanished for over seven hundred years.
Then, decades back, they resurfaced—most active among them being the former Luofu pilot, Baiheng.
"Then yes," Jing Tian said quickly, "Qingzhou is the most likely."
"He bears a deep grudge against the Alliance. He's surely long plotted our ruin."
Wei Qing: "..."
Xianzhou people really were something.
Long-lived, worshipping the Hunt—but at the root, they were still a kind of Abundance folk.
Heh.
Right now I could swing Undying Slash and give each of you a lesson in "equality before death."
As everyone spoke over one another, painting "Qingzhou" darker and darker, Wei Qing's eye twitched—barely.
He shot Huà a look.
The Marshal's face stayed composed, as if she were merely listening to reasonable deductions.
But Wei Qing caught it—
a faint, faint hint of amusement in her eyes.
So that's how it is.
The black pot they'd cooked was big, round, and perfectly airtight—and the logic even held up.
Standing here as Qingzhou himself, listening to people discuss how to defend against him…
It was, frankly, absurd.
Jingliu, after offering her guess, stood quietly at the side. Her cold gaze occasionally swept Wei Qing with a thread of subtle scrutiny.
Eight hundred years as a Sea-Roving Ranger—she'd met nearly every ranger worth naming.
But this "Yi Qing"…
She'd never heard of him.
Still—he seemed close to the Marshal, and he'd saved Fanghu from the brink. Perhaps she was overthinking it.
"If it truly is Qingzhou…" Yueyu's voice grew heavy. "Eight hundred years of silence, then reappearance—his strength will be even more terrifying. We must prepare."
Jing Tian nodded. "We must share this intelligence across the fleet immediately. Heighten defenses. Respond as one."
Jingliu finally addressed Wei Qing again. Her eyes landed on him.
"Yi Qing. As a fellow Sea-Roving Ranger, this is our first meeting."
"But you've traveled the stars—seen far more than most. Do you know anything about Qingzhou? Or do you have any insight into this attack?"
That question snapped every eye back onto Wei Qing.
"Never heard of him. No insight," Wei Qing said flatly.
He refused to answer.
Jingliu blinked. Yueyu and Jing Tian looked momentarily stunned.
They'd expected something valuable—anything—from a ranger who could overturn Fanghu in two strokes.
Instead, his attitude was… strange.
Huà's projection intervened at the perfect moment, smoothing over the sudden awkwardness.
"My old friend lives in seclusion," she said evenly. "He pays little attention to outside affairs."
"The priority is stabilizing Fanghu—treat the wounded, rebuild defenses."
"Yuque repelled its living planet, but the damage there is severe as well. Support must be coordinated."
She looked to Yueyu and Jing Tian.
"General Yueyu, Diviner Jing Tian: you two will oversee Fanghu's cleanup and stabilization."
"Jingliu: since you're here, stay and assist Fanghu's defense in case anything follows."
"Yes, Marshal!" the three answered together.
Huà's eyes returned to Wei Qing.
"Yi Qing. Our agreement is complete. Come or go as you please."
"But Xianzhou's gates will remain open to you."
Wei Qing couldn't be bothered.
He didn't spare them another glance.
His figure blurred—
and vanished like smoke, as though he'd never been there.
"…Truly. Coming without a trace, leaving without a shadow," Fei Xiao murmured, staring at the empty air.
She'd wanted to ask him for guidance.
That ranger's strength was the greatest she'd ever seen.
But… his personality seemed a little odd?
Fei Xiao didn't understand it, but she didn't dwell on it.
Yueyu drew her gaze back and forced herself to breathe, crushing down pain and exhaustion.
As the highest authority still standing here, she had to keep moving.
"Execute the Marshal's orders!"
"Fei Xiao—count all Cloud Knights still able to move. Prioritize the gravely wounded!"
"Jing Tian—restore partial Skywatch Mirror function. We need stable communications with the rest of the fleet."
"Yes, General!" Fei Xiao responded at once, dragging her battered body into the ruins.
Jing Tian forced himself upright and moved toward the mirror core. "Give me one incense stick's time."
Jingliu—quiet, slightly out of place—closed her eyes.
Her powerful perception spread outward, guarding against further threats.
But deep down, the doubt about the mysterious "Yi Qing" refused to fade.
His connection to the Marshal.
His terrifying power.
And his too-flat reaction to the name "Qingzhou"…
None of it was ordinary.
Outside Fanghu, in a stretch of empty starfield—
Wei Qing reappeared silently.
He glanced back at the massive Xianzhou ship drifting farther away and shook his head.
"Heh. 'Qingzhou did it again.' These people really…"
For the Alliance, hostility and vigilance toward "Qingzhou" had fermented over centuries into a reflex. Any anomaly involving Abundance or Destruction—he was always the first suspect.
Wei Qing didn't take the petty annoyance to heart.
His mind returned to what he'd sensed when he cut down the blood-flesh planet.
"That Destruction aura… only an Emanator could've grafted something like that."
It was probably Phantylia or Xingxiao.
From what he understood of the board, those two were the ones most addicted to playing games with Xianzhou.
His figure flickered—
and the next moment he was inside a small star-skiff hidden in an asteroid belt.
He had barely sat in the pilot's seat when a lazy, teasing voice drifted from the back.
"Oh? Our great hero is back?"
"Two strokes to break Fanghu's siege—so impressive. The Alliance broadcasts are probably singing praises of 'Sea-Roving Ranger Yi Qing' right now."
Wei Qing didn't turn his head.
"Still not as impressive as someone whose bounty on Luofu's wanted boards just went up another thirty percent."
"Hey!" Baiheng snapped awake, sitting upright at once. "That's called excellent performance, okay?!"
Then she leaned back with a grin, twirling a jade communicator between her fingers.
"By the way—how did it feel listening to them go 'Qingzhou the traitor,' 'that fiend,' 'this beast'…?"
"Did you get that subtle sensation of being publicly executed?"
She edged closer, eyes sparkling with pure troublemaking.
Wei Qing glanced at her.
"Feeling?"
"I'm used to it."
He paused, then returned the jab smoothly.
"What about you? Hearing them discuss how to guard against 'Qingzhou's accomplice Baiheng'—did it feel nostalgic?"
Baiheng didn't get mad. She flopped back into her seat again, legs crossed, smug as ever.
"This lady walks the stars on skill, not reputation. Let them talk."
She waved her jade comm, which now displayed an internal Xianzhou bulletin—an updated "brief report" crediting Yi Qing with breaking Fanghu's siege.
"But seriously, you've made the name 'Yi Qing' explode."
"Think we can borrow your banner more often when we're doing Stellaron Hunter business?"
"You're overthinking it," Wei Qing replied evenly. "The identity 'Yi Qing' still has uses. It has nothing to do with the Hunters. This was just settling an old debt."
"Yeah, yeah—three conditions, right? Finally paid off." Baiheng's tone softened for a beat, then her eyes turned faintly complicated.
"Still… Jingliu showed up."
Wei Qing's eyes moved slightly. He didn't answer.
Baiheng watched his expression and continued, voice turning amused again.
"She didn't recognize you, but she's sharp. Your 'never heard of him, no insight' was so perfunctory you nearly choked my dear bestie on the spot."
"Whether she notices or not doesn't matter," Wei Qing said calmly.
"What matters is: Xianzhou's immediate crisis is handled."
"And we move on to the next step."
Baiheng's posture straightened a little. "New message from Elio?"
"No."
Wei Qing shook his head, then asked:
"Aren't you curious who's stirring things up behind the scenes?"
"Curious!" Baiheng's eyes lit up immediately. "You've got a target?"
She still cared about Xianzhou more than she liked to admit.
Eight hundred years was long enough to accept the identity of a Stellaron Hunter—long enough to get used to standing opposed to the Alliance at times.
But home was home.
Friends were friends.
Some ties didn't break just because time tried to grind them down.
"Probably Phantylia or Xingxiao."
Baiheng frowned. "Phantylia and Xingxiao…?"
"Yeah, they've been active near Xianzhou lately. But which one? Or… are they working together?"
"No idea."
Wei Qing's voice stayed unhurried.
"That's why we go ask."
"Ask?" Baiheng stared. "You know where they are?"
Wei Qing nodded.
"I left markers on them."
"When did you leave markers on them? How come I didn't know?" Baiheng leaned forward, nearly draping herself over the pilot seat.
"Eight hundred years ago."
"When I first left Luofu, Phantylia chased me—so I branded her."
"And on Belobog, Xingxiao got one too."
Baiheng's face brightened with realization. She grinned, eyes gleaming.
"So you planted the hook ages ago. Damn—so shady. I love it."
"Let's go," Wei Qing said. "We'll start with Phantylia."
"Wait—this urgent?" Baiheng narrowed her eyes. "That doesn't sound like you."
"It's urgent," Wei Qing replied.
"Because I can feel her."
"…Right now, she's not far from here."
Join here to read ahead.
In Star Rail, Ultra-Beast Armored — Have I Caught "Equilibrium"? l (Chapter 80)
Uma Musume, But I Only Have Five Years Left to Live (Chapter 178)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 165)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League ( 126 )
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter110)
Yu-Gi-Oh! — Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl (Chapter220)
"Is this chat group even serious?" (Chapter125)
I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (Chapter250)
Can Playing Games Save the World? 65
Crossover Anime Multiverse: The Demon Hunter of an Unnatural World 77
From Junkman to Wasteland 66
Weekly Refresh of Overpowered 31
I'm Grinding Proficiency Like 46
From Kiana, Lord Ravager, Onwa 220
Honkai: Is This Still the Prev 42
Elf: My Starter Pokémon Is Inc 65
Warhammer: My Primarch Is Remi 185
From Demon Slayer to Grand Ass Volume2/20
The Way the Umamusume Look at 68
Uma Musume, but My Cheat Power 248
Naruto: Weaving the Future, Be 65
Zenless Zone Zero, but Kamen R 76
Multiverse Crossover: The Perf 66
My Cyberpsycho Girlfriend 65
Uma Musume: The Dark Trainer 230
Uma Musume: A Calamity Born fr 154
I, a Reincarnation-Loop Player Volume4/40
The Violent Girl Group Is Beat 125
Uma Musume: The Horse Girl Who 67
Uma Musume: From Beginner 145
Becoming a Horse Girl, I Will 85
Uma Musume: I Want All 120
I Can Copy Unique Skills 115
Summoning an Evil God, but the 75
Supernatural Multiverse 110
My Harem Is Indescribable 100
Jujutsu Kaisen: Heroic Spirit 105
"I'm just a Valkyrie passing through." 67
Uma Musume: Today Is Another Romantic Battlefield 105
Still playing traditional Honk 80
The Most Filial Son Under Heav 85
What Should I Do After Switchi - Volume2/3
Reincarnated as a Demon, Skill 78
Hell-Difficulty Dungeon? 55
Transmigrated as Sukuna 80
Checking In in Demon Slayer 85
The Reincarnating Trainer of Tracen Academy 100
I Refuse to Become a Heroic 85
My Best Friend Into a Slime? 80
A Saiyan Stands Above Marvel 90
What Do You Mean by Using a Lab Mod to Be the Hero? 75
Tanya Starts from Re:Zero 80
Why did they assign me to Uma 75
MYGO Beauties 70
DanMachi: Emiya the Giant Hero 70
The Gacha Merchant Who Started 80
Honkai's Otherworld? Wait—Who Are You People?! 80
Emiya Shirou, Determined to Slay Every Curse and Evil Spirit 57
The Uma Musume Who Became 55
I'm Definitely Not the King of 60
After Maxing Out Every Class 45
Naruto: I'm Konoha's Local Men 35
Honkai: World Modulation Mode 34
I, the Elden Sword Saint 27
Dio Brando Is Challenging FGO 24
No One Knows Pokémon Better 18
I, Sakazuki, Won't Go Down Tha 20
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