"It's Adrian, dear customer. Has your interstellar trip come to an end?" Mengming skillfully takes out a cup of Immortal's Delight Tea. With a Stellaron Core erupting on the Xianzhou, her teahouse today can also be considered leisurely.
Only storyteller Xiyuan has changed from his usual self. Clearly, yesterday he said he had an upset stomach and asked for a day off.
In the end, today he's like a completely different person, full of vigor, and the content of his storytelling has been entirely refreshed. What he's telling are actually some stories Mengming has never heard of.
Like what [The Eight Great Virtues of the Aeon of Eternity], [Fool's Play: The Little Secrets of What the Aeon of Elation and the Aeon of Eternity Cannot Do] and the like.
"Here, this is the alien specialty I brought back for you."
Mengming receives a large bag of Belobog red sausages and even takes out a bar of soap from inside, not knowing what to say.
Actually, what she wants more are some tea seeds from other planets. Back when she took over this teahouse from her parents, she thought of making a career that no one before had done, creating new tea products.
Unfortunately, on the Xianzhou, famous teas like Lin Yuan Spring and Dan Ding Plain Needle and the like have long been passed down for a thousand years, and the imported mixed tea drinks from outside each follow their own paths, so innovating is very difficult.
Before this, she had talked to Tingyun about this matter, and then Tingyun patted her chest in guarantee. As a merchant who travels through many star realms, she would certainly be able to find brand-new tea seeds that even the people of the Xianzhou may not have tasted.
Just yesterday, Tingyun also found Mengming, but she looked a bit strange in her state, not going three sentences without mentioning [Eternity Church], just like... the Tingyun who chatted with her yesterday was impersonated by someone.
So strange. In the past, she had never heard big sister Tingyun mention this place. Could it be that she has already been to the church?
Hmm, before leaving, she also stuffed her with a bar of soap whose meaning was unclear.
"Why do one after another like soap so much..." Mengming says helplessly. Perhaps this is just the specialty of other star realms.
"By the way, it seems like there's been a sudden disaster outbreak in Luofu recently. Be careful." Mengming reminds him in time, but upon second thought, Adrian stays holed up in the shop all day, so there shouldn't be any danger.
"Thank you for the boss lady's concern. Remember to come to the shop as a guest when you have time."
"That requires the shop to be open, though..." Mengming complains. She always feels like this scene has already played out many times.
During the days Adrian was away, Qingque was substituting in managing the milk tea shop. Mengming had also observed in secret and discovered that the sales volume was unexpectedly good.
What does this mean? Clearly, Adrian has the ability to make money, but he just won't do it. She can't understand his magical thought processes.
When Adrian passes by storyteller Xiyuan, he deliberately lingers for a moment. A faint purple glow flashes in his eyes, detecting the anomaly.
"Clearly there are no customers. Why are you still storytelling so vigorously?"
Storyteller Xiyuan waves open the folding fan in his hand, revealing a bright smile: "Nothing else, only to pursue the [Eternity] purest in our hearts."
Hearing storyteller Xiyuan's answer, Adrian pats his shoulder rather satisfiedly.
A grand Emanator, actually disguising himself as a storyteller in the teahouse—Adrian doesn't find this too outrageous at all.
Blake, in order to better preach Eternity on the Xianzhou Luofu, chose storytelling as a method. It both hides his own Emanator identity, and even before the esteemed Xiyuan returns, he can act as Mengming's bodyguard. The little boss lady's safety is assured.
...
Phantylia leads the group aboard the starskiff, successfully arriving at the central hub of the Star-raft Sea.
Of course, that bag of church specialties Adrian gave her—Stelle and March 7th were very interested in it—so she passed it on to them again.
From beginning to end, that golden-haired woman hasn't said a word, always maintaining a professional smile. Phantylia even suspects if her language system has malfunctioned.
Facing the Astral Express crew... Phantylia must raise her vigilance, lest she accidentally exposes herself.
"Then, please allow this little lady to represent the Sky-Faring Commission in welcoming all benefactors to the [Star-raft Sea]."
"On the [Luofu] Xianzhou, all matters of airspace, navigation, and trade are overseen by the [Sky-Faring Commission], one of the Six Commissions. As the largest port, the Star-raft Sea is also under our jurisdiction."
Listening to this introduction, March 7th sighs from the bottom of her heart: "As expected of... uh, what ferry envoy. The way you speak has such presence!"
"You're too kind. I am responsible for ferrying passing merchants and guests. These flowery formalities, I have to say them every three days or so."
Phantylia's disguise is indeed exquisite, able to replicate Tingyun's tone without a single word off:
"In any case, we've reached safety here. I should take everyone on a tour, let this little lady show some hospitality as host, but given the current extraordinary circumstances, let's first make a trip to the Divination Commission headquarters to report your intentions to General Jing Yuan."
"Divination Commission headquarters?"
"Another new unfamiliar term. Why didn't Teacher Adrian give us a glossary book or something before leaving?" March 7th shrugs. Phantylia turns and points to the tall building in the distance.
"See it? The tallest building in the city. That's the headquarters of the Sky-Faring Commission. No time to lose, let's hurry over."
Stelle frowns slightly. From just now, she's felt that Tingyun is a bit off: "Miss Tingyun, aren't you... a bit too eager?"
"Aiya, it's not that I'm eager. It's that I'm afraid General Jing Yuan will blame me. This little lady can't bear that responsibility..."
"So scary? Didn't you say she's very amiable?"
"When paying respects to a High-Cloud Quintet member, you always need some preparation. Miss Tingyun, rest assured. We won't go elsewhere. Please first notify them. We'll wait at the entrance to the Divination Commission headquarters shortly after."
Phantylia nods. It feels like it needs to take a breather too. In one go, too much has happened. The brain capacity of Suiyang can't hold it all.
"That fox girl moves at too fast a pace. I can hardly keep up. Maybe it's because I've been idle too long... Seize this bit of time to catch our breath properly. This will be our only idle moment."
"Sigh~ Teacher Adrian hasn't been found either. Miss Tingyun seems like she hasn't even heard of that name."
March 7th shakes her head. Better to ask when we pay respects to Jing Yuan later. After all, Adrian is a legal Xianzhou citizen. A high official like Jing Yuan should know him, right?
"I always feel like Miss Tingyun speaks with hidden meanings. She seems very sly..." Stelle has already vaguely sensed something wrong. Mainly, there's a power on Tingyun that she is very familiar with.
"Can't call it sly. Her considerations all start from herself first. When encountering suspicious persons of unknown identity, taking precautions is a wise move."
"As for the subsequent rush, it can only be said she fears taking responsibility and wants to quickly dump this trouble of ours onto her superior."
"First, a heads-up for everyone. In the upcoming audience segment, be sure to stay alert and respond seriously."
"Uncle Yang is worried that in this meeting with the Xianzhou officer, we'll repeat the mistakes of Belobog...?"
Dan Heng reminds: "This time, there's no [Eternity] blessing from Adrian. Caution above all."
...
In front of the milk tea shop, a girl dressed in priestess attire is anxiously waiting here.
"I wonder if Adrian can recognize this little lady in this appearance..."