By now, Bai Li Qing had a clear understanding of how disarmingly persuasive Yu Sheng’s “try and see” philosophy could be. The usually composed and rational director found herself accepting his barely-a-plan plan after only a few seconds of thought—because, frankly, there wasn’t a better alternative.
“I hope things go according to your ‘plan,’” Bai Li Qing said as she adjusted her posture in her chair, relaxing slightly. Her eyes were fixed on Yu Sheng. “Even if it doesn’t completely resolve the issue with the ‘Fairy Tale,’ I’d settle for it becoming stable and manageable, like most of the subsets here in Boundary City. The Fairy Tale has caused far too much damage already.”
Then, her gaze shifted to Foxy, who had been sitting quietly nearby.
“For now, let’s leave the Fairy Tale aside,” Bai Li Qing continued. “There’s something else I’d like to discuss—about her.”
Yu Sheng’s expression turned serious. He immediately thought of the fox hair samples he’d handed over to Song Cheng for analysis. “What did you find? Did you locate her homeland?”
The fox demon girl’s ears perked up at once, and she instinctively leaned forward, eager for the answer.
“No, we didn’t,” Bai Li Qing said, shaking her head with uncharacteristic bluntness. “Despite searching through nearly all known races and factions with ties to Boundary City, we found no match for her description of her homeland. Even our biological sample analysis yielded nothing. I’m sorry, but that’s the bad news I have to deliver.”
The room fell into a heavy silence. Yu Sheng frowned, turning to Foxy. Her ears drooped visibly.
Though Foxy often claimed she barely remembered her homeland and wasn’t too concerned about returning, the news still left her visibly dejected.
Yu Sheng reached out and placed his hand over hers. Foxy flipped her palm up, clasping his fingers tightly with both hands.“I’m guessing that’s not all you wanted to tell us,” Yu Sheng said, letting Foxy hold his hand as he turned back to Bai Li Qing. “What else is there?”
“There are… questions,” Bai Li Qing said, her tone calm. “Foxy, can you describe your homeland in more detail? Specifically, the names you used for the land under your feet, the celestial objects in the sky, and any associated myths or stories.”
“She might not remember much,” Yu Sheng cautioned. “She was just a kid when everything happened. She hadn’t even finished primary school, and there was that long period where she was pretty out of it.”
“I understand,” Bai Li Qing replied with a small nod. “But anything she can recall, no matter how small, might help.”
Foxy hesitated, glancing at Yu Sheng. When he nodded encouragingly, she took a moment to gather her thoughts before beginning.
Her description was a mix of familiar elements and new details—some of which she might have only recently remembered. Many of the things she mentioned were already known to Yu Sheng and had been relayed to the Special Affairs Bureau through Lin Qi and Xu Jiali. Even so, Bai Li Qing listened intently, trying to extract additional nuances or specific markers.
“We called our planet Hengyu,” Foxy began earnestly. “Before the Interstellar Era, it was also called the ‘Thirteen Continents of Yuheng,’ or just ‘Thirteen Continents,’ because there were thirteen main landmasses. Two of those continents drifted into the sky during an ancient event called the ‘Heaven and Earth Cataclysm.’ They floated above the equator.”
She paused, glancing between Yu Sheng and Bai Li Qing before continuing.
“There were these creatures called Nightmare Demons that lived on the floating continents. The textbooks said they were ancient species flung into the sky during the Cataclysm, and they mutated over generations into monsters that attacked people.”
“The immortals told us that the Nightmare Demons often came down to harm people. Some cultivators fought them and became famous—they were written about in history books.”
Foxy’s words picked up pace as she delved deeper into her memories. “When the Interstellar Era began, the floating continents were turned into launch bases for celestial shuttles. Most of the Nightmare Demons were wiped out, and the few that survived became endangered species. The immortals locked them away in places like the Demon Lock Palace and the Demon Suppression Palace, which are in geosynchronous orbit around Hengyu. You can visit them if you buy a ticket.”
As she spoke, Foxy’s tone grew more animated. “When the Celestial Beings arrived, they built something called the Navigational Beacons near Hengyu. We went on a field trip to see them once. They’re these huge glowing orbs surrounded by structures even bigger than the Demon Suppression Palace.”
“The immortals said the beacons help Hengyu stay aligned with the Celestial Beings’ Star River. Without the beacons, Hengyu would drift out of the Star River’s path and get lost in the vacuum of space.”
“The Navigational Beacons are the brightest things near us, aside from the sun—oh, and the sun was something the Celestial Beings helped tow into place…”
Foxy’s words tumbled out in a stream of vivid imagery, her narrative becoming increasingly fragmented and surreal. Some of what she described sounded so fantastical that Yu Sheng had to strain his imagination to follow it.
Irene, on the other hand, gave up halfway through. “Is she even speaking a real language?” she muttered, poking Yu Sheng in the arm.
“Just pretend you understand,” Yu Sheng replied, brushing off the doll’s hand. “You’re breaking my concentration.”
Foxy finally fell silent, having recounted everything she could recall. Bai Li Qing blinked, as if shaken from deep thought. The typically stoic director took a moment before speaking.
“You said your homeworld, Hengyu, has to follow the Star River,” Bai Li Qing repeated slowly. “And if it falls behind, it would drift into the vacuum of space. Am I understanding this correctly? Your planet is… in some kind of navigational state?”
Foxy nodded matter-of-factly. “Yes.”
“And your sun is part of this… controlled navigation, rather than its natural orbit?”
“Yes.”
For a few moments, Bai Li Qing simply stared at the table, her expression uncharacteristically blank. It was a rare sight—a mental reset for the director.
After a long pause, she finally looked up. “Do you remember the events surrounding your arrival in the Night Valley? What happened when your celestial shuttle crashed? What did you see or hear?”
She hesitated, then added gently, “I know it might be difficult for you to recall, but this information is important.”
Foxy tilted her head, considering. “It’s not so bad anymore. It’s been a long time,” she said softly. “I was young, and the adults were protecting me, so I didn’t understand much. I do remember someone shouting that we’d hit a fissure. Then the celestial shuttle started spinning, alarms blaring…”
She paused again, then added, “Later, I overheard adults saying something about ‘entering a danger zone’ and ‘ignoring recent travel warnings.’ It sounded like the shuttle’s navigation system malfunctioned and led us into a dangerous area. Then it collided with some kind of rift…”
“That’s all I remember,” Foxy finished, scratching her head. “Sorry.”
Bai Li Qing appeared deep in thought again.
Yu Sheng and Irene exchanged glances, both silently observing the director’s reaction. Yu Sheng suspected Bai Li Qing had formed a theory—her questions seemed unusually specific.
Finally, Bai Li Qing broke the silence. “The celestial shuttle you mentioned… is it still in the Night Valley?”
“Yes,” Foxy replied. “It’s stuck halfway up the mountain, buried in dirt and rocks. When my benefactor helped clear the area, the whole mountain shifted. The wreck’s probably buried even deeper now, but it’s tough—it won’t break.”
“The main structure is intact,” Yu Sheng confirmed. “I’ve seen it from a distance, but the terrain there is tricky. The Hunger’s collapse caused severe landslides, and I haven’t had time to excavate it for closer study.”
Bai Li Qing’s expression became serious. “Do you remember me mentioning that the Special Affairs Bureau would like to investigate the Night Valley? I’m officially renewing that request. We’d also like to examine the celestial shuttle.”
Yu Sheng remained quiet, weighing her words. Bai Li Qing continued, “I understand the valley is under your control. In a way, it’s your ‘territory.’ We’re willing to offer a fair exchange—name your terms, as long as they’re reasonable.”
Yu Sheng thought carefully.
He glanced at Foxy, sitting quietly beside him. Then at Bai Li Qing, whose calm demeanor held a hint of anticipation. Lastly, at Irene, who seemed completely zoned out—well, she didn’t count.
With a sigh, he said, “I do have some requests. Actually, do you have anyone in the Bureau who knows anything about farming or livestock?”
Bai Li Qing blinked. “…What?”
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