Breaking Free from the Past
After Dan Feng's decree-like words, Dan Heng was visibly shaken.
His teeth clenched, his expression a mix of pain and defiance.
Then, he roared—
"That was your past!"
Dan Feng's voice remained calm, yet oppressive. His spear never wavered from Dan Heng's throat.
"As the reincarnation of the Dragon Sovereign..."
"You are my shadow."
"The sins of your past life must be repaid in this one."
Dan Heng's pupils dilated.
His fingers splayed—Cloud-Piercer materialized in his grip.
With a sudden burst of force, he knocked the spear away.
"I am not you!"
Dan Feng drifted back, coldly retorting:
"Defy the clan's laws, sever the legacy..."
"And you will face annihilation."
He raised a hand—countless golden motes of light gathered behind him, each condensing into a razor-sharp spear aimed at Dan Heng.
Dan Heng charged forward, deflecting every projectile, finally closing the distance—
Only to be brutally repelled by Dan Feng's palm.
A tidal wave erupted, lifting Dan Feng skyward on a watery vortex.
He loomed above, a judge pronouncing sentence:
"Criminal Dan Heng—"
"For your obstinacy..."
"You shall suffer eternal punishment."
March 7th couldn't take it anymore.
"That was your crime! Why should Dan Heng pay for it?!"
Nearby, Blade remained silent.
But internally, his thoughts churned.
The man he'd hunted for so long... was he truly the same person?
For the first time, his vengeance felt hollow.
Then—a familiar phrase echoed, the same words Blade had spat at Dan Heng countless times:
"You... have nowhere to run."
But this time, it wasn't Blade's voice.
It was Dan Feng's.
Blade's grip tightened.
If Dan Heng loses to this phantom...
Maybe it's better if I kill him.
At least that way... it'd be quicker.
...
The tsunami swallowed Dan Heng whole.
Shadowy dragons circled in the depths.
One surged from Dan Feng's command—slamming Dan Heng deeper into the abyss.
For a moment... he stopped struggling.
His hands floated aimlessly, grasping at nothing but bubbles.
The darkness thickened.
Then—a phantom appeared.
Jing Yuan.
But his eyes were empty, reciting a verdict like a machine:
"Dan Feng, guilty of ten sins..."
"Banished beyond the stars..."
"Never to return."
Next came Jingliu's voice, sharp with accusation:
"Why did you insist on your own path?!"
Then—the voices of the Vidyadhara elders:
"Lord Dan Feng... why did you do this?!"
Finally, Blade's growl:
"All of this... is your fault."
The real Jing Yuan sighed.
Jingliu and Blade's expressions darkened.
These were their words.
But the man before them... wasn't Dan Feng.
This short film revealed Dan Heng's torment—
The weight of a past he never lived.
March 7th was fully crying now, wiping her eyes on Stelle's sleeve.
"He's Dan Heng! A Nameless of the Astral Express— not your Dan Feng!!"
Dan Heng's breath hitched.
Something in his eyes flickered.
"...Thank you."
...
The screen darkened—
Then, new images surfaced.
Bubbles of memory— his memories.
Himeko and Welt, smiling:
"From today... you're part of the Express."
March 7th and Stelle, grinning:
"Dan Heng! The rest is up to you~"
Pom-Pom, waving:
"Chin up! The Trailblaze's light shines ahead!"
Dan Heng's eyes snapped open.
With a surge of strength, he shot toward the light—
"You... are my past."
"But you are not my future!!!"
He burst through the surface, golden radiance scattering the gloom.
Even Dan Feng looked shocked.
"I will forge—"
"MY OWN PATH!!!"
March and Stelle gaped.
Dan Heng—their always-calm, soft-spoken companion—
Was roaring with conviction.
The audience erupted:
"EXPRESS CREW FOREVER!!"
"I'M ACTUALLY CRYING?!"
"TRUE TRAILBLAZE MOMENT!"
"DAN HENG IS FAMILY!!"
"THIS SCENE IS TOO BEAUTIFUL—AAAAH!!"
...
Dan Feng summoned another tidal dragon, intent on crushing Dan Heng.
But this time—
Dan Heng didn't flinch.
His horns emerged.
His hair lengthened.
He transformed—
Not as Dan Feng's shadow...
But as himself.
The attacking dragon shattered—
Reforming as his ally, coiling protectively around him.
Cloud-Piercer pointed downward.
Dan Feng stared, stunned.
The water dragon descended—not to strike, but to disperse.
Rain fell.
The two stood back-to-back at the dragon statue.
Then—sunlight broke through.
Dan Feng's sharp edges softened.
"...Then leave."
"And never look back."
His form dissolved into golden mist—
A faint smile of acceptance lingering.
....
March's voice chirped:
"Dan Heng! Why're you spacing out?"
"You're smiling! Say cheese~!"
Dan Heng deadpanned a peace sign.
Stelle leaned in, grinning.
"Remembering something?"
"...Just an old memory."
"Ooooh, mysterious~ Tell me!"
"Haha, March—let him breathe."
Above, starlight shimmered.
The Astral Express's silhouette flickered past.
The short film ended.
Dan Heng stood frozen, processing.
The memories stirred by unlocking the sea's seal...
The turmoil he'd buried...
Had been laid bare in this film.
And it freed him.
Jing Yuan patted his shoulder.
"Making peace with yourself... is the most poetic thing."
"Thank you, Jing Yuan."
"No need. I just spoke my thoughts."
"Though the Imbibitor Lunae is gone... I'm glad to know you, Dan Heng."
They shook hands—a moment March sneakily photographed.
Then—
Blade appeared, arms crossed.
"Dan Heng... you're interesting."
"But escaping his shadow... won't be easy."
"I'll be watching you."
Dan Heng sighed.
(Progress. At least he wasn't immediately trying to murder him.)
Jingliu adjusted her blindfold.
"Right, wrong... I care not."
"Now—let's head to the Alchemy Commission."
"...And bring good wine."
"Ah, right. You're all too young to drink."
To be continued…
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