"Handsome, how did you get those muscles so big?"
"Hey, handsome, want to exchange contact info? We could... chat in private."
"Handsome, ever thought about trying someone like me?"
If it were a gaggle of young women swarming Qlipoth with such lines, the scene might have been somewhat normal. After all, his current incarnation was a burly giant who looked as if he were carved from mountain rock. With broad shoulders and a thick back, he stood like an immovable fortress—the ultimate form of a 'double-door refrigerator' build. It was hardly strange for such a powerful physique to attract the attention of the opposite sex.
The problem was... the ones currently surrounding Qlipoth were all men.
Some were even trying to reach out and touch his well-defined pectoral muscles. The sight was almost too much to bear.
Leon really couldn't help himself; the corners of his mouth curled up into an irrepressible grin.
'Can you believe this?'he thought, thoroughly amused.'I take the Amber Lord out for a walk, and he gets swarmed by a bunch of femboys.'Fuli had already raised her vintage camera, the shutter clicking incessantly as she captured the moment.'Light Cone created: [The Amber Lord Surrounded by Passion].''Light Cone created: [A Slightly Troubled Qlipoth].'
"I really didn't expect this, Qlipoth," Leon teased, his voice laced with laughter. "You're so popular~ Even I'm getting a little jealous."
Aha was already doubling over nearby, the smile on his mask stretching almost to his ears.
"Wuwu... Fuli actually isn't the most popular one..." At that moment, the pink-haired girl wearing the appearance of Elysia spun around in mock sadness, her skirt fluttering like a blooming flower. Her hands didn't stop, however, as she quickly framed the scene and turned it into yet another new Light Cone: [Qlipoth's Onee-san Aura].
Data streams flickered calmly in Nous's eyes as the Aeon of Erudition offered a cold analysis. "The population of the Xianzhou Luofu consists primarily of long-life species. The physiological forms of long-life species tend to be stable, making it extremely difficult to significantly alter one's physique through post-natal training."
A flicker of light in his mechanical gaze signaled his final assessment. "Conclusion: In the perception of local residents, such strong muscles are indeed a rare sight."
"I get it..." Leon's eyes widened in sudden realization. "In other words, in the eyes of these people, Qlipoth is like a dominant, alpha-energy Onee-san suddenly appearing in a group of young girls and lolis... No wonder he's so attractive."
"Hahahaha! Exactly! That's exactly it!" Aha was overjoyed, slapping his knee. "I didn't expect the first bit of fun on the Xianzhou Luofu to be provided by you, Qlipoth! Hahahaha!"
Qlipoth said nothing, his stoic expression unchanging.
Feeling another hand trying to touch him, an almost invisible, transparent barrier silently manifested around his body, gently pushing the questing fingers away. The Aeon of Preservation was using His 'wall' for this purpose for the very first time... He felt as though His Path had been defiled.
He raised a hand and waved. It wasn't an attack, but merely a gentle force that nudged the surrounding crowd back, creating a pocket of space around him. As the Aeon of Preservation, his 'actions' were always restrained; even when annoyed, he merely physically distanced himself from the source of his trouble.
Of course, when he truly acted, it was with the world-settling might of three hammer strikes that ended the Swarm Disaster.
Perhaps finding the situation truly bothersome, Qlipoth quietly applied a layer of cognitive interference to himself. From that moment on, no one else approached to strike up a conversation.
The group was finally able to continue strolling down the long street, stopping and starting as they pleased until they eventually arrived near the Ruomu Pavilion.
The place was bustling with activity. Beside the open-air tea seats was a spacious board game area, and on a nearby stage, a storyteller was spinning a grand tale to an enraptured audience.
Leon led the group and, without realizing it, wandered over to the source of a particularly lively commotion.
"Pong! I win!"
"Pay up, pay up!"
Qingque happily pushed her Celestial Jade tiles forward, a triumphant grin stretching from ear to ear.
"Ahhh, lost again..."
"I've almost lost this month's wages. I'm done, I'm done..."
Several of her playmates sighed as they pulled out their credit chips, paid their dues, and promptly slipped away with their heads hung low.
"Qingque..." Leon walked to the table, a handsome curve appearing on his lips. "Playing tiles while slacking off during work hours... isn't that a bit naughty?"
A series of familiar, tempting lines seemed to ring in his ears again.
'It's a huge gamble, friend.''We can still bet a bit more, friend.''There are still three chances, friend.''How about going all in, friend?''We've come this far, friend.''A total loss, friend.''A restart will surely work, friend.'
'Trust me one more time, friend.'
"It's fine!" Qingque didn't even look up, speaking with the utmost confidence as she briskly gathered the tiles. "Before I came out, I secretly performed a divination for myself. The Lord Diviner is definitely too busy to catch me right now."
As she shuffled the jade tiles with practiced ease, she argued her point. "Working hard during office hours only gets me the salary I deserve; that's not 'making' money."
She paused, holding up a tile to emphasize her logic. "But slipping out to slack off and play tiles during work—that means the wages I receive are pure profit! Add to that the winnings from the game... that's double the returns. I'm winning big!"
This twisted logic made the corners of the mouth under Aha's mask stretch almost to his ears. "Well said! So well said! Truly words of wisdom!"
He felt this girl was far too much fun. He conveniently and quietly messaged this 'brilliant theory'to the very busy Fu Xuan, even adding a thoughtful note at the end.'No need to thank me. My name is Lei Feng.' [Translator Note: Lei Feng was a soldier in China who became a posthumous national icon, celebrated as a symbol of selfless service and modesty. Signing a mischievous act with his name is a common joke.]
Qingque was still speaking enthusiastically when she suddenly felt the atmosphere around her turn strange... it was too quiet.
She subconsciously looked up and finally saw several people standing by the table, who had arrived at some point.
"Eh? Wait..." She blinked, her gaze moving from Leon's face to the 'tourists' behind him, each with a very different vibe. "Who are you guys? I don't think... I've seen you before."
The group before her was dressed in various styles and didn't look like Xianzhou locals; they looked more like... outworlders?
She blinked again, her eyes landing on Leon's face. After scrutinizing him for a few seconds, her eyes suddenly lit up.
"Eh?! You... aren't you that Leon from the Astral Express? Has your Trailblaze reached our Luofu?"
"You know me?" Leon was somewhat surprised.
"Of course I do! I play that Honkai: Star Rail game you made too! When is the next planet being updated?" Qingque suddenly perked up, her earlier laziness gone. She wasn't shy at all as she leaned in closer. "Could the next version be our Xianzhou Luofu?"
"Not quite." Leon shook his head with a smile. "We just finished the Trailblaze on the last planet and intended to rest for a while, but we heard the Luofu was in trouble, so we came over to help."
He naturally hadn't forgotten about the game, but after returning to the Express from Jarilo-VI, things had been too rushed. He hadn't had time to update the version yet... after all, it wasn't like the ample buffer period they had while docked at the Herta Space Station.
"I see..." Qingque nodded in understanding, but then immediately asked with an expectant look, "Then when can we play the content from the last planet? I'm waiting online, it's quite urgent."
"Soon, soon. In a little while."
"Come, come, since you're here, want to play a few rounds of Celestial Jade?" Qingque greeted them warmly, her gaze curiously sweeping over the 'friends' behind him, each with such a distinct style.
A silent young man in black, a strange guest in a yellow suit with a smiling mask, a burly man as steady as a mountain, a scholar with a mechanical body, and a pink-haired girl standing quietly like the morning mist.
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