She suddenly spoke: "At current speeds, we will reach the outer waters of the Abyssal Trench tomorrow afternoon."

The conversation shifted back to business, yet the atmosphere remained relaxed.

Bai Cheng nodded: "According to Atum's memories, Gemini's base is deep within the undersea canyon, with the entrance guarded by a spatial labyrinth. We need to formulate a detailed infiltration plan before we arrive."

Yu Nian swallowed a honeyed date and raised her hand: "I can let my vines scout the way first! Although undersea plants are scarce, there's always some seaweed or coral that can serve as my eyes!"

Zi Yuan pondered: "My blade qi can maintain thirty percent of its power underwater, but the deep-sea pressure will significantly impact my speed."

Leng Ningxue set down her teacup: "My ice abilities actually receive a boost in the ocean. I can create temporary ice paths or freeze localized areas of water to facilitate our movement."

The four of them discussed tactics while drinking tea and eating snacks; the atmosphere felt somewhat like planning an ordinary expedition ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) at a tea party.

Midway through, Yu Nian suddenly remembered something and pulled a small cloth bundle from her robes: "Oh right, right! That old grandpa in the desert gave me this!"

She opened the bundle to reveal several smooth, polished black stones. Silver patterns naturally formed on the stones, resembling simplified star maps.

"These are Star-Vein Stones unique to the desert," Yu Nian said, holding one up to the sunlight. The silver patterns inside seemed to flow slowly. "The old grandpa said that if you keep one on you, you won't have nightmares when you sleep at night."

She gave one to everyone.

Bai Cheng took the stone; it felt warm to the touch. As she held it in her palm, she could feel a very faint, stabilizing energy contained within.

It was likely a natural rune stone formed by absorbing the starlight of the desert night sky over many years.

"It's beautiful." Zi Yuan tied the stone to the tassel of her sword at her waist; the black stone and purple tassel complemented each other beautifully.

Leng Ningxue simply tucked the stone into her sleeve. Her expression didn't change, but her fingertips lingered on the stone's surface for an extra moment.

Yu Nian giggled and hung her own stone around her neck: "I feel like wearing this might bring better luck in the next battle!"

The conversation gradually drifted back to lighter topics.

Zi Yuan spoke of seeing several desert foxes playing among the ruins while searching the Royal Court a few days ago; one bold little fox had even rubbed against her boot.

Yu Nian enthusiastically described how, while she was cultivating new crops at the oasis, several desert roses had bloomed overnight with rare silver-blue petals.

Leng Ningxue would occasionally interject with a word or two, mostly to add details or correct Yu Nian's exaggerations. However, the icy lines of her lips seemed to melt slightly under the warm afternoon sun.

Bai Cheng listened quietly, her teacup gradually becoming empty.

She watched Zi Yuan's lowered eyes as she poured tea, Yu Nian's animated gestures as she spoke excitedly, and Leng Ningxue's profile—still cold, but no longer tense.

Outside the porthole, white clouds drifted lazily where the sea met the sky.

In this moment, there were no pursuers, no conspiracies, and no heavy missions or choices.

There was only the afternoon sun, clear tea, the sweet scent of honeyed dates, and the vibrant voices of her companions.

"Miss?" Zi Yuan's voice pulled her thoughts back.

Bai Cheng looked up and found all three of them looking at her.

Yu Nian blinked: "Miss smiled just now, though it was very faint."

Leng Ningxue added calmly: "It was more genuine than in previous days."

Zi Yuan refilled her tea and said warmly: "It's alright to relax occasionally. The road ahead is long, and we all need to gather strength—not just the strength for battle."

Bai Cheng took the teacup and gave a soft "mm" amidst the rising steam.

Yes, the road ahead was long.

But at least for now, on this train heading toward an unknown abyss, there was this peaceful afternoon and these people walking by her side.

That was enough.

By the time the teacup was empty, the sun outside had begun to dip, tinting the sea of clouds with a faint golden-red.

Zi Yuan packed away the tea set, Yu Nian carefully wrapped the remaining honeyed dates, and Leng Ningxue stood up to check the protective runes of the observation lounge.

The brief period of rest was about to end, but that warm, relaxed atmosphere seemed to linger in the cabin.

Bai Cheng stood up, a clear and bright spirit returning to her silver eyes.

"Let's go," she said. "It's time to prepare for tonight's strategy meeting."

The four left the observation lounge, their footsteps gradually fading down the corridor.

Outside the porthole, the setting sun was slowly sinking below the horizon, gilding the silver train with a warm border of light.

And ahead, the night and the deep sea were waiting for them.

"How much further to the Abyssal Trench?" Bai Cheng asked, her voice breaking the brief silence.

Leng Ningxue tapped her finger in the air, and an ice-blue light screen expanded above the table, presenting a three-dimensional nautical chart.

Countless fine runes and light points marked known terrain, energy nodes, and risk zones.

Among them, a dark, narrow rift that looked like a tear in the seabed was located to the northwest of their current course, about a day and a half's journey away.

"At current speeds, we will reach the trench's outer perimeter around midnight tomorrow," Leng Ningxue's voice was cold. "But according to Atum's memory fragments, the Abyssal Trench is not open water."

"Its entrance is double-sealed by Gemini with a Mirror Labyrinth and an Abyssal Gravitational Field. Even if ordinary ships approach, they will be led astray by spatial distortion or fall directly into the turbulence deep within the trench."

Yu Nian swallowed a honeyed date, wiped her hands, and leaned in to look at the chart, her brow furrowed: "A double seal? Isn't that very troublesome?"

"It is indeed troublesome," Qingniao's voice came from the cabin door. She had finished her shift at some unknown time and was leaning against the doorframe, holding half a gnawed nut. "But it's not unsolvable."

She walked in, lightning dancing on her fingertips as she lightly tapped a certain spot on the light screen:

"Atum's memories mention that the core of Gemini's blockade consists of two Mirror Rune Stones, placed respectively in the submerged reefs on the east and west sides of the trench."

"If we destroy or interfere with both rune stones simultaneously, the labyrinth will suffer a brief disruption, and the gravitational field will weaken by thirty percent—enough for us to break through."

"Simultaneous destruction?" Zi Yuan set down the teapot, her fingertips lightly brushing her scabbard. "We need to split up."

Bai Cheng nodded: "The reefs on the east and west sides are more than twenty nautical miles apart, and there will certainly be guards. We must operate in two groups with precise synchronization."

Her gaze swept over everyone: "Qingniao and I will be one group, responsible for the west side; Zi Yuan and Ning Xue will be the other, responsible for the east side."

"Yu Nian and Lu Duo will stay on the train to provide backup and long-range support, while monitoring energy changes in the trench to watch out for Gemini's main body or other ambushes."

The division of labor was clear, and no one objected.

Qingniao grinned, lightning jumping in her eyes: "Finally, I can stretch my muscles. After fighting in the desert for so long, my bones were starting to rust."

Leng Ningxue added calmly: "Destroying the rune stones must be done quickly. Gemini excels at clones and deception; once dragged into a war of attrition, it is extremely easy to fall into their rhythm."

"Understood." Zi Yuan's finger brushed over her blade, a wisp of purple electricity quietly circulating.