Layered white clouds rolled like unfurling scrolls, and the ancient cold wind carried the sky’s vast melody.

From that far rim of heaven, a ship drifted in. Sleek and compact, it threaded the sea of clouds like a silver-white whale.

Skyship—that’s her name. As the Butterfly Snow President’s private vessel, Skyship holds life’s needed rooms like stars in a constellation.

Study, lounge, bedroom, dining room, kitchen, bath, cockpit, guest rooms, greenhouse, storage—and a grand bathing hall like a moonlit pool.

It’s no exaggeration: Skyship is the doorway to the President’s comfort. Live aboard, and every planet feels like a lazy spring afternoon.

This ship, bright with the girls’ hopes, soared over the New Land like a kite in a high breeze. Three full days had passed since the Sky Voyager’s petrification incident.

With Breeze helping, the Sky Voyager mapped a clean route to the next world, like a needle finding thread.

Unexpectedly, that infamous world sat close to the New Land, like a storm hiding behind a gentle hill.

The course deviation shortened their arrival time, a blessing wrapped inside a bruise.

But it wasn’t all good. With Sky Voyager missing, someone had to reach the New Land first and reset the handoff.

That burden fell on the Rangers Lodge, like a stone placed in steady hands.

Laughter spilled from Skyship’s dining room like bell chimes. At the opulent table, they ate lunch in a cloud of steam.

To celebrate their safe arrival, the girls threw a hot pot party. Jewel-bright juices lit the glasses, and meat-and-vegetable fragrance bloomed like a garden in mist.

“Cheers!!”

They weren’t at that first jump’s heartbeat anymore, yet joy flowed like a river without dams.

“These fish meatballs are so good!”

Zaocun gulped a fish ball with starry eyes. Once she tasted Skyship’s kitchen, the catfolk girl refused to leave the warm hearth.

Chulei was glad to settle the junior in such safety, like a shepherd guiding a lamb to shelter.

“It’s all delicious. Our homeland doesn’t have this! Meat, greens, comfort—Eastern flavors are amazing!”

After the Sky Voyager stabilized, Lia was the only passenger who stayed aboard, like a lone firefly in a quiet cabin.

“The sesame sauce smells divine. The hot pot’s perfect! Just like my little Yue—so tasty!”

“LittleSnow! What are you even saying!”

For these three days, Yue Liuyi stayed as a girl beside Dixue, like a willowy reed by a lake—no chance to turn back into a boy.

As a girl, she grew more skilled. Skirts and simple makeup, gentle steps and soft hands—she learned the rhythm like a dancer finding the beat.

She felt proud and a little worried. Qualified as a girl; probably disqualified as a boy.

Today she wore a blue dress bright as a summer sky. A long bow fluttered behind, and neat ruffles trimmed her sleeves, a doll come to life.

“Don’t just eat meat. Remember your veggies. Keep a balanced plate!”

Xiang Xiaoyan spoke calmly, like a clear bell. Since she took the Blood Dancer as an ally, she seemed more condensed, less shadowed, more open.

Everyone ate in an easy tempo. Only Breeze stared at the hot pot like a deer at a waterfall, unsure how to begin.

“Can Breeze… eat this too…”

“Breeze can eat. I checked. A World Tree Maiden can have hot pot.”

Normal food won’t help a World Tree Maiden grow, but taste still touches the heart, like rain touching dry leaves.

“Thank you… sisters…”

“Tasty…”

The first bite opened a door. Then the door became a tide.

Greens, fish balls, lamb, mushrooms, wood ear, glass noodles—Breeze devoured them like a small storm swallowing clouds, her tiny mouth a bottomless hollow.

Yue Liuyi froze, amazed, like watching the largest battle in the universe unfold across a steaming plain.

The Hot Pot Alliance charged in ranks against World Tree Maiden Breeze-chan. Their assault was fierce, but Breeze-chan’s power was a thunderhead.

The vast hot pot fell like leaves in a gale. Only dozens of clean white plates remained, memorials to their brave resistance.

“Waa! Sister Yue, help! Breeze ate all the fish balls! At this rate, I’ll die of fish-ball-deprivation depression! (whisper)”

“Uh… I can’t help it either. We can’t bully Breeze and stop her eating, right? (whisper)”

“Huh! Does a World Tree Maiden eat this much? The books didn’t say! (whisper)”

“Zaocun, don’t panic! I’ve got a fix!”

Zero Wei had a lightbulb moment, dashed to the cabin, and came back with a plastic bag like a yellow comet.

“This is—!”

Yue Liuyi stared. The bag was gold with a green stripe. In the lower left, an old man’s portrait glowed with philosophical calm.

More shocking were the three big characters stamped across it—Jin Kela!

“Jin Kela… what is it…”

Breeze paused mid-devouring, like a bird pausing mid-flight.

“Try it and you’ll know!”

She eyed the golden bag warily, like a fox sniffing a strange fruit. One taste, and joy folded her silent like a petal closing at dusk.

“Mm… mm! ♪~”

She was a green-haired girl with a taciturn aura; even deliciousness rarely made her gush. Yet everyone felt her happiness now, because a song chimed inside their minds like wind-bells.

It felt like the Lost City incident, only this time the lyrics brimmed with sunlight.

I’m leaving this homeland now.

I become a swift little bird in the high sky.

I roam the vast seven seas.

A southern breeze brushes; sudden rain falls.

Spring waits just ahead—

Gotta hurry and eat Jin Kela.

♪~

However…

Right as Breeze sang, the ship exploded, a thunderclap ripping the room.

The floor bucked like a wild horse, and the tableware clinked and rang like hail on tin.

Skyship’s speakers blared an alarm, harsh as a crow’s call.

“Alert, alert, mag-fusion strike detected en route… Alert, alert, mag-fusion strike detected en route…”

“Meow meow meow???”

The girls froze, breath caught like birds in a net. A mag-fusion strike—magic’s twin to nuclear fusion—was no small storm.

“Why are we getting hit by a mag-fusion strike!! Are we doomed?”

“Skyship should hold, but…”

Dixue scooped up Yue Liuyi and sprinted for the cockpit, a blade of wind slicing a corridor.

No one outruns light. As the blue-haired girl settled in her arms, a blinding flare burst outside the window, like a sun blooming too close.

Daylight turned into searchlight glare. It burned their eyes shut like coals pressed to lids.

“Warning, warning… the ship’s self-gravity system is damaged…”

The white whale that floated so steady began to wobble in the clouds like it drank bad liquor.

“Waa!!!!!! The hot pot spilled!!! My little fish treats are gone!!!!!”

“Zaocun, forget the pot. Help Breeze first!”

“Breeze, grip my hand!”

Luckily, while Dixue lifted Yue Liuyi, Yue Liuyi lifted Breeze, the green-haired girl light as a leaf.

“Everyone brace!! We’re making a forced landing!!!!!!”

“Eh!!?”

Amid their cries, Skyship pitched straight down, a silver whale diving through torn clouds.