Although Aha’s prank caused Ye Cang no small amount of trouble, there was no doubt— After all this fuss, the fear of the Eldritch Calamity and uncertainty about the future in Ye Cang’s heart had mostly dissipated.
His previously tense nerves relaxed involuntarily.
Before Little March could brandish her chainsaw to chop off his hand, he decided to strike first.
Under the shocked eyes of the girl and the onlookers, he ripped off a piece of fabric directly from March 7th’s sailor outfit, then quickly tore off a large piece of his own clothes to cover her, preventing any wardrobe malfunction for March 7th.
Thus, the golden cicada shedding its skin strategy succeeded!
Ye Cang casually put away the *Death Diary*, letting the journal whirl and vanish into his palm as if he were carrying an alternate dimensional pocket.
At the same time, with a thought, he retrieved the black-and-white mask Aha had given him from that “dimensional pocket” and displayed it before the Express crew.
“This is an item given to me by the Aeon of Elation.
I believe this proves I’m telling the truth.” Hearing this, everyone’s gaze was instantly drawn to the ludicrous yet eerie black-and-white mask in his hand, and they couldn’t help but lend a bit more credence to his words.
Uncle Yang reached out, took the mask, examined it for a moment, and nodded in agreement.
“It is indeed a token of the Masked Fools.
One can feel the energy fluctuations of the Path of Elation within it…
and it seems…
no weaker than an Emanator’s level.” Little March gasped, looking at Ye Cang in complete disbelief.
“Cang, did you become an Emanator of Elation?” “…” Ye Cang’s heart chilled.
*Oh no, did I become an Emanator of Elation?* No, wait.
A guy like Aha shouldn’t care for an uninteresting person like him.
Himeko looked helplessly at the two staring wide-eyed at each other, explaining, “The mask merely contains path energy at the Emanator level.
That doesn’t mean Ye Cang has become an Emanator of Elation…
At least, up until now, I haven’t sensed any Path energy fluctuations from him.” “In other words, Cang is still just an ordinary person.” Dan Heng rested his chin on his hand, his eyes slightly sharp against the vermilion eye shadow at their corners.
“However, how could a mere ordinary person draw the gaze of a Path Lord, and even be gifted such a precious [Token]?” As he spoke, he gave Ye Cang a deep look.
“You might not understand how precious this mask is, but in the eyes of those Masked Fools who wander the cosmos for amusement, anyone wearing this mask can be regarded as an [Emanator of Elation]!” “In the future, if you ever get the chance to visit the Tavern at the World’s End, you’ll understand what I mean.” “The Tavern at the World’s End?
What’s that?” “Hmm…
You can think of it as a gathering place for those lunatics among the Masked Fools.” “And what are Masked Fools?” “Well, followers of the Aeon of Elation.
They spare no effort in search of fun, often turning wherever they go upside down…
Which is why I don’t particularly like them.” “Oh, got it.” Ye Cang nodded.
Meanwhile, Uncle Yang returned the mask to him.
But before he could even warm it in his hands, Little March snatched it away, holding it up to examine it eagerly like a curious child.
Ye Cang didn’t rush her.
After all, he was at fault first.
Forget March 7th taking a look; even if she borrowed it to play with for a few days, he wouldn’t mind.
Moreover, compared to the mask, what he cared about more right now was— “Fellow Nameless, what era is it currently?” “Amber Era 2158.
Why, pom?” Conductor Pom-Pom tilted its cute large head, reaching up to straighten its tall red hat.
Only then did Ye Cang notice the cutie at his feet.
Instantly squatting down, he reached out with both hands, cupping Pom-Pom’s fluffy, soft face.
A satisfied smile broke across his face, and then— Aggressive sniffing!
*Ah, bliss!* *This was way better than huffing cats!* “Mmph…
Let go…
pom!
Do not disrespect…
the Conductor…
pom!” “Please, let me inhale just one more breath, pom!” Ye Cang held Pom-Pom tightly, refusing to let go, burying his face for a wild snuggle!
It wasn’t until Dan Heng and Uncle Yang couldn’t bear to watch any longer and forcefully separated him from the Conductor that he regained his composure.
He calmly straightened his tattered clothes, looked around at everyone, and smiled.
“Fellow Nameless, let me reintroduce myself.
My full name is Ye Cang.
As you can see, I am a Pathless Walker.” “It seems that during the time we lost consciousness, a lot happened on the train…” Welt Yang looked at the handsome youth with a complex expression, nodding slightly.
“Welt Yang.
Ye Cang, I should be a few years your senior.
You can call me Uncle Yang like March and the others.” “Alright, Uncle Yang.” Ye Cang smiled, though he complained inwardly: *A few years senior?
You’re dozens, if not over a hundred years older!* Others might not know Welt’s glorious history of “doing sit-ups” on Earth, but as an old Captain, Ye Cang knew it by heart.
Jokes aside, Ye Cang respected Welt Yang deeply.
After all, he was the man who took the name of the World.
With Ye Cang and Uncle Yang setting the precedent, the other Express crew members introduced themselves one by one.
Since they were all old acquaintances, there was no need to elaborate.
Ye Cang’s gesture was merely to correct how they addressed him—from “Cang” to “Ye Cang.” Otherwise, using someone else’s name always felt strange.
In the conversation that followed, Ye Cang gathered through roundabout questions that his former self—the original owner of this body, “Cang”—was not officially a member of the Astral Express crew, but merely a temporary passenger.
Although Navigator Himeko had tried to invite “Cang” to join the Nameless, they held different beliefs.
After being turned down once, she hadn’t brought it up again.
Considering he would likely travel with the Express crew for a long time, Ye Cang had no resistance to joining the Nameless.
However, due to Cang’s past actions, he couldn’t abruptly change his stance right now.
He could only wait for an opportunity in the future to raise the topic again.
The Astral Express traversed the starry sea, the distant starlight twinkling faintly against the pitch-black backdrop of the universe.
Ye Cang worked hard to digest the information in his mind, organizing everything he had experienced since transmigrating into volumes and placing them on the bookshelves of his “Mind Palace.” This method wasn’t foolproof.
Just in case, he personally recorded crucial information in the *Death Diary*.
He had completely forgotten the memories of the previous “cycle,” and could only touch upon the spine-chilling scenes through the fragmented notes in the diary.
He couldn’t imagine what he had gone through in that “cycle,” nor could he experience that near-hysterical despair.
Looking at it this way, the *Death Diary*’s function of sacrificing memories was less of a cost and more of a “protection” for his mental state.
He was able to stand here, banter with Little March, and chat comfortably with Uncle Yang and Himeko largely because he had forgotten those painful, hopeless memories.
And so, he recalled what Aha had said before leaving— “Forgot the beginning, forgot the middle, anyway…
let there be laughter!” Only then— Could one walk through this destined-to-be-mad journey with open-minded optimism.
Ye Cang gazed at the brilliant sea of stars outside the window, as if seeing a pair of invisible hands slowly drawing back the vast curtain of the Honkai universe for him.
From this moment— The legend of the Pathless Walker began.