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“As long as you follow the blade, victory follows.”
He showed another stance, demonstrating the proper position to wield a sword safely.
“You’re really an expert at this,” she commended, smiling cheekily at him.
He looked at the girl whose hands were clasped together as her pink hair swayed gently in the wind and the cherry blossoms fell softly. He couldn’t help but notice the slight tug at the familiar appearance — pink-blue eyes that lit up with excitement.
“Did you catch what I said?”
The girl nodded, spinning her practice sword slowly, the wood weighing easier in her grasp than the thin metal of her actual blade.
“Yup!”
He hummed, looking at her coolly before he pointed the wooden sword at her, earning a surprised look from her.
“I wonder if you have been taking my words well.”
She bit her lip, averting her gaze before huffing and pointing her sword at him.
“Alright then!”
“Passenger Dan Heng! It’s time for breakfast!”
At the sound of the conductor’s enthusiastic voice, he got up from his makeshift bed, craning his neck from side to side to ease the tension from his sleep.
“I’ll be there, Pom-Pom. Thank you.”
The conductor’s soft footsteps faded as they walked away from his cabin door, and he took a deep breath before getting up from the futon to get dressed.
.
.
.
.
.
“Good morning, Dan Heng!”
His eyes found the pink-haired girl’s smile, radiant as ever like their own little sun within the vast cosmos where the dwarf star was nowhere to be seen. He hummed, taking his seat in the parlor car.
“Good morning.”
“Well, now that everyone’s here…” Himeko said, eyeing them with a smile. “What do you think about stopping by the Xianzhou Luofu?”
“I suppose that’s a great idea,” Welt replied. “Ever since the events in Penacony, I think we should stop at a familiar place to unwind for a bit.”
“No problem for me!” March chimed in, beaming.
“I’m in,” the Trailblazer said, ever so casual with their responses as they were game for anything.
The redhead navigator looked at Dan Heng, a look of understanding from what he had gone through during their Luofu trip.
He looked up, seeing how the attention was on him, though his attention was more on the pink-haired girl looking at him expectantly.
“Ah, yes, the Luofu,” he realized, contemplating for a moment before answering. “I don’t mind.”
At his words, March cheered, “Dan Heng’s in!”
Himeko and Welt looked at each other, humming in tacit understanding as they looked at the trio.
“Well, it just seems Pom-Pom got the message,” she remarked, and on cue, the conductor made their announcement.
“We’ll be doing a warp jump to the Xianzhou Luofu in forty-five minutes system time! Make sure to finish breakfast and hold tightly before the Express makes the jump!”
“Coming back to this place brings back so many memories, you know…”
The Trailblazer hummed in agreement, taking a picture of a Diting balancing a cup of Immortal’s Delight on its head.
“I’m glad everything’s fine in the Xianzhou now,” March remarked. “And they’re even holding a Wardance competition!”
She leaned forward, her smile brimming with enthusiasm.
“Hey… what if I join the Wardance?”
Dan Heng, reading a book, shot her a curious glance.
“The Luminary Combat Art Ceremony?”
March took a sip of her Immortal’s Delight, humming.
“Yup! It looks fun,” she beamed. “Besides, I wanna try using a sword like…”
“Hey, everyone!”
The trio looked in the direction of the familiar voice.
There, Yanqing and Jing Yuan smiled as they approached them.
“General, Yanqing! Good to see you.”
Jing Yuan chuckled, glancing at Dan Heng before the other two.
“Why, good to see you too,” he replied. “All has been well, I presume?”
March smiled before her attention turned to Yanqing.
“Hey, Yanqing…”
The blonde boy hummed, looking at her curiously, which gave the pink-haired girl the cue to pop the question.
“Can you…” she began, her eyes filled with determination as her expression became more serious. “Can you teach me how to use a sword?”
The rest of the group looked at her, and Yanqing was a bit taken aback by the sudden request. He looked at Jing Yuan, who gave him a nod. The boy chuckled awkwardly, though he gained confidence at Jing Yuan’s approval, who ruffled his hair.
“I’m sure with Miss March under your tutelage, she’ll be able to wield a sword in no time,” the Arbiter-General said.
“Really, General?” He asked, slowly building his confidence at the thought of teaching someone, further solidifying as Jing Yuan hummed.
“I’m sure with your abilities, you can impart your knowledge and help her gain the confidence she needs in the art of the sword.”
Yanqing nodded, a determined look on his face as he looked at the awaiting girl.
“Well then, Miss March, I accept your request.”
March gleamed, her eyes lighting up in excitement, and for a moment, Dan Heng saw the stars within her pink-blue eyes.
“Come on, Miss March! We might as well go to train immediately so we have enough time to hone your skills for the Wardance!”
March saluted, following the young prodigy’s lead.
“Yes, Master!”
The Trailblazer, who was on their phone most of the time, finally looked up and took their cup of Immortal’s Delight.
“Huh, they’re gone?”
Jing Yuan chuckled while Dan Heng sighed quietly before deadpanning, “It seems you’re back.”
They crossed their arms, looking at him with almost comical annoyance, though their expression immediately shifted to contemplation.
“Ah… I just realized I had things to do.”
Without further word, they stood up and walked off, with the two men watching them curiously as they disappeared into the distance.
Jing Yuan looked at Dan Heng, who kept his gaze on the book he was reading.
“Visiting the Luofu, I see.”
He looked at him, his expression still pointed, though he lacked the wariness from before when things were still awry.
"More or less, Himeko planned for us to stop around here,” he answered simply. “After what happened in Penacony, I suppose it’s an excellent place to pause before moving again.
Jing Yuan nodded, looking at the multiple posters and banners that showcased the anticipated Luminary Combat Art Ceremony.
“Your presence will be greatly appreciated.”
Dan Heng hummed, putting his book down to follow his gaze.
The white-haired man gave him a sidelong glance before directing his gaze towards the bustling streets of Central Starskiff Haven — the constant sound of merchants selling wares and people wandering around filling the silence that had been momentary when he spoke again.
“I was once looking through old records of past Cloud Knights and happened to find a unique record.”
“Hm.”
“If I recall correctly, Yueliang… an incarnation of Imbibitor Lunae, was once a Cloud Knight.”
Dan Heng raised a brow at him.
“Yueliang?”
Jing Yuan nodded affirmatively, and after a few moments, Dan Heng recalled the familiar name.
“Ah… I did recall a few of his memories before,” he said. “Though they didn’t come as often as now.”
He hummed.
“Admittedly, I am wondering if you are a master of the sword like you are with the spear.”
Dan Heng watched the flying starskiffs, his expression slightly crestfallen despite its stoic nature.
“I once tried using the blade, following his stances,” he admitted. “Though, I’m more inclined with Cloud-Piercer than any sword.”
A small smile tugged at the Arbiter-General’s lips.
“Knowing that it had accompanied you just as it had accompanied him throughout the years… I am not surprised.”
Dan Heng couldn’t help but tense at the mention of him, though he tried to mask his feelings through his calm facade. However, Jing Yuan was perceptive, noticing his slight discomfort.
“I apologize.”
He nodded, his gaze focusing on the written text of the book on the table.
“It’s alright.”
Another momentary silence fell between them before Jing Yuan cleared his throat and steered away from the sensitive topic concerning him .
“Yinghua.”
He gave him a puzzled look.
“Yinghua?”
Jing Yuan hummed.
“In older records concerning weapons, there was a sword called ‘Yinghua’ owned by one of Imbibitor Lunae’s incarnations in days past,” he said. “Quite the unique name.”
Dan Heng nodded in agreement.
“The name sounds more like a person’s than a weapon’s,” he remarked. “I assume that the sword was named after someone who bore the name.”
Jing Yuan hummed contemplatively.
“Hm, I’m now finding myself quite intrigued… perhaps I should look deeper into it when I have the time.”
He hummed.
“It’s rare for your interest to be piqued by such.”
The Arbiter-General merely laughed, his voice a rich and deep sound familiar to him and… him.
“It isn’t every day I come across a historical record that contains Imbibitor Lunae’s feats as a warrior, leading Cloud Knight armies himself.”
Dan Heng gave him a pointed look.
“I’m quite getting the hint that there’s something more you wish to know.”
Jing Yuan huffed in amusement, his smile never faltering.
“Perhaps I just find the tale interesting — nothing more, nothing less.”
Dan Heng stayed quiet as the Arbiter-General stood up, bidding his farewell. He nodded in acknowledgment before trying to focus on the book he was reading. However, his words seemed to replay in his head.
‘Yinghua — quite the unique name.’
“Yinghua…” he muttered, closing the book as his thoughts lingered on their conversation.
For his past life, to name a weapon with a name more befitting of a human was quite a peculiar gesture.
He shook his head, regaining clarity as he returned to the inn where they had settled on the Luofu.
“Master Yueliang, the sword you asked for is done.”
The High Elder nodded, his expression ever so constant in its regal propriety. He picked up the sword and unsheathed the blade, its sheen reflecting under the sunlight. He studied its intricate shape — thin and light, yet sharp and swift.
The blacksmith stepped back and swung the sword, which followed every fluid motion he made. It was lighter than his, though he found it the perfect gift for her in time.
“It seems you’ve outdone yourself with my request this time,” he commended, sheathing the sword. “Though, I have one more request.”
He gave the sword back to the blacksmith, who looked at him with determination to fulfill whatever request he made.
“Please engrave its name: Yinghua.”
They nodded.
“As you wish, High Elder.”
It had been a few days, yet March felt like her body was about to give up any time now with all the training her masters had subjected her to.
“M-Master Yanqing… can I take a break for a minute?”
“I’m afraid not, Miss March. You still have another fourteen miles to go—”
“You should cut her some slack, Yanqing.”
He looked at her in confusion, seeing how she was still casual despite telling her to push through her fifty sets of strength exercises.
“Yunli, you—”
The girl smiled at him, happily drinking her cup of Immortal’s Delight.
“She can run the next fourteen miles after her minute break.”
March smiled wryly, forcing herself to do a thumbs-up at Yunli’s suggestion.
“What she… said,” she huffed, trying to catch her breath, her legs almost giving out.
Yanqing hummed, contemplating for a bit before opening up to the idea.
“Alright then, one minute break, and then off you go for fourteen miles.”
The pink-haired girl could only hide the exhaustion within, hoping her adrenaline rush could last her for the rest of the fourteen miles before collapsing.
March had never found lying on a bed more comfortable than ever. When her sore body crash-landed onto the soft mattress, it was as if every nerve had shut down to recharge itself. As always, Dan Heng would come into her room to check on her, leaning against the doorway with his arms crossed.
“Any progress?” He deadpanned and was answered by a groan.
“I surprisingly managed to push through Yunli’s fifty sets of strength exercises… and reached a new record of two miles,” March answered exasperatedly.
“Quite the improvement in just a few days,” he remarked. “You always had it in you when determined.”
The pink-haired girl huffed.
“I didn’t think it’d be this… difficult.”
Too exhausted to notice, he had already seated himself in what space was left on her bed. However, she was already too out of it to acknowledge the gesture.
“More or less, training back in the day is harsher than what you’re going through.”
Her head perked up, looking at him curiously.
“Really?”
He nodded with a hum.
“Any weapon required more focus and strength back in the day.”
March hummed, resting her head on the pillow again.
“Speaking of weapons, did you…” she trailed off when she realized that the past was quite a sensitive topic for him, knowing he wanted to be acknowledged as who he was — not who he was .
Dan Heng looked at her, noticing her wariness as she carefully picked her words.
“Yes.”
“Huh?”
He shook his head, suppressing the fond sigh about to leave him at her slowness.
“You wanted to ask me if my previous incarnations used a sword, correct?”
March hummed, cueing him to continue.
“I remember one who used to be good at swordplay.”
She slowly got up, stretching her now-rested muscles.
“Really?” She asked in amazement. “Do you still know how to use a sword now?”
“A bit,” he answered. “I never really focused on swordplay, so I may not be as skilled as other swordsmen.”
A small smile formed on her lips before leaning close to him.
“Hey… what if you teach me the techniques you know sometime?” She beamed.
He raised a brow at her.
“I’m sure Yanqing and Yunli already taught you whatever I happen to know since they’re basics.”
March hummed, clasping her hands together as her smile grew wider.
“Then what about we spar?”
His eyes narrowed at her words, his tone hesitant as he tried to discourage her from the idea subtly.
“I’m not fun to spar with.”
The pink-haired girl huffed, resting her hands on her hips.
“You’re being humble again,” she retorted. “Besides, I don’t think I’ve ever sparred with you.”
Dan Heng sighed.
“You shouldn’t ask to spar when your body still needs to adapt,” he advised as he poked her sore arm, earning him a wince and a pout from her. “Besides, you should focus more on training than your plan to go against me.”
“Hmph, it’s a deal, tomorrow then~”
“You—”
March smiled cheekily before laughing, her voice still brimming with energy despite undergoing harsh training that strained her body. At this, he could only shake his head with an exasperated sigh.
As always, Dan Heng would always struggle to put his foot down at her requests, no matter how absurd they may usually be.
“Hey, Yueliang.”
The Vidyadhara opened an eye, giving her a sidelong glance before closing it again, continuing his meditation.
“Hmm.”
She pouted, though she leaned closer to him, clasping both hands together as she inhaled a breath.
“Why don’t we spar sometime?”
At her words, he finally opened them, ending his meditation earlier than usual. He looked at her, curious about what drove her to ask such a request.
But instead of completely shutting the idea down, he asked her, “Are you sure?”
A relieved sigh escaped her lips as her body eased a little. She smiled wryly, though she didn’t waver in showing her determination to make her request happen, nodding profusely.
“Of course I am! I may not be as good as you are, but I’ve been training a lot.”
The High Elder shook his head with a sigh, suppressing the amused smile tugging at his lips as he gestured to the tea.
The girl hummed and poured him a cup, handing it to him, which earned her a grateful hum as he drank the tea.
“So…”
He set the cup on the table, looking at her sternly.
“Are you aware of the difference in skill between us?”
She hummed, gaze downcast.
“But…”
The High Elder breathed deeply, taking another sip of his tea.
“Alright,” he conceded. “I will assess your capabilities in your desired spar.”
At his words, the girl smiled and instinctively hugged him, surprising the stoic High Elder with his tense body as proof.
“Thank you!” She exclaimed.
As much as he wanted to lecture her about propriety, he might as well let go of his uptight nature for a moment and give her this.
He picked up the wooden sword, casually swinging the heavy wood without effort. His companion picked up her practice sword, attempting to spin the weighted tool, though it came off as wobbly.
The sight never failed to amuse him, though he schooled his face into a serious expression, pointing his sword at her.
“Do go easy on me,” she quipped, smiling as she returned the gesture.
But her words were lost on him as his eyes flickered its teal glow, rushing towards her in the blink of an eye, which caused her to block his attack and fumble back on her steps instinctively.
“Hey!”
Dan Heng spun his sword into a resting stance.
“You should work on your alertness,” he deadpanned.
March parted her lips in disbelief, thinking of a response, though her line of thoughts was immediately cut off as another strike almost hit her.
“No fair! I really did mean go easy on me!”
He ignored her words, swinging his sword and keeping up his offensive attacks, forcing the pink-haired girl to remain passive.
This is for your good, March.
He swiftly dodged her counterattacks, immediately backing away when necessary before another strike was met defensively with wood against wood scraping against each other.
The blade never bestows clemency, after all.
She gasped for breath, swinging her sword to block another barrage of water swords flying her way, though a few managed to land cuts to her skin.
“You’re still a long way to go,” he spoke apathetically. “You’ve yet to land a hit on me and remain unscathed.”
The girl gritted her teeth, forcing herself to stand up despite her trembling legs.
“You’re still as fragile as your name,” he criticized. “You are merely like a cherry blossom in spring — trampled and forgotten after its beauty has fallen.”
She chuckled wryly, landing the blade on the ground as she supported her weight.
“Yinghua… right,” she mumbled before looking at him. “You gave me that name when I wandered here, saying it’s because I have pink hair.”
The girl breathed deeply, falling to her knees as they gave out as she embraced the hard fall, her knees hitting the rough earth as her grasp on her sword weakened.
He merely stood there, watching her with a detached expression as he spun his sword into an idle stance.
However, she was still filled with determination despite her body wracking in pain, her limbs wanting to give out and surrender. She forced herself to stand, pulling her sword from the ground as she looked at him.
“Again…”
His lips parted, though he lacked the words to say as he closed them. He dropped his sword, his expression betraying none of his feelings.
“Training is over for today."
She frowned.
“I can still stand! I won’t stop until—”
“A great swordsman is wise enough to know when to rest.”
He walked towards her, noticing the slight tremors of her legs.
“Don't fuss now; I shall heal you.”
The girl could only look down, her expression defeated as he carried her on his back.
March stumbled, falling to the ground with a groan after his hard strike.
“Ow!”
Out of instinct, Dan Heng dropped the wooden sword, offering his hand to March, which she took immediately.
“You shouldn’t push yourself past your limit,” he gently lectured with a concerned frown, helping her up. “It wouldn’t do you good if you run on too much determination.”
March huffed, dusting the dirt on her.
“Hey, at least I now know how good you are! Seriously, you should ease down on the humbleness, Mr. Cold Dragon Young,” she teased, earning her an exasperated sigh.
Dan Heng looked at the sunset sky, seeing how time had flown from the many rounds they clashed.
“You should go rest, March.”
The pink-haired girl pouted, looking up at the sky as a sigh came out of her.
“Hm, well, let us head back then?”
But of course, a Vidyadhara’s senses were keen. Nonetheless, he shook his head.
“You go ahead,” he replied. “I have something to do.”
March nodded, smiling at him.
“Alright then, see you there!”
She waved at him, sauntering her way back to their inn.
He watched her figure fade from sight, taking a deep breath as he turned.
“Is there something you want, Jing Yuan?”
The Arbiter-General — always donning a lax smile on his face — showed himself.
“I was merely passing by,” he confessed. “Your skills in swordplay are far from novice.”
Dan Heng picked up the wooden sword he had dropped earlier and put it back in the storage.
“It feels lighter than a spear,” he remarked. “Though I suppose the weight of wood cannot compare to the weight of a real blade — one that had been stained in countless wars.”
Jing Yuan nodded.
“Why don’t we go talk over tea?” He asked. “I have more to tell you.”
He hummed, accepting the invitation.
“Do lead the way, General.”
He chuckled, walking ahead.
“No need for the formalities… old friend.”
“What did you wish to tell me?”
Jing Yuan hummed, taking another sip and savoring the bittersweetness of the tea.
“Well, I found ‘Yinghua'.”
He looked at him with a puzzled expression.
“You found ‘Yinghua'?”
The Arbiter-General nodded.
“I get you’re confused?” He asked lightheartedly, though Dan Heng showed little to no emotion — a trait he had seen from him long ago. “Though understandable, hearing what I said.”
“I would appreciate it if you had been more forward, Ge—Jing Yuan.”
He nodded.
“I found records, or should I say, records about ‘Yinghua',” he began. “Though it isn’t different, I find its contents interesting.”
Jing Yuan took a sip of his tea.
“It is quite unusual for a registered Cloud Knight to have reports or information about them rarely. Though it isn’t unheard of for a Cloud Knight to fill their records within three years, for one of seven years…”
“...Their information is either missing or fabricated,” Dan Heng finished.
A small smile tugged at his lips, humming as he emptied his cup.
“Even her citizenship could be put into question,” he stated. “But with many centuries that had passed and no further records of the person, there would be no need to look into such.”
“So, why are you looking into it?”
Jing Yuan chuckled, pouring himself another cup of tea.
“Because the sword was reportedly placed as a memorial somewhere in Scalegorge Waterscape before it had been lost at sea.”
His lips thinned into a line as he stared at his faint reflection in the tea.
“Unfortunately, there are no recorded blueprints for the sword. It could’ve been found by someone else or buried beneath the seafloor,” Jing Yuan continued. “It seems whoever commissioned the sword wanted it to be unique and tailored for one only.”
Dan Heng nodded, recalling the feel of the mysterious sword, its ghostly weight almost nonexistent from how light it was in his dreams.
“To a strong wielder, the blade is fragile, causing it to break under immense pressure,” he mused aloud. “To a weak wielder, it will lead too much, becoming unusable for a beginner.”
He drank his tea, finishing his cup as the warm liquid flowed down his throat.
“Not even the Imbibitor Lunae of that time could wield it to its full potential despite being the one to commission and name the sword… it could only mean that it was a gift for someone ,” he concluded.
Jing Yuan hummed.
“It seems you remember some things from your dream?”
He nodded, his gaze still trained on the empty cup in his hands.
“Normally, my memories of my past lives are blurry,” he admitted. “But sometimes, they’re clear and vivid.”
Jing Yuan smiled, looking at the night sky full of stars and then back at him.
“It was nice chatting with you, old friend.”
Dan Heng nodded, a crestfallen look on his face as he remembered the hazy face speaking to him, her soft voice almost a melodious song familiar to him.
“I hope you enjoy yourselves in the event.”
He looked up, letting a small smile form.
“Thank you, Jing Yuan.”
He dreamed a kaleidoscope of colors, the cool night air through his layered robes despite their thickness and a warming presence by his side.
In his dreams, he could hear the loud greetings, the cheers of hoping for an auspicious festival without any threat from the Abominations of Abundance.
Yet, unlike his dreams, he could recognize the girl beside him.
Pink-blue eyes met him, and his eyes widened at the clear recognition, his expression dumbfounded by her appearance.
Pink hair and distinct split-colored eyes…
What is she—
“Yueliang?”
He cleared his throat, easing the muscles on his face to stare at her impassively.
“Is there something on my face?”
She pursed her lips, humming as she reached to wipe the excess stain on his face.
“Your eyeliner seems sloppy today,” she deadpanned. “I thought the esteemed High Elder, Imbibitor Lunae, Defending Sword Champion, Yueliang, of the Xianzhou Luofu would be flawless.”
He huffed.
“Measly titles don’t signify the burdens I carry.”
She flashed him a smile.
“I know that— hey!”
Yueliang pinched her cheek, earning him a pout.
“And those burdens happen to include you, Yinghua.”
Another flurry of fireworks was launched into the sky, immediately catching her attention. He followed her gaze, a sense of peacefulness he always felt from her presence.
“Yueliang,” she called, looking at him with eyes that shone brighter and were prettier than any kaleidoscope of color painting the black canvas above. “I heard this saying that if you intertwine your fingers and vow something while fireworks appear in the sky… it would be unbreakable.”
She put her pinky out, a small smile on her lips.
”Promise me that you… would stay, okay?.”
He looked at her hand and then at her expectant gaze, frowning at the flicker of sadness in her eyes despite her smile. He lifted his hand, wrapping his pinky around hers.
“I promise. I’ll never leave you.”
Yinghua puffed her cheeks.
“Hmph, but you have to go again.”
He shook his head, masking his amusement with the seriousness he had practiced throughout his life.
“But I always come back and never leave you until then, don’t I?”
The girl hummed, letting his reason through as they let go.
“Usually because Master would train and nag me again and again,” she grumbled, though the glint of playfulness in her eyes earned her a sigh.
“Leaving…” he mused quietly. “Two meanings and yet, a weighted decision — the outcome is still the same.”
She hummed in agreement, her smile faltering.
“But don’t worry, Yinghua,” he said reassuringly.
I doubt I could ever leave you.
The girl smiled, her pink-blue eyes shining as brightly as the fireworks in the sky.
“I won't ever leave you too, Master!”
Won't you?
Things never go as planned.
The sound of clanging as metal scraped against metal disturbed the tranquil silence on the shore.
She blocked his attacks and weaved between the bursts of water at his command.
The moon was high in the sky, witnessing the clashing of blades between the master and his apprentice.
He stepped back at each offensive strike she made, dodging her attacks without effort before commanding the Azure Dragon to rush forth.
She gasped, groaning at the harsh pressure of water against her back as she fell on the sand and spitting blood. The girl remained alert, immediately getting up and swinging her sword as she touched the Azure Dragon, freezing the figure for a moment of relief with all her energy.
But the ice immediately shattered from being unable to contain the running waters that manifested its form, the dragon rushing for the sword in her hand and causing her to let go as it carried her blade to its master.
A couple of water blades flew towards her, causing her to stumble and fall on the sand. She yelped at the pain shooting through her body as she watched him hold her sword with apathy.
“A Cloud Knight must never let slip their weapon, nor let slacken their form.”
He walked towards her, holding her blade as if it were a hard-won trophy.
“But these seven years… you still fail to do so.”
Yueliang dropped her sword before her, the cold blade reflecting her weary and battered self.
“This is my last lesson for you, Yinghua,” he lectured coldly. “Never trust your master’s words wholeheartedly.”
Yinghua looked up, swallowing nervously as she frowned at him.
“I don’t believe you mean it, I—”
“I do.”
Her eyes widened before her gaze fell to the sand.
“From now on, our relationship shall be severed and forgotten. You shall leave the Luofu while you can.”
She looked up at him with tired eyes, her tears threatening to escape.
“I would no longer be your master, and you ought to find a path of your own. No one will guide you but yourself.”
Yinghua gritted her teeth, forcing herself to stand despite her numbing body.
“Why?! Why must I leave everything?!”
Why must I leave you…?
He stayed quiet, his expression betraying none of his feelings, no matter how much she tried to gauge them.
“You are unfit to be my disciple — not once did you improve, and yet you still cannot go against me unscathed.”
Her lips parted, feeling the sharp pain in her chest as he turned and walked away.
When his silhouette disappeared in the distance, rain began to fall, the thunder sounding faint.
She looked at her reflection, now soaked from the downpour, closing her eyes as she let the rain accompany her tears.
“High Elder…”
Yueliang hummed, staring out the window.
“Speak.”
His subordinate bowed.
“News of Yinghua’s departure had spread,” he reported. “Yinghua… won’t ever come back.”
He nodded and unsheathed the sword, scrutinizing the reflective silver with a few characters carved on the blade.
“Is that so?”
He nodded before looking up at him.
“Nobody has seen her ever since.”
He hummed, sheathing the sword again before putting it on its display.
“Let her be,” he said apathetically. “I have no reason to care for matters I’m no longer privy to.”
The Vidyadhara bowed his head.
“As you wish, High Elder.”
He looked at the stone tablets that showed his past lives, standing in the middle of their most remarkable feats.
“High Elder, it is time to begin the war ritual.”
The Vidyadhara nodded, turning to receive the bowl of baijiu. They then kneel before him, offering the sword to be blessed for the impending war. The liquor splashed on the exposed blade, exchanging the bowl for the sword.
He unsheathed the blade, its golden patterns glinting against the hazy sunlight of Scalegorge Waterscape.
For every swing of his sword, the threads of his past lives formed lifelines that urged ancient wisdom to flow through them and guide them in the imminent war.
.
.
.
.
.
Thousands of Cloud Knights gathered behind the High Elder who led the army. The sound of the war horn signed the start of the battle, and all decisively unsheathed their weapons, rushing to the countless mara-struck.
“In the name of The Hunt!”
“Charge!”
Time passed with every slash and explosion, and the sound of blood spilling on the battlefield with every tear of flesh echoed.
In the battle of the Xianzhou Alliance against the Plagues Author’s creations, the Reignbow Arbiter’s people would never stop drawing the bowstring and shooting every one of undying abominations.
But this endless war led to nothing but bloodshed, and sacrifices were unavoidable, each honored Cloud Knight having perished on the battlefield. Bodies of Cloud Knights and abominations scattered the land, golden leaves stained red by their blood.
However, not every leader can be spared from such tragedies, and he was no different.
His body gave out, piercing through the corpse of a malefic ape, supporting himself with his remaining strength as his body numbed from the branch stuck in him.
Golden eyes that were once bright with honor and glory dimmed in the face of inescapable death.
“Yinghua won’t ever come back.”
His grip slipped until all he could feel was the sharp cut of the blade through his fingers just as his life slipped away.
He sat on the bed, taking deep breaths from the vivid dream. He looked down at his hands, grimacing at the phantom pain dissipating as he regained his senses.
With a sigh, he got up and readied himself for the day.
“Good morning, Dan Heng!”
He looked in her direction; his gaze met with the ever-enthusiastic smile of the pink-haired girl who now wore Xianzhou-styled clothing.
She looked at him with a cheeky grin, twirling on her feet as she showed off her new look.
“Like what you see?”
He hummed in acknowledgment, suppressing the urge to smile from the warmth spreading in his chest.
“You look good,” he remarked.
At his words, March huffed.
“You should learn how to compliment people. Maybe you’d have your chances with someone!”
Dan Heng’s lips parted, about to protest, when she headed off. He watched her rush off, an amused smile playing on his lips as he shook his head.
He followed, looking forward to seeing how much her training had paid off under Yanqing and Yunli’s tutelage.
The crowd gathered aboard the Skysplitter. Bells rang, and ceremonial cannons roared as the Wardance contenders stood in the ring.
Jing Yuan smiled as he stood on the podium, overlooking the crowd and contenders as they cheered for the Arbiter-General. He wore a smile as bright as the sun, a symbol of power and hope for the Luofu. His pleasantries and speech were brief, embracing the roaring audience.
“Thus, in the name of The Hunt, the Luminary Combat Art Ceremony shall now commence!”
The crowd repeatedly shouted with their lungs, “Long live the Xianzhou!”
The ceremonial cannons roared once more, and the representatives of each Xianzhou ship were led to a common area as they waited for their turn in the ring.
Amidst the crowds, the rest of the Astral Express crew watched in anticipation, most of them openly eager to see their darling girl take on the challenge and compete with seasoned swordsmen and warriors.
While Himeko and Welt watched the contenders fight with their martial prowess, earning a roaring crowd that screamed for their names, Dan Heng didn’t pay mind to them, merely nodding along with every commentary they made.
However, when the announcer announced the next contenders, and she — the pink-haired swordmaster — appeared on stage, his heart couldn’t help but flutter at the sight of her smile. Dan Heng shifted in his seat, hoping to get a clearer view of her despite their seat being one of the best among the Skysplitter.
He watched her, his heart full of admiration and a pang of unknown guilt he couldn’t place, and for a moment, their eyes met, his heart heavy and full of anticipation.
She smiled at him, though it immediately faltered as an unknown vision flashed in her mind, her heart feeling heavy from something she couldn’t figure out.
Using all the lessons she gathered from her shifus, March advanced to the harder stages without a hitch. Although there were times she heard the collective gasps and winces from the audience when she fell, she managed to climb to the ranks with the cheering crowd fueling her determination to win.
Now, March faced a powerful opponent — a formidable swordmaster amongst the Cloud Knights. No words were exchanged, and they only drew their sword. Her lips pressed together, and her grip on her two swords tightened. A few moments passed as they stared at each other, but in a flash, they moved swiftly, their sword almost landing a hit on her.
Almost.
If it weren’t for her training to improve her reflexes and reaction time, the cold blade would’ve landed on her in full. But the sword’s tip grazed a scar on her arm, drawing a bit of blood. She wobbled on her feet but remained standing, causing the crowd to erupt in cheers.
The Cloud Knight struck again, but this time, she dodged it in time and made a counterattack. However, as skilled as ever, the Cloud Knight blocked her counterattack and immediately went to hit again.
No matter how many times March tried to hold off against her opponent, her grunts sounded across the arena, making the crowd gasp as she fell to her knees, and her opponent was ready to land the final blow to take the win for themselves.
The world felt like it slowed down, the crowd’s cheers now a faint noise in her ears. She couldn’t help but close her eyes, bracing for the impact and her sure defeat.
“A Cloud Knight must never let slip their weapon, nor let slacken their form.”
Her eyes quickly opened, the flash of a memory in her mind, and she couldn’t help the confusion from the hint of a heaviness she suddenly felt.
“But these seven years… you still fail to do so.”
She looked up, and for a moment, she saw…
Him?
Dan Heng…?
No… that’s not—
At that moment, she saw a flood of memories quickly flash before her eyes, a flurry of moments from years ago fleeting in no mere seconds.
“From now on, our relationship shall be severed and forgotten. You shall leave the Luofu while you can.”
She saw the Azure Dragon, the same one she’d seen him wield in battle once. She saw a man in his likeness, dressed and painted in gold, his eyes yellow instead of teal. And in that moment, her six-phased ice powers acted on instinct.
“You are unfit to be my disciple — not once did you improve, and yet you still cannot go against me unscathed.”
The crowd gasped at the sudden burst of ice, all of the spikes going for the Cloud Knight.
“This is my last lesson for you, Yinghua.”
The moment was quick — too quick for everyone to process. When March regained her senses, she found herself standing, one of her swords pointed at her opponent. She didn’t realize her rigid expression. Only when she felt her face at ease did she realize how harshly she looked at them.
The Cloud Knight’s sword dropped, clanking and deflecting from the almost-unbreakable ice. They were unable to move, seemingly encased in the burst of cold matter. March gasped, lowering her sword as she willed the ice to melt, the matter loosening and eventually either cracking or melting, which made her opponent fall onto the ground with a thud.
A moment of silence settled as the arena tried to comprehend what happened. Not long after, a clap, followed by another, sounded until the crowd erupted in cheers for the victor. March helped the Cloud Knight up, gaining a small smile of approval as they stood on their feet once more.
The crowd roared louder, and amidst it all, the rest of the members of the Astral Express cheered for March except for one. He only clapped solemnly, a bit of heaviness settling in his chest.
But after all the applause and the waving to all of them, March looked down solemnly and walked off with her head hung low, the cheering crowd oblivious to the melancholia she had from their seats.
And yet, one seemed to have noticed, excusing himself from the others to find her.
Her head hurts.
The flurry of memories in her vision flashed like a fleeting dream the moment she entered the resting areas. March pushed herself until she slumped onto the bed, her vision distorting reality and a dream.
“I promise. I’ll never leave you.”
March frowned, taking a deep breath to ease the overwhelming surge of memories in her head.
“Don’t worry, Yinghua, I always come back and never leave you until then, don’t I?”
But you left.
“I won't ever leave you too, Master!”
I left, too.
She felt something cold — something damp. March blinked, and she felt something wet on her skin. She brought a hand to her face, feeling the smooth stream of her drying tears.
Why…
She blinked again, the ache in her head slowly easing after the last fragment ingrained itself in her memories .
…am I crying?
Before she could think of a firm conclusion for the strange thing that happened to her, the door opened. March looked to see who it was, and to her surprise, he was there. They stared at each other for a while, the silence noticeable all of a sudden. She opened her mouth to speak, but he looked at her solemnly.
“March…”
As always, she hastily stood up, subtly wiping the tears off of her face as she forced a smile.
“Hey… didn’t think I’d see you here! Shouldn’t you be with the others?” She said, her voice a bit shaky, though she forced all of them out of her throat, each carrying the weight trying to overwhelm her.
His lips pressed into a thin line, and he closed the door behind him as he stepped further inside the small room. Dan Heng took a deep breath, his mind carefully planning the words that would come from him.
“March…” he repeated. “I…”
Running on instinct, March could only shut her eyes and walk to embrace him tightly, stifling her sobs as she cried into his chest. As always, Dan Heng allowed her to do so, his hand hesitantly brushing through her hair while the other patted her back.
“I’m here.”
His lips pressed into a thin line, finally finding the courage to embrace her fully. A sigh left him, and he could only close his eyes.
“I won’t leave you again.”
I won’t let you go again.