The water and moonlight looked quite soothing.
His gaze shifted slightly toward a corner, where several huge boulders lay toppled, blocking the rippling reflections on the water.
"Sit for a while."
He strolled over, just about to jump onto one of the boulders.
The clear water beneath his feet, which had reflected the full moon, suddenly changed.
The stars and moonlight scattered, replaced by one humanoid silhouette after another.
Yet Bai Yan did not stop in time. He had not even noticed the subtle change beneath his feet.
He stepped right onto it, landing on one of the silhouettes.
Without looking down, he jumped onto the boulder, turned around, and prepared to sit.
The instant he turned, a figure that had suddenly appeared nearly startled him into falling off the boulder.
The figure was a woman—short, slender, with white hair.
What Bai Yan found most unbelievable was that her eyes were covered by a strip of black cloth.
"...Jingliu?!"
"No, where the hell did this place send me?!"
While Bai Yan was still shocked, Jingliu turned to face him and stood motionless.
One stood high and the other low, simply "looking" at each other.
About a minute later, Jingliu spoke first, her expression unexpectedly solemn.
"Is this your domain, little sister?"
Bai Yan instinctively looked down at herself.
The dress was still there.
Tilting her head slightly, her earrings swayed, reflecting the cold moonlight and sparkling brilliantly.
Cold sweat immediately broke out on him.
How had Jingliu gotten in? Could this place belong not just to him alone, but be some kind of special public space?
Hmm... a Hyperdimensional Space that connected countless worlds?
The thought flashed through his mind, but what troubled Bai Yan more was what identity he should use when facing Jingliu.
First impressions were important.
Know yourself and know your enemy, and you would never be defeated.
Bai Yan gave Jingliu a quick glance and immediately sensed that she was facing him with caution.
She even seemed somewhat wary of him?
Jing Yuan's mentor among the Seven Banners of the Emperor Bow, one of the former Five Braves of the Cloud, the former Sword Master of the Luofu Xianzhou who had once captured Hulei alive—could she fail to see through someone whose combat strength did not even reach the level of chicken feed?
Forget pretending to be profound. She was a genuine thousand-year-old monster; any act might be seen through at a glance.
So he should choose the first layer: be honest, but not completely forthcoming.
Bai Yan quickly hopped down from the boulder, carefully making sure not to splash too much water.
Only after standing at the same level as Jingliu did he speak in a female voice.
"Hello, my name is Bai Yan. Actually... I was only testing my ability. I didn't expect to accidentally pull you in, big sister. I'm truly sorry!"
Bai Yan simply bowed deeply, but when he looked up, he found Jingliu seemed somewhat distracted.
Moreover, she had removed her blindfold and was staring fixedly at it in her hand.
After a while, she looked up at Bai Yan.
"An ability..."
"It should return to normal in about ten minutes—maybe it ends once the time is up. I'm not very proficient with it either."
There was no need to hide it. If he did not reassure her, she could use that blindfold as a weapon and make him restart ten times.
"It is of no consequence."
Jingliu lowered the hand holding the blindfold, gazed at Bai Yan, and then walked toward him step by step.
She stopped only when she was seven paces away.
"I want to know: can you bring me into this space again next time?"
She seemed remarkably calm at the moment, vastly different from the Mara-struck state Bai Yan had expected.
But he did not dare ask. He merely closed his eyes and quietly sensed the space for a moment.
"How is it?" The moment Bai Yan opened his eyes, Jingliu asked at once.
"Yes—uh, you want to come again next time?"
Please no. I'm still pond weed in the beginner's pool. Why am I already going to coexist with a ruler of the ocean?
Yet Jingliu nodded.
"As an exchange, you may name an equivalent condition."
Her face was calm, but her heart, bitter for a thousand years, stirred ever so slightly.
Her senses could not be wrong.
From the moment she entered this place, the Mara-struck affliction had completely fallen silent...
Volume 1: I Have Trod on Thin Ice All My Life
Why did Jingliu want to come again?
Hmm, this beauty who had lived for over a thousand years said she wanted more...
Agreed!
"You may stay. As for the condition..."
Bai Yan paused.
What could Jingliu offer him?
Judging from his senses, he could not bring her back to his own world. Otherwise, would it not be wonderful to simply cling to her thigh?
Still, Jingliu was so powerful. If he could get her to teach him a move or two and keep it hidden, he would gain another trump card for the future.
A trump card beyond the sight of everyone in the Honkai world.
Which Path should he choose... The Hunt did not suit him, and he could not join The Destruction.
The Preservation could work, but it did not suit his personality at all.
While Bai Yan remained silent, Jingliu suppressed a certain impulse and examined him, forming a few guesses.
She seemed completely unaware. Or perhaps she was aware, and I simply would not have had the chance to enter... Perhaps it is fate after all.
What request will she make?
Bai Yan hesitated for a long time before speaking. "First, I'm sorry, but I must correct a misunderstanding."
"Hmm?"
He switched to his male voice. "Actually, I'm a man. I was forced to disguise myself like this for a mission, so I'm sorry."
"..."
Jingliu froze.
She scrutinized Bai Yan carefully, yet even after a long while, she still found it unbelievable.
With her experience, she only needed one glance to tell how much talent Bai Yan had for martial arts.
Although she had never systematically studied physiognomy, years of experience had made her generally accurate at reading people.
But this time, she truly had failed to see the gender of the person before her.
After being stunned for a full minute, Jingliu finally shook her head. "Unbelievable..."
"Ahem." Bai Yan tried to hide his embarrassment. "What I mean is, do you know any martial techniques or other combat abilities? Could you teach me a little? Something for self-defense."
Jingliu sighed, setting aside the little incident from before. A trace of amusement appeared in her eyes. "You actually know who I am, don't you?"
"Huh?"
No way, you could tell that too?
"A person's first reaction is often their truest one.
"When you first saw me, your gaze lingered on the blindfold for a very long time. Your eyes were also filled with extreme wariness and concern... I think that is the most fitting answer."
"You saw through me." Bai Yan helplessly shook his head. "Then you should put the blindfold back on. I'm scared."
"There is no need to worry. Perhaps you have not noticed, but to someone like me, it is very obvious."
"Obvious?"
"Indeed. This place can suppress all kinds of extraordinary powers to a considerable extent. Have you not noticed?"
Bai Yan froze and instinctively looked down at the ground beneath his feet.
A thin film of water shimmered. The ordinary clear water now emanated an indescribable power.
That special power seemed to drown out all the invisible forces in the space.
Bai Yan suddenly understood.
So that's how it is!
This was my real cheat! It had finally arrived!
But he quickly calmed down again.
How had Jingliu entered? Had it been an accident?
By his senses, he could vaguely perceive the people "registered" here, and next time, he could pull Jingliu in as well.
As for suppressing extraordinary powers, it was more accurate to say that it suppressed her Mara-struck affliction.
No wonder she was willing to stay here. A patient who discovered her terminal illness could be treated would want to try, even if it only treated the symptoms.
"Seems like it... Then what do you think of my condition?"
"Of course, no problem."
Bai Yan lifted her skirt and was about to begin the ceremony of taking a master.
"Wait!"
"Hmm?"
"You should switch back to a female voice. Your current appearance is truly inappropriate."
"...All right."
Bai Yan did not think much of it and directly switched back to a female voice.
In any case, he would have to maintain the disguise for a long time in the future. It would be good to get used to it.
"I feel that you may be more suited to being a woman."
"Don't make fun of me. I had no choice."
Although Jingliu was smiling, there was no malice in it, and Bai Yan felt slightly better inside.
He simply stopped thinking about it and performed the disciple's ceremony cleanly and decisively.
"Disciple Bai Yan greets Master."
"Ha, there is no need for such formality. In truth, I am no longer someone qualified to take disciples..."
"No, you must accept me."
Seeing Bai Yan's stubborn expression, Jingliu could only say, "Very well. As you wish."
Having gotten what he wanted, Bai Yan stood and leaned closer with a grin. "There isn't much time today, Master Jingliu. Next time, I'll definitely find a way to extend our stay so that master and disciple can spend more time together."
Before you continue