Hearing Li Chen's words, Han Li asked eagerly, "Really?"
But then her face fell again. "Master, you're only trying to comfort me."
"Master, I've had no other pastimes or interests all these years. I've stayed true to my path, working tirelessly toward becoming a Sword Cultivator."
"But that wasn't because I loved this path so much. It was simply because you once said I had the aptitude to become a Sword Cultivator."
Han Li was not spoiled or willful. As the child of Slave Workers, she had endured disdain and cold shoulders in her youth, living like a lamb penned up for slaughter at any moment. Those experiences had kept her cautious and circumspect.
Deep down, she also yearned for strength, hoping it would let her protect herself, give her a sense of security, and earn Li Chen's praise and approval.
Her perseverance was her way of proving herself.
Li Chen's expression shifted slightly. "I did say that."
Han Li said, "In the past, although you commanded many elite soldiers and mighty generals, I could still find my place and contribute something as your personal disciple, with some strength of my own."
"But once you revealed your true body and restored your original form, everything became completely different."
"I can no longer serve as your sword, fighting on every front. Even if war breaks out again and you face new enemies, countless mechanical Puppets, Flying Boats, and Warships will march to their deaths. You'll have no use for me anymore."
"Only then did I realize that I wasn't actually of any use."
Li Chen had no answer. He wanted to comfort Han Li, but she saw things so clearly herself. How could ordinary words of reassurance reach her?
Han Li continued, "I also studied the Puppet Dao in secret, trying