As dusk deepened, the streetlights gradually brightened.
The Xianzhou was a colossal ship that cruised through the universe. To provide Xianzhou natives with the most comfortable environment possible, it had everything arranged, from gentle spring rain to blazing summer sunshine...
If Xianzhou natives could imagine it, the Xianzhou could make it happen.
They had reproduced ancient Earth's changing seasons aboard the Xianzhou. As time passed, Xianzhou natives could experience different temperatures and weather, crossing a thousand years to admire the beautiful scenery the ancients had once seen.
Even withered leaves and insects of all kinds were accounted for.
Even during nights that no one paid any attention to, an evening breeze would blow.
Now, that breeze gently brushed aside Jingliu's bangs, revealing her ruby-clear red eyes.
For the first time, the taciturn Sword Champion showed Xianyu a different side of herself.
She seemed unaware of just how bright and captivating her eyes were.
Rather than an invincible swordswoman, she looked as though she had shed that cold, rigid mask forged from ice, no longer radiating that unapproachable air.
Perhaps sharing this meal had brought him and Jingliu closer?
"It's very special," Xianyu said sincerely. "It's left me in quite a bind. I don't know what to give you. What could possibly match an Abomination of Abundance?"
For some reason, Jingliu's expression turned cold again. "You don't need to give me anything in return," she said stiffly.
Xianyu shook his head.
"That won't do. I'll have to look properly."
"There's no need for a gift." Jingliu genuinely seemed unwilling to accept one, and volunteered, "If you want to repay me, you could tell my fortune instead."
Hearing that, Xianyu thought Jingliu was far too accommodating. Wasn't that request a little too easy?
He immediately said, "No time like the present. Let's do it today. What would you like to ask about?"
"You mean right now?"
Although Jingliu had suggested it herself, she froze at his words and asked hesitantly, "Aren't you off the clock now?"
"The Sword Champion herself is asking for a reading. Who cares whether I'm on the clock?"
Xianyu didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He hadn't expected her to remember the excuse he'd used to fob Baiheng off.
He continued, "What do you want to ask about? It'll be quick."
Jingliu turned and opened the door for Xianyu.
"Come inside first," she said.
Xianyu hesitated for a moment.
It was just a fortune reading. A quick calculation, and he could finish it at the door in under a minute...
Xianyu: But I'm already here...
Looking at Jingliu, who stood in the doorway urging him inside, he could only go along with her wishes and enter the courtyard.
The Sword Champion spent years away fighting wars. Her high position earned her a considerable income, but she hadn't spent it on her home.
There were few lavish ornaments in the courtyard, and the decor was perfectly ordinary, probably included when she bought the property.
The courtyard held only a stone table, a few stone stools, and a rack for swords and sabers in the corner.
Rather than a home, it looked more like a place where some traveler stopped for a brief rest.
Xianyu sat down at the stone table first and asked, "What would you like a reading on, Sword Champion?"
Jingliu sat opposite him. "Then let's see how the next battle will go."
Xianyu took out his Jade Abacus, checked the date, converted the system time into the traditional two-hour periods, then made a few calculations and said:
"Great Peace, Lingering Delay, Minor Fortune. To sum it up: a great victory, but there'll be complications along the way."
Jingliu looked a little blank. "You don't need any other tools?"
"You mean things like copper coins? If you're asking the same question, the result will be the same no matter which method you use."
Xianyu thought for a moment and instinctively offered himself as an example.
"For example, back when I-ah, when a friend of mine..."
He stumbled over his words, then continued,
"I have a friend who specializes in fortune-telling for wealthy people. Never mind copper coins, he'd bring out all sorts of mystical-looking things. If the reading was too quick or looked too easy, the clients wouldn't believe it-"
Xianyu had no intention of deceiving her, so he explained everything to Jingliu bit by bit.
"The first result, Great Peace, is auspicious. It favors staying still rather than taking action. Lingering Delay is inauspicious. There may be obstacles, so it's best not to make any major moves."
Jingliu sat ramrod straight, listening attentively with her eyes fixed intently on him.
"Lastly, Minor Fortune is also auspicious. After all, the Luofu has you, Sword Champion. What is there to worry about?"
Jingliu abruptly turned her head and brushed aside her bangs, revealing scarlet ears. She looked a little... shy?
Xianyu: "..."
He fell silent.
Had the hot pot addled my brain? Why would I think Jingliu was feeling shy?
Shy because I complimented her, no less?
Xianyu: "..."
He would sooner believe something was wrong with his brain.
Had my understanding of the world really become this distorted?
Could these be the early signs of becoming mara-struck?
But I'm only twenty in this life! Surely I'm not about to become mara-struck already?
Sensing that something was wrong, Xianyu hurriedly stood up, ready to go home.
"I'll be heading off, then. Goodbye."
Leaving those words behind, Xianyu strode toward the gate.
He had only taken a few steps when an irresistible force came from behind him.
Caught off guard, Xianyu nearly lost his balance and fell. By the time he finally steadied himself, Jingliu was in front of him again, reaching out once more.
Jingliu seized Xianyu firmly by the collar and dragged him toward the stone table.
There was a considerable difference in their heights. Xianyu had to bend down slightly and follow her pull to keep his collar from choking him.
Their pleasant conversation and her fleeting softness now seemed to have been nothing but his imagination.
The white-haired beauty kept advancing, only stopping after she had pushed him down onto the stone table.
Through his thin clothes, Xianyu could clearly feel the cold stone.
His CPU was practically burning out, but no matter how hard he thought, he couldn't figure out why.
Could ginkgo leaves have sprouted on me? Have I become mara-struck?
He strained to turn his head and inspect his arms and legs, but found nothing unusual. When he looked up again, he saw Jingliu.
Jingliu leaned over him, bracing her hands on either side of his body.
"Too lax."
Jingliu's expression was cold, but her eyes held the haziness of drunkenness.
Xianyu: ...What kind of booze was that?! Isn't this delayed kick a little too strong?!
He glanced to either side. With Jingliu completely blocking both sides of his body, he could only try inching downward.
She gave a soft chuckle, lifted one leg, and planted her knee on the edge of the stone table near the space between his legs, cutting off his escape completely.
Xianyu: "..."
This position was far too suggestive.
Xianyu's heart pounded like a drum, as though the entire left side of his chest were trembling with it.
This was the first time he had been so close to a woman, in such an intimate position.
He could even clearly feel Jingliu's warm breath.
One careless move could make him touch Jingliu, leaving him looking like he was taking advantage of her drunken state. And with the difference in their fighting strength...
For the moment, Xianyu couldn't think of a suitable way to escape her hold.
The ship would sink when it reached the bridge.
He chose to lie flat.
The coat Jingliu had draped over herself had long since fallen to the ground.
He didn't even know where to look, so he gave up and met Jingliu's gaze.
The position of her knee was impossible to ignore. Lying on his back, he could only inch his legs away to put some distance between them.
Jingliu suddenly straightened and stared down at him. Only after a long while did she speak.
"How long has it been since you last practiced martial arts?" she asked icily.
Xianyu: "...Huh?"
Before you continue