"Captain Qingping?"
Zhou Xing looked at the monster before him, somewhat dazed, but long-standing habit still made him draw his saber.
Qingping clamped down on his own wrist. What little consciousness he had left was still fairly clear. Using the left half of his body, which he could still control, he restrained his right side and grinned at the youngster before him.
"Kid, that leg of yours will probably end up like mine."
Zhou Xing stared blankly at his senior.
That bloody maw, which had sprouted fangs and resembled a bear trap, revealed an unexpectedly hearty smile.
Before he could even think about what Captain Qingping meant, or what exactly had happened to his leg, he heard the man speak again, his tone wistful:
"Ha... I was planning to work another thirty or forty years, then retire and enjoy myself. Looks like I'll still get one last thrill in this life."
Zhou Xing frowned, his saber hand suddenly trembling a little.
The beastlike eyes before him shone, and Qingping lifted his head. "Kid, haven't you always wanted to join the front lines? Then you should know what to do when a comrade becomes Mara-Struck, right? Cut off my head with that saber in your hand, and you'll have passed the first test."
Zhou Xing slowly stood up and looked at Qingping.
The survival craft wasn't very spacious. All he needed was to take one step forward and swing his saber once.
But...
He found he couldn't take that step.
Captain Qingping had always treated him well.
He had learned stories of the past from Captain Qingping and studied martial arts under him...
The feelings born of their time together made it hard for him to strike.
"What are you standing there for? Do it!" Qingping urged him.
Zhou Xing lowered