At nineteen, you fought the deathless abominations on the Cloud Knights' front lines and gradually discovered that Calamity-Bringer Shuhu had been causing frequent disturbances across the Xianzhou 'Luofu' during this time. The abominations inflicted considerable damage upon the Xianzhou, but General Tengxiao of the Xianzhou 'Luofu' continuously deployed troops, and with the High-Cloud Quintet stationed on the 'Luofu', the losses caused by the abominations were kept to a minimum.
While fighting the Abundance abominations at the front, Cloud Knights who had fallen to mara could not be escorted to the Ten-Lords Commission and could only be dealt with on the spot. Because you were a short-lived species, even personally executing former comrades carried no risk of becoming Mara-Struck. Thus, those in the army who fell to mara were mostly dealt with by your own hand.
The weapon Yingxing had forged for you, the "Soul Severance Sword," was gradually affected by the Path of Destruction amid its constant slaughter, gaining the ability to harm spiritual entities.
But at the same time, the prolonged killing of fellow soldiers and former comrades earned you the title of Death God.
Several months of fighting on the front lines placed your mind under immense strain, but then you thought of Master Jingliu, who had endured the same for centuries—day after day, year after year, endlessly cutting down Abundance abominations and former comrades.
Once, when you saw her personally kill a Cloud Knight she knew well, those eyes as vivid as blood seemed to truly speak of sorrow.
At the end of the year, through the efforts of the Xianzhou's native residents, the Vidyadhara, the Foxians, and the other races, the Xianzhou 'Luofu' gained a brief chance to rest. Calamity-Bringer Shuhu also seemed to display a rare touch of humanity at this time, causing no trouble as the year drew to a close.
The moment you returned to the Xianzhou 'Luofu,' you contacted your online friend, Wuxia Feiguang, and told her of the misery you had endured over the past few months. After carefully listening to the pressure weighing on your heart, she asked, "By all rights, shouldn't the person you want comfort from most right now be that Master Jingliu of yours? Why come to me?"
Bai Heng quickly replied, "Master Jingliu probably isn't feeling any better herself right now, so I don't want to disturb her. And after thinking it over, you're the only friend I have left to confide in."
Wuxia Feiguang: "Don't act so familiar. We're not close."
Bai Heng: "Say whatever you want. We've known each other for seven years, after all... Honestly, if I hadn't met Master Jingliu, maybe I would've fallen for you too."
After a moment of silence, Wuxia Feiguang replied with two words: "Scumbag."
Bai Heng: "I'm just saying it was possible."
Wuxia Feiguang: "The moment you had that thought, you were already being unfaithful to your Master Jingliu."
Bai Heng: "Fine, fine, fine. Anyway, I'm utterly devoted to Master Jingliu. Even if you wanted me to be a scumbag, I wouldn't."
After Bai Heng sent that message, the other side did not reply for a long time.
Bai Heng continued, "Seriously, how about we meet once? You're from the Xianzhou, but I'm only a short-lived species from beyond it, with barely a century to live. Maybe in a few years I'll be old and even less handsome, and then I'll be the one who doesn't want to meet you."
Wuxia Feiguang: "...Let me think about it."
Seeing that there was truly a chance, Bai Heng pressed on while the iron was hot. "If you're willing to meet me, I'll go fry up a couple of dishes to drink with right now, then bring out the good wine Master Jingliu hid away. You like drinking too, anyway."
Wuxia Feiguang: "Uh... does your Master Jingliu know you're stealing her hidden wine?"
Bai Heng: "That isn't important. At worst, I'll get beaten up and go to the Alchemy Commission for some medicine."
Wuxia Feiguang: "Looks like you can take quite a beating."
Bai Heng: "Built up a tolerance from getting beaten."
Wuxia Feiguang: "All right, then. Tonight... I'll wait for you on the roof of the east wing of Sword Champion Manor."
Before you continue