Don't... Talk...

At twenty, time had flown by in the blink of an eye. War had broken out again on the front lines. The creations of Calamity-Bringer Shuhu once more wreaked havoc within the realms of the Xianzhou Luofu. Wingweaver Feather Guards, Buli People Father Wolves, mountain-sized Shi Rou Behemoths, and undying abominations appeared across the Star Sea without any pattern.

Reports from the front arrived in rapid succession, and Cloud Knight casualties mounted by the day. The Ambrosial Arbor within the Scalegorge Waterscape seemed to have been stirred, its seal showing signs of loosening. Vidhydara High Elder Dan Feng summoned the waters of the ancient sea to reinforce the seal on the Ambrosial Arbor. Faintly, a terrifying storm cloud seemed to hang over the entirety of the Luofu.

While the Xianzhou Luofu faced threats from without, discordant voices also arose within. A faction known as the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus had risen again. They worshipped Yaoshi the Aeon of Abundance, praised Abundance, and sought to incite internal turmoil.

The Cloud Knights arrested these Medicus believers who stirred unrest throughout the Luofu. Through interrogation by the judges of the Ten-Lords Commission, they learned that the leader of the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus had been guided by Calamity-Bringer Shuhu. Now, they proclaimed that the Calamity-Bringer would soon descend upon the Xianzhou Luofu once more, intending to break the seal on the Ambrosial Arbor and bring the Path of Abundance's blessings back to the Xianzhou.

At this moment, the storm was about to break.

Over the past few days, the artificial stars in the various realms of the Luofu had dimmed, as though reflecting the mood of its people.

Vidhydara High Elder Dan Feng once again drew the waters of the ancient sea of the Scalegorge Waterscape over the dark roots, reinforcing the seal on the Ambrosial Arbor.

This action also brought gloomy rain to many of the realms.

Amid this turbulent storm, the Divination Commission's diviners activated the Great Calculation Array to divine the Luofu's future.

Yet the result showed that although the Luofu could survive this calamity, it would be a bitter victory. Fewer than one in ten Cloud Knight soldiers would remain, and every realm would be destroyed in the war to come.

Outside the window, wind and rain swept seasonal ginkgo leaves along with them. They rustled softly as they fell against the windowsill like drumbeats.

An oil lamp burned indoors, while the heating mechanism sent by the Artisanship Commission slowly released warmth, dispelling the chill of the autumn rain beyond the window.

"Your long-life species may have constitutions far stronger than us short-life species from beyond the Xianzhou, but even you can't endure three sleepless days spent tracking down the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus, then come back and practice swordsmanship in the rain for so long."

Bai Heng held a medicinal broth prepared according to an Alchemy Commission prescription, feeding it spoonful by spoonful to Jingliu, who lay on the bed.

Having been caught in the rain, Jingliu seemed to have developed a slight fever. Her fair face had lost some color, but it only made her look more pitiful.

"None... of your... business..." Jingliu rarely had fevers, and the haze in her mind made even her words come out haltingly.

"Master Jingliu, don't be stubborn at a time like this." Bai Heng sighed and placed a hand on Jingliu's forehead.

It was burning hot.

The Xianzhou's long-life species rarely fell ill, but whenever they did, they often suffered more than short-life species.

A fever, after all, was the immune system's stress response.

Because they had received the Path of Abundance's blessing, the cells and self-healing abilities of Xianzhou long-life species far surpassed those of short-life species.

This also made the stress response of Xianzhou people far more intense when they fell ill.

Bai Heng held the medicinal broth and spooned it out bit by bit, feeding it to Jingliu.

But after she had drunk only a third of it, Jingliu suddenly murmured softly:

"Bitter... give it... here..."

Before Bai Heng could react, he saw Jingliu prop up her weak body with one hand, snatch the medicinal broth from his grasp, then bite down on her thin lips and drain it in one gulp.

Bai Heng was dumbfounded.

But when he watched Jingliu stuff the bowl back into his hands, then flop back down as though her soul had returned to her body, he suddenly wanted to laugh.

"Master Jingliu, you really are something else." Bai Heng shook his head in resignation. "Wait here. I'll bring over the almond and white fungus soup from the kitchen."

With that, Bai Heng rose and left the room. He went down the corridor to the kitchen, filled a bowl with the almond and white fungus soup that had been prepared beforehand, then hurried back to Jingliu's bedroom.

After bringing the soup over, he had thought Jingliu would find it troublesome to be fed spoonful by spoonful again. He set the hot soup beside the bed, intending to let her handle it herself.

But just as Bai Heng turned to leave, he heard Jingliu's weak mutter:

"Feed... me..."

Bai Heng froze for a moment, then nodded in understanding.

"Mm."

Outside the window, rain, wind, and thunder continued without pause. Sword Champion Manor was still far too close to the Scalegorge Waterscape.

The surging force of the tides made the world outside seem especially bleak, like the true end of the world.

Bai Heng spooned up the steaming white fungus soup one mouthful at a time. Once the wooden bowl was empty, he said his farewell.

"That's enough for today, Master Jingliu. Get some rest."

But as soon as he finished speaking, his sleeve was gently tugged.

Before he could recover, a pulling force came from his wrist and dragged him directly into the bed curtains.

"???"

"Master Jingliu, my shoes... I haven't taken off my shoes yet."

"Don't... talk..."

Bai Heng held his breath. At that moment, the proud and aloof Sword Champion curled up in his arms like an injured little beast. One of her hands rested against his pounding chest, her long lashes trembled faintly, and those crimson eyes, always so full of confidence, were gradually being filled with vulnerability.

"Just... like this... don't move..."

She bit down on her pearly teeth and spoke softly:

At such close range, Bai Heng could feel Master Jingliu's warm breath, her faintly rising and falling heartbeat, and the cool fragrance of winter flowers...

His heart was pounding too.

But he did not speak. He merely took Jingliu's hand in silence.

Yet even though she was burning with fever, those pale hands remained icy cold.

The room was quiet. Bai Heng could hear the rain falling outside the window, along with the faint breathing of the person in his arms.

Only when that breathing gradually became even did Bai Heng murmur softly:

"Master Jingliu?"

There was no response, because she had already fallen asleep in Bai Heng's arms.

Bai Heng remained in that position and carefully pulled the blanket over her, whispering:

"Good night, Master Jingliu."

Bread wants gifts, sob sob.

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