Don't... Speak

[Twenty years passed in the blink of an eye, and the front lines were ablaze once more. The Swarm Disaster's creations wreaked havoc again in the Xianzhou Luofu's heavens. Winged guards of the Propagation, Lupine progenitors of the Abundance, colossal monstrous carrion golems, and immortal abominations appeared erratically throughout the sea of stars.]

[Reports from the front lines poured in, with Cloud Knights casualties increasing daily. The Ambrosial Arbor within the Scalegorge Waterscape seemed to sense something, and the seal showed signs of loosening. The Vidhydara High Elder Dan Feng mobilized the ancient sea waters to reinforce the Ambrosial Arbor's seal. In the shadows, a terrifying cloud seemed to loom over the entire Luofu.]

[As the Xianzhou Luofu faced external threats, internal strife also arose. A faction known as the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus resurfaced, worshipping Yaoshi the Aeon of Abundance and praising the Abundance, attempting to create internal chaos.]

[The Cloud Knights arrested these unsettling Sanctus Medicus followers within the Luofu. Through interrogations by the judges of the Ten-Lords Commission, you learned that the leader of the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus had been enlightened by the Swarm Disaster's Tayzzyronth. Now, they proclaimed that Tayzzyronth would descend upon the Xianzhou Luofu once more, intending to break the Ambrosial Arbor's seal and allow Yaoshi's blessings to return to the Xianzhou.]

[At this moment, a storm was brewing.]

In recent days, the artificial stars in the Luofu's various heavens had dimmed, reflecting the Xianzhou people's mood.

The Vidhydara High Elder Dan Feng once again drew upon the waters of the ancient Sea of Boughs in the Scalegorge Waterscape to cover the Xuan Root, thereby strengthening the Ambrosial Arbor's seal.

This action also caused rainy weather phenomena in many heavens.

During this precarious time, the diviners of the Divination Commission used the Great Calculation Array to predict the Luofu's future.

The result of the divination was that although the Luofu could survive this calamity, it would be a pyrrhic victory. Only one in ten Cloud Knights would survive, and all the heavens would be destroyed in the upcoming war.

The wind and rain outside the window carried the late-season ginkgo leaves, rustling softly like drumbeats on the windowsill.

Inside the room, an oil lamp was lit, and a heating machine from the Alchemy Commission slowly released heat, offsetting the cold autumn rain outside.

"Although your long-lived species have constitutions far superior to us short-lived outsiders, you still can't withstand staying up for three days straight to investigate the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus, and then practicing your sword in the rain for so long after returning."

Bai Heng held a medicinal soup brewed with a prescription from the Alchemy Commission, feeding Jingliu, who was lying on the bed, one spoonful at a time.

Because she had been caught in the rain, Jingliu had a slight fever. Her fair face lacked some color, making her even more pitiful.

"Mind... your... own..." Because she rarely had a fever, Jingliu felt a little dizzy, and her words were fragmented.

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

It felt very hot.

The Xianzhou's long-lived species rarely fell ill, but when they did, it was often more difficult for them than for the short-lived species.

Diseases like fever were actually stress responses from the body's immune system.

The Xianzhou's long-lived species, having received Yaoshi's blessing, had far greater cell activity and self-repair capabilities than the short-lived species.

This also led to the Xianzhou people having a far greater stress response when they fell ill.

Bai Heng held the medicinal soup in his hand, scooping it out one spoonful at a time and feeding it to Jingliu.

But after feeding her only a third of it, Jingliu suddenly murmured:

"Bitter... bring... it..."

Before Bai Heng could react, he saw Jingliu supporting her weak body with one hand, grabbing the medicinal soup from Bai Heng's hand, then biting her thin lips and drinking it all in one gulp.

Bai Heng was a little dumbfounded.

But watching Jingliu put the bowl back into his hand and then fall back as if her soul had returned to her body, he suddenly wanted to laugh.

"Master, you really are something special." Bai Heng shook his head in admiration and said, "Wait here, I'll go to the kitchen and bring the almond and white fungus soup I made."

With that, Bai Heng got up and left the room, walked along the corridor to the kitchen, scooped a bowl of pre-cooked almond and white fungus soup, and then quickly returned to Jingliu's bedroom.

After bringing the white fungus soup, he originally thought that Jingliu would still find it troublesome to be fed one spoonful at a time, so he put the hot soup in front of the bed, preparing to let her handle it herself.

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

"Feed... me..."

Bai Heng paused slightly, then nodded in understanding:

"Okay."

Outside the window, the rain, wind, and thunder continued to roar. The Sword Master's residence was still too close to the Scalegorge Waterscape.

The momentum of the sea tide collapsing made the world outside seem particularly gloomy, as if it were truly the end of the world.

Bai Heng scooped the steaming white fungus soup one spoonful at a time, until the wooden bowl was empty. He said goodbye:

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

But as soon as he finished speaking, the sleeve of Bai Heng's shirt was gently tugged.

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

"???"

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

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

Bai Heng held his breath, because at this moment, the usually aloof and cold Sword Master was curled up in his arms like an injured little beast. One of her hands was pressed against Bai Heng's constantly beating heart, her long eyelashes trembled slightly, and those scarlet eyes that were always full of confidence were now gradually filled with fragility.

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

She bit her teeth tightly and said softly:

At such a close distance, Bai Heng could feel his master Jingliu's warm breath, her slightly fluctuating heartbeat, and her cold, ethereal fragrance...

His heart was pounding too.

But he didn't speak, only silently took Jingliu's hand.

Even though she was burning up, her slender hands were still ice-cold.

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

Until her breathing gradually evened out, Bai Heng whispered, "Master Jingliu?"

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

Bai Heng remained in that position, tiptoeing to cover her with the blanket, and said softly, "Good night, Master Jingliu."

Bread wants gifts, sob sob.

Also, please recommend Bread's book, anywhere in the Star Rail book drought zone is fine.