Jing Yuan-Yuan, Save Me!

"Cough... M-married?" Bai Heng's fingers trembled around his teacup, and the tea in his mouth went down the wrong way, making him choke.

Jingliu also pulled the black veil back over her eyes.

For her, seeing things that reminded her of the past only brought pain. This specially made black veil could help suppress her Mara-Struck state.

"Seven hundred years ago, I promised you that if you could defeat me, I would agree to that... presumptuous request of yours. You had already done so back then. I will not go back on my word." Jingliu's tone was cold, yet she looked away, as though saying those words was still somewhat difficult for her.

To hide his guilty conscience, Bai Heng tactically raised his teacup, took a sip, and said,

"Master Jingliu, the past is the past, and the present is the present. Isn't it still too early for us to get married now...?"

The words fell.

The tea house fell silent for a moment. Then a flash of cold light gleamed as an ice sword left its sheath and pressed against Bai Heng's throat.

Jingliu clenched her teeth. Her long silver hair stirred without wind as she said,

"What, Bai Heng? You don't want to marry me?"

The sudden turn of events at the tea house drew plenty of onlookers.

"Hey, let me see what's going on."

"Looks like a couple is fighting. The man doesn't want to marry that girl."

The discussion gradually spread. More and more people who had heard all sorts of versions of the gossip came over to watch. Sitting at the tea table, Bai Heng immediately heard several different versions.

"Spread the word: I heard that man found a mistress and doesn't want to marry his original wife. Now the two of them are fighting."

"Spread the word: that man covered for his mistress's escape and is stalling his original wife. The mistress has already run away."

"Spread the word: to protect his mistress, that man tried to attack someone, but now he's been subdued by his original wife."

"Spread the word: that man likes men! He has such a beautiful partner and still isn't satisfied. His partner is questioning him with a sword right now!"

The rumors grew more and more outrageous.

Bai Heng grumbled inwardly.

Seriously, are Xianzhou people this gossipy too?

"Master Jingliu..." Bai Heng raised both hands in a French military salute and said, word by word, with utter sincerity,

"Once a Childhood Fiancé, always a Childhood Fiancé. You misunderstood what I meant. I never said I wouldn't marry you. I just think I need to formally defeat you in the arena first, then propose to you and marry you properly. Only then would your seven hundred years of waiting not have been in vain, right?"

Upon hearing Bai Heng's words, Jingliu's expression shifted slightly. Her tightly furrowed brows gradually relaxed. She turned her head aside and said,

"Actually, I do not need any so-called proper marriage..."

Seeing her expression soften as well, Bai Heng let out a breath of relief and continued,

"Master Jingliu, marriage is a lifelong matter. Just because you do not need it does not mean I do not have to take responsibility."

As Bai Heng spoke at length, Jingliu seemed to realize something. She slowly said,

"Very well. Then we shall begin now."

Bai Heng blinked. "Begin what now?"

Jingliu parted her lips and said,

"You are not only my Childhood Fiancé, but also my disciple. Naturally, I must teach you swordsmanship. As for how I will teach you..."

Bai Heng: "???"

Tactical Stratagem Bureau.

A lazy-looking man with a white ponytail held a game piece in his hand. His golden eyes were half-lidded, as though he were studying the chessboard in the pavilion, or perhaps simply resting with his eyes closed.

The residence was tranquil, with sandalwood incense curling through the air.

Beneath a pear blossom tree, a young swordsman in Cloud Knight attire practiced his swordsmanship. His blade was fierce, and the sound of it slicing through the air rang continuously through the courtyard, making the pear blossoms sway.

At that moment, an ill-timed set of footsteps echoed through the courtyard.

Yet when the slender Fu Xuan walked up to Jing Yuan, he still looked as though he were listening to music with his eyes closed.

However, before Fu Xuan could speak, Jing Yuan asked,

"Lady Fu, the Stellaron has already been removed. What matter could possibly be worth troubling you so much?"

Jing Yuan's tone was as casual and unconcerned as his lazy appearance suggested.

But Fu Xuan had no time to care whether he was truly listening. She directly said,

"General, the person that Sword Champion has been waiting for has returned."

Jing Yuan froze briefly at those words, then suddenly opened his slightly closed eyes. His tone turned serious.

"Is that true?"

"My divinations have never been wrong. He is currently within the Luofu. Perhaps Sword Champion has already found him by now." As Fu Xuan spoke, she did not forget to take a jab at Jing Yuan. "Does the General still think this is a trivial matter?"

Countless emotions flickered through Jing Yuan's clear golden eyes. He stood, the corners of his mouth unconsciously lifting as he paced back and forth through the pavilion with his hands behind his back.

"Lady Fu, wonderful. Lady Fu, this is wonderful..."

Fu Xuan rolled her eyes at him disdainfully. "Has the General become so delirious that he can only say that one sentence now? It seems you should relinquish the position of General sooner rather than later."

Jing Yuan replied with a smile,

"Yes, yes, yes. Fine, fine, fine. I understand."

While perfunctorily responding to Fu Xuan, he called out to Yanqing in the courtyard,

"Yanqing, go bring out the fine wine I have stored away."

Hearing him, Yanqing stopped practicing his swordsmanship, caught his breath, and asked,

"General, didn't you say that wine would only be opened when I became Sword Champion?"

Jing Yuan smiled. "There is good news today, so just go get it. Oh, and... Lady Fu, why not stay and have a few drinks as well?"

Fu Xuan's delicate brows furrowed slightly. "There is no need to trouble yourself, General. The Divination Commission is busy with official duties. As the Master Diviner, I cannot be as idle as you are. I will only stay a moment before leaving."

Just as her words fell,

Fu Xuan suddenly raised her head and looked toward the main gate of the Tactical Stratagem Bureau with her bright eyes.

She seemed to have heard some commotion outside.

"General, does your Tactical Stratagem Bureau let just any random person in?"

Jing Yuan, standing beside Fu Xuan, also turned his gaze toward the gates of the Tactical Stratagem Bureau.

The next moment,

A handsome young man, drenched from the waist up and covered in shattered ice, came running toward them.

As he ran, he shouted,

"Jing Yuan-Yuan, save me!"

Even after seven hundred years, Jing Yuan recognized the disheveled youth before him at first glance.

But just as he took two steps forward, he suddenly felt an icy wind sweep over him.

Before he could see who had come, two blasts of frigid sword energy descended.

They struck separately beneath Jing Yuan and Bai Heng's feet, blocking their paths.

In the blink of an eye, two crystal-clear ice sculptures stood within the pavilion.

Fu Xuan first looked warily toward the roof. When she saw the moonlit beauty standing atop the eaves, she rested a hand against her chin and said,

"The Divination Commission still has official duties to attend to. General, you can stay frozen. I'll be leaving first."

Yanqing, who had been itching for a fight in the courtyard and preparing to face the enemy, scratched his head after seeing who it was.

"General, it is already late. Yanqing will go fetch your wine now. You should rest afterward as well."