Home Was Gone

The Xianzhou "Luofu," Tactical Stratagem Bureau.

A bonfire burned in the courtyard.

Jing Yuan and Bai Heng sat around it, drying their clothes.

Neither of them had expected that this reunion between martial brothers, seven hundred years in the making, would take this form.

"So, you're a member of the Interastral Peace Corporation now?" Jing Yuan asked as he poured wine.

Bai Heng accepted the wine jar Jing Yuan handed him and said,

"To be precise, I'm with the Interastral Astronomical Society. It's affiliated with the corporation, but it isn't completely controlled by the Interastral Peace Corporation. Still, there's no need to think of me as part of any faction. I belong neither to the Interastral Peace Corporation nor the Xianzhou. The current me is loyal only to myself."

Jing Yuan pondered briefly upon hearing that, then said,

"Neither the Interastral Peace Corporation nor the Xianzhou... I have heard of the Interastral Astronomical Society. The last issue of the Interastral Peace Weekly seemed to mention that they had established contact with the Simulated Universe and were promoting it throughout the cosmos. One of their researchers had even become an assistant to a certain Genius Society member... Wait... Could it be..."

Just as Jing Yuan caught on, Bai Heng hurriedly clinked cups with him and gave him a look.

Telling him to stop talking while he still could.

Jingliu, who was seated opposite Bai Heng and admiring the moonlight, noticed something strange between the two men and asked,

"What are you talking about?"

"Master, Little Bai and I were catching up and discussing recent events," Jing Yuan said with a smile, smoothly covering for Bai Heng.

"Oh?" Jingliu glanced at Bai Heng, then naturally reached out and took the half cup of wine he had drunk from. Her slender fingers lightly swirled it before she drained it in one gulp.

Then she held her own cup toward Bai Heng, signaling for him to fill it again.

Bai Heng watched the scene unfold.

He felt a small measure of comfort in his heart.

Even though the three master and disciples from the past—

One had become Mara-Struck and lingered at the edge of madness, one had reincarnated, and one had become one of the Seven Arbiter-Generals of the Xianzhou Alliance—they could still gather in the courtyard as they once had, drinking beneath the moon.

They had changed, yet it also seemed as though they had not.

Jingliu was still the same old drunkard, while Jing Yuan still could not hold his liquor.

Cup after cup went down, and Jingliu gradually seemed a little tipsy as well.

Bai Heng spoke up then.

"Master Jingliu... Since I'm a civilian worker now, could we maybe change the training method?"

Jingliu lightly pressed her thin lips together before answering,

"What does it matter if you're a civilian worker? If you wish to learn my sword, I will teach it. Besides, even if you have forgotten every sword technique, the earlier probing showed that you still possess the aptitude for the sword. You have already missed the best age to learn it. Actual combat is now the fastest way for you to improve."

"..." Bai Heng sighed. "Then go easier on me next time."

"You two are still just as you were back then. The moment you meet, you fight like there's no tomorrow." Jing Yuan burst into laughter, openly gloating.

Bai Heng shot Jing Yuan a speechless glare. This guy really loved watching trouble unfold.

But honestly, if Jingliu truly intended to temper his swordsmanship and improve his strength, it was a good thing.

After all, there were no walls that did not leak.

One day, he would have to tell Jingliu about him and Ruan Mei.

Given the personalities of those two women, peaceful coexistence probably would not be possible.

Of course, he could not let either of them learn of the other's existence too early.

After all, one was a genius of the Genius Society, while the other was the former Sword Champion of the "Luofu." Ordinary people who provoked them would surely be left without even corpses to bury.

Neither of them was someone willing to share a husband.

If a full-blown romantic battlefield erupted, Jing Yuan might really have to visit Bai Heng's grave.

So, in order to deal with every situation that was bound to come, Bai Heng had to grow stronger. Only once he had the ability to handle the inevitable romantic battlefield would he take the initiative to tear away that last layer of pretense.

Perhaps his reason for becoming stronger was a little ridiculous, but Bai Heng did not think there was anything wrong with it.

This simulation system, capable of changing reality, was actually very similar to reincarnation and renewing old bonds.

After the first simulation, he had still felt somewhat inclined to avoid confronting his feelings for Ruan Mei.

But thinking carefully about it, in the face of those hundreds of years of waiting, perhaps Bai Heng had no right to run away at all.

Therefore, he would do his best not to break either woman's heart.

Thinking of this, Bai Heng decided that the next time he started a simulation, he would try removing the "Handsome Young Man" trait. Otherwise, gaining one confidante in every lifetime would become rather troublesome.

"By the way, Little Bai, how long are you staying on the Xianzhou this time?" Jing Yuan suddenly asked.

"Subtracting travel time, one week." Bai Heng looked at his reflection in the jade cup and answered, "Actually, there's no harm in telling you why I came."

Jing Yuan was intrigued.

"Oh? Let's hear it."

"The documents only said that I was to come to the Xianzhou to collect information on the Yaksha Emblem, the Aeon of the Hunt, and Yaoshi, the Plagues Author of The Path of Abundance, then investigate the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus. But the timing is rather interesting—it happens to be right after the Stellaron crisis erupted." Bai Heng stretched lazily, as if implying something. "Maybe my purpose is just to plant an eye on the Xianzhou."

After hearing Bai Heng's words, Jing Yuan considered them briefly, then smiled.

"How about this? I'll gather all the information you need. You can use the rest of your time to properly spar with Master."

"Hey, Jing Yuan, you thick-browed bastard, is that any way to screw over your junior brother?" Bai Heng cursed under his breath.

Jing Yuan stood up, patted him on the shoulder, and said,

"If you can't make it in the Interastral Astronomical Society someday, remember that you can come to the Xianzhou anytime. Also, you and Master can stay at the Tactical Stratagem Bureau tonight. Master looks drunk too, so take her back to her room later."

Bai Heng sighed and waved a hand.

"Where is Master Jingliu's room? I'll take her back first."

As he spoke, Bai Heng glanced at Jingliu, who had already rested her head by the bonfire and appeared to have passed out drunk.

But upon hearing Bai Heng's words, Jing Yuan suddenly said in an oddly rising tone,

"Ah, I just remembered. There's only one guest room in the Tactical Stratagem Bureau right now. Little Bai, how about you make do and stay with Master tonight?"

Bai Heng's mouth twitched slightly, but in the end, he still supported Jingliu, whose head rested against his arm, and accompanied her to the room Jing Yuan had mentioned.

After all, a straight shadow feared no crooked body. He had no such thoughts, so there was naturally no need to refuse.

However, when he helped Jingliu up, he realized that she was still conscious and had not completely passed out.

When he took her soft arm and led her to the door of that room, Jingliu suddenly murmured in a low voice,

"Put me down. I'll sleep in the courtyard tonight."

"Master Jingliu, you don't want to share a room with me?" Bai Heng asked lightly.

"It's not that..." Jingliu's fair little face was faintly flushed from the wine. Perhaps worried that Bai Heng would misunderstand, she explained, "You can probably feel it, right? After becoming Mara-Struck... my body is very cold. Staying with me is uncomfortable. So for a long time, I've slept outside. I'm used to it..."

Bai Heng, who had still been speaking in a teasing tone, was briefly stunned upon hearing that.

But then he took Jingliu's hand and led her directly into the room.

Once inside, he saw that Jing Yuan had deliberately chosen a room with a large bed for them.

The bed was more than large enough for two people.

Bai Heng did not argue with Jingliu over who should sleep on the bed and who should sleep on the floor.

After all, they had shared a bed once in their previous life. Other than touching her hand or pinching her cheek, he would not do anything else.

So, shortly afterward, the two of them lay down together on the bed.

Bai Heng could indeed feel a chill radiating from Jingliu, but for one night, it should not be a problem.

There was an arm's length of space between them.

To avoid any awkwardness, Bai Heng softly explained in advance,

"Master Jingliu, rest easy. I won't try anything."

But not long after his words fell, Bai Heng heard a faint rustling beside him.

Before he could turn toward the inner side of the bed, he discovered that his arm had already been grasped by a pair of cool, soft little hands.

Jingliu simply held down Bai Heng's arm. Her long legs bent slightly and pressed against his body.

"Master... Jingliu?" Bai Heng's mind raced as his expression turned dazed.

Jingliu's face was lightly flushed by the wine. Her breath was sweet and fragrant, carrying a clear, delicate scent.

She stared at Bai Heng, her voice faintly broken.

"But I never said I wouldn't... try something."

"Mas—"

Before he could finish, Jingliu bit down on his lips.