Yanqing stared in astonishment.
He muttered, "Swallowing a sword... What sect's sword technique is that?"
He began reviewing every sect's sword technique he had ever seen, trying to figure out which one had a move that involved swallowing a longsword.
"This is Acrobatic Sword Art."
At that moment, Ginevere had already arrived before Ji Yuan and Yanqing. Hearing Yanqing's words, she immediately answered with a smile.
"Acrobatic Sword Art..."
Yanqing muttered to himself, looking even more confused.
Ji Yuan took several Stellar Jades from his pocket and handed them to Ginevere. Seeing this, Tingyun and Qingni beside him also took Stellar Jades from their pockets and gave them to Ginevere.
"Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for your generous tips. May your lives go smoothly and your relationships be happy."
For that last sentence, she was speaking to Ji Yuan and Tingyun, who were standing together.
Hearing Ginevere's words, Tingyun couldn't help but reveal a delighted smile.
What a sweet talker. Tingyun gave her several more Stellar Jades.
Ginevere left with a smile.
Tingyun grabbed Ji Yuan's arm and headed forward. "Come on, let's continue to the shops."
Ji Yuan instantly sensed danger, then grabbed Yanqing, who was still lost in thought, and pulled him along.
"Alright, Yanqing. Her performance is over. Let's go buy some things."
"Oh, okay."
Interrupted in his thoughts, Yanqing hurriedly nodded and followed Ji Yuan toward the shops. Though contemplating sword techniques was important, his big brother was obviously more important.
Tingyun: "..."
Whose unfortunate brat was this?!
General, where was the General? Why weren't they coming over to manage him?!
Looking at Yanqing clinging tightly to Ji Yuan, and at Ji Yuan, who was even harder to read than a Fox Folk, Tingyun felt an immense challenge before her.
"But this is good too. Only in this situation can I understand my own feelings."
Tingyun thought to herself.
After leaving Ginevere's performance area, a system notification immediately sounded beside Ji Yuan's ear.
The most legendary acrobat on the Luofu Starfaring Vessel stands at the edge of death, yet she is still willing to perform an acrobatic act for you. You have gained Legendary Contortionist Guinaifen's Contortion Skill +1 and your own flexibility +1.
Several images appeared in Ji Yuan's mind.
Split, Iron Bridge, Bone Shrinking Technique...
All kinds of movements that tested the limits of human stretching and compression appeared in Ji Yuan's mind. Many of them were so difficult that he stared in stunned amazement.
There was no pose Ji Yuan could imagine that could not be done.
No wonder she would become the most famous acrobat a hundred years later.
Still, he was somewhat curious. Hadn't that girl just been named Ginevere? Why had she become Guinaifen?
At the same time, Ji Yuan could clearly feel that his body had become more flexible. Many difficult movements he had previously been unable to perform could now be executed.
When using Yanqing's swordsmanship, Ji Yuan had clearly felt that his techniques emphasized fierce speed and swiftness. They were overly rigid and lacked many supple variations. Now that Ji Yuan had also learned contortion, his body could become more flexible, which would greatly benefit his future swordsmanship.
Of course, his current swordsmanship was still far from sufficient. At most, he had merely laid a more balanced foundation than Yanqing.
Thinking this, the four arrived at a shop selling daily necessities.
With Tingyun there, the purchases of women's items became far more thorough and appropriate. She picked through the merchandise and quickly selected suitable goods.
Looking over the chosen items, Tingyun said to Ji Yuan, who was watching from the side, "These perfumes, cosmetics, sleepwear, and so on are suitable for underage girls between one hundred and fifty and two hundred years old. I'm sure your younger sister will like them."
After saying that, Tingyun frowned again before continuing, "But we'll have to meet her before we know for sure. Ji Yuan, when your sister arrives, I'll go to Flowing Cloud Ferry with you to pick her up. Whatever else she needs, I can help her with it. As a man, there are some matters you shouldn't handle personally."
That girl really didn't need such meticulous care.
But seeing Tingyun's expression, as though she was doing it entirely for his sake, Ji Yuan simply couldn't bring himself to say those words.
Ji Yuan felt like prey caught in a fox's jaws.
"Alright. When she arrives in the next couple of days, I'll let you know."
It seemed that on the day he went to pick up Changchang, he would have to carefully prepare and plan the route.
It had to be absolutely safe.
Ji Yuan thought to himself.
Sui Garden.
The quiet, secluded surroundings made the place somewhat terrifying.
Hanya and Huohuo, whose legs were trembling nonstop, were listening to a report from a Netherworld Constable.
"The investigation has been completed."
Huohuo asked shakily, "L-Lady Hanya, m-my teacher doesn't have any problems, right?"
"I think that guy definitely has major problems. Just watch, he must be some unknown criminal."
Tail complained from the side.
But the moment it said that, it met Hanya's cold gaze and immediately shut its mouth.
The Netherworld Constable continued, "Lady Hanya, Ji Yuan is a Xianzhou native from the Yaoguang Star Skiff. His biological parents successfully changed the weather and annihilated tens of thousands of Wingweavers during the Wingweavers' war by self-destructing their star skiff along with other weapons, thereby turning the tide of that battle. Ji Yuan, still young at the time, was adopted by Suyi, a senior Cloud Knights officer of the Yaoguang Star Skiff, and became her adopted son. Two months ago, for unknown reasons, he left the Yaoguang Star Skiff and came to the Luofu. Despite being underage, he passed the examination for the Sky-Faring Commission and became the youngest Trade Official in history."
Hanya nodded slightly.
The situation had been investigated thoroughly enough.
The orphan of martyrs, the adopted son of a high-ranking official, a genius youth... Taken together, these identities meant Ji Yuan should be highly reliable.
There was virtually no chance that he believed in Abundance.
Huohuo, listening from the side, couldn't help revealing a sympathetic expression.
She had never expected that her teacher's parents had both passed away.
Though her own parents had irresponsibly abandoned her, they were at least still alive.
Huohuo could blame them and make herself feel a little better, while her teacher had completely lost his parents.
Tingyun: That Damn brat!
"Since Ji Yuan's identity has been confirmed to be without issue, you should go to him and learn that spell for controlling Suiyang."
Hanya said to Huohuo.
"Tch~"
Tail was very dissatisfied with this development.
Huohuo was very happy. She nodded vigorously at Hanya. "Yes, Lady Hanya. I'll definitely learn the spell from Teacher Ji Yuan."
"Mm. Over the next two days, finish the work you need to handle at the Ten-Lords Commission. I'll arrange for other judges to take over the remaining tasks for now. Focus on learning the spell from Ji Yuan."
Hanya nodded slightly.
Hopefully, after learning this technique, Huohuo's timid personality would improve somewhat.
Although Hanya was cold by nature, Huohuo had been her junior for a long time. Naturally, Hanya was willing to see her improve.
After spending an entire day shopping with Tingyun, Yanqing, and Qingni, Ji Yuan returned home exhausted. Tingyun's shopping prowess had thoroughly convinced both Ji Yuan and Yanqing.
Even Yanqing, who had initially been eager to compete with Ji Yuan in swordsmanship, had lost all desire to compare swords by the end. Tingyun, meanwhile, had spent the whole day walking in high heels and was still full of energy, showing little fatigue.
Ji Yuan was even more exhausted. By the time he reached the dormitory entrance, he had almost forgotten his usual habit of checking the surveillance footage.
Fortunately, his fear of death made him remember at the last moment.
Only after confirming that there was no problem did he return to the dormitory and lie down.
After he lay down, his system issued three notification sounds.
``` You spent a day shopping with a corpse. You have gained Corpse Sewing Art experience +1.
You spent a day shopping with the Luofu Sword Champion. You have gained Sword Identification experience +1.
You spent a day shopping with Qingni, an outstanding pilot of the Sky-Faring Commission. You have gained Starcraft Piloting experience +1.
Ji Yuan was not surprised by the first two, though he was somewhat worried about Tingyun's situation. Even after purchasing a defense system, she was still a corpse. This proved that her danger had not yet been resolved.
"Looks like she's in considerable danger too. I just don't know when it will erupt, or whether I can save her."
Ji Yuan thought to himself.
As for the last point about Qingni, he was somewhat surprised. Wasn't Qingni an office worker? How had she become connected to being a pilot?
However, after thinking it over, Ji Yuan felt that it made sense. Qingni's mother was Yukong, the Helmsman of the Sky-Faring Commission. That older sister had once been an outstanding pilot. With family inheritance, it was understandable that Qingni might become a pilot in the future.
Ji Yuan stopped thinking about it and began receiving the pilot experience.
It was only a small amount of experience, though, enough to let Ji Yuan grasp the basics.
After receiving the knowledge, his phone vibrated. Ji Yuan picked it up and looked at the message on the screen.
Changchang: Yo, big bro. You secretly ran off to the Luofu Starfaring Vessel and even became a Trade Official. Mom was really angry. She originally planned for both of us to join the Cloud Knights, but you actually switched to a civilian post. I got punished terribly that day. I took that punishment for you, big bro, so you'd better compensate me properly!
Changchang: Big bro, I'll be coming to find you very soon. Are you, um, unable to... sleep at night?
Seeing the message sent by his younger sister Sushang, Ji Yuan's expression darkened slightly.
Ji Yuan: That's called "sleepless at night," and that phrase isn't appropriate here either. Changchang, how exactly have you been studying these past few years?
How have you even been going to school?!
As someone who had been a study fanatic in his previous life, and who had become the youngest Trade Official of the Sky-Faring Commission through examinations in this life, Ji Yuan's academic level was quite high. But when faced with such a poor student of a younger sister, he was truly helpless.
Back when Ji Yuan had tutored her, he had nearly broken down and dragged Sushang away to get a blood test to verify their relationship. Halfway there, he remembered that he and Sushang had never been blood-related in the first place.
Changchang: Those words are too hard to learn! I've already made a five-hundred-year plan. I'll definitely learn them properly by then.
Five hundred years...
Ji Yuan covered his forehead.
That plan of yours is really fast.
He hurriedly typed:
Ji Yuan: Alright, study slowly on your own later. Changchang, when will you arrive at Luofu? I'll come pick you up.
Changchang: The day after tomorrow. I'll board the ship tomorrow morning, and I should arrive at the Luofu Starfaring Vessel by noon the day after tomorrow. Big bro, Mom said she already had you buy a house. How is it?
Seeing Changchang ask about this, Ji Yuan answered with great pride:
Ji Yuan: Don't worry, Changchang. The house I bought is very safe.
Changchang: Safe?
At that moment, the girl typing on the other side instinctively sensed that something was wrong.
Ji Yuan: Yeah, absolutely safe.
Seeing her brother's reply, Sushang patted her forehead.
She no longer held much hope for her residence on Luofu.
Fine, she would enjoy her current home while she still could. Once she arrived on Luofu, she probably wouldn't get to enjoy it anymore.
Sushang immediately typed:
Before you continue