Tingyun: Did I Say Something Wrong?

Fight Luofu Sword Champion Yanqing. Reward: Luofu Sword Champion Yanqing's Swordsmanship Skill +1

Yanqing's Swordsmanship Skill from the future, when he would become Luofu's number one swordsman—skills far stronger than his current ones.

Ji Yuan finally felt a noticeable increase in his strength.

After nine consecutive days of training, Ji Yuan felt that he had grown much stronger.

However, even so, when he attacked himself, he was still attacking a moving corpse. This showed that even after fleeing to the Star-skiff and learning Yanqing's swordsmanship, he was still in a state of certain death.

"Why is survival so difficult?"

Ji Yuan muttered to himself.

Picking up the sword in his hand, he headed outside.

He still had a sparring match with Yanqing today. He could not waste an opportunity to increase his skills.

The moment he reached the entrance of the Sky-Faring Commission, Yanqing was already waiting for Ji Yuan with both hands on his sword.

The moment he saw Ji Yuan emerge, Yanqing eagerly approached him.

"Come on, let's spar!"

"Alright."

The two quickly headed toward an open area not far from the Sky-Faring Commission.

Yanqing's nimble flying sword knocked aside the longsword clenched in Ji Yuan's hand, while another flying sword rested against his throat.

"I lost again. Your swordsmanship really is incredible!"

Ji Yuan said to Yanqing.

Whether it was the swordsmanship Yanqing currently displayed or the swordsmanship of Yanqing after becoming the Luofu Sword Champion that Ji Yuan had mastered, neither was merely impressive.

Yanqing looked slightly embarrassed as he said to Ji Yuan, "You're already very skilled. You actually made it to the eleventh move today. If you had started learning swordsmanship earlier, you probably would have left me far behind by now."

Ji Yuan felt a little awkward at those words.

"I'm only like this because I'm trying to survive."

"Hm? Who wants to hurt you?" Upon hearing that, Yanqing's gaze instantly sharpened.

Ji Yuan hurriedly explained, "No, it's just that I have a sense of crisis. I want to learn swordsmanship so I can prepare in advance."

"I see."

Only then did Yanqing's expression relax somewhat.

At the same time, his gaze drifted several times toward the back.

While the two were talking, Yanqing's gaze landed on the swords Ji Yuan had placed to one side.

He had noticed them the moment Ji Yuan appeared.

Those were newly released swords from the Artificer's Workshop. He really wanted them.

But he had not been paid yet. He could not exactly ask the General to lend him money, could he?

Yanqing forcibly turned his gaze away despite his reluctance.

At that moment, Ji Yuan picked up the two swords and handed them to Yanqing.

"Yanqing, these are gifts for you. You've been helping me so much these past few days."

Seeing that Ji Yuan actually wanted to give him such valuable swords, Yanqing immediately looked embarrassed and hurriedly waved his hands in refusal. "No, I can't accept these. I've been accompanying you in sword practice of my own free will. I absolutely cannot accept payment for it."

"If that's the case, then I'd be too embarrassed to ask you to spar with me again." Ji Yuan looked at Yanqing seriously. "Other people have to pay a great deal in tuition to learn swordsmanship. These past few days, I've basically been mooching off your swordsmanship for free. If I don't show my gratitude, I really would be too embarrassed to ask you to spar again."

Listening to Ji Yuan's persuasive words, and because he truly coveted those two swords, Yanqing thought for a long time before reluctantly agreeing.

"This... alright. I'll accept them for now. Once I have money next time, I'll buy several new Artificer's Workshop swords and give them to you."

Only after seeing Yanqing agree did Ji Yuan feel satisfied.

He then threw an arm around Yanqing's shoulders.

"Come on. I'll treat you to dinner while we're at it."

Yanqing was obviously not used to being held like that.

"Th-this isn't appropriate, is it?"

"If I don't treat you, weren't you going to go mooch a meal off General Jing Yuan anyway? If the General can treat you, why can't I?"

"N-no, the General is my master. It's only natural for me to go eat at his place a few times..."

"You teach me swordsmanship too, so you're my master as well. Come on."

Ji Yuan practically dragged Yanqing off for a lavish meal, making Yanqing feel even more embarrassed.

I need to spar with Ji Yuan more seriously from now on, so his strength can grow faster.

Yanqing silently thought to himself.

Meanwhile, another achievement notification sounded by Ji Yuan's ear.

Have dinner with Luofu Sword Champion Yanqing. Reward: Sword Appraisal Experience +1

After eating, Ji Yuan returned to the employee dormitories of the Luofu Starfaring Vessel.

At the Sky-Faring Commission, married employees were assigned private homes, while unmarried employees without their own housing lived directly in communal dormitories.

The reason for setting up such dormitories was partly to save on employee costs, and partly...

"What? I have to work overtime again tonight?"

Ji Yuan looked at the Sky-Faring Commission colleague waiting for him.

The Sky-Faring Commission employee nodded helplessly.

"Yes. There originally wasn't any overtime, but the Resonant Flame Trading Company suddenly received a shipment that urgently needs to be delivered. It has to be counted tonight, and that falls under the Trade Official's duties. You know that among the Trade Officials, you're the only unmarried one living in the dormitories, so Lady Yukong instructed you to work overtime."

"I understand."

Ji Yuan nodded helplessly.

Fortunately, the Sky-Faring Commission had good benefits, and its overtime pay was generous.

He changed into a neat set of clothes before heading to the Flowing Cloud Ferry.

By the time Ji Yuan arrived at the Flowing Cloud Ferry, it was already very late.

At that time, a large amount of cargo was piled up at the harbor, with quite a few porters and merchants gathered beside it.

At the front of the group stood a breathtakingly beautiful Fox Folk girl with seductive eyes. She fanned herself with a folding fan while looking around.

Ji Yuan found the girl both unfamiliar and familiar.

She was unfamiliar because he did not know her at all.

She was familiar because he had seen her CG art.

She had artwork, so she was definitely an important character.

Her name was Tingyun, right?

Let's go mooch off her!

For my life!

Ji Yuan adjusted his appearance and walked toward Tingyun.

Tingyun: Did I Say Something Wrong? ### The snow-white jade feet in her sandals made soft tapping sounds against the harbor floor. Tingyun, the representative of the Resonant Flame Trading Company, was not in a very good mood.

Working overtime late at night was painful for most people.

I wonder why these merchants from the Orion Trading Company are in such a hurry. They actually demanded that the goods be handed over within seven Luofu days. If this weren't the first transaction between our two sides, I never would have agreed to such a condition.

She thought to herself.

At that moment, she saw a young man walking over.

He wore the uniform of the Sky-Faring Commission and looked somewhat underage, as though he had only recently graduated and had yet to completely shed his youthful air. However, his appearance made a very favorable first impression.

Some people might have strikingly handsome features yet still give off an unapproachable air, but the young man before her felt exceptionally easy to get along with.

Lady Yukong had mentioned that the Sky-Faring Commission had recently recruited a young Trade Official from the Yaoqing Star-skiff. This should be him. Being able to pass the written test and interview out of thousands of applicants to obtain a Trade Official position was already no easy feat, especially since he came from the Yaoqing Star-skiff, a Star-skiff known for producing battle-crazed lunatics.

With that thought in mind, Tingyun stepped forward to greet Ji Yuan.

Seeing Tingyun's actions, Ji Yuan could not help feeling delighted.

She doesn't dislike me. That means we can have a proper conversation. Then I can naturally mooch off her abilities.

My chances of surviving have increased by another fraction.

Images of wallpapers he had seen online in his previous life kept flashing through his mind.

Tingyun had far more than Yanqing. If nothing else, she was much more popular.

"I remember Miss Tingyun having an illustration where her neck was twisted backward behind her head. It looked absolutely horrifying. I wonder how she did that."

At that moment, he deeply regretted not having had time to actually play the game before coming here. His understanding of these characters, which mostly came from art websites, was simply too shallow.

So he only had one method now.

Whenever he saw someone familiar, he would go up and mooch off them.

Whether there was anything to gain or not, he would try his luck first.

Once he reached Tingyun, Ji Yuan spoke first. "Hello, are you Miss Tingyun, the representative of the Resonant Flame Trading Company? I'm Ji Yuan, a Trade Official of the Sky-Faring Commission. I'll be leading the inspection of your shipment today. Once the inspection is complete, Miss Tingyun can have it transported into the Star-skiff."

Tingyun lightly flicked her folding fan and blinked, a natural charm flowing from the corners of her eyes.

"That would be me. Little Brother Ji Yuan, I hope you can make things a little easier during the inspection. We're both employees of the Sky-Faring Commission, after all. Finishing early would make it easier for us all to rest. There will be plenty more goods arriving at the Star-skiff tomorrow and the day after, and I still have much to do. The Trading Company's boss just loves exploiting little people like me..."

Tingyun's voice was soft and sweet, exceptionally pleasant to hear.

The Resonant Flame Trading Company was an official trading company of the Luofu Starfaring Vessel. Ji Yuan and Tingyun were like representatives of a state-owned enterprise and customs employees; both served the Star-skiff and could be considered colleagues. Naturally, it was much easier for the Resonant Flame Trading Company's goods to enter the Flowing Cloud Ferry than goods from merchants of other planets.

Ji Yuan nodded. "Naturally. Once the guards finish their inspection, I'll issue the clearance documents."

"Then let's begin the inspection. Cooperate with the Cloud Knights so we can finish early and get some rest." Tingyun instructed the Trading Company's laborers, then said to Ji Yuan, "Little Brother Ji Yuan, would you like to go take a look at the guards?"

If I go look at them, how am I supposed to mooch off your abilities?

Ji Yuan thought to himself.

With a serious expression, he said, "I trust the Cloud Knights will handle things properly. I also need to ask Miss Tingyun about the origins of this shipment. You know all of that needs to be registered."

"Of course. These goods come from the Orion Trading Company, a large interstellar trading association formed by several chambers of commerce from Orion planets..."

Seeing that Tingyun was about to finish after only a few sentences, Ji Yuan thought that would not do. If she finished so quickly, how could he mooch anything off her? The moment Tingyun finished a sentence, he immediately asked, "Miss Tingyun, could you tell me more interesting things about the Orion planets? Um, I came here from Yaoging, so I'm not all that familiar with the outside world."

Hearing that, Tingyun found it somewhat amusing.

Was he trying to learn more about Orion, or was he trying to talk with her a little longer?

Still, she was quite happy.

Boys his age were most likely to admire the opposite sex, especially slightly older women. Though Tingyun was actually younger than Ji Yuan, their species were different. She was already an adult, while Ji Yuan was still transitioning from adolescence to adulthood, so she was naturally suited to be his older sister.

He likes me!

That was a wonderful encouragement for a girl as well, especially coming from such a clean and handsome young man as Ji Yuan. Chatting with him a little longer was quite a pleasant way to relax.

"Alright, then don't find this little woman too chatty."

Ji Yuan immediately said, "Being able to listen to Miss Tingyun, I naturally wouldn't find you chatty at all."