No, no~
Huohuo looked around, hoping to find help.
But at this moment, neither Tingyun nor Sushang acted as though they had seen anything.
Since she had chosen to become an adjudicator, she had to bear the responsibilities that came with it.
Seeing that she could only look ahead, Huohuo could only stare outside with a terrified expression.
After quite a while, she finally adapted a little.
But seeing some of Luofu Starfaring Vessel's Star Skiffs get destroyed still made her let out a frightened scream.
Yet Ji Yuan showed not the slightest sympathy and firmly made Huohuo keep watching.
Seeing how frightened she was, even the initially resolute Sushang and Yanqing felt a little sorry for her. Just as they were about to speak up and persuade him, Tingyun spoke.
"Ji Yuan, this is your first time on a battlefield too, isn't it?"
Yanqing and Sushang both froze when they heard that.
Sushang, especially, slapped her forehead. "I almost forgot. Big Brother never joined the Cloud Knights and underwent this kind of training like I did. From a certain perspective, this is also Big Brother's first time personally experiencing a battlefield."
After hearing Sushang say that, Huohuo looked at Ji Yuan. "T-Teacher, is this your first time personally experiencing a battlefield too?"
"Yes."
Ji Yuan snapped back to his senses slightly, then nodded.
After receiving a definite answer, Huohuo's expression stiffened.
Her teacher was also stepping onto a battlefield for the first time, just like her. Yet not only was he not too terrified to look like she was, he was even trying his best to teach her.
I really am still so far behind Teacher.
Forcing her eyes wide open, Huohuo tried to etch the scenes of war into her mind.
Tingyun patted Ji Yuan's shoulder. When she saw him look at her, she smiled and patted her own thigh.
"Want to lie down here and get some proper rest?"
"No need. My will is incredibly strong."
Ji Yuan answered with a smile.
Living under the threat of death at every moment had thoroughly tempered Ji Yuan's heart. Even scenes of war would not make him feel fear.
Besides—
You provided strong support and guidance when the Chief Adjudicator of the Ten-Lords Commission suffered an emotional breakdown, benefiting her immensely. You have been specially rewarded with the Illusion Discerning Art.
Another set of techniques appeared in Ji Yuan's mind.
The more techniques he had, the greater his hope of survival became.
If not for the casualties among the pilots and Cloud Knights caused by this fierce battle making Ji Yuan feel troubled, he would have laughed happily.
The Orion Trading Company's fleet had completely collapsed.
"Cloud Knights, advance."
A message to continue the attack came through the allied communications.
Those fleets fled for their lives at top speed, but the Cloud Knights shot them all down. Just as the Cloud Knights were about to completely encircle the Orion Trading Company fleet, another army charged out.
These newly appeared fleets looked extremely strange. In Ji Yuan's eyes, they resembled enormous beasts.
Before he could think further, these beast-like warships suddenly opened their mouths and swallowed the fleeing Orion Trading Company fleets. There were still living people inside those ships, and miserable screams rang out.
The sight itself was extremely terrifying.
But after those "giant beasts" finished chewing, the Star Skiffs of the Xianzhou suddenly unleashed even fiercer firepower than before.
"These are the Buli Ren's Beast-ships."
Tingyun gritted her teeth.
The Fox Folk had once been enslaved by the Buli Ren, so the Fox Folk's hatred for them ran deep. Most pilots were Fox Folk, and the sight of their enemies immediately filled them with rage. They promptly launched an attack against the Buli Ren's Beast-ships.
Though the Beast-ships were terrifying, Luofu Starfaring Vessel's pilots had extremely rich experience fighting them. Groups of Star Skiffs spontaneously formed teams and began hunting down the massive Beast-ships.
Some Buli Ren aboard the Beast-ships grabbed their weapons and tried to leap onto the Star Skiffs to attack. At that moment, the Cloud Knights stepped forward one after another and clashed with the Buli Ren.
The Buli Ren's individual combat ability surpassed that of ordinary Cloud Knights, but their coordination was simply abysmal. The Cloud Knights operated in groups of three, and the moment they spotted a Buli Ren, they immediately surrounded and eliminated him.
Nearly all the Buli Ren who leaped onto the Star Skiffs were dealt with, while the Xianzhou's Star Skiffs began shooting down the Beast-ships one after another.
Seeking revenge, some pilots had already circled behind the Beast-ships when they appeared and wiped out the Buli Ren's Beast-ships.
However, because the pilots had all begun surrounding and attacking the Beast-ships, the rear of the Xianzhou forces became vulnerable.
Especially Ji Yuan's side, where there was only this one Star Skiff nearby.
Under these circumstances, the Abundance Fiends lurking aboard the Star Skiff began preparing to act as well.
The Cloud Knights conducted their patrol as usual.
When one of the patrolling Cloud Knights reached Ji Yuan's side, he suddenly attacked.
Bzz—
A vibrating particle blade slashed straight toward Ji Yuan's head.
Tingyun: Where Did Ji Yuan's Fear of Death Come From?
Just as the blade was about to touch Ji Yuan, a layer of energy shielding appeared before him. The blade was firmly stopped by the shield and could not advance even an inch.
"Who are you!?"
Seeing this, Ji Yuan's expression changed instantly. He clenched his fist and punched the Cloud Knight squarely in the chest, knocking him back several steps.
Ji Yuan did not stop. He immediately swung his fists and legs at the Cloud Knight again.
He struck his jaw hard three times, then viciously kicked him from below, completely robbing him of any ability to resist.
Even then, Ji Yuan did not stop. He continued wildly beating the unconscious Cloud Knight.
Tingyun and Sushang, standing nearby, could clearly see Ji Yuan's eyes turning red and his movements gradually becoming crazed.
Tingyun hurriedly reached out and grabbed Ji Yuan's arm, gently comforting him. "All right, all right. This guy has already been knocked unconscious by you. He won't be a danger anymore."
She realized that Ji Yuan had an intense reaction to sudden assassination attempts.
This isn't something that started just a day or two ago. He has always worried about encountering danger. And all those defenses around his home... What is he afraid of?
Tingyun pondered inwardly.
She had seen this kind of fear of death before, but it usually appeared in people who had endured prolonged, high-intensity warfare on the battlefield and had yet to recover. It absolutely should not have appeared in a young man over a hundred years old who had never participated in battle.
At his age, shouldn't he be at the stage where he feared neither heaven nor earth? Or rather, even if he had things he feared, death should not be one of them.
Why was he like this?
Had he experienced something?
Thinking of that, Tingyun's heart tightened further. Her grip on Ji Yuan became even gentler, as though she wanted to protect him properly.
Pulled by Tingyun, Ji Yuan finally stopped moving. He took a heavy breath and waved a hand at her. "It's fine. I was just a little shaken afterward."
Since he was willing to install so many defensive measures in his home, Ji Yuan was even more willing to invest in protection for himself. When the Cloud Knight attacked, the defensive device automatically activated and blocked the strike. But even though he had not been injured, Ji Yuan still felt fear.
He had always lived in terror that death could come at any moment, and now that he had suddenly faced an assassination attempt, Ji Yuan was afraid.
Then, after becoming afraid, he went mad.
Hit him. Beat him viciously. If he beat the man to death, he would not have to worry about being killed.
Tingyun gripped Ji Yuan's hand even more tightly and smiled as she patted his shoulder.
"Don't worry. Though this little lady may be frail, I'll still protect you properly."
Her radiant smile was incredibly reassuring.
At that moment, several more Cloud Knights suddenly raised their weapons and prepared to attack Ji Yuan.
"Bastards!"
Yanqing swiftly drew his sword and attacked the several traitorous Cloud Knights around them.
His swordsmanship was already superb, and he was striking in anger. As he flashed forward, the Cloud Knights were all pierced by flying swords. But after the flying swords pierced them, the Cloud Knights' bodies began to change.
Their bodies turned dark gold, with countless yellow leaves growing over them, and their auras became even more terrifying.
They had become Mara-Struck.
Yanqing prepared to fight again, but someone moved faster than he did. Ji Yuan and Sushang rushed past him, one from each side.
"You actually dared to hurt my brother? Get down!"
Sushang swung her greatsword and smashed the Mara-Struck to the ground, then swung again to completely deprive it of resistance.
On the other side, Ji Yuan's freely transforming longsword also swung out. Its blade lengthened, sweeping several Mara-Struck into its reach before releasing frost that froze them solid.
Very quickly, the Mara-Struck were all defeated.
"These Disciples of Sanctus Medicus really are detestable."
After the fight, Ji Yuan said to Yanqing while breathing slightly heavily.
He was not Yanqing. He did not possess that kind of strength. Rapidly defeating these Mara-Struck had left him exhausted.
After he spoke, Ji Yuan saw an embarrassed expression appear on Yanqing's face.
Before Ji Yuan could ask, Yanqing immediately blushed and said, "Um, Big Brother, I'm sorry. Before we left, the General told me that some Disciples of Sanctus Medicus might have infiltrated the army to cause trouble. Especially you, Big Brother. You can identify Buli Ren, which puts the Abundance Fiends at a disadvantage. The Disciples of Sanctus Medicus feared that since you could recognize Buli Ren, you might be able to see through them too. But just now, I was too focused on the battle over there and didn't notice..."
Ji Yuan waved a hand.
"Just remember to treat me to a meal when we get back."
"Mhm, mhm." Yanqing nodded repeatedly. But after nodding, his expression became even more embarrassed.
"Um, could you wait until payday? I-I don't have any money on me right now."
"Sure."
Ji Yuan nodded with a smile.
Yanqing finally let out a complete sigh of relief.
He moved forward and continued observing the battle.
While Ji Yuan had been dealing with those Disciples of Sanctus Medicus, the Cloud Knights' battle had progressed further. The Buli Ren's Beast-ships had all been destroyed by Luofu Starfaring Vessel's Star Skiffs.
The Xianzhou forces continued advancing.
The Star Skiff carrying Ji Yuan also began moving.
As they advanced, Tingyun walked over to Sushang and tugged at her sleeve.
"Changchang, there's something I want to ask you."
"What is it?"
Without understanding what was happening, Sushang was pulled by Tingyun to an empty place at the back.
"Changchang, did your brother ever experience something especially sad?"
Sushang immediately shook her head. "Sad? How could that be? Everything went smoothly for him since he was little. He got praised every time he took an exam, while I got scolded terribly every time."
"Is that so?" Tingyun continued asking Sushang, "What about before that? For example, did Ji Yuan ever see his biological parents..."
Tingyun knew that Ji Yuan's biological parents had died in battle. If Ji Yuan had witnessed it personally, that might explain things.
"No. Big Brother wasn't even a year old when our parents brought him home. At that age, there's no way he could have seen anything."
Sushang shook her head again.
Then what had happened?
Had Ji Yuan experienced something during his journey from Yaoging Star-skiff to Luofu Starfaring Vessel?
Tingyun made up her mind to investigate what had happened when she found the chance.
After Luofu's Star Skiffs destroyed the Beast-ships, there was no longer any force in the skies capable of resisting them.
Before you continue