Bengtie: My death fueled their madness.

"Kyoryu, it's time to rejoin the team." The captain's voice came from behind.

"..."

She suppressed all distracting thoughts and turned to walk towards her assembled comrades.

As the battlefield cleanup work neared its end, the Yunqi Army began its orderly withdrawal.

Jingliu walked at the front of the group, his gaze sweeping over the land that had just witnessed a fierce battle.

"I think I'll be able to rest for a few days when I get back."

Behind me, my comrade's voice was tinged with exhaustion.

Jingliu pursed his lower lip.

Rest and recuperation...

But with his master away, Yao Qing embarked on another expedition, a mission far more arduous than his own, with a vastly different level of danger.

She was still a new recruit in the Lianyun Cavalry, so how could she become a sharp blade in her master's hand to cut down even more powerful evils for him?

She is far from being a strong person.

She needs more battles, to challenge stronger enemies and hone herself.

Rest and recuperation?

No need.

Every extra day of rest means that the day we can fight alongside our master will be postponed by one day.

Only by my master's side could I share the time for rest and recuperation after the battle, and only then could I... have time to find the answers that troubled my heart.

Even in Yaoqing, who is at the forefront of the hunt for abundant creatures, large-scale battles are not always possible.

Small-scale battles are different.

Any race that possesses abundant blessings but has plundered and devoured life and civilization is considered a scourge and a target of the Immortal Ship Alliance.

In addition, small-scale tribes of the Buli people and nests of the Wingers can also be counted as small-scale battles.

As long as the post-war physical examination is passed, one can apply to continue patrolling.

Back on the flagship Yaoqing, Jingliu quickly went through the procedures.

While undergoing examination at Dan Ding Si, she checked the list of the Cloud Cavalry squads that were about to set off.

Once the inspection was over, they immediately returned to the Yunqi military camp.

"Request to be incorporated into the Dange Guard 1753 Small Battle Patrol Team." Jingliu placed the soldier Yuzhao on the table.

The officer in charge of dispatching looked up at her, pulled up Yu Zhao's information and carefully examined it, then frowned.

"You have just finished the Battle of Skullbuti-VIII. According to regulations, you have a ten-day rest period."

"I'm giving up on resting."

The sound of the mirror flow was calm.

"I have passed the physical fitness test, and my mental state assessment is normal, which meets the standard for continuous participation."

The veteran retrieved her relevant data from the system, paused for a moment, and then said, "Continuous combat takes a heavy toll on your physical and mental health. Are you sure?"

"Sure."

"The mission of the Dange Guard 1753 patrol team is to clear out a small tribe of Buli people. It is expected to last seven days. The application has been approved. We will assemble at military port No. 56, Zhenzi No. 6:00 tomorrow morning."

"Thank you, sir."

Jingliu picked up the jade tablet and turned to leave.

……

The war continues.

Jingliu never expected that another two years would pass.

Over the past two years, she has participated in dozens of small battles, and such a record has finally qualified her to join the Xiaowei expedition.

Now she has become a rising star in the Cloud Cavalry, shedding her recruit status.

She is 18 years old, and her master has not yet returned to Yaoqing.

This time, however, the expedition led by the master did not lose contact, and the logistical supplies were normal.

The reason they did not return was that after wiping out the Black Claw Hound tribe and capturing the Nest Father alive, they unexpectedly intercepted information about more troublesome monsters.

If Yaoqing returns to rest and recuperate, the hard-won intelligence will become useless.

At that time, there will be enough of those massive numbers of monstrous creatures to slaughter dozens of civilizations.

The urgent hunting mission was of utmost importance. After obtaining permission from General Shafeng, Qi Zhimu led his troops to set off without delay.

The temporary pursuit operation was outside the observation range of Tabu, and lacked sufficient accurate enemy information. Not only did the battle become stalemate, but it was also surrounded by multiple groups of infantry-deployed ships.

The reinforcements set off quickly at the start of the temporary hunting mission, but still failed to rendezvous successfully.

This is why Qi Zhimu was gone for two years.

Fortunately, it only took two years.

Now, news has come from the front lines: the hunting mission has ended, and the entire army is returning to Yaoqing, a journey of about one month.

Jingliu began preparing to go on the expedition with his master, and trained diligently.

The days of waiting felt exceptionally long, but she patiently counted down the time.

One morning, news arrived that Qi Zhimu's expedition team was expected to arrive at Yaoqing's flagship that evening.

……

The Cloud Cavalry Camp is a hidden paradise.

The starship's hatch opened, and Qi Zhimu stepped out first, followed by two bodyguards.

Two years had passed, and he had hardly changed, except that the sharp, murderous look between his brows remained.

Jing Liu waited in the corridor that Qi Zhi Mu always passed through, his footsteps growing louder as they approached.

"Master, congratulations on your triumphant return." Jing Liu greeted him, his voice relatively calm.

Qi Zhimu stopped in his tracks, his voice somewhat cold and hard.

"We lost too much to wipe out those bastards; tens of thousands perished. It was far from a victory."

Jing Liu remained silent, then raised his head and looked directly into his eyes.

"I have participated in dozens of small battles. According to the regulations of the Cloud Cavalry, I am qualified to follow the Valiant Guard on expeditions. I will definitely be able to help my master."

She was waiting for a word of affirmation, a word of praise, or even just a look of approval.

However, Qi Zhimu's expression did not change.

"You still have a long way to go."

Jingliu was stunned.

"Master, I can—"

"What can it be?"

Qi Zhimu interrupted her, his eyes showing no trace of the warmth of reuniting with his disciple.

"Does participating in a few dozen small battles make you think you're all grown up?"

"My disciple is no longer the rookie he was two years ago. I can do it!"

Jingliu insisted, her voice carrying a hint of urgency she herself didn't realize.

Qi Zhimu remained silent for a moment, his tone still calm: "Then prove it to me. Participate in fifty medium-sized battles. If you are still alive by then, then we can talk about going on an expedition with the Valiant Guard."

The pupil constricts slightly during mirror flow.

Medium-sized campaigns differ from small-scale ones; the probability of expeditions is not low, and it is common for them to last for two or three months at a time.

During periods other than emergency martial law, in order to protect the health of the Cloud Cavalry, there is a mandatory leave period after each battle.

Fifty matches?

Medium-sized battles don't happen all the time; at the current frequency, fifty such battles would take at least a decade or more...

"But Master, neither Mianxue nor Senior Qinghan have experienced that many battles."

Jingliu's voice carried a hint of grievance.

"Why were these two able to fight alongside their master?"

This is indeed true.

According to the Yunqi military regulations, Jingliu's current battle achievements and strength meet the standards for following the Xiaowei on expeditions.

Qi Zhimu narrowed his eyes slightly: "Are you not even listening to Master anymore?"

"Your disciple dares not... I simply don't understand."

"In addition to fifty medium-sized battles, there is one more requirement: complete all the training so far within six hours, and maintain consciousness after passing the special training for combat resistance. Then I will allow you to participate in large-scale battles with the Valiant Guard."

Having made his demands, Qi Zhimu walked past her.

Behind him, Mianxue and the other person, who were holding helmets, exchanged a glance.

She wanted to say something to Jing Liu, but in the end she remained silent and followed Qi Zhimu.

Jingliu watched his departing figure, feeling as if something was blocking her lungs, making it hard to breathe.

After two years of hard work, fighting on the brink of death, why is it still not possible to gain the master's approval?