Bengtie: My death fueled their madness.

"...The next year will be a period of rest and recuperation. Unless something changes, I will not embark on a long expedition."

He looked away, his voice calm and even, as if the momentary emotion had never surfaced.

"In the meantime, I will find a way to cure your leg ailment."

Qinghan quietly watched his averted profile, the light in his eyes gradually fading and dimming.

She was prepared for no response, and lowered her eyes to reply softly:

"...Thank you for your hard work, Lord Zhimu."

From the following day onward, Qi Zhimu almost never left his home.

The laboratory was brightly lit all day long, and the air was filled with the aroma of various medicines.

Qinghan often kept a quiet watch over him, sometimes paying attention to the reports of the Cloud Cavalry's patrols, and sometimes looking at that tightly closed door.

Over the years, I have followed Qi Zhimu through countless enemy corpses and shed countless drops of blood.

Countless times, Yu Yu and her sister had one foot in the underworld, but Qi Zhimu always pulled them back to the mortal realm.

Just like the day Cangcheng fell... he snatched them back from Shuhu's grasp.

Her feelings for Qi Zhimu had long since gone beyond mere respect between superior and subordinate.

Perhaps... my sister is the same way... except that she is more reserved and restrained.

If we maintain the status quo for the rest of our lives and walk towards the end of the journey along the shared vision in everyone's hearts, it doesn't seem so bad.

Qinghan snapped out of her thoughts, glanced at the time, and turned to walk towards the training ground.

All things and all living beings will eventually come to a standstill, but time never stops for anyone.

In the blink of an eye, several months have passed.

The patrol team that Kagami-ryu belonged to returned.

Upon learning that Qi Zhimu was currently on vacation, a barely perceptible hint of joy flickered in her icy, crimson eyes.

After completing the post-war procedures, Jingliu couldn't wait to go home.

But the house was empty and no one was home.

At this time, the two seniors might be training in the military camp, but what about the master?

Just as he was hesitating whether to use the jade tablet to contact them, the laboratory door, which was usually only accessible to Qi Zhimu, slowly opened.

"Master!"

Seeing Qi Zhimu walk out expressionlessly, Jing Liu subconsciously greeted him, unable to hide the excitement in his voice.

While waiting for orders on the battlefield, she would often take off the Silver Moon Jade Pendant and caress it carefully because she missed her master.

Seeing the jade pendant that she had personally carved and given to Qi Zhimu before his first time on the battlefield, a tender light flashed in Jingliu's eyes, a light that only appeared for him.

The corners of her mouth unconsciously turned up slightly.

"I'm back, and I'm one step closer to the goal you set for me."

"Um."

"..."

Seeing that Qi Zhimu simply nodded slightly, left a nasal sound, and walked towards the door, Jing Liu's slightly upturned lips froze instantly.

Too……

I shouldn't have expected my master to show that kind of expression.

She is not strong enough to help her master, so naturally she cannot gain praise and recognition.

It's just winning a medium-sized battle of the standard Xianzhou level, nothing special.

"Master, where are you going?"

"train."

"I'll go with you, my disciple!" She lifted her foot and followed.

Normally, Kagami Ryu needs to rest now that the expeditionary campaign is over.

But she didn't want to be alone at all; she just wanted to stay by her master's side and feel that unique sense of security.

Rather, just looking at him gives me the peace I crave.

And this is precisely the driving force behind her desperate desire to become stronger and stand by his side to walk together.

Master, you're all I have left, I can only stay by your side...

Otherwise, I might go crazy in the future...

Qi Zhimu was unaware of the dangerous thoughts in his disciple's heart, and when she said she wanted to go with him, he did not refuse.

"Sure, but if you back down halfway, I'll drag you along and keep going."

"I will persevere." Jingliu didn't care at all, and his stiff lips softened again.

The worst outcome is simply losing consciousness.

Over the years, I've fainted countless times due to the training schedule assigned by my master, so I'm used to it.

Anyway... Master can't just abandon her, right?

Jingliu had envisioned what the training content would be, but he never expected the scale to far exceed his expectations.

Gazing at the massive waterfall crashing down from the clouds and feeling the terrifying force of the water, she couldn't help but wonder, how could a person possibly stand up there?

Seeing Jingliu's dazed expression, Qi Zhimu uttered two words.

"Scared?"

"...It's too big, I'm a little surprised..." Jingliu said subconsciously.

afraid?

No, not at all.

Upon hearing Jing Liu's reply, Qi Zhimu glanced at her sideways.

"Then follow."

After saying that, he walked straight to the edge of the waterfall, casually took off his shirt, and stepped into the center of the water curtain.

The water crashed against the rocks with a loud bang, and the spray spread outward as mist, gradually disappearing as it moved away.

Jingliu hesitated for a moment, then removed his armor and outer garment, leaving only his chest binder on his upper body, and followed closely behind.

The moment she stepped into the water curtain, the immense impact caused her to kneel on one knee.

The water pounded on my shoulders and back, each second feeling like being repeatedly struck by a heavy hammer.

She gritted her teeth to steady herself, glancing at her side through the misty water curtain out of the corner of her eye.

Qi Zhimu stood steadily at the most rapid part of the waterfall, his body as immovable as an iron stake driven into the rock.

The gap is enormous.

The gentle light in Jingliu's eyes was washed away by the rushing water, replaced by a familiar, almost obsessive stubbornness.

She adjusted her breathing, gritted her teeth, and lowered her center of gravity, trying to withstand the impact and stand firm.

But as soon as he straightened up, his head felt like it had been hit by a starship, and he was dizzy, his ears were ringing, and he fell straight into the deep pool under the waterfall.

Jingliu climbed out of the pool and returned to the edge of the waterfall, stepping back into the water curtain.

Not long after, he fell into the water again.

Two times, three times...

Qi Zhimu remained standing with his eyes closed, without uttering a word.

Two hours later, the setting sun dyed the mist a pale gold.

Jingliu's limbs were numb, and he could only maintain his standing posture by willpower.

She doesn't know how many times she's fallen into the water, but she can only hold on for a quarter of an hour at most. In contrast, her master hasn't moved once in the two hours since.

She didn't ask when it would end.

Unlike ordinary elders, my master never showed me any gentle care; he remained indifferent to all the brutal training.

What she should do has already been answered by the time they've spent together.

With this mindset, Jingliu gradually could no longer hold on, his vision went black and he fell forward, plunging into the deep pool for the last time.

Qi Zhimu opened his eyes and jumped down immediately after him.

A short while later, he carried Jingliu ashore and gently placed her in a dry place.

"Um?"

Noticing what his disciple was clutching tightly in his hand, Qi Zhimu looked away, and the familiar silhouette made him pause in surprise.

It was the silver moon jade pendant he gave her… She didn’t let go even after falling into the deep pool below the waterfall.

At this moment, Jingliu returned to the day Cangcheng fell in his dream once again.

Bloodshed, screams, and a crimson shadow that blots out the sky...

Then came two sword lights.

One rescued her from the monster's jaws, another carried on a silent dying wish, leading her away from that nightmarish, demonic star.

Jingliu unconsciously curled up and murmured softly.

"...Master, don't go...don't leave your disciple...please..."

"Your disciple will obey your every command, Master, and will do anything you ask. Please..."

Qi Zhimu sighed silently and put away her battle armor.

Take out a soft towel to wipe the water off her face and dry her soaked, icy-black hair.

He draped a coat over her shoulders, embraced her tenderly, and slowly walked towards where the starship was moored.