Bengtie: My death fueled their madness.

Astrological year 6321.

On the first day of the new year, the fairy boat arrives.

Every household hangs couplets, and the horizontal banner is written with the four powerful characters "Peaceful New Year" in ink.

These four words also represent the Immortal Boat Alliance's wish for the future.

May there be peace year after year, and may we never suffer the ravages of war again.

Unfortunately, that day seems to be a long way off.

No matter how many abundant creatures the Celestial Ship hunts, their numbers don't change much within the entire living region of the Milky Way. It's as if an invisible scale is controlling everything, maintaining a balance between the two sides.

Some unsavory factions have claimed that it was precisely because of the war that the Immortal Ship was spared the population explosion caused by immortality.

Such arguments are too outrageous and will never earn the favor of the Immortal Ship.

Not drawing swords against each other is already the greatest restraint one can show.

Some time has passed since the war in which Jingliu's expeditionary force suffered heavy casualties.

All participants, except for the reinforcements that arrived later, were given a long three-year leave following the major battle.

Many older Cloud Riders fell into demonic possession, and most of those over four hundred years old chose to retire.

Not everyone can face and overcome the shadow that looms over their heart.

Qi Zhimu never brought up the war, and Mianxue and Qinghan also tacitly avoided talking about it.

The immense losses in that battle cast a shadow over the entire Yaoqing region.

In the battle to reinforce Cangcheng back then, Yaoqing did not lose nearly as many people. It took two years for the oppressive atmosphere surrounding Yaoqing Cloud Cavalry to gradually dissipate.

Now that the new year has arrived, the streets and alleys are filled with joy and celebration.

Children dressed in new clothes roamed among them, their smiles innocent and pure.

Even the Dan Ding Si, whose atmosphere is usually somber and serious, was also affected by the New Year's atmosphere.

Most people who come here for treatment greet others with a smile.

However, this does not include Qi Zhimu.

He held a bouquet of simple flowers that bloomed most brightly during the New Year, but his eyes held an unyielding melancholy.

I walked slowly through the corridor and pushed open the door to the special care ward.

The life support equipment emitted a monotonous and cold ticking sound, which was particularly clear in the silence.

Bright sunlight streamed in through the window, casting its light on the sleeping figure on the hospital bed. The interplay of light and shadow could not rouse her.

Qi Zhimu walked to the bedside and changed the flowers.

He repeated this action many times, the flowers withering and being replaced, just like the endless cycle of day and night.

But the person in the bed seemed to be forever stuck on the battlefield of Sposa two years ago, never waking up.

"It's very lively outside."

Qi Zhimu pulled up a chair and sat down, his voice low and deep, which made the room seem somewhat empty.

"It's a new year again, Kagami-ryu."

There will be no response.

The fierce soldier who once used his body as a sword to tear apart wolf packs on the battlefield now has a calm face, like a sleeping beauty.

However, her long, icy-colored hair, scattered on the pillow, no longer had its former smoothness and luster.

Qi Zhimu reached out and gently placed his hand on Jing Liu's slender, fair wrist, his brows gradually furrowing.

The pulse is still the same, getting worse every day.

The condition inside the mirror fluid was so bizarre that even the most renowned physicians in the Alchemy Bureau were at a loss.

The vitality that the immortal species was so proud of did not disappear directly, but was being devoured by a black hole.

That black hole is the unique organ of the Immortal Ship Longevity Species: the Danfu.

Originally, it should have been the main organ supplying longevity, but now it no longer outputs energy. Instead, like a greedy baby, it endlessly absorbs the energy from the mirror flow's limbs, bones, and even every cell, just to maintain its own survival.

Jing Liu's prolonged sleep was not due to injury, but rather because the energy needed to maintain consciousness had been completely consumed by his own internal organs.

Qi Zhimu withdrew his hand.

According to ancient texts of the Immortal Ship, such a thing only happens when one is a premonition of falling into demonic darkness or is cursed against the genes of immortal beings.

Although the Mirror Flow's sea of ​​consciousness was closed, it was clear and bright, without the slightest trace of demonic madness or chaos.

If the cause of her illness cannot be found, she will remain in a deep sleep like this until she dies.

But in her current state, it's not much different from being dead.

Jiao Ling pushed open the door and entered, carrying a basin of warm water. Upon seeing the figure by the bed, she bowed slightly.

"Lord Zhimu, you've arrived."

"Thank you for taking care of her."

"You flatter me."

Pepper Feather's large, fluffy ears stood up, and it shook its head repeatedly.

"Putting aside the fact that this is a physician's duty, if Jingliu hadn't saved my brother during that fierce battle, the Jiao family would have been wiped out."

Her only remaining relative is her younger brother.

"Jiao Xu...it seems he's retired from the military. How is he doing?" Qi Zhimu asked.

He married a woman 19 years his junior, who is now six months pregnant and about to give birth.

Jiao Ling put down the basin of water, soaked a towel, wrung it out, and took off Jing Liu's hospital gown to wipe her body.

"Miss Jingliu should have been invited to the wedding banquet, but fate is unfair... I hope she is lucky and can wake up in time to attend my nephew's full moon celebration."

"Thank you for your kind words." Qi Zhimu looked away.

Seeing his calm demeanor, Jiao Ling felt uneasy.

As a physician, she was well aware of how difficult the current situation of endoscopic aspiration was.

After searching through ancient and modern medical classics, no record of a similar disease could be found, and the day when it can be conquered seems far away.

Using her position as a physician, she already knew the background of the master and apprentice.

The pitiful remnants of Cangcheng.

In the entire Immortal Ship Alliance today, no one's background is more tragic than that of the survivors of Cangcheng.

Not to mention they were still on their expedition, the Cloud Riders of Qiancang City protecting the immortal ships.

She shared the same sentiment as Qi Zhimu in hoping for Jing Liu's awakening.

There was a knock on the door of the ward.

"Please wait a moment."

Jiao Ling carefully cleaned Jing Liu's body and changed him into clean, pure white clothes before speaking.

"Please come in."

The door opened, and a tall figure stepped in.

"Greetings, General."

After recognizing the visitor, Jiao Ling respectfully bowed her head and then left the ward.

Sha Feng nodded casually, his gaze falling on Qi Zhimu.

"As expected, I knew you were here without even having to guess."

"..." Qi Zhimu remained silent.

"I have contacted Zhu Mingxianzhou for you. Yan Tingjun's medical skills are the best among the Minglong Zun. Perhaps he can help."

"Thank you for remembering my worthless disciple, General."

"If she doesn't amount to anything, then there will be no promising young cavalrymen to be called promising."

Sha Feng smiled, then noticed that Qi Zhimu's aura remained low, and couldn't help but sigh.

How could he not know that no one was more satisfied with this disciple than Qi Zhimu, and that the person the latter cared about most was her?

He was a rising star, and given time, his future achievements would certainly not be less than those of a mentor.

It's just a pity that life is so unpredictable.

"General, I have a request, I wonder if you may grant it?"

"You say it." Sha Feng paused for a moment.

Qi Zhimu stood up and looked directly into his eyes.

"I wish to see the Marshal. I humbly request that the General write a letter of introduction."

"For the sake of Mirror Flow?"

"Yes."

Sha Feng frowned for a long time before finally nodding slightly.

"Yes, but I can't guarantee that the Marshal will see you."

"I am deeply grateful for your understanding."