—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "I can tell. General Huaiyan may be small in stature, but he's really badass."
March 7th: "Stepping down several times, only to be reinstated by the Marshal several times. That's some serious pedigree right there!"
Hu Tao: "Aya, then doesn't this mean he can't even retire even if he wants to?"
Huaiyan: "Exactly! To think that at my advanced age, I still have to keep fighting in the position of General. It really is hard work!"
Huaiyan: "But there's no helping it. In these turbulent times, with me presiding over the Zhuming Xianzhou, it is indeed more secure."
Jing Yuan: "Elder Huaiyan, thank you for your hard work."
Jing Yuan: "With you presiding over the Zhuming, we indeed do not have to worry about the weapon supplies for all our major Xianzhou."
....
『 [ At the end of the day, it's also my fault. I've lived for far too long, so it's inevitable to face criticism. ]
As he spoke, Huaiyan let out a faint sigh.
[ It's an honor to meet you, General Huaiyan. ]
At this moment, Dan Heng and Yanqing respectfully bowed to Huaiyan.
[ It's my honor to meet you, General Huaiyan... ]
March 7th was startled for a moment, then followed suit.
[ Glad to meet you, Old General. ]
Seeing the three people beside her greeting Huaiyan, Stelle also casually offered a greeting. 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
March 7th: "Eh?"
March 7th: "We all said, 'It's an honor to meet you, General Huaiyan,' so how come you said 'Glad to meet you, Old General'?"
Stelle: "Is there a problem?"
Stelle: "I'm not a Xianzhou local anyway, so there's no need for me to bow and scrape, right?"
Dan Heng: "Stelle is right. Yanqing and I are the ones who need to say that."
March 7th: "Ah, well…"
March 7th: "So I was just going with the flow?"
Stelle: "Tsk, March, you should learn more from me next time!"
Furina de Fontaine: "By the way, General Huaiyan's last words sounded so helpless."
Furina de Fontaine: "Is living long… also a mistake?"
Paimon: "But the thing is, aren't Xianzhou people long-life species?"
Paimon: "Isn't living long very normal?"
Fu Xuan: "Although the Xianzhou people are long-life species, their lifespan is not infinite."
Fu Xuan: "Strictly speaking, they only live much longer than ordinary people, but they still have a natural limit."
Fu Xuan: "Once that limit is reached, they will still die when it's time."
Fu Xuan: "Not to mention, all Xianzhou people have the risk of Mara-struck. The longer they live, the higher the probability of succumbing to Mara."
Lumine: "So you mean, General Huaiyan has lived for so long that he has exceeded the normal lifespan limit of Xianzhou people, and yet he hasn't fallen into Mara?"
Lumine: "And that has drawn some suspicion?"
Boothill: "Son of a nice lady! Those who suspect this are just people with nothing better to do, harboring ill intentions."
Boothill: "Having a long-lived and capable ancestor in your family is a good thing."
Boothill: "Normal people would only feel reassured. Only those with filthy and dark minds would think there's a problem."
Stelle: "Aya, what Boothill said is exactly what I wanted to say!"
Stelle: "General Huaiyan living long is a testament to his own strength!"
Stelle: "If you ask me, those critics are just green with envy!"
Stelle: "General Huaiyan, just ignore those people. Keep on living stubbornly, and strive to infuriate them to death!"
Huaiyan: "Hahaha, my young friend's words make sense. I'll keep that in mind."
....
『 [ No need to be polite, everyone. ]
[ Today, just like you all, I am a guest of the Luofu. ]
[ Jing Yuan, are these three the saviors you mentioned before, who helped you quell the crisis of the Ambrosial Arbor? ]
Smiling, Huaiyan looked up at Jing Yuan.
[ Precisely. ]
[ Dan Heng, March 7th, and Stelle… If not for these friends turning the tide, the Luofu would not have overcome this disaster so easily. ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "Wait, it's not three people, it's four!"
Stelle: "There's also Uncle Yang!"
March 7th: "It's a pity Uncle Yang didn't come this time."
March 7th: "Otherwise, it would definitely be more lively."
Welt Yang: "I didn't expect this Luminary Wardance to be so extraordinary that even the Old General of the Zhuming Xianzhou would personally attend."
Himeko: "Hehe, if the timing hadn't been so coincidental, perhaps we could have gone to observe this grand ceremony together."
Furina de Fontaine: "I don't think we can be that optimistic."
Furina de Fontaine: "Combining all the situations just now, I actually feel that the current situation of the Luofu Xianzhou is somewhat like Penacony."
Hu Tao: "The Charmony Festival of Penacony didn't seem to end up being held successfully in the end."
Hu Tao: "So, will this Luminary Wardance of the Luofu Xianzhou be able to be held as scheduled?"
Silver Wolf: "That depends on whether the upcoming trouble is big or not."
Silver Wolf: "Though I don't think it'll be that big."
Silver Wolf: "The Sunday of Penacony was already an overpowered opponent."
Silver Wolf: "There's no reason for the Astral Express to encounter an even stronger opponent right after fighting Sunday."
Stelle: "Silver Wolf, do you have the script?"
Stelle: "Can you leak the outcome of this Luofu trip to me?"
Silver Wolf: "No, at the current point in time, even the script for Penacony hasn't been played out yet."
Silver Wolf: "How could we know the script after Penacony?"
Silver Wolf: "Perhaps Elio has the script for the next destination in his hands, but he hasn't given it to us yet."
Hotaru: "Since Elio didn't give a script, it's also possible that the Express crew's trip to the Luofu won't have any major crisis."
Hotaru: "Therefore, Elio didn't pay much attention to it."
March 7th: "Is that so?"
March 7th: "Then I can put my mind at ease!"
....
『 [ So, the Imbibitor Lunae's reincarnation has returned to the Luofu and will attend the Wardance. I'd love to have a drink with you should the chance present itself. ]
Huaiyan looked at the three of them and finally fixed his gaze on Dan Heng.
[ You're more than welcome, General Huaiyan. ]
Dan Heng did not refuse and nodded.
[ And this young friend is...? ]
Huaiyan looked at Yanqing again.
[ Yanqing, my apprentice. ]
[ He remains by my side as my retainer due to his youth, which I hope will season him with experience. He will stand for the Luofu's Cloud Knights in the upcoming Wardance, ready to take on all kinds of challenges. ]
Jing Yuan introduced Yanqing to Huaiyan.
[ Great, great! It's a real treat to see so many talented young people around here today. ]
[ Oh, right. As one gets older, it's easy to forget things… This one beside me is my granddaughter-apprentice, Yunli… ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
March 7th: "Isn't that a coincidence?"
March 7th: "Miss Yunli happens to be here too."
March 7th: "Now Yanqing doesn't have to go looking for her anymore, right?"
Hanabi: "Heehee~ like a needle pointing against a wheat awn~"
Hanabi: "Do you believe me?"
Hanabi: "The two of them will definitely have a fierce fight in a bit!"
Venti: "Oh? What makes you say that?"
Nahida: "It's probably pride."
Nahida: "I feel that both of them possess the pride of being geniuses."
Nahida: "This will make them unwilling to submit to each other."
Stelle: "In that case, they will definitely fight to see who is better!"
Stelle: "Oh yeah!"
Stelle: "FIGHT!!"
Stelle: "I just love watching this kind of stuff!"
Lumine: "Though… actually, I also want to know, between Miss Yunli and Yanqing, who is stronger?"
Paimon: "Mm-mm, although I know comparing them isn't good, thinking about how both are top disciples of Generals makes me feel itchy too…"
....
『 [ It's you! ]
Seeing Yunli, Yanqing immediately showed a look of shock.
[ Oh, it's you. Hello. ]
Yunli glanced at Yanqing and greeted him casually.
[ Oh, you two already know each other? Guess we don't need any introductions then! ]
Seeing that the two seemed to know each other, Huaiyan immediately smiled.
[ Truly, finding it by chance after searching far and wide, I thought it would take a lot of effort to find this lady. ]
Yanqing felt a bit happy to have found Yunli so easily.
[ Oh? This old man's curiosity has been piqued… Quick, tell me, how do you two know each other? ]
Huaiyan's curiosity was aroused by Yanqing's expression.
[ This lady lent a hand in the Starskiff Haven to help subdue the escaped Borisin prisoner. Yanqing thanks you for that first. ]
[ But when you left… You also took my flying sword with you. ]
Yanqing looked at Yunli and explained.
[ Flying sword? …Oh, I was wondering why an extra short sword appeared in my bag out of nowhere. So it was yours. ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "Pfft-hahaha!"
Stelle: "This is killing me. Yunli doesn't even remember where that flying sword came from."
March 7th: "The situation was urgent back then. She probably didn't think much of it and just took the flying sword away, right?"
Yanqing: "No matter, I can understand. As long as Miss Yunli returns the sword to me, it's fine."
Yunli: "Returning it to you is no problem, but you have to defeat me first."
Yunli: "After all, as a Cloud Knight, shouldn't a sword lost on the battlefield be won back through combat?"
Yanqing: "Ah?"
Yanqing: "You're… being a bit unreasonable, aren't you?"
Yunli: "What's wrong? You don't dare to challenge me?"
Yunli: "Figures. With that little flying sword of yours, you can't even pierce Old Iron's defense. Normally, you don't dare to fight me."
Yanqing: "?"
Yanqing: "Heh, I advise Miss Yunli not to make such laughable remarks."
Yanqing: "When it comes to swordsmanship, except for… I, Yanqing, have never feared anyone!"
Mualani: "Ya, is it starting already?"
Mualani: "Wow, such a strong smell of gunpowder!"
Mavuika: "But the problem is, you two genius swordsmen are not together right now. There's really no need to argue."
Qingque: "I think it's fine?"
Qingque: "They are confronting each other in the video, and in this live broadcast room, although they can't compete in swordsmanship, they can compete with their mouths!"
Silver Wolf: "Trash-talking, right?"
Silver Wolf: "Hmm, that indeed is a kind of contest!"
March 7th: "Uh… both of you are direct disciples of Generals. Trash-talking is a bit too ungraceful. Let's forget about it…"
....
『 [ Precisely. Since we met again by chance, I hope you can… ]
Yanqing spoke to Yunli, wanting to take the opportunity to ask for his flying sword back…
[ I'm afraid that's not good. ]
Before Yanqing could finish, Yunli interrupted him.
[ Not good? ]
Yanqing was stunned.
[ You want this sword back, right? ]
[ Sure, but not in this manner. ]
[ Our Zhuming's rule is that a sword lost on the battlefield must be taken back on the battlefield. ]
[ This little sword is the same. ]
[ It was flying in the air, meant to strike that fleeing Borisin. ]
[ Unfortunately, the sword master's mind was perturbed, making it lose its aim like a broken-winged kite. ]
[ Besides, if I hadn't reached out to catch this sword and helped it hit the target, Borisin would have escaped long ago. ]
Yunli shook her head, not intending to return Yanqing's flying sword.
[ Miss Yunli, you took my sword without a word. How can you refuse to return it to its rightful owner as if nothing happened? ]
Hearing Yunli's words, Yanqing began to frown deeply.
[ …Luofu swordsmen, nothing more than this. ]
Looking at Yanqing, Yunli showed a disappointed expression.
[ What did you say? ]
Hearing this, Yanqing immediately flared up with anger.
[ If you can openly and honorably snatch your sword back from my hands, I, Yunli, will be thoroughly convinced. ]
[ But you didn't. You actually thought of downplaying it, casually asking me to return the sword in public… ]
[ To be frank, you have no respect for the sword that helps us slay enemies and protect ourselves. You don't deserve this sword. ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "Aya, holy moly!"
Stelle: "Yunli has already started her offensive, and Yanqing has fallen into a disadvantage!"
March 7th: "I have a feeling that Miss Yunli seems to be targeting Yanqing on purpose?"
March 7th: "Why is that?"
Boothill: "Maybe because geniuses are all fudging like this?"
Boothill: "As the saying goes, one mountain cannot accommodate two tigers. The more genius they are, the more they want to compete."
Furina de Fontaine: "That might only be one of the reasons."
Furina de Fontaine: "I think another important reason is that when Miss Yunli was beside them just now, she happened to hear that young master Yanqing is the defender of this Luminary Wardance!"
Furina de Fontaine: "It's not hard to imagine that Miss Yunli came here to participate in the Wardance too."
Furina de Fontaine: "So, facing the defender, she would definitely be confrontational."
Hu Tao: "Uh… it indeed feels like enemies meeting with eyes blazing…"
Stelle: "It's not a big deal. Once they actually have a fight and determine who the boss is, they'll settle down."
Huaiyan: "Cough, cough… Yunli has been spoiled by me. She speaks without filter. I've let everyone see something embarrassing."
Jing Yuan: "Not at all, Miss Yunli is just straightforward. It's understandable."
Yanqing: "General, I cannot understand."
Yanqing: "Returning what you took is only natural!"
Yunli: "I didn't say I wouldn't return it to you?"
Yunli: "You just have to defeat me."
Yunli: "What?"
Yunli: "As the number one genius swordsman of the Luofu, you don't even dare to challenge me?"
Yanqing: "What a joke. Would I be afraid of you?"
Yanqing: "I just care about etiquette and don't want to make you look too bad!"
Yunli: "Heh, then I really have to thank you."
Yunli: "Alright, stop talking nonsense. If you want the sword, defeat me."
Yunli: "Otherwise, just go shrink in a corner!"
Guinaifen: "Um… both geniuses, let me say something…"
Guinaifen: "Is it possible that right now, you two don't have any grudges at all?"
Asta: "Hahaha, exactly!"
Asta: "The things in the video haven't happened yet. What are you arguing about now!"
Yunli: "Oh… sorry, got a bit carried away."
Yunli: "Then, since I didn't take your sword, I won't beat around the bush."
Yunli: "I, Zhuming swordsman, Yunli!"
Yunli: "Staking the honor of a swordsman, I challenge you, Yanqing!"
Yunli: "Do you dare to accept?"
Yanqing: "Why wouldn't I dare?"
Yanqing: "It just so happens that the Wardance is already being planned."
Yanqing: "When the time comes on the stage, I'll wait for you to challenge me!"
Yanqing: "I will make you understand what true swordsmanship is!"
Feixiao: "Hahaha, great. The kids nowadays are more prideful than the last."
Feixiao: "Fine, I just like your arrogant attitude that ignores all relations!"
Feixiao: "Keep it up, I have high hopes for both of you!"
....
『 [ My lady, isn't taking without asking considered stealing? ]
[ If we must speak with swords… fine, just the two of us, one-on-one right now… ]
Yanqing couldn't take it anymore and wanted to speak with strength.
[ Yanqing. ]
At this moment, Jing Yuan called out to Yanqing, interrupting him.
[ Hmph, that's more like it. You'd better be careful, I'm not as easy to deal with as those Borisin. ]
Seeing Yanqing provoked, Yunli immediately pursued her advantage.
However, as soon as she finished speaking, Huaiyan scolded her.
[ You shut up too, hurry up and apologize to Little brother Yanqing! ] 』
『 ....』