The daily training session was drawing to a close.
"Master, will we proceed with the usual high-temperature endurance training until exhaustion today?"
While waiting for his instructions, Jingliu still found it difficult to believe the changes in her body.
When she woke up that morning, she discovered that her body had undergone a dramatic transformation.
Even something as simple as washing up had taken her by surprise. She had crushed a porcelain cup in her hand simply because she hadn't adjusted her strength properly.
Her training had also become far easier. After completing a long-distance run with heavy weights, her breathing returned to normal in less than thirty seconds. The subsequent sword drills and precision striking exercises all flowed naturally, completed in a single breath as smoothly as water following its course.
It felt as if she had been completely reborn.
She even believed she might be able to endure the high-temperature training for quite some time today.
Kanzaki replied, "There is no need."
"Understood. Your disciple will... Eh?"
Jingliu froze, wondering if she had heard him correctly.
"Master... what did you just say?"
"You may stop once you feel you are approaching your limit. From today onward, all training will follow this new standard," Kanzaki said in an even tone.
She hadn't misheard.
Jingliu had thought she would feel relieved to finally leave behind those days of grueling training. Yet instead, an unexpected emptiness filled her heart... even a strange sense of unfamiliarity.
It was as if something important was missing if she didn't push herself until she passed out at night and woke up the next day under her master's care.
"Is it because I passed the coming-of-age exam?"
"You could say that."
Kanzaki paused for a moment before offering a further explanation.
"You are no longer the weak girl you once were. Your physique has more or less reached the intended results of the training. From now on, you only need to advance steadily, step by step."
"..."
Jingliu suddenly fell silent.
Ever since she began that hellish training regimen with her master, she had grown used to certain things, even if she didn't remember the exact details of what happened after she lost consciousness. She could make a reasonable guess.
It was no big deal for her master to see her body. After all... he was the only person she had left.
Spending her entire life relying on her master didn't seem like a bad thing at all.
But his answer just now suggested something else. He was beginning to observe the proper boundaries between men and women, and between master and disciple.
Her master wasn't wrong to do so. So why did she feel such a sharp pang of disappointment?
Was she afraid that this new sense of reservation would slowly create a barrier between them?
Jingliu was still young. Her daily life was packed, and she had little contact with outsiders. During the few times she had been deployed to the battlefield, she never discussed anything unrelated to exterminating the Abominations with her comrades during their brief moments of rest.
Because of this, she couldn't quite understand the feeling.
She had always believed that a disciple should be completely open with their master, and her master's past actions had seemed to support that idea.
But now, it appeared that wasn't entirely the case.
More than once, Jingliu had imagined the sight of her master expressionlessly tending to her exhausted, unconscious body.
He would first heal her using some mysterious method, then efficiently remove her clothes and place her in the bathtub to wash away the sweat and grime.
Finally, he would dress her in clean pajamas and carry her back to her room... or perhaps not so gently. It was more likely that he would simply hoist her over his shoulder or carry her by the waist before tossing her onto the bed, turning off the lights, and leaving.
The reason he never said much was probably because he didn't want her to feel embarrassed...
Her master had never been gentle, but he had always cared for her physical condition.
For example, on the day she experienced her first period... Didn't the way they had interacted until now mean there should be no barriers between master and disciple?
She couldn't figure it out. She needed time to understand.
"Your disciple understands."
"This is your ring-type control Jade Sign. Starting tomorrow, manage your own schedule and head to the Sky-Faring Commission's training grounds to learn basic piloting for military star skiffs... that is, warships."
Kanzaki handed her a small military star skiff starter and continued his instructions.
"Frontline soldiers and pilots belong to different branches, but both are part of the Cloud Knights.
"The situation on the battlefield can change in an instant, and pilots can run into all kinds of emergencies. If you can pilot a warship to pursue enemies or make a tactical retreat when necessary, it could prove vital."
"Although the Cloud Knights do not require every frontline soldier to master warship piloting, having an extra skill provides one more chance at survival."
Jingliu set aside her wandering thoughts and accepted the Jade Sign. "I will study diligently."
"Good. You may go now. A combat mission will be assigned in seven days. You will accompany the army to suppress several Houyhnhnm tribes."
"And you, Master? Do you have any missions coming up?"
"There is an emergency hunting mission the day after tomorrow. Yueque sent a surveillance report indicating a large tribe of the Blackclaw Hunting Pack in a star system thirty-nine light-years northwest of the Xianzhou route."
Relevant information immediately came to Jingliu's mind.
The Blackclaw Hunting Pack was a mercenary group among the Borisin. They could appear in any battle. Blackclaw Borisin possessed exceptional endurance and stealth, excelling in hunting, assassination, and psychological warfare. Their sense of smell was far superior to that of ordinary Borisin.
Every year, many Cloud Knight soldiers fell victim to their unpredictable sneak attacks.
Although she was still far from being able to face Borisin elites directly, she understood just how dangerous these Abominations were.
"That large tribe likely has a Nest Father-level Abomination. This mission may take quite some time," Kanzaki continued.
Only a few words echoed in Jingliu's mind: "this mission may take quite some time."
Could it be... another two years or more?
"Xueyi and Hanya will accompany me on this expedition. You will be the only one at home, so do not slack off on your training."
"Additionally, small-scale battles may occur frequently in the near future. Remember to stay in formation and avoid acting recklessly on the battlefield."
"I'll remember. I will work hard to catch up to Master's footsteps," Jingliu declared with solemn resolve.
Afterward, she prepared to board a civilian star skiff and head toward the Cloud Knight training camp.
The training grounds at home lacked the proper facilities for high-temperature training, so she needed to go to the military camp.
Before she left, Kanzaki added one more thing.
"If the daily commute becomes inconvenient, you can apply for permanent residence at the Cloud Knight camp. Outside of emergency martial law periods, returning home is not particularly troublesome."
Expeditionary Cloud Knights always set out with the resolve to face death, so there was no strict requirement for them to remain stationed at the camp at all times.
"...It is not inconvenient. Thank you for your concern, Master." Jingliu declined without hesitation.
The hatch closed. As the ring rotated, the star skiff quickly rose into the air and merged into the high-altitude flight path.
Kanzaki stood in place, lost in thought.
Jingliu's tone just now had seemed a little strange, though he couldn't quite put his finger on why...
===
That night, after finishing her training, Jingliu's star skiff skimmed over the empty training grounds and landed in the backyard parking area.
A faint look of joy lingered on her face.
She had actually endured nearly two hours of the day's lower-intensity heat endurance training.
It was a massive improvement compared to yesterday.
It didn't take much thought to realize that such rapid progress was surely connected to what her master had done for her and the special training regimen he had created... She was becoming more and more reliant on him.
With Master around, it seemed like every difficulty could be easily overcome.
"Ma—"
The word had barely left her lips when Jingliu's foot, which had just stepped onto the threshold, suddenly froze in place. She stood there stunned, staring blankly into the house.
Kanzaki and Hanya walked out of the room one after the other.
It was Hanya's room...
Hanya's clothes were slightly disheveled, her cheeks and neck visibly flushed, and her hands were busy tying a silk sash around her waist.
Jingliu felt her mind go completely blank. Her gaze gradually turned vacant.
What happened... between them?