At the foot of Mount Taixu, Su Mei guided Otto's horse... or rather, Tian Shi's horse, along the path.
"I never expected that you, Lingshuang, would choose to go to the Western Regions with the Grand Master"
"It doesn't really matter where I go, I just think I can be more comfortable following my Grand Master"
Cheng Lingshuang shook her head.
"Where is the Second Senior Sister? Where are they taking Suyi, the third senior sister, and the fourth senior sister?"
"I have no say when it comes to the third or fourth child"
Su Mei smiled.
The Jiang sisters gave a somewhat awkward smile.
"But I..." Su Mei hesitated for a moment, resting her chin on her hand.
"First I will return to the Northern Desert; after all, it is my hometown... Although I don't remember much, I still have to go back, and then... it would be great to travel the world with Suyi"
"My sister and I have similar plans to the Second Senior Sister, but once we get tired of walking, we will find a place to live in seclusion"
Jiang Wanru also spoke softly from the side.
"After this farewell, we don't know when we will see each other again"
Su Mei shook her head upon hearing this.
If they leave like this, it will be difficult for the Seven Swords to reunite...
However, judging by the Master's expression, she might be happy to see this scene.
"Do none of you want to start your own sect?"
Tian Shi smiled.
"Aren't you all first-class martial arts masters?"
"With our Master still alive, how could it be our turn to found a sect? Wouldn't that make us a laughingstock?"
Su Mei smiled with irony.
By then, the others had already reached the foot of the mountain.
"..."
Looking at the bustling market at the foot of the mountain, Su Mei inexplicably sighed with relief and then handed the reins to Cheng Lingshuang.
"I will accompany you, Grand Master, from now on, I leave the task of serving him to you Lingshuang, when you go to the Western Regions, do not disgrace the Seven Swords"
Although Su Mei's destination was also the north, she clearly was not in as much of a hurry as Otto and the others, as she was accompanied by Qin Suyi.
Hearing this, Cheng Lingshuang joined her hands in a fist salute and gave Su Mei a slight smile.
"Of course!"
"Second Senior Sister, goodbye"
Although Cheng Lingshuang usually treats her sisters with the same attitude, in truth, the only people she cares about are her fellow disciples and her Grand Master; even her Master is a bit less important.
"I hope we meet again someday".
Su Mei took Qin Suyi's small hand and smiled at Cheng Lingshuang.
...
September, the Kipchak Steppe
"Hey... I told you we couldn't win, didn't I?"
Kallen was sitting on her warhorse, looking at the remains of her retreating army around her, forcing a smile despite her frustration.
Just as they had predicted, Schicksal was completely defeated by the power of the Immortal after recovering the "secret weapon".
She even gritted her teeth and retorted, and if they hadn't all been acquaintances, Kallen probably would have been beaten to death.
"That is the Crimson Comet Immortal, how could one win? It would be more appropriate to let Lingshuang do it"
"I can't win either"
Cheng Lingshuang sighed softly.
"Even if it seems that the Master's movements are not so invincible now... but if you can't win, you can't win, that is the fundamental difference"
Cheng Lingshuang's words were quite polite.
If the time to fight really came, judging by her Master's performance on the battlefield, she could beat her.
But as she said, if you can't win, you can't win: the Master's health bar is too long.
Cheng Lingshuang really didn't know how she could defeat an immortal person.
"I seriously doubt there is anyone in this era who can defeat my Master"
In the new environment, Cheng Lingshuang became a bit more talkative... but only a bit.
In reality, there are more topics to discuss here than on Mount Taixu; after all, on Mount Taixu there is a limited number of topics to discuss, there isn't even much gossip.
However, this only applies to people she knows well; otherwise, Cheng Lingshuang still acts as if she doesn't care about anyone.
"So I was beaten for no reason...", Kallen said, quite annoyed.
"But after this incident, with so many people dead, shouldn't Schicksal wake up a bit?"
"I hope so"
Otto said distractedly.
Sober?
No, no, no! It should be even crazier!
However, Otto also knew that Kallen was kind-hearted and that too many people had died in this expedition.
In any case, they were the ones who started the war, so it was natural for Kallen to be depressed.
"I really hope you two can understand me..."
Nagamitsu was quite unhappy following them.
"Since you left, your general has been constantly pressuring me, if it weren't for my skill and my superior combat ability, I could have hanged myself a long time ago, why haven't you answered a single letter?"
"Didn't that general die too?" Otto spread her hands, trying to change the subject.
Nagamitsu pretended to be a simple blacksmith, but to be honest, what kind of blacksmith would manipulate the body tissue of a Honkai Beast? She probably would have been infected shortly after coming into contact with it.
Furthermore, Nagamitsu can travel the world... Even if everyone fought with their bare hands, Eleonor might not be able to beat this blacksmith.
"Dead or not… I'm still unhappy, especially with you all"
"I'm sorry, Miss Nagamitsu"
Eleonor apologized very sincerely and then nudged Cheng Lingshuang with her elbow.
"Ah?"
Cheng Lingshuang turned her head with an innocent and bewildered expression.
"Do you need something, Miss Eleonor?"
"..."
Seeing Cheng Lingshuang's ignorant little eyes, Eleonor, being a proper person, wanted to cover her face.
She swore that this woman had completely forgotten that she had killed a messenger hawk!
"Fine"
Eleonor thought for a moment and then said in a rather aggrieved tone.
"Even if this person is only a third-rate teacher, she is still practically my teacher... I will tolerate it"
"But speaking of that, my eagle hasn't returned either... Could it be lost or was it shot down?"
Nagamitsu began to talk to herself again, gradually doubting herself.
At that moment, Cheng Lingshuang seemed to be enlightened upon hearing this.
"That gyrfalcon? I roasted it and it was delicious"
"..."
"Don't realize it suddenly now!"
Eleonor turned her head in silence, while Otto and Kallen also pretended to look at the sky as if nothing had happened.
"Cheng-Ling-Shuang!"
"Hmm?"
Cheng Lingshuang unconsciously touched her sword as she watched Nagamitsu about to jump off her horse.
"Fine"
Seeing this, Nagamitsu sat back down in silence.
Even though she was right, not everyone can be convinced with reason!
This woman doesn't show her face to anyone except Tian Shi, okay?
Although the others in Schicksal thought Kallen was the strongest among them, in reality, the strongest was this white-haired swordsman who had been idling since she arrived!
She is irrational and very strong... I can't live like this anymore.
"I just wanted to ask... was that eagle tasty?"
"It is quite delicious"
"As long as it tastes good..."
Nagamitsu's face twitched and she decided to let the matter go completely.
"Is compensation necessary?"
Cheng Lingshuang realized at that moment that she wasn't actually being unreasonable, it was just that her usual indifferent attitude made her seem unreasonable.
"Aren't there some eagles around? Which one do you like? I'll cut it for you"
"Over there?"
Nagamitsu turned her head in surprise in the direction Cheng Lingshuang pointed.
"If I remember correctly, that is a village that the army destroyed long ago... and those are vultures in the sky, right? They are a kind of monster eagles"
"A vulture is still an eagle, at least..." Tian Shi said in a low voice.
"I think instead of focusing on this, shouldn't we worry more about why the vultures are flying in circles over that village?"
Kallen's intelligence suddenly kicked in at that moment.
"I think this village was probably destroyed on the way, wasn't it? It's been so long, how come there are still vultures?"
"Is there still anyone in the village?" Cheng Lingshuang arched an eyebrow while considering a possibility.
"Perhaps they are surviving children..." Otto's thoughts deepened upon hearing this.
After all, vultures are large birds of prey.
Although they don't usually hunt, that doesn't mean they don't have the ability to hunt.
But then again, this thing wouldn't even think about hunting adults unless it's completely crazy.
Several months have passed.
The seriously injured and dying adults have likely disappeared long ago, and those still alive have probably fled.
The only ones who could be left among the ruins are some children, as they could survive by scavenging among the rubble.
"Kallen, hurry, saving lives is the priority"
"I know!"
Kallen, with a grim face, brandished her whip.
"Drive!"
Eleonor and Cheng Lingshuang followed her lead.
"Speaking of that, where are we now?"
Tian Shi suddenly remembered something and asked Otto.
"Near Geneva".
Otto had already foreseen it.
"We will return to Vienna in a few days, I imagine dad is already starting to worry about the future"
Although she hadn't been home for five years, Otto showed no fear.
"That is not what I wanted to ask..."
Tian Shi shook his head.
That said, this time he brought the Book of Fuxi with him.
After all, this can be restarted as long as the Void Archive provides energy.
You only need to find an opportunity to persuade the Void Archive.
But if you leave it to Hua, it will only gather dust.
"Is this not...? But besides this, I have some things I would like to discuss with you, my lord"
Otto let out a long sigh.
Otto's encounter with Hua during her trip to Shenzhou made her realize many things, some of which were harsh realities.
The Seven Swords of Taixu and their Master are separated by the mortal and immortal realms, so... isn't she also separated from God by the mortal and immortal realms?
Human life lasts no more than a hundred fleeting years, while God's existence lasts fifty thousand years.
She wanted to stay with God forever.
But then... immortality?
The only way to accompany God on His journey is through immortality.
Ha!
I doubt even my own father would dare think of such a thing.
However, Otto had already seen the path to immortality.
The Soul Steel Body technology hidden within the Void Archive, and the cryogenic hibernation technology derived from the Fifth Divine Key.
These two things are enough for her to reach the goal of "immortality".
But... I don't know when I'll be able to see God again when this journey ends.
Although these questions can be answered by asking God, doing so could mean facing a separation.
(I am not mature enough yet...)
(Yes, she is not mature enough from any angle; she is far from perfect).
Void Archive's witty comments immediately relieved Otto's sadness.
Hmm... Otto is furious right now.
However, at that moment, Kallen and her two companions also returned on horseback.
However, unlike when they left, Kallen now carried on her horse a thin, emaciated, white-haired girl, who seemed to be only three or four years old.
"She is..."
"The only survivor in the village"
Kallen said somewhat dejectedly that the reality of this was simply too cruel for her.
Then, thinking that her own family was also a beneficiary of the East Expedition, Kallen became even more depressed.
"This is also our sin"
"Sin...?"
Otto, after thinking about it, took the girl and carried her in her arms.
She was so light that even a weak person like her could lift her without difficulty.
"Little girl? What is your name?"
"..."
The girl stared blankly at Otto.
"Don't you want to talk about it? Or have you forgotten?" Otto stroked the girl's hair.
"Speaking of that, her hair..."
"She has an innate talent, she is an ordinary person, without any special characteristics," Cheng Lingshuang said from the side.
While extremely high Honkai energy resistance can manifest as white hair (like her and Kallen), not everyone with white hair has extremely high Honkai energy resistance.
"Common people... there is nothing wrong with being a common person"
Otto sighed.
"Is it a sin...?"
"In that case, I will give you a name: Vera, what do you think of that name?"
Tian Shi, standing to one side, showed a knowing look.
Vera... who is the future Vera.
The presence of something in the supplies that causes high blood pressure… well, just kidding.
Otto Vera was one of the few people Otto truly loved.
She never became a Valkyrie during her lifetime, but she held the important position of captain of the bishop's guard, placing the bishop's name before her own.
Sixty-eight years later, this little girl will die peacefully in her sleep.
Her death will be as common and ordinary as her life.
On that day, Otto's last link to everyday life was buried with her.
Vera's tombstone bears the inscription: "Octavia, I offer you your favorite name."
However, for now, 68 years is too long.
"My lord, is there something on my face?"
Eleonor blushed and touched her face shyly.
"Nothing"
"I just think you have very bad luck"
-Honestly, in the original timeline, you were the one who truly loved Otto, but you died in the most tragic way
Not only has the person disappeared, but her body has also been used for experiments.
They are practically the most ruthless of losers.
"Really nothing...?"
Eleonor nudged Cheng Lingshuang.
"Lingshuang, do I really have nothing on my face?"
"Wrinkles?"
Cheng Lingshuang grimaced and thought for a moment before answering.
"Eh?"
Eleonor felt as if something in her brain had suddenly broken.
"I was just kidding," said Cheng Lingshuang, her arms crossed and looking like she was watching a show.
That reaction was really interesting.
"Seriously! Don't joke like that!"
...
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