Baiheng observed little Yingxing's appearance and couldn't help but ponder.
This child's voice was tender, and he lacked the pointed ears characteristic of the Vidyadhara.
Yet he called Master Huaiyan "Master"?
Just how extraordinary must Yingxing's talents be to have earned his favor?
Whether due to his young age or some other reason, Yingxing gave Baiheng an inexplicable sense of dissonance.
Yingxing continued speaking, "Master Huaiyan is swamped with preparations for military equipment, so he sent me to receive you all.
Truthfully… I also have a lot of work on my hands, and unlike the immortals, I don't have the luxury of a long lifespan. So, please follow me quickly so we can complete the handover process."
"Hm?" Baiheng's heart skipped a beat.
A short-life species?
The Xianzhou Zhuming truly was a place of wonders—what other surprises might it hold for her?
...
The envoy Baiheng was part of consisted of several members, most of whom stayed silent in unfamiliar territory.
However,
Baiheng was an exception. Outgoing by nature, she was innately cheerful and optimistic, like a blazing sun capable of melting even the iciest of hearts.
"A short-life species? Huaiyan's disciple? And even representing Huaiyan to receive us? Kid, you've successfully piqued my interest!" Baiheng thought to herself, gazing at little Yingxing with burning curiosity.
Yingxing met her eyes for a moment before timidly lowering his head.
Having lived decades longer, Baiheng could tell Yingxing lacked confidence, so her words were laced with encouragement,
Naturally, this opened the little boy's heart.
Perhaps it was his first time encountering someone so warm, but Yingxing felt Baiheng was different from everyone else,
And his guardedness softened slightly.
"My homeland was destroyed by the Borisin fleet, turned into a weapon pasture…"
Baiheng's heart sank.
She knew what that fate entailed—
His kin would become mere livestock, stripped of dignity,
Fuel for those mountain-like weapon-beasts.
No different from talking pigs!
"Ah… I'm sorry…"
But the next moment,
She expected Yingxing to wallow in grief for a while,
Yet instead, his expression darkened, his pupils burning like flames.
He clenched his teeth, lips trembling, the edges nearly drawing blood.
Fortunately, Yingxing reined it in quickly, though his voice still carried anger,
"I came to Zhuming, and Master Huaiyan saw potential in me, taking me as his disciple!
I worked ten thousand times harder, finally earning recognition as a craftsman!
I studied tirelessly to forge weapons for the Cloud Knights, swearing to eradicate those monstrous abominations.
But…"
Yingxing's tone shifted, turning despondent.
"The other immortal masters in the department all say I'm still far from ready.
It's not a lack of effort or wit…
But that I can't live as long as they do… What I can learn will always be limited.
Maybe… I'll never live to see the day I avenge my parents."
Baiheng halted. At last, she understood the root of Yingxing's insecurity.
As a short-life species, he was born with inferiority.
Long-life species lived ten times longer than short-life ones—
What kind of genius could bridge such a gap?
She crouched down, looking at Yingxing with aching sympathy.
"Don't listen to those old fools. They're not immortals—they're just jealous of you.
The Genius Society has no shortage of prodigies who died in mere decades!
Yet their achievements still shook the universe.
What does living long or short have to do with accomplishment?
Just focus on your craft, and leave the rest to fate."
Yingxing's expression brightened slightly, but he shook his head again.
"Not all the old folks talk nonsense! Master Huaiyan… he respects me deeply. He's taught me so much!"
Baiheng sighed deeply. Such heaven-sent hatred, such a tragic past, such precocious talent—
She couldn't help but pat Yingxing's head.
And Yingxing jolted as if electrified!
He placed his small hand over Baiheng's, giving it a reassuring pat.
Suddenly, Yingxing snapped back to reality, remembering his task.
"Ah… um… Master instructed me to take you all to the Blazing Wheel Forge Palace first."
A scholar from the Intelligentsia Guild in the envoy asked, puzzled,
"Given the urgency, shouldn't we discuss reinforcements and military supplies first?"
Yingxing lowered his head, muttering, "I… I'm just following Master Huaiyan's orders."
At this, most of the envoy grew restless, murmuring among themselves.
Even the ever-optimistic Baiheng furrowed her brows, whispering inwardly.
Huaiyan sent a child to guide them and directed them to the Blazing Wheel Forge Palace?
Was this a veiled refusal?
No! No!
The thought alone made her head spin, agitation rising—pondering had never been her forte.
Her great-grandmother once said: On another's turf, swallow your grievances, no matter how bitter!
It was a survival tactic.
But once she met Huaiyan in person, she'd have a few words to spare.
Soon.
Yingxing led the group onto a boat, arriving at the entrance of a dim, circular hall.
When the mechanism triggered and the doors opened, light from an unknown source flooded the chamber, illuminating it brilliantly.
Baiheng found herself standing above what seemed like a "sun."
"This sun… it's speaking?" Baiheng stared in disbelief.
Truly, Zhuming had given her too many surprises!
But the next moment—
Baiheng clutched her head in pain as countless images, like pages scattered by wind, surged violently into her mind.
A tree of unfathomable size, its branches heavy with fruit—
No! Not fruit, but human faces!
A golden colossus hundreds of meters tall strode forward, its metallic arms clashing against a grotesque beast covered in eyes, fangs, and gelatinous flesh.
"Shield the Xianzhou!"
"The Cloud Knights ever victorious!"
——
Just then,
A voice as thunderous as it was fierce boomed from above the hall:
"Everyone! Steady your minds—do not gaze upon the 'Emperor Sui'!"
In an instant,
All awoke from their daze.
Baiheng wiped the sweat from her brow and saw none other than the master of craftsmen—Huaiyan!
"I originally intended for my disciple to bring you here to discuss weapons and reinforcements. I hadn't expected him to forget to shield this 'false sun,' nearly subjecting you all to its bewitchment. This old man apologizes."
Thereafter, Huaiyan conversed with the envoy.
The gist was as follows:
Though Zhuming faced no war, times were still hard. Preparing for the worst was only prudent!
Thus,
Huaiyan offered the fullest support in weaponry.
As for manpower, he could spare little.
"The Xianzhou Zhuming has its own duty to purge demons and eradicate corruption.
The most I can allocate is a number of reinforcements equal to your envoy!"
The envoy erupted into murmurs.
Then the screen darkened, displaying the words: "Some time later."
The scene showed only Yingxing and Baiheng.
"Little one? I'm about to leave, and you won't even say goodbye? Why the long face? Shouldn't you be happy? I'm finally going away!"
Baiheng smiled at Yingxing, understanding his feelings but unwilling to let the farewell grow too somber.
"Will we meet again?"
"Yes, absolutely. With your talent, next time we meet, you'll probably be the Forgemaster of the Artisanship Commission! Maybe I'll even have to call you 'my lord.'
Just remember—prepare a fine weapon for me!"
Yingxing nodded solemnly, engraving her words in his heart. "Mm!"
...
Yingxing watched the starskiff gradually disappear into the distance, an indescribable loneliness weighing on him.
Yet,
He refused to drown in sorrow.
As a short-life species, time was his most precious resource.
He thought his days ahead would hold no more serendipitous encounters.
Until that ice-cold, incomparably powerful Cloud Knight appeared before him.