Ignoring Lumina's words, Jingliu murmured Blade's name under her breath, seemingly lost in remembrance.
After a moment, her gaze settled on Yanqing. "Take me to him, child," she said. "You're no match for me, and therefore no match for Blade either. With me accompanying you, you won't throw your life away in vain."
Jingliu's tone was utterly flat, devoid of emotion, as if stating a simple fact.
Yanqing's brow furrowed, his eyes sharpening as he clearly took issue with her words.
He scoffed. "Big Sister, how can you judge our skill before our blades have even clashed? I advise you not to underestimate my sword!"
"Besides, whether I'm a match for Blade is my concern alone. You should be worrying about whether you can stomach the prison food in The Shackling Prison."
"Oh, almost forgot." Yanqing slapped his forehead.
"Even the food in The Shackling Prison is better than what you eat," Yanqing retorted, throwing Jingliu's earlier words back at her with a sharp taunt. "I imagine it'll fill the belly of a 'wandering swordsman' like you."
Jingliu's perpetually impassive expression finally flickered.
She sighed. "What exactly has Jing Yuan been teaching you?" she asked, her tone tinged with exasperation. "He's truly spoiled you, filling your head with nothing but empty chatter..."
Jingliu rested a hand on her hip, her voice laced with resignation.
"Ahem, a teacher bears blame for a student's lack of discipline," Lumina interjected, having overheard their exchange. "Yanqing, you'd best watch your tongue."
"Careful, my dear companion," Lumina continued, her voice dripping with mock concern. "Or my close friend might sneak into your esteemed Master's house in the middle of the night, tie him up, and give his backside a thorough whipping with her sword..."
Jingliu: ...
Though her face remained serene, her slightly trembling fingers betrayed the truth: she was suppressing an overwhelming urge to punch Lumina into pieces.
"Lady Lumina, even as an honored guest of the Luofu, you have no right to slander or defame the General."
Unlike Jingliu's composure, Yanqing couldn't tolerate Lumina's disparaging remarks about the General. He immediately frowned and issued a stern warning.
"Alright, alright, I was wrong. I shouldn't have spoken ill of the Luofu General," Lumina said with a forced smile, raising her hands in mock surrender, as if "frightened" by Yanqing's fierce expression.
"Hmph." Unimpressed, Yanqing didn't press further, letting out a disdainful snort.
A flying sword materialized in his hand, its gleaming blade pointed at Jingliu. It seemed he intended to vent the frustration caused by Lumina on her.
"I don't have time for your nonsense," he declared. "Choose: will you come to the Shackling Prison peacefully, or will I drag you there after defeating you?"
The oppressive aura of a Cloud Knight surged from Yanqing, enveloping Jingliu.
Hmm... This pressure seemed utterly ineffective against her.
Jingliu remained unfazed, her face impassive as she stared at the gleaming blade before her.
"I have no desire to turn Cloud Knights against each other," she said calmly. "How about this..."
"Let's do as Miss Lumina suggests," Jingliu said, pausing slightly before continuing, "We'll hold a contest using the Abominations that swarm the Luofu as our targets. Whoever's sword is faster and slays more Abominations wins. What do you say?"
Jingliu raised her hand, proposing the challenge to Yanqing.
"Why should I agree to that?" Yanqing scoffed, stepping forward to bring his sword even closer to Jingliu.
"Because I'm Lumina's... best friend. Isn't that enough?"
Lumina: o(* ̄▽ ̄*)ブ
Though Jingliu hesitated mid-sentence, she still managed to say it, much to Lumina's delight. It was just a shame no one had recorded it...
From Yanqing's words, Jingliu gathered that Lumina was likely an honored guest on the Luofu. Coupled with her occasional strange comments and attempts to ingratiate herself, Jingliu wondered what her motives were.
Regardless of the reason, in this tense situation, Jingliu gratefully accepted Lumina's goodwill. With Lumina's backing, Yanqing would have to think twice before resorting to force against her.
"Um..."
As Jingliu had anticipated, Yanqing fell silent upon hearing her proposal.
Jingliu remained calm and waited patiently.
"What if I win this duel?" Yanqing finally asked, looking up at her after a moment of contemplation.
"I will, of course, honor my wager," Jingliu replied, a faint, almost imperceptible smile curving her lips. "I'll surrender myself to the Shackling Prison for judgment and punishment."
"But if I win," she continued, "you must share Blade's whereabouts with me. Do we have an agreement?"
"Oh-ho-ho, my dear bestie~" Lumina chimed in, her face beaming. "If you give me a sweet smile and call me 'Sister Lumina,' I'll take you to meet that madman right now!" She winked at Jingliu.
Jingliu: ...
Ignoring Lumina, Jingliu kept her gaze fixed on Yanqing.
Yanqing didn't hesitate. After a quick glance at Lumina, he turned back to Jingliu. "The Cloud Knights don't trade official duties for personal gain. Besides, you can't win."
He shook his head, utterly convinced that this "wandering swordsman" stood no chance against him, Xianzhou's foremost swordsman.
"Oh? Why? Are you so certain I'm inferior?" Jingliu's smile widened, now clearly visible.
"No, I don't presume you're inferior to me," Yanqing said, shaking his head. His sword aura suddenly surged forth. "I simply believe your sword is no match for mine!"
"Heh," Jingliu chuckled softly, whether amused by Yanqing's words or something else entirely. "Child, I admire your confidence."
"But isn't it true that 'one can't judge superiority before the blade is drawn'?" she countered.
Jingliu's smile vanished as quickly as it had appeared, replaced by her usual impassive expression, as if indifferent to everything around her.
"Ahem, let me say something," Lumina interjected, noticing Jingliu and Yanqing were about to forget she was even there. "Since you're determined to spar, to ensure fairness and impartiality, I'll act as the judge!"
Jingliu ignored Lumina's suggestion, glanced around, and then turned back to Yanqing. "It seems the Abominations here have been mostly cleared out. Shall we find another place?"
"Very well," Yanqing replied, also ignoring Lumina and nodding in agreement.
"?"
Watching the two completely disregard her, Lumina's pretty face crumpled in dismay.
Lumina: Not cool!