"Not bad for someone your age," Jingliu remarked coldly as she slowly approached the unconscious Yanqing lying on the ground. She knelt down, retrieved the record hanging from his waist, and produced a slip of paper. After scribbling a line on it, she tossed it beside Yanqing and turned to leave.
"Hey, hey, hey, my dear bestie! Did you forget someone?" A woman's voice called out from behind.
Jingliu paused momentarily but continued walking without acknowledging the interruption.
Seeing this, Lumina hurried to catch up, falling into step beside her and gazing intently at Jingliu's breathtakingly beautiful face. "Hey, Little Jingliu," Lumina said, "can't you lighten up a bit? How about a smile? I bet you'd look stunning when you smile."
Jingliu completely ignored Lumina's words, her gaze fixed straight ahead like a puppet moving only according to its strings.
Seeing this, Lumina smiled and shook her head, offering no further explanation as she quietly walked beside Jingliu.
The silence between them stretched until Jingliu finally spoke.
"What exactly is your purpose?" Jingliu stopped, her brow furrowing slightly as she turned to face Lumina.
Lumina chuckled, shrugged, and replied, "Didn't I mention it before? I want to see Blade too."
"You shouldn't meet him," Jingliu warned softly, shaking her head. "He can't withstand the aura you emanate. It would drive him mad."
Yingxing... no, Blade now, had been plunged into immortality after coming into contact with the power of another Abundance Emanator. The torment he endured had likely driven his hatred for that Emanator deep into his very soul.
Now, if Lumina, another Abundance Emanator, were to appear before him, it would only reignite that deep-seated hatred, transforming him into a monster who would see her as his sworn enemy.
"Mm, I know," Lumina replied.
To Jingliu's surprise, Lumina remained her usual gentle, smiling self, seemingly unfazed by the warning.
Sensing Jingliu's puzzled gaze, Lumina added awkwardly:
"Because I've met him before," Lumina said. "He chased me around with his sword."
Jingliu: ...
Seeing Lumina's slightly embarrassed expression, Jingliu fell silent.
"Since you know, you should stop," Jingliu said. "It's better for you, for me, for him, for everyone."
With those final words, Jingliu resumed walking.
"What's the big deal?" Lumina asked, keeping pace. "If he loses control, we'll just lock him up."
"You..." Jingliu started, then stopped, as if about to say something but reconsidering. "Never mind."
"Do as you please..."
Jingliu had wanted to explain that when Blade went berserk, he lost all reason, unable to think, hear, or speak. But then she realized that whether Blade could think or speak made no difference to her or anyone else.
If that's the case, then it doesn't matter...
The Cloud Knights of the Xianzhou... It was time for them to bid farewell to each other.
Jingliu gazed up at the familiar yet distant sky of the Luofu. An endless stream of thoughts pressed down on her, leaving her breathless.
"As a physician, I must offer you some advice," Lumina said. "Keeping such a stern face all the time is bad for your health. A little smile now and then can help ease your mind, you know♪"
Whether Lumina had glimpsed Jingliu's inner thoughts, was acting on a physician's intuition, or simply wanted to see her smile, she delivered her medical recommendation.
Jingliu merely glanced at her indifferently, offering no reply.
She and I are similar, but ultimately, we are not the same person...
Jingliu sighed softly, ignoring the presence beside her as she strolled through the Luofu's lands, as if savoring the moment or reliving memories.
I don't know what this woman's purpose is, but... it doesn't really matter now, does it?
Returning to this familiar yet distant place, perhaps she could allow herself a brief moment of respite.
Lumina's appearance had prompted Jingliu to slightly alter her plans.
As Jingliu gazed at the familiar yet foreign scenery before her, the corners of her lips twitched upward almost imperceptibly. The next moment, she suppressed the movement completely, as if nothing had happened—a fleeting expression too subtle for most to notice.
"Hey! Did you just smile?"
Lumina, blessed with wisdom, beauty, and strength, naturally noticed Jingliu's subtle movement. A hint of delight surfaced on her face as she asked, "Did you just smile?"
"No," Jingliu replied flatly.
"Liar! You were definitely smiling just now!" Lumina retorted, unconvinced. She pulled out her phone, aimed the camera at Jingliu's face, and coaxed, "Smile again! Just one more smile! I want to use it as my phone wallpaper♪"
"..."
"Just one! Please!" Lumina persisted, undeterred by Jingliu's unwavering silence.
Ignoring Lumina's impudent request, Jingliu quickened her pace. But as she brushed past Lumina, an unintentional smile flickered at the corner of her lips—a smile even she hadn't noticed.
Seizing the moment, Lumina snapped a photo with lightning reflexes.
Click.
The sound of the camera shutter echoed through the air as Jingliu's smile was permanently captured within Lumina's phone...