"I did it! I did it!"
Jingliu was overjoyed as she saw the result of her strike.
Now, she was convinced that Lucian had not lied to her—daily hair-shedding training really could make her stronger!
Especially in terms of aura—with aura, she could become even stronger.
"Master, let's spar again! I've made progress now. Let's see how far the gap is between us." Jingliu eagerly raised her sword, wanting to compare herself against her master again.
Lucian rolled his eyes, stood up from the rocking chair, grabbed the wooden sword beside him, and then casually swung his sword.
*Thud!*
Jingliu instantly knelt like before.
'Our gap's really this big? Even after improving, I still have to kneel...' Jingliu felt a bit disheartened, but quickly regained her confidence. 'It must be the difference in aura! I have to learn a stronger aura!'
Lucian had no idea what kind of epiphany she was having on her own, but either way, once she was on the battlefield later and fought against numerous Abominations of Abundance, with her great talent, she would level up naturally.
However, what he did not expect was that ever since he had taught her the meaning of 'aura,' the Xianzhou Cangcheng had gained a strange swordswoman acting as a vigilante.
During dark, windy nights, whenever murders or arson occurred, there would always be a long, white-haired, beautiful girl standing atop a high perch.
"At the peak of the sword, standing proud over the world—wherever I exist, the heavens shall follow."
Holding a sword in her right hand, with her back turned to the criminals, the girl would always recite lines like this in a cold, indifferent voice.
"What a strong presence!"
"Yeah, she's a tough one..."
Meanwhile, whenever the criminals got distracted enough to comment on her words, they would be frozen solid, rendered immobile, and captured before they could even react.
Needless to say, such an appearance and entrance—who else could it be but Jingliu?
Every time she fought someone, she always insisted on a round of theatrics, reciting some mysterious lines before actually striking, which made the Xianzhou Cangcheng's citizens truly understand what 'aura' meant.
Years later, some in the Xianzhou Cangcheng even began imitating her—always putting on a show before a fight.
===
""In this life, I care not for right or wrong, only life and death.""
One day, while Lucian was out buying vegetables, he saw two local boys about to fight, standing back-to-back as they recited the same line.
"…"
Hearing such an edgy and cringeworthy line, Lucian couldn't help but smile helplessly.
As expected of the most prosperous Xianzhou ship, the locals were sharp-minded, grasping the concept of 'aura farming' without needing any guidance. Even he had to admit that when it came to showing off while saying words like those so confidently, even he had to admit defeat.
All he could say was that the meme cultures from his original world were truly harmful to this innocent world.
Little did he know that his casual act of teaching Jingliu what 'aura' was would one day spark a wave of flamboyant displays at the Luminary Wardance Ceremony.
===
*Rumble—!*
As Lucian strolled back home, thunder rolled across the darkening sky, and heavy clouds pressed low.
Just as he stepped inside the house, the rain that had been building up in the heavy, darkening clouds finally began to fall—starting with a fine, rustling patter against the tall glazed roof tiles of the study and the broad banana leaves outside the window.
Soon, the drops merged into streams, weaving a curtain of water that hung between sky and earth with a constant rushing sound.
'Jingliu must be in the study again, looking up cool quotes.'
Lucian didn't need to guess—he already knew Jingliu's habits well.
It was only natural, considering they had lived together for seven years already.
He even knew the exact dates of her monthly cycle and would wrap her up with the bandage created by Godly Bandage without any reservations.
He could even predict that she was currently on tiptoe, reaching for the book of 'Aura Farming Quotes' he had made in the past upon her request.
Lucian gently pushed open the study door and stepped inside.
Jingliu's study, once her late father's domain, was spacious, lined with ebony shelves crammed with countless books and scrolls, their overlapping shadows stretching across the floor.
At this moment, Jingliu, dressed in a simple moon-white hanfu-style gown—the soft fabric tracing the elegant lines of her slender figure—stood before one of the taller shelves that forced her to look up.
Her head was slightly tilted back, and as he had expected, her gaze was fixed on the innermost corner of the top shelf, where the book of 'Aura Farming Quotes' rested.
In the stillness, the warm yellow lamplight illuminated only half of her face, outlining her straight nose and graceful lips, while the other half was shrouded in shadow, her long lashes casting delicate silhouettes beneath her eyes.
Her feet balanced on an old wooden ladder—one her mother had used and kept ever since. Although not tall, the ladder still required her to stand on tiptoe and stretch her arm fully to reach the top shelf.
Before long, her fingertips brushed the deep-blue cloth-bound book, but just as she touched it, the ladder gave a faint creak under her uneven weight and began to wobble.
"Ah..."
A short gasp caught in Jingliu's throat as her body instinctively stiffened, her balance faltering, her raised arm pulling back reflexively to find stability.
"Careful."
A deep, calm voice suddenly sounded almost against her ears—steady and reassuring—before a gentle but firm force supported her waist and shoulder from behind, pulling her back from the brink of falling.
In that instant, a familiar scent enveloped her nose—clean, crisp, with a trace of tranquil greenery.
Jingliu instantly knew it was her master's scent.
Her heart tightened as if gripped by an invisible hand, then suddenly released as she felt the strong warmth of the presence behind her, seeping through the thin fabric of her clothes.
Jingliu turned sharply and found herself staring straight into Lucian's golden eyes, just inches away.
In the dim light, her light red eyes appeared especially deep, yet still reflected her faint embarrassment with clarity.
"Master?"
Jingliu's calm voice now carried the tone of a grown young woman, no longer the childishness of an eleven-year-old, yet the growing redness in her cheeks and ears betrayed her turbulent heart.
"A swordmaster, yet so quick to nearly fall?"
Lucian teased casually, looking at his disciple with a faint, knowing smile.
Jingliu was too close—close enough to see each distinct lash, close enough to see her lightly pressed lips. Her warm breath even brushed faintly against his neck, sending a subtle tingle down his spine.
"Wearing a dress today, huh..." Lucian remarked, his gaze resting on the dress his disciple wore. "Makes sense you'd have a hard time moving around."
"Did you think I'd fall on purpose, Master?" Jingliu gently pushed him away and turned her back to him, hiding her lips that curled ever so slightly, unseen by anyone.
Lucian's eyes lingered on her back—on the fuller curves, the tall figure, the slender waist.
All of it spoke clearly that his dear disciple had truly grown up—the girl of eleven had become a woman.
"Well, the dress looks beautiful." Lucian said sincerely, a gentle smile on his face. "It really suits your beautiful figure perfectly."
Upon hearing this, Jingliu chuckled softly, shyly tugging at the hem of her dress before glancing toward the dark clouds outside.
"Master, why haven't you officially taken up the position of Arbiter-General yet?" Jingliu asked, suddenly changing the subject.
"Didn't I say it seven years ago? You're more important than that position." Lucian replied calmly, raising an eyebrow.
"What if I want to join the Cloud Knights and go to the battlefield?"
"I'll personally lead the Cloud Knights as their general then."
Jingliu saw the unwavering look in Lucian's eyes as he answered without hesitation—his straightforward, almost instant answer left no room for doubt.
For a moment, Jingliu was lost in thought.
In truth, she deeply wanted to join the Cloud Knights—to hone her swordsmanship, to grow stronger through real battle—yet she could not bear the thought of leaving her master.
Caught between longing and attachment, hearing that her master was willing to accompany her to the battlefield filled her heart with warmth and joy.
"Alright, Master. I've decided." Jingliu gazed straight into Lucian's eyes, her expression solemn. "From now on, I'll be your right hand, becoming the sharpest sword in your hand."
===
[A bonus chapter for every 500 Power Stones.]
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