"Now, let's tally up your battle damage for the merit allocation."
"Jing Yuan: nearly unscathed, no significant losses."
"Jingliu: minor injuries. Though covered in blood, DNA analysis confirms the blood isn't hers. No severe injuries, classified as minor."
"Baiheng: some superficial wounds, no significant external or internal injuries, minimal damage."
"Yingxing: no visible injuries, but a fracture in the right big toe, likely from striking a hard object."
"Dan Feng… moderate concussion? Hm… self-healing, classified as minor. Multiple bruises, likely from being struck by multiple people, self-healing, classified as minor. Suspected Abundance creature involvement. Multiple handprints on body, likely from humanoid Abundance creatures…"
The record-keeper jotted down the group's information and left, marveling inwardly. No wonder they're called the High-Cloud Quintet—even after taking down Jidu Mirage, their losses were this minimal.
Dan Feng was the most injured, so he must be the team's patriarch, taking hits for his comrades… truly touching.
What the record-keeper didn't notice was the look of humiliation and resentment on Dan Feng's tear-streaked face.
…
After this battle, the name "High-Cloud Quintet" resounded far and wide. Everyone knew the Xianzhou Luofu had produced a generation of unparalleled prodigies.
It was the Luofu's most glorious era, with five once-in-a-millennium talents emerging at the same time.
A pair of calloused, male hands crafted exquisite creations, forging weapons that became legendary across the Xianzhou.
A pair of bandaged, female hands wielded a black sword that cut through iron like butter, dominating the Luofu and vying for the title of Sword Champion.
A pair of dragon-scaled, male hands brandished a spear in battle and manipulated water during rest, commanding dragons and charging across battlefields.
A pair of female hands gripped a starskiff's controls, piloting with lightning speed, soaring through the skies. Even when flames engulfed the heavens, she could break through the smoke and return to the battlefield.
A pair of male hands moved chess pieces. Though rarely on the front lines, on the holographic sand table, with a casual laugh, he made Abundance creatures vanish in a puff of smoke. An unremarkable move could, at a critical moment, ensure his friends' safety.
…
"The 'High-Cloud Quintet'… so it wasn't just a story…"
After hearing Jing Yuan's tale, Yanqing sat in a daze for a while before murmuring.
As a swordsman who'd dreamed of joining the Cloud Knights since childhood, he knew the High-Cloud Quintet's story by heart. But he never imagined that his laid-back master, whom he'd met by chance, was one of its protagonists.
"And… what happened after?"
Guinaifen hesitated, asking cautiously. "No offense, Old Jing, but we've known you for so long and never seen those friends you mentioned."
"And the current Vidyadhara Dragon Sovereign, isn't it…"
Little Gui didn't finish, as the facts suggested the five's story might not have ended well.
Otherwise, how could Jing Yuan, who once dreamed of joining the Cloud Knights to protect his home, end up a jobless vagrant scraping by with her?
If he had so many friends, even if they didn't stick together daily, they'd at least meet up now and then, right?
"After?"
Jing Yuan's face grew wistful. "No banquet lasts forever."
"It's like a movie—when the credits roll, whether you're a character or an audience member, the story ends."
"That's probably why life is always full of regrets. The word 'regret' is hard to avoid."
At this, the other three showed expressions of sympathy. Jing Yuan's words made it clear: for whatever reason, it seemed only the 800-year-old Xianzhou elder before them had a relatively peaceful end.
"The good news is, my friends are all still alive."
Just as the mood grew oppressively heavy, Jing Yuan's sudden words broke the tension.
"…?"
Bailu, whose eyes were brimming with tears, blinked, then let out a long sigh. "Thank goodness, a happy ending. You scared me to death—I thought they were all…"
Smack!
Guinaifen slapped Jing Yuan's head, exasperated. "Are you trying to kill me, Old Jing? You set up all that heavy atmosphere, making me think about giving you paid leave, and then you pull this?"
"You're doing the boulder-smashing-on-chest routine tomorrow as punishment!"
"What? No, come on… I told you guys a long story. Doesn't that count for something?"
"You deserve it!"
"…!"
Yanqing sat quietly, watching the lively atmosphere at the table without joining in.
As Jing Yuan's disciple, he could sense the bitterness in his master's words.
Even when he said, "They're all still alive."
"…?"
Yanqing stayed silent for a long time, saying nothing. Regardless, he knew Jing Yuan had carried on and made it to today.
…
After a hearty meal (no one drank alcohol, just juice), they went their separate ways. Jing Yuan walked alone down a quiet path, a bitter feeling rising in his heart.
At the table, he hadn't finished his thoughts.
The good news was, they were all still alive.
But… were the ones alive today still the same people from back then?
The answer was obvious.
Yet the heavens seemed to take pity on this old man who'd made it to the end. In his twilight years, he could still sit at a lively table and recount old stories.
—"Burp~ I'm stuffed. March, Dan Heng, you two slow down, I… I can't keep up."
A familiar voice came from nearby. Three figures—one gray, one pink, one teal—walked side by side ahead, their backs to Jing Yuan. The gray figure in the middle had a hand on each of the others' shoulders, steps unsteady.
"Who told you to order so much meat? If Dan Heng hadn't skipped dinner, it'd all have gone to waste."
"Hey, don't say it like that! The hotpot was just too good! Besides, I still ate a third of it!"
"Do you want to count how many of us there are?"
"Ugh, whatever! You two are combat types, I'm the brains. My stomach's smaller, so it's normal you can eat more. Look, my belly's all bloated!"
"Let me see."
"Hey, hey, hey! Wait, March, we're in public!"
"Oh, right. Let's wait till we're back in the room."
"…Can you two be a bit more discreet? It's not exactly a secret, but you don't have to be so blatant. You'll corrupt the kids."
"Slander! Dan Heng, you're slandering me! I'm suing you for defamation!"
"…!"
The three figures swayed along, supporting each other, chatting and laughing as they grew smaller in Jing Yuan's view until they vanished.
"…Hahaha."
Jing Yuan gazed at their retreating backs and suddenly laughed.
The most precious thing in the galaxy was this.
Like the High-Cloud Quintet of old.
Like the Astral Express of now.