Lord Imbibitor Lunae seemed to think of something, and took out a letter from somewhere.
He had just opened his mouth to say something, but was interrupted by the Marshal's words.
The Marshal said, "Next time, there's no need to spend so much. Anything simple will do."
Then, his gaze, which had lingered on the envelope in Lord Imbibitor Lunae's hand, turned toward the night sky as he spoke softly, "Lord Imbibitor Lunae, don't miss this once-a-year beautiful sight."
The Dragon Lord nodded slightly, silently putting away the letter in his hand.
That letter was from Yubie.
Yubie was the very same Dragon Lord who had first made a contract with the Marshal.
This Dragon Lord, along with the other Dragon Lords of the Vidyadhara clan, had once made a pact with the Xianzhou Marshal in Luofu, to seal away the plague of longevity.
Lord Imbibitor Lunae was unlike the other Dragon Lords; he had once been a close friend of the Xianzhou Marshal.
This was something even Lord Imbibitor Lunae's attendants and the Vidyadhara dragon masters often mentioned.
It seemed they had once made some kind of promise. But alas, since he inherited the memories of countless generations of Lord Imbibitor Lunae through dreams, he could no longer recall it clearly.
The old pact made with the Xianzhou alliance, Lord Imbibitor Lunae would never forget it.
The Xianzhou had shown great kindness to the Vidyadhara clan, and the Dragon Lords had always kept that in mind. They would, naturally, uphold their promise.
However, what of the agreement between the first Lord Imbibitor Lunae and the Xianzhou Marshal? Would it still continue?
Seeing the Marshal deliberately change the subject, Lord Imbibitor Lunae already knew what the other was thinking.
The answer was no.
A covenant forgotten by one side can never be continued.
Whether they grew close or distant, it would still fall under the eyes of the Xianzhou generals and the Vidyadhara clan.
Every move, every word, they all affected the relationship between the Xianzhou and the Vidyadhara.
For people of their standing, many things, many thoughts, didn't need to be said aloud.
To speak too plainly would only add unnecessary sorrow.
Lord Imbibitor Lunae stepped forward a few paces, keeping a distance neither near nor far from the Marshal, silently watching the grand fireworks display.
Dragon Lord stood by and watched.
He saw the once notorious, pleasure-seeking General of Luofu, known for his fierce temperament, now smiling brightly, speaking gently, and humbly seeking the Marshal's approval.
Zero skillfully coaxed everyone. After coaxing Daiyang, the others grew restless, waiting their turn for his attention.
By the time Zero had comforted everyone one by one, the fireworks were nearly over.
When they left Luofu, Zero did not take the antique gift that Lord Imbibitor Lunae had bought at auction for him.
He wore a flawless smile and said to Daiyang,
"Such a precious and thoughtful gift, it would not withstand a bumpy journey. Better to leave it here in Luofu."
Receiving this command, Daiyang beamed with pride, showing off to the others who hadn't received any orders.
She summoned her subordinates to carry Lord Imbibitor Lunae's gift back to her own residence.
In all of Luofu, was there a place safer than Daiyang's estate?
Naturally not.
Daiyang, basking in the joy of being needed by the Marshal, completely forgot to ponder the meaning behind her superior's words.
'Why, after receiving Lord Imbibitor Lunae's gift, had the Marshal not brought it back to Yaoqing?'
By the time Daiyang realized this question, it was already long after.
And the fleeting doubts that had once crossed her mind began, one by one, to find their answers.
How long had it been?
Long enough that Marty, the one who once bore the name "Martyr", had achieved new success in the field of science. Marty had preserved his own consciousness, extending his life.
Long enough that some Xianzhou people began to forget the Marshal's great deeds.
Long enough that even Daiyang herself began showing symptoms of demonic corruption.
When Abundance leaves struggled to sprout from her flesh, a wave of unprecedented fear rose in Daiyang's heart.
As the General of Luofu, her blade had reaped countless enemy lives.
Naturally, she was not afraid of death.
In a flash of lightning, Daiyang thought of that Thanksgiving Festival.
The Marshal had come to Luofu, met Lord Imbibitor Lunae once, and after that, they never met again in private.
Only when the Marshal met with the five Dragon Lords of the Vidyadhara clan would he see Lord Imbibitor Lunae again.
Daiyang took a deep breath.
She wasn't afraid of death, what she feared was that no one would remain by the Marshal's side.
In silence, she drew the sword she always carried and cut off the Abundance leaves, flesh and all.
Staring at the slowly healing wound, she couldn't help but drift into memories.
At first, Daiyang and her comrades had been chosen as personal guards to General Yaoqing.
Their parents had repeatedly reminded them to respect the General.
But she and her comrades hadn't taken it seriously. They had already heard many stories, how approachable that person was.
They had laughed and joked, without any decorum, saying to the then-General, "Hello there, General!"
That person had simply smiled and nodded.
As time passed, they were truly won over by the Marshal's character and spirit.
But, they were short-lived beings. How could they accompany him forever?
Wanting to continue serving the Marshal, Daiyang and her comrades had unhesitatingly eaten the fruit of the "Ancestor of the Longevity Plague," gaining immortality.
Thanks to that, Daiyang survived countless perils, brushing shoulders with death time and again.
Even when cut open by the enemy, they never worried; as long as they put their organs back in place, the flesh would knit itself together again.
Their wounds healed so quickly that they never even needed rest, just a brief recovery before returning to battle.
Daiyang and her comrades took pride in this, proud of their superior bodies and their glorious achievements.
The population explosion brought by immortality was only temporary.
The Xianzhou conquered countless planets, enough for their people to migrate and settle. As their territory grew, the Xianzhou no longer fixated on reproduction, but turned their eyes toward the stars.
Yet, much later, the self-healing power and long lives they had once been so proud of became the Xianzhou's nightmare.
Other Xianzhou who fell into demonic corruption could end it all with one sword through the abdomen.
But Daiyang and her comrades, who had gained immortality before the Xianzhou even encountered the "Ancestor of the Longevity Plague", could no longer die like others.
They could only anchor themselves to the Marshal, their only remaining tie to this world.
Yet, unlike the Marshal, they did not possess his extraordinary willpower.
Once, Daiyang and her comrades had sworn to serve him forever. They feared his all-knowing, all-powerful mind, feared that he might one day abandon them.
So Daiyang had asked on everyone's behalf, "Will there ever come a day when you grow tired of us?"
The Marshal had promised that he would remain on the Xianzhou until the end of the universe.
But, alas, those who made that vow with him could not keep their own promise.
One of them had even died by the Marshal's own hand.
Some had rejoiced, thinking the Marshal could end the "curse of immortality." But then came the rebuke from the strategist.
They realized, how cruel it was to force the Marshal to kill his own subordinates.
And now, even Daiyang, who had once asked that question, could no longer walk beside him.
All those fleeting doubts that had once crossed her mind, at that moment, they all became clear.
Why had her comrades chosen to die beneath the giant statue? Why had Chaoyan left Yaoqing, running to the edge of the universe?
The reason was simple, they were afraid the Marshal would grieve for them.
Afraid he would see them at their ugliest, most desperate, most pitiful.
They had seen too many dying enemies, stripped of dignity in their final moments, how could they bear for the Marshal to see them like that?
They were Cloud Knights, warriors who had conquered countless worlds for the Xianzhou. They could not, would not, show such disgrace before the Marshal.
Just like a cat that senses its own death approaching, it leaves home quietly, hides in some lonely corner, and dies unseen.
Lost in thought, Daiyang didn't notice her subordinate entering the room until the door creaked open.
The subordinate froze, staring in shock. Daiyang, slow to realize, lifted her hand to her face, and only then noticed that she was crying.
She turned to her hesitant subordinate, showing the same gentle smile as always.
But as she smiled, she suddenly remembered the Marshal's flawless expression from long ago, and couldn't hold it in anymore. She broke into tears.
So that's how it was.
So that's how it really was.
There had long been no turning back.
Back when she learned of Chaoyan's death, at his funeral, at that Thanksgiving Festival, the Marshal had worn that same expression.
But neither she nor the others had noticed.
They had always seen him as a god, an omnipotent being.
Whether battling the Swarm or the Mara-struck, or cleansing calamities from the cosmos…
The Marshal had always seemed godlike, foreseeing every danger, protecting everyone.
The Xianzhou had long since become used to bringing all their troubles to him.
Because they knew, if it was the Marshal, he would make their wishes come true.
And so, like leeches, the Xianzhou people kept feeding on him, draining his blood and strength, always demanding more.
But the Marshal, he was human. Not a god.
A god on a high pedestal does not grieve for dead believers. But a person does.
Daiyang felt sick, sickened by herself, and by the Xianzhou who had grown complacent in peace yet forgotten the Marshal's sacrifices.
Crying, she waved for her subordinate to leave.
Then, Daiyang summoned her deity.
She gazed up at the vast phantom form and, choking on her words, said, "Reignbow Arbiter… I have never prayed to you before…"
Daiyang thought of her long list of glorious achievements, the many planets she had conquered.
"I know I have committed countless sins, taken countless lives, I am not worthy to pray to you. But please, hear me out… Please… protect the Marshal…"
When one is trapped, with nowhere left to turn, all one can do is pray to the gods.
"All I wish is for the Marshal to live safely and peacefully, to reach the end of his days in happiness."
She dared not ask for more, only that the Marshal, who had always answered the Xianzhou people's every plea, might live in peace, and die naturally, content.
Soon, the phantom answered.
The voice of Reignbow Arbiter was distant, ethereal.
"I will."
Hearing the god's reply, Daiyang no longer cried.
She began preparing to choose her successor for Luofu.
No matter what, she could not leave the Marshal, or the Xianzhou, a mess to clean up.
Once the successor was ready and could handle Luofu's affairs, Daiyang took her annual leave, and left.
She went to Yaoqing, determined to see the Marshal one last time before dying.
At the Marshal's residence, they chatted casually.
They talked about how people could live better lives.
Zero smiled and said, "If people could recognize early on that they're just ordinary, life would be much easier."
Daiyang instinctively shook her head. "Why would you think that way, sir?"
Zero raised his hand and gently pinched the back of her neck.
Daiyang, a seasoned Cloud Knight who had survived countless battles, was always wary of others approaching her, especially such a vulnerable spot.
But before the Marshal, she felt no alarm, only deep sorrow.
Because the Marshal already knew.
Zero looked at her, and in his calm eyes, usually so still, there flickered an emotion Daiyang could not name.
He smiled again, that same flawless, unreadable smile.
"If I weren't ordinary… if I were truly a god… then I wouldn't have to watch you all die. So, why not let me do it myself?"
Daiyang bit back her tears, shaking her head hard.
Zero coaxed gently, his voice soft, "At least it would be easier. It wouldn't hurt as much, would it?"
Daiyang could no longer hold back. Tears streamed down as she choked out, "But that would be far too cruel… for you."
Zero said nothing.
His subordinates shouldn't die in lonely, forgotten corners.
They should have lived healthy, peaceful lives, died of old age, buried in the Forest of Loyalty, honored and remembered by future generations.
Zero withdrew his hand from her neck and handed her a tissue.
This time, Daiyang said no goodbye. She took the tissue and turned to leave.
Zero did not stop her.
He lifted his sleeve, drew his blade, and without hesitation cut away the Abundance leaves and flesh.
Then he took up his pen, staring at the documents before him for a long time, until the ink from his pen pooled into a dark blot. Only then did he set it down.
Looking around, Zero searched for a long time but couldn't find the cat Chaoyan had given him.
Before Chaoyan's accident, they had met one last time.
His subordinate had chatted cheerfully with him as always, gifting him a cat, saying the cat would keep him company.
After talking about the cat, Chaoyan had asked, ("May I braid your hair?")
Zero, not understanding why, had declined.
Chaoyan had looked surprised. Zero hadn't asked why, before he could, Chaoyan had smiled and changed the subject.
Before leaving, his subordinate had looked at him steadily and said softly, ("…This way is good too. The Marshal is just fine as he is.")
After Chaoyan's death, a new Yaoqing General took his place.
The new general found that Chaoyan had left behind many cats and dogs, and plenty of fast-breeding hamsters, and came to see Zero again.
Without hesitation, Zero took them all in.
He was too busy to care for them himself, so he hired people to do it.
Of all the pets in his home, only the cat Chaoyan had given him stayed by his side.
That cat always loved to stick close to him. But today, it was nowhere to be found.
Zero left his residence, walking the streets of Yaoqing, searching everywhere.
He walked for a long, long time, past two blocks, before finally hearing a faint meow.
The cat was surrounded by several children, five or six years old.
The children had gathered protectively around it.
Zero softly called the cat's name. When the cat responded, the children stepped aside and handed it back to him.
As Zero held the cat and turned to leave, one of the children said, "Big brother, don't be mad at your cat… It ran away because of you!"
"It knew it didn't have much time left. It didn't want you to see it looking pitiful. It didn't want to make you sad."