Since the day of the confrontation between Phantylia and X, the Antimatter Legion had not come to trouble the Whistling Flame Caravan again.
Not only that, but the communications that had previously been blocked were finally restored, allowing Tingyun to contact the Sky-Faring Commission and report everything that had happened to Yukong.
Upon learning of the caravan's ordeal, Yukong quickly dispatched the Cloud Knights to intercept and escort them along their current route.
Within just a few days, several Cloud Knight warships from Luofu had formed an escort fleet surrounding the Starship of the Whistling Flame Caravan, escorting it safely.
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"This time, even the valiant Yanqing himself has come for our protection... with you and our benefactors here, I can finally set my heart at ease for the rest of the journey."
At the point of rendezvous, Tingyun smiled gently at the spirited young man standing before her Yanqing.
"Please rest assured, Miss Tingyun. From here on, we will handle your escort."
Yanqing gave her a formal military salute, though with his youthful face and air, it made him look somewhat like a little grown-up.
Yanqing then turned to the man standing beside Tingyun. The one who had accompanied her, Daichi.
"This must be the guest Miss Tingyun mentioned in her transmission the one who protected the caravan three times and even repelled Lord Ravager" Yanqing sized him up.
From his appearance, he seemed about twenty, handsome enough but Yanqing couldn't sense any aura of a martial artist or even someone walking upon a Path.
How… could someone like this repel a Lord Ravager?
Daichi nodded politely. "Hello."
[Nice to meet you, please take care of us.]
X added through the terminal at Daichi's waist.
Yanqing blinked in surprise and turned toward the jade token hanging from Daichi's waist.
Did… that voice just come from the jade token?
Seeing his confusion, Tingyun stepped forward to explain Daichi and X's situation in detail.
"I see," Yanqing said, a little astonished.
"It seems I've been rather ignorant."
He looked curiously at the terminal on Daichi's waist. In all his years in the Luofu, even with the experiences gained alongside his master, he had never seen a being that could reside within a jade token and merge with another to become a powerful warrior.
That was new even for him.
Could this be another invention from one of the geniuses of the Genius Society?
"I am Yanqing, Cloud Knight Lieutenant and the leader of this escort team. From here, we will safeguard the Whistling Flame Caravan."
Daichi smiled. "Then I'll leave it to you, young general."
"Ge— ahem, general is too much of a compliment," Yanqing replied, scratching his cheek a bit embarrassed.
"I'm only a lieutenant, far from deserving that title."
Tingyun laughed softly beside them.
"But as the general's disciple, it's only a matter of time before young Yanqing takes up his mentor's mantle."
"Though," she teased with a fan in hand, "when that time comes, you'll still have to face a rival from the Divination Commission."
Yanqing frowned slightly, remembering a certain pink-haired "lady" presiding there.
"That Diviner can rest easy, I have no interest in the title of general. My goal is to become Sword Champion, even Sword Master of the Xianzhou Alliance!"
The title of Swordmaster, the strongest swordsman across the Xianzhou Alliance was Yanqing's ultimate goal.
Of course, he wouldn't refuse to share in the general's burdens to lighten his load. The general had poured so much effort into him, it was only right that Yanqing should someday repay that faith.
"The Sword Master, huh?" Tingyun smiled.
"Then young Yanqing will have to work hard indeed. I've heard that over in Zhuming, a new prodigy swordsman has recently appeared and that this genius was even trained under General Huaiyan himself."
Tingyun playfully waved her fan, sharing the information she had gathered.
"Another general's disciple, another prodigy swordsman. You and that one from Zhu Ming sound rather alike."
"Zhu Ming…?" Yanqing tilted his head. "I haven't really paid much attention to Zhu Ming's affairs lately. It's been training and missions nonstop. Didn't think they had a prodigy too."
Daichi however, instantly knew who Tingyun was referring to.
A genius swordsman from Zhuming, and a disciple of General Huaiyan.
That could only be Yunli.
Both were young geniuses, both trained under generals, and both stood among the top swordsmen of their respective Xianzhou.
In a sense, Yunli was almost a mirror image of Yanqing though with a far rougher upbringing.
"You'll likely meet soon enough, young Yanqing." Tingyun continued.
"After all, at the upcoming Martial Exhibition held across the Xianzhou she will surely attend. Then you'll have the chance to cross swords with her yourself."
"That's true." Yanqing nodded.
"If she's that skilled, we're bound to meet on the stage."
He looked forward to it, to measuring himself against the Zhu Ming prodigy.
After all, to be Sword Master meant to be the strongest swordsman in the entire Xianzhou Alliance.Their paths were destined to cross.
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After a bit more polite conversation, Yanqing shifted the topic back to the earlier attack.
Tingyun then told him everything she had deduced.
"That nameless Lord Ravager set its sights on the Luofu." Yanqing said grimly.
"But the Luofu is no one's plaything!"
His eyes hardened as he stared into the starlit void beyond the ship.
"Even if it's a Lord Ravager should it dare invade the Luofu, our people and the General will make them pay dearly!"
[Such spirit, young Yanqing.]
"Of course!" Yanqing said proudly, hands on his hips.
"When great enemies loom, if we lack the courage to face them how could we ever hope to triumph? To cower and lose confidence before the fight is the gravest mistake of all."
Then, recalling something, Yanqing's gaze flicked back to Daichi and X.
"I recall from the enemy registry that Lord Ravager are envoys under the Destruction Aeon… Wait — you actually repelled one?"
Only then did he remember what the General had once told him
Don't judge by appearances.
With the Cloud Knights' escort, the Whistling Flame Caravan soon arrived safely at the Luofu.
Cloudford
Daichi stood on the dock, surrounded by the bustle of ships and travelers.
This was the largest port in the Luofu, where most caravans offloaded their goods.
Workers operated machinery, merchants beamed as dockhands inspected their cargo, and Cloud Knights patrolled the perimeter, safeguarding this vital hub.
[So this is the Luofu?]
"That's right, my benefactors." Tingyun said brightly beside him.
"Welcome to the Luofu."
At last, the Whistling Flame Caravan had returned home safe and sound.