The daily training routine was nearing its end.
"Master, will we proceed with the high-temperature endurance training until exhaustion as usual today?"
While waiting for instructions, Jingliu still found it hard to believe.
Upon waking up, she discovered that her body had undergone significant changes.
While washing up in the morning, she had crushed a porcelain cup just by holding it as she usually did, simply because she hadn't controlled her strength.
Training had also become easier; after finishing a long-distance run with heavy weights, her breathing returned to normal in less than half a minute.
The subsequent sword-swinging and precision-striking drills were all completed in one breath, as naturally as water flowing in a channel.
It was as if she had been completely reborn.
She even felt that she might be able to endure the high-temperature training for a long time today.
Qi Zhimu replied, "There is no need."
"Understood, your disciple will... Eh?"
Jingliu froze, doubting her own ears.
"Master... what did you just say?"
"You may end the training once you feel you are approaching your limit. From today onwards, all training will follow this standard," Qi Zhimu said in a flat tone.
She hadn't misheard.
Jingliu thought she would be happy to finally be done with those days of grueling training.
Instead, she unexpectedly felt a sense of emptiness in her heart, even... a lack of familiarity.
It was as if something was missing if she didn't pass out at night and wasn't looked after by her master until she woke up naturally the next day.
"Is it because I passed the coming-of-age exam?"
"You could say that."
Qi Zhimu thought for a moment and added an extra explanation.
"You are no longer your former weak self. Your constitution has barely reached the target results of the training; from now on, you only need to progress step by step."
"..."
Jingliu suddenly fell silent.
Ever since she started the hellish training with her master, although she didn't know the specifics of what happened after she fainted, she could guess the general idea.
She had grown used to it.
It was no big deal for her master to see her body; after all... she only had her master now.
Spending her whole life depending on her master didn't seem like a bad thing.
But her master's answer just now hinted at something: he was starting to care about the distinction between men and women, even between master and disciple.
Her master wasn't wrong to do so, so why did she feel a pang of disappointment?
Was she afraid that this reservation would gradually become a barrier between them?
Jingliu was still young, her daily life was full, and she had little contact with outsiders.
During her few deployments to the battlefield, she wouldn't discuss anything unrelated to exterminating Abominations with her comrades during rest periods.
Therefore, she couldn't understand it.
She thought a disciple should be completely open with their master, and her master's past actions seemed to tacitly accept this philosophy.
But now it seemed... that wasn't the case, or at least, not entirely.
More than once, Jingliu had imagined how her master would expressionlessly care for her useless self after she had completely exhausted her strength and lost consciousness.
First, he would heal her using some unknown method, then efficiently strip her clean and toss her into a bathtub to wash away the grime.
Finally, he'd put her in pajamas and carry her back to her room... No, perhaps it wasn't that gentle.
It was more likely he'd hoist her over his shoulder or carry her by the waist... then toss her onto the bed, turn off the light, close the door, and leave.
The reason he didn't want to say much to her was probably because he didn't want her to feel embarrassed, right...?
Her master was never gentle, but at least he cared about her physical condition.
For instance, on the day of her first period... didn't this way of interacting imply that there shouldn't be any barriers between master and disciple?
She couldn't figure it out and didn't understand; she needed time to find the answer.
"Your disciple understands."
"This is your ring-type control jade message. Starting tomorrow, arrange your own time to go to the Sky-Faring Commission's training delve to learn basic piloting for military starships—that is, warships."
Qi Zhimu handed over a small military starship starter and instructed:
"Frontline soldiers and pilots belong to different systems, but both are members of the Cloud Knights."
"The situation on the battlefield changes in an instant, and pilots can encounter various accidents. If you can pilot a warship to pursue enemies or retreat at such times, you can play a crucial role."
"Although the Cloud Knights do not mandate that frontline soldiers master warship piloting, having an extra skill means an extra chance of survival."
Jingliu brushed aside her stray thoughts and took the jade message. "I will study diligently."
"Good. Go now. A combat mission will be assigned in seven days; you will need to accompany the army to suppress several Houyhnhnms tribes."
"And you, Master? Do you have any missions recently?"
"There is an emergency hunting mission the day after tomorrow. Yueque sent a surveillance report stating that a large tribe of the Blackclaw Hunting Pack exists in a star system thirty-nine light-years northwest of the Yaoqing route."
Relevant information immediately surfaced in Jingliu's mind.
The Blackclaw Hunting Pack is a mercenary group within the Borisin species; one might encounter them in any battle.
Blackclaw Borisin possess extreme endurance and stealth, excelling in hunting, assassination, and terror tactics, and they have a sense of smell far superior to other Borisin.
Every year, many Cloud Knight soldiers die from the unpredictable sneak attacks of the Blackclaw Borisin.
Although she was still far from being able to confront Borisin elites head-on, she understood how troublesome those Abominations were.
"That large tribe likely has a Nest Father-level Abomination. My trip this time might not be short," Qi Zhimu continued.
Only a few words remained in Jingliu's mind: "this trip might not be short."
Could it be... another two years or more?
"Sleeping Snow and Clear Cold will accompany me on this expedition. You will be the only one at home, so you must not slack off on your training."
"Additionally, small-scale battles may occur frequently in the near future. Remember not to break formation or act recklessly on the battlefield."
"I'll remember. I will work hard to catch up with Master's footsteps," Jingliu solemnly declared her resolve.
Afterward, she prepared to board a civilian starship and fly toward the Cloud Knight training camp.
The Martial Arts Field at home lacked the conditions for high-temperature training, so she had to head to the Cloud Knight military camp delve.
Before she left, Qi Zhimu added.
"If you find the commute inconvenient, you can apply for permanent residence at the Cloud Knight camp. Outside of emergency martial law periods, returning home doesn't involve many troublesome procedures."
Expeditionary Cloud Knights set out with the resolve to face death every time, so there is no strict requirement for them to be stationed in the military camp regarding their residence.
"...It is not inconvenient. Thank you for your concern, Master." Jingliu declined without a second thought.
The hatch closed, and as the ring rotated, the starship quickly soared into the air and merged into the high-altitude flight path.
Qi Zhimu stood still, thinking slightly.
Jingliu's tone just now... seemed a bit strange, yet he couldn't say exactly why... That night, as Jingliu finished her training, her starship skimmed over the empty Martial Arts Field to land in the backyard parking area.
There was a slight look of joy on her face.
She had actually lasted nearly two hours in today's lower-standard heat endurance training.
Compared to yesterday, it was a leap forward.
One could understand without much thought that such amazing progress was surely related to what her master had done for her and the training he had devised... She was becoming more and more dependent on her master.
With Master around, it seemed all difficulties could be easily resolved.
"Ma—" Before the word could even leave her mouth, Jingliu's front foot, which had just stepped onto the threshold, suddenly froze. She stood there in a daze, staring blankly into the house.
Qi Zhimu and Clear Cold walked out of the room one after the other.
It was Clear Cold's room... Clear Cold's clothes appeared slightly disheveled, her cheeks and neck were visibly flushed, and her hands were tying a silk sash around her waist.
Jingliu felt her mind go blank, and her gaze gradually became vacant.
What happened... between them?