"...The next year is entirely a period of rest and recuperation. Unless something unexpected happens, I will not launch another expedition."
He shifted his gaze, his voice calm and emotionless, as if the moment of agitation had never surfaced.
"During this time, I will find a way to completely cure your Leg Ailment."
Clear Cold quietly watched his averted profile, the glimmer in her eyes slowly extinguishing into dimness.
She had long been psychologically prepared for a lack of response, lowering her gaze and replying softly:
"...Thank you for your hard work, Lord Zhimu."
From the next day onward, Qi Zhimu rarely left his residence.
The laboratory lights remained bright all day, and various medicinal scents drifted in the air.
Clear Cold often waited quietly outside, occasionally checking the battle reports from the Cloud Knights Expeditionary Team, and occasionally gazing at the closed door.
Over the years, she had followed Qi Zhimu across countless enemy corpses and waded through unimaginable amounts of blood.
She and her sister had stepped half a foot into the Underworld countless times, and it was always Qi Zhimu who pulled them back to the living world.
Just like the day Azure City fell... he snatched them back from Shuhu's grasp.
The feelings in her heart for Qi Zhimu had long surpassed mere respect between a superior and subordinate.
Perhaps... her sister felt the same way... only her sister was more reserved and restrained.
If they maintained the status quo for the rest of their lives, walking along the path of the Expeditionary Force to the end, following the shared vision everyone held, perhaps that wasn't so bad.
Clear Cold withdrew her thoughts, glanced at the time, and turned toward the Martial Arts Field.
All things and all living beings would eventually pause, only time never stopped for anyone.
In the blink of an eye, several months had passed.
The Expeditionary Team that Jingliu belonged to returned.
Upon learning that Qi Zhimu was currently on leave, a flicker of undetectable joy crossed her frostbitten, cold Crimson Eyes.
After completing the Post-Battle Procedures, Jingliu rushed home impatiently.
But the house was empty.
At this hour, the two seniors might be training at the camp, but what about Master?
Just as she hesitated whether to contact them using a jade message, the laboratory door—which only Qi Zhimu could usually enter—slowly opened.
"Master!"
Seeing Qi Zhimu walk out expressionlessly, Jingliu greeted him subconsciously, unable to hide the excitement in her voice.
While waiting on the battlefield, she would often take out the silver moon jade pendant and meticulously rub it out of longing for her Master.
Seeing the jade pendant she personally carved and gifted him before her first battle tied around Qi Zhimu's sleeve, a soft light exclusively reserved for him flashed in Jingliu's eyes.
The corners of her mouth also curved upward unconsciously.
"I'm back. One step closer to the goal you set."
"Mm."
"..."
Seeing Qi Zhimu merely nod slightly, letting out a hum before walking out the door, the slightly raised corners of Jingliu's mouth instantly froze.
Right... she shouldn't have expected Master to show that kind of expression.
She wasn't strong enough yet; she couldn't help Master, so naturally, she couldn't earn his praise and approval.
It was just winning a standard medium-sized battle on the Xianzhou; it wasn't a big deal.
"Master, where are you going?"
"Training."
"Your disciple will go with you!" She quickened her pace to follow.
Normally, Jingliu, having just finished an expeditionary campaign, would need rest.
But she didn't want to be alone at all; she only wanted to stay by her Master's side, to feel that unique sense of security.
Or rather... just looking at him could give her the peace she craved.
And this was precisely the motivation for her to fight desperately to become stronger, to stand beside him and walk together... Master, you are all I have, I must stay by your side... otherwise, I might go mad in the future...
Qi Zhimu didn't notice his disciple's almost dangerous thoughts. Hearing her say she wanted to go along, he didn't refuse.
"You can, but if you back down midway, I will drag you along to continue."
"I will persevere," Jingliu didn't care at all, and the stiffness around her mouth softened again.
The worst outcome would only be losing consciousness.
She had fainted countless times over the years due to the training schedule designated by Master; she was long accustomed to it.
After all... Master would never abandon her, right?
Jingliu had imagined what the training content would be, but she hadn't expected the scale to far exceed her expectations.
Looking at the massive waterfall plummeting from the clouds, feeling the terrifying impact of the water flow, she couldn't help but wonder how a person could possibly stand beneath it?
Seeing Jingliu's stunned appearance, Qi Zhimu uttered two words.
"Scared?"
"...It's too big, I'm a bit surprised..." Jingliu admitted subconsciously.
Scared?
Not really.
Hearing Jingliu's answer, Qi Zhimu glanced at her sideways.
"Then keep up."
Saying that, he walked straight to the edge of the waterfall, casually shed his outer shirt, and stepped into the center of the water curtain.
The water smashed onto the rocks with a deafening roar, splashing mist that diffused outward, gradually disappearing as the distance increased.
Jingliu hesitated slightly, removed her armor and outer clothes, leaving only a chest wrap on her upper body, and followed closely behind.
The moment she stepped into the water curtain, the immense impact forced her to her knees instantly.
The water hammered against her shoulders and back; every second felt like being repeatedly struck by a heavy hammer.
She gritted her teeth to steady herself, glancing sideways through the misty curtain at the figure beside her.
Qi Zhimu stood firmly in the most turbulent part of the waterfall, his figure like an iron stake driven into the rock, unmoving.
The gap—a massive gap.
The soft light in Jingliu's eyes was washed clean by the raging current, replaced instead by a familiar, almost obsessive stubbornness.
She adjusted her breathing, clenched her jaw, lowered her center of gravity, trying to withstand the impact and remain upright.
But as soon as she straightened up, her head felt like it had been struck head-on by a Starship; dizzy and ringing in her ears, she fell directly into the deep pool beneath the waterfall.
Jingliu climbed out of the pool and stepped back into the water curtain from the edge of the waterfall.
Soon after, she fell into the water again.
Twice, three times... Qi Zhimu remained standing still with his eyes closed, silent.
Two hours passed, and the setting sun dyed the mist a pale gold.
Jingliu's limbs were numb; she maintained her standing posture purely by willpower.
She didn't know how many times she had fallen into the water; she could last at most a quarter of an hour, whereas Master hadn't moved once since two hours ago.
She didn't ask when it would end either.
Master was never warm and caring like ordinary elders; he maintained this indifferent demeanor during all the cruel training sessions.
What she needed to do had already been answered by the time they spent together.
With this mindset, gradually, Jingliu could no longer hold on. Her vision darkened, and she fell forward, sinking into the deep pool for the last time.
Qi Zhimu opened his eyes and leaped down right after her.
Shortly after, he carried Jingliu ashore and gently placed her in a dry spot.
"Hm?"
Noticing something tightly clenched in his disciple's hand, Qi Zhimu lowered his gaze, and the familiar outline made him freeze.
It was the silver moon jade pendant he had given her... she hadn't let go even after falling into the deep pool beneath the waterfall.
And at this moment, Jingliu, in her dream, was back on the day Azure City fell.
Flashes of blood, screams, a Crimson Shadow blotting out the sky... followed by two sword lights.
One saved her from the mouth of an Abomination, and the other inherited a silent dying wish, taking her away from that nightmare-like Demon Star.
Jingliu unconsciously curled up, murmuring softly.
"...Master, don't go... Don't leave your disciple... I beg you..."
"I will do anything Master says, I am willing to do anything, I beg you..."
Qi Zhimu sighed silently and put away her battle armor.
He took out a soft towel to wipe the water stains from her face and dry her soaking, ice-colored hair.
He draped a jacket over her, held her gently with pity in his expression, and slowly walked toward where the starship was docked.