If someone didn't know better, they'd think March 7th was the master, and those two were the disciples!
---------------------------------
A moment later.
Under the expectant gazes of the audience, March 7th had already changed into new clothes and once again appeared before her masters.
Little March in her new outfit made everyone's eyes light up.
Bright red and black as the main color, adorned with pink, and extra knots as embellishments. Below the tightened waist was a skirt reaching the knees, shaped like flower petals. The exposed part of her calves was covered with white stockings. These designs made little March look even more lively and cute.
Not to mention, March's hair also had ribbon-like ornaments tied into bows on both sides.
"How is it, masters? Does this outfit suit me?"
March 7th asked with a smile.
But before Yanqing and Yunli could speak. Countless uninvited "masters" in the bullet comments had already started going crazy.
...
: New March 7th is too cute ahhh!
: Good good good, with looks like that, this master approves!
: More than suitable! Damn, too cute, miHoYo hurry up and release the same style outfit, I want to buy it!
: This costume was chosen well! Yunli really understands design!
: Seeing March 7th in the new clothing, I almost rushed to Luofu at light speed, right! Hahaha!
: Cute cute cute cute cute!
...
After the grand appearance of swordswoman March 7th.
Yanqing also nodded in satisfaction, his posture extremely proper.
To be fair. Though the two children were still young, when it came to being masters, they played the part well.
First they gauged March 7th's foundation. Then they designated a suitable method of training for her.
Everything was in perfect order.
Of course, such guidance required both masters working together at the same time.
But by now, the audience was already used to the bickering.
Quarreling and bickering, but it didn't lessen the warmth.
It was the unique flavor of youth.
In short. Everyone was already hooked.
On the screen. The images flickered.
Sometimes it was March 7th receiving strict guidance.
Sometimes it was March 7th wielding dual swords, dripping with sweat.
As these scenes unfolded, along with Yunli and Yanqing's bickering, time sped by swiftly.
Everything was full of youth and energy. The audience gradually became immersed in it.
...
: So nice, full of vitality, it's almost bursting out of the screen.
: March 7th is getting more and more like a true swordswoman.
: Yunli and Yanqing's bickering is also becoming more skilled, feels like the atmosphere is less tense.
: Ah, so in the end, it's still heartwarming.
: Wait, I'm telling you all, don't get blinded by these beautiful things!
: Don't forget, aside from March 7th's side, the preceptors, Borisin, Feixiao's inquiries still haven't started!
: Damn! I almost forgot that, totally distracted.
: So this is just the calm before the storm?
...
As time gradually reached the last day before the Luminary Wardance, they suddenly reacted.
Damn. The Luminary Wardance was about to start.
Those turbulent undercurrents from before seemed to have completely disappeared.
That wasn't normal at all! With doubts in their hearts, the audience continued watching.
March 7th was still honestly training under her two masters. But on this final day, Jiaoqiu suddenly appeared without warning.
"Tomorrow is the day of the Luminary Wardance. Why are you two still teaching someone else instead of sharpening your own blades?"
Jiaoqiu walked over with a squinting smile, waving his fan, his face full of mockery.
"Ah?" Yunli didn't react for a moment, stammering: "You, you are… that, uh, right, the pink-haired foxian from Yaoqing."
"Pfft…" Yunli's blunt naming made March 7th beside him burst into laughter.
Jiaoqiu narrowed his eyes: "What are you laughing at, you're pink-haired too."
March 7th immediately stopped giggling.
This time, the audience watching the drama couldn't help but laugh out loud.
A simple little interlude once again made everyone's minds relax.
Perhaps, this time the plot really was focusing on the Luminary Wardance, and those conspiracies were only side dishes.
On screen, facing Yunli and Yanqing's questions. Jiaoqiu said he was just curious about what March was learning.
Then he launched into a string of obscure metaphors. Something about martial arts being like cooking, to boil, fry, stir-fry, and so on.
After a long-winded speech. Yunli nodded in sudden realization: "So, you're the general's cook?"
"..." Jiaoqiu was struck speechless.
Good grief, actually underestimated by a child.
He coughed, deciding to save face: "Judging by your eyes, you clearly mistake me, Jiaoqiu, for a weak scholar who idly comments on martial arts. But in truth, I am proficient in many disciplines."
Saying so, Jiaoqiu took out a bottle of medicine: "This is called Dizhi Powder, made from rare foreign herbs."
"Poison?" Yanqing was very alert.
"Eh~" Jiaoqiu waved his hand: "Poison or medicine, it depends on how it's used."
"Before performing surgery on a patient, just one drop can remove all pain. But if you use a bit more, it makes the blood unable to clot, even causes loss of all five senses. Even long-lived species can't avoid it."
"This thing can save lives, or take lives. Its usefulness far surpasses your swords."
This whole set of 'twisted logic' from Jiaoqiu clearly struck an unsettling chord.
"Indeed we misunderstood you, you're not a weak scholar, you're a shameless villain!" Yunli narrowed his eyes, speaking with some disdain.
"Mr. Jiaoqiu gets all excited when talking about poison, I don't know if that counts as upright, or vile and despicable."
Even Yanqing rarely agreed with Yunli this time.
"Hey hey hey, why are you insulting me now."
Jiaoqiu spread his hands, then asked seriously:
"Suppose two people are in a duel to the death. One stands alive by being cunning, the other lies dead for being 'honorable'. Tell me, which one is truly the foolish and despicable one?"
At this, Jiaoqiu opened his eyes, speaking with extreme solemnity: "On the battlefield, in the instant of life and death, all thoughts vanish. 'To survive' is the only truth."
"As long as you return alive, every value will be redefined. Whether honorable or despicable, in my eyes, both are lighter than a feather."
The audience, upon seeing this, suddenly had a new impression of Jiaoqiu.
Nothing else. These words of his truly resonated with the audience. Because they were very realistic.
When they looked at Jiaoqiu again, a thought suddenly popped up in their minds. This foxian really sees through everything!
...
: Jiaoqiu's words carry such weight.
: Truly golden advice. On the battlefield, only those who survive have the right to argue about honor or disgrace.
: The victor is king, the defeated is the outlaw.
: It feels like Jiaoqiu is… how should I say it, someone who would stop at nothing to achieve his goals, but absolutely not a bad person.
: Just a few words, yet he immediately set the stage.
: Not simple at all, this person clearly has been through a lot.
: To allies he is a healer, to enemies a poisoner, that's probably the feeling?
: Hiss, he just knocked down the atmosphere in an instant! Originally it should've been solemn!
: He seems to be passing these truths on to Yunli and Yanqing.
...
The comments scrolled by.
On the screen, Yunli and Yanqing did not react as the audience expected, lost in thought.
Because they had already stepped onto the battlefield themselves.
As for Yunli, her record was still unclear.
But Yanqing had truly fought against the Borisin, even boarded a beastship himself, and captured the patriarchs of three small tribes.
Jiaoqiu's words could make Yanqing and Yunli acknowledge him, but not necessarily agree with him.
But Jiaoqiu didn't mind. After some casual conversation, he still became familiar with the two.
And naturally, he brought up his "real" purpose for this trip. He wanted to see the place where the Luminary Wardance would be held.
That is, aboard the Skysplitter.
His reason was very reasonable, it was his first time coming from the Xianzhou Yaoqing.
Yanqing and Yunli didn't think too much about it. With the idea of taking their disciple along to see it, they straightforwardly agreed.
Next, the four of them set off together.
The background music gradually shifted into something soft and ethereal.
Yanqing took the initiative to lead the group to the Skysplitter. Along the way, with Jiaoqiu stoking the fire, he and Yunli occasionally bickered.
For some reason, this time Yanqing wasn't as serious about it.
When they arrived beneath the Skysplitter, Yanqing asked Jiaoqiu what he thought about the ship.
Jiaoqiu shook his head and murmured: "It doesn't seem particularly special…"
A flicker of confusion and doubt flashed in his eyes, but he quickly concealed it.
The shot only lingered for a moment. Many viewers noticed something odd in Jiaoqiu's gaze, but before they could think on it, Yanqing's voice pulled them back.
The camera shifted with it.
Looking at the Skysplitter, as the ring master, Yanqing seemed to recall many things, and also resonated with Jiaoqiu's earlier words.
He didn't know how to explain the significance of the Skysplitter, or what it meant to him.
"Right now it's nothing special, but when the ceremonial salutes sound tomorrow, and I step onto the Skysplitter, everything will be different."
Yanqing paused in silence, then continued:
"Since I was a child, the general kept me at his side. Every day, a thousand swings of the sword, a thousand thrusts, rigorously…"
He spoke from his heart, also to explain to Jiaoqiu: the Skysplitter is not ordinary.
The others simply listened quietly.
They heard how since childhood he had been unlike other children, had no interest in toys, felt no burden in training.
Even on the battlefield, he never felt fear. Because each day he could feel himself growing stronger, stronger still, holding victory in his hands again and again, nothing in the world brought greater joy.
But later, he took a single strike from someone. That strike shattered his confidence, his joy, his pride.
It was the first time Yanqing had ever felt fear, the very thing Jiaoqiu had spoken of: in the instant of life and death, all thoughts vanish.
From then on, Yanqing had to bow his head, picking up the shattered pieces of himself one by one, trying to piece together the confident, joyful self he once was.
But no matter what he did, he could never return to how he had been. He even began to lose sight of why he wielded the sword.
"But as a member of the Cloud Knights, as the general's disciple, I carry much already, and I am destined to carry even more."
Looking at the Skysplitter, Yanqing said solemnly:
"But only when I swing my sword do I feel that I can put everything down. I love that version of myself who gives his all and presses forward without hesitation. My reason for wielding the sword is precisely for that me."
As he said this, a trace of his former joy and confidence finally returned to his face.
Even Yunli, at his side, couldn't help but clench her fist, staring at Yanqing, listening intently to his words, reassessing this burdened swordsman.
Words so raw and heartfelt, anyone who heard them would be moved.
The audience, of course, was already deeply touched.
...
: My goodness… no wonder Yanqing's state in this episode has been so off.
: Looks like that one strike from Jingliu almost shattered his will completely.
: Not only that, there was also Dan Heng, and Blade. In the Luofu arc, Yanqing faced one defeat after another.
: From his own account, it seems that before the Battle of Phantylia, he had hardly ever lost.
: For a genius who rarely lost, to suddenly face repeated crushing defeats… and still be able to hold his mind together? My word… his willpower is incredibly strong.
: But even he feels confusion, even he suffers, right? That's why Yunli could instantly tell he was weighed down?
: Suddenly, I can feel the heavy weight of it all. MiHoYo really shot this part so well.
: Before, I only saw Yanqing as comic relief. But now, I apologize, this really shows his deep character development…
: Yunli completely absorbed it too. The composition of this scene is simply beautiful.
...
Beyond their changed perception of Yanqing himself, many viewers also felt this scene was simply terrifying.
...
: Such complex emotional shifts, expressed with absolute precision.
: I can't even tell if this is acting or true emotion, it's unbelievable.
: He's just a youth, for heaven's sake.
: MiHoYo is truly outrageous, where did Director Xia even find so many actors that fit the roles so perfectly!
: I feel like after this episode ends, Yanqing's popularity is going to skyrocket!