"Yanqing, let me introduce you. This is Miss Yunli from the Zhuming Xianzhou. She is also a member of the Zhuming representative team this time."
After introducing Yunli, Jing Yuan turned his gaze to her and spoke again.
"This is Yanqing, one of the rising stars of the younger generation on the Xianzhou Luofu. He currently serves as a Cloud Knight Guard and is also my disciple."
"Flamewheel Eight Leaves—Yunli."
"Cloud Knight Guard—Yanqing."
After learning each other's identities, although they felt displeased, both Yunli and Yanqing reluctantly greeted one another out of respect for General Jing Yuan.
For a moment, the atmosphere became somewhat awkward.
"Uh…"
Seeing this, Jing Yuan also felt a bit embarrassed. He hadn't expected Yanqing and Yunli to end up like this on their very first meeting. If not for his presence, these two children probably would have already gone their separate ways.
"Ahem. Yunli, this is your Jade Abacus. Don't forget it next time you go out."
"Ah? Oh, thank you, General Jing Yuan."
Yunli blankly took her Jade Abacus from Jing Yuan's hand. Her face flushed slightly—not from shyness, but from the embarrassment of a junior being admonished by a senior for carelessness.
This morning, Yunli had been woken up early by her rumbling stomach. The drowsy girl had planned to eat a candied hawthorn skewer to stave off hunger and rummaged through her personal storage, only to be disappointed—the stock of candied hawthorns had been completely finished yesterday. Her storage space was now empty.
Thus, the sleepy girl changed out of her pajamas and wandered out of the general's residence to find food, completely forgetting the Jade Abacus that should have stayed with her.
"Hahaha, it's a small matter, no need to mention it. Yunli, you should have your own plans for today, right?"
"Mhm." Yunli nodded slightly, a faint blush appearing on her face. "I'm going to find Miss Qingque…"
Upon hearing Qingque's name, Jing Yuan understood Yunli's next plan. He firmly patted Yanqing's shoulder.
"In that case, let's part ways here. I also need to take this child Yanqing for treatment."
"Mhm. Goodbye, General."
...
Watching Yunli's figure gradually disappear into the distance, Yanqing—the loser of this fight—suddenly felt a trace of loss in his heart. Recalling everything that had happened in the past few months, this genius youth was filled with a sense of defeat.
It was acceptable to be easily defeated by his own master and frozen into an icicle—after all, Jingliu was the previous Sword Champion of the Luofu, a powerful swordmaster who had single-handedly defeated and captured the warlord Hoolay of the Steppe People.
Losing to Qingque after being knocked unconscious by a single Jade Abacus card was also nothing—after all, Miss Qingque was an Emanator of the Path of Causality who had slain the "Lord Ravager" Zephyro single-handedly. There was no shame in losing to her.
But… the Nameless guests of the Astral Express, and this little girl named Yunli… Was he really that weak?
Recalling these past events, Yanqing fell into deep confusion. Trembling as he stared at the broken sword in his hand, the youth's obsessive pursuit of the sword path faced an unprecedented challenge.
"Yanqing, come back to your senses!"
Just as the youth's heart was sinking deeper, a vast, bell-like resounding voice suddenly echoed in his mind. The majestic and righteous sound instantly shattered the confusion in Yanqing's heart and pulled his nearly fallen mind back from the abyss.
"Ha!… Ha! Ha…!"
Yanqing, who had returned from the brink, gasped heavily. A trace of lingering fear flashed in his eyes. Just now… he had almost fallen into an inner demon!
"Yanqing, you should understand that 'there are always people beyond people, and heavens beyond heavens.' Similarly, a temporary defeat does not mean permanent defeat. You are still young, and your future path is still very long."
Jing Yuan reached out and gently stroked his disciple's slightly messy long hair, sighing inwardly.
"I understand, Master…"
— — — —
After parting with Master and Disciple Jing Yuan, Yunli fiddled with the Jade Abacus in her hands, her two small hands moving restlessly. After hesitating for a while, she finally gathered her courage.
[Yunli: Miss Qingque, are you there?]
Looking at the message that showed as successfully sent, Yunli felt very nervous. Fortunately, after a few seconds, Qingque's reply arrived on her Jade Abacus.
[Qingque: I'm here.]
[Qingque: 'Ding! Location sharing enabled…']
[Yunli: Miss Qingque, you… (Yunli Shocked.JPG)]
Seeing the location sharing Qingque sent, Yunli was slightly stunned and suddenly didn't know what to do.
[Qingque: Hehe, Miss Yunli, I already learned about you from Fan. Come over now, Fan is at home (Pom-Pom Proud.JPG)]
[Yunli: Thank you, Miss Qingque. (Yunli Thankful.JPG)]
"Hey hey hey! Get up quickly, Yunli is coming over. Hurry and get up!"
In the bedroom, under the bright sunlight, Qingque rubbed her sleepy eyes, placed the Jade Abacus on the bedside table, and then swatted away the naughty large hand on her body.
"Hmm? That girl Yunli is coming?"
Hearing Qingque say that Yunli was coming, Yun Fan narrowed his eyes slightly, then sat up and stopped teasing Qingque.
Strictly speaking, this would be his first real meeting with Yunli. Although in yesterday's deduction and retrospection, he had already seen Yunli's appearance within the Path.
Beautiful black short hair, adorable bare feet like Clara's, a petite and delicate body, and that unyielding, stubborn personality so different from her fragile appearance… Mhm, a very perfect girl.
Thinking of this, Yun Fan looked up at the clock on the wall. The system time was 10:45, still more than one system hour until lunch.
There should be enough time to prepare lunch, and he could also make some candied hawthorns for the girl. He remembered that during the short happy time they spent together, Yunli really loved the candied hawthorns he made.
Sure enough, compared to the overly sweet Xianzhou delicacies like candied bird skewers, the sweet-and-sour candied hawthorns were more suited to the taste of a descendant of Huaxia.