"I'm not late, am I?"
At the General's Office, Feixiao and Jingyuan both turned as Wei Yi arrived.
"Right on time," Jingyuan said with a shrug. "If we're lucky, we can even share lunch afterwards."
"The Marshal's been waiting. Go on."
Feixiao tipped her chin toward the reception hall—the one Jingyuan used for honored guests.
Hmm. A little more formal than expected. The room was palatial; "General's Office," the in-game version, this was not.
At the doors, Wei Yi found himself… a tiny bit excited.
"About to meet the legendary Marshal," he murmured.
"What, nervous? In theory, the Marshal and I are equals—both of the Seven under the Divine Bow. You weren't nervous meeting me," Feixiao teased.
"How could that be the same? We were already old married folk by the time I learned your identity." He laughed. "Anyway, today's nerves are nothing like that day."
"What day? A battlefield?"
"No—our first date."
"Behave," she said, rolling her eyes. "Don't sweet-talk the Marshal like that."
And yet, under his influence, a stray tightness tugged at Feixiao's chest. Why—why did it feel like bringing an out-of-town boyfriend home to meet the family?
Plenty thought the Abundance Emanator had bewitched the Great-Victory General.
The folks on Yaoxing, though? Obviously the reverse—
With Feixiao's temperament—Domineering!—she must have beaten "Old Wei" into willingly marrying her!
Knock, knock, knock.
"Come in," a calm voice called.
They exchanged a glance and pushed the doors open.
By the sun-splashed window stood a tall, slender back. Hearing the door, the figure turned. Gold light limned the outline; ethereal as a banished immortal.
"Marshal." Feixiao pressed fist to chest in salute.
Strictly, the Marshal and the Generals were equals under the Divine Bow; Hua disliked fuss. But the Generals always paid this little courtesy—respect for a living legend. Without her, there might be fewer ships today.
She'd steadied the Alliance through centuries no one else could survive.
"No need for formality, General. I remember telling you—we needn't be so stiff."
Hua's smile was soft. In that sunwash, Wei Yi also noticed… well—Fu Hua, in any universe, was still a… plate.
He wondered if this Marshal's "one-inch punch" could crack a skull. Surely—yes.
"Pleased to meet you," Hua said, extending a hand. "Hua, Marshal of the Xianzhou Alliance, one of the Seven under the Divine Bow. I've long admired 'Ancient One, the Dew that Waters the Stars.'"
"And I, you," Wei Yi replied. "I've heard many of the Marshal's feats."
"You finally made it."
A voice piped up at the side—Yu, hands on hips, pouting. "The old lady's been standing with her back to the door forever, just for that dramatic turn."
"Yu! We're recording," Hua said, a rare flicker of fluster crossing her face.
"It's fine—we'll cut it in post. Won't affect the sizzle reel," Yu waved her off, unbothered.
Hua could only press a hand to her brow. Why had she raised such a gremlin…
Wei Yi laughed. "The Marshal's more easygoing than I imagined."
Yu's interruption had broken the ice, and had incidentally revealed the truth of that "dramatic turn." The "old lady"… was oddly adorable.
"First meetings need a touch of ceremony," Hua said. "After all, once the alliance is official, our first meeting will be broadcast to the entire cosmos."
"The entire cosmos? Isn't that a bit much?"
"It is necessary. Your alliance with us is more than you, personally, joining. You are a being recognized by Yaoshi, the Aeon of Abundance; your formal allegiance will carry immense weight. Some of the Abundance's spawn may defect because of it."
"Ah." Wei Yi stroked his chin. He hadn't thought that far. No wonder the alliance's counterpart was the entire Xianzhou Alliance, not a single ship.
In fact, handled properly—and with battle intel on Shuhu released, plus the note that the Aeon had chosen him over the other—many waverers might flip to their side.
He was, barring rumors, the only confirmed Emanator of Abundance still active.
"Still, on behalf of the Alliance—thank you," Hua said. "If not for you, the losses would have been far worse. Twice on Yaoxing, death loomed. The enemy struck from shadow while we stood in the light—even a General can't predict every ambush."
"No need for thanks. Even if Feixiao weren't my wife, I wouldn't stand by. Emanator-level battles spill into the lives of billions."
Hua's eyes warmed. "The Great-Victory General is blessed to have such a spouse."
"Call it mutual," Wei Yi said lightly. "Without her, I might not be here."
"The signing will be held on the last day of the Martial Exhibition—after the Sword Champion trials. We'll both take the stage and seal it publicly. As for the terms—have a look."
Wei Yi unrolled the scroll—and blinked.
This wasn't an alliance. It was adoption.
Clause after clause—every one favorable to Wei Yi.
Pursue any who had joined the ancient hunt against him.
Prosecute those who slandered him online.
In rank, he'd be just under the Marshal; even the other ships' Generals would sit half a tier below him on paper.
And that was just the "ordinary" stuff. A few clauses were so over the top it felt like he'd been installed as an emperor.
Of course, formal rank wasn't actual power. But it declared Xianzhou's stance: if he needed troops, the Alliance would dispatch them. Feixiao would, in any case.
It felt like they were terrified of failing to please him.
A precious baby, adopted by the Alliance.
"Aren't these… a bit much?" he asked, meeting Hua's gentle gaze.
"As an ally? Not at all. If we can't guarantee our ally's safety, how can we deter anyone? Your constitution is unique; others will try to scheme. If an Emanator plots, success is likely. Our job is to crush those thoughts at the seed with overwhelming force."
Her eyes flashed cold. The Alliance had been too quiet too long; people forgot whom they served. Phantylia had struck three times—there would be reckoning. Signatures, calculations, plans—the wheels were already turning.
The first meeting itself was brief—just enough for Yu to capture a few shots for the alliance film. Formal, but not stiff. Successful.
As they wrapped, Hua noticed Wei Yi still looking at her, as if weighing his words.
"Something else?" she asked, smiling. Her manner was friendlier now—second-hand accounts were one thing; the person was another.
"Marshal, do you know how to kindle a Path's flame—and ascend the Throne?" Wei Yi asked. "If I'm not mistaken… you're already there, aren't you?"
"Why do you ask?"
He didn't hedge; he explained Nidhogg's plight.
"I didn't realize it was that grave," Feixiao said, frowning. She'd thought the "sleep" was simple metamorphosis.
"Everyone's road is different," Hua said, shaking her head. "What suited me may not suit you."
Memories rose unbidden: the Withering of the Arbor; Xianzhou adrift after losing its faith; panic gripping the fleet. Hua already held high rank then, and it was she who carried Xianzhou through that lost time, until the Divine Bow returned and their strength surged.
She'd asked herself one question: if a mighty ship could be shaken so—what of the weak?
Resolve took shape. Trial by trial, the thought hardened. There was no "glance" from the Bow, no blessing—only a hunter walking the road until the flame caught, the Throne accepted her, and she woke to herself.
"Walk the road that feels right, Wei Yi," she said. "I can't describe the moment. For some, it's tomorrow; for others, years—or millennia. There is no recipe."
Wei Yi nodded. He'd expected as much. If it were "easy," Throne-bearers wouldn't be so rare.
He invited her to lunch; she declined, gently.
The first meeting had gone well. Both he and Feixiao exhaled.
"Marshal's more approachable than I imagined," he said.
"She was using Yu to bring you closer," Feixiao said, amused. "She knew Yu would blow her 'dramatic turn' cover—that's why she did it. Otherwise this meeting would've been neat, polite, and forgettable."
"So I'm the shallow one?" Wei Yi blinked.
"The Marshal's every move has its reasons. Just a guess—but nine times out of ten, I'm right."
"You're that sure?" Wei Yi grinned. Since when was his wife this… brainy?
"Think. Why keep Huler locked on the Luofu instead of Yaoxing? Calculus. Even in Luofu custody, people came gunning for his red moon; imagine the mess on Yaoxing."
"Fair." Some games were above his pay grade.
"By the way—you missed it this morning—Yu and the Marshal had a spat," Feixiao added, lips twitching. "Yu wanted to enter the Sword Champion trials. The Marshal soothed her with one line: 'You and I are one; the Sword Champion's seat is merely the post I vacated. If you chase it, you admit you are less than me. And with your strength, why spar with juniors?' Yu was delighted."
Wei Yi pictured Fu Hua and little "Knowledge" meeting Marshal Hua and Yu—what a scene that would be.
"Hey—Doctor, General Feixiao! Fancy meeting you here."
They turned. The Astral Express trio—Xing, Dan Heng, and March 7th—were approaching.
"What a coincidence," Wei Yi said, hand in hand with Feixiao.
"I know! I don't know why, but seeing you makes me feel safe," March beamed. "Even if something happens on the Luofu, we'll be fine."
"Relax. The Luofu's very safe now. Criminals? Basically all scooped up," Feixiao said, full of confidence.
"Really? Then we're relieved!" March chirped.
At that exact moment, a ruckus thundered down the street.
"Out of my way if you wanna live!"
"Stop running! If you don't come quietly, I will use force!"
A hulking brute barreled past, with Sushang and several Cloud Knights in pursuit.
…The very "danger" March had just mentioned.
And of all times to show up—this second? What a face-slap.
There was a sudden blur at the edge of vision, like a movie frame tearing. Then—
Boom.
The thug was planted headfirst in the pavement, legs twitching in the air.
"His body's… vertical," March observed, wide-eyed, looking to Wei Yi—Shouldn't we help? He might be… done for.
"It's fine," Wei Yi said.
Sushang, panting, ran up, gave the stuck man a triumphant kick—"That's for making me run!"—then waved the Knights over to yank him free.
"You see? Safe as can be." Feixiao grinned. "That thug wasn't weak, but he was subdued that fast."
"So cool! Do you have some superweapon? How'd he get into the ground like that?" March asked.
"Trade secret," Feixiao said solemnly. "Rare. Only one on the Luofu."
(Weapon: Great-Victory General Feixiao.)
Most people had seen nothing. Wei Yi, of course, had: in order not to lose face, Feixiao had dipped into time, accelerating herself, flash-stepping to the street mouth, hammering the thug with one punch, then returning to her spot—all in less than a frame.
"Doctor! It's been forever—I missed you!" Sushang waved, bounding over.
"Not bad, Sushang," Feixiao said, arms folded, genuinely surprised. "Got promoted. Your mother would be proud."
"Hee, small thing," Sushang giggled—and then glanced at the sun. "Lunchtime! My treat. There's a stall in Golden Courtyard—lady boss cooks so well!"
....
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