The two fell into silence for a moment.
Tengxiao had personally signed many marriage applications from his subordinates before, and he more or less understood what people like this were thinking.
In order to encourage childbirth, the Xianzhou had introduced a series of regulations and welfare policies.
For example, people could marry once they turned twenty. Also, from the time a Xianzhou citizen got married until they had children, they would regularly receive a sum of patrol tokens as subsidies.
Of course, when it came to benefits, no one in the entire universe could compare to the Cloud Knights and the Six Divisions of the Xianzhou.
And among the Cloud Knights and the Six Divisions, the best treatment belonged to the Cloud Knights.
After marriage, there was no need to even mention food, clothing, housing, or transportation. Just the monthly subsidies for a Cloud Knight's spouse, all added together, would already come close to five digits.
At the same time, Cloud Knights also received more than ten extra days of leave each year.
They had sacrificed a lot for the Xianzhou, so naturally the Xianzhou would not treat them poorly.
Aside from benefits, Cloud Knights and their spouses were also subject to many restrictions.
For example, when applying for marriage, they had to fill out a long list of forms and pass an internal Cloud Knight review.
Of course, for someone at Jingliu's level, the marriage process and restrictions were far more numerous than for ordinary Cloud Knights.
If high-ranking figures of the Xianzhou had a relationship fall apart and wanted a divorce, they also had to obtain approval from multiple parties.
The Xianzhou needed to confirm the spouse's stance.
Did the other party follow the "Plague's Author"? Were they from another faction? Was there any possibility they might leak Xianzhou secrets?
Only after passing layer after layer of review could the two get married.
After marriage, just like the Cloud Knights themselves, if the spouse needed to leave the Xianzhou to travel to another planet, they had to apply in advance to prevent any possibility of information leaks.
Aside from the complicated process before marriage, the marriages of Cloud Knights were also different from those of ordinary Xianzhou citizens.
Cloud Knights spent years fighting outside, forced to separate from their spouses, only able to return to the Xianzhou after eliminating abominations.
Over time, this could lead to many problems.
And the Xianzhou? Naturally, it had to solve the Cloud Knights' worries so they could serve on the front lines with peace of mind.
You couldn't have Cloud Knights stationed at the front lines only to have their homes attacked from behind, right? Or have something go wrong with their spouse?
That was the front line. If something really happened… the losses couldn't be measured in patrol tokens.
If a third party ever appeared and tried to destroy a Cloud Knight's family…
People like that would be disrupting military morale. Their intentions couldn't be small. Were they sent by hostile forces?
Were they worth five hundred thousand patrol tokens? Throw them all into the Deep Confinement Prison and interrogate them carefully first.
To protect Cloud Knights' families, the Xianzhou could be said to have considered everything very thoroughly.
And what about the Cloud Knights?
Usually, once their relationship was stable and they were certain about marriage, they would start preparing documents the very next day.
From the day they joined the Cloud Knights, they had been learning one thing, obedience to military orders.
As time passed, they developed straightforward personalities, with no scheming thoughts in their hearts.
They were going to get married sooner or later anyway. Submitting the report one day earlier meant their spouse could start receiving patrol tokens one day earlier.
Tengxiao thought this couldn't be more reasonable.
Who could refuse patrol tokens and more than ten days of paid leave?
Many Cloud Knights submitted marriage reports in advance.
Especially a commander at Jingliu's level. The patrol tokens given to her spouse would only be more, not less.
As long as Jingliu remained a Cloud Knight, her spouse could just lie back and relax without worry.
It was just that… Jingliu's romantic partner… was that person…
Tengxiao took a deep breath.
Back when the Marshal came to the Luofu and spoke about the existence of the former Marshal, she had said, "No need to pay him special attention. Just treat him as a retiree living out his days."
With just that one sentence, Tengxiao understood what she meant.
There was no need to give that person any special treatment. Just follow the rules and regulations.
Aside from his failed attempt to transfer the former Marshal to the archives, he had never made any exceptions for him.
Therefore, according to regulations, Jingliu's personal application did not need to be submitted to the Marshal.
As Jingliu's direct superior, Tengxiao only needed a signature and a stamp to settle it.
The moment he heard that person call Jingliu "big sister," he had already anticipated this day.
But when Tengxiao actually received the sheet of paper Jingliu handed over, he completely lost the ability to sleep.
According to Xianzhou regulations, it normally took more than three months for a Cloud Knight to officially get married.
If it were the former Marshal… then those three months probably wouldn't be necessary.
As long as they wanted, they could marry at any time.
But Jingliu didn't seem to know that person's identity…
Tengxiao tossed and turned, thinking it over again and again, before finally taking out the document pouch handed to him by the former Marshal's subordinate.
Inside was a property transfer agreement the former Marshal had left for Jingliu.
How many patrol tokens was it worth?
The generals who had followed the former Marshal possessed wealth far beyond the upper executives of the Interastral Peace Corporation.
So what about a lover?
Tengxiao didn't even dare imagine the value of that document pouch, nor did he dare leave it on the Luofu. He had no choice but to bring it with him to the front lines.
He stayed up overnight printing all the forms required for Cloud Knight marriage registration and packed them into another document pouch.
The former Marshal seemed unwilling to reveal his identity, so how could he reasonably help the two skip the three-month observation period and get married as soon as possible?
Tengxiao felt that only the Marshal could be the one to break the rules.
The Marshal showing concern for the Envoys of the "Reignbow Arbiter" and making an exception to let them marry early, that sounded perfectly reasonable.
So the next day, Tengxiao submitted the application to the Marshal.
The Marshal said nothing. She slowly reached out, picked up the application on the desk, and began reading it.
Tengxiao had already read it earlier and knew it was the standard template used for Cloud Knight marriages.
It listed both of their names and identification numbers, recorded in detail when they confirmed their relationship, and stated that their relationship was stable and fully met the requirements for marriage.
After another three months, if the Cloud Knight was still in a relationship with the person listed in the report, they would need to submit another application.
Then they would collect a series of required forms, go from department to department getting stamps.
Then they would go to the Alchemy Commission for a medical examination. Finally, after submitting all documents back to the Cloud Knight leadership for review and confirmation, they could go to the Commission of Balance to officially register the marriage.
Occasionally, some Cloud Knights would complain that the marriage process was too complicated.
But compared to the patrol tokens deposited into their accounts every month after marriage… what was there to complain about?
Tengxiao stood quietly where he was until the Marshal finished reading the templated application again and again. Only then did she look up at him.
Tengxiao immediately took out the document pouch he had prepared the previous night and placed it on the desk with both hands.
"Marshal, these are all the forms required for a Cloud Knight marriage..."
Then he took out the hot potato he had brought from the Luofu to the front lines and handed it over with both hands.
"And this is the asset he left for her."
Hua lowered her gaze and glanced at the two document pouches on the table, then asked, "When did Jingliu submit this application to you?"
The moment Tengxiao heard this, he quickly replied, "Last night, after Imbibitor Lunae and the pilot Baiheng worked together to kill Shuhu."
The former Marshal had said he would respect Jingliu's wishes and would not break Cloud Knight rules for her.
Tengxiao also thought highly of Jingliu and hoped his subordinate would remain with the Cloud Knights.
He understood his superior. The Marshal didn't even like blocking off the Starskiff Haven during her travels and had never shown favoritism toward the former Marshal. She probably wouldn't let Jingliu leave the Cloud Knights either.
But all of this was just Tengxiao's guess. He couldn't be sure what the Marshal was really thinking, so he could only do his best to speak on behalf of his subordinate.
Jingliu had absolutely not used official working hours to handle personal matters. She was definitely a commander who kept public and private matters separate and fulfilled her duties responsibly.
Hua thought for a moment, then said, "Have her come see me in half an hour."
As for why not right now… the reason was simple. Hua needed time to organize her thoughts.
She watched Tengxiao leave and fell into deep thought.
Her guardian hadn't told her anything. How much did Jingliu actually know? Hua had no idea.
But she knew that Jingliu submitting this application at such a special point in time… her goal definitely wasn't just to marry her guardian.
She could have submitted the report to Tengxiao back on the Luofu. Why wait until they were already on the front lines and about to return to the Xianzhou?
Hua tapped the desk lightly with her fingertip and reached a conclusion.
Jingliu was doing this to see her.
Then the question came. Why did Jingliu want to see her? What reason made it necessary?
On the surface, the Marshal and a Luofu diviner had no connection. Could it be because of Daiyang and Chanzhen? They were both Cloud Knights, so it wouldn't be strange if Jingliu could see through their past identities.
An unbelievable guess formed in Hua's mind.
Then what about the guardian those two were protecting? He must have had inseparable ties with the upper ranks of the Xianzhou.
And then there was the apparent age gap between her and the guardian…
Hua, "..."
Jingliu couldn't possibly be… coming to seek her approval and blessing, could she?
She sucked in a sharp breath.
She obviously hadn't adopted her guardian, yet after all the twists and turns, she had somehow still become her guardian's guardian…
Hua forced herself to keep thinking.
Based on Jingliu's age…
Hua's expression froze.
Wait, what was Jingliu going to talk to her about later?
About how she was close to falling into mara due to her age, yet wanted to marry a twenty-year-old youngster? And also obtain approval and blessings from his guardian?
Hua, "..."
'Maybe I should just go fight abominations instead.'
'If that didn't work, I could pilot a colossus and blow up a planet.'
'Or at the very least, go argue with the Interstellar Community. Why did I have to face a situation this awkward by myself?!'
Just as she was thinking this, Hua's jade abacus communicator rang.
She quickly picked it up and glanced at the screen. It was from a subordinate she had sent to investigate the jade abacus and the neutron gun.
Hua hurriedly read through the report, her expression gradually stiffening.
Right after that, a voice call from Guanliang came in.
Hua stared at the name on the screen and only answered just before the call automatically disconnected.
The other party asked, "Shuhu is dead?"
She gave an affirmative reply.
Shuhu had been killed jointly by the Vidyadhara High Elder Imbibitor Lunae and the Emanator of "Elation," Baiheng. Afterward, logistics personnel were sent to handle the aftermath.
During the process, Baiheng had nearly suffered a fatal injury, but fortunately after treatment from the Vidyadhara High Elder, she was now fine.
At present, the Vidyadhara High Elder had already returned to the Luofu ahead of schedule, accompanied by Cloud Knights and logistics personnel.
The rest would remain temporarily to rest and would begin their return journey in a few days.
For some reason, Guanliang fell silent.
Hua asked softly, "What's wrong?"
Guanliang spoke with difficulty. "I just feel that Shuhu shouldn't have been alive."
Hua felt helpless. "I know what you're thinking. You think someone as thorough as him couldn't possibly have forgotten to deal with Shuhu, but…"
She recalled that sword pieced together by craftsmen, and the bloodstains on it.
From those remaining traces of blood, Hua could easily deduce her guardian's true cause of death.
A sharp blade cutting open the carotid artery. Death from excessive blood loss.
Someone that proud… what kind of feelings did he carry when he chose death?
Hua couldn't imagine it.
She closed her eyes briefly and said, "At that time… in that state, there must have been things he didn't fully think through."
Guanliang sighed. "…That's not a matter of poor consideration."
Hearing this, Hua asked back, "Then what is it?"
Guanliang stopped speaking.
Hua didn't want to doubt the elder who had always stayed by her side.
But the report she had just read forced her to face reality.
Hua's voice turned cold.
"I had someone investigate the jade abacus and the neutron gun earlier. I found a problem."
"Guanliang, one week before his accident, after you were reinstated, what were you doing in Xuling?"
"Who erased the location data from your jade abacus?"
Through the communicator, Hua could clearly hear his breathing.
It only faltered for a moment, but that was enough to reveal the issue.
Hua lowered her eyes, organizing the information.
"Looks like when he suspended you back then… it wasn't as simple as it appeared."
"He wasn't just trying to avoid involving the Galaxy Rangers. It was also because of you, right?"
"He was avoiding you? He was the superior and you were the subordinate. Why would he avoid you?"
Seeing Guanliang remain silent, Hua paused, then tried to speak as calmly as possible.
"Guanliang, I don't want to suspect you."
"It's just… whether it's you or the Reignbow Arbiter, both of you have been keeping things from me."
"With the relationship I had with him, don't I have the right to know? Don't I deserve to know the truth of his death?"
She waited patiently for a while before finally getting Guanliang's answer.
"He wasn't avoiding me. He was cutting off his own retreat."
"To be honest, I never knew how to tell you about this…"
"Let me give you an example. It's like when you try to save someone close to you, searching everywhere for miracle cures, until you've sent off countless people…"
Guanliang suddenly stopped, his voice turning hoarse.
"You found the solution."
"You discovered that the miracle cure… was yourself..."
After nearly a thousand years, Hua finally received the answer she had been seeking.
Her senses seemed cut off, and she could only vaguely hear the footsteps of Cloud Knights outside the tent.
On the other end, Guanliang continued, "Just like you thought."
"He could solve the mara condition."
"So the moment I was reinstated, I brought people to Xuling. I didn't see him. I only saw the Reignbow Arbiter… and the blood he left behind."
Guanliang gave a bitter laugh.
"This was too big of a blow for him."
"To be honest, if it were me, I wouldn't even know how to keep living…"
Hua's face was completely pale. She didn't even realize when she had hung up the call.
The Reignbow Arbiter had once said they would meet again.
After nearly a thousand years, they had indeed reunited.
So what now?
After that person regained his memories, would he leave them again?
Hua thought she couldn't wait anymore.
Just like the others, she could no longer wait another hundred years. Or another thousand.
Hua lowered her gaze to the Feather Dust in her hand.
Fortunately, this time was different.
She had the Feather Dust.
Hua picked up her communicator and issued a new order to Tengxiao.
"Return to the Luofu now."
She picked up the application form and the two document pouches from the desk and walked outside the tent.
By sheer coincidence, she ran into Jingliu face to face.
Hua forced a smile onto her face.
"I've seen your application. Let's go, we're returning to the Luofu..."