Dan Feng's expression was complicated.
In his heart, Zero was first a close friend, and second, the former Marshal of the Xianzhou.
The two of them had many things in common, so he had never really thought about whether there was a generation gap between them.
Dan Feng forced himself to finish reading the article, looking a little dazed.
As expected of the former Marshal.
How was he supposed to reply?
The High Elder frowned deeply. After a while, he came up with an idea.
He scrolled through his screen for a long time before finally finding a group chat he had muted ages ago.
It was the group chat with the Dragon Elders.
Back then, they had been bitter enemies.
Now, new Vidyadhara were being born every so often, and the Dragon Elders had completely changed their attitude. They constantly praised "Imbibitor Lunae" in the group chat.
Dan Feng scrolled through the messages. The screen was full of the Dragon Elders' stickers.
The background was several red roses, with flashing words above them.
The High Elder shuddered.
Flowers this cheap didn't even deserve to be brought into his courtyard...
Zero definitely wouldn't like them.
As Dan Feng kept scrolling, he suddenly realized something.
Could Zero be worried about him?
Worried that what happened in Scalegorge Waterscape would happen again?
Dan Feng slowed down and fell into thought.
If something happened to Baiheng, would he turn her into a Vidyadhara?
Yes.
How could he just let Baiheng die?
Although the current Marshal had erased part of Zero's memories...
If Dan Feng needed it, all he had to do was ask, and Zero would never refuse.
Besides, Yingxing was a good example.
Yingxing should have been highly valued by the upper ranks of the Luofu, even by the current Marshal. But he belonged to a short-lived species with a limited lifespan. After becoming a Vidyadhara...
Yingxing would receive part of Dan Feng's power. Once he underwent rebirth, the title of High Elder would exist in name only, and the Dragon Elders would disappear.
His friend would inherit his subordinates, the connections within the Alchemy Commission, and his assets in place of his reincarnation.
Would Yingxing become the Head of the Artisanship Commission?
On second thought, forget it.
He wasn't suited for that position. Besides, the Alchemy Commission alone would keep him busy enough.
Then what about Baiheng?
After thinking for a while, Dan Feng realized the only thing he could leave Baiheng was patrol tokens.
Then again, Baiheng always spent more than she earned. Leaving her some patrol tokens wasn't a bad idea.
Wait.
His friend was lying in a hospital room.
Nothing had happened to her.
She was an Emanator. Maybe, just as Jing Yuan had guessed, she would live even longer.
Dan Feng forcefully pulled himself out of his thoughts and looked back at his jade communicator.
He logged onto the Star Network and found a long inspirational article that perfectly matched Zero's outlook.
["Only Those Who Accept Everything That Happens Have the Strongest Mindset"]
He paused, then added the words and sticker the Dragon Elders loved to use.
[Let's encourage each other.]
[Handshake.gif]
The other side first replied with an ellipsis before immediately withdrawing the message.
The screen showed that they were typing.
Dan Feng waited and waited, but no reply came.
Several minutes later, the other party copied his sticker exactly.
[Zero: Handshake.gif]
Dan Feng put away his jade communicator, left his office, and made his rounds with his subordinates.
At five in the morning, he arrived at Baiheng's hospital room and met his friend again.
Seeing him, Baiheng quickly made a gesture for him to be quiet.
Dan Feng lightened his footsteps.
Someone was lying asleep beside the bed.
Their hair was almost the same color as the blanket.
It was Jing Yuan.
He was sitting in a chair on the right side of the bed, curled up stiffly in the corner near the headboard.
Dan Feng walked over to the other side and quietly asked, "When did he get back?"
Baiheng held up four fingers.
Dan Feng nodded thoughtfully.
'But... how did you know?'
Jing Yuan always thought things through. As the Cloud Knights' famous strategist, once he learned you were injured, he would naturally know you needed rest.
'There was no way he would carelessly enter the room and wake you.'
'Unless...'
'You stayed awake until four in the morning and happened to run into Jing Yuan.'
Like always, Dan Feng reached under Baiheng's pillow and pulled out her still-warm jade communicator.
"I told you."
"You can't stay up late."
"You're not following the doctor's orders."
Baiheng grabbed the blanket pitifully and whispered,
"I couldn't fall asleep."
Dan Feng remained unmoved.
Under the foxian's gaze, he slipped her jade communicator into his pocket.
"Now you can."
The next day, everyone learned that Jing Yuan had returned to the Luofu.
General Tengxiao intercepted him before anyone else could, made him write an application to return to duty, and forced him through the entire process.
Only after watching Jing Yuan work at the General's Residence for more than a month did he finally show mercy and approve his leave.
That wait lasted until Baiheng was discharged from the hospital.
The five of them officially held a welcome banquet for Jing Yuan.
The location was one of Dan Feng's buildings.
As usual, the High Elder reserved the entire venue and chose the best seats in the top-floor restaurant overlooking the view.
As they drank together, Zero took the initiative to bring up social skills.
Thinking of both General Tengxiao's attitude and Zero's, Dan Feng came to a conclusion.
Jing Yuan would become the next Marshal of the Xianzhou.
'Wait...'
Dan Feng's eyelid twitched.
'Zero teaching social skills?'
Learning them from him would be pointless.
Out of the corner of his eye, Dan Feng noticed Yingxing, who was quietly eating.
He had almost forgotten.
Besides Jing Yuan, Yingxing also needed these kinds of social skills.
After thinking it over, Dan Feng ignored his past arguments with the Dragon Elders, recalled his interactions with the previous High Elders, and joined Zero and Jing Yuan's conversation.
"If you meet someone with the same rank as you..."
He and Zero took turns explaining their almost nonexistent social skills in detail to Jing Yuan.
For example, when you saw something unusual, don't call it expensive.
Call it rare.
Or if you came across something you couldn't accept, whether an idea or an object, don't criticize it.
Just say it was... unique.
Zero nodded.
"Take your emotions out of it before making a judgment."
Jingliu: "..."
She slowly put down her chopsticks and suddenly asked, "So... is that why you called those 'Abomination remains' unique?"
Dan Feng froze.
'Zero, think of something!'
'Never mind.'
'You're completely under your wife's thumb.'
Zero smiled and picked some food for Jingliu.
"...Of course not. I rarely use that kind of social trick."
After hearing that, Jingliu's expression softened.
The corner of Dan Feng's mouth twitched.
Rarely used it.
But he had used it on Jingliu.
'I said Zero is under his wife's thumb, but Jingliu, you're pretty easy to comfort too.'
Just as he was thinking that, Jingliu smiled faintly, picked up her chopsticks, and accepted the food Zero had given her.
Dan Feng suddenly understood.
So Jingliu hadn't been angry at all.
It was just a little game between a couple.
Night gradually fell, and the banquet was nearing its end.
Feeling drunk, Dan Feng pulled Yingxing out onto the balcony.
Looking down, all he could see were countless swaying points of light.
He steadied himself, sighed, and said regretfully, "Yingxing, look."
"Now... this is all that's left."
Yingxing's eyes widened.
"Only this building is left? Then..."
Dan Feng shook his head.
"No."
"I mean the buildings within our line of sight."
Yingxing was speechless for a long time.
He looked at the endless sea of buildings.
Dan Feng sighed beside him.
Yingxing didn't know what expression to make.
No one could truly understand another person's feelings.
People could never completely understand each other.
He couldn't relate to other people.
Especially rich people.
Dan Feng's mind was muddled with alcohol. Only after saying that did he realize what Yingxing was thinking.
He fell silent.
After a while, he spoke with difficulty, "Yingxing, I haven't fallen so far that I only have one building left."
"In the future, someone will manage everything for you."
Yingxing frowned.
Why did that sound like he was leaving his last words?
He didn't want to hear Dan Feng say such depressing things.
Unfortunately, drunk people weren't reasonable.
No matter what Yingxing said, Dan Feng stayed lost in his own thoughts.
While explaining how his assets were arranged, he even used Zero as an example.
Like Dan Feng, Zero had little interest in managing his wealth.
He usually only used one bank card.
The interest alone was enough for them to live comfortably.
Then he moved on to his own reincarnation.
Dan Feng waved his sleeve, swaying where he stood.
Yingxing's heart jumped, and he quickly reached out to steady him.
Dan Feng said, "I've already picked an academy for him."
"When the time comes... you'll need to attend the interview with him and pass the assessment."
Yingxing looked confused.
"Huh? An interview?"
Dan Feng glanced at him.
"That's the academy's rule."
"Students have to pass four major exams from enrollment until adulthood."
"Their guardian also has to attend interviews."
For a moment, Yingxing thought he had heard wrong.
What was this supposed to mean?
He had become Dan Feng's reincarnation's... father?
Wait... what if he failed the interview?!
Dan Feng continued, "I plan to reduce his spending."
"Before graduation, he'll only get ten thousand patrol tokens a month as pocket money."
"After becoming an adult..."
"One hundred thousand a day."
"That... should definitely be enough."
The next day, Dan Feng started writing his will, preparing the way for both Yingxing and himself.
His assets would all go to Yingxing.
As for his reincarnation?
There was no need.
He only needed to receive patrol tokens every day.
From the personal attendants assigned to him at birth to the health management team responsible for his meals and exercise, Dan Feng personally selected every one of them.
When Dan Feng and his subordinates finished revising the seventh version of the will, the statue of Yubie had been fully restored.
The first Imbibitor Lunae stood with his spear raised high, as though fighting against invading enemies.
Immediately afterward, the Dragon Elders submitted several proposals for Dan Feng's own statue.
After thinking it over, he chose the design showing himself treating patients.
Some time later, the death row prisoners held by the Ten Lords Commission were transferred elsewhere one after another.
The institute where Zero worked was expanded several times.
Dan Feng guessed they were constructing Starskiff Haven.
That would make it easier for other Xianzhou ships to transport death row prisoners there.
Knowing Zero, there was no way he would let them die so easily.
Even the "Plague Author's remains" dismantled from Cangcheng would probably be turned into useful energy.
Just as Dan Feng expected, on the day construction at the institute officially ended, the Luofu's strongest forces gathered at the Ten Lords Commission.
When he arrived, he happened to see Zero.
Zero was staring at a gray-haired girl before him.
For the first time, he openly showed anger.
"Hui Feng..."
"Is there anything you want to say to me?"
"Ninety-nine thousand nine hundred..."
Zero seemed unable to continue.
His gaze shifted away from the empty air toward the gray-haired girl.
Grinding his teeth, he said, "You kidnapped that many people?!"
After saying that, the two of them walked off into a corner.
No one knew what they talked about.
When Zero returned to Dan Feng, his usual gentle and friendly expression had already returned.
Jingliu arrived a little later.
She looked at Zero for a moment before pulling Dan Feng into their conversation.
"You're not good at interrogations."
"How about Dan Feng and I teach you?"
Zero hesitated for a moment but didn't refuse.
Dan Feng could only cooperate.
Whenever Jingliu cut into someone, he explained to Zero which parts hurt the most and which injuries counted as minor wounds.
Amid the shrill screams, Jingliu smiled.
"There are still several major criminals..."
"...who can't even bear hearing my name."
Only then did Dan Feng realize that Jingliu might...
Actually be trying to cheer Zero up.
Somehow, she had seen through Zero's perfectly calm expression and noticed something hidden underneath.
Dan Feng: "..."
'I really don't understand you two.'
From that day onward, more than half the cells in the Ten Lords Commission were empty.
The following year, Dan Feng's statue was completed.
Unlike Zero, he didn't find it embarrassing at all.
Instead, he openly invited his friends to see it.
The six of them gathered at Scalegorge Waterscape.
At Jing Yuan and Baiheng's suggestion, they took turns posing for photos with the statue.
Holding her jade communicator with both hands as though it were some priceless treasure, Baiheng exaggeratedly said, "Thanks to the Sword Champion and the High Elder, we've made it into storybooks too..."
Yingxing bumped shoulders with Jing Yuan and joked, "Now it's all up to our General Jing Yuan..."
Jing Yuan replied, "...I'm only a lieutenant."
Dan Feng joined in teasing him.
"That's right."
"It's all up to Jing Yuan now."
"Maybe..."
"...we'll even end up in the history books."
In recent years, the Xianzhou had seen very little war.
Dan Feng knew it was only temporary.
The Alliance was waiting.
Soon, it finally got the chance to wipe out the Borisin in one decisive battle.
General Tengxiao of the Luofu led the Cloud Knights to war.
When they returned victorious, Tengxiao would step down before everyone and hand over his position to the successor who had earned great military achievements.
Without any surprise, the Alliance quickly won the war.
Tengxiao deliberately announced his retirement on Jing Yuan's two-hundredth birthday.
No one on the Luofu objected.
After all, Jing Yuan knew his father better than anyone.
Tengxiao held a banquet for the new General of the Luofu and personally introduced Jing Yuan to everyone.
The other five occupied a table of their own.
Jingliu smiled faintly.
"'Shattered'... I like it very much."
"Especially its name."
Yingxing grinned proudly and puffed out his chest.
"Of course."
"Only the Luofu's Sword Champion can bring out its full power."
But as he laughed, his face soon became troubled.
"Zero... I could only modify the handle of Master's dagger..."
Zero was pouring wine for Jingliu and answered casually, "Hm? Sure."
After making rounds with the guests, Jing Yuan finally came over.
Tengxiao had dragged him around for toast after toast.
He hadn't even managed to eat a bite before being filled with alcohol.
He let out a relieved sigh.
The expression on his face was more lively than he had ever shown in public.
"Come back after you're done," Baiheng said as she handed him an opaque ceramic cup.
"We saved some food for you."
"Drink some floating sheep's milk. It'll help with the alcohol."
Jing Yuan accepted it and forced himself to drink a few mouthfuls.
Then, urged on by everyone, he raised the empty cup and toasted them.
Dan Feng watched him leave.
For some reason, he suddenly felt a little grateful.
In his lifetime...
He had actually lived to see this day.
What came next?
Only Zero remained.
Dan Feng cautiously asked about the gray-haired girl he had met once.
Zero replied,
"She has things to do."
"She's an independent individual."
"I respect her choice."
Dan Feng slowly set down his wine cup.
Zero...
Was different from him.
Dan Feng asked himself.
Could he do the same?
No.
Not even his own reincarnation would be an exception.
From which academy to attend to which electives and clubs to join every semester, Dan Feng had planned everything for his future self.
The two of them had completely different beliefs.
Zero was immortal.
To him, death was actually a good thing.
He respected every independent individual.
Even his subordinates, who followed only his will and lived for him...
He still treated them as independent people.
He wanted them to live for themselves.
Whether they chose life or death, he would never interfere.
Thinking of this, Dan Feng lowered his eyes.
He would help Zero untie the knot in his heart.
Dan Feng heard himself say, "I see."
"That's good."
Dan Feng revised his will again and again, trying to make it as perfect as possible.
So that he could leave his friends with a smooth road ahead.
A year passed.
Ten years.
A hundred years.
Several hundred years.
Finally, the day of his rebirth arrived.
He bid farewell to his subordinates, his people, and his friends.
In his final moments, he decided to speak privately with Zero and Yingxing.
First...
Zero.
The first thing Dan Feng talked about was Jingliu.
"She's obsessed with the sword..."
Then he talked about the rest of their friends.
Zero quietly listened for a while before asking, "What about you?"
Dan Feng froze.
Seeing this, Zero sighed.
"Think about yourself more."
Dan Feng laughed helplessly.
"What is this?"
"The pot calling the kettle black?"
"No."
"I'm the kettle."
He sighed as well.
"Zero..."
"You should think about yourself more too."