-"Eno! How's your work?"-Baiheng appeared behind me from nowhere, instantly catching my hair and playing with it.
-"Done. I submitted my report to General, so I'm free now."-I answered her, ignoring her actions.
-"Perfect! Come with me."-She grabbed my hand and started running toward Jingliu's house.
Sighing slightly, I let myself be dragged while looking around me.
It's been ten years since I joined the Xianzhou Alliance. For eight of those years, I learned their knowledge, quickly catching up on everything I lacked, and after that, I joined the Divination Commission and the Ten-Lords Commission due to my special talents. While my first job was the official one, the tasks I did for the Ten-Lords Commission were no ordinary ones.
In the Divination Commission, I used my Cyclops Bloodline and Astrology from the Lands Between to modify their existing technology, managing to achieve increases of about 3% in the accuracy of divination during those two years. While this might not sound like that much, it was more than what the whole Divination Commission on all Xianzhou Ships achieved in the past century.
Such innovation caused the Xianzhou Yuque to pressure Teng Xiao to send me there, but he rejected them, using my status as Jingliu's disciple as an excuse. In the end, two of them settled on me becoming a member of the Omniscience Sapientia Academe, participating in lectures remotely using a hologram.
Yet, while this brought me a rather great amount of fame, my other work was what attracted the eyes of all Generals and even Marshal herself. With my Authority of Rebirth, I'm capable of achieving one of the main pursuits of the whole Xianzhou Alliance, granting a true and peaceful death.
Xianzhou has a somewhat strange view of death, complicated even further by their belief in karma. In their eyes, death is achieved when both soul and body are laid to rest. The body aspect is easy to understand, as it happens when its life functions cease, but the soul is different. The soul consists of memories and will; one contains karma, the other 'self' of a person.
Additionally, in the eyes of Xianzhou, body and soul are intrinsically linked, causing both to exist in synergy where one affects the other. So this is where the problem begins: Xianzhou's immortality. Curse of Abundance causes their bodies to never naturally die; they need to be 'soothed' before the Mara occurs, but that leaves the soul, which is also afflicted by Mara, something seen by the influence of memories and feelings on becoming Mara-struck.
If the soul is left alone after the body dies, it'll exist in that space, often being consumed by beings such as Heliobus, causing them to suffer for eternity. Similarly, when a person succumbs to mara, their selves are lost into eternal madness, never to find peace.
So the soul needs to be transferred into the Hall of Karma, where the memories and self are separated and judged. For a normal person, their memories will be preserved in the Hall to be kept as knowledge, while their selves will be put into a stasis. Sinners, meanwhile, will pay their karmic debts by working in the Ten-Lords Commission.
And here is why my Authority of Rebirth can grant those souls true death. By being burned by my flames, they won't be left to exist in endless suffering of immortality, nor will they meet with Nihility or Destruction; they will be granted a new beginning: the renewal of the natural cycle of life and death. And while this alone made my ability important, there was one more aspect that was the real reason for the attention on me; I could grant release to those Mara-struck.
Traditional burial procedures don't work on Mara-struck, as their selves are lost to madness, but my flames can grant them continuation in the next life. As such, the Ten Lords specially appointed me as a Judge and often send me to grant death to Mara-struck soldiers, earning me the title of Angel of Death among soldiers, a title that is a sign of ultimate respect for Xianzhou people who revere death as their ultimate goal.
So my work life on Xianzhou was rather rich, but I didn't neglect the private one either.
-"We are here!"-Baiheng kicked the doors open, pulling me into Jingliu's home.
-"Mhmm, don't make a mess."-Jingliu looked at her with doting eyes, then turned to me, her gaze turning even softer.-"Welcome back."
-"I'm back, but stop looking at me like a child."-I gave a wry smile.
Ever since I came here, Jingliu was appointed as my guardian, causing her to fully consider and treat me as a child.
-"How's your day?"-She ignored my plea.
-"Good. I finished my job, so I'll be free for the foreseeable future."
-"Then I'll take you to train on the front."-Jingliu decided.
-"Sure. Where's Hua?"-I looked around.
-"In the kitchen."
I nodded; Hua was the only one who knew how to cook here.
-"Right, General told me that Mobius made a mess again."
-"How bad is it this time?"
-"If not for her situation, she would be executed."
-"Sigh. That's why I suggested making her lab in the Shackling Prison."
-"She will be moved there."
-"I'll speak with her later."
As Jingliu and I talked, others of the High-Cloud Quintet came to mooch off a meal, so after Hua finished preparing everything, we sat around the table and started eating. During the meal, I finally learned the reason why Baiheng was so excited.
-"There is news of Abundance Axis!"-She told everyone.
-"Oh."-Yingxing reacted.
Dan Feng only nodded, feeling it was natural.
-"Hey! Show some reaction!"-Baiheng pouted.
-"Baiheng, we knew about this for some time already."-Jing Yuan rolled his eyes.-"Eno took part in divinations on this matter."
-"I did."-I confirmed.
-"You…"-Baiheng looked around.-"Am I the last to know?"
-"No."-Jingliu looked at her.-"Hua should be unaware."
-"Mhmm, be sure to be careful during your campaign."-She nodded and reminded everyone.
-"We will."-Jing Yuan replied.-"So, do you want to know our mission?"
Everyone looked at him and nodded.
-"We have predicted a joint attack of Wingweavers and Houyhnhnms against our Luofu. Our job is to shatter their alliance. To prevent them from escaping, Luofu will proceed on its route as planned, while we will be given command over the Chanqiang Guard to break them before they can become a threat."
-"I bet you already have a plan."-Dan Feng skipped the buildup.
-"Yes. We need to divide them, and doing so will be easy if we exploit their cultures. We just need to attack their supply lines unnoticed."
-"Easier said than done."-Yingxing rolled his eyes.-"Acting deep within enemy territory, where we can't easily retreat and can be bogged down by their regenerative powers, you call that easy?"
-"I have to agree with him."-Dan Feng seconded.-"There is no way to keep the force of the Chanqiang Guard hidden from the enemy; it's pure suicide."
Jingliu didn't speak, just looked at Jing Yuan while eating.
-"Have more faith in me."-The strategist complained.-"I understand what you pointed out, but I neither plan to fully hide nor fight them directly. Wingweavers are the leaders of this alliance, and their views of Residents of Dirt are rather famous, so I hope to make them the attackers in the eyes of others."
-"I get your idea, and it's a good plan, but it still has two failure points: speed and concealment."-I waved my crystal hand to create a projection of the region's star map.-"From the data we know, the supply lines are indeed not that well defended; after all, Abominations of Abundance live from pillaging, not farming. The problem is that the front is not something we can just pass by unnoticed, and going around would take too long."
-"True, but don't we now have a way to solve this problem?"-He looked at me and smiled.-"While teleporting the whole Luofu is too much, just the Chanqiang Guard should be possible for you, right?"
-"You truly like ordering people around, huh? I can do this, but I need solid coordinates where a gate can be established."
-"Perfect. I already discussed it with General, and he approved my idea. You, Jingliu, and Baiheng will slip past the enemy and open a fly far to the enemy backlines. There you'll open a gate for quick hit-and-run style attacks targeting slave caravans belonging to Residents of Dirt."
-"I want a raise."-I told him with a blank face.
-"Where is your youthful passion? How can you demand something like that for doing your duty?"-Jing Yuan pretended to be outraged.
-"I have a wife and children to care for."-I shrugged.
-"This… I get the child, as you are here, but wife…"-Baiheng looked around the table.-"Are you talking about Hua or Jingliu?"
Her words caused the atmosphere to freeze, Hua looking away with a red face, while Jingliu narrowed her eyes, waiting for me to speak. But before I could, Jing Yuan stood up with even bigger mock outrage.
-"I treat you as my Shidi, and you want to be my Shizhang?!"
-"Baiheng, you can expect no sweets in the next year."-I told her while ignoring my Shixiong.
-"No! I'm sorry!"-She instantly knelt and hugged my waist.
-"That depends on Jingliu."
-"Mhmm, let her suffer for a month."-Jingliu nodded, announcing the sentence for her friend.
-"Noooo!!!"-Baiheng collapsed to the ground, her whole body greying out.
-"You can also go on a diet."-I looked at Jing Yuan, who suddenly became quiet.
-"Can we negotiate?"-He asked weakly.
-"In private."-I nodded.
-"Ehem. Can we return to the main subject?"-Dan Feng complained, trying to hide his act of watching the soap opera.
-"So do you object to my plan?"-Jing Yuan asked us.
-"No, when do we start?"-Jingliu responded.
-"Tomorrow. We only have four months, so no wasting time."
With that, our next work was decided.
-"Is this place good?"-Baiheng looked from the pilot console, watching me operate a small Divination Matrix.
-"Yes, the gate here wouldn't be noticed. After I'm done with it, fly thirty degrees right and seven down; five light-years in that direction is a lone star system where we can hide for a while."-I answered her while preparing to jump off the Starskiff.
-"Roger that!"
Leaving the small boat-like craft, I transformed into my Phoenix form and flew to where the gate was to be opened. Spreading my wings, I quickly constructed crystal nodes of a formation that would support my spell, causing a small nebula to appear around me. I had done this so many times already that I could do it while asleep; as such, in just one short hour, the spell gate was completed.
When it lit up with an azure glow, hundreds of Starskiffs started to pass through it, heading for the enemy not even a light-year away. One of the crafts stopped by our side, establishing quick communication.
-"Thanks for your work. This will be the last one."-Jing Yuan's voice sounded through the communication.-"Next time, we'll force them into a direct battle; make sure to be ready to strike from behind."
-"We won't be late."-Jingliu nodded, her sword never leaving her hands.
After they left, we also headed out. A few hours later, we landed on a planet I had found before, surprised to find it inhabited. Luckily, it wasn't some secret camp of Abominations, but rather a research facility hidden far from the bustle of the civilization.
Baiheng landed the Starskiff near it, identifying ourselves and members of the Xianzhou Alliance to not cause trouble for the research base staff. After quick verification, we were invited inside, and with nothing better to do, we accepted this invitation.
Looking around the base as we entered it, I saw a lot of cutting-edge equipment, most of it to assist in biological research. What worried me was the obvious traces of Abundance present around, meaning that whoever worked here they definitely touched upon what would be a taboo in the Xianzhou Alliance.
-"Welcome. I apologize for my poor reception, but I rarely see guests."-A young woman dressed in an elegant cheongsam greeted us.
-"It's us who appeared without notice."-Jingliu shook her head.-"Due to the Alliance military operation happening not far from here, we hope to stay here for a week or so. I hope you don't mind."
-"Please make yourself at home; just be careful with my equipment."
-"Thank you. I'm Jingliu, this is Baiheng, and this is Eno."
-"I heard of you, Sword Champion, and this lady appears to be a follower of Trailblaze."-The woman smiled lightly.-"And this young man… Fascinating, I never saw an existence like you."
She approached me, extending her hand to touch me, but I stepped back, feeling her emotions becoming chaotic.
-"Miss, please don't do something that can harm our fragile acquaintance."-I narrowed my eyes.
-"Right. It was unbecoming of me. I'm Ruan Mei, a scientist living here to find the true nature of life."
After this somewhat strange first impression, we returned to our respective tasks. Jingliu and Baiheng checked the Starskiff, monitoring the reaction of Abominations after the raid, while I continued making my divinations, mapping out our next route. As I worked, Ruan Mei observed me with unconcealed interest, a look that reminded me of Mobius.
-"How can I help you?"-I looked up from my Matrix after finishing yet another calculation.
-"I'd hope to analyze you."-She was direct.
-"May I know some details of your research first?"
-"Sure."-She nodded and briefly explained her work.
Putting it in one sentence: she tried to recreate her parents from nothing, mapping their memories and genetic information to revive them. To Alliance, this research was forbidden, but it didn't matter to me; I found her work a biological attempt to recreate what Heroic Spirits were: a revived snapshot of a person. After I understood her study subject, I mentioned my own understanding of what she set out to achieve, engaging in a discussion with her.
At some point, I even connected with Mobius so she could join us; both of them pursued the secret of life, so they quickly formed a camaraderie. While they differed in their ultimate pursuits, one wanting to delve into the core principles while the other pursuing the infinity of life, they were surprisingly similar in their 'madness' of research.
While two of them discussed the biology, I mostly listened on the side, adding my advice when they touched upon matters of soul and memory, where my specialty lay. Our academic exchange quickly proved fruitful, as Ruan Mei, interested in what a Herrscher was, suggested a plan to help me properly awaken that could be achieved much quicker than the slow accumulation of energy.
She also got her wish in analyzing me, something that made her feel even more chaotic when she was near me, a terrifying mix of possessiveness, scientific interest, and slight academic fellowship, causing me to have chills whenever she got lost in thought while near me.
But, for better or worse, our stay here was short, so before we could even discuss everything that we wanted to, it was time to leave. In the end, under Mobius's insistence, I left a personal entrance to my Azure Dream to Ruan Mei in the form of an elegant piece of jewelry. When asked what peace she wanted, she asked for a ring, wearing it on her right middle finger, saying it was a promise between us to pursue the secrets of the world.