Yunli: "Who are you calling detestable?"
Yunli: "Don't go putting labels on me!"
Yunli: "When did I ever call myself a hero?"
Kinich: "Actually, I'm more curious about why this sword would fear its own master."
Furina de Fontaine: "Could it be that Yanqing has been mistreating his flying sword?"
Yanqing: "That is absolutely impossible!"
Yanqing: "As a swordsman, caring for one's own blade is the most fundamental duty!"
March 7th: "Then why is that?"
March 7th: "It can't be that this flying sword is just a bit of a coward, right?"
Yunli: "Well, that's not entirely impossible."
Yunli: "Some weapons tend to reflect the personality of their masters."
Yunli: "As I see it, perhaps it's because he has fear in his own heart, which in turn breeds cowardice within his flying sword."
Yanqing: "What a joke!"
Yanqing: "Me, afraid?"
Yanqing: "Why don't you tell me what exactly I am afraid of?"
Yunli: "Who knows?"
Yunli: "If there's anything that could make you fear, I bet it would mostly be some incredibly powerful master swordsman, right?"
Stelle: "An incredibly powerful master swordsman?"
Stelle: "I think I heard Dan Heng mention someone like that?"
Dan Heng: "Hmm… perhaps it is her."
March 7th: "Eh?"
March 7th: "There really is someone?"
March 7th: "Could it be that Yanqing ran into that swordsman before and got scared out of his wits?"
Furina de Fontaine: "I'm a bit curious, who are you all talking about?"
Fu Xuan: "This lady has probably guessed it. You mean the former Sword Champion of the Luofu, Jingliu, correct?"
Dan Heng: "Yes, it is her."
Qingque: "Oh my~ now she is an absolute, through-and-through legend!"
Qingque: "I didn't expect Yanqing to have actually crossed paths with her?!"
Qingque: "For real?"
Yunli: "I think I've heard of her—the 'Transfinitum,' who once forged the undefeated glory of the Cloud Knights."
Yunli: "They say her sword has long ceased to be a weapon of the mortal realm!"
Yunli: "It has far surpassed the very limits of swordsmanship!"
Yunli: "Tsk, if there's ever a chance, I'd really love to see what kind of swordsmanship that actually is."
Yanqing: "You wouldn't want to see it. Because for a swordsman, it would likely be a living nightmare…"
Yunli: "Hearing you say that, you really have seen that 'Transfinitum' draw her blade?"
Yunli: "Oh, I get it. It looks like you took quite a blow to your confidence!"
Yanqing: "…."
Yanqing: "I won't deny that."
Yanqing: "I used to be proud and arrogant, believing my own swordplay, if not at the absolute peak, was at least highly advanced."
Yanqing: "But when I saw her sword… I understood."
Yanqing: "The things I prided myself on were, to her, as laughably trivial as a child's playthings."
Lumine: "That… that's that ridiculous?"
Lumine: "Just what kind of sword would that be?"
Feixiao: "Indeed, I'm actually quite curious myself. Just how formidable is the sword of the former Luofu Sword Champion?"
Feixiao: "I'd really love to test my skills against her…"
....
『 Seeing Yunli leave, Stelle shook her head and turned to walk towards the entrance of the Palace of Astrum.
[ Dan Heng, I really thought all the Generals of the Xianzhou were like Jing Yuan… ]
[ But this General Huaiyan is so… uh, so small and frail, like he'd blow away in a gust of wind. ]
[ Is this dried-up old grandpa really one of the Arbiter-Generals? ]
At the entrance of the Palace of Astrum, March 7th finally couldn't help but ask Dan Heng.
[ Each ship of the Xianzhou Alliance has its own duties and specialties. ]
[ The Generals of the Reignbow are not all specialized in leading charges on the battlefield. ]
[ You heard Jing Yuan's introduction just now. General Huaiyan was once the head of the artisans of the Zhuming. ]
Dan Heng explained.
[ Why does he look so incredibly old? ]
Stelle walked over just in time and quickly pressed for answers.
[ You've spotted a blind spot. It is strange… do Xianzhou natives even age? ]
[ I rarely see old people on the Xianzhou, and even when I do, they're usually outworlders. ]
[ But… this General Huaiyan looks just like an ordinary old grandpa. ]
[ Is he really a Xianzhou General? ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Huaiyan: "Hahaha."
Huaiyan: "I really didn't expect that a man of my appearance would actually be doubted as to whether he is a General of the Xianzhou Alliance…"
Huaiyan: "This is truly…"
Yunli: "To be blunt, Grandpa, if I weren't from Xianzhou, I might have doubted you too."
Yunli: "After all, when outsiders think of the Arbiter-Generals, they always imagine someone majestic and imposing."
Yunli: "But Grandpa, your appearance is just a bit too frail."
March 7th: "Miss Yunli really spoke right from my heart!"
March 7th: "You can't blame us for doubting! It's just that your image is way too genial, General."
Stelle: "So why exactly is General Huaiyan so old?"
Stelle: "As long-life species, shouldn't the appearance of Xianzhou natives remain largely unchanged throughout their lives?"
Furina de Fontaine: "Is it possible that General Huaiyan is simply too old?"
Furina de Fontaine: "So old that he has surpassed the natural limit of a long-life species."
Furina de Fontaine: "Could that be why?"
Huaiyan: "Hoho, as for this question, I'm afraid I cannot tell you directly."
Stelle: "Oh, I get it. There's probably some secret hidden in this."
Stelle: "Alright then, I won't ask."
Stelle: "After all, I've always lived by the philosophy that the less you know, the longer you live!"
Qingque: "Oh, please, I think you're clearly just afraid of knowing something you shouldn't, and having the General settle the score with you later!"
Stelle: "And you're not afraid, General Qingque?"
Qingque: "I… of course I am!"
Stelle: "Then what are you talking trash for!"
....
『 [ Good question. He's right over there. Why don't you ask him yourself? ]
Dan Heng pointed in Huaiyan's direction, speaking calmly to March 7th.
[ No way, I still want to live a bit longer. ]
March 7th shook her head furiously.
[ Let's go. The General had Yanqing look after us, so he clearly has important matters to discuss. ]
[ Let's not stay here and waste time. ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "Tsk, March really knows when to back down!"
Stelle: "I thought you'd actually be stubborn enough to go ask."
March 7th: "Do you think I'm stupid?"
March 7th: "Would I shamelessly ask about something that is so obviously a secret?"
March 7th: "Though, I really am curious!"
Huaiyan: "Hoho, curiosity is only natural."
Huaiyan: "But my situation cannot be explained in a short time."
Huaiyan: "Perhaps, when the time is right in the future, you will have the chance to visit the Zhuming, and then you can hear me tell some stories."
Stelle: "Uh… allow me to ask, do you also happen to like 'unorthodox tactics'?"
Huaiyan: "Oh? What do you mean by that?"
Stelle: "I just feel like if we ever do go to the Zhuming, we'll probably end up being treated as free labor again."
March 7th: "Mm-hmm, I think there's a very high probability of that!"
Huaiyan: "Hahaha."
Huaiyan: "Rest assured, I would never use 'unorthodox tactics' as an excuse to order you around."
Huaiyan: "However, if you all, in the name of friendship, insist on enthusiastically helping the Zhuming solve some trouble, then this old man would find it quite hard to refuse!"
Stelle: "Ah, this…"
Stelle: "Brilliant, absolutely brilliant!"
Stelle: "As expected, the older, the wiser!"
Stelle: "You are even more of a master at social grace than General Jing Yuan."
Stelle: "This junior is truly impressed."
....
『 Stelle's group of three arrived beside Yanqing.
[ This is the case file Sister Qingzu sent over just now. Let me see… ]
[ …. ]
[ …. ]
[ The General has really given me a tough problem—to convince the IPC. ]
Yanqing looked down at the case file for a moment and, after a brief silence, raised his head with a helpless expression.
[ Is this considered a test from the General? ]
Stelle chimed in from the side.
[ It's not really a test. ]
[ Aside from tactics and martial arts, Cloud Knight officers occasionally have to resolve diplomatic disputes. ]
[ It's just… communicating with words is never as simple as communicating with weapons on the battlefield. ]
[ Especially when dealing with IPC people. They always talk in circles, which is the biggest headache. ]
[ Let's not worry about this for now. Shall I take you all to the inn? ]
Shaking his head, Yanqing proposed heading to the inn.
[ Yeah, let's get going! ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "To be fair, I can't stand the way IPC employees talk either."
Stelle: "Whenever those IPC suits try to feed me those convoluted explanations, I just want to pull out my bat and swing it right at their punchable faces!"
Stelle: "And in fact, I do that quite often."
Yanqing: "But the task the General gave me this time is to persuade them. If I use force… wouldn't that ruin everything?"
March 7th: "Dumping this troublesome chore on Yanqing…"
March 7th: "General, you wouldn't happen to be slacking off on purpose, would you?"
Jing Yuan: "How could I!"
Jing Yuan: "This is my way of tempering Yanqing!"
Jing Yuan: "Yanqing, wouldn't you agree?"
Yanqing: "Yes, the General is right. This must be a trial to temper me!"
Feixiao: "He's not a diplomat, what's the use of a Cloud Knight tempering this?"
Feixiao: "If it were me, I'd only drill this kid's martial skills to the limit!"
Jiaoqiu: "That's why, General, if you were to take a disciple, at most you'd train a valiant god of war on the battlefield."
Jiaoqiu: "While the Divine Foresight is truly capable of teaching the next General!"
Feixiao: "Hey, I won't deny that."
Feixiao: "After all, isn't all of my capability built on my martial prowess?"
....
『 After Yanqing and the others departed, Jing Yuan and Huaiyan continued their conversation.
[ It is naturally the Luofu's honor to have your presence at the Luminary Wardance. ]
[ However, for a mere Luminary Wardance to draw the simultaneous arrival of two Generals from the Zhuming and the Yaoqing… I presume it is not merely to spectate? ]
[ Master Yan, did the Marshal have any instructions for your visit this time? ]
With no one else around, Jing Yuan finally dropped the pleasantries and got straight to the point.
And Huaiyan, whose eyes had been squinted all this time, suddenly opened them.
[ Jing Yuan, you are overthinking. ]
[ As I said, aside from letting the child see the world, this old man has no intention of lecturing on the state of the Luofu. ]
[ But as for what that General of the Yaoqing plans to do, that is likewise not for this old man to comment on. ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
March 7th: "EH?!!"
March 7th: "General Huaiyan can actually open his eyes??"
Stelle: "Oh boy, the atmosphere is getting tense. Why did General Huaiyan suddenly open his eyes?"
Silver Wolf: "Lmao, 'open his eyes' is a very vivid way to put it. Spot on."
Furina de Fontaine: "…Wait!"
Furina de Fontaine: "More than one General is visiting this time?"
Furina de Fontaine: "A General from the Yaoqing Xianzhou is coming too?"
Hu Tao: "Isn't that General Feixiao, who has been chatting with us all this time?"
Hu Tao: "Where is she?"
Hu Tao: "How come we haven't seen her?"
Robin: "Perhaps she hasn't arrived yet?"
Zhongli: "Since it is merely a commemorative event, why would it cause three Arbiter-Generals to gather on the Luofu?"
Zhongli: "It seems there is a profound meaning behind this…"
Paimon: "Three Generals… that means three Emanators of the Hunt, right?"
Paimon: "Wow, this lineup is way too luxurious!"
Stelle: "I'm starting to sweat here."
Stelle: "In Penacony, even at the absolute maximum, there were only two Emanators."
Stelle: "Of course, those two Emanators couldn't be judged by common sense; their quality was ridiculously high."
Stelle: "But this time, three Emanators are gathering… oh boy… I don't even dare to imagine what kind of massive scene is about to unfold!"
Stelle: "Is this going to be another high-tier crisis?"
Stelle: "The intensity is getting a bit too high, isn't it?"
Hotaru: "Don't worry, the Astral Express is an ally of the Xianzhou Alliance. Even if three Emanators gather, they wouldn't do anything to the Express Crew, right?"
March 7th: "We're not worried about what the Alliance will do to us."
March 7th: "What we're worried about is, if three Emanators are gathered together and something goes wrong, wouldn't the opponent have to be an absolute heavyweight?"
Lumine: "What kind of opponent could withstand three Emanators of the Hunt working together?"
Lumine: "Unless the other side also brings three Emanators, right?"
Mualani: "What if… they actually do?"
Feixiao: "Hahaha, you all shouldn't let your imaginations run wild."
Feixiao: "This matter isn't as complicated as you think."
Feixiao: "Actually, our going there is just a formality."
Pela: "A formality?"
Huaiyan: "Indeed, it is indeed a formality."
Huaiyan: "If you keep watching, you should understand."
....
『 [ Do you remember? At the start of your tenure, I told you that the battlefield of an Arbiter-General lies not only beyond the Xianzhou. ]
[ Leading charges abroad, mediating conflicts within… the weight carried by the title of General is far greater than its literal meaning. ]
[ So many years have passed, and you have always done well. ]
[ But for the Xianzhou people, living too long is a curse. ]
[ It means every mistake made in life lies in wait in the shadows, and will one day catch up to you and swallow you whole. ]
[ The Marshal is already aware of everything that transpired on the Luofu. ]
[ As for the Merlin's Claw of the Yaoqing... ]
[ ...She has come specifically for you. ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Zhongli: "Every mistake made in life lies in wait in the shadows, and will one day catch up to you and swallow you whole…"
Zhongli: "General Huaiyan's words are indeed thought-provoking…"
Hu Tao: "Ugh… being a General sounds so exhausting!!"
Hu Tao: "As expected, behind seemingly glamorous positions, there is always bitter hardship!"
Himeko: "As Generals of the Xianzhou Alliance, what they shoulder is the stable future of hundreds of millions of Xianzhou citizens!"
Himeko: "Therefore, the significance of this position is far more important than we can imagine!"
Lumine: "So, that means they have to ensure they avoid making a single wrong decision as much as possible."
Lumine: "Heavens… that is just too difficult."
Lumine: "Just thinking about it gives me a headache."
Lumine: "Sure enough, someone like me is not suited to be a General."
Seele: "I used to think a General was just literally someone who leads soldiers on the battlefield."
Seele: "But the Generals of the Xianzhou Alliance clearly exceed the scope of that definition."
Pela: "They are more like the Xianzhou Alliance's version of the Supreme Guardian."
Pela: "Truly remarkable."
Stelle: "I think I get it now."
Stelle: "So, General Feixiao is actually going there to hold him accountable?"
March 7th: "Hold him accountable?"
March 7th: "For what?"
March 7th: "What did General Jing Yuan do wrong?"
Welt Yang: "Hmm… the crisis of the Luofu's Ambrosial Arbor involved many parties."
Welt Yang: "If the Alliance truly intends to investigate thoroughly, General Jing Yuan might inevitably be blamed for lax governance."
Jing Yuan: "Mr. Welt is correct."
Jing Yuan: "After all, when all is said and done, this was a disaster that occurred during my reign…"
....