"Old friend. It's been a long time."
"I'm not him." Hearing Jing Yuan's words and seeing the nostalgia in his eyes, Dan Heng denied it without hesitation.
If it is, then it is. If it isn't, then it isn't. Dan Heng was not Dan Feng, and he had no desire to become his substitute.
That would be bad for Jing Yuan, and just as bad for Dan Heng.
"I see… my apologies." At Dan Heng's response, a trace of sadness flickered through Jing Yuan's eyes. He smiled and offered a quiet apology.
Jingliu, standing nearby, said nothing upon hearing Dan Heng's denial.
After hearing the apology, Dan Heng did not hesitate at all. He turned and prepared to leave.
But he had not taken more than a few steps when Jing Yuan called out to him.
"You can't go yet."
"Your friends from the Astral Express are waiting for you at Scalegorge Waterscape."
"Why not come take a look with me?"
Dan Heng: …
Hearing that, Dan Heng had no reason to refuse. He stopped.
Seeing his reaction, Jing Yuan understood his choice and nodded. Then his gaze shifted toward Clara and Firefly.
Perhaps because she had just fought Firefly, Clara still had a few uncleaned "injuries" on her face.
As for who won that battle, there was absolutely no doubt. It was obviously the one with an overwhelming advantage in size and strength…
Clara: Hm?
Uh… no doubt about it. This battle clearly ended in a draw.
Clara: I'll give you one last chance to rephrase that.
Without question, the victor was our super cute, kind, generous, angelically adorable Miss Clara!
"As for you two…"
"Go. Of course we're going. I'm going to watch the show." Before Jing Yuan could finish, Clara jumped in with her answer.
Asking me to fight again is impossible. Absolutely impossible. When the time comes, I'll just sit off to the side, munch on some watermelon, and enjoy the Astral Express crew and Jing Yuan putting on a performance.
Hmm… come to think of it, I'm running low on watermelon, aren't I?
Clara mentally checked the supply in her bottomless bag. Yeah. Almost gone.
"Mmm… after the Luofu's excitement is over, I'll go find Sister Topaz to get some… ah, no. I mean, I'll go buy some melons from Sister Topaz."
Topaz: Let me clarify. I do not sell melons, and I am not a melon vendor.
"All right," Jing Yuan replied, nodding without further comment.
Watching the show was good. Very good. As long as Clara did not cause trouble, that alone was the greatest help to the Luofu.
After "dealing with" Clara, this massive source of trouble, Jing Yuan finally turned his gaze to the person he least wanted to face.
Looking at Jingliu, who after several hundred years still looked exactly the same, Jing Yuan fell silent for a moment before slowly speaking.
"Are you… doing well?"
"Yes." Compared to Jing Yuan, Jingliu's eyes briefly showed a flicker of emotion, which then vanished completely.
"Thanks to Miss Clara's help, the mara has been temporarily suppressed."
"I can finally look at the Luofu, hundreds of years later, through the eyes of a 'person.'"
"Is that so? Then that's… truly good." Jing Yuan smiled, using that smile to hide the sorrow in his heart.
Jingliu: …
Even after centuries had passed, Jingliu could still see straight through Jing Yuan's eyes and into his thoughts. But she had no intention of comforting him. She did not know how, nor would she try.
"The Luofu has run into some trouble, hasn't it?"
The disturbance on the Luofu was naturally impossible to hide from her.
"If the General is willing, Jingliu is prepared to offer what little strength she has, and help the Luofu one last time."
Jing Yuan: …
Hearing those words, Jing Yuan's thoughts seemed to drift back to the days when he fought side by side with his companions.
Unfortunately, the past was like smoke. Long gone, long dispersed.
He came back to himself, looked at Jingliu, and after countless unspoken words, only one remained.
"All right."
…
Scalegorge Waterscape.
"The scenery here is exactly the same as when I saw it with my own eyes back then. It hasn't changed at all."
"And yet now, standing here again, we are all different…"
Jing Yuan led the group to this place, gazing at the sea before them and sighing softly.
"The General should understand the nature of the Vidyadhara. The waters of the ancient sea have already washed away Dan Feng's sins. The one standing before you now is no longer the person you once knew."
Dan Heng stepped forward, moving ahead of everyone else. He took a deep breath.
"My name is Dan Heng, not Dan Feng."
"Hero or criminal, it doesn't matter. I have accepted his punishment, accepted eternal exile, and I hold no resentment."
"But when you look at me, General, please let go of the shadow of the past."
"…As expected. Bringing up old matters always makes people uncomfortable." Jing Yuan sighed as he looked at Dan Heng.
"Your bearing, those horns, and the power of the Imbibitor Lunae you carry. They always make me think of an old friend."
"I said… I am…"
"Yes, you said it. And so what?"
Just as Dan Heng tried to retort, Jing Yuan cut him off.
"You want me to stop seeing you as Dan Feng? Fine. Then help me with one thing."
"In Dan Feng's name, help me one last time. Once it's over, I promise you this. At the very least, on the Luofu, you will no longer be anyone's shadow."
Dan Heng: …
Hearing this, Dan Heng fell into silence.
Standing to the side and gazing at the scenery of Scalegorge Waterscape, Jingliu listened to their exchange and spoke in a slightly cold tone.
"Dan Heng. If you had never accepted the power of the Imbibitor Lunae, if you had buried it forever in your heart, then you would always be Dan Heng."
"You would only have to bear the resentment of Blade and myself."
"But once you accepted that power, you can no longer deny it."
"Walk the streets of the Luofu in this form of yours."
"See how many people will feel unease, or worse."
Every word Jingliu spoke struck directly at the deepest part of Dan Heng's heart.
"I understand…" After a moment of silence, Dan Heng nodded.
"But what Dan Feng could do, I may not be able to."
"You must be able to," Jing Yuan said with a smile, leaving Dan Heng no room to retreat.
Dan Heng: …
"I understand. I'll do it."
Dan Heng nodded.
For his own sake. And for everyone else's.
…
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