The atmosphere at the dinner table felt noticeably different from usual.
Yet none of them realized the true reason behind it.
For Kanzaki, Xueyi, and Hanya, this was the first time they had shared a meal at the same table with Jingliu. In all the years before, whenever Jingliu trained until she lost consciousness, she never made it to dinner. The medicinal bath Kanzaki had prepared for her was far more nourishing than ordinary food.
As for Jingliu, the last time she had dined with her master was on the one rest day when training was not required, so she naturally saw nothing out of the ordinary.
Even so, Kanzaki could tell the girl was in a sullen mood. She seemed absent-minded even while eating.
Once everyone had set down their bowls and chopsticks, he spoke up.
"Did you run into some kind of trouble?"
"..."
Jingliu's hand stiffened. Her crimson eyes shifted slightly as she replied in a casual tone.
"…I just can't figure out why my progress in today's high-temperature endurance training improved so dramatically. Yesterday I couldn't even last half an hour, but today I nearly completed the whole session."
"Didn't I explain this before we left? Your constitution has only just reached the required standard. Otherwise, why would your master tell you there's no need to push yourself to the point of exhaustion anymore?"
"…Right. I simply felt unaccustomed to it for a moment and forgot."
"Take it in stride. There is still the maximum temperature standard ahead, followed by cold endurance training. Only when you can complete the entire regimen in a single day will it count as a true accomplishment."
"Your disciple understands." Jingliu pressed her lips together.
Her master had always been serious and strict in his demands. She was long accustomed to it.
Yet for some reason, facing her master's high expectations now left her with a faint sense of vexation in her chest.
Could it be because she had seen her master and Senior Hanya emerging from the same room earlier?
But what did that have to do with her?
Her master was unmarried, and Senior Hanya was unwed. A talented man and a beautiful woman. Although there was a significant age gap between them, this was the Xianzhou. Among the long-lived species, romantic relationships spanning several centuries were perfectly normal.
Still, Jingliu felt there was one more thing she needed to clarify.
Or perhaps she had misunderstood something?
Maybe between her master and Senior Hanya… Jingliu stopped that line of thought.
The chance of a misunderstanding seemed far too small. If it wasn't what she imagined, then everything she had learned in the Academy's biology classes would have been for nothing.
It was a normal reaction for a woman's skin to flush after experiencing that sort of thing. The color would fade after some time.
She still remembered the instructor's lecture clearly. She couldn't be mistaken.
The more she thought about it, the more strained Jingliu's expression became.
She cleared the table and took the initiative to wash the dishes, leaving the other three with their own thoughts.
Compared to Xueyi, Hanya was more perceptive and quickly noticed that something was bothering Jingliu.
"Kanzaki, Jingliu seems to have something on her mind."
"That's normal. If she doesn't speak up, it means she can handle it herself." Kanzaki had also sensed something was off, but he didn't connect it in that particular direction.
Over his centuries of teaching at the Academy, he had seen countless young people facing their own troubles. From childhood to adulthood, their expressions were largely the same. It was nothing unusual.
Kanzaki, who had considered himself detached from worldly affairs in his previous life and lived a restrained, monotonous existence in this one—never having experienced a normal romance—naturally thought this way.
The two sisters beside him, equally lacking in such experience, saw nothing wrong either.
Hearing Kanzaki's words, they stopped dwelling on the matter.
Xueyi organized her thoughts, her expression turning serious.
"The day after tomorrow, Kanzaki will set out on the campaign. As your personal guards, we should accompany you, but my younger sister's legs…"
"After experiencing such high-intensity combat, we cannot rule out the possibility of the aftereffects recurring."
"Moreover… during the march and battles, there may not be time for proper treatment."
Hanya didn't seem overly concerned and replied without hesitation.
"My legs are a small matter. With a great enemy before us, the Cloud Knights must prioritize completing the mission."
"This battle involves an extremely troublesome Borisin tribe, and even their Warhead is present. If we can eliminate these Abominations of Abundance, what does it matter if my treatment is delayed by a few more years?"
"The Borisin Warhead's strength is terrifying. In our team, only Kanzaki can confront him directly. My personal issue should be set aside for now, sister."
She understood all too well how dangerous the Borisin could be.
On the battlefield, every Cloud Knight had to remain vigilant at all times, sleeping only lightly. One could never predict when a Borisin assassin might strike.
The time Kanzaki needed to treat the aftereffects in her legs was not two seconds, but roughly twenty minutes. On a brutal battlefield where every second mattered, that was clearly impossible to overlook.
"No need to worry too much. I've already made preparations."
Kanzaki's expression remained calm as he took out a white jade bottle and placed it in front of Hanya.
"It contains a special medicine. Taking one pill will prevent the aftereffects from recurring for five days. Accordingly, the overall treatment period will also be extended by five days."
"…Thank you for your consideration, Kanzaki. This subordinate is deeply grateful."
Hanya gripped the jade bottle tightly, a flicker of emotion in her eyes.
Xueyi was about to thank him on her sister's behalf, but Kanzaki raised his hand to stop her.
"Formalities in private are unnecessary. Our goal is the same: to fight to the death against the Abominations of Abundance that have claimed countless lives."
"Tomorrow is the eve of the campaign. Reconfirm coordination with the Divination Commission's intelligence department and the logistical support unit. Ensure nothing goes wrong."
"The Warhead of that large Blackclaw Hunting Pack tribe… must not be allowed to escape."
"This battle will not be an easy one. Order the three armies to reform their formations. Have the troops organize into groups of three, with each group centered around one Qingqiu Guard to establish a cooperative combat formation."
"What about the Crane Feather Guard?" Xueyi asked.
"Coordinate with the Sky-Faring Commission's warships to hold the rear and strengthen real-time tracking of those wolf beasts, leaving them nowhere to hide."
"Orders received!"
===
The next day, on the eve of the Vanguard Expeditionary Team's departure.
Jingliu finished her training early and returned home shortly after nightfall.
Senior Xueyi was not there. She was likely staying at the barracks for the night. Her master and Senior Hanya were both present, but… her master only exchanged a brief glance with her before, under her watchful eyes, he walked into Hanya's room… Click.
The door closed.
Jingliu found her body moving on its own. She unconsciously lightened her footsteps and crept closer with a heavy sense of stealth, pressing her ear against the door.
Faint rustling sounds reached her ears.
It was the sound of fabric being removed…
"It might hurt a little tonight."
"It's alright, Kanzaki. Please don't hold back for my sake."
Hearing those words, followed by suppressed moans, a dark shadow fell over Jingliu's face.
But she was unaware of it herself. She simply turned and left in silence.
It seemed she had not misunderstood last night after all.