"Jingliu, it's time to return to the squad," the captain called out from behind her.
She pushed aside all distracting thoughts and turned to join her assembling comrades.
The battlefield cleanup was nearly complete, and the Cloud Knights had begun their orderly withdrawal.
Jingliu walked at the front of the group, her gaze sweeping across the land that had just witnessed a brutal slaughter.
"We should be able to rest for a few days once we get back," a fellow soldier said behind her, his voice heavy with exhaustion.
Jingliu pressed her lips together.
Rest... But Master was not on the Xianzhou. He was out on another expedition, shouldering a far heavier mission with dangers beyond comparison.
She had yet to shed her status as a Cloud Knight recruit. How could she become the sharp blade in Master's hand and help him cut down even more powerful enemies?
She was still far from strong enough.
She needed more battles. She needed to face stronger foes to temper herself further.
Rest?
She had no need for it.
Every day spent resting was one more day delayed before she could fight alongside her Master once again.
Only by his side could she truly share in the post-battle recovery, and only then would she have the chance to seek the answers that weighed on her heart.
Even on the Xianzhou, which stood on the front lines against the Denizens of Abundance, large-scale battles were not everyday occurrences.
Small-scale engagements were different.
Any race blessed by Abundance that plundered or devoured life and civilization was labeled a denizen and marked as a target for the Xianzhou Alliance.
Beyond those, small Borisin tribes and Wingweavers' nests also counted as small-scale operations.
As long as one passed the post-battle physical examination, they could apply to join the next expedition.
Upon returning to the Xianzhou flagship, Jingliu quickly completed the necessary procedures.
While undergoing her examination at the Alchemy Commission, she checked the roster of Cloud Knight squads preparing to depart.
The moment her check-up ended, she headed straight for the Cloud Knight barracks.
"I wish to apply for assignment to Troop 1753's small-scale battle expeditionary force." Jingliu placed her soldier's Jade Abacus on the desk.
The dispatching officer looked up at her, pulled up her information on the Jade Abacus, and frowned after a careful review.
"You just finished the Lubuti-VIII campaign. Regulations state you are entitled to a ten-day rest period."
"I waive my rest."
Jingliu's voice remained calm.
"My physical examination results are clear, and my mental state assessment is normal. I meet all criteria for continuous deployment."
The veteran officer brought up her records in the system. After a brief silence, he said, "Continuous combat takes a heavy toll on both body and mind. Are you certain?"
"I am."
"Troop 1753's mission is to eliminate a small Borisin tribe. It should conclude in about seven days. Application approved. Assemble at Military Port Zhen-56 tomorrow morning at 06:00 sharp."
"Thank you, Officer."
Jingliu took back her Jade Abacus and turned to leave. The flames of war never truly ceased.
===
Jingliu had not expected another two years to pass.
In that time, she took part in dozens of small-scale battles. Her record eventually qualified her to join a Vanguard on expedition.
She had shed her recruit status and become a rising star among the Cloud Knights.
She was eighteen now, yet Master still had not returned to the Xianzhou.
This time, however, the expeditionary force under Kanzaki had not lost contact, and logistics remained stable.
The reason for the delay was that after destroying the Black-Claw Hound tribe and capturing the Nest Father alive, they had intercepted intelligence regarding far more dangerous Denizens of Abundance.
Returning to the Xianzhou for rest would render that hard-won intelligence useless. By then, the massive swarm could slaughter dozens of civilizations.
With permission from General Sha Feng, Kanzaki immediately led his troops out on this urgent temporary hunting mission without pause.
Because it was a temporary operation, it fell outside the Divination Commission's regular observations, leaving them with insufficient and inaccurate enemy intelligence. The battle fell into a stalemate, and they soon found themselves surrounded by multiple Borisin fleets.
Reinforcements had been dispatched quickly, but they still failed to link up smoothly.
That was why Kanzaki had been gone for two full years.
Fortunately, two years was all it took.
Now, a battle report had finally arrived from the front lines: the hunting mission was complete, and the entire army was returning to the Xianzhou. The journey would take roughly one month.
Jingliu began training even harder, preparing herself to join her Master on future expeditions.
The days of waiting felt unbearably long, but she endured them patiently, counting every passing day.
Then one morning, the long-awaited news came: the expeditionary force led by Kanzaki was expected to arrive at the Xianzhou flagship's Cloud Knight barracks that very evening.
The starskiff hatch opened, and Kanzaki was the first to step out, followed by two guards.
After two years apart, he looked almost unchanged, save for the sharp, lingering murderous aura between his brows that had yet to fade.
Jingliu waited in the corridor that Kanzaki was certain to pass through. The sound of approaching footsteps echoed from afar.
"Master, congratulations on your triumphant return," Jingliu said as she bowed, keeping her voice steady.
Kanzaki stopped. His voice was cold and firm.
"To wipe out those Denizens of Abundance, we suffered heavy losses. Tens of thousands gave their lives. This is far from a triumphant return."
Jingliu fell silent for a moment, then lifted her head to meet his gaze directly.
"I have already taken part in dozens of small-scale battles. According to Cloud Knight regulations, I now possess the qualifications to accompany a Vanguard on expedition. I can definitely be of help to you, Master."
She waited for a single word of affirmation, a single word of praise, or even just a look of acknowledgment.
Yet Kanzaki's expression remained unchanged.
"You are still far from ready."
Jingliu froze.
"Master, I can—"
"Can what?" Kanzaki interrupted, his eyes showing none of the warmth one might expect from a master reuniting with his disciple.
"You participated in a few dozen small-scale battles and now think your wings have fully grown?"
"I am no longer the recruit I was two years ago. I can do this!"
Jingliu insisted, an urgency in her voice she herself had not noticed.
Kanzaki remained silent for a moment before replying in a calm tone. "Then prove it to me. Complete fifty medium-scale battles. If you are still alive afterward, we can discuss you accompanying a Vanguard on expedition."
Jingliu's pupils shrank slightly.
Medium-scale battles were far more dangerous than small ones. The chance of being deployed was high, and being away for three or four months at a time was common.
Outside of emergency martial law periods, the Cloud Knights enforced mandatory rest periods after each battle to preserve their soldiers' health.
Fifty battles?
Medium-scale operations did not occur frequently either. At the current pace, it would take nearly a dozen years...
"But Master, Seniors Xueyi and Hanya have not completed that many battles either," Jingliu said, a trace of grievance slipping into her voice.
"Why are they allowed to follow you into battle?"
She was speaking the truth.
According to Cloud Knight military regulations, her current military achievements and strength already met the requirements to accompany a Vanguard.
Kanzaki's eyes narrowed slightly. "Will you not even listen to your Master's words?"
"I wouldn't dare... I just don't understand."
"In addition to the fifty medium-scale battles, I have one more condition. Complete all current training regimens within six hours and remain conscious after the special strike-resistance training. Only then will I permit you to join a Vanguard in a large-scale battle."
With those words, Kanzaki walked past her.
Behind him, Xueyi and Hanya, who were carrying their helmets, exchanged glances. They seemed to want to say something to Jingliu, but in the end they stayed silent and followed after Kanzaki.
Jingliu watched his retreating figure. It felt as if something was lodged in her chest, making it difficult to breathe.
After two years of desperate training and fighting on the edge of death, why could she still not earn her Master's recognition?
---
Bonus chapters
200 - Stones
400 - Stones
600 - Stones
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