There was no drawn-out farewell, only a few essential instructions. Then, the gathered group dispersed in front of the Taixu Martial Arts School, each heading towards the future they were responsible for.
Fu Hua stood at the entrance, watching the receding figures of Kallen, Natasha, and Joachim. For some reason, a sense of unease lingered in her heart, refusing to dissipate.
It was as if they had overlooked something, forgotten something. Beneath this seemingly complete plan lay some inevitable accident waiting to happen.
This was not a good feeling, but no matter how hard Fu Hua tried to think, she couldn't figure out what they had overlooked.
In the end, the path ahead could only be taken one step at a time. A route where everything was calculated from the very beginning was too difficult. In this vast world, who could claim to know all the variables?
Even science itself was still struggling on the path of "overthrowing" and "being overthrown." In such a world, it wouldn't be impossible for a god to suddenly descend the next second and declare that this world was just a toy of its own creation.
She could only hope that the overlooked problem wasn't something serious... After all, even Kallen hadn't said anything was wrong, right?
"Master, junior brother has returned. He wishes to see you," Lin Chaoyu said softly, walking out of the hall and standing behind Fu Hua.
Fu Hua returned to her senses and nodded calmly. "As expected, Feima is still the most impatient one."
"Junior brother just values master's words," Lin Chaoyu's eyelids drooped slightly, her attitude extremely respectful, even to the point of being a little distant.
Fu Hua turned around and looked at Lin Chaoyu for a long time before smiling faintly. "There's no need for this, Chaoyu. I am not your true master, and you don't need to be so humble towards me.
"This time, I am seeking your help as an outsider. Your cooperation is already the best attitude towards me. The one who should be grateful, who should have such an attitude, is me."
"I wouldn't dare," Lin Chaoyu lowered her head, her voice not loud, but resolute enough.
"Master is master. Even if master has come here from the future, from a parallel world, you are still the master we must respect. To be disrespectful to you because of a change in identity or other reasons...
"Would be a violation of the master's code, a flaw in the heart of the sword."
Fu Hua sighed helplessly. "Chaoyu, you still have the same problem. You see me as too important. If you could focus more on the world like Su Mei, or be like Lingshuang and have only yourself in your heart, your sword heart would be more transparent.
"If that's not possible, even being like Feima, with your heart set on someone..."
"Master, please don't joke about me, you're embarrassing me!" A hurried voice suddenly sounded. Fu Hua's words were cut off at just the right moment. She turned to look at the dust-covered man.
If one were to judge by his face alone, this man could definitely be described as handsome as Pan An. Unfortunately, he had a thin, messy beard, which made him look ten years older.
Combined with the terrifying scar that nearly tore across his entire face, this handsome young man in his early twenties looked like an uncle in his thirties or forties.
It was unclear whether it was due to the exertion of rushing back or Fu Hua's earlier words, but Ma Feima's old face was flushed red, completely lacking the faint murderous aura he usually carried.
"I am dedicated to practicing the sword, and I am willing to give my all for the Taixu Martial Arts School. My relationship with my senior martial sister is only that of fellow disciples, and the gratitude for her teachings. I have no other intentions!"
In stark contrast to Lin Chaoyu's soft but firm words earlier, Ma Feima's voice was loud, yet he seemed to be floating, with no confidence to be heard.
Upon seeing Ma Feima, a smile finally appeared on the humbly respectful Lin Chaoyu's lips.
"Junior brother's thoughts have long been known to everyone. You see, even master knows," Lin Chaoyu couldn't help but smile at the pure, scruffy man with a blushing face.
Fu Hua also smiled, but then suddenly froze, blinking in confusion at Lin Chaoyu.
Wait, what do you mean, even I know?
"...This... then the current master definitely doesn't know," Ma Feima opened his mouth, but still muttered resentfully, "It must have been exposed in the future..."
No, she had known for a long time, a very long time.
Before Fu Hua went to school in the Far East, she already knew about Ma Feima's little thoughts. Among the Seven Swords, everyone could see that whenever Ma Feima wasn't practicing the sword, he was stuck to Su Mei.
Fu Hua hadn't known what it was back then, only that Ma Feima was very clingy. Later, after being edified by internet culture, she learned that this behavior was called being a "simp."
...Alright, it was a bit different. At least Ma Feima wasn't that pathetic. He was just a little clingy. When it came to serious matters, he could argue with Su Mei until he was red in the face.
Of course, Ma Feima had never won an argument to this day. Among the Seven Swords and Fu Hua, a total of eight people, Su Mei alone had seven mouths.
The rest of them being able to speak and communicate normally was already their limit. In any case, normally no one dared to argue with them.
Seeing Fu Hua's somewhat awkward expression, Ma Feima deflated completely. He sighed, and when he looked up again, he had returned to his original state, his resolute face carrying a faint murderous aura.
He raised his hand, cupped his fist to Fu Hua, and bowed slightly.
"Ma Feima, greets master."
A moment of silence.
The playful, laughing atmosphere from just now disappeared in an instant. Fu Hua could feel the same sense of distance between herself and Ma Feima as she had with Lin Chaoyu.
This "master" did not bring them closer. Instead, it pushed Fu Hua away, making it impossible for them to get close.
So... it wasn't just Chaoyu?
Fu Hua wanted to say something, but held back. She looked at Ma Feima, who maintained his respectful posture, and ultimately said nothing.
"Mm," Fu Hua responded, accepting the distance. "When everyone is back, I will explain the enemy you will be facing next. It's an opponent you have never faced before.
"Before that, I will test whether your skills have declined. Also, I have new insights to teach you."
She gave her instructions, then looked at Lin Chaoyu. "Chaoyu, the Titan mechs I asked you to contact about, was it successful?"
"Junior Sister Su has already communicated with them. The military has allocated three Titan mechs with their weapon systems removed to her. Although it's labeled as a loan, there is a maximum damage standard."
"Three..." It wasn't an ideal number, but it was the most Su Mei could borrow.
In fact, these three mechs were not borrowed on Su Mei's face, but on the face of the entire Taixu Martial Arts School.