"Hahaha, I finally escaped!"
"Uncle Yevenko treats me like a child, saying no to this, forbidding me from that. I've never been anywhere this interesting before!"
Jade strolled down the street, eyes sparkling with curiosity at the exotic architecture of the Luofu, eagerly running her fingers across everything she encountered.
However, as she rounded a corner, her eyes widened at the sight of Mara-Struck Cloud Knights.
She quickly ducked back, holding her breath and crouching quietly against the wall.
Just then, a crisp, girlish voice sounded beside her:
"Hm? What's a little kid doing here? Why aren't you hiding somewhere safe?"
Jade glanced over and saw a jellyfish-haired girl about her own height walking toward her, eating a stick of tanghulu candy, barefoot. When the girl stopped in front of her, she folded her arms, adopting an authoritative stance.
Although, in Jade's opinion, the crossed-arms pose didn't really suit her, since there wasn't anything to cross over—such a stance was better suited to Miss Himeko or Miss Raiden.
Seeing the girl lecturing her in such an adult tone instantly stirred Jade's rebellious spirit. She jumped up, stood on tiptoes to appear slightly taller, and declared:
"Who are you calling a kid? You're a kid yourself!"
"See! I'm even taller than you!"
At Jade's words, a vein popped visibly on Yunli's forehead. Without hesitation, she summoned her oversized greatsword, planting it firmly into the ground, then leaped atop it to tower over Jade.
"This," Yunli said smugly, "is what taller looks like! You shorty."
"You're just standing on your sword, that's cheating!" Jade protested.
"No, I'm not!"
"Yes, you are!"
"No, I'm not!"
"Yes, you are!"
The two little girls descended into childish squabbling in the alleyway, unaware of Raiden Ei standing silently on a rooftop nearby, calmly nibbling on a peach.
Noticing the Mara-Struck soldiers creeping closer to the noisy pair, Ei briefly considered rescuing them—but soon decided against it.
Disappearing without a word wasn't a good habit for Jade. Perhaps this little scare would teach her a valuable lesson.
I can always step in if things become serious.
Meanwhile, Jade and Yunli had tired themselves out from arguing, each leaning against the alley walls, panting heavily. After exchanging a glance, both paused, then simultaneously broke into smiles.
Yunli spoke first, biting her lip gently:
"My name's Yunli. Who are you, and where did you come from? I've never seen you on the Luofu before, and your clothes aren't Xianzhou style."
"Just call me Jade," she replied cheerfully. "I came here with Uncle Yevenko aboard a train that travels through the universe. Uncle Yevenko was talking to some Luofu general, but I got bored with all that formal stuff, so I slipped out."
Hearing this, Yunli quickly understood Jade was referring to the Astral Express.
But more importantly, Yunli's eyes shone with enthusiasm, and she nodded vigorously in agreement:
"Exactly! Every time I hear Grandpa talk with General Jing Yuan, I feel so sleepy. Why can't they talk normally, like when they talk to me?"
"Adults are so weird."
Jade eagerly nodded her head in vigorous agreement. With just a few words, their newfound friendship grew rapidly.
Then Jade had an idea:
"Hey! Want to join my Team Night? We already have two whole members. I'm the Number One General, but if you join, I'll grant you the position of Third General!"
Yunli frowned a bit, thinking it over.
"I don't mind joining, but I don't want to be the Third General. Can I be Second General instead?"
Jade pondered for a moment before coming up with a clever solution:
"You two will be my right and left hands! Let's make the Second General the Left Protector, and you can be Right Protector. That way, you're equals. How about it?"
Yunli's face broke into a bright, delighted smile as she nodded enthusiastically:
"That's perfect! I love it!"
Suddenly, Yunli sensed something. She swiftly pulled out her greatsword, stepping protectively in front of Jade.
Thump—!
Heavy footsteps approached.
A hulking figure from the Alchemy Commission's Yaowang tradition emerged, armored head-to-toe, wielding a heavy shield and spear, wrapped in eerie, thorny golden garb reminiscent of celestial robes—yet grotesque and unsettling.
"Kill!" was all he said, charging directly toward Yunli, as over a dozen Mara-Struck soldiers flooded in behind him.
Yunli swung her sword, immediately clashing fiercely against them.
Jade hid behind a nearby crate, quietly observing:
I can't just let Yunli fight alone.
What kind of Number One General lets their Right Protector fight while hiding?
If only I'd brought some spells from Uncle's shop in Section 13!
After rummaging desperately through her pockets, all Jade found was a single pen. As she stared at it, inspiration struck:
Wait a second—I still remember that symbol, and I even remember how Uncle's magic erasing potion is made!
I can just erase it later.
Smiling confidently, Jade quickly drew a sinister-looking Oni mask on her foot.
In seconds, Jade's shadow expanded dramatically, stretching across the alley floor. Her voice carried a subtle, eerie undertone as she murmured quietly:
"Ninja Shadowkhan, arise!"
Instantly, dozens of shadowy ninja warriors emerged from her shadow, dressed in black and with glowing red eyes—the Shadowkhan.
"Get them! Defeat those Mara-Struck soldiers!"
Obediently, the ninjas rushed forward. Initially, Yunli was outnumbered by the Mara-Struck, but now Jade's Shadowkhan quickly overwhelmed the enemy with their own superior numbers.
Excitedly, Jade ran forward to join the fray herself.
Two ninjas dragged a half-dead Mara-Struck soldier before her, holding him still as Jade fiercely pummeled his stomach:
"Take this! And this, and that!"
After a few punches, Jade felt thirsty and tired. Immediately, two ninja attendants appeared, one gently carrying her on his back, while another emerged from the shadows with a refreshing milk carton for her to drink.
In short order, the Mara-Struck soldiers were completely wiped out.
Yunli approached with eyes sparkling in admiration, staring enviously at Jade being pampered by adult-sized ninja attendants.
"Wow, Jade! You're amazing!"
To Yunli, the truly impressive part wasn't the ninjas' strength—indeed, individually, they were rather average—but rather the fact these adult-sized warriors served a child. For kids desperate for recognition from adults, this was practically a dream come true.
Jade calmly waved a hand downward:
"Stay calm, Yunli. I'm the Number One General of Team Night—it's normal to have a few soldiers."
"Now, let's go hunt down more enemies and surprise Uncle Yevenko. He'll realize we've already saved the Luofu before he even had a chance to step in!"
Yunli's imagination instantly went wild: She pictured herself becoming Luofu's hero, her grandpa's shocked expression, and him rewarding her with endless sticks of candied Qiongshi Bird skewers. Stars filled her eyes, and she nodded excitedly:
"Let's do it!"
Jade dismissed the Shadowkhan, and together they marched forward, ready to hunt down more Abundance Spawn.
Yet, as they continued onward, they found countless Mara-Struck bodies already littering the streets.
After a short walk, they unexpectedly spotted Yanqing speaking to a mysterious silver-haired woman.
Seeing him, Yunli quickly tugged Jade away, hoping to avoid her rival.
Jade, confused, asked:
"Hey, Yunli! What's wrong? That's our Sec—Left Protector! We should meet up with him. I don't recognize that woman; he might be in trouble!"
Hearing this, Yunli froze, eyes vacant with disbelief.
"What?! Yanqing is Team Night's Left Protector?!"
She suddenly felt weak and allowed Jade to drag her toward Yanqing.
...
With her silver hair cascading like a frozen waterfall and an elegant black eyepatch obscuring one eye, Jingliu stood gracefully, her figure delicate yet strikingly voluptuous, outlined perfectly beneath sleek blue armor. Her skirt gently swayed, intermittently revealing glimpses of pale thighs and graceful curves.
Facing Yanqing, her gentle voice was tinged with icy cruelty:
"You've lost."
"But the duel isn't over yet—because my final strike has yet to land, yet there's no opponent left standing—"
"Hmm?"
Sensing something, Jingliu turned slightly toward Jade and Yunli's direction. Her serene voice filled with growing madness, pressure overwhelming the entire area, suffocating Yanqing:
"To draw my sword without an opponent dishonors the divine will of the Divine Foresight. Utterly ominous."
"With your strength, encountering Blade would only bring death. Instead, I grant you a more honorable fate—face my perfected strike, and die proudly as a swordsman."
"Little brother, do you dare accept this final strike?"
Every word heightened the crushing pressure. Yanqing remembered their earlier clash—their difference in power was terrifyingly vast. Yet, backing down meant certain disgrace.
—I am a pure swordsman!
Resolutely, Yanqing stepped forward, standing bravely before Jingliu:
"I accept!"
Smiling faintly, Jingliu whispered softly:
"Good courage."
Leaping skyward, moonlight infused her ice sword, radiating terrifying frost, slicing down toward Yanqing in a crescent of ice!
Yanqing unleashed all his power, countless small swords whirling around him as he faced the blade head-on.
Boom—!
Ice shards exploded across the battlefield.
But Jingliu wasn't done. Turning midair, madness flaring in her scarlet eye, she launched another strike directly at Jade and Yunli:
"—[Radiant Moonfall]!"
Yanqing shouted desperately, "Watch out!"
Jade summoned the Shadowkhan, but the sword-wave annihilated them effortlessly. Yunli raised her sword urgently, but—
"It's too fast!"
Just as frost bit their skin, a faint murmur sounded.
"…[Transience]."
A dark blade flickered, effortlessly swallowing the moonlit strike.
Raiden Ei stood calmly before Jade and Yunli, sword still sheathed, a golden Astral Express ticket swaying gently from its hilt.
Her lavender eyes watched quietly as Jingliu's eyepatch fell away, dissolving into snow-like particles.
Eyes blazing crimson with excitement, Jingliu smiled.
"Interesting!"