Arrogance and confidence were etched into Jingliu's very bones.
The reason she could accept Bai Heng rekindling bonds from past lives with others wasn't because she was okay with it—but because she was confident enough.
If she'd won him over once, how hard could a second time be?
What?
What if she failed?
Well… she could always just draw her sword then~
"So this is where you live now?"
Following Bai Heng to his residence, Jingliu swept a calm gaze over the small room.
It wasn't particularly spacious, but it made up for it in simplicity and cleanliness. The decor followed the classic Xianzhou style—red beams supporting the ceiling, wooden floors, and a thick, sturdy curtain by the window to ensure a good night's sleep.
Though Bai Heng was tempted to joke, "My place is pretty big—you can sleep here if you get tired," the room was far from what anyone would call "pretty big."
"It's a step down from the Alchemy Commission. Why didn't you ask Jing Yuan to arrange something better? For him now, it should be a simple matter." Seating herself on his bed, her fingers lightly tracing the surface, Jingliu spoke in her usual even tone.
Hearing this, Bai Heng froze for a moment.
It suddenly hit him—this simulation was vastly different from the previous two.
This time, he hadn't just formed a bond with Jingliu; he'd also become one of the Cloud Knights—the legendary "High Cloud Sextet" alongside Baiheng, Dan Feng, Yingxing, Jing Yuan, and the others, securing countless victories for the Alliance.
Which meant… there should be records on the Luofu of Bai Heng, Chief Alchemist of the Alchemy Commission.
With that thought, Bai Heng gave Jingliu a "wait a moment" look, then pulled out his Jade Abacus and started searching for terms like "Cloud Knights" and related topics.
And then…
--+--
"Shocking! The Legendary Cloud Knights Actually Had a Sixth Member!?"
"Secrets Unearthed! The Luofu's Greatest Wonder—The Miracle of the Golden Rain During the Shuhu Incursion!"
"The Vanished Sixth Hero! The Luofu's Finest Healer—The Mystery of His Disappearance Remains Unsolved!"
--+--
News headlines he had no memory of whatsoever now popped up with a simple search.
Judging by the dates, these were all old articles.
Yet, strangely, Bai Heng had no recollection of them at all.
It was as though, before this simulation, all of this had been buried by some mysterious force.
But now that the simulation had ended, it was like the tide receding—revealing what had truly happened all along.
So that meant…
On the Luofu now, it wasn't just Jingliu—even Jing Yuan might remember him?
"What's wrong?" Noticing the odd look on his face, Jingliu asked.
"It's nothing. Just something I need to look into when I have time."
"Do you need my help?"
"Just a small matter. I'll handle it myself in a few days."
Bai Heng offered a faint, wry smile, politely declining her offer.
Though Jingliu's story was over seven hundred years old on the Luofu, and few likely remembered, it was better to avoid unnecessary trouble.
"In that case, I'll go bathe now."
With that, Jingliu slipped off her cloud-patterned boots, undid her belt, and took a towel from the bathroom door before heading inside.
Her movements were so natural, so effortless, that Bai Heng was left slightly stunned, a silent question echoing in his mind:
'Jingliu… are you sure this is your first time here?'
Perhaps sensing his gaze, she turned toward him and made an invitation:
"Care to join me?"
For a moment, Bai Heng was taken aback, but he quickly collected himself and replied with utmost seriousness:
"Just save me some broth!"
The sound of running water filled the air, and a light steam seeped through the bathroom door into the room. Through the frosted glass, a captivating silhouette was faintly visible.
With just a little imagination, one could picture the scene—water droplets tracing paths down fair, rosy cheeks, dancing along delicate collarbones…
A sight sure to get a man's blood pumping!
But Bai Heng didn't indulge. As the saying goes, "walk straight, stand tall." If he'd really wanted to, he could've just accepted Jingliu's invitation earlier.
Of course, there was a good chance he'd have been frozen into a dramatic human ice sculpture the moment he agreed.
And that was precisely why he hadn't.
Hah. It was all just another one of Jingliu's tests~
No match for me!
So instead, Bai Heng focused on his Jade Abacus, searching for information related to himself, verifying the hypothesis he'd just formed.
Soon, the sound of water ceased. The bathroom door opened, and Jingliu emerged, a towel wrapped around her slender frame.
"Your turn," she said.
"Coming."
Setting the Jade Abacus aside, Bai Heng made his way to the bathroom.
As he passed her, the former Luofu Sword Champion glanced away, a faint, almost imperceptible blush coloring her cheeks. Her voice, softer than usual, barely above a whisper, murmured:
"I… saved some for you…"
Bai Heng: "???"
A few minutes later, staring at the small basin placed in the bathroom, Bai Heng found himself locked in intense internal conflict.
So…
Drink… or not?
By the time Bai Heng had changed into his bathrobe and stepped out, drying his hair, the scene before him gave him pause.
Not far away, a figure in white stood by the window, breathing in the air of her homeland. Those striking crimson eyes gazed into the distance, over the land she once called home. Under the cold moonlight, her silhouette stretched long and slender.
Everything was serene, beautiful.
Hearing him emerge, Jingliu turned her gaze toward him.
She spoke suddenly:
"Do you remember… seven hundred years ago, there was something we left unfinished."
Her cool, measured tone gave him pause. His mind raced.
Seven hundred years ago…
Unfinished business?
But he couldn't recall.
Even though the simulation had just ended, and those eighty years remained vivid in his memory, search as he might, he couldn't pinpoint what she meant.
Noticing his confusion, Jingliu smiled faintly. As she walked toward him, she offered a clue:
"Have you forgotten? Seven hundred years ago, on that barren, lifeless star, we held a wedding—just for us."
"We exchanged vows. We shared a ceremonial kiss."
"But there was one thing we never completed."
His heart skipped a beat. Bai Heng realized what she meant.
And in the next moment, Jingliu was right before him, her exquisite, elegant features filling his vision.
Her cool, soft lips gently met his.
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.