"I, for one, see no issue with it."
The cool, clear words hung in the air as two figures fell into step beside each other, their footfalls announcing their arrival before Jing Yuan's eyes.
At the sight of the newcomers, a faint, almost imperceptible contraction touched the pupils of the ever-composed and shrewd Arbiter-General.
Even though over seven hundred years had passed, Jing Yuan recognized them both at a single glance.
One was his revered mentor, the one who had instructed him. She, who had once succumbed to the Mara, had later vanished from the world without a trace.
The other was one of his dearest friends from that bygone era, the very one who had pledged his life to that same mentor, and who had disappeared alongside her before Jing Yuan's eyes seven centuries ago.
And now, here they were, greeting him in the same familiar manner as if those seven hundred years were nothing.
Jingliu's gaze was as aloof as ever, maintaining the dignified air of a master as she always had.
Beside her, Bai Heng peeked out from behind Jingliu's shoulder, a smile dancing in his eyes as he waved a hand at Jing Yuan, his tone just as it used to be: "Well, if it isn't Jing Yuan."
Now, with the passage of so much time and this sudden reunion, even Jing Yuan felt a little dazed by the sight before him.
Ten minutes later, in the rear courtyard of the Seat of Divine Foresight.
"So, to summarize," Jing Yuan began, pouring a cup of wine each for Bai Heng and Jingliu, "Brother Bai Heng returned to the Luofu several years ago, but only recently regained his memories of that past life for some reason."
"That's about the size of it," Bai Heng affirmed without denial, having used that same story of reincarnation throughout their earlier conversation. "And I'll likely be staying on the Luofu long-term."
And in a sense, it was the truth. Each of his 'deaths' within the simulation had been real. In a way, it really did count as a form of reincarnation.
"Oh? Does that mean I can often seek out Brother Bai Heng for a game or two of chess in the days to come?" Seeming to envision another method for his future idling and leisure, Jing Yuan let out a hearty laugh.
"Of course," Bai Heng replied, tapping a finger beside his own bright, clear eyes with a smile. "But this time, Jing Yuan, you won't be able to pull any of those sneaky tricks like you used to, back when I was blind~"
In those old days, during their spare moments, Jing Yuan would often sit across the board from him for a game. But whenever he was on the verge of losing, Jing Yuan would try to stealthily swap the pieces, seeking a path to victory. Not that it ever worked—Bai Heng always caught him.
As the two men laughed, clinked cups, and reminisced, Jingliu, who had been sitting quietly to the side, furrowed her brow slightly, a hint of displeasure crossing her features.
With an utterly natural motion, she plucked the half-finished cup of wine right from Bai Heng's hand, drained it in one go, and then cut into their conversation:
"Enough. There will be plenty of time for reminiscing later. Let's discuss the actual matter at hand first."
"The actual matter?" Jing Yuan's brow furrowed tighter, his gaze turning serious.
Clearly, in the mind of this Arbiter-General, any 'actual matter' mentioned by his mentor usually signified something of grave importance.
However...
"I will be staying on the Luofu for some time. I require lodgings. If possible, they should be spacious, and south-facing with good airflow would be best." Her tone was flat as she stated this simple fact.
It was precisely this utterly mundane statement that caused a slow, bewildered "?" to form on Jing Yuan's face.
"This... this is the actual matter?" The corner of Jing Yuan's mouth twitched.
"Correct. This is the matter. Is it troublesome for you?"
"A little bit troublesome..."
"Then it's not troublesome."
Jing Yuan: "..."
So he didn't even have the option to refuse!
"Fine... I will have someone arrange it as soon as possible..."
A master's wish is hard to deny. Although the management of the abodes within the Xianzhou Luofu fell under the jurisdiction of the Realm Keeping Commission, and arranging this would require some effort and words from him, the Luofu's general, since Jingliu had spoken, he truly had no option to refuse.
He could only agree.
At that moment, Jingliu seemed to remember something.
"Ah, right. There's one more thing I forgot to tell you."
"Bai Heng and I were wed over seven hundred years ago. However, due to the... unusual circumstances at the time, we did not hold a banquet or invite guests. Today, I am informing you of this."
Upon hearing this, Jing Yuan was first stunned, then quickly arranged his features into a smiling face:
"Haha, that is truly wonderful news!"
"To see you, my mentor, and Brother Bai Heng united in marriage also settles a long-held wish in this disciple's heart!"
"If needed, I can arrange a grand wedding banquet for you and Brother Bai Heng, and invite all under the sky! It could also serve to announce your return to the Luofu to the public!"
Jing Yuan's words were impeccably delivered.
However, he had completely failed to grasp Jingliu's underlying purpose in specifically informing him of this matter.
"I dislike large crowds. A supplementary banquet is entirely unnecessary. As for the other customary courtesies... they should, of course, be observed as much as possible."
Having said that, Jingliu expressionlessly extended her slender hand and held it out, palm up, before Jing Yuan.
At that moment, Jing Yuan was bewildered, but then he understood.
Oh, wonderful. So today wasn't about reuniting with old friends or a master and disciple meeting again. This was a new concept of robbery!!
And the one being robbed was none other than himself, the general of the Luofu!
The corner of his mouth twitched uncontrollably, but Jing Yuan still forced a smile as he took a pouch containing a dozen or so Heavenly Golden Strales from his robe and placed it in Jingliu's open palm.
"It was remiss of me not to be able to offer congratulations on my mentor's joyous wedding day. Please accept this small token as a belated gift."
Jing Yuan's heart was bleeding as he said this.
A dozen Heavenly Golden Strales! Even for the general of the Luofu, it was a sum that took no small amount of time to save up, and here it was, effortlessly coaxed out of him with a few words...
Bai Heng, watching this entire scene play out: ???
You can just do that?
Closing her hand around the pouch, a faint, almost undetectable trace of a smile touched the corners of Jingliu's lips.
"Very well. I have received your sentiments."
"It's late now, so we won't trouble you further. Bai Heng and I will take our leave for today."
With that, Jingliu tossed the pouch lightly into Bai Heng's arms, turned, and prepared to leave.
But before departing, she seemed to remember one more thing. She glanced back over her shoulder, a faint hint of amusement in her tone:
"Ah, right. I almost forgot. Your Diviner friend was correct. You really should change how you address Bai Heng."
"One must still pay attention to seniority, after all~"
In that moment, holding the pouch containing over a dozen Heavenly Golden Strales, Bai Heng suddenly understood.
He finally realized what Jingliu had meant before they entered the Seat of Divine Foresight when she said, 'I will take responsibility for you.'
One sentence secured them a residence from Jing Yuan.
Two sentences relieved him of over a dozen Heavenly Golden Strales.
Three sentences forced Jing Yuan to change how he addressed him!
This was the former Sword Champion of the Luofu's way of taking responsibility for him!
At this moment, Bai Heng finally understood why those romance novels were so obsessed with the 'overbearing CEO falls for me' trope.
One could only say...
It really was satisfying!
As for Jing Yuan, who had just been thoroughly fleeced...
After seeing the two off, he patted the Cloud Knight standing guard at the entrance to the Seat of Divine Foresight on the shoulder, his smile genial.
"The next time those two come looking for me, just tell them I've gone out on business and am temporarily unavailable..."
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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.