Zero had just met two Aeons in a row, then was forced to take in a pile of memories, so for a while he didn't remember the little lie he had told.
He looked blankly at Jingliu.
"Didn't you say before that the place you live is pretty close to my home?"
Perhaps because of her martial arts training, Jingliu did things quickly and decisively, and usually spoke briefly and to the point. Her speech rate rarely slowed.
But now, after watching her companions make a fool of themselves, she was in a good mood. When she deliberately slowed down her words, it somehow sounded… a bit flirtatious.
Only, her tone was a little strange, why did it feel like she was teasing him?
Zero belatedly remembered, when he had walked Jingliu home, he had said that line, "it's on the way."
Jingliu's lips carried a smile, but her face wore the expression of someone unwilling to let this go, waiting for Zero to give a reasonable explanation.
Zero, "…"
He thought left and right, but just couldn't come up with a proper reason, so he could only tell the truth.
"Sorry, I lied. It wasn't on the way, I just wanted to walk you home." Zero looked Jingliu straight in the eyes, his tone completely sincere.
Jingliu fixed him with a look that Zero couldn't quite describe, then laughed once, but her voice carried no laughter at all, "Looks like you're quite good at taking care of girls. Are you sure you've really never dated before?"
Zero froze.
He hadn't even realized this himself. Could it be, back in his previous life, the child he had taught was actually a girl?
The thought flashed by, but he didn't dwell on it. He answered helplessly, "Really, I've never dated."
Something like this, what's the need to lie?
Wait a minute. Wasn't Jingliu bringing up this topic a bit too ambiguous? And what he had just said himself… didn't sound quite right either…
Before Zero could think it through, Jingliu naturally raised her hand and tugged at his sleeve. Her tone shifted, as if in a good mood, "Courtesy requires reciprocity. This time, I'll walk you home."
Zero instinctively stepped back in the opposite direction.
"Really, no need, I'll be home in just a few minutes."
Jingliu still held onto his sleeve, raising her brows slightly without saying anything, as if silently asking why he wouldn't just follow.
She seemed completely unaware of how close they were standing, her expression open and unbothered, as if it were the most natural thing.
Seeing Zero rooted to the spot, Jingliu didn't move either. She said leisurely, "What, only you're allowed to walk me home?"
For a moment, the two stood locked in place.
The Swordmaster looked calm and collected, as if she really intended to wait him out until the end of time.
Looking at Jingliu's attitude, she wouldn't rest until she'd walked him home, he could only give in first, suppressing his awkwardness about being walked home by a girl, and step forward to close the distance between them.
The two stared into each other's eyes for a while. Jingliu laughed, glanced at him with amusement, and said, "What are you standing around for? Lead the way."
Zero, "…Oh. My home is this way."
Jingliu followed the direction he pointed, and after a few steps, Zero finally realized her intention.
The Swordmaster thought he didn't trust or respect her abilities?
After all, she was the Swordmaster.
If entering the Cloud Cavalry Army required one-in-ten-thousand talent, then Jingliu was a once-in-hundreds-of-thousands kind of genius.
Even the most outstanding of people, after seeing her sword techniques, could only sigh deeply and surrender in awe.
In terms of martial strength, no one in all of Luofu could compare to her.
So that "courtesy requires reciprocity" stuff, was it actually so he could experience what it felt like to be escorted home?
Zero thought about it, then decided to tell the truth. He admitted, "Sorry, I said 'on the way' just because I wanted to walk you home. I didn't mean to belittle you."
"Hm?" Jingliu chuckled, and tossed his words back at him, "I didn't feel belittled. I just wanted to walk you home, that's all."
The Swordmaster turned her face slightly, her smile deepening. She took in Zero's faintly awkward expression, then praised him in a completely earnest tone, "You're very good at thinking of others."
"Not really."
Zero didn't feel that considering others was any big deal. Just something that took a bit of thought, what's so hard about that?
Jingliu shook her head in disagreement, giving him a firm look.
"I rarely see people like you. You not only take care of others, but also truly put yourself in their shoes."
Zero instinctively touched his nose, smiling awkwardly. "That's a bit exaggerated. Swordmaster, please stop, you're making me embarrassed."
Jingliu seemed to really enjoy seeing Zero flustered. She studied his expression for a while, then quickly turned serious again, saying sincerely, "I'm only telling the truth. What's exaggerated about it? For example, that drink before, or the milk tea yesterday."
Zero, "…"
For a moment, he was at a loss for words.
He'd never thought he had done anything impressive, but being praised like this by Jingliu… he couldn't help feeling a little happy.
Like drinking a huge gulp of iced soda, his heart was bubbling over with fizz.
Like some small preference or comment he had casually mentioned had been remembered firmly by someone, and then brought up again one day.
From just a few of Jingliu's words, his face felt hot. He turned his head slightly, avoiding her gaze.
Jingliu, far more mature than him, knew when to stop. She smoothly shifted the topic, "Besides, your swordsmanship is quite good too. After sparring with me and still coming out unscathed, that talent is far better than Jing Yuan's. When shall we practice again?"
Hearing this, Zero forgot all about his embarrassment and quickly begged for mercy, "Better not. I'm just a Diviner of the Divination Commission, not worthy of the Swordmaster's praise."
"Still calling me 'Swordmaster'?" Jingliu shook her head in disapproval. "We're friends. No need to be so distant."
Zero gave a dry "oh," then suddenly remembered the rumors inside the Divination Commission. He asked, "Jingliu, do you… have some misunderstanding with us Diviners?"
He felt like the Divination Commission held some prejudice against her. Otherwise, how could they believe such absurd rumors?
Jingliu instantly recalled what had happened earlier.
She had gone to the Commission to look for a Diviner, wanting to ask about Zero. When she learned he was on leave, she immediately pressed for his address.
But the Diviner firmly refused, no matter what, and would not say a word.
Perhaps it was just an internal rule of the Commission.
Not allowing other departments to disclose personnel information and such.
With her cold face and sharp questioning, Jingliu didn't even realize she had scared the person. She just thought this, and shook her head, denying Zero's suggestion.
"That's really strange," Zero said in surprise.
"Yesterday when I woke up, somehow a rumor spread, that you and I had a grudge, and that you'd beaten me up."
Jingliu, "…"
If Zero's swordsmanship were just a bit worse, he probably really would have been beaten.
She cursed inwardly at how alcohol causes trouble, but outwardly stayed calm as ever, "Yes, really strange."
"It's ridiculous, how could such an outrageous rumor spread?" Zero sighed deeply. "It even reached the ears of the Grand Diviner. Yesterday, he told me to take three days off…"
Jingliu, "…"
So the Diviners wouldn't disclose his address because they thought she had come to settle a score?
Her smile was about to fall off her face.
═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═
patreon.com/XenosX
🥳Joining Patreon keeps me motivated and eager to work diligently, so please consider joining.🥰