"Mother! I want to be a Cloud Knight!" A daughter who barely looked ten years old exclaimed fervently.
"Dear, why do you want to become a Cloud Knight?" her mother—herself a Cloud Knight—asked gently.
"Because I want to become a legendary swordswoman!" Sushang held up a children's picture book titled Legend of the Silver Wind.
The book told the story of a swordsman on a quest to find the Silver Wind. Along the way, he faced countless setbacks and hardships that honed his sword skills until he became unrivaled throughout the galaxy.
Though the book never explicitly stated what the Silver Wind truly was, many speculated about its nature. Some believed it to be a legendary scroll said to control the four winds; others thought it was a sword capable of summoning storms with a single swing—or even a peerless fairy awaiting a worthy swordsman's hand.
Even the protagonist himself, who relentlessly searched for the Silver Wind, did not know what it truly was. When asked why he pursued such an elusive goal, he merely smiled and replied:
"I search not for the goal, only the meaning of the gravel I travel upon."
In the end, he never found the Silver Wind, leaving many readers enraged with the author.
The authenticity of the story remains unanswered even to this day. Many believe it was merely a tale created by a storyteller to boast about imagined adventures. But little Sushang paid no attention to such matters.
Her mother simply smiled at her answer and accepted little Sushang as her disciple.
Despite being her mother, she did not spare her daughter from grueling training. Along with physical conditioning, she disciplined her in manners, expressions, and the boundaries of what she could and could not do.
"To be a Cloud Knight is to hold the sky itself and protect the citizens from injustice."
"Remember—do one good deed, and reflect upon yourself three times every day."
"To raise your blade is to know what you are fighting for. While your dream of becoming a legend is admirable, you must one day find another reason to truly steel your determination."
"Find another reason, hmm…" Young Sushang muttered to herself as she recalled her mother's teachings. Even after all these years, she still couldn't find one.
Even stones are worn down by time, and Sushang—who had always searched for her reason to wield her sword—couldn't help but falter.
One day, she asked her mother again where she might find it, only to be met with a gentle smile.
"Dear, one cannot easily find a reason to fight. The day will come—I'm sure of it. Just wait a little longer."
"Junior Sushang, you are assigned to investigate a suspicious situation occurring at a loading dock near Central Starskiff Haven." A senior Cloud Knight called out, snapping Sushang from her thoughts.
"Uh—ah! Y-Yes, Captain!" Sushang hurriedly retrieved her sword and followed.
Soon, a small squad was assembled and deployed toward the location.
As they ran, the squad captain briefed them on the situation.
Apparently, they had received a mysterious phone call and overheard a suspicious exchange between two parties.
What alarmed them most was the mention of the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus—a nefarious sect that worshiped Yaoshi and had repeatedly become a thorn in the Luofu's side.
That name alone was enough for the high command to dispatch a squad.
Before long, they arrived at the scene. Upon seeing several transformed Disciples of Sanctus Medicus, the Cloud Knights charged forward without hesitation—their priority was to ensure none escaped.
Sushang rushed ahead, placing herself between the terrified merchants and the attackers.
As she clashed with one disciple, she cast a worried glance toward the man standing closest to the largest disciple—the apparent leader.
When she saw the leader slash toward him, panic flared within her, nearly causing her to misstep while dodging an attack from her own opponent.
She glanced back again, expecting to see a corpse—only for her entire body to freeze in shock.
Several figures of the same man moved erratically, each producing footsteps of their own. Every time the disciple struck one, it dissipated into the wind.
'Are you… my Silver Wind?' Sushang asked silently, mesmerized.
Seeing her hesitation, her opponent seized the opportunity and slashed toward her neck.
"Sushang, focus!" her senior shouted while fending off his own enemies.
The cry snapped her out of it. She barely managed to raise her sword in time, clumsily blocking the strike.
Qin Shaoqing, fully focused on the incoming blades, spared no attention for the watching eyes.
"Sir Cheng, how about we visit a gardener together? I'm sure some of those wild leaves and branches could use trimming. I know a guy—I'll recommend him to you." Qin Shaoqing's taunt only fueled Cheng Cheng's rage.
"SHUT UP, YOU @#!@@#!!"
Cheng Cheng's attacks became faster and more erratic—yet more predictable.
Consumed entirely by rage, his mind held only one thought: kill Qin Shaoqing.
'A chance.'
Spotting an opening, Qin Shaoqing thrust his palm forward, striking squarely into Cheng Cheng's chest.
Activating Drain, green flames engulfed his hand as his opponent's yang energy was siphoned away.
Cheng Cheng felt his strength vanish. His knees buckled, and he collapsed to the ground.
"Phew. Here—some anger management medicine. No charge. Consider it a gift between friends." Qin Shaoqing winked at the fallen Cheng Cheng, who glared back with bloodshot eyes.
Seeing the other Cloud Knights handling the remaining disciples, Qin Shaoqing saw no need to intervene further.
After absorbing Cheng Cheng's vitality, he felt completely rejuvenated—as if he could move mountains with his bare hands.
Taking a deep breath, the air felt clearer. His thoughts sharpened, and his eyes tracked everything around him effortlessly.
'It's addicting…' his mind screamed.
He shook the thought away. If he began draining people indiscriminately, he'd be hunted by the entire Luofu.
As the Cloud Knights finished the battle, Qin Shaoqing waited near the merchants, who had remained silent throughout.
"Thank you." The leader of the merchants approached and bowed slightly. "The Golden Road Association will never forget what you did for us."
"No problem. I'd been tailing those guys and saw trouble brewing. I just did what any good-hearted citizen would."
"Haha, Senior Qin Shaoqing is too humble. A valiant soul like yours is truly rare."