A couple of hours after leaving the Astrum Palace, Qin Shaoqing received a notification informing him that Lady Yukong had sent several million credits as a thank-you gift for saving Tingyun. He was also granted a temporary residence in Central Starskiff Haven after it was discovered that his original home had been consumed by the Abundance.
"At least she knows how to be thankful," Qin Shaoqing mused.
With the threat of sudden homelessness resolved, he made his way toward the location Lady Yukong had given him, walking with brisk steps.
He climbed a short flight of stairs and crossed a small bridge before finally arriving at a lone home suspended by several unknown devices.
It was a single-story house, yet the land allocated to it was large enough to house a family of four. He found it unusual, since most homes in the Luofu were designed to occupy as little land as possible, but he did not dwell on it. He was simply grateful to receive a home, even if temporary.
Feeling weary, he realized he had not fully rested in a long time. The countless nights spent writing his book and the many battles he had fought in a single day had drained him both mentally and physically.
With nothing else on his agenda, he decided it was best to sleep early. With money in hand and a roof over his head, he could afford to relax until the disaster passed.
Choosing an empty bedroom, he lay down on the bed. Drowsiness overtook him quickly, and he fell asleep.
........
Jing Yuan had been swamped with reports for days that felt never-ending.
"General, the report from Unit 4 has arrived." One of his assistants entered the room, carrying yet another stack of papers.
Just looking at the pile forming on his desk gave him a headache.
"Just put them on the table," Jing Yuan said with a long sigh. He skimmed the papers with little interest, but something soon caught his attention.
Yanqing, his disciple and the youngest lieutenant, had taken interest in a transferred Cloud Knight from Yaoqing and had challenged her to a duel.
"This is interesting," Jing Yuan murmured. He examined the report more carefully, then turned his gaze toward the window. "A walk might do me some good."
"General Jing Yuan, another report just arrived—" His assistant returned to the office, only to find it empty.
She froze for a moment, confused, when a sudden gust of wind swept through the room and scattered the papers across the floor.
Looking at the open window, a vein began to throb on her forehead.
.....
Several hours earlier, Yanqing had returned from duty and entered the Central Training Ground, which was accessible to any Cloud Knight in the Luofu.
"Oh, it is the young lieutenant. What is with the long face, sir?" one of his subordinates asked, approaching him.
"Huh, the lieutenant feeling down? That is rare," another commented as he joined in.
"It is nothing. I simply feel that my swordsmanship has stagnated lately." Yanqing swung his hand in a striking motion but felt dissatisfied.
"Haha, lieutenant, you are still young. You have many years to grow. There is no need to rush," an older subordinate advised.
Yanqing considered the words, feeling frustrated, before setting the thought aside.
Right now, he wanted to focus on improving his swordsmanship.
Or so he thought, until something caught his eye.
"Ha!" Sushang let out a sharp cry. With a quick movement, she shifted her stance with remarkable fluidity and guided the tip of her sword toward her opponent's neck.
"Erk!" Her opponent flinched, preparing to be struck, but Sushang's blade halted perfectly inches before touching her.
"I win again," Sushang declared, lowering her sword.
"Phew, you really have changed, Sushang," her opponent said. "Not even a few months ago you were struggling to last a single match, and now you are bulldozing through several without breaking a sweat."
"Hehe, it is nothing, captain. I just had a fortuitous encounter."
"Even if you met a good teacher, do not discount the effort you put into learning." The captain patted her shoulder. "And accept a Cloud Knight's compliment."
"Anyway, let us return. We received a call from the lieutenant," the captain said before walking off. Sushang prepared to follow, but before she could take a step—
"Hey. I challenge you to a duel!" Yanqing declared, shocking the entire training ground.
Sushang, who saw Yanqing staring directly at her, looked around in confusion before pointing at herself.
"Me?"
Several hours later.
The rumor of a newcomer attracting the attention of the famous lieutenant Yanqing spread like a wildfire and everyone who was curious swarmed to the training ground to spectate.
Let alone Yanqing who was general's disciple and youngest lieutenant in history his opponent was equally as young and a transfer from Yaoqing, a ship famed for several successful major battles against the abundance in recent years.
Some murmurs gossiped Yanqing picked her to only show off his swordsmanship but those voices were too small to matter.
Now to the present Sushang and Yanqing was stood in the middle of the training ground with spectator on all side which made Sushang nervous.
She accepted the challenge to also temper her sword but with her being called in for duty they postponed their duel, but who knew the news of them dueling would be so significant to attract a large amount of eyes.
"Umm, if you feel uncomfortable then we could move somewhere else." Yanqing who saw Sushang's condition offered in consideration.
"Ah, no don't worry i'm just not used to this amount of spectator."
"But I'll affect your battle prowess if you are distracted."
"Trust me, it won't" Sushang reassured.
"If you insist." Yanqing gave up his persuasion.
Sushang took a deep breath and narrowed her focus to only Yanqing, each movement he micro adjust she paid attention. Her heartbeat steadily rises as her breath quickened, feeding her brain with more oxygen, rapidly increasing her thought process, clearing her vision and flooding her body with adrenaline.
Entering her stance she became ready as the whole world became blurry, with the only visible figure Yanqing standing before her.