Ancient tales spoke of immortals commanding wind and traversing the void. It was said that Sword Immortals rode their flying swords, capable of covering thirty thousand miles a day, piercing through clouds with a sound akin to rending metal or silk, chasing stars and moons alike.
"Boom!"
"You... s-slow... dow-ow-n... please!"
"Huh? What did you say? Too slow? Alright, I'll speed up!"
Senti extended her hand near her ear, feigning great effort to hear clearly. She then turned towards the adorable little girl, terrified yet suspended mid-air by chains, and flashed a radiant, innocent smile.
"Boom!!!"
"Ahhh!!!"
The immortal riding on a flying sword and her captive dragged along by chains pierced through cloud layers, leaving behind a startling sonic boom trail.
Zhuge Kongming, no longer concerned about being mistaken for a Sword Immortal, now solely focused on returning safely to the ground—alive!
Damn it all! At just twelve years old, she hadn't even experienced the full beauty of youth and absolutely didn't want such a meaningless death!
With Senti towing Zhuge Kongming, they soared and tumbled wildly in the sky, performing dangerously thrilling maneuvers amidst uncontrollable laughter.
After what felt like an eternity to Zhuge Kongming but still not enough excitement for Senti, the flying sword finally crossed half the Huang Kingdom, reaching the imperial capital city.
"Boom!!!"
Senti, being an enthusiastic child, didn't know how to slow down.
The flying sword first shattered the palace roof, then smashed through the floor, causing intense vibrations and shockwaves that radiated outward, destroying numerous valuable objects and all supporting structures.
"Crash!"
As the building collapsed amidst the dangerous rubble, bursts of energetic laughter echoed through the chaos.
"Hahaha! I'm back, Zeke!"
"Thud!"
"Aiya!"
A large chunk of debris from the collapsing roof struck Senti squarely on her head, burying her beneath it.
Several minutes later, when the dust settled, only the imperial throne and the seats of the three high-ranking ministers remained untouched amidst the ruins. Even the pervasive dust couldn't penetrate the air around them.
"Bam!"
A small fist emerged from under the wreckage, punching through the debris. Out stepped a girl, covered in grime but beaming brightly.
With light and lively steps, she approached Zeke, ascended the stairs leading to the imperial throne, and held up the chains in her hand for him to see.
"Mission accomplished, Zeke!"
"Well done..." Zeke surveyed the surrounding devastation and suddenly smiled, gentle as a breeze, warm like spring.
Zeke rose from the throne, his head towering above her, giving him an air of dominance as he looked down at Senti.
"Hm?"
Senti tilted her head, blinking innocently with a cute expression.
"Crackling! Boom! Snap!"
By the time Senti reacted, she found herself lying bruised and battered on the ground. With swollen eyes barely able to focus, the intense pain in her chest signaled that three ribs were likely broken.
"Ahhhhh!!"
Like a live shrimp thrown onto land, Senti desperately writhed amidst the ruins, attempting to alleviate some of her agony.
[Sigh...]
In the consciousness domain, Fu Hua sighed helplessly, resting her forehead against her hand.
She knew this confrontation was inevitable. While she managed to steer Senti away for the past half-month, mistakes couldn't be avoided forever; eventually, she could no longer hold back Senti's actions.
Meanwhile, Zeke shook out his hand, picked up the chain brought by Senti, and gently tugged it.
"Thud!"
From the rubble emerged another filthy little girl, her hair disheveled like a bird's nest, clothes torn beyond repair, eyes tightly shut, and brows furrowed—clearly experiencing a nightmare even in unconsciousness.
"Sigh..."
Zeke mirrored Fu Hua's gesture, sighing and rubbing his forehead before casually tossing the girl towards Rita, who stood anxiously behind them.
"She'll be fine, but needs attention first. You all may proceed now."
Interrupting their mid-discussion, Zeke casually waved at the three senior ministers.
The trio bowed and withdrew accordingly.
Zeke then squatted down before the writhing and screaming girl, expressionless, and said, "Well done. Welcome back."
"Is that how you welcome someone? Are you looking to die?!"
A punch breaking through the sound barrier aimed for Zeke but was halted as he grabbed her wrist.
"Oww, ow, ow! It's breaking, it's breaking! My hand is about to snap!!"
Senti lay on the ground, frantically pounding with her other hand, tears welling up from the pain while croaking incessantly.
After a moment, Zeke released her wrist.
"Do you understand your mistake now?"
"Huh? You damn fool, what are you... Waaah!"
With one hand, Zeke gripped Senti's swollen cheeks, narrowing his eyes, and repeated, "Do you know your mistake?"
"Squeak-gobble... Gurggle-rumble..."
Unlike the familiar language of paramecia, Zeke couldn't comprehend this twisted dialect spoken by Senti, but he could tell it wasn't flattering. He decided to seek translation help.
Zeke: [Fu Hua, translate this.]
Fu Hua: [She said, 'You're dead meat'—something along those lines.]
Senti: [Old fossil, did you just fucking betray me?!]
Pausing briefly, Zeke tightened his grip on Senti's cheeks, once again revealing a gentle smile.
"Do you know why Kiana starts sweating profusely when I narrow my eyes?"
Zeke squinted.
Senti felt a surge of murderous intent.
No joke—it was genuinely terrifying.
"Wait! Wait! I surrender! Little Fuxi said we shouldn't clash!"
"That advice was for you only. I heard about a barren hill up north, once used as a potter's field for beheaded prisoners. I'm quite curious about any peculiarities of land that has buried so many dead. Why don't you help me investigate?"
"You think I'd fear you... Wait! I was wrong! I surrender! Truly, I surrender!"
As Zeke made to grab her by the face and drag her to the potter's field, Senti swiftly chose to admit defeat.
Their gazes met—Zeke's icy stare against Senti's teary, swollen eyes.
"Go wash yourself thoroughly before returning."
In his menacing tone, Zeke released her face.
In the imperial bathing pool reserved for royalty,
Kiana lounged casually against the edge, with a wine jug and pastries nearby, blissfully enjoying her hot soak—the abundant fruits floating on the water's surface were impossible to overlook.
Durandal sat beside Kiana, maintaining impeccable posture even while soaking in the bath, exuding military discipline. She draped a light, thin towel around herself, concealing her figure that stirred vivid fantasies.
Rita and Zhuge Kongming sat facing each other in the water; Rita gently washed and massaged Kongming's body while discussing recent power shifts within the Empire. She also provided detailed guidance on future survival strategies. Zhuge Kongming clenched her fists tightly, her expression constantly shifting, ultimately overwhelmed by a sense of absurdity as if the heavens themselves had collapsed.
"Hisss... hiss... hiss!!!" The continuous sounds of pain naturally came from Senti, not far away.
Behind Senti, a ghostly image of Fu Hua appeared in flowing white robes, controlling comb and towels to cleanse and groom Senti's hair and body. Squatting in the water like a child, Senti couldn't resist touching her swollen cheeks.
"Old fossil, my broken bones healed automatically, so why won't this swelling on my face go down?"
"A unique chi is persistently inhibiting your body's natural healing process. This is Zeke's lesson for you; endure it and reflect upon your actions."
"Dang it! Old fossil, I haven't even settled with you yet! How dare you betray me just now? And when he was bullying me so much, couldn't you have stepped in to stop him? Why did you just watch?!?"
"...Let's be honest here—you deserved a beating. As much as I didn't want to do it myself, I had to let Zeke handle it." Fu Hua sighed, shaking her head with amusement and resignation.
The child's fearlessness due to ignorance might have been excusable, but the real issue lay in not understanding the fine line between playful mischief and outright recklessness. Especially when Little Fuxi wasn't around, Fu Hua could offer guidance, but its effectiveness waned over time. Without a good thrashing every now and then, Senti likely wouldn't learn to exercise restraint.
Sulking, Senti muttered, "What's up with that?! First, you say you're too reluctant, then you bring Zeke into it—now I don't know whether to be angry or grateful! Your mind, old fossil, truly is baffling and peculiar!"
"Alright, alright, I'll be more peculiar then, happy? You really need to learn better social skills. Your intentions are good, but your impulsive nature and lack of restraint can cause headaches for those around you."
"What's wrong with being a bit freer?"
"Freedom is indeed valuable, but there must be balance. Senti, it's essential to understand how to interact with friends; continuing this reckless behavior will easily make others dislike you."
"Hmph! Sounds like you're implying I care so much about that! I don't need anyone's liking; it's only the weak who seek such approval!"
"Determining strength isn't solely based on power; wisdom, character, and other qualities matter too. I hope, Senti, that you become someone everyone adores. Promise me, from now on, try to be more thoughtful in your actions, okay?" Fu Hua patiently taught, her guidance unwavering.
Under her gentle and affectionate gaze, Senti stubbornly remained silent. Though reluctant to obediently accept lessons like a child, she ultimately couldn't muster any sharp retort against Fu Hua.