["'I don't understand why you're so determined to become a starskiff pilot?!'"]
["'And I don't understand why you just can't get it…' Qingni practically shouted, her eyes flashing with angry tears. 'Anyone in the world can become a starskiff pilot, but the Helm Master's daughter can't? How is that fair?! You don't want to fly anymore, but that doesn't mean you should chain me down! I'm not a bird you keep in a cage!'"]
["With that, a heartbroken Qingni stormed out of the Palace of Astrum without looking back."]
Liyue——
"In this Hall Master's opinion, Miss Yukong is just too rigid."
Inside the "Cloudhaven" private room by the window on the second floor of Xinyue Kiosk, Hu Tao poked at a plate of intricately carved candied fruits with her chopstick tip. She had intended to discuss some business regarding mechanisms with Miss Cloud Retainer, but their conversation was interrupted by the mother-daughter argument on the Celestial Screen.
Cloud Retainer's chopsticks paused in midair. "Hall Master Hu, you're mistaken. As parents, when it comes to their children's safety, they're bound to be a bit stubborn."
"Oh? Does Miss Cloud Retainer have children?"
"No, but in the art of mechanisms, this one… cough, I do have a few disciples I've watched grow up," Cloud Retainer shook her head, sighing meaningfully. "Miss Yukong's feelings… I can somewhat understand them now."
"As the Helm Master, no one on the Xianzhou likely understands starskiff pilots better than Yukong, and no one knows the dangers of being one better than her," Zhongli said from the side, gently blowing on his tea, a fleeting trace of regret in his eyes beneath the steaming mist.
"But we in Liyue have an old saying: 'The fledgling eagle must eventually leave the nest.' Overly restricting her may backfire."
Hu Tao finally speared a piece of winter melon candy shaped like a crane, a satisfied smile curling her lips. "Mhm! The Consultant gets what this Hall Master means! While Yukong's protective intentions are good, she can't keep Qingni caged forever, right?"
"Heh, indeed… Hall Master Hu makes a fair point."
Seeing the melancholic furrow in Yukong's brow, Cloud Retainer lowered her head thoughtfully, her fingers unconsciously tracing the cracked pattern on her cup. "…Her reluctance to trust and let go likely stems from some great pain Yukong herself has suffered."
["Yukong took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in her heart before slowly approaching Stelle and Welt. 'I'm sorry you had to witness that.'"]
["'Qingni is set on becoming a starskiff pilot, but I haven't allowed it. I told her to focus on being a clerk. It may seem like I'm being authoritarian, but when I think of her surrounded by those monsters, my tail trembles with fear…'"]
["Yukong gave a self-deprecating smile. 'It's laughable, really. The Abundance Axis, living planets—I've witnessed all kinds of dire situations and thought I was someone who didn't know fear.'"]
["'It was only when fighting alongside you that I realized there are things in this world that truly terrify me…'"]
["Welt said, 'I've heard from the Sky-Faring Commission that Lady Yukong is one of the Luofu's top starskiff pilots, an ace among the Cloud Knights. Seeing you draw your bow last time, I knew the rumors were true. I hope I'll have the chance to witness your starskiff piloting skills in the future.'"]
["Welt, sensing the timing wasn't right, found an excuse to leave. 'The Helm Master has many duties, so we won't disturb you further. I hope we'll have more chances to exchange ideas in the future.'"]
["'I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint Mr. Welt.'"]
["Yukong kept smiling, but it was a fragile smile, like paper soaked in water. '…The skies are no longer suitable for me.'"]
["After their conversation with Yukong ended, the two had barely left the Palace of Astrum when Qingni, who had been hiding nearby, called out to them."]
["Having argued with her mother in public, Qingni apologized to them with deep guilt, but when the topic turned to Yukong, her face seemed to cloud over with gloom."]
["'I've already come of age—I'm an adult now. I should have the freedom to chase my dreams, right? But Mom still treats me like a child, keeping me under her wing, as if I can't survive a moment without her.'"]
Baki World——
Inside Tokugawa's mansion.
"Hah… family bonds? Just a primitive desire for control," Yujiro Hanma suddenly let out a cold laugh. "If that girl really wants freedom, she should beat her mom Yukong until she's kneeling in defeat!"
Tokugawa wiped the sweat from his brow. "So that's why your son Baki, at fourteen, already…"
"That's why he can now break my arm!" Yujiro flashed a toothy grin. "That's the proper way for parent and child to interact!"
"…"
Faced with Yujiro's outrageous claim, everyone fell silent.
…What kind of parent-child interaction is this? Are you two aliens or something? Does this kind of parent-child dynamic even exist on Earth?
Retsu Kaioh couldn't stand it anymore, frowning. "Yujiro, that's too extreme…"
"Extreme?" Yujiro's teacup suddenly shattered, a shard flying out with a whoosh, instantly piercing through Retsu's prosthetic limb.
"The parent-child relationship is the most primal arena. True parent-child interaction… is tearing into each other until blood and flesh fly! And that Yukong, treating her daughter like a pet… her purity is just too low!"
With that, Yujiro let out a wild laugh, shaking the dust from the ceiling of Tokugawa's mansion.
Retsu suddenly spoke up. "…So you're actually jealous of that mother and daughter, aren't you, Yujiro?"
The air froze instantly.
Yujiro's smile cracked for the first time, but it vanished in an instant. "Fool! I'm teaching you the truth—to change someone's will, you do it through relentless beating! When that girl can pummel her mom until she's begging for mercy, her wish will come true."
——
["'Ahem, parents do become stubborn. To change a rock, it takes the patient drip of water day after day,' Welt said."]
["'So, Miss Qingni, instead of exploding like today, why not patiently prove through your actions that you can take care of yourself?'"]
["Welt's words softened Qingni's attitude somewhat. 'Actually, my mom is a reasonable person. But when it comes to flying, she becomes completely unreasonable.'"]
["Qingni's brows furrowed as she said wistfully, 'She hid my starskiff toys, dragged me away from counting ships at the port, and forced me to study at a desk. I worked so hard to get into the Sky-Faring Commission, only to end up doing clerical work under her arrangement.'"]
["'Sigh, every day I look up at the aircraft streaking across the sky, and my heart feels so empty…'"]
["Halfway through, Qingni realized it wasn't appropriate to vent to the two of them and instead invited them to explore the Luofu. Along the way, she occasionally spoke of her mother's legendary past, her eyes full of admiration."]
["She hoped to one day become a legend like her mother but was also puzzled by her mother's change. It seemed everything started after the Third Abundance War."]