The atmosphere at the dinner table was noticeably different from usual.
However, no one realized the true source of the difference.
For Qi Zhimu, Sleeping Snow, and Clear Cold, this was their first time having dinner at the same table as Jingliu... Or rather, in all these years, whenever Jingliu trained until she lost consciousness, she never made it to dinner.
The medicinal bath Qi Zhimu prepared for her was far more nourishing than ordinary food.
As for Jingliu, the last time she had dinner with her master was on the sole rest day when training was not required, so she naturally didn't notice anything unusual.
Nevertheless, Qi Zhimu could see the girl's sullen mood; she was even absent-minded while eating.
After everyone had put down their bowls and chopsticks, he spoke up to ask.
"Did you run into some trouble?"
"..."
Jingliu's hand stiffened. Her crimson eyes shifted slightly as she replied nonchalantly.
"...I just can't figure out why my progress in today's high-temperature endurance training was such a big leap. Yesterday, I couldn't even last half an hour, but today I almost passed the training."
"Didn't I explain before we left? Your constitution has barely reached the target result. Otherwise, why would your master say you don't need to push yourself to exhaustion anymore?"
"...Right. I just felt unaccustomed to it for a moment and couldn't remember."
"Treat it with equanimity. There's still the maximum temperature standard ahead. After that, there's cold endurance. Only when you can complete all the training in a single day will it be considered a great achievement."
"Your disciple understands." Jingliu pressed her lips together.
Her master had always been serious and strict with his demands; she was long used to it.
But why did she now feel a faint sense of vexation in her chest when facing her master's high expectations?
Could it be because she saw her master and Senior Clear Cold... coming out of the same room?
But what did that have to do with her?
Her master was unmarried, and Senior Clear Cold was unwed. A talented man and a beautiful woman.
Although there was a huge age gap between them, this was the Xianzhou. For Long-lived Species, romantic relationships with age differences of several hundred years were perfectly normal.
Jingliu felt there was one more thing she needed to figure out.
Or perhaps, she had misunderstood something?
Maybe between her master and Senior Clear Cold... Jingliu didn't continue thinking along those lines.
The possibility of a misunderstanding was too slim. If it wasn't what she thought, wouldn't the things she learned in the Academy's biology class have been a waste?
It was a normal reaction for many women's skin to flush after experiencing that kind of thing; it would fade after a while.
She still remembered the content of that Academy Instructor's lecture clearly. She couldn't be wrong.
The more she thought about it, the more unnatural Jingliu's expression became.
She cleared the table and took the initiative to wash the dishes, leaving behind three people with different emotions.
Compared to Sleeping Snow, Clear Cold was more perceptive and noticed something was off with Jingliu's mood.
"Lord Zhimu, Jingliu seems to have something on her mind."
"That's normal. If she doesn't speak up, it means she can handle it herself." Qi Zhimu had also noticed something amiss, but he didn't make the connection in that particular direction.
During his centuries of teaching at the Academy, he had seen countless children facing troubles.
From their early childhood years to their coming-of-age, their expressions were mostly similar. It wasn't anything unusual.
Qi, who considered himself detached from worldly affairs in his previous life and lived a restrained, monotonous life in this one, yet never had a normal romantic history, naturally thought this way.
The two sisters beside him, equally lacking in similar experience, didn't find anything wrong either.
Hearing Qi Zhimu say this, they stopped dwelling on it.
Sleeping Snow organized her thoughts, her expression quickly turning serious.
"The day after tomorrow, Lord Zhimu will be setting out on the campaign. As your personal guards, we should follow, but my younger sister's legs..."
"After experiencing high-intensity bloody combat, we don't know if the aftereffects might have a chance of recurring?"
"Furthermore... during the march and battles, there might not necessarily be time for treatment."
Hearing this, Clear Cold didn't seem too concerned and replied without hesitation:
"My legs are a minor matter. With a great enemy ahead, the Cloud Knights should prioritize completing the mission."
"This battle involves an extremely troublesome Borisin tribe, and even a Nest Father is present. If we can eliminate these Abominations, what does it matter if the treatment course is extended by a few years?"
"The Borisin Nest Father's strength is terrifying. In the team, only Lord Zhimu can confront it head-on. My personal minor issue should be set aside for now, sister."
She understood all too well how troublesome the Borisin were.
Any Cloud Knight on the battlefield had to maintain vigilance around the clock, sleeping only lightly.
Because you could never predict when a Borisin assassin would choose to launch a sneak attack.
The time Lord Zhimu needed to treat the aftereffects in her legs wasn't 2 seconds, but around twenty minutes.
For a brutal battlefield where every second counted, this was clearly impossible and could not be overlooked.
"No need to worry too much. I've already made preparations."
Qi Zhimu's expression was calm as he took out a white jade bottle and placed it before Clear Cold.
"It contains a good amount of a special medicine. Taking one pill guarantees the aftereffects won't recur for five days. Correspondingly, the treatment course will also be extended by five days."
"...Thank you for your consideration, Lord Zhimu. This subordinate is deeply grateful."
Clear Cold tightly gripped the jade bottle, a flicker of emotion in her eyes.
Sleeping Snow was about to thank him on her sister's behalf but was stopped by Qi Zhimu raising his hand.
"Formalities in private are pointless; no thanks are needed. Our goal is the same: to fight to the death against the Abominations of Abundance who have robbed countless lives."
"Tomorrow is the eve of the campaign. Reconfirm the coordination with the Divination Commission's intelligence department and the logistical support unit. Ensure nothing goes wrong."
"The Nest Father of that large Blackclaw Hunting Pack tribe... must not be allowed to escape."
"This battle will certainly not go smoothly. Order the three armies to reform their formations. Have the Troops form groups of three, each group centered around one Qingqiu Guard to create a cooperative combat formation."
"What about the Crane Feather Guard?" Sleeping Snow asked.
"Coordinate with the Sky-Faring Commission's warships to hold the rear, strengthening real-time coordinate detection of those wolf beasts to leave them nowhere to hide."
"Orders received!"
...The next day, on the eve of the Vanguard Expeditionary Team's departure.
Jingliu finished her training early, arriving home not long after dark.
Senior Sleeping Snow wasn't there; she was probably staying at the barracks tonight. Her master and Senior Clear Cold were present, but... her master only exchanged a brief glance with her before, under her watchful gaze, he walked into Clear Cold's room... *Click*.
The door closed.
Jingliu found her body acting independently of her mind. She actually lightened her footsteps, feeling a heavy sense of stealth as she crept closer, pressing her ear against the door.
Faint, rustling sounds reached her ears.
It was the sound of fabric rubbing while undressing... "It might hurt a bit tonight."
"It's alright, Lord Zhimu. Please don't hold back on my account."
Hearing these two sentences, followed by subsequent suppressed moans, a shadow fell over Jingliu's face.
But she wasn't aware of it herself; she just left silently.
It seemed last night... she hadn't misunderstood.