Qi Zhimu remained silent.
Seeing this, Clear Cold roughly guessed the reason and wisely said no more.
Sleeping Snow sighed quietly to herself.
Not long ago, they had all seen Jingliu's aggrieved expression.
But what Jingliu didn't know was that the source of this grievance actually stemmed from Qi Zhimu's worry.
He feared she would die a heroic death like those young Cloud Knights, full of fervor and refusing to retreat even unto death.
Sometimes, even a Xianzhou General cannot guarantee the safety of every Cloud Knight under their command, let alone a mere Vanguard?
Once an enemy of equal or greater strength appears, both the General and the Vanguard must personally engage in battle, unable to remain in command.
On-the-spot tactical adjustments can only be left to the accompanying Strategist.
The battlefield is cruel; no one is omnipotent, anyone could lose their life in the next second.
As a master, how could he show his powerless side to his disciple?
Even though no one in the entire Expeditionary Force would ever think him incompetent.
But only a commander understands the psychological torment of watching the vibrant lives under their command vanish one by one before their eyes.
Over thousands of years, why do those in the Cloud Knights with higher positions fall into the mara affliction faster as they age? Precisely because they have witnessed too much death and borne too much loss.
Lord Zhimu, you've already done very well... Sleeping Snow and Clear Cold very much wanted to say these words.
But they also knew they could not say them.
Nor did they have the standing to say them.
The entire Expeditionary Force believed he had fulfilled all his duties, but he did not think so, nor could he possibly think so.
Sleeping Snow understood, and Clear Cold understood as well.
After all—
They were all survivors of the Azure City tragedy, having personally witnessed countless lives die before their eyes. How could they remain indifferent to the sacrifice of their comrades?
The reason for returning to the Cloud Knights' main base was to hold a Strategic Meeting for The Hunt against Ussa, and to report more details of that battle.
The people of The Hunt will never forget their vengeance... Night, nearing dawn.
Finally, after suffering another heavy blow, Jingliu's vision went dark, and her body could no longer remain upright.
She staggered a step forward and fell heavily, making a dull thud.
Before losing consciousness, a pair of calm eyes appeared in her blurry vision.
In those eyes, something complex seemed to flash by.
But Jingliu had no time to see it clearly before darkness completely swallowed her consciousness.
On the artificial night sky, simulated stars twinkled, their light falling upon the young girl's face, her brows furrowed in suppressed pain.
Qi Zhimu gently picked her up, turned, and walked towards the Rest Area, letting out a sigh almost too faint to hear.
He pulled up the training records from the Martial Arts Field and watched them quietly for a long time, then closed the light screen.
He knew Jingliu was progressing rapidly; even if Clear Cold and Sleeping Snow sparred with her, victory was not guaranteed for either side.
But against more powerful enemies that could strike from an unknown direction at any moment, piercing her throat, Jingliu's current strength was far from sufficient.
Since the tragedy of Azure City and the death of his mother, he thought he had nothing left he couldn't lose, and no price he couldn't pay.
But now... he had someone he cared about.
He had made a vow to let Jingliu survive, to live even on more brutal battlefields.
Returning home and entrusting Jingliu to Sleeping Snow's care, Qi Zhimu immediately shut himself in his Private Laboratory.
The first thing he did was lock the door, then enter the Hidden Chamber.
He swallowed a specially developed pill and stepped into a special area to activate the device.
Four sharp iron chains shot out from front and back, piercing his body completely, sealing the meridians near his elixir organ.
Simultaneously, dozens of silver needles followed, precisely piercing specific acupoints all over his body.
Qi Zhimu pressed his right hand fiercely against his forehead, his expression contorted, suppressing extreme agony.
If he hadn't seen Jingliu in time, soothing his rationality that was on the verge of violent collapse, perhaps... For centuries, he had endured loss.
From comrades-in-arms, to his homeland, until finally even his family was gone.
Now, he only had Jingliu, this adopted disciple.
If even she were to die... Qi Zhimu knew he was gradually stepping towards extremity, but he couldn't fully control it.
The fire of hatred in his heart had never been extinguished, yet it could not bring him any gaze.
He needed power, yet could not obtain it as a child of The Hunt, for he had touched a taboo he should not have.
The Mara-Struck state is the destiny of the Xianzhou's Long-lived Species.
If fate decrees he must abandon some things in this life to gain the power he desires, then... there is only one path.
He must persevere and walk it.
The flame in his heart had not yet reached the time to be extinguished; he absolutely must not succumb.
"Shuhu... I will kill you... I swear..."
But before that, Ussa must be killed, by his own hand!
Qi Zhimu's five fingers dug fiercely into his face, as if trying to physically claw out the things that were madly trying to replace his reason from his mind.
The medicine combined with the device gradually took effect, and the frenzy in Qi Zhimu's eyes began to dissipate.
He tilted his head, looking at the large, sharp object not far away, an expression of plunder and a different kind of madness surfacing on his face... Morning.
Jingliu awoke from her stupor, a snow-white ceiling coming into view.
Then came the pain.
Every bone in her body felt as if it had been disassembled and reassembled; every inch of muscle protested.
She instinctively tried to sit up, but a sharp pain shot through her spine, making her gasp sharply.
Yesterday's memories flooded back.
Her master's utterly calm eyes, those cold, harsh words... to her, they hurt more than a heavy blow from a metal automaton.
There was no reassuring figure by her side, only a White Jade Bottle placed on the bedside table, weighing down a note.
A glimmer of light flashed in Jingliu's eyes as she eagerly took the note.
The moment she saw the handwriting, the light turned into thick disappointment.
It was actually the Rescue and Revival Pill left for her by Senior Sleeping Snow... it could promote rapid wound healing and reduce the pain of recovery.
Master would no longer take care of her as he used to.
The consequences of high-intensity training would from now on be borne by herself alone... So typical of his style.
"Survive fifty medium-scale battles..."
"Master, your disciple will do it... In return, Master must also wait patiently for your disciple..."
Jingliu swallowed the pill and lay back on the bed, a faint, unconsciously sickly curve lifting the corner of her mouth.
We... must not break our promise...