Chapter 346: After all, I am their teacher
The one who leapt onto him was Kiana. In the rush, the only towel on her body slipped away, and she pressed herself bare against Sigurd's chest.
It was a sensation too exquisite for words.
Sigurd's expression froze.
"You—"
"Don't talk! You people always have a bunch of complicated, messy things to say. I can't argue with you. I don't care about 'whether I look like her' or 'some other Kiana'— Just—let me hold you, okay?"
"I think… I finally understand what it means to like someone. But… you won't stay for me, will you?"
Kiana smiled as she spoke, her face resting on Sigurd's shoulder, drawing in a deep breath.
And Sigurd felt it—the wet drops slipping from her cheek, falling onto his skin.
At that moment, his whole body stiffened.
It was Kiana. She was naked. She was crying.
In the end, he did not push her away.
'Forget it… just this once.'
Sigurd sighed inwardly, allowing Kiana to hug him tighter and tighter.
No one noticed that right beside them, Fu Hua's hand tightened around her small wine flask—until cracks spread across the vessel.
Crack!
"Hm?"
Sigurd turned his head, calmly meeting Fu Hua's gaze.
"It's nothing. This flask is poor. There's not much left wine in it anyway. Don't look at me—this is your romantic debt. Handle it yourself~~"
Fu Hua's faint smile curved like a crescent moon, her clear eyes flowing with gentleness, betraying no sign of unrest.
Then she rose, lifting the unconscious Senti from the water, and silently departed the bathhouse.
. . . . .
Carrying Senti toward a palace chamber, Fu Hua walked without a word.
Suddenly, Senti nudged her chin against Fu Hua's shoulder, lightly bumping heads.
"Old Timer, are you unhappy?"
"…No."
"I can feel it. Don't try to fool me. What's wrong? Tell me, I'll help you fix it!"
"Sigh… Just thinking—it's almost time to leave. After staying in this world for a while, I can't help but feel a little reluctant."
Fu Hua chuckled softly. Her voice was gentle, pleasant, like a breeze across still water.
Senti never suspected otherwise. She believed Fu Hua's words completely. So she frowned and shook her head with mild distress.
"That… I don't think I can help with. But hey, maybe we can ask Sigurd to leave a coordinate or something. After we deal with things back in our world, we can always come visit again, right?"
"You're right. So—does the bump on your head still hurt? Playing pranks on Sigurd, wasn't the punishment quite painful?"
Fu Hua tilted her head to bump lightly against hers, smiling.
Senti puffed out her cheeks, letting out a huff.
"Old Timer, you've gone bad! No—wait, you've always been like this! Every time I suffer under Sigurd, you take his side and laugh at me! Aren't we supposed to be on the same team!?"
"Do I?"
"Of course you do! So mean!"
"Then… let's say I do. Anyway, how about some late-night food? I feel like drinking. I can cook you something to go with it."
"Ooh, yes! Midnight snack! I want… hmm, you're actually a good cook, Old Timer. Never mind—anything's fine, as long as it's tasty."
"No problem. Head to the pavilion we always used. I'll make the food."
Fu Hua gave her a light pat on the rear and released her hold.
Senti hopped down and ran off, cheerful as always.
"Woohoo~~ Midnight snack, here I come!"
Watching the girl skip in the moonlight, Fu Hua shook her head with a smile, then turned toward the imperial kitchens.
. . . .
Midnight snack was exactly that. After eating her fill, Senti collapsed onto the table, drifting into drowsy sleep.
She was always like this—carefree, enviably untroubled.
With a flick of her wrist, Fu Hua sent the lightly dressed girl back to her chamber with a gentle burst of energy.
Afterward, she draped a white robe over herself. Beneath it, she still wore the thin azure gauze from the hot spring—a kind of ancient-style bikini. She walked back to the pavilion, leaned against the stone pillar, and lifted her eyes toward the moon, dazed.
In her hand, the little wine flask tilted, sharp liquid sliding down her throat.
'What's wrong with me?'
One hand pressed against her chest, feeling emotions without name, as her thoughts drifted farther and farther away.
She recalled her first meeting with Sigurd.
The empty Mount Taixuan.
Herself—like a walking corpse.
A cold and aloof young boy.
A lively and innocent young girl.
Back then, both Sigurd and Kiana were still small and unformed. And then—by half coaxing, half trickery—she had been pulled down from the mountain, gaining new students, new disciples.
Later, Sigurd brought the Book of Fuxi back into her life.
Or perhaps it should be said—that was the moment he truly drew her heart back from the land of the dead, back into the world of the living.
Over time, Fu Hua gradually forgot the solitary decisiveness of guarding Shenzhou alone. She could not even pinpoint when it began—only that at some point, she placed everything upon Sigurd. She no longer thought or worried about the future, only awaited his direction, only followed his steps.
And yet—she had thought she was merely choosing a new leader for civilization.
So then… how was she supposed to explain these feelings now?
Gulp, gulp…
The wine in her flask was drained in one go. Heat spread through her abdomen.
Fu Hua let out a soft sigh.
Whether a fusion warrior or a body of Soulium, neither was easy to intoxicate. A whole flask of strong liquor had no effect. But at this moment, she felt that perhaps it would be better if she could get drunk.
"What are you thinking about?"
The familiar voice came from behind. Fu Hua's body stilled for a breath, then she turned with a smile—smiling like peach petals, pure and beautiful.
"Just wanted a little drink, that's all. What, done soothing your admirers already?"
"…They said later that they want to fight for their own world, to contribute something to our final battle. I think that counts as support too. Once I've become this world's anchor, I can adjust time a little—probably give them about a thousand years to develop. A millennium, plus the gradual replenishment of world elements, would raise the limits of life and energy considerably. They might just cultivate some decent fighting power."
Sigurd did not explain how he had said farewell to Kiana and the others. He knew there could be no deeper ties between them from here on, so there was no need to go into detail.
Fu Hua arched a delicate brow, pulling her white robe closer around her shoulders. She didn't tease him further, but asked thoughtfully:
"A thousand years… sounds good. But they don't have special physiques or high-level cultivation. I fear they may not endure the passing of time. If so, is forming a true fighting force really possible?"
"With scraps from the anchor's prototype, I can put together something like a wishing machine for them. How things unfold afterward will depend on themselves. If they have the will, perhaps they can survive the millennium and build a force strong enough to join the war. Of course, we don't need to pin our hopes on them. The real victory still rests with us."
"Well, you certainly don't leave room for mistakes. Still… I'm curious. If they truly lasted a thousand years, and still wished to pursue you… would you soften?"
Fu Hua's eyes curved into a teasing smile as she looked at him.
Sigurd rubbed his chin, thought for a moment, then shook his head.
"Kiana, Bronya, and Sin Mal—I can say clearly, they're mine. And that's enough. Taking care of the three of them is troublesome enough already. As for anyone else—forget it. I don't have the heart or the time to spare."
Fu Hua's fingers tightened on the wine flask again, but this time she controlled her strength. No crack, no sound.
She smiled instead.
"Don't be so absolute. Before the final battle, you'll have no time or energy—but afterward, who knows? You might have plenty of time to deal with those things~~"
"…You seem unusually gossipy tonight."
"Maybe. Look, I've been drinking—maybe I'm drunk?"
"Cut it out. If you want to watch me make a fool of myself, just say it. Don't copy Senti's mischief, you're too old for that."
Sigurd rolled his eyes and flicked her forehead with a finger.
Then he turned away.
"Get some rest. You've been carrying most of the burden of activating the formation's structure these days. You must be tired. See you tomorrow."
With those words, Sigurd walked farther and farther away.
Left alone, Fu Hua touched her forehead, silent for a while. Gradually, a smile surfaced in her eyes—gentle, resigned.
"Domineering, rough… truly not endearing at all…"
"Kiana, Bronya, and Sin Mal…"
"Yes… after all, I am their teacher…"
"How could I… let my thoughts wander so?"
Fu Hua pressed her lips together and began to walk away. A long sigh lingered in the wind, followed by complete silence. Under the bright moonlight, no shadow remained, no sound remained.
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