In a secluded corner of the back garden within the Palace of Astrum on the Xianzhou Luofu, a young girl stood motionless, her eyes closed and arms crossed. The rhythmic tap-tap-tap of approaching footsteps drew her attention. Opening her eyes, a hint of displeasure flickered in her gaze as she turned her head to look.
"Hmph, arriving late with your disciple on the very first day of class? Luofu's rules... Hmm?"
"Lumina, what are you doing here too?"
Three figures came into view. Among them, a white-robed woman with a gentle smile held a delicate, little kitten in her arms, immediately capturing the young girl's attention.
"Master Yunli, sorry for keeping you waiting!" Before the trio could reach Yunli, March 7th waved enthusiastically from afar, her lively, adorable aura spreading through the air, affecting everyone present and making them feel fondness.
The morning's lingering sluggishness vanished in an instant, dispelled by March 7th's lively spirit.
"Mm." Hearing this, Yunli shifted her gaze from Lumina to March 7th, a faint smile gracing her lips. But as if to maintain her image as a master, the smile vanished as quickly as it appeared, replaced by a casual, indifferent expression. With a simple nod, she acknowledged March 7th's eagerness.
Then, he refocused his gaze on Lumina's exquisite, flawless face, a flicker of confusion crossing his brow as he quietly observed her, awaiting her response.
"Lady Lumina will be Miss March's martial arts instructor," Yanqing interjected before Lumina could reply, answering Yunli's unspoken question as the trio came to a halt before her.
"Indeed, this was Lady Lumina's suggestion."
"I have no reason to refuse, but if you have any objections..."
Lady Lumina teaching Miss March martial arts was undoubtedly a good thing. With Lady Lumina's vast experience and formidable strength, even if Miss March only grasped the basics, it would be enough to secure a victory in the Wardance Ceremony.
However, the decision wasn't Yanqing's alone to make; Yunli's opinion needed to be considered.
"Oh, is that so? No problem at all. Let's have them teach together," Yunli replied after a moment's thought, nodding to indicate her agreement.
As Yanqing had anticipated, having an additional instructor could only benefit March 7th, and Yunli would naturally agree. Besides, she had no reason to refuse in the first place.
Although Yunli didn't know the full extent of Lumina's power or which faction backed her, it didn't matter. She firmly believed that Zhuming Swordsmanship was the most "badass"!
"Then thank you, Miss Yunli," Lumina said, smiling and nodding her thanks while cradling the Phantylia Kitten in her arms.
Supporting the kitten with one hand, Lumina continuously stroked its head with the other, her gaze fixed entirely on Yunli's head.
So cute, I want to pet it...
Lumina struggled to restrain her hands. To avoid embarrassing herself, she ignored the Phantylia Kitten's furious glare and quickened her petting, relentlessly rubbing the cat's head.
As she continued rubbing, Lumina grew dissatisfied. She shifted her hand to the Phantylia Kitten's belly and began rubbing its soft underbelly.
Hmm, you know what? The texture is much better than just petting the head.
Too bad its fur is a bit ruffled. It would feel even better if it were smoother.
As Lumina relentlessly rubbing the Phantylia Kitten, the urge to touch Yunli's head gradually faded.
"Perfect! From now on, you're staying in cat form forever!"
Sensing the fading urge, Lumina's eyes lit up as she gazed at the Phantylia Kitten.
Lumina had always struggled to restrain herself. Now that she'd found a solution to the "head-pat thoughts," how could she not be overjoyed?
As for whether it would trouble the Phantylia Kitten, Lumina was certain it wouldn't.
After all, the Phantylia Kitten was the Emanator of Destruction, whose very name struck terror into the hearts of all in the Cosmos. How could such a being be bothered by mere petting?
Right, Little Phantylia?
The Phantylia Kitten: ...
Sensing Lumina's gaze and understanding her unspoken intent, the Phantylia Kitten, who had been struggling incessantly, abruptly stilled.
"Meow~"
A soft meow escaped its lips, followed by complete stillness. Its tiny cat mouth pursed, it allowed Lumina's hand to continue stroking its body without resistance.
"Heh," Lumina chuckled softly, abandoning all pretense of restraint.
The interaction between Lumina and the Phantylia Kitten went unnoticed by the others present.
Yanqing and Yunli, their old animosity now dissolved, had already resumed their bickering over some trivial matter.
After nodding to Lumina, Yunli fixed her gaze on Yanqing. Crossing her arms, her amber eyes and small face framed a hint of displeasure as she stepped closer, as if to exert subtle pressure through her sheer presence.
Given the significant height difference between them, no matter what Yunli did, it could hardly be described as "imposing" or "intimidating."
"Why did you personally go to pick up March 7th without notifying me?" Yunli asked Yanqing, her voice carrying a hint of coldness.
In Yunli's eyes, they should have either gone together or waited together. Yanqing's actions seemed like a deliberate attempt to exclude her.
"Hmph! This is the thoughtful etiquette of the Luofu when teaching apprentices and passing on skills! Even a disciple, I would personally bring her here!" Yanqing's lips curled into a smile that spread across his face. He then turned his gaze to March 7th, as if speaking to her, yet also addressing Yunli. "As the host, I will impart the essence of Luofu Swordsmanship to Miss March, letting her achieve several victories at the Wardance Ceremony."
"By then..." Yanqing glanced at Yunli, raising an eyebrow slightly. "You won't be able to continue making comments on the strengths and weaknesses of Luofu Swordsmanship, will you?"
"Hmph! Go stand aside!" How could Yunli swallow such blatant provocation?
"March 7th, wait for me a moment."
Yunli scoffed, her gaze shifting from Yanqing to March 7th. Her voice softened as she stepped forward and retrieved a gift box from a nearby spot.
Handing it to March 7th, she said, "March 7th, look! This is a Reverse Apprenticeship Gift from your master."
"A Re-Reverse Apprenticeship Gift?" March 7th repeated the unfamiliar term, her hands flying to her mouth as she stared in surprise at the Xianzhou Attire in Yunli's hands.
She reached out and took the attire, examining it closely.
"It's so beautiful!"
"Naturally," Yunli replied, a faint smile gracing her lips as she saw March 7th's delight. She even mimicked Yanqing's earlier taunting gesture, raising an eyebrow in a playful return of his provocation.
"Hmph, I came prepared too," Yanqing chuckled, producing a pair of Twin Swords and presenting them to March 7th. "Since you're learning swordsmanship, you'll need proper weapons. So I stayed up all night to get you these."
"Wow! Thank you, Master Yanqing!" March 7th's face lit up as she accepted the Twin Swords, gripping them in her hands and giving them a few practice swings.
"Surprised, Yunli?" Seeing March 7th's delight, Yanqing turned his gaze back to Yunli, his smug expression utterly unmasked.
"Sister Lumina, this apprenticeship is so worth it! But..." March 7th leaned close to her beloved "Sister Lumina," her pink-and-blue eyes flitting between Yanqing and Yunli. "Doesn't it feel like things are starting to... spiral out of control?"
"They're just children, driven by competitive spirit. It's perfectly normal," Lumina replied gently, her hand never leaving the Phantylia Kitten's belly as she stroked it.
"The fiercer their rivalry, the more it benefits you, March."
"So, there's no need to overthink it. Just focus on training hard and defeating your opponents at the Wardance Ceremony."
One offered a uniform, the other Twin Swords—each vying for March 7th's favor. As the object of their rivalry, March 7th was bound to come out on top.
"Oh, right, March," Lumina said, pausing her actions as if remembering something. She retrieved a pendant from somewhere and handed it to March 7th. "This pendant contains the aura of the Abundance. It will continuously heal your body during training, conserving a lot of your energy."
"It will also significantly improve your training efficiency."
"Thank you, Sister Lumina!" March 7th's eyes lit up, and she accepted the pendant with a beaming smile.
"Abundance?" Upon hearing the word, Yunli, who had been engaged in a childish squabble with Yanqing, suddenly shifted her gaze to the pendant Lumina had given March 7th.
She then tilted her head and looked up at Lumina.
"Don't worry," Lumina said with a smile, sensing Yunli's concern and understanding her thoughts. "It's not any prohibited item from the Xianzhou. It's just a restoration pendant."
"Hmm..." Yunli stared at Lumina thoughtfully for a moment before nodding.
Yunli recalled Feixiao's way of addressing Lumina back at the Alchemy Commission, which reassured her and quelled her suspicions.
It's highly unlikely that someone acquainted with General Yaoqing would be an Abundance Abomination.
Distracted by this sudden event, Yunli lost her appetite for teasing Yanqing.
Gazing at the Xianzhou Attire in March 7th's hands, a hint of curiosity flickered in Yunli's eyes. "March 7th, go try on the outfit quickly," she urged. "For the rest of your time here, wear the Xianzhou Attire and immerse yourself in the sword-wielding lifestyle of the Xianzhou people."
Lumina: ...
Hearing this, Lumina's gaze first landed on the Xianzhou Attire in March 7th's hands, then shifted to March 7th's face, and finally swept over her entire figure.
Her eyes darted, and a daring idea suddenly sprang to mind.
Lumina didn't rush to speak, instead waiting for March 7th's next move, a flicker of anticipation stirring within her.
She couldn't quite pinpoint what she was anticipating.
"Hmm... Xianzhou Attire, huh? I might need a little time to figure this out," March 7th murmured, holding her twin swords in one hand while fiddling with the slightly intricate outfit in the other.
"Master Yanqing, Master Yunli, changing might take a while. Please bear with me."
After briefly examining the attire, March 7th turned to Yunli and Lumina with a solemn expression, speaking as if she were requesting leave from her masters.
"If you find it troublesome, I can just—"
"Xianzhou Attire? I know how to wear that! Come on, March, I'll help you change!" Lumina interrupted March 7th's words with a hurried tone, not giving Yunli or March 7th time to react.
Without giving either Yunli or March 7th a chance to react, Lumina tossed the Phantylia Kitten from her arms and whisked the still-stunned March 7th away to a secluded corner of the Garden.
Phantylia Kitten: ?!
Feeling the familiar warmth of Lumina's embrace vanish, the kitten blinked in confusion.
Wait, is this Lumina...crazy?
Regaining its composure, the kitten glared after Lumina and March 7th, its tiny fangs clenched, imagining Lumina pinned beneath its paws, her flimsy veil torn to shreds.
"Lumina and March 7th are so close," Yunli remarked, unfazed by Lumina dragging March 7th off to change.
After a moment's musing, her gaze fell upon the Phantylia Kitten that had fallen from Lumina's arms. She crouched down and playfully poked the kitten with a finger.
"Meow!" With Lumina absent, Yunli treated the Phantylia Kitten like any ordinary kitten, naturally displeasing the creature. It let out a fierce hiss, as if to warn Yunli:
"Foolish Xianzhou people! If you dare continue this, I'll show you the true meaning of Destruction!"
But Yunli clearly didn't understand cat language...
"Ah, such a fierce little kitten! It was so docile in Lumina's arms." Yunli was surprised.
The kitten had been remarkably well-behaved in Lumina's arms, even eating Berrypheasant Skewers. Yunli had assumed it was naturally gentle, never expecting such ferocity.
"Good girl~ I won't hurt you."
Despite the kitten's aggression, Yunli remained unfazed. It was just a tiny cat, after all. She extended her finger to continue teasing it.
"Meow! Meow! Meow!!!"
Seeing Yunli's expression and demeanor, the Phantylia Kitten wanted nothing more than to kill her.
But stripped of all her power, she could offer no resistance in Yunli's grasp...
-
In a secluded corner of the Garden, Lumina led March 7th.
After glancing around and casting a barrier, Lumina turned her gentle gaze upon March 7th, her smile warm. "Little March," she said, "give me the Xianzhou Attire. I'll teach you how to wear it."
"Uh... Sister Lumina, isn't this... a bit awkward?" March 7th understood Lumina's intentions, her cheeks flushing slightly. Still, she handed over the Xianzhou Attire.
"Let's begin, Little March. We shouldn't keep Yunli and Yanqing waiting." Lumina accepted the Reverse Apprenticeship Gift Yunli had given March 7th without a flicker of emotion.
She seemed genuinely eager to teach March 7th how to properly wear Xianzhou attire.
"Mmm..." March 7th nodded, reassured by Lumina's sincere demeanor, and quietly hummed in agreement.
Setting aside the Twin Swords Yanqing had given her, March 7th began learning how to wear the Xianzhou Attire under Sister Lumina's guidance...