Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
On the Skysplitter flagship of the Luofu Xianzhou.
The figures of four people and a cat disembarked from their Starskiff and stepped onto the deck.
"Wow! The ceremonial cannons on the Skysplitter are so loud!" March 7th exclaimed.
"So this is the legendary atmosphere of the Luofu Wardance Ceremony?"
"My ears feel like they're about to burst!"
As they stepped off the Starskiff and the deafening cannon fire continued, March 7th couldn't help but exclaim in awe.
Back in Penacony, during the Charmony Festival, the atmosphere hadn't been nearly this intense.
March 7th found the experience both thrilling and novel.
"This kind of atmosphere is quite nice for a change," Lumina remarked, still cradling the Phantylia Kitten in her arms and gently stroking its head. She nodded in approval.
"Though these cannons are a bit too loud. If they keep firing for too long, it might become counterproductive."
"Don't worry," Yunli reassured, knowing what Lumina meant. "The cannons will only fire for a short time. They won't continue long enough to harm those who are weak or lack proper equipment."
Yunli then turned her gaze to March 7th and asked, "March, you haven't forgotten why you came to the Skysplitter, have you?"
"Hiss..." March 7th gasped, drawing in a sharp breath.
She scratched her head, glanced around nervously, and put on her trademark "pink-haired ditz" expression. "Huh? Who am I? Where am I? And what was I supposed to do here?"
"Ugh... where did you drag me now? Is this still the Astral Express?"
Hearing this, Yunli first pulled out her "Old Mettle," gripped it with both hands, and raised it high, aiming the blade at March 7th's head. "Hint," she said. "March, look around. Does anything jog your memory?"
"Should I help you remember?" Yunli asked. "Don't worry, even if you've really forgotten, it's okay. I'm very gentle, and Old Mettle is very gentle too."
"At most, you'll just faint until the first match begins."
As Yunli spoke these words, March 7th's face twisted in fear.
"Aha ha ha..." March 7th laughed awkwardly, scratching her cheek with a fingertip. "I remember now, Master Yunli! I remember everything!"
"I'm March 7th. This is the Skysplitter. I'm here for the tournament, to compete in Master Yanqing's place."
"Looks like you finally remembered, huh?" Yunli said with a satisfied nod, setting down the Old Mettle. "See? Once your Remembrance was restored, I could finally put down this Old Mettle I was holding high."
"Aha ha ha..." March 7th laughed awkwardly again, feeling genuinely embarrassed.
Earlier, March 7th had tried to play dumb and trick Master Yunli, but the woman hadn't fallen for it and had immediately resorted to physical persuasion.
After a moment, March 7th turned her gaze to her beloved Sister Lumina, asking with renewed anxiety and insecurity, "Sister Lumina, do you really think I can handle the role of Defending Swordsman?"
Though Sister Lumina, Master Yunli, and Old General Huaiyan all believed in her so strongly, March 7th still felt deeply uncertain.
After all, her own strength was universally acknowledged as the weakest on the Astral Express...
Uncle Yang and Miss Himeko went without saying, as did Dan Heng and Stelle. Little Swarm was even more obvious.
Stripped of all external support and relying solely on herself, March 7th could only "bully" Pom-Pom, treating him like a dress-up doll, right?
"Don't worry. You're not lacking in strength right now—you're lacking in confidence."
"If you believe in yourself more, there won't be any problems."
"But if you remain as you are, so distrustful and lacking faith in yourself, that's a major problem."
Lumina understood why March 7th was so insecure and anxious, and she offered her plenty of encouragement and comfort.
But even with all this support and reassurance, if March 7th remained so insecure and anxious, it would indeed be a significant issue.
Because such persistent self-doubt would become ingrained in her heart, leading to numerous complications.
Hearing Sister Lumina's words, March 7th gazed at the lively scene before her, scratched her head again, and said, "I'm not actually that insecure or anxious, you know."
"I just wanted a little reassurance before the official match..."
"It would double my confidence."
"Then... good luck, March." Lumina nodded. She took the Phantylia Kitten's paw, waved it gently, and offered March 7th a small gesture of encouragement.
"Little Phan... should I call you 'Master' too?" March 7th asked, her eyes filled with envy as she gazed at the Phantylia Kitten, who was perpetually nestled in Sister Lumina's arms. She crouched down to meet the kitten's gaze.
"Meow~ (I don't have a disciple as stupid as you.)" Phantylia Kitten glared at March 7th with disdain, her eyes brimming with contempt.
The days she spent as March 7th's sparring partner in the Palace of Astrum's Garden had been some of the most agonizing of her life.
March 7th was just too terrible. Every attack and defense Phantylia Kitten made required meticulous planning. Not only did she have to suppress the urge to swat March 7th dead, but she also had to gauge her combat prowess without harming her.
To be honest, it was truly giving Phantylia Kitten a headache.
It felt like an unknown flame was burning in her heart, constantly being stoked by something external.
Yet she had to suppress it, not allowing it to burst forth.
For a short time, or once or twice, it was manageable.
But as time wore on and the number of instances multiplied, it became unbearable...
So, while March 7th was steadily growing stronger during this period, Phantylia Kitten was suffering terribly.
The only relief she found was returning to the wretched woman's embrace after each training session, where she could find a sliver of healing.
That's all I have left, Phantylia Kitten thought, her heart heavy with fatigue.
She couldn't possibly bear the "honorific" of "Master" from March 7th...
But while she couldn't bear it, that was merely her own perspective.
March 7th wasn't a cat-person and naturally didn't understand cat language.
Combined with her silly brain, she was completely oblivious to the meaning behind Phantylia Kitten's expressions.
And so...
"Wonderful, Master Little Phan! Since you're not refusing, I'll take that as your agreement!"
March 7th didn't understand what Phantylia Kitten's "Meow" meant, so she took it as a sign of agreement.
"Meow?! (Are you stupid?!)" Seeing March 7th's beaming smile, Phantylia Kitten couldn't help but curse aloud.
But with the feline language's enhancement, the curse sounded somewhat... "urgent"?
In March 7th's mind, this feline utterance transformed into the meaning "happy."
Phantylia Kitten: ...
Seeing this, Phantylia Kitten finally shut her mouth completely.
As the saying goes on the Xianzhou:
Normal people can't communicate with idiots.
Since she was normal and March 7th was an idiot, it was only natural that March 7th couldn't understand her.
Well, if she's an idiot, I might as well humor her.
Let her do whatever she wants.
Having given up on trying to reason with the idiot March 7th, Phantylia Kitten narrowed her eyes, curled up in Lumina's arms, and relished the warmth radiating from her embrace.
Hmm... At this moment, Phantylia Kitten still held the same thought:
This wretched woman's embrace is surprisingly warm...
When I rise to power, this wretched woman will remain by my side forever, serving as my "pillow"...