Yanqing is Jing Yuan's disciple.
Jing Yuan is Jingliu's disciple.
Yanqing calls Jingliu "Big Sis."
Jingliu calls Yanqing "Little Bro."
So here's the question—
What should Jing Yuan call Jingliu?
"Jing Yuan's little lackey… didn't Jing Yuan teach you how to read the situation?"
Blade glanced at Yanqing and snorted.
If this brat weren't Jing Yuan's disciple, Blade would've probably cut down the nuisance before dealing with Dan Heng.
"Hey, you should get farther away. Once blades start flying, they don't have eyes— huh?"
"Your face… looks kind of familiar."
Looking at Dan Heng, Yanqing felt like he'd seen him somewhere before…
But Blade didn't give him time to think.
In a flash, Blade appeared behind Dan Heng.
"Stop hiding!"
The Cloud-Piercer Spear and the Shattered Blade, two divine weapons once forged by Yingxing, collided multiple times in an instant.
"Reveal your true form… already!"
Dan Heng was slashed to the ground. Just as Blade twirled his sword, preparing to strike again, Yanqing finally reacted and rushed in.
But the moment they clashed, Blade's suicidal, life-for-life swordsmanship made Yanqing suffer badly.
Yanqing quickly realized—
He couldn't win this.
After being forced back, he decisively switched to wearing Blade down with flying swords.
Then—
In a brief opening, Blade hurled the Shattered Blade straight through Dan Heng's chest.
"You—!"
"Kid, let me introduce you. The one behind you is guilty of the Ten Heinous Crimes—"
"—the traitor who rebelled against the Xianzhou, plunged it into chaos, and was eternally exiled."
"The Vidyadhara High Elder — Imbibitor Lunae!"
Ignoring Yanqing's furious pointing, Blade spread his arms and walked toward Dan Heng.
Meanwhile, Dan Heng was lifted into the air, wrapped in flowing water.
The Shattered Blade fell to the ground.
It was obvious—
One of Blade's reasons for walking over was to retrieve his sword.
Amusing.
Seeing Dan Heng reveal his Dragon Sovereign form, Xunyu knew it was time to enter the stage.
"Five people bear the sin. Three must pay the price. Dan Feng — you are one of them!"
Huh?
A voice almost identical to Blade's echoed out, drawing everyone's attention.
"It's him…"
Standing atop a lotus, Dan Heng's eyes flickered.
Earlier, he'd encountered someone identical to Blade's former self, Yingxing — same face, same name.
Then that person vanished.
Only Dan Heng remembered him.
Everyone else had completely forgotten.
Who… was he?
Before Dan Heng could think it through, his pupils shrank sharply.
The newly arrived Yingxing burst into manic laughter. His white hair darkened, his appearance gradually becoming identical to the Blade standing nearby.
"..."
Bro— Blade is literally standing right there.
So who the hell are YOU?!
"Dan Feng! It's time to pay the price!"
As Yingxing spoke, he drew the Shattered Blade from his own body and slashed at Dan Heng.
Blade stared at the Yingxing identical to himself, then at the Shattered Blade in Yingxing's hand… then at the Shattered Blade in his own hand.
Confusion flickered in his eyes.
I'm Blade. So who is he?
If he's me… then who am I?
Watching the two fight, Blade's mind completely crashed.
For a moment, even the influence of mara was suppressed.
But soon, hatred toward Dan Heng surged back up.
Screw it. Why think?
Just fight.
Yanqing, after being stunned for a moment, finally snapped out of it.
"In that case— I'll take all of you down together!"
"Mmm~ That's not a route written in the script~"
Kafka watched with interest as the stubborn Yanqing commanded his flying swords and attacked all three.
Unfortunately—
None of them cared.
His flying swords were casually knocked away.
Dan Heng was at a loss.
He was already getting double-teamed, and now Yanqing was somehow pulling aggro too…
For a moment, he truly didn't know what to say.
How exactly did Jing Yuan teach this kid?
Yanqing, however, still hadn't realized he was completely outmatched.
He tightened his grip and prepared to unleash the sword move he'd just comprehended recently.
"It seems I'll have to use this move to keep you here!"
"Heavenly River Cascades"
"…This sword strike feels really familiar."
In Blade's mind flashed scenes of Jingliu killing him over and over again—
And him reviving again and again thanks to Shuhu's blessing.
The mara began slipping out of control.
Dan Heng once again swept Yingxing away with surging water.
Running into two Blades in one day was already bad enough.
With his companions' safety weighing on his mind, Dan Heng finally decided to stop holding back.
"I never wished for open conflict… but there's no other choice now. My apologies."
"Heaven-Flood Surge — Rise!"
Yanqing, already heavily drained, was knocked flat without any suspense.
"I… can still… fight…"
"Enough. Everyone— listen to me. Stop."
Kafka used Spirit Whisper to bring the chaos to an abrupt halt.
"..."
"Well then, Blade— are you satisfied?"
Blade nodded slightly, snorting coldly at Dan Heng.
"…What did you just do?"
"Just a bit of preparation. After all, we're about to welcome a very important guest."
"I couldn't possibly let the great General of the Luofu see my Blade making a fool of himself with you lot."
As if responding to her words, a hearty laugh echoed through the air.
"Jing Yuan…"
"General!"
Seeing Jing Yuan arrive, Yanqing struggled to his feet.
Jing Yuan shook his head gently.
The always-resilient boy felt his nose sting, his eyes welling up—
But he swallowed the tears back immediately.
I can't embarrass the General.
"…You've returned to the Xianzhou after so long, yet always appear in the most awkward of circumstances."
"If you wished to reunite with old friends, you should've informed me earlier."
Looking at Dan Heng and Blade, Jing Yuan sighed inwardly.
When his gaze landed on the white-haired Yingxing again, his eyes briefly blurred.
"You…"
"Yingxing. I came for old acquaintances— but it seems… there's no longer any chance."
Before anyone could question him, Yingxing glanced at Blade.
Then his body shattered into countless points of light, rushing into Blade.
"???"
Well— even if there were a thousand questions, there was no one left to ask them now…
"…Huh?"