patreon.com/StarMoon10
for Advance Chapter
Chapter 8: The Express Trio! A Surging Harem!
A few days after the memories ended, life seemed to return to a strange sense of tranquility.
The morning sun spilled warmly into the courtyard, and I was taking a leisurely stroll with Jingliu. After spending this time together, the current Jingliu was worlds apart from the ice-cold Sword Champion I first met, who seemed capable of freezing one's very soul. With the Mara-struck condition completely cured, and having shed that heavy burden and past grudges, her entire demeanor had softened considerably. Although she usually maintained a sense of cool distance, she revealed a rare relaxation in my presence.
As we walked side-by-side, she would take the initiative to chat with me about insights into the way of the sword or the customs of the Xianzhou, her voice clear and pleasant. Occasionally, when I told a joke that wasn't particularly clever, her exquisite face—usually like a frozen lake—would break into a tiny but genuinely real smile. Like red plums quietly blooming in the snow, it could melt the ice in an instant, breathtakingly beautiful.
Just as I was immersing myself in that rare, melting smile and feeling a warmth in my chest—
"Knock, knock, knock—"
A sharp knocking suddenly came from the direction of the courtyard gate, shattering the peaceful intimacy.
Almost the instant the knocking sounded, the smile on Jingliu's face froze as if struck by a cold wind! Her crimson eyes, which had held a soft glimmer just a second ago, instantly turned icy and sharp, filled with vigilance and a faint, undetectable killing intent! She stopped abruptly, tilting her head to listen to the movement outside. Her entire aura shifted violently, returning to that of the battle-hardened, Peerless Swordmaster ready to draw her blade at any moment.
"Could it be someone seeking vendetta?" she murmured, her brow furrowing, her voice low and laced with cold suspicion.
Seeing her looking as if she were facing a formidable enemy—looking, quite frankly, terrifying—my heart skipped a beat. A vendetta? That shouldn't be the case... My first thought was that it must be the "important guests" Ruan Mei had mentioned! But looking at the piercing chill in Jingliu's eyes, I was truly afraid she might lose her temper and charge over to cleave the person outside in half!
It seemed her rare gentleness and relaxation were indeed "limited edition," reserved only for me... To outsiders, she remained the decisive, lethal Sword Champion of the Luofu at her core.
I quickly stepped forward, shielding her with my body while gently pushing her back toward the villa. I laughed nervously, trying to smooth things over: "Aya, my dear Sword Champion, you're overthinking it! Who would dare seek a vendetta against a legendary member of the High-Cloud Quintet these days? They wouldn't have the guts, haha..."
As I rattled off dry jokes, I felt beads of sweat popping up on my forehead.
"It must be the guests Ruan Mei mentioned. I'll go greet them; you go inside and rest, just rest, okay?" Through a combination of pushing and coaxing, I finally managed to get her tense aura to subside slightly.
She gave me a deep look, seemingly accepting my explanation, before turning and walking toward the house. Watching her back—still straight and formidable—disappear behind the porch, I breathed a quiet sigh of relief and wiped the cold sweat from my brow. Living with a former Sword Champion really does keep one on edge from time to time.
I steadied myself and hurried toward the gate to welcome these "important guests." Taking a deep breath and carrying a lingering trace of tension, I pulled open the heavy courtyard doors.
The scene outside made me freeze instantly. Standing there were three incredibly familiar figures—the energetic March 7th, the mature and elegant Himeko, and the mysterious, charming Black Swan!
Why were they here together? Were they the "important guests" Ruan Mei spoke of?
Before I could recover from my shock to ask, the sharp-eyed March 7th spotted me. Her bright eyes widened significantly before she let out a high-pitched shriek: "It's the Trailblazer—!"
The next second, a pink blur charged at me like a cannonball! Before I could react, March 7th was in front of me, unceremoniously grabbing both of my cheeks and pulling them outward with all her might!
"You big jerk—!" she yelled angrily while twisting my face. "I was wondering why you've been invisible for months! Turns out you've been living it up in a place like this all by yourself! You even got such a huge villa! Are you hiding here and secretly building a harem?! Just wait until I teach you a lesson! Taste the power of this lady!"
She was surprisingly strong, and her pinching hurt. My mouth was pulled completely out of shape, and I could only manage muffled "woo-woo" sounds, unable to utter a single word of plea. I looked toward Himeko and Black Swan for help, hoping they would intervene.
However, the two of them just looked at each other and smiled. Their eyes held a bit of helplessness, a bit of amusement, and perhaps a faint... "you deserve it" sentiment? They stood there with their arms crossed, watching with great interest as I was "punished" by March 7th, seemingly holding their own grievances about me hiding away here.
March 7th pinched for a good while before she was satisfied. When she finally let go, I felt my cheeks were completely numb—they were surely swollen like gourds. My eyes were watering uncontrollably from the pain.
Only then did Himeko finally speak, her voice tinged with a smile: "Alright, little March, I think the Trailblazer has learned his lesson. Let him go for now."
"Hmph!" March 7th snorted loudly and turned away, hands on her hips, pouting to show her lingering dissatisfaction.