"No need to be so polite. Aiding someone in distress is... ahem, the duty of a Cloud Knight, of course."
Li Sushang carefully sized up the familiar figure before her, her tone carrying the lightheartedness of a wandering martial artist.
She was about to habitually announce her identity as the senior disciple of the Supreme Freedom Sect, but corrected herself just in time at the prompting of her 'other self.'
"I have long heard that the Cloud Knights of the Xianzhou are masters of martial arts, valiant and skilled in battle. Seeing you today, I now know the rumors do not do you justice."
Luocha was like a gentle and refined nobleman.
He gazed at the aqua-blue, dragon-shadowed sword in the brown-haired girl's hand, a hint of surprise in his heart.
Though she had only revealed a fraction of her skill, it was enough to glimpse the girl's mastery of the sword.
The blade rises like clouds from a mountain peak, falls like surging waves chasing the tide, slashes like a roaming dragon piercing the clouds, and sheathes like ripples settling on an ink-dark pool.
Luocha even found it difficult to judge whose sword intent was superior—that of his partner, the former Sword Champion of the Xianzhou Luofu, or this young woman's.
Admittedly, Li Sushang's raw power was certainly a fair bit weaker than Jingliu's.
That was because the Path system of the Star Rail world was more powerful.
But setting aside power systems and speaking only of swordsmanship, Li Sushang was absolutely her equal, and might even have a small chance of surpassing Jingliu.
One must remember that the Taixu Sword Art was the ultimate technique Fu Hua had developed and refined over thousands of years!
How old was Jingliu?
Around 1800 years old, at most.
To compare her swordsmanship foundation against a 50,000-year-old immortal... even if Fu Hua had been dormant for most of those fifty millennia, she still had five thousand years of active time protecting Shenzhou after awakening.
To use an element from ancient fantasy novels as an analogy, it's like Tai Chi.
In a Dharma-Ending Age, Tai Chi is only for health preservation. But if a transmigrator were to harness the power of yin and yang in another world, it would become a different kind of 'health preservation'—one where you beat all your enemies to death and then leisurely preserve your health.
In fantasy terms, the strength of a skill is influenced by the laws of the world.
When Li Sushang faced Fu Hua, the Immortal Ciyuan's evaluation was: in terms of the Taixu Sword Art, in all her knowledge, Sushang could be called 'one of a kind' in the present age!
So, when a young woman whose swordsmanship was comparable to that of the former Sword Champion claimed to be just an ordinary Cloud Knight, do you think Luocha believed her?
"You flatter me. My skills are meager and not worth mentioning. I am unworthy of such praise."
Li Sushang responded humbly:
"But you... you're clearly capable of eliminating these monsters... these Mara-struck, yet you insist on acting weak?"
This reminded Li Sushang of her first meeting with the Raksha-man.
At the time, she was still inexperienced. In order to successfully arrange a duel with the Golden Sand Gang's leader, Old Mo, she had imitated the protagonist in the story of the Sacred Fire Jade Lotus Platform, willingly entering a dark prison to await her chance for a one-on-one fight.
And then... things went wrong, as expected.
After being forced to take Qi-Severing Powder that sealed her internal energy, she was locked in a dark cell with the Raksha-man. The harmless demeanor he displayed back then was identical to the person before her now.
"You must be joking, miss."
Called out so directly, Luocha's heart stirred, but he maintained his gentlemanly demeanor on the surface, placing his right hand on his chest and bowing slightly as he gave a dignified self-introduction:
"I am Luocha, merely a traveling merchant staying on the Xianzhou. I do not possess such formidable power as you."
"Heh, fine. This young lady will take you at your word that you're a merchant."
Li Sushang crossed her arms.
Like hell I believe you!
Even the fabricated lie is exactly the same.
Back in the dark prison, the Raksha-man also introduced himself as a merchant who had been robbed by a gang.
And now he's using it again?
However, this sense of déjà vu, of experiencing a past event again in another time and space, felt very strange to Li Sushang.
"You don't look like a Xianzhou native. Where are you from?"
To Li Sushang's surprise, Moon Shade temporarily took back control of the body, questioning him with the bearing of a Cloud Knight.
"A merchant has no allegiance. We wander everywhere, the sea of stars is our home. My registered location with the Alliance is the Xianzhou Yuque..." Luocha introduced himself.
"I see."
After explaining the body control situation to Li Sushang in her mind, Moon Shade returned control to her. Li Sushang was slightly surprised but quickly accepted it.
Since her 'other self' was the body's owner, wasn't it perfectly natural for her to be in control?
"Luocha isn't your real name, is it?"
"Luocha is the name I commonly use on the Xianzhou. Elsewhere, I have a more tongue-twisting name."
Luocha nodded. It was normal for outsiders to adopt a different name upon entering the Xianzhou.
Just as Guinevere became Little Gui.
[Tongue-twisting... It really is you, Otto Apocalypse.]
Moon Shade took back control, looked at the ornate white coffin behind Luocha, and asked directly:
"What's in that coffin?"
"Ah, that is an ill-fated connection. I was inadvertently drawn into a dispute and ended up owing a favor, so I had to help return a body to the Xianzhou."
"Really?"
Moon Shade narrowed her eyes, studying him closely. "Somehow I get the feeling that the coffin contains your dead lover... oh no, the object of your unrequited love. And you came to the Xianzhou to find a way to resurrect her?"
"..."
Luocha was silent for a moment before smiling:
"Miss, besides being a Cloud Knight, are you perhaps a part-time storyteller, or a novelist?"
Moon Shade squinted, meeting his green eyes for a few seconds before breaking into a smile.
"Just kidding. Let's go, I'll escort you to a safe place."
Moon Shade returned control of the body to 'Tool-Shang.'
Judging from Luocha's reaction, the coffin probably didn't contain this world's 'Kallen,' but that didn't mean Luocha didn't have an unrequited love.
What was his purpose for coming to the Xianzhou?
Honestly, Moon Shade was tempted to just violently pry the coffin open and see what was inside.
But the righteous Li Sushang would never approve of such methods, and if Moon Shade acted alone, she wasn't sure she could win.
Even if Li Sushang agreed to help, she wasn't confident. Luocha might have companions; Moon Shade vaguely remembered him being with Jingliu.
After a moment's thought, Moon Shade abandoned the idea.
After walking and talking for a while, Luocha looked at the path blocked by cargo containers ahead and turned silently to the young woman beside him.
"Miss Sushang, are you sure this is the right way?"
Luocha was now starting to doubt the girl's identity. She claimed to be a Cloud Knight, yet she was completely unfamiliar with the terrain.
"Um..." Li Sushang scratched her head in embarrassment.
She was a newcomer here too and had no idea where anything was!
Her 'other self' was also unfamiliar with this place.
To avoid running into too many of 'Sushang's' acquaintances, Moon Shade hadn't sought out other Cloud Knights, and Li Sushang had agreed. So the two of them ended up leading Luocha aimlessly through Cloudford.
"Actually, I was just transferred from the Xianzhou Yaoqing. I haven't been here much."
Li Sushang recited the excuse Moon Shade had casually concocted.
Then, with a light tap of her toes, her movements nimble and graceful, she leaped onto a container in a single breath.
Moon Shade nodded.
Unlike in the game, in reality, 'she' has knees!
A maze without a ceiling can't stop someone with knees.
"Wait, there's someone over there..."
Just as Li Sushang was scanning her surroundings, looking for a way out of the massive port.
She suddenly spotted a lone figure in the distance, holding a long spear, facing Mara-struck from both the front and back.
Moon Shade saw the figure as well through the body's eyes and was somewhat surprised.
Dan Heng, did you get off the Express?
[Let's go help.]
The omnipotent Teacher Dan Heng, hurry up and be our compass!
"Okay!"
Li Sushang nodded and leaped in Dan Heng's direction, calling out to the merchant waiting below: "Luocha, head northwest and follow me! Someone needs help."
"Understood." The merchant with 'no formidable power' hoisted the ornate white coffin and headed in the direction Li Sushang had indicated.
"Why are there so many monsters here... those Mara-struck things?"
Li Sushang asked doubtfully as she leaped between containers.
[It's a disaster caused by a Stellaron.]
"A Stellaron?"
While conversing with her 'self,' Li Sushang stared with her bright, apricot-colored eyes at the Mara-struck surrounding Dan Heng up ahead.
The sound of the Ruoshui sword being unsheathed was as clear as a spring.
"Sword Opening Form: Instant Dust."
Honkai Energy converged and coursed through the blade, instantly forming the perfect shape of a sword. A fierce gust of wind erupted with the sound of the blade cutting through the air.
Several Mara-struck fifty meters away were cut in half at the waist by the sword qi. With a flicker of her nimble form, the Mara-struck charging at Li Sushang had their cores utterly destroyed.
"Are you all right?"
Li Sushang landed beside Dan Heng. Moon Shade didn't plan on coming out. Even if her acting was good, could it be better than Li Sushang, who genuinely didn't know Dan Heng?
"Thank you for your help."
Dan Heng thanked her politely, his expression as impassive as ever. But when he heard Li Sushang introduce herself using the identity Moon Shade had provided, a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes.
A Cloud Knight?
How had he never heard of a Cloud Knight on the Luofu with such incredible swordsmanship?
"My name is Dan Heng. I'm a traveler here, about to meet up with my friends. You needn't worry about me, miss. I can find my way out of the port myself."
Though puzzled, Dan Heng had no intention of engaging in a deep conversation with the Cloud Knight girl. He just wanted to reunite with his friends as soon as possible.
It seemed the network was restricted due to the Stellaron's influence; the signal was terrible, and messages wouldn't send.
"So, do you know the way out of the port?" Li Sushang asked.
"Well..."
Dan Heng's brow twitched.
"Great that you know! The civilian I saved and I are lost. You can lead the way. We'll leave with you," Li Sushang said with a broad smile.
"???"
Dan Heng was covered in question marks.
When did he say he knew the way?
Although he was a Luofu native, he had been locked up in the Shackling Prison from the moment he awoke in his reincarnated life.
Large chains had been pierced directly through his collarbones. After finally getting out, he naturally bolted immediately. Why would he care about the layout of Cloudford?
Besides, aren't you a Cloud Knight?
How could you be lost?
"I... don't know the way."
Caelus wasn't here this time, so why did Dan Heng still feel so stifled?
...
Meanwhile.
Elsewhere in Cloudford, a young girl with twin tails, dressed in an apricot-yellow outfit, was evacuating a crowd.
Her cute, pretty face was identical to Li Sushang's. The only difference was in her bright, apricot-colored eyes, which seemed untainted by the mortal world, revealing a kind of crystal-clear stupidity.
"Everyone, follow me. I'll take you to a safe place."
"Also, I need to register your names. Sir, what's your name?"
The girl in the apricot outfit held a registration book.
"Miss, my name is Kan Wenmeng."
"Kan Wenmeng? Which 'kan'?" The twin-tailed girl frowned, tapping her head with the end of her pen.
"The 'Kan' from 'Kan Qiang'."
"...Er." The girl blinked. Before, there was only one character she couldn't write; now she didn't recognize either of them.
"Sir, why don't you sign it yourself? I'm afraid I'll write it wrong."
She didn't know that many characters.
Just as the girl was having the civilians sign their own names, a group of Cloud Knight soldiers saw her, paused, and began whispering amongst themselves. Soon, the whole group ran over.
"Sushang, what are you doing here!?"
"Evacuating the masses, of course. See, these people behind me? I need to get them out of here quickly. It's really dangerous in here."
Sushang said casually.
"Really dangerous..."
The soldiers looked at each other, thinking of the sword-wielding immortal maiden who had cut down dozens of Mara-struck like they were melons.
Whose danger are you talking about?
The Mara-struck's?
"Sushang, what was all that about before?"
"What were those sword techniques you used? They were so cool!"
"And how have you been hiding this? You're actually so powerful!"
"Also, what's the Supreme Freedom Sect? If you joined another sect, won't your mom beat you up when she finds out?"
"Huh?"
Surrounded and questioned, Sushang blinked her innocent eyes, completely bewildered.
What?
What what what? What is all this?
________________________________________
If you want more chapters, please consider supporting my page on Patreon. with 50 advanced chapters available on Patreon
patreon.com/Leanzin