Chapter 203: Clouds Leave No Trace 『 Part Two 』
「 "The stipulation was simple: a single day of liberty before her trial, to journey unto the Scalegorge Waterscape and bid farewell to old acquaintances. And what is truly preposterous—Jing Yuan actually acquiesced!"
"The mission entrusted to us upon his departure was to accompany Jingliu for her final day on the Luofu. You grasp the reality of this, do you not? We are not hosting a distinguished guest; we are escorting a convict—"
Qingzu's voice abruptly halted. Like her, Dan Heng sensed the atmosphere around them plummet into a bone-chilling cold.
"Imbibitor Lunae. You have arrived." Jingliu did not turn her head, her tone remaining indifferent. "Since you are here, why not step forward so we may reminisce?"
"…Or should I address you by the name you bear in this life—Dan Heng?" 」
「 .....」
〜Demon Slayer World〜
"Such overwhelming oppression… this woman…"
Within the Infinity Castle, the six demonic pupils of Upper Rank One, Kokushibo, constricted violently. His fingers unconsciously clamped around the hilt of his blade, his knuckles turning a ghastly pale from the excessive force.
That chill seemed to hemorrhage from the light screen itself, threatening to permeate his entire being and freeze him to the marrow. In his memory, even the thunderous wrath of Lord Muzan had never instilled such a profound, piercing cold.
He had already witnessed her swordplay; Kokushibo had believed himself immune to further fear. Yet, even separated by the screen, merely gazing upon that aloof, solitary back… his skin tightened instinctively. It felt as though a myriad of microscopic blades were dancing across his throat, poised to sever his head at any moment.
"…Fear?"
No, it was not merely that.
Though his heart hammered against his ribs and his demonic instincts shrieked in frenzy, a different, almost twisted desire surged from the depths of his soul.
"I wish to see it again… her sword."
When she last drew her blade against Yanqing, he had glimpsed only a fleeting shimmer of cold light, a sword intent that cascaded like a reversed waterfall. Yet, the trajectory of that single strike remained indelibly etched in his mind—that realm of swordsmanship was the very apex he had sought to reach by forsaking his humanity to become a demon, enduring centuries of existence.
—
「 Jingliu sighed with emotion: "I had thought the [Imbibitor Lunae] had ceased to exist. Yet, upon returning to the Luofu, to witness once more your magnificent spectacle of parting the seas and commanding the tides… it feels as if a lifetime has passed."
Dan Heng had no desire to associate himself further with the Imbibitor Lunae of his past life, deliberately emphasizing to her that he was now a different person. Though Jingliu expressed understanding, she could not help but query: "Past sins written off, and the you of today is merely a Nameless wandering the four corners of the galaxy… But tell me, can one truly bid farewell to the past?"
"If my conjecture is correct, the Preceptors could not bear for the draconic lineage to be severed. They sought to rekindle the dying embers of the [Imbibitor Lunae], and thus employed deceptive machinations during the Exuviation Charm, transforming you into this current state."
However, despite the absolute nature of her words, Jingliu harbored no intention of seeking justice from him. She was now but a sinner herself; her only desire in this moment was to meet with a long-lost friend and fulfill a promise made when their bonds ran deep.
And she openly admitted that the letter delivered to the Astral Express had indeed been sent by her.
.....
Meanwhile, on the other side of the Scalegorge Waterscape.
Luocha had been brought to this location by Jing Yuan for a joint interrogation. To be judged amidst such majestic scenery… Luocha found it quite agreeable.
"The descent of the Stellaron, the resurgence of the Ambrosial Arbor, the Sky-Faring Commission's Amicassador replaced by an imposter—whose true form was an Emanator of Destruction."
Jing Yuan unhurriedly recounted Luocha's itinerary and footprints from recent days, finally offering a light smile: "You took advantage of the chaos to infiltrate the Shackling Prison, yet took no action. Now, you proclaim responsibility for this Stellaron catastrophe and surrender yourself to justice."
"Curious, truly curious. Your conduct is utterly inscrutable."
Luocha claimed only to have been entrusted with delivering an item, feigning ignorance of the secrets behind the Luofu. He admitted his entry into the Shackling Prison had a purpose, but it appeared the Luofu did not possess what he sought. He pleaded guilty merely out of fear of punishment. After all… he was but a humble traveling merchant.
"A humble traveling merchant?" Even Jing Yuan could not suppress a laugh, shaking his head. "Mr. Luocha, you jest. The deeds you performed at the Fortress of Sorrow and Glory, the legacy you left behind in the Veil Starzone—do you require me to recount them one by one?"
"Or perhaps, you require me to utter that tongue-twisting name?" 」
「 .....」
〜Honkai: Impact 3rd World〜
Within the Anti-Entropy Headquarters, Welt pushed up his glasses, his brow furrowed deeply, the gaze behind the lenses complex and heavy.
"Tch. I suspected Luocha was harboring malicious intent, but I didn't expect him to have committed so many atrocities already. And to think I… cough, actually thought that perhaps in another world, he might have turned over a new leaf."
Tesla crossed her arms over her chest and let out a cold hmph.
"Perhaps… this is simply the nature of the man."
After a moment of silence, Welt spoke.
"No matter which world he inhabits, he invariably walks a similar path."
"I presume it is not difficult for us to guess that tongue-twisting name General Jing Yuan alluded to."
"…Otto Apocalypse."
Tesla glanced at him sideways, then looked back at the light screen, noting Jing Yuan's expression of calculated confidence. She offered a reminder:
"You don't need to be overly concerned. Leaving aside the fact that you exist in that world on the screen, even if he is plotting something nefarious, now that he's fallen into the hands of General Jing Yuan and the Xianzhou Alliance, his schemes will surely be stifled."
"Mm, I do not doubt General Jing Yuan."
Welt remained apprehensive.
"I was merely thinking… knowing his style, being captured is undoubtedly part of his plan. For him to go to such lengths, his objective must be extraordinary. This man… is far more worthy of an interrogation by the Matrix of Prescience than Kafka ever was."
—
「 A flicker of astonishment passed through Luocha's eyes: "…Oh? The Divine Foresight General truly lives up to his reputation."
Jing Yuan smiled faintly: "The feeling is mutual. Fortunately, I did my homework beforehand, otherwise this conversation today would have been dreadfully dull."
"Since the General feels there is something amiss, do you intend to defend me and absolve me of the suspicion regarding the Stellaron?"
Jing Yuan shook his head. "That is not for me to decide. This concerns a capital crime of subverting the Alliance. According to the law, you shall be escorted to the Xianzhou Xuling to face a joint trial by the Ten-Lords Commission and the Seven Arbiter-Generals, and be subjected to Eternal Punishment."
Hearing this, Luocha's face showed not a trace of panic. He simply raised his head to behold the breathtaking scenery of the Scalegorge Waterscape, then lowered his gaze with a smile: "I heard her mention that, hundreds of years ago, the High-Cloud Quintet once gathered here for a banquet."
Luocha suddenly began to speak of the High-Cloud Quintet's past—from Jingliu's world-shaking swordplay to the High Elder's Cloudhymn magic; from the pilot Baiheng's mastery of the starskiff to the Zhuming artisan Yingxing's divine forging skills… and, of course, General Jing Yuan's strategic brilliance.
Hearing these bygone events recounted within the Scalegorge Waterscape, Jing Yuan unconsciously lowered his gaze, his expression growing solemn.
The scenes of the past appeared vividly before his eyes, the sounds of laughter and revelry still echoing in his ears. Even Jing Yuan, who had weathered a thousand storms, could not help but succumb to a fleeting moment of melancholic sorrow. 」
「 .....」