"...Stelle, the General Huaiyan that Miss Tingyun just mentioned, could he be that old gentleman who arm-wrestled with me before?"
After leaving Tingyun's shop, Clara suddenly asked.
"Yeah, actually, when I first met him, my reaction was the same as yours." Stelle scratched her head and said, "The official records say he's over two thousand years old. I thought he'd be a kind-looking little old man, but I didn't expect him to be so... uh, robust and powerful."
Clara nodded lightly: "That is indeed very old, and he even experienced the pain of losing a disciple. Sigh... He's truly a strong old man."
Stelle's mouth twitched: "Actually... Old Huai's disciple didn't die. That guy didn't lose his life; he just simply left the Xianzhou."
"Although I don't know the specific reason, I think for a disciple to leave his master and his homeland, he must have had his own difficulties, right? No wonder Old Huai misses that guy so much, even to the point of circulating such a story."
"From the way you say it, it seems like you know Old Huai's disciple?" Clara asked doubtfully.
"Sort of... More accurately, I know half of him. That guy is called Blade now. In his normal state, he's still somewhat tolerable, but once he enters his berserk state, he wants to hack at anyone he sees with a couple of swings." Stelle subconsciously patted her own shoulder: "Last time, I took a hit right here."
"Ha?" Clara narrowed her eyes slightly, "Was your Trailblaze Journey on the Xianzhou that dangerous too? I see the security here is much better than Belobog's. How did you still get injured?"
Stelle rubbed her chin: "This story is a long one... Anyway, the situation at the time was very complicated, and that hit wasn't for nothing. Someone will definitely get payback for me. Even if March couldn't beat him at the time, Firefly probably would have later... Cough cough, off topic. Anyway, I'm fine now. Thanks for your concern, Clary."
——"Special edition of the Luofu Daily! 'Those Things in Zhuming,' limited-time special at two credit points each, first come, first served!"
At that moment, a roadside vendor holding a magazine in his hand shouted loudly: "No loss, no regret in buying!"
"What the heck..." Stelle muttered, casually pulling out a hundred credit points and tossing them to the vendor. She picked up the magazine and began to carefully appreciate it.
"'Shocking, General Huaiyan Actually Has an Unknown Side,' 'Exposed, 'Winning Hearts Through Virtue' Actually Refers To...,' 'The Tragic Love Between Master and Disciple in Zhuming'..."
The more Stelle and Clara read, the more familiar it seemed. Finally, they looked at each other in stunned confusion: Isn't this just the story Tingyun told them earlier?
Stelle slapped her forehead with a "pa": "That's right. Since Miss Tingyun already told us, it's not far from spreading out."
It was just that compared to the story Tingyun told personally, the version in this magazine was even more melodramatic. It roughly told of how General Huaiyan once had a female disciple named Yingxing. Due to the rules of the Ten-Lords Commission, the two could only be separated by yin and yang, reuniting only once a year on a special day at the Ten-Lords Commission's "Bridge of Helplessness"...
"Where did this wild history come from?! Why is Blade being portrayed as a woman?!"
Stelle quickly took out her phone and snapped a few photos, then sent them to Firefly.
Among the Stellaron Hunters, she only had Firefly and Kafka as friends, but considering that if she sent it to Kafka, the latter would probably get jealous, so...
Buzz buzz.
Firefly: Oh? It's a very romantic love story. So, Stelle, are you hinting at something to me?
Stelle: ?
Firefly: "It's fine, oh. I'll agree to any request from Stelle. So, can I come find you now?"
Stelle: W-Wait a minute! That's not what I meant!
What are you thinking about all day, Firefly?!
Helplessly, Stelle had no choice but to send the pictures to Kafka as well, with a note: This rumor is probably spreading everywhere now. For the sake of Uncle Blade's mara-struck condition, it's best not to let him come into contact with messages from the Xianzhou for a while.
Kafka: emmm, but Ah Blade has already set out for the Xianzhou just now.
Stelle: ? Why is there a plot for him here?
Kafka: emmm, actually, most of our Stellaron Hunters' missions are done by Ah Blade. Silver Wolf has been very busy lately, and this lady doesn't feel like going out today, so I had to entrust it to Ah Blade (Elio emoticon pack • Innocent).
Stelle: Then can you confirm he won't go berserk because of this? Whoever's going with him, remember to pull him out in time.
Kafka: emmm, Ah Blade went by himself. Hehe.
Stelle: What does hehe mean? You Stellaron Hunters are too irresponsible, aren't you?
If Blade comes over and hears these rumors, won't he just go mad from anger?
No, calm down, stay calm.
Stelle kept telling herself that a story this ridiculous was obviously made up. Normal people would just laugh it off after reading it and wouldn't waste even a second more on it.
——"Wah wah wah! Such a touching story!"
At that moment, a passerby tightly clutched the magazine in his hand, sobbing uncontrollably: "This is romance! Old General Huai has worked tirelessly for our Xianzhou. He shouldn't have to go through this!"
——"Such a touching master-disciple love. That girl named Yingxing must have been a very gentle person, right?"
——"No more talk, family. I'm heading to the Skysplitter right now to vote for Zhuming's competitors. I heard that Miss Yunli is also General Huaiyan's disciple. I hope she can inherit her senior sister's last wish and bring glory to the sect."
——"Brother, let's go together."
"..."
The nearby passersby, after reading the story, actually all shed sincere tears one after another, forming groups and heading toward the direction of the Skysplitter.
Stelle and Clara stayed in place, looking somewhat disheveled.
"Stelle!"
At that moment, a familiar voice came from behind. Looking toward the sound, two figures approached face-to-face—it was Bailu and Lingsha.
"Stelle, I actually ran into you again!" Bailu said with a giggle: "We really have such fate."
Stelle silently complained in her mind: "It might also be because the Luofu's map is just this big..."
"Ah? What did you say, Stelle?"
"N-Nothing. By the way, why are you here? No competition?"
Hearing this, Bailu proudly puffed out her chest: "Hmph hmph hmph~ Guess who the defender swordsman for this Martial Exhibition Ceremony is, Stelle?"
Seeing this, Stelle immediately came to a realization: Nowadays, the Luofu's usable combat forces weren't many. Bailu happened to be the type who was top-tier in strength and had no official duties (Huohuo's might be because she doesn't listen to orders). She was even more suitable for this defender position than the original Yanqing.
After all, although Bailu was a bit silly, her strength was genuinely there.
"Eh? Stelle, did you just buy the newly released magazine?"
At that moment, Bailu suddenly noticed the magazine in Stelle's hand and said curiously: "Stelle, after you finish reading, can you lend it to me for a bit? I heard it's a super explosive story, but I lost my wallet today..."
Stelle helplessly held her forehead and handed over the magazine in her hand, "Here."
"Stelle is the best!"