With swords pointed at him, Leon's expression didn't change; his smile grew even warmer.
"I need to see General Jing Yuan. I've contributed to the Alliance, bled for the Luofu—you can't arrest me!"
Future bleeding counts too.
"Hmph, nonsense."
Yanqing was unmoved.
"You're not even a Xianzhou native, and you haven't spoken much truth from the start, have you?"
"Strictly speaking, I haven't lied," Leon said, narrowing his eyes again.
"So you deceived me on a grand scale. That's still deception!"
"Young man, you're stubborn. Some things are hard to explain to you."
"Then explain in The Shackling Prison. Will you come quietly, or do I beat you first and drag you there?"
Yanqing drew his final sword.
"Little brother, if you want to send me to prison, shouldn't you give a reason?"
Jingliu's tone betrayed no emotion.
"Suspicious behavior, hiding your intentions—that's reason enough. Did you think I'd be easy to fool just because I'm young?"
Yanqing's eyes gleamed with the pride of seeing through them.
"Not to mention how two stranded travelers suddenly appeared in a locked-down port—"
"All this way, I've seen your steps are light and steady, not at all like a blind person's."
"As for your sword knowledge, you analyzed it perfectly with just your ears, fine."
"But you even counted my flying swords accurately to the number. That insight—is that something an ordinary person has?"
"And you, Leon, don't think I didn't notice you secretly took something from that bandit."
"Shady behavior, one more suspicious than the other. Is that enough reason?"
Jingliu: "I never said I was blind. You saw my veiled eyes and assumed I was impaired."
"…"
Yanqing's expression froze, momentarily unable to retort, and turned to Leon.
"What did you take from that bandit? Let me see."
"…Nothing worth seeing."
"Why, is it shameful?"
"Not exactly, but you're young—not suitable for it. Best drop the idea."
Leon advised sincerely.
"Treating me like a three-year-old?"
Yanqing's face darkened, a stubborn edge creeping in.
"I'm an officially registered Cloud Knight Lieutenant. What's unfit for me to see?"
Leon sighed helplessly, pulling out a booklet and spinning it toward Yanqing.
Yanqing caught it cautiously, his gaze never leaving the two.
Confirming the item was harmless, he flipped open the cover for a glance.
One glance—truly just one—and he exploded.
?!?!
What is this?!
This, this, this…
The cover bore images of two Aeons, unmistakable to any Xianzhou Alliance member—
The Hunt: Lan.
The Abundance: Yaoshi.
What shocked him more was that these two Aeons were depicted embracing, bare.
His gaze landed on certain areas, and Yanqing's youthful face flushed red instantly. The flying swords encircling Leon and Jingliu lost control and clattered to the ground.
The banner read: [I, the Abundance Aeon, Start with Being Forced into Love by the Cold Reignbow Arbiter.]
He hurriedly stuffed the book into his clothes, heart racing.
After a long moment, he regained control, resummoning his flying swords.
But the swords, mirroring their master's state, trembled slightly in midair.
Yanqing shot Leon a complicated glare, then glanced guiltily at Jingliu.
She… didn't see that, right?
"Little brother, why look at me like that? That guy was carrying something scandalous. I took it for your sake—for the Xianzhou people's sake."
Leon spread his hands like a little bear, with an expression of "it's your problem, not mine."
"Doing a good deed, yet… ugh, I'm just a frail doctor, not like you with your great power. I'm so wronged."
His aggrieved tone was clear to anyone.
"This…"
Yanqing's mind was still muddled, a thought bubbling up: Am I too sensitive? Did I really misunderstand him?
Stammering to say something, he ultimately chose to look away, avoiding the issue.
He didn't notice the gleeful arc on Leon's lips.
"Little brother, I have no grudge against you, nor do I mean harm to the Luofu."
As Yanqing looked at her, Jingliu calmly pointed to the black veil over her eyes.
"This veil is proof I don't want to stir emotions and fall deeper into Mara, causing more chaos."
"I came to the Luofu this time to capture someone."
Yanqing's gaze sharpened. "Are you… here for Blade?"
"Blade… that's his name now? Abandoning himself to the blade, honing his heart with swords. Quite a name… Take me to him, little brother."
"No, your identity's unclear," Yanqing refused.
"You're not my match, so you're not Blade's either. With me along, you won't throw your life away."
Jingliu's words were blunt, showing no mercy to the young man's pride.
Yanqing, full of confidence, snorted coldly.
"Until my sword strikes, how can you know who's stronger? Don't underestimate my blade, or you'll regret it."
Jingliu shook her head. "I don't want to fight a Cloud Knight. How about this—"
"Let's have a contest. We'll use the creatures plaguing the Luofu as a test of our swords. See whose blade is faster, who cuts down more. How's that?"
"If I win, what then?" Yanqing's expression turned serious.
Jingliu: "If you win, I'll surrender, go to The Shackling Prison for trial, and accept any judgment."
"But if I win, you share Blade's whereabouts with me. Deal?"
"Cloud Knights don't trade official duties. Besides, you can't possibly beat me."
"I like your confidence, but as you said, until the sword strikes, how can you know who's stronger?"
"Hmph… how do I know you won't take the chance to escape with him or run off alone?"
"Jing Yuan's really spoiled you, all talk and no action. I won't leave without Blade's whereabouts."
Staring at Jingliu for a moment, Yanqing turned to Leon.
Seeing his seemingly genuine weary and wronged expression, he wondered if he'd truly misunderstood.
Leon looked tall, lanky, and frail, not like a fighter.
Maybe he really was a doctor who got separated from his group and had to rely on Jingliu for safety?
"You say you're a doctor. Got proof?"
"Of course, but I'm afraid you won't dare let me prove it."
"Tell me."
Leon pulled out a row of silver needles. "If little brother Yanqing isn't afraid I'll pull a trick, let me apply needles to you."
"I'm not sick."
"Of course I know you're not sick, but even healthy people can benefit from acupuncture to invigorate qi and blood, strengthening the body."
Leon smiled warmly. "I'll apply the needles to your hand—no fatal points. The effect is immediate and proves my innocence."
Yanqing thought for a moment, then nodded slowly.
"Go ahead."