Pan Bo was part of the Gentle Wind unit. Though he was two hundred years old, he had been considered a genius in his youth.
Under the constant praise of his parents, he slowly came to believe he was a once-in-a-millennium prodigy and took great pride in his swordsmanship.
But after joining the Cloud Knights, he found that his swordsmanship was only a little better and fancier than the rest, yet his pride would never let him admit that.
In competitions, he often resorted to underhanded methods like poisoning his opponents or aiming for vital spots during training.
Though he received disciplinary actions, he believed it was only because others were jealous of his talent.
When it came to real battle, however, he was a coward to the bone.
Facing the Denizens of Abundance before him, his knees buckled and his grip weakened. It was his first real fight, and fear froze him in place.
As his opponent's blade aimed for his throat, survival instinct kicked in. He threw himself to the side with all his strength.
"Ah!" Scrambling to his feet, he swung his glaive wildly, and by sheer luck, managed to subdue his opponent.
"Huff, huff, huff." Looking into the distance, he saw the newcomer flawlessly dodging a flurry of blades while striking back with precision.
Though the girl looked younger than him, her combat prowess easily outshone the pitiful display he had just shown.
His pride was wounded. Why couldn't he be the genius? Why was he this weak? He couldn't accept it.
"Unit, listen up!" his captain shouted. "Search the area for hidden citizens! Once we clear the area, we're evacuating to Starskiff Haven!"
"Yes, sir!" Pan Bo replied automatically, the action was ingrained in him after years of training.
The unit scattered through the area, and with the noise they made earlier, they were sure they had attract every enemy nearby and killed them.
As Pan Bo was about to move, a voice called out to him. "Hey, wait up. Can we group up?"
Turning around, his eyes seethed with anger as he saw the brown-haired newcomer approaching.
"Tch. Try not to slow me down." Pan Bo snorted coldly and kept walking, leaving the confused Sushang to wonder what she had done to offend him.
"Don't mind him. He's just too prideful for his own good," the captain commented, and though Sushang nodded in response, a confused expression still lingered on her face.
"Take him down a peg or two if you can. It'll decrease the number of headaches I'll have in the future," the captain said, making a rather strange request.
"What?"
"Ha ha, I'm joking." He gave her a pat on the back and sent her on her way.
Catching up with the prideful Cloud Knight wasn't hard since he was busy searching for any remaining survivors.
As she drew closer, she faintly heard him click his tongue but chose to ignore it.
Her mother had taught her to keep a steady mind on the battlefield and never be hot-headed. Not counting that one rampage where she got too absorbed, of course.
"Hey, how long have you been a Cloud Knight?" Sushang tried to strike up a conversation, but when he ignored her, she simply shrugged and decided to work in silence.
As they moved through the streets, calling out for survivors and checking houses, they eventually reached Qin Shaoqing's home, which made Sushang wonder how her master was doing.
Shaking off those thoughts, they entered the house unannounced. She doubted anyone would hide there, but they searched anyway.
The once lively courtyard was now quiet, and the spot where her master usually sat was empty.
Her eyes drifted toward the bamboo tree. The one she had cut before was gone, replaced by a new stalk that had already grown tall.
"Tsk. you stupid girl! Don't just stand there, help me out!" Pan Bo berated.
"Right!" Sushang snapped back to reality and quickly stepped inside.
Now that she thought about it, she had never entered his home before. Besides the one time he offered her dinner, which she refused, she had always remained in the courtyard.
Inside, she was surprised by how simple it was. Only the bare essentials filled the space: cooking utensils, a few chairs, and a table to entertain guests.
Climbing to the second floor, she found his bedroom. In one corner stood a simple bed, and beside it a small table and chair, papers scattered across its surface.
Curiosity got the better of her. She picked one up and scanned the contents, but most of it made little sense. Sentences were crossed out and rewritten over and over, like the chaotic notes of someone deep in thought.
For some reason, that sight made her smile. Maybe her master, who always seemed shrouded in mystery, was more human than she thought.
"Having fun reading my notes?" a sudden voice came from behind her.
"Ah!" Sushang jumped and swung her sword on reflex.
"Whoa!" Qin Shaoqing ducked just in time, the blade cutting off a few strands of his hair. "Trying to kill your teacher already? You're still a few years too early," he teased.
"M-master! I- I'm so sorry!" Sushang stammered, bowing her head repeatedly.
"It's fine. I was just on the balcony getting some fresh air." Qin Shaoqing pointed behind him to a small doorway leading outside. "I was quietly observing the wind when I heard the ruckus you were making."
Sushang noticed the faint melancholy in his expression and wanted to ask about it, but she swallowed her words. She was still too inexperienced to understand her master's worries.
Qin Shaoqing, realizing she had noticed, laughed bitterly at himself getting caught up with emotions was not something him he would do.
[Note: It is recommended to tell her your worries to alleviate the current sadness you are experiencing.]
'Shut up, system.' Qin Shaoqing ignored the advice and changed the subject.
"Little Sushang, what brings you here? Is your duty done? Did you finally retire?" he joked.
"I'm far from retirement. I'm just here to look for any survivors who might be hiding," Sushang explained.
"Well, it seems you've found one." Qin Shaoqing smiled.
"Huh? Where?" Sushang looked around in confusion.
"It seems little Sushang no longer considers me a living being. Oh, how pitiful," Qin Shaoqing said with mock heartbreak.
Realizing he was referring to himself, Sushang blushed in embarrassment. "W-well, you're fine by yourself anyway."
"Oh? But I'm still a normal citizen on Xianzhou Luofu, nothing more."
"So you're saying you're not normal outside of Luofu?" Sushang quickly caught onto a certain word and shot back, catching Qin Shaoqing off guard.
"Bah, since when did my little Sushang become so sharp?" Qin Shaoqing raised his hands in mock defeat. "You're absolutely right, Miss Sushang. I'm merely an eminator of destruction. Go on, arrest me."
"..."
"..."
"Hahaha!" Both of them burst into laughter at their own banter.