With the unconscious Pan Bo slung over one of the Cloud Knights' shoulders, the group pressed on toward Starskiff Haven. Their progress, however, was slow, many of the wounded limped along with the help of the Cloud knights but the sound of their steps and labored breathing inevitably drew unwanted attention.
Before long, a group of Denizens of Abundance appeared ahead, blocking their route. The knights tensed, forming a defensive line, but before anyone could issue an order, Sushang stepped forward with her sword in hand.
"Master, let me handle this." She glanced back, determination burning in her eyes.
Qin Shaoqing opened his mouth to respond, but she had already dashed forward All he could do was sigh, shake his head, and observe. His mind began charting the most efficient paths of movement and strike angles, silently comparing them to Sushang's choices.
And surprisingly Sushang picked the correct option most of the time, her decision making has improved a lot in life-or-death scenario and her quick judgements carried her sword to victory. Yet one thing became abundantly clear for Qin Shaoqing.
"Why are you trying to outspeed something that doesn't exist?" Qin Shaoqing muttered as Sushang returned triumphantly.
"Huh? What do you mean, Master?" she asked, blinking in confusion.
He flicked her forehead lightly. "Speed is important, yes, but you're racing ahead like you're trying to outrun the wind itself."
"Ow! But Master, you said speed is everything!"
"Yes," he replied while messaging his temple, "but you're trying to race a van with an F1 car."
The others stared blankly.
'Ah, right,' he thought, realizing his mistake. 'Cars doesn't exist.'
"Ahem- what I mean is, you're joining a running race but brought a Starskiff. Of course you'll win, but the cost of winning is too much!" With his clearer analogy Sushang quickly realized the problem, but for fixing it...
"Master, I don't know how to.. hold.. back." Sushang's voice slowly turned into a whisper. To be a Cloud knight is to be an enforcer and a peacemaker, so the first thing they need to learn is to hold back their strength.
You wouldn't see Cloud knight running around killing people just because someone bumping into them and if a drunken decided to pick a fight with a Cloud knight, there is no right for a Cloud knight to use a real glaive to pacify him.
But not only Sushang had not able to hold back, she always fights with full strength to keep up with her peers and due to the Xuanyuan sword weighing heavily on Sushang's arm all-year-round her muscle arms who had become accustomed to swinging with full strength couldn't hold back.
Qin Shaoqing was also partly at fault as he had always put Sushang's sparring partner at max difficulty which made Sushang whom always chasing her peer's back to run even faster.
'This girl learnt how to run before she could walk..' Qin Shaoqing messaged his temple, he blamed himself for being blind to her situation, and even encouraged the girl to keep running faster.
"Sighhh, we'll talk more when we reach Starskiff haven." Qin Shaoqing left it as is, it was not a serious issue for now but if he let this be it will affect her stamina greatly in future battles.
Sushang's shoulders drooped. She had wanted to impress him, to show how far she'd come, only to earn a sigh instead.
Qin Shaoqing noticed her downcast look and gently patted her head. "Don't beat yourself up. You did well, really well. It was my oversight, not yours."
Her eyes brightened. "Really?"
"Really," he smiled. "Your movements and judgment were sharp—though when you dodged left in that second exchange—"
He started dissecting her technique mid-sentence, pointing out each minor flaw in detail. Sushang leaned in, absorbing every word with every intent of remembering them.
The Cloud Knights who watched this exchange couldn't help but be awestruck.
Most of them couldn't clearly see Sushang at all in action, but not only he listed every moves she did in great depth, he also listed her flaws in her judgements.
His easy going demeanor contradicts his ocean-like wisdom that they felt like they met a sage who seemed content with mundane life.
And all of them silently agreed this unassuming master was not for show.
.......
When they reached Starskiff haven's gate they sighed in relief, the tension finally eased among them who was unaccustomed by life-and-death situations.
The physicians in Starskiff haven who had finally treated the critically injured they let out an exhausted breath "Finally, that was the last of them." But before he could reach for a bottle of water they saw a gate opened revealing a wave of more injured people. 'I shouldn't have said anything' He cursed inside of his mind and rushed towards the injured people, checking the severity of their injury.
"Welcome back sir," The Cloud knights who stayed in Starskiff haven instantly recognized Qin Shaoqing and greeted him with respect, he was the man who saved them after all.
"Don't address me with sir, that feels too formal especially coming from a Cloud knight like yourself." Qin Shaoqing gave an easy going smile "Address me with anything else, I'm just a citizen and its my job to help my fellow Luofu citizens."
"Ahem!" The captain of Gentle Wind felt a vein growing on his temple when he saw this scene. Who ignores their superiors and greets someone else who wasn't part of the law at all. But he let it be for now, he realized the extraordinary existence named Qin Shaoqing shouldn't be compared to normal citizens even if he stated several time he was a normal citizen who wants to live a normal life.
"R-Right captain Su Bang, I'm glad your unit returned unharmed. Commander tasked me to inform you that they need your presence as soon as you return."
Su Bang nodded and could guessed why he had been summoned.
"Well Qin Shaoqing, it was a pleasure meeting you but I must leave, I intended to talk with you longer but that will have to wait." Su Bang slightly bowed in respect to Qin Shaoqing.
"Ha ha, it's also pleasurable to meet such an upright Cloud knight, I already feel safer with Cloud knights like you around." Qin Shaoqing returned a bow and they parted ways.
Qin Shaoqing looked around to find his beloved Sushang but realized she seemed to be missing.
Ping!
[ShangshangOfficial: Sorry master, I was called by my unit, I need to go]
[ShangshangOfficial: Bowing.png]
[ASmoothCriminal: Haha no worries, you sort out issues with your unit, I'll look around for a second disciple to teach.]
[ShangshangOfficial: Really! Omg I'm so excited, I can't wait!]
[ASmoothCriminal: Not really, I wasn't going to accepting any disciples in the first place but your earnest pleas soften my heart.]
Qin Shaoqing press sent while silently cursing his system as it was the actual sole reason of him accepting Sushang, if not for this system he would reject her right away.
Shaking his head he put away his phone and looked around, though this part of Luofu was unfamiliar to him, people whom he can steal from will never change.