The star skiff docking area in the backyard lay quiet under the soft glow of evening lights. Three sleek Star Skiffs rested in their designated berths — Kanzaki's, Hanya's, and finally Jingliu's.
The engines had fallen silent long ago, yet Jingliu remained seated in the pilot's chair. She had not even unbuckled her seatbelt. Her gaze was distant as she stared at the glowing screen of her Jade Abacus, lost in thought.
She was consulting one of the many intelligent AIs linked to the Xianzhou network.
"When parting with someone, I miss them dearly. I cannot wait to see them again… and when I finally do, a deep sense of peace washes over me. I even find myself wanting to stay by their side forever. May I ask… what is wrong with me?"
The reply arrived almost instantly.
[This query is too simple, meow~ To put it plainly, you like him. You like him a lot.]
Jingliu's fingers tightened slightly around the device as she read the cheerful answer, complete with its playful cat avatar. Without hesitation, she typed another question.
"But when I see him being gentle and caring toward others, yet never showing that side to me… it feels as though something is lodged in my throat. I cannot breathe properly, and my chest aches. Why is this happening?"
[Even simpler, meow! It's because he does not like you back, and you are jealous! Seeing the person you like treat someone else with such warmth… that hurts, meow!]
"…"
Jingliu placed a slender hand over her chest, feeling the steady rhythm of her heartbeat beneath her palm.
So this… was what it felt like to like someone.
She had truly fallen for her own Master. Yet Master's gentleness had never once been directed at her.
That could only mean… Master did not feel the same. To him, she was nothing more than a disciple — a pure and ordinary disciple.
"If I like that person, how can I make him like me in return?"
[This kitty cannot give you a definite answer on that one, meow. There are many ways to pursue someone, and it all depends on your own situation~]
"We are master and disciple."
[Wow~~ A classic trope straight out of countless stories, meow! Is the user the master or the disciple in this scenario?]
"I am the disciple. So… what should I do?"
[According to the Xianzhou's vast database, the highest success rate for turning long-term companionship into romance sits at thirty-seven percent, ranking first overall, meow!]
[As the old saying goes, companionship is the most enduring form of confession. It seeps in silently, like water nourishing the earth. You must leave traces of yourself in every corner of his life~]
[After spending so much time together, if you were to suddenly disappear for a while, he would look around and realize your presence had been woven into every part of his daily existence.]
[Mortals are not trees or stones. How could they remain untouched by emotion? Since the user is a long-lived species, you might try letting feelings blossom naturally over time, meow~]
[You are master and disciple, after all. The early bird catches the worm!]
[If you were a short-lived species, one would advise seizing the moment and speaking your heart plainly. Life is brief — why hesitate?]
Jingliu closed the interface and put away her Jade Abacus. A contemplative light shone in her eyes.
Strictly speaking, the time she had spent with Master was almost nonexistent.
Back when Cangcheng still stood, Master had been her father's old friend. Only after Cangcheng's passing did he truly become her Master. In truth, Master had been a constant presence in her life for far longer than she had ever realized.
That was why… because her entire world had been filled with Master's shadow for so long, she had unknowingly fallen in love with him.
Senior Hanya had spent even more time at Master's side. It was only natural.
Therefore…
She could not stop going on expeditions.
She had to throw herself into more battles and return alive each time.
As long as she continued to fulfill Master's expectations, she would have every right to remain by his side and slowly engrave her existence into his life.
With this realization, a clear sense of purpose washed over Jingliu. The faint crimson tint in her eyes gradually faded, and the frustration that had clouded her heart melted away like morning mist.
Master had always been the one giving. She, on the other hand, had given him almost nothing in return — not even proper companionship.
It was perfectly normal, even expected, that he did not like her yet.
Feeling enlightened, Jingliu stepped down from the Star Skiff and walked toward the house with renewed resolve.
That was when she saw Kanzaki emerging from the bathroom, carrying Hanya in his arms. Hanya was wrapped only in a large bath towel.
Jingliu's gentle smile froze for the briefest moment before she quickly composed herself, returning to her usual calm expression.
"Master, I'm back."
"Hmm. Xueyi will be returning from the barracks later tonight. You handle dinner first. Master and Hanya have some important matters to attend to."
"…"
Jingliu wanted to answer with her usual "Yes, Master…" but the words refused to leave her throat no matter how hard she tried. In the end, she could only nod silently, turn around, and walk toward the kitchen with heavy steps.
Kanzaki continued forward without pausing, sparing her only a brief glance as he spoke.
Hanya, nestled securely in his arms, did not notice the subtle shift in Jingliu's expression.
Likewise, Jingliu failed to notice the faint flush still lingering on Hanya's face.
===
Once inside the bedroom, Kanzaki gently set Hanya down on the bed and retrieved his silver needles once more.
"Barring any unforeseen complications, this should be the final acupuncture session. There will be some risks, but they are minimal."
"I trust you completely."
"Then let's begin."
Kanzaki drew a deep breath. His gaze swept over those all-too-familiar legs, his eyes sharpening with intense focus.
The afternoon session had been deliberately followed by high-intensity training for Hanya. The goal was to force as much of the stubborn residual Rahu power as possible into her legs, preparing them for this decisive moment.
Years of frequent warfare and prolonged delays had allowed this foreign power — one that belonged neither fully to her body nor could be easily expelled — to grow strong once again.
It was like a volcano sealed for thousands of years. Not only had it failed to calm, but it had accumulated an even more terrifying destructive force.
Hanya's condition mirrored this exactly, which was why she had been unable to walk on her own and had to rely on Kanzaki for both mobility and care.
In roughly half an hour, these remnants of Rahu would vanish completely.
How exactly they would disappear… was something Hanya did not need to know.
The final treatment began without delay.
The power that Hanya's body instinctively rejected surged into Kanzaki through the silver needles. Yet his expression remained calm and composed as he handled the turbulent energy with overwhelming force.
There was a fundamental difference in the nature of their blessings.
The power of Rahu did indeed stem from an Emanator of Abundance.
However, the blessing granted to the people of the Xianzhou came from the greatest divine miracle bestowed by the Aeon of Abundance — a power so potent that even Emanators coveted it.
Sensing the threat, the chaotic energy within Hanya began to riot violently, attempting to seize control of her consciousness and disrupt her cooperation with Kanzaki.
Fortunately, Hanya had come prepared. She focused all her willpower on driving the escaping forces through her meridians.
Two opposing powers clashed fiercely — one fleeing, the other relentlessly pursuing.
Hanya's body temperature soared rapidly. Her skin flushed a deep red as fine beads of sweat formed across her surface.
The bath from earlier seemed to have been in vain.
Her attention was entirely consumed by the internal battle. She could only feel that, through her diligent cooperation, the affliction that had plagued her for over a decade was steadily being drawn out of her body.
Half an hour later, her body seemed to release a silent cheer, as though celebrating the final cure of a long-standing chronic illness.
At that exact moment, Kanzaki's voice reached her ears.
"Next, I will perform a full-body examination, including your internal organs, to confirm that the power has been completely eradicated."
"Mm."
The moment she nodded, she felt a gentle, warm current flow into her body, spreading throughout every limb and meridian.
One particular stream followed her energy pathways into her inner organs, bringing with it a strange, profound comfort that nearly drew a soft moan from her lips.
Just what was this warm current entering her body… It felt so incredibly special.
It was not the power of Abundance, yet her body instinctively craved it, welcoming it with open arms.
Hanya completely relaxed, her expression softening into one of rare tranquility.
Several minutes later, the warm current slowly withdrew, leaving behind a strange, lingering sense of emptiness.
"…Eh?"
She suddenly heard Kanzaki's voice, laced with mild surprise.
"What's wrong, Lord Kanzaki?"
Kanzaki remained silent for a moment, his brow furrowed in deep thought. He performed another thorough examination, but the previous anomaly did not reappear.
It was probably nothing more than an illusion.
"…It's nothing. Congratulations. The sequelae that have troubled you for so many years are now gone forever."