This startled Yanqing.
"This...this...it won't do. The Alliance's laws..."
"Huh? Where did your mind go?"
Jiang Lin scrutinized the short, yellow-haired young man for a moment.
"Ah? It's not what I thought? That's good...that's good..."
Yanqing breathed a sigh of relief. Qingzu, standing nearby, then asked,
"Then, may I ask...the material you need is..."
"Hmm...that lady Jingliu...should be able to help find it..."
Jiang Lin's gaze once again fell upon the graceful figure still turned away, posing. With words spoken to this extent,
Jingliu finally turned around.
She looked at the person who had so easily subdued her before, and unconsciously pondered his words from earlier..."You want me...to take you to find...Blade?"
If the 'material' he spoke of wasn't her, then it was highly likely to be Blade...It made sense, as Blade was sufficiently unique.
Moreover, if it were Blade, she wouldn't feel the slightest bit of reluctance...Hmm...she believed Blade himself would agree...Meanwhile, Yanqing inwardly grumbled, 'Isn't this still a person?'
Uh...but this person probably isn't protected by the Alliance's laws, right?
"Yes, it is him," Jiang Lin affirmed.
Jingliu nodded, then looked at Dan Heng..."Imbibitor Lunae, you've come. Since you're here, why not step forward and reminisce? Or should I call you by your current life's name, Dan Heng?"
Jingliu's tone was icy, and even the surrounding air seemed to grow cold.
"When I left the Xianzhou, I heard they took your dragon horns, forced you to undergo a rebirth, and then imprisoned you in the Cloister of Imprisonment.
I had thought Imbibitor Lunae would cease to exist, but returning to the Luofu, I once again witnessed your magnificent feat of parting the seas and summoning tides. It truly feels like a lifetime ago."
"You're right. Imbibitor Lunae's life has ended. The one standing before you now is another person."
Dan Heng was not to be outdone, crossing his arms and speaking calmly to Jingliu.
Seeing that their reminiscing wouldn't end anytime soon,
Jiang Lin walked towards Yanqing, deciding to chat with him..."Mr. Jiang Lin...what is this..."
Yanqing was a little confused, not understanding what this honored guest of the Alliance intended to do.
"Oh, I've come to ask you some questions, but they're not important matters. You don't have to answer if you don't want to."
"No, Yanqing will certainly tell you everything he knows, without reservation."
Yanqing's expression was firm, and his thoughts were simple:
This was an honored guest whom even the General treated seriously; he absolutely couldn't leave a bad impression.
He couldn't cause the General any more trouble and had to do something for him..."Hmm." Seeing this, Jiang Lin didn't say much more.
He then asked what he wanted to know..."When I first arrived, I accidentally overheard some of your conversation.
You're still calling that lady Jingliu over there 'Big Sister'...Doesn't your General mind?"
Yanqing's mouth twitched, and he inwardly grumbled: 'You really are quite 'unaccidental'...' But he said aloud:
"Ah, about that...when I call her 'Big Sister,' the General usually isn't around..."
"And when your General is around?"
"Uh...when he's around, I usually don't get a chance to speak..."
Yanqing said, a little embarrassed.
"Oh, I see. How does that saying go on your Xianzhou? 'When adults speak, children shouldn't interrupt,' right?"
Jiang Lin indicated he understood and offered his interpretation.
But he had a suspicion: 'I remember when I watched Yanqing's comments in the live stream, why was he always calling her 'Ancestor, her elderly self'? He didn't call her 'Big Sister'...So it was because Jing Yuan was watching?'
And just at this moment...the two over there finished their reminiscing.
The two of them walked towards Jiang Lin and Yanqing.
"We can depart now," Jingliu said calmly.
However, Yanqing was not pleased.
"Big Sister, do you think your status is that of a tourist?"
"I can be."
Yanqing slapped his forehead with one hand. 'She's here to surrender...how can she...' But then Jingliu spoke again.
"Little brother, don't be so gloomy. I have already surrendered to the Alliance, and I will not break my promise and simply leave.
Besides, your General has also agreed to my request."
Jingliu said, hands on her hips, comforting him.
"And Imbibitor Lunae, you must come with me; you cannot refuse. Whether or not you care about your past life, accepting my letter means you've agreed to my invitation."
"...Lead the way..." Dan Heng, left with no choice, could only agree.
Jiang Lin patted Dan Heng's shoulder at this moment.
"If things change, I'll stand with you."
Jiang Lin said to Dan Heng. After all, in his eyes, the Astral Express...was barely considered a friend.
Moreover, he might need them later.
Saying this sentence was all benefit and no harm.
Dan Heng paused, then replied,
"Thank you..."
And so...soon after,
Stargazer Navalia.
The first stop for the group — Stargazer Navalia.
Jiang Lin followed from a distance behind...After all, it wasn't his business; he just needed to pay a little attention to the situation over there.
He only needed to find Blade in the end...And he could use this time to make some other preparations.
So that he could use the material immediately when he got it, and get results as quickly as possible...Some time passed.
After seeing them launch a Star Skiff, Jiang Lin followed the group to the Artisanship Commission.
However, not long after arriving at the Artisanship Commission...he heard Yanqing and Jingliu seemed to be arguing?
Jiang Lin slightly raised his eyes, didn't see what he wanted to see, and then went back to his own research...Then Yanqing went ahead on his own to clear out monsters...When everyone caught up to him...
"Big Sister, you didn't deliberately go easy on me to let me get here first, did you?"
Yanqing couldn't help but tease, his tone clearly a little happy.
"How could that be? Your swordsmanship has improved so quickly that I can't keep up."
Jingliu, however, was uncharacteristically doting in her tone...Jiang Lin secretly mused, 'Could it be that Yanqing calling her 'Big Sister' over and over again made her feel good?'
Some time later...the group arrived at the Dan Ding Division.
Then Jiang Lin saw that after the group chatted with a little dragon girl for a while...they went to chase a...monkey?
Oh, it turned out they were helping the little dragon girl retrieve her medical kit...Soon after, Jingliu came to Jiang Lin's side..."I can confirm now that Blade has also arrived..."
"Hmm, I know."
Then the group proceeded to the Scalegorge Waterscape.
Upon arriving at the Scalegorge Waterscape, Jiang Lin saw the material he had been longing for...So, right under everyone's noses...
Jiang Lin walked directly up to Blade.
He looked at Blade with a calm expression.
Then..."Can I cut off a piece of your flesh?"
(Author's early update, could you please give the author some free 'Power for Love' gifts? Please, this will motivate the author more.)