Blade: ???
At this moment, even Blade was filled with questions.
Yanqing and Dan Heng hadn't expected this person to be so... direct.
Jing Yuan stepped forward at this point... "Mr. Jiang Lin, is this about..."
"Oh, I've made some progress in my research on alleviating Mara-Struck... I'm short on some experimental materials, and I've got my eyes on him."
Saying this, he pointed at Blade... Just as Jing Yuan was about to say more... Blade, hearing what Jiang Lin said and seemingly recalling Jiang Lin's identity, let out a 'pfft' sound... Blade handed the piece of meat in his hand to Jiang Lin... "Take it..."
Jing Yuan: ???
No, buddy, that fast?
Jiang Lin didn't stand on ceremony at all, directly picking up the 'lively' piece of meat and heading off to do his research... His business here was done.
Seeing this, Jing Yuan found it difficult to say anything more.
Meanwhile, Blade's freshly cut wound had already healed... as if nothing had happened.
But the few drops of blood on the ground proved the reality of what had just occurred... Then everyone fell silent for a long while.
Jingliu was the first to speak:
"Take this man away for now; the rest has nothing to do with him."
She gestured for Jing Yuan to take Luocha away... "Yanqing." Jing Yuan motioned to Yanqing.
Yanqing nodded, said nothing more, and, accompanied by the Cloud Knights guarding the scene, escorted Luocha away... Before leaving, Yanqing thoughtfully asked Jiang Lin... "Um... Mr. Jiang Lin, perhaps we could move to a better location?"
"No need, I'll be done soon... You go ahead..."
Jiang Lin replied without lifting his head... "Uh... alright, Yanqing will take his leave."
Subsequently,
the four on that side began their performance... "Thus, everyone is assembled. I never imagined that after centuries apart, the High-Cloud Quintet could reunite once more."
Jingliu slowly walked to the center of the group and began her monologue.
"If I recall correctly, seven hundred years ago, the five of us made a promise right here, that no matter how arduous the journey, we would gather here to share a drink."
As Jingliu spoke, she turned to look at the statue of the Dragon Lord in the Linyuan Border... "Alas, the Linyuan Border stands empty, and the world is ever-changing.
Of us five, some were reborn into this world, some sought death but could not find it, some became prisoners, and some can no longer keep their promise, our bonds of friendship utterly gone.
Soon I will face trial and judgment; this parting may be forever.
So, before I leave, I extend an invitation, an invitation for you all to say goodbye at this place of our first gathering."
The three listened to Jingliu's words, their expressions varied... "There were five people, and three prices to pay.
The instigator, Dan Feng (Imbibitor Lunae), acted recklessly, presumptuously using the wondrous Dragon-Transformation art to bring back the dead and change forms, causing great disaster and disgracing the honor of warriors.
The accomplice, Yingxing, was arrogant and presumptuous, meddling with the flesh and blood of an Abundance envoy, assisting Dan Feng (Imbibitor Lunae) in his folly, ultimately degenerating into an undying abomination.
And the sinner, Jingliu, afflicted by Mara-Struck, murdered her comrades, and betrayed her vows.
Now it is time for us to pay the price."
As Jingliu spoke, the three remained utterly silent, not uttering a single word.
Then Jingliu began to comment on the current state of the three... "Dan Heng, you can never escape Dan Feng (Imbibitor Lunae), for he is your beginning; the sins he committed will forever accompany your path, like a shadow, until your demise."
"Blade, it's a good name, but in an endless remaining life, you can only wander between killing and being killed, searching for your burial ground.
Otherwise, you will be unable to dispel Yingxing's regret."
"Finally, there is me. I will face the Alliance's judgment and bear eternal punishment. And after this, an even more grievous price awaits me.
Only then will the pain that must be remembered not fade away.
High-Cloud Quintet, it is time for us to bid each other farewell."
The speech concluded.
From beginning to end, from start to finish.
There was only Jingliu's voice.
Even Jiang Lin, who was researching nearby, couldn't help but think, you three really aren't going to say a word, huh?
What's up? Did the director not give you any lines?
Subsequently, Jingliu sought out Jing Yuan for a conversation, and Jing Yuan finally spoke... After Jing Yuan finished, Blade voluntarily approached Jingliu... And so... they fought.
At this point, Jiang Lin finally stopped what he was doing, looked at the small pill in his hand, and pondered finding a guinea pig... Then, he looked up and saw Jingliu and Blade's confrontation... Blade pointed his sword at Jingliu, and a bloody aura surged from his Shard Sword.
Jingliu was no less impressive, exuding an icy chill, with a brilliant cold light in her hand... Then, the two instantly closed in on each other.
Sword light flickered, and dust billowed.
In a blink of an eye, the two had already exchanged several blows.
Twisting and turning, the distance between them widened again.
And this time, dust swirled around Blade, from which three blood-red sword qi slashes emerged.
Jingliu dodged left and right, easily avoiding them, her movements graceful and poised, yet not lacking in sharpness.
Then the two clashed again.
After a few more exchanges, Jingliu seemed to recall the time she taught Blade swordsmanship, and also remembered the former High-Cloud Quintet...
Subsequently, their swordplay became even more ferocious, no longer holding back, each strike aimed at the opponent's vital points.
After Blade's sword flicked off Jingliu's black veil... the battle changed.
Both launched a simultaneous strike, Blade roared, this strike was his full power... But the final outcome was self-evident.
Blade was pierced through by Jingliu's sword and pinned to the ground... He completely lost his ability to move, his consciousness sinking into a trance, his mind recalling past events... And Jiang Lin, seeing that they had finished fighting, was about to walk towards them... when he saw... Yanqing had returned at some unknown point.
He had been watching from the side, without saying a word.
Then, Jiang Lin and Yanqing exchanged glances and walked over together.
They were still caught in their melancholy.
Jingliu was just about to leave... However... "Wait, Lady Jingliu..."
Jiang Lin spoke, calling out to her.
"Hmm? What is it?"
Jingliu turned, looking at Jiang Lin, and Jing Yuan and Dan Heng were also drawn by the commotion... "I've created the first generation of medicine that can alleviate Mara-Struck.
The effect, I believe, should be able to effectively suppress the murderous intent and madness of those afflicted by Mara-Struck.
I hope you can try it..."
Saying this, Jiang Lin handed her the pill.
"Why me?"
Jingliu didn't take it immediately, but instead asked.
"Because among those present, you are the most suitable.
Dan Heng doesn't need it, Jing Yuan isn't at that point, and Blade... he's special, this probably won't work for him.
And you are the only genuine Mara-Struck Xianzhou native here."
Jing Yuan also looked at the pill in Jiang Lin's hand with some curiosity and hope.
After a moment of thought, Jingliu... "Fine, there's no harm in trying, I'm a dying person anyway..."
She then took it and swallowed it directly... Immediately after, under the gaze of Jing Yuan and Jiang Lin, she quickly began to change... But!
Yanqing saw this scene, his eyes wide, his mouth seemingly about to drop to the floor in shock...
Jing Yuan's face was full of disbelief, as if he had seen a ghost.
Dan Heng was also utterly astonished.
Blade, who had just gotten up, glanced over, suspected he hadn't fully woken up and was hallucinating, then lay back down.
"This is..."