Herta Space Station.
It was a museum-style starship, orbiting the planet Azure Star.
The silver space station was like a colossal iron statue, a lonely sentinel in the cold expanse of outer space.
As the light of the star refracted off its surface, the entire station was bathed in a layer of brilliance.
However, the station's observation deck was constructed from steel and glass, its colors dim and somber, as if the space were perpetually under a cloud.
People came and went along the platforms and corridors—researchers in white lab coats, partners discussing business, and special visiting tourists.
As they passed by, their attention was inevitably drawn to the sight there.
A peerless swordswoman with moon-white hair stood with her head lowered, an inexplicable emotion on her cold and beautiful face.
In front of her was a massive pane of glass, reflecting the backdrop of deep space. A giant, azure planet hung there like a mirage, faint and hazy.
In a world where everything was gray, only this fairy-like woman was as beautiful as the moonlight.
Though she stood in a crowd, she possessed an ethereal purity, as if she had left the mortal world behind.
This clear, pristine beauty made people stop in their tracks to admire her.
Yet no one dared to approach.
She wore a black blindfold embroidered with a crescent moon, yet she gazed out into the deep cosmos. The icy aura emanating from her entire body seemed to form a "domain," freezing anyone who dared to get close.
It wasn't just her temperament that was cold; her mood at this moment seemed to have plunged to a freezing point.
Jingliu pressed the palm of one hand against the glass, a dark emotion welling up inside her that was difficult to suppress.
Jingliu was a "matriarch" thousands of years old, one of the renowned "High-Cloud Quintet" of the Xianzhou, the Sword Champion of the Luofu, and the architect of the Cloud Knights' undefeated fame.
But today, in a school's men's restroom, she had been made to relieve herself like a helpless child…
That shame nearly shattered her enlightened sword heart.
A shadow that lingered and refused to dissipate in her chest was screaming!
It was so impassioned, so tempestuous.
Jingliu's emotions were like being thrown into a kaleidoscope, at times stretched long, at times shrunken, at times spinning endlessly.
Tumbling…
Twisting…
Jingliu took a deep breath, and then exhaled.
After repeating this cycle several times, she finally managed to calm down somewhat.
After this ordeal, Jingliu suddenly felt that the Mara was a light burden. There was nothing left to fear.
At the very least, it was only her and Ye Feng at the time, with no onlookers or acquaintances to witness it.
"Hmm? I know you. The Xianzhou Sword Champion who disappeared for several hundred years. Your name was Jing… something, wasn't it?"
A young girl in a dress walked over. Although her spherical joints were clearly visible, she moved with agility, no different from a human girl.
She was the true master of this space station, Herta—or rather, her puppet.
Jingliu slowly turned around. The Herta puppet was tilting its head up, its amethyst eyes looking up at her.
"Ngh… you're standing too close. I don't like the feeling of looking up at others."
With that, the Herta puppet took two steps back.
"This feels much better."
The researchers passing by on the station looked over in surprise.
It was rare for Master Herta's puppet to initiate a conversation with someone.
For some of the newer staff, it was even unthinkable.
According to the "space station rumors" they'd heard, Herta's puppets always moved in enigmatic patterns and would never pay attention to anyone.
There had also been some clueless fools who had offended one of Master Herta's puppets. The result was always, "Such a big diamond—for you!"
They were hit with a "two-dimensional foil" strike from a super-massive diamond.
Therefore, in the eyes of the space station members, Master Herta's puppets represented not only mystery and cuteness, but also indifference and danger.
Enigmatic and solitary—that was the behavioral logic of a Herta puppet.
"My name is Jingliu. I am but a discarded soldier of the Xianzhou, a wandering swordswoman. If you wish to avoid trouble, you may pretend we have never met."
The swordswoman said coldly.
The Herta puppet—or rather, the puppet carrying Herta's own consciousness—couldn't help but smile.
"There aren't many who dare to speak to me like that after hearing of Herta's fame. Interesting. But unfortunately, I'm about to head off to an even more interesting place."
The azure star shone behind Jingliu, the peerless swordswoman standing elegant and aloof.
"You came to warn me, to let me know that you know I'm here."
"After all, a 'bomb' was found in the room. Isn't it normal for the room's owner to come and 'pacify' it before leaving?"
"Then why not just dismantle it directly?"
"Didn't I just say? You're quite interesting. Right, this is for you."
The Herta puppet handed her a card.
"This is the permission certification for the Herta Space Station. Since you're also interested, you can visit anywhere you like, except for my private spaces. What? Confused? Lady Herta has always been generous to things that pique her interest."
"Oh? Then what's the price?"
Jingliu accepted the permission card without any hesitation.
"You'll participate in experiments with me in the future. Of course, I'll be the one studying you."
Herta stared at Jingliu's lower abdomen, as if trying to see through her clothes to the scarlet and demonic pattern Ye Feng had inscribed there.
"There seems to be a strange power circulating within your body. It's quite interesting."
Jingliu was slightly surprised.
Her emotions had been in extreme turmoil earlier, so she hadn't suppressed the power of the [Contract], letting it flow and surge freely.
But even so, for Herta to be able to sense it was proof enough that her title as a genius was well-deserved.
After all, Jingliu had previously wandered through various Xianzhou departments, and no one had sensed the slightest anomaly.
Yes, the power of the [Contract]. Jingliu had possessed it for a long time.
Anyone who had been violated by Ye Feng was, to some extent, branded by him. This was the power of the [Contract].
It was just that the "degree" of enhancement was different.
For Jingliu, the enhancement was extremely subtle, so she had never taken this so-called contract power seriously.
But yesterday, while forcing her to relieve herself, Ye Feng had told her that although the conditions were harsh, the power of the [Contract] might, possibly, perhaps be able to be enhanced to the point of striking down a "star."
And then Jingliu had… ngh— [The following text has been censored]
---o---
On the observation deck, starlight scattered down, bathing Jingliu in its glow. Her figure was ramrod straight and slender, like an unsheathed cold sword, elegant and poised. She looked at the Herta puppet and parted her cherry lips. "A word of advice. I suggest you don't get interested in this power."
"Thanks for the advice, but I'm not going to listen. However, if you refuse to cooperate, I won't force you. Of course, you can still wander the station as you please. That's all for now. I have to set off. Goodbye."
The Herta puppet suddenly went limp, the spirit in its eyes visibly vanishing.
Then, the puppet began to spin in circles as it departed.
Jingliu looked at the permission card in her hand, a contemplative look in her eyes.