Zhao Mu's voice cut off. He kept his head half-turned, staring silently at Bu Yanhuan, who lay spread-eagled on the floor.
Outside, summer cicadas still chirped noisily, their racket grating on the ears.
"Where are you going?"
Zhao Mu asked.
Bu Yanhuan rolled over, sat up, scratched her messy hair and grinned. "Back to the army, of course! I've been away from the front lines for ten whole years because of you, you little brat!"
"Now I've fulfilled the promise I made to your parents—raised you to adulthood. So I can finally leave with peace of mind!"
Zhao Mu simply stared at her, so silent that for a long while he didn't speak.
On that night of despair, an arrow had pierced his chest and he'd been buried under rubble. It was Bu Yanhuan who'd braved the downpour, dug through the debris and dragged him out.
From that day to this, a full decade, the two had leaned on each other for survival.
He and Bu Yanhuan had long since become family.
So when she suddenly said she was leaving, Zhao Mu didn't know what to say; he could only stay quiet.
Bu Yanhuan suddenly ruffled Zhao Mu's hair hard.
"Don't look like that, you brat! Hey, don't tell me you'll miss me? Sure, your aunt's naturally gorgeous—fair, tall, long legs—but I'm your parents' sworn brother! That kind of crush is a no-no!"
"Nonsense! I'm just worried that after ten years away you'll slow the others down if you go back to the front!"
Zhao Mu retorted.
Bu Yanhuan watched him with a smile; defiance glinted in Zhao Mu's eyes.
"Xiao Mu."
"Mm."
"You've grown up. You're outstanding—more than I ever imagined."
"So from here on, you walk your own road!"
Bu Yanhuan stroked his head, beaming. "And I, sooner or later, have to return where I belong."
Zhao Mu drew a deep breath. "Can't you stay? You've already given so much to protect the people of this nation."
Bu Yanhuan shook her head gently.
"This country and its people need me! If those with power don't stand before the nation to hold back the darkness, how can countless ordinary folk live in peace?"
"Someone must do what must be done. Heaven granted us Spiritual Energy Talent; with it comes the duty to protect everything."
Zhao Mu had no reply. He wasn't naïve; he knew she was right.
So even when his parents had fallen in battle and couldn't raise him, he'd never blamed them—only felt proud.
"Cheer up, brat! Auntie's got something cool to show you!"
Bu Yanhuan's foot nudged the back of Zhao Mu's head.
When he turned, she pulled a cube-shaped box from her pocket, something like a Rubik's cube.
Bu Yanhuan straightened; the smell of alcohol vanished from her.
She flipped the box open. A blinding golden light burst out, flooding every corner of the small room and startling the neighbors.
Zhao Mu sensed a mighty, unfamiliar aura and unconsciously parted his lips.
Bu Yanhuan slipped her right hand into the box; when she withdrew it, a pair of interlocking golden cuffs circled her wrist.
Like twin golden dragons, head biting tail, fused into one.
Zhao Mu's jaw dropped; the aura was unmistakable—ember remains!
And far, far superior to the silver sword he'd snatched—by who knew how many tiers.
Bu Yanhuan gave her wrist a slight twist. A torrent of golden light erupted from the cuffs; two golden dragons roared and spiraled upward, circled the room twice, then shot straight into Bu Yanhuan.
The golden radiance dimmed. Zhao Mu's eyes bulged, utterly stunned by what he saw.
He saw Bu Yanhun—truly saw her—for the first time in all her martial glory.
Golden armor clad her body, its plates etched with fierce dragons, crafted so finely it seemed a masterpiece.
In her right hand she gripped a two-meter lance with an enormous head—a golden cavalry spear.
She stood before Zhao Mu like an unbreakable bastion, guarding the hundreds of millions of Humans in the Xuanfeng Empire.
Zhao Mu said nothing; the Valkyrie before him brought tears of awe to his eyes.
"Watch closely, kid! Your Aunt Bu is seriously strong!"
She laughed, then suddenly shot skyward; a streak of gold flashed in Zhao Mu's eyes, the faint roar of dragons echoing in his ears.
Bu Yanhuan was already airborne.
"Train hard, brat! When you reach the battlefield, don't disappoint me!"
Bu Yanhuan laughed heartily.
Zhao Mu looked up. Golden light bathed her; every resident of the small Garden Complex ran outside, gaping at the sky.
"Where will I find you?"
Zhao Mu shouted, hands cupped around his mouth.
"Once you join the Xuanjia Imperial Guard, you'll naturally know where I am!"
Bu Yanhuan gave him one last encouraging wink, then shot like a golden dragon toward the distant horizon, soon becoming a shooting star in the sky.
That dazzling, mighty figure was forever burned into Zhao Mu's mind, impossible to erase.
After a long moment Zhao Mu drew a deep breath.
"Xuanjia Imperial Guard? Hah, how hard could it be? Just wait for me!"
Zhao Mu turned back under the corridor, sat cross-legged in the most comfortable pose, closed his eyes and began to meditate.
"demon clown, activate."
"[Spiritual Energy Rotation]—proficiency 118."
...Early next morning Zhao Mu tidied the house.
Daily necessities would be issued by Qingfeng Camp; he only needed personal clothes.
Most of the time in camp everyone wore standard training gear.
Zhao Mu fetched the backpack Bu Yanhuan had bought him—its straps already faded and hand-stitched in places.
When he was done he locked doors and windows, shut off water and power, and prepared to leave.
Just then a long black sports car pulled up smoothly at his gate.
Zhao Mu blinked in surprise. The window slid down; chubby Meng Qiuqiu waved eagerly while Zhuo Yun nodded in greeting.
"Morning, classmate Zhao Mu."
"Morning!"
Zhao Mu walked over, climbed in without ceremony, then told Meng Qiuqiu, "Coming all this way to pick me up—how thoughtful."
Meng Qiuqiu grinned. "I was passing by anyway! Qingfeng Camp's base is too remote; there's no direct transport. Figured I'd make things easier."
"After all, we'll be living together from now on!"
He winked at Zhao Mu, a hint of deeper meaning in his eyes.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)