Chapter 105: The High-Cloud Quintet — Jing Yuan VI
But Jingliu's attacks were relentless, executing heavy strikes one after another as if her life didn't matter, while Jing Yuan was forced into a purely defensive stance. In the midst of defending himself, he gradually drifted into his memories.
On the screen, the figures of Jingliu and a young Jing Yuan appeared. The young Jing Yuan held a longsword, swinging and slashing it repeatedly.
Standing to the side, Jingliu watched her disciple with a solemn expression and said, "Hold it tight! As a Cloud Knight, you must never let your weapon slip from your grasp, nor let your posture falter!"
"Yes, Master!" Hearing his master's words, the young Jing Yuan raised his longsword high once again, slashing down repeatedly with all his might.
The scene shifted back to the battle between Jing Yuan and Jingliu. With a single strike of her sword, Jingliu forced Jing Yuan back several steps.
Yet, Jing Yuan refused to give up. Raising his long blade, he slashed continuously, attacking his master. But to Jingliu, everything Jing Yuan knew had been taught by her; she was intimately familiar with his every combat style.
In one incredibly perilous instant, Jingliu thrust her sword straight at Jing Yuan. Had he not tilted his head to dodge, he would have been killed on the spot. In the reflection of the longsword, Jing Yuan caught a glimpse of his own panicked eyes.
Suddenly, a great fire surged upward. A terrifying monster holding a long blade appeared, its eyes glowing with a sinister red light.
As the camera gradually zoomed out, Jing Yuan's terror-stricken face came into view. Clutching his long blade, he retreated step by step.
Behind Jing Yuan, Jingliu silently drew her longsword from her waist and said in a cold, detached voice, "Succumbing to Mara is precisely like this."
The terrifying monster then raised its weapon and slashed directly at Jing Yuan. At that exact moment, several flashes of blue light zipped through the air. Under Jing Yuan's horrified gaze, the monster instantly collapsed to the ground.
...
[ Honkai Impact 3rd - Kevin: Is this what being 'Mara-struck' is? ]
[ Honkai Impact 3rd - MEI: Yes. This kind of physical transformation is quite similar to MANTISes, but MANTISes are able to retain their self-awareness. ]
[ Genshin Impact - Albedo: Is this the drawback brought about by eternal life? ]
Looking at the person who had turned into a monster in the live broadcast room, Albedo couldn't help but daze for a moment.
But he quickly snapped out of it, letting out a self-deprecating laugh, and murmured to himself, "I am a homunculus. Reasonably speaking, I should possess a lifespan far longer than theirs. Even when they all pass away, I will still remain in this form, only able to watch them grow old and die before my eyes."
Unbeknownst to Albedo, a single crystal-clear teardrop fell from his chin, dripping onto the ground.
...
On the screen, Jingliu stood with her back to Jing Yuan, her voice cold and indifferent as she said, "Being stricken by Mara is the destiny of all long-life species. If one day I succumb to Mara, you must show no mercy either!"
"Yes… Master…" Looking at Jingliu before him, Jing Yuan closed his eyes involuntarily and gave his promise.
Then the scene shifted. Jingliu was seen kneeling on the ground in agony, panting heavily.
At that moment, an eerie, terrifying voice echoed in the scene, saying, "Those who fall into Mara find their six senses overturned and all human relations lost. Go back, Jing Yuan! Jingliu is no more."
Just as Jing Yuan snapped back to his senses, Jingliu appeared before him with red-glowing eyes. She raised her sword and slashed down violently, sending Jing Yuan flying.
But Jing Yuan was no pushover. After rolling several times on the ground, he quickly stabilized his posture, sliding for over ten meters before firmly planting his feet. Behind him, the ruined building was sliced clean in half.
At this point, the camera focused on Jing Yuan, who kept his head lowered, his expression unreadable.
Meanwhile, Jingliu kept her head down, taking step after step toward Jing Yuan.
Watching the woman walking toward him step by step, Jing Yuan seemed to make a firm resolve. He slowly stood up as golden flames erupted all over his body. Gripping his weapon with both hands, his eyes turned razor-sharp as he looked at Jingliu and said, "Farewell, Master."
As the camera zoomed out, a colossal Lightning-Lord materialized behind Jing Yuan.
"Allow your disciple to repay your guidance with this final strike!" Jing Yuan swung his great blade forward, and the Lightning-Lord behind him followed suit, slashing down at Jingliu.
The scene then transitioned, showing two brilliant stars shining exceptionally bright in the sky.
"Ahhhhhhhh!" With a roar from Jing Yuan, the Lightning-Lord carried an incredibly terrifying momentum as it slashed directly at Jingliu.
Facing the descending strike of the Lightning-Lord, Jingliu seemed to recall something. A faint smile graced the corner of her lips before she gradually turned into a handful of ashes, vanishing into thin air.
...
[ Genshin Impact - Yaoyao: In the end, it still came to this! Master and disciple drawing blades against each other, never to recognize one another again! ]
[ Honkai Impact 3rd - Herrscher of Dominanation: Tsk, doesn't our world also have someone who left her own teacher's life and death unknown? ]
[ Honkai Impact 3rd - Kiana: Herrscher, you… ]
[ Honkai Impact 3rd - Murata Himeko: You are dancing on the edge of death! ]
At this moment, everyone in St. Freya Academy frowned, looking at the name "Herrscher of Dominantion" with murderous intent.
[ Honkai: Star Rail - Fu Xuan: Master! ]
This scene likewise reminded Fu Xuan of her own master.
...
The scene shifted once more. Before the grown-up Jing Yuan stood a small, young figure.
This small figure kept raising the longsword in his hand, slashing forward while counting silently, "Nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-six, nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-seven, nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-eight, nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine, ten thousand!"
This figure was none other than Jing Yuan's current disciple—Yanqing.
Watching the figure finish his ten thousandth slash, Jing Yuan slowly spoke, "As a Cloud Knight, you must never let your weapon slip from your grasp, nor let your posture falter!"
"Yes!" Hearing Jing Yuan's words, Yanqing immediately responded.
"But you are still too young, and can't really be considered a Cloud Knight yet!" Jing Yuan spoke again, a warm smile on his face.
Hearing Jing Yuan's words, Yanqing immediately turned his head and said through gritted teeth, "I also want to be like the General, and become a legend whose name is remembered by the Xianzhou in the future!"
Hearing Yanqing's words, Jing Yuan smiled and said, "What's so good about that? The road to get here hasn't been easy."
Hearing Jing Yuan's words, Yanqing instantly grew defiant. Holding his sword in one hand and clenching his other hand into a fist, he looked at Jing Yuan and said, "But didn't the General also walk this path step by step to get to where you are now?"
Hearing Yanqing's words, Jing Yuan did not speak. He merely looked at the young boy before him with a smile, as if seeing his own childhood self. Then, with a warm grin, he said, "Since you have such fighting spirit, how about we spar a bit?"
"Sure! I won't hold back!" Hearing Jing Yuan's words, Yanqing instantly became excited. His eyes shining, he looked at his master and pointed his longsword at Jing Yuan.
"The Xianzhou Alliance, generation after generation, has always been thus. When one's master succumbs to Mara, one must still never let the weapon in their hand slip away."
"The video ends here!"
...