Chapter 209: Clouds Leave No Trace (II)

"The condition is that before the trial she must have one day of freedom to go to the Scale Abyss Realm and meet her old friends again— and what's even more outrageous is that Jing Yuan actually agreed!"

"Before he left, the task he entrusted us with was to accompany Jing Liu in Luo Fu for his last day. You understand, right? This is not about receiving a distinguished guest, but about escorting a prisoner—"

"Qingzu suddenly halted his words, and like her, Dan Heng sensed the surrounding air grow cold."

"\"Yin Yue, you're here, \" Jing Liu said without turning, calmly: \"Since you're here, why not come forward and reminisce? \""

"\"... should I address you by your current name, Dan Heng? \""

——

Demon Slayer.

"\"What a strong sense of oppression, this woman... \""

Inside Infinite City, the First Upper Rank Heisi Mou's six demonic eyes suddenly contracted, and his fingers unconsciously tightened around the hilt, the knuckles turning a bluish‑white from the strain.

That chill seemed to emanate from the light screen, as if it would permeate his entire body and freeze him. In his memory, even Lord Muzan's thunderous wrath never gave him such cold.

He had already witnessed her sword; Heisi Mou thought he would no longer be afraid, yet even through the light screen, merely gazing at that cold, proud silhouette... his skin instinctively tightened, as if countless tiny blades were skimming his throat, ready to cleave off his head at any moment.

"... fear?"

No, not only that.

Although his heart pounded wildly and the demon's instinct howled like a frenzy, deep within his soul surged another almost twisted yearning.

"\"It feels like seeing her sword once more... \""

The last time she unsheathed her sword at Yan Qing, he only caught a glimpse of a cold flash hanging in the sword's trajectory. Yet that sword's path still lingers in his mind—only the realm of that sword is the ultimate end he is willing to become a demon for, to spend centuries reaching.

——

Jing Liu sighed, "I originally thought Yin Yue no longer existed. Yet returning to Luo Fu, I once again beheld your breathtaking scene that parts the sea and draws the tide—truly as if from another world."

Dan Heng did not wish to link himself further with the past Yin Yue, deliberately emphasizing to her that he is now a different person. Jing Liu, while understanding, could not help but ask, "If past sins are erased with a single stroke, and you now are merely a nameless wanderer... but can a person truly bid farewell to the past?"

"If I'm not mistaken, the Dragon Masters, reluctant to let the dragon vein line die out, wanted to resurrect Yin Yue, and thus employed deceptive methods in the Shedding Scale Punishment, turning you into this form."

However, despite speaking so definitively, Jing Liu had no intention of seeking justice from him. Now she is merely a sinner, and at present only wishes to meet the long‑unseen old friend, fulfilling the promise they made when their bond was deep.

She also openly admitted that the letter on the train was indeed sent by her.

…

Meanwhile, on the other side within the Scale Abyss Realm.

Luocha was being taken by Jing Yuan to this place for a joint trial; being judged amidst such magnificent scenery, Luocha was actually quite pleased.

"The Star Core descends, the Jianmu revives, the emissary of the Heavenly Ship Office was swapped, and its true form is the Destroyer's Herald."

Jing Yuan calmly detailed his recent itinerary step by step, then smiled lightly: "You slipped into the Ghost Prison amid the chaos yet did nothing. Now you claim to take responsibility for this Star Core disaster and confess your crimes."

"Strange, strange, your behavior is truly inscrutable,"

Luocha said they were entrusted to transport a token, knowing nothing of the secrets behind Luo Fu. They entered the Ghost Prison with a purpose, but now it seems Luo Fu has nothing they seek. They plead guilty and accept punishment out of fear of retribution. After all... they are merely a modest traveling merchant.

"Just a modest traveling merchant?" Jing Yuan couldn't help but laugh, shaking his head: "Mr. Luocha, you're joking. The deeds you performed at the Sorrowful Honor Castle, the various pasts left in the Veil Star Realm—shall I recount them all for you?"

"Or perhaps you need me to utter that tongue‑twisting name?"

——

Honkai 3.

Inside the Reverse Entropy headquarters, Walter pushed up his glasses, his brows furrowing deeply, the gaze behind the lenses complex and heavy.

"Tsk, I imagined Luocha had a belly full of bad water, but I didn't expect him to have done so many evil deeds already. It's a pity... cough, I initially thought he at least reformed in another world."

Tesla crossed his arms and let out a cold snort.

"Perhaps... this is the man's nature," Walter said after a moment of silence. "No matter which world he's in, he always walks a similar path."

"I suppose the tongue‑twisting name General Jing Yuan mentioned isn't hard for us to guess."

"... Otto Apocallis."

Tesla glanced at him, then looked at Jing Yuan's expression as he held the Wisdom Orb on the light screen, reminding, "You don't need to worry specially. Not to mention the world within the screen may not even have you, even if he truly intends some misdeed, now that it's in General Jing Yuan's and the Immortal Boat Alliance's hands, it certainly can't be carried out."

"Hmm, but I'm not doubting General Jing Yuan."

Walter remained concerned, "I'm just thinking, given his style, being captured is surely within his plan. Something that warrants such elaborate effort must be extraordinary. This man... is even more worthy of a thorough interrogation than Bikafuka."

——

A flash of surprise crossed Luocha's eyes: "... Oh? General Shen Ce truly lives up to his reputation."

Jing Yuan smiled faintly: "Likewise, I took the liberty of doing some homework beforehand; otherwise today's conversation would have fallen flat."

"Since the general thinks something's amiss, you intend to defend me, clearing the suspicion of the Star Core crime?"

Jing Yuan shook his head: "This matter is beyond my authority. It concerns a capital crime that could overturn the Alliance. According to the law, you must be taken to the Xuling Immortal Boat, face a joint trial by the Ten Kings Office and the Seven Days General, and receive an eternal punishment."

After hearing this, Luocha showed no hint of panic, merely looking up at the breathtaking view of the Scale Abyss Realm, then smiling as he lowered his head: "I heard she said that centuries ago, the Five Cloud Heroes once gathered here for a feast."

Luocha suddenly recounted the past of the Five Cloud Heroes, from Jing Liu's world‑shocking sword technique to the Dragon Lord's Cloud Chant magic, aviator Bai Heng's star‑raft skill to Zhu Ming the clever craftsman's and Ying Xing's forging divine art... and also General Jing Yuan's strategic planning.

As the past was mentioned within the Scale Abyss Realm, Jing Yuan involuntarily lowered his gaze, his expression heavy.

The scenes of the past were vivid in his mind, the sounds of laughter and feasting still echoing, and even Jing Yuan, who had weathered countless voyages, couldn't help but feel a moment of melancholy.