Chapter 715

Original God.

"Is this something Jingyuan could do? This, this I don't believe……"

Inside the café in Sumeru City, upon learning that Jingyuan also did this kind of 'exiling good people' thing, Kawei was the first to express disbelief.

"Oh?" Alhaitham didn't even move his gaze from the book, his voice flat as if discussing Sumeru's weather, "It seems our great architect's trust in General Jingyuan has come to this point? If you had half the trust in the construction staff that you have in General Jingyuan, you probably wouldn't need to constantly worry about running to the construction site every day."

Kawei's face flushed instantly: 'This… this isn't the same, is it?! My construction can't have any flaw! Moreover, I just think, could it be that Miss Lingsha has some misunderstanding…… Tighnari, you know this, different people have different perspectives on the same matter!'

Tighnari nodded: 'Hmm, I support Kawei on this point. Although I also don't really believe the General would wrong any good person, but sitting in that position, he probably also faces having to make a "wrong but necessary" decision, right?'

Kawei's voice unconsciously rose a few degrees: 'So, Tighnari, do you think exiling a good person is "necessary"? What twisted logic is this?'

"Hey… wait a moment." Cyno quietly spoke up to interrupt, "Why aren't you willing to believe that Jingyuan misunderstood a good person? Based on my experience as a Grand Disciplinary Officer, few people in a position forever make correct judgments. Moreover, it's someone who has sat in the General's position for hundreds of years."

Tighnari pondered: 'Indeed, Jingyuan himself said before, the General's chair…… is like sitting on a mountain of blades; sitting too long on a blade mountain inevitably——'

"——will become "iron legs clanking"."

Cyno's reply left the scene instantly silent, only Alhaitham's faint page-turning sound remained.

"Um……"

Tighnari and Kawei showed an indescribably constipated expression.

Even Alhaitham let out a soft sigh when turning the next page.

"How about it, not funny?" Cyno's tone carried a faint anticipation, he subconsciously glanced toward Tighnari beside him, "This is a joke I've been preparing for a long time."

"……You wouldn't have steered the topic this way just for this joke, would you?" Tighnari held his forehead, "Moreover…… it's actually quite funny."

——

""What, what?!" Yinqing's pupils trembled.'

""You heard correctly. The situation in Dan Ding Si has deteriorated to this point; besides the Medicine King rebels, the Divine Strategy General also bears responsibility for this.""

Upon hearing this, Yinqing's face instantly turned somewhat pale.

""Oh dear, Lord Yinqing, why has your complexion changed?" Lingsha smiled slightly and continued to console: "Don't worry, I understand the principle that "one in position has no control over oneself," and I will bear no grudge against the General. After all, for us adults of this age, so-called personal grudges have become quite a luxury."

Suddenly, a familiar voice came from beside.

""Lingsha, big sister, you're back! I've been waiting a long time!"

Upon seeing him, Yinqing's face instantly turned from white to green, making the train crew beside him keenly sense that something grave was amiss.

Yunli also saw Yinqing, and her formerly vibrant complexion instantly darkened.

""Yunli, why aren't you staying by your grandfather's side, but instead come to Dan Ding Si to loiter? Perfect, taking this opportunity, I'll introduce you, this Lord Yinqing is……"

""Before Lingsha could finish her sentence, Yunli interrupted with a sigh: "What a case of ill-fated enemies……"

""You! This time you should return the sword you stole, right?" Yinqing shouted angrily.'

Lingsha couldn't help but chuckle, understanding implicitly: "I understand, then let's skip the introduction step."

——

Blessings for a beautiful world.

"Oh oh! This is the posture of a fight about to start!"

"Great! This is the battle I wanted to see!"

"Young Lord Yinqing, I have high hopes for you! Let this little girl learn Luo Fu's swordsmanship!"

Inside the tavern, a sound like mountains shouting and seas roaring suddenly burst forth, many adventurers raising their cups, anticipating the battle between these two heaven‑chosen prodigies.

"Hey, Hezhen, between these two, who do you think will win?"

"It's not certain they'll even fight." Hezhen held the freshly filled mug of ale, "Although there's no General here, there is a steward whose emotional intelligence is comparable to the General's, and he will surely mediate between the two."

"But if they really fight…… Yunli should be a bit stronger, right?"

"Huh? How could that be? Obviously Yan Qing is stronger!" Huihui's red eyes glared over, "At least he also has the glorious record of blocking a strike from Jingliu head-on!"

"No, no, no, you just don't get it. Yunli's greatsword is heavy and powerful; anyone who can wield that kind of weapon is definitely a strength-type fighter. Against such a person, Yan Qing, who can simultaneously control seven or eight flying swords with her agile skill, can outshine her countless times, but cannot afford a single slip; any oversight could end the match."

"I think you just want to support the pretty girl, right?"

"You…!" Hezhen was momentarily left speechless, angrily jabbing a finger at Huihui's head, "... Even if you're telling the truth, you can't say that out loud! It's outright ruining my reputation!"

Akuiya: "Really? You still have a reputation like that? When you first used the 'Thievery Technique' to steal a girl's underwear, that kind of thing was already fed to the dogs!"

—

"How do I keep running into you everywhere? Are you following me?"

"Hmph, Yan Qing naturally has business to attend to, unlike Miss Yunli, who's so idle, having time to stroll the streets but no time to return her sword." Yan Qing also learned to speak with a mix of praise and criticism.

Yunli still spoke in that light tone: "Grandfather said, 'Objects reflect their owner.' I've had a heart-to-heart with your sword. It told me, you're burdened with worries and countless idle sorrows—when you should draw your sword, you hesitate; when you shouldn't, you can't even hold it steady... Now looking at you again, I feel the sword speaks truly. Don't blame me for taking your flying sword; it's because your mind isn't on the sword."

These words made Yan Qing even more furious, he snapped: "Do you think I'll believe your made-up nonsense? I respect you as a guest from Zhu Ming, so I've repeatedly tolerated you, but you show no gratitude. Doesn't the Zhu Ming celestial vessel have the common sense that you must return what you take from others?"

"Take a look at this flying sword—even if I return it to you now, it'll be taken away before long." Yunli stood with arms crossed, let out a light sigh, "Have you heard the cloud knight's doctrine that one must never let their weapon leave hand? For now I can naturally return it to you, but on the battlefield it's different. Ah, how pitiful this sword is."