Chapter 722

Fate / fate/

「Eh—」Yuǎn bǎn Lín rested her chin, watching the girl about to set foot on the path of swordsmanship, she couldn't help sighing repeatedly: 「Well… really, why do archers have to know close combat? Can't they just focus on archery? Could there be some obscure rule or urban legend about this? 」

Archer also let out a soft hum upon hearing that, his tone flat and full of the ease of someone who's been there: 「Mastering a bit of close-combat technique is perfectly normal for Archer, after all, not every battlefield lets you stay safely in the back to shoot arrows. 」

「Indeed. 」Saber gave a slight nod: 「From this perspective, San Yue Qi Xiaojie indeed needs to learn some basic swordsmanship for self-defense, after all, Xing and Danheng aren't always able to stand by her side to protect her; when facing a horde of enemies, the sword is clearly more useful. 」

「But, won't the time be a bit too short? Only fifteen days... 」

「From my personal experience, fifteen days is indeed too short to learn a complete set of complex swordsmanship; we can only do more basic training. 」

「As Shirou's former swordsmanship instructor, Saber held her teacup and said leisurely: '…Even if it's just the basics, as long as San Yue Xiaojie trains seriously, the results will be quite good. In these fifteen days, the most important thing is to cultivate the swordsman's familiarity with the sword itself—for example, understanding how far one's sword can reach, how to properly exert force and swing, how to find one's own rhythm in offense and defense… Once these are mastered, Shirou might not even be her opponent.'」

「Hey… Saber, why are you dragging me into this too? 」Shilang let out a complaining hum.

Saber blew on the steaming heat of her teacup, then lightly laughed: 「Shilang, aren't you also interested in swordsmanship? Right now there's a good opportunity to improve yourself. 」

Yan Qing

「Yunli crossed her arms and immediately launched into sarcasm: 「So you're admitting defeat? Good, since you lack the confidence to teach, why don't I take over guarding the Luofu arena for you? 」」

「Jingyuan encouraged: 「Yan Qing, the process of teaching disciples and passing on skills is also a way to review what you've learned and deepen your understanding of the craft. You've been a disciple for many years; it's time to change your perspective. 」」

「「I understand, I'll do as the general said—I agree! 」」

General Huaiyan

「At the end of the day, this matter needs to be decided by San Yue; of course, Xing still suggests she take this opportunity to switch careers and become the train's first swordsman, so she won't have to worry about San Yue shooting her in the butt every time. 」

「「Hey, I've always been accurate with my shots! 」」

「San Yue nodded at General Huaiyan: 「Alright, that's settled! Thank you, General Huaiyan, for your kindness. 」」

「The old man's eyes crinkled shut with delight: 「Great! Starting tomorrow, Yan Qing and Yunli will teach you the basics of cloud-riding swordsmanship every day. After that, I and Yunli will go ahead to prepare some sword-training gear for San Yue Xiaojie, as a token of the initiation ceremony~」」

「「Hahaha, you're too kind… wait, who's preparing the initiation gift for whom? 」」

Immortal Vessel Jianmu Calamity

White-haired Master

Rakshasa

「Eh? You guys say, if we count it like this, Jingliu's seniority goes up again? 」Shan Da counted on his fingers: 「Her disciple's disciple has started taking on disciples, and it's even the great hero from the Astral Express Arbor Disaster whom she's taken as a disciple—tsk tsk… If I were Jingliu, even in the Prison of Depths I'd feel my face glowing. 」

「I think we'd better not drag out that white-haired master; right now she's probably already met the Rakshasa and is having an audience with the marshal together. 」Xia Dou lay on the table, also feeling somewhat moved: 「What a beautiful master… The people of the Astral Express have a different sense of time from ours; who knows when we'll see her again next time? 」

Immortal Vessel people

「Wasn't the idea to go get supplies for San Yue Qi? Why aren't you leaving and still hanging around here? 」

「Wasn't General Huaiyan supposed to come discuss with Jingyuan and the others the marshal's orders—serious business like that? How did he suddenly veer onto the topic of taking on disciples, and even use that as an excuse to slip away? 」

Luofu

Divine Strategy Manor

「It seems the importance of Yan Qing and the others recruiting disciples and preparing for war rivals that of several generals discussing the Arbor Disaster. Or perhaps General Huaiyan merely appears indifferent to outsiders, but in fact he still has some matters he wants to discuss privately with Jingyuan, waiting for a better opportunity. 」

Martial Demonstration Ceremony

Fighting platform

Luofu Alliance Report

「「Uh, is the discussion going off-topic? How did things turn out like this? 」San Yue Qi also realized. 」

「「Yeah, I brought you all to the Divine Strategy Manor because the general had important matters to discuss… how… how did it happen that in the blink of an eye, I and Yunli became San Yue Xiaojie's swordsmanship teachers? 」」

Dan Heng gave his view: "Because… Mr. Huai Yan wants us to stay on the Luofu Celestial Boat for a longer period."

"But we originally came just to attend the ceremony?"

"In his eyes, we're no different from those tourists who could leave at any moment," Dan Heng continued. "Since the report Luofu submitted to the Alliance included the train's movement log, he must want to see it with his own eyes, to check whether we truly have the capability mentioned in the report, rather than a fabricated excuse."

"The Martial Performance Ritual is his touchstone. To that end, he even dragged Yun Li into the water. What began as a competitive wager between two youngsters has now become you two jointly training San Yueqi."

After hearing Dan Heng's analysis, Jing Yuan couldn't help but sigh, "Yan Lao… still the same Yan Lao who gives everyone a headache."

"I must apologize here. I invited you all to return and attend the ceremony because I intended to present human testimony to the two generals, but I failed to be forthright—that's my fault, Jing Yuan. Apart from Yan Lao, in the coming weeks I will also invite you to meet General Feixiao, to answer her questions and clear her doubts, so I hope you'll be prepared then."

"So are we packing up and leaving overnight?" Xing whispered quietly into San Yue's ear.

"Did we do something wrong? We truly saved Luofu; why must we leave like fugitives?"

"Xing, no need to worry. Regardless, I'll stay as the train's human testimony and answer any inquiries," the reliable teacher Dan Heng said at that moment.

"General! Yan Qing can't do much to share the burden for you, but Yan Qing…"

"Hm?"

"Yan Qing…" the boy lifted his head resolutely, "Yan Qing will surely defend Luofu's Martial Performance Ritual arena!"

Jing Yuan smiled gently, "I know."