『 The days and nights of the delve passed in a blur, and before anyone knew it, the date of the Luminary Wardance was drawing near.
One day, after their sword practice had concluded.
[ Good. Let's call it a day. ]
After checking the time, Yunli announced that March 7th's sword practice for the day was over.
Hearing this, a thoroughly exhausted March 7th let out a sigh of relief and walked over to Yunli and Yanqing with a smile.
[ Miss March's dual-sword technique is already showing some promise. ]
[ Even if she were to compete with others at the Wardance, she wouldn't lag behind. ]
Considering March 7th's current swordsmanship skills, Yanqing offered his evaluation.
[ Does that mean… I have a chance of defeating my two masters on the Wardance stage? ]
Hearing Yanqing's evaluation, March 7th let it go to her head!
Hearing her words, Yanqing and Yunli couldn't help but look at each other, both shaking their heads helplessly.
[ What are you dreaming about? You've only practiced for such a short time, how could that be possible? ]
Yunli said, finding it rather amusing.
[ With Miss March's talent, if she is willing to put in another few decades of hard work, it might not be entirely impossible for her to defeat Yunli. ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "I think after practicing swordsmanship for a few weeks, March has completely let it go to her head."
Stelle: "She actually hallucinates about defeating Yanqing and Yunli with her sword skills."
March 7th: "When did I hallucinate?"
March 7th: "I was just joking around!"
Hu Tao: "Didn't Yanqing say so?"
Hu Tao: "If Miss March 7th practices for another few decades, she might actually reach the same level as Yanqing and Miss Yunli."
Paimon: "Decades… Oh my god…"
Paimon: "To persevere for so many years just to become a master swordsman!"
Paimon: "Ugh… It seems Paimon will never become a swordsman in this lifetime."
Lumine: "Paimon is really hopeless."
Lumine: "Can't you make up your mind to steel yourself for once?"
Lumine: "I don't expect you to defeat any powerful monsters, but it would be nice if you could at least beat a Hilichurl!"
Xiangling: "Uh… I seem to recall…"
Xiangling: "Paimon struggles even when fighting a wild boar, right?"
Paimon: "My… MY PROFESSION IS A GUIDE, YOU KNOW!!"
Paimon: "It's perfectly normal not to have any combat ability!"
Kinich: "That also varies from person to person."
Kinich: "Mualani is our guide in Natlan, but she is also an excellent warrior."
Stelle: "Hahaha, it sounds like Miss Paimon is really weak."
Stelle: "But don't worry."
Stelle: "Once you come to the Express, I'll find a teacher to train Paimon!"
Stelle: "After learning for about a year, she should have at least some combat ability."
Lumine: "That would be absolutely wonderful!"
Paimon: "No way! Paimon will definitely never learn martial arts!"
Amber: "I feel like Paimon is more suited to carrying some powerful weapons and conducting fire support from the air."
Amber: "Since she can float in the air anyway!"
Silver Wolf: "Got it, a funnel drone, right?"
Lumine: "That's also a very good suggestion!"
Lumine: "Alright, once there's an opportunity in the future, I'll give Paimon a thorough modification!"
Paimon: "(Scared.jpg)"
....
『 [ Bah, bah, bah! ]
Hearing Yanqing's words, Yunli spat in annoyance a few times to show her displeasure.
[ Decades… I'll be an old granny by then… No way, no way. ]
At the thought of it taking decades, March 7th shook her head repeatedly.
[ I didn't expect that in just a few short weeks, March 7th would actually look the part. ]
[ I think I finally understand the feeling of gratification and the smiles my grandfather always had when he taught me swordplay back then. ]
Looking at the current March 7th, Yunli couldn't help but sigh with emotion.
[ Let's hope it was indeed a smile of gratification. ]
Right after Yunli finished her emotional sigh, Yanqing teased.
[ Go away! ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Furina de Fontaine: "It's plain to see that over these past days, besides practicing swordsmanship, Miss March 7th has also done a great job mediating between her two masters!"
Furina de Fontaine: "There's barely any tension between them now."
Furina de Fontaine: "Unlike at the beginning, when these two were like fire and gunpowder."
March 7th: "This lady is a gold-medal mediator, after all!"
March 7th: "This is definitely a piece of cake for me!"
Stelle: "So what level is March at right now, anyway?"
Stelle: "Does she have the strength of a Sword Champion?"
Qingque: "What are you dreaming about? Of course not!"
Qingque: "As powerful as Yanqing is, he isn't the Sword Champion of the Luofu either."
Qingque: "And Miss March 7th is still far from the level of her two masters."
Hotaru: "Although she might not have the strength of an Alliance Sword Champion, Miss March 7th must surely have the strength of the Express's Sword Champion!"
Silver Wolf: "Need you even ask?"
Silver Wolf: "No one on the Express used swords originally."
Silver Wolf: "Now that she's finished her sword training, isn't she naturally the Express's Sword Champion?"
....
『 [ Hehe~ At the end of the day, it's all thanks to the excellent teaching of my two masters! ]
March 7th giggled, offering her two masters a modest piece of flattery.
[ Your dual-sword technique has shown some promise. If Miss March wants to take it a step further, she could try other Xianzhou sword types to get a feel for them. ]
Yanqing pondered for a moment, offering March 7th a suggestion to refine her skills at her current stage.
[ Hmm, let me think… Among the Xianzhou's swords… ]
[ Which one is the most powerful? Single sword, heavy sword, or flying swords? ]
Hearing Yanqing's suggestion, March 7th nodded and began to ask which sword was the strongest.
[ There is no strongest sword, only stronger swordsmen. ]
[ Your Master Yanqing likes to command multiple flying swords, but your Master Yunli uses only one. Yet, didn't she still beat him until he cried out in pain back at the Alchemy Commission? ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Yanqing: "Who cried out in pain?"
Yanqing: "Yunli, don't distort the truth and slander me!"
Yunli: "You were beaten by me so badly that you could only flee in embarrassment."
Yunli: "If that isn't crying out in pain, what is?"
Yanqing: "Me, fleeing?"
Yanqing: "Haha, you really are lying through your teeth!"
Guinaifen: "Ah, well… The relationship between the two in the video indeed seems much more harmonious."
Guinaifen: "But between these two in the chat room, there's barely any change, is there?"
Li Sushang: "Kei-chan, isn't that perfectly normal?"
Li Sushang: "In the video, it's probably been a month or two."
Li Sushang: "But in our chat room, barely any time has passed."
Stelle: "Speaking of which, I want to ask: while March was practicing her sword skills all this time, what was I doing?"
Stelle: "What about Dan Heng?"
Silver Wolf: "What else could you be doing?"
Silver Wolf: "Either fooling around all over the place or rummaging through trash cans."
Stelle: "Hiss! Silver Wolf, you know me far too well. You are practically my arch-nemesis. I cannot let you live!"
Furina de Fontaine: "Eh? I'm more curious about this: after so much time has passed, the Luminary Wardance still hasn't started??"
Furina de Fontaine: "Then didn't they arrive way too early?"
Paimon: "That's right."
Paimon: "I remember before we came, they clearly said the Wardance was about to start…"
Boothill: "You folks have probably forgotten one thing."
Boothill: "The Xianzhou people are long-life species. Their concept of time is different from us short-life species."
Boothill: "When they say 'about to start'… they might mean… in a few months or half a year."
Lumine: "Ah??"
Lumine: "That really is…"
Stelle: "Whatever, the Luofu provides free food and lodging anyway."
Stelle: "No rush."
....
『 [ First, I didn't cry out in pain at all! ]
[ Second, you are absolutely no match for me! ]
[ Third, do you want to try right now and see who beats whom until they cry out in pain? ]
Hearing Yunli's words, Yanqing's face stiffened, and he immediately began to retort.
[ Sure! If I win against you, you will gracefully withdraw from the Wardance arena, deal? ]
At this point, Yunli was not to be outdone either!
[ Ah… Why are my masters arguing again! ]
[ I clearly felt that the atmosphere between you two had become much more harmonious these past few days… ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "Hahaha!"
Stelle: "Just as we finished saying their relationship had improved quite a bit."
Stelle: "In the blink of an eye, they're showing their true colors again."
March 7th: "I really feel for myself in the video. It looks like my head is about to explode."
Qingque: "Let them argue. You'll get used to it."
Hanabi: "Just arguing is boring. Why don't you guys actually start fighting~"
....
『 [ I heard that the disciples of the Generals of the Luofu and the Zhuming were originally scheduled to compete on the Wardance stage, but for some reason, they suddenly teamed up to teach a disciple. ]
[ It turns out the rumors were true. ]
[ Tomorrow is the day of the Luminary Wardance. Instead of sharpening your own edges, why are you two still so absorbed in teaching here? ]
Just then, into the small garden where the three of them usually practiced, Jiaoqiu suddenly walked in.
[ Ah, you are… that… uh, that… right! The pink-haired fox from the Yaoqing! ]
Looking at Jiaoqiu, Yunli couldn't recall his name for a moment.
[ Pfft… pink-haired fox… ]
Hearing Yunli call Jiaoqiu a pink-haired fox, March 7th couldn't help but burst out laughing.
[ What are you laughing at? You have pink hair too! ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Qingque: "Hahaha, pink-haired fox…"
Qingque: "This nickname is absolutely hilarious."
Jiaoqiu: "What's so funny about that?"
Jiaoqiu: "Is there something wrong with my pink hair?"
Qingque: "Of course there's nothing wrong, but it's just inexplicably funny."
Paimon: "Speaking of which… Miko is also considered a pink-haired fox, right?"
Raiden Ei: "Yes, Miko is pink."
Stelle: "What? Your Teyvat also has a Foxian race?"
Feixiao: "Oh? Could it be that your Teyvat also has Borisin enslaving Foxians?"
Feixiao: "If so, there will be another world along the Xianzhou's path that needs to be liberated…"
Yae Miko: "My, my… Please don't misunderstand, everyone."
Yae Miko: "Strictly speaking, I am a true fox, not a Foxian."
Lumine: "That's right, Miko seems to be a great Youkai."
Raiden Ei: "Miko's true form is indeed a real pink little fox. In that sense, she indeed does not belong to the Foxian race."
Boothill: "Holy moly, your Teyvat is quite magical. Even animals can become great Youkai and take human form?"
Li Sushang: "Aren't these things only found in Xianzhou novels?"
Li Sushang: "I didn't expect them to actually be real?"
Feixiao: "Uh… A fox taking human form…"
Feixiao: "This actually… seems… could also be called a Foxian, right?"
Jiaoqiu: "I think so."
Jiaoqiu: "It's basically the same thing."
Kirara: "Eh? Lady Yae, did you just find someone of the same race?"
Kirara: "Is there any place in the universe that accepts cat Youkais?"
March 7th: "Cat Youkai??"
Kirara: "That's right, I am a nekomata."
March 7th: "A nekomata? Hmm… That's amazing!"
March 7th: "I knew it! Most stories in novels are adapted from real events!"
March 7th: "Cute little cats can indeed turn into humans!"
Stelle: "A nekomata… That's a catgirl, right?"
Stelle: "Please, you must come to the Astral Express!"
Stelle: "Our Express specializes in taking in catgirls!"
Kirara: "Eh?! Really… Really?"
Silver Wolf: "What is this, abducting an innocent catgirl?"
Silver Wolf: "I have to say, your Teyvat sounds quite interesting. It would be great to visit and play there if there's a chance."
....
『 [ The humble Jiaoqiu, healer under the banner of the Yaoqing General. ]
Jiaoqiu introduced himself to the three of them.
[ I get it. You are a contestant sent by the Yaoqing to participate in the Wardance, so you came here to spy on us? ]
Seeing Jiaoqiu's squinted eyes and his mischievous look, Yunli couldn't help but ask.
[ You overstate things. Jiaoqiu knows nothing about martial matters. I was merely sent by the General to handle some official paperwork and had no intention of interrupting your teaching. ]
[ My apologies, I shall take my leave now. ]
Jiaoqiu shook his head and quickly explained.
[ Since you don't understand swordsmanship, what were you laughing at just now? ]
Yunli had seen Jiaoqiu hiding aside and laughing earlier, which was why she felt he seemed to have ill intentions.
[ I merely felt a deep resonance with the question of what Miss March should learn, and couldn't help but draw closer. ]
[ From my professional experience, although the cleaver, slicing knife, chopping knife, and carving knife all belong to the category of blades, just like pan-frying, stir-frying, boiling, and deep-frying in cooking, they are merely techniques for one to employ. ]
[ How to use them must take into account the characteristics of the ingredients themselves. ]
[ Just like your swordsmanship teaching, if you follow the nature of the ingredient, I mean, the disciple and use a more suitable cooking method, I mean, imparting techniques that better suit her nature, you will achieve twice the result with half the effort! ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
March 7th: "Mr. Jiaoqiu… Are you talking about me, or are you talking about ingredients???"
Silver Wolf: "He's treating you as an ingredient."
Stelle: "Holy moly, I see being a healer is just your side job. Your main job is a chef, right?"
Stelle: "By the way, the ingredients you cook wouldn't happen to be people, right?"
Qingque: "What kind of horror movie plot is this?"
Qingque: "A benevolent healer who is secretly a psycho chef cooking live people?"
Hanabi: "Wonderful!"
Hanabi: "This is a great theme."
Hanabi: "We should consider making it into a Dreamscape bubble to sell in Penacony!"
Hanabi: "Yes, I've decided. We'll use this pink-haired fox as the protagonist~"
Jiaoqiu: "…"
Jiaoqiu: "In that case, shouldn't you pay me some portrait rights fees?"
Hanabi: "Oh, that's easy to arrange."
Hanabi: "When we make money, I'll give you a cut!"
Jiaoqiu: "Alright then, since I can earn some extra pocket money, I have no reason to refuse, do I?"
....
『 [ Just like how purple eggplant needs to be deep-fried, red pepper needs to be stir-fried, and beef needs to be braised. ]
[ Discovering the nature of the ingredient—I mean, the disciple—is our job. ]
Jiaoqiu's examples were very detailed, down to the specific cooking methods of certain ingredients.
[ Hearing you name all these dishes is making me hungry. ]
Jiaoqiu's description was so vivid that March 7th was almost drooling.
[ Aren't you a healer? Why are you talking about cooking? ]
Not only was March 7th drooling, but Yunli also couldn't help but swallow her saliva, feeling a bit hungry.
[ It's a metaphor. I added a bit of metaphor. ]
[ The medical school I studied under is called the Alchemy Commission's culinary therapy, a medical art unique to the Yaoqing Xianzhou, which prefers to cure patients through dietary therapy. ]
[ So when it comes to cooking, I know a thing or two. ]
Jiaoqiu explained briefly.
[ So… you are the General's chef? ]
Yunli understood. She felt Jiaoqiu was just a chef by the General's side.
[ Cough, I am a healer! A chef who doesn't want to be a healer isn't a good military advisor to the General. ]
[ Forget it, just treat me as a chef then. ] 』
『 ....』