Fu Xuan's head snapped around as she glared at Qingque.
"You know her?"
Qingque, feeling a bit guilty under her gaze, stammered, "I... I don't know..."
Fu Xuan sighed.
Given Qingque's reaction, it was normal for her not to know.
This person's records had been erased by the Xianzhou—a [traitor] whose name had been wiped away.
Fu Xuan herself hadn't lived through that era.
However, due to the nature of her position, she often dealt with classified secrets while performing divinations and analyzing the past to foresee the future.
That was how she came to know of Mirror Flow's existence and the identity her name represented.
She continued watching.
Mirror Flow's expression suddenly changed.
The dangerous smile vanished, and the eerie aura dissipated completely.
Her eyes became as clear and bright as red agate stones.
"Uphold this oath, we, the Cloud Knights, are like clouds shielding the sky, protecting Xianzhou."
"Draw your swords!"
In front of a group of Cloud Knights, the young Mirror Flow exuded sharpness and was truly a heroine among women!
The boy she ordered to draw his sword immediately complied.
"Yes, Master!"
Seeing the boy's appearance, Qingque couldn't help but laugh. "Ha, this guy looks a lot like General Jing Yuan. Could he be the old man's illegitimate son?"
The next second, she met Fu Xuan's gaze, which looked at her as if she were an idiot.
Only then did Qingque realize she had misspoken and tentatively asked, "Is this... General Jing Yuan as a child?"
"And the woman beside him, is that Mirror Flow? Was she General Jing Yuan's master?"
"At least you're using your brain now," Fu Xuan replied.
The scene shifted to an intense battle.
Mirror Flow's attacks were swift and deadly, leaving Jing Yuan barely able to defend himself.
Suddenly, the scene returned to the past.
Young Jing Yuan was tirelessly swinging his sword.
He was already drenched in sweat, his mouth wide open as he gasped for breath.
But his master remained stern and demanding.
"Hold it firmly!"
"As a Cloud Knight, you must never let go of your weapon or lose your composure."
"Yes, Master!"
"Buzz—!"
The scene changed again.
Amidst the flames stood a soldier who had fallen into the Demonic Yin state.
"Master..."
"He doesn't recognize us anymore..."
Young Jing Yuan seemed to be facing this situation for the first time.
Faced with a comrade, he hesitated to strike.
Behind him, Mirror Flow expressionlessly drew her weapon.
"This is what happens when one falls into the Demonic Yin state."
A flash of cold light.
The soldier was slain.
"The Demonic Yin state is the fate of the long-lived."
"If one day I fall into the Demonic Yin state, you must not show mercy."
"Yes... Master..."
These words seemed to foreshadow what was to come.
The next scene showed Mirror Flow kneeling on the cold ground, her body trembling as she let out painful whimpers.
It was a stark contrast to the decisive and sharp swordswoman from before!
And Jing Yuan.
He stood outside the cage, powerless as he watched this scene unfold.
"Those who fall into the Demonic Yin state lose their senses and abandon all human bonds."
"Go back, Jing Yuan."
"Mirror Flow is gone."
"Bang—!"
The memories of the past were suddenly interrupted by countless icy blades.
Jing Yuan was struck and sent flying, landing dozens of feet away.
The demonic Mirror Flow continued to approach him expressionlessly.
In Jing Yuan's golden pupils, a glimmer of something crystalline flickered.
Both Fu Xuan and Qingque were stunned!
From what they remembered, General Jing Yuan had always been mature and steady. They had never seen him in such a heartbreaking state before!
Before seeing this short film, if someone had said that General Jing Yuan could feel heartache, hesitate, or be driven to a corner,
they would never have believed it!
It wasn't until they saw this video that they realized—
No one is born a leader!
No one is born to excel in the role of a general!
The journey to get there
must have involved unimaginable pain and struggle!
At this moment.
Jing Yuan's gaze slowly grew firm, as if he had made a decision.
The hand holding his weapon began to emit waves of golden energy.
His entire body seemed to be bathed in golden flames.
A massive golden silhouette began to form.
"Goodbye, Master."
"Let your disciple use this move..."
"To repay the debt of gratitude for your teachings!"
He swung his weapon.
The divine figure behind him simultaneously swung a long blade forged from golden light.
Amidst the golden radiance that resembled the blazing sun, Mirror Flow's figure slowly faded away.
Fu Xuan and Qingque were left speechless.
In just a few minutes, the helplessness and cruelty of falling into the Demonic Yin state, the complex relationship between Jing Yuan and Mirror Flow...
were all vividly portrayed!
Just as Fu Xuan was about to say something, the scene suddenly shifted again.
The tone became bright and sunny.
"Nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-eight..."
"Nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine..."
"Ten thousand!"
The familiar environment, the familiar teachings.
Except.
The master and disciple were no longer Mirror Flow and young Jing Yuan, but Jing Yuan and young Yanqing.
Jing Yuan spoke solemnly, "As a Cloud Knight, you must never let go of your weapon or lose your composure."
"Yes!"
Jing Yuan smiled slightly, his tone becoming somewhat lazy. "But you're still too young to be considered a Cloud Knight."
"I want to be like the General, to become a legend remembered by Xianzhou!"
"What's so good about that? The journey here hasn't been easy," Jing Yuan said lightly.
"But didn't the General also make it step by step to where you are now?" Yanqing argued.
In his eyes, there was the stubbornness and longing of a young man.
After a moment of silence.
Jing Yuan frowned, his lips pressed together, his expression thoughtful.
Suddenly, he smiled. "Since you're so motivated, how about we spar?"
"Sure!"
"I won't go easy on you!"
With that, the short film officially ended.
In the Divination Commission, silence reigned for a while.
The two seemed to still be immersed in the emotions of the scenes.
After a moment.
Qingque was the first to speak, sighing, "General Jing Yuan has really been through a lot!"
"Looking at Jing Yuan and Mirror Flow back then, and then at Jing Yuan and Yanqing now, it feels like a lifetime has passed."
"Could it be that one day Yanqing will say, 'General... let me use this move... to repay the debt of gratitude for your teachings!'?"
Fu Xuan sighed. "Qingque, if you really have nothing meaningful to say, maybe just don't say anything."
"Understood, Lady Fu Xuan."
To be continued…
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