Jing Yuan stepped up beside the table. He took a sip from his cup and smiled in reminiscence.
"You all used to be obsessed with challenging Jingliu at tis like this…"
Jingliu: "These days, none of you could beat ."
Dan Heng smiled. "Not necessarily."
Jingliu: "Heh, I didn't expect your reincarnation to co with such confidence."
Blade: "Then let's test it. I won't hold back."
Fighting might worsen the Mara, but if it was a proper clash with Dan Heng or Jingliu, Blade wasn't going to say no.
If it was Jingliu, he wanted to experience death by her blade once again—that kind of death brought him peace. If it was Dan Heng, all the better. With the ladle effect now active, Blade had long wanted to go another round with him.
His last defeat had been sealed by Kafka, but the thrill of crossing blades with Dan Heng again had never left his mind.
Dan Heng: "Then let's do it. After this, the High-Cloud Quintet will part ways for good, right? Let's have one last fight: let's leave behind no regrets!"
Jingliu: "Hah! None of you can beat one-on-one!"
Dan Heng: "Then he and I will take you two-on-one."
Jingliu: "?"
She could clearly tell—Dan Heng was far more shaless than Dan Feng had ever been. At the very least, Dan Feng would never have said sothing like "let's 2v1 her." But still…
Jingliu took a mont to assess her current condition—and truth be told, never mind fighting Dan Heng, she felt she could even go a few rounds with Jing Yuan without issue.
Thanks to Pei Guang's buffs, her mind had cleared, her mories returned, and her emotions, long buried, had resurfaced.
Her goal hadn't changed, but now that the mood was right… a little duel wouldn't hurt.
With that in mind, Jingliu downed the rest of her drink in one go. "Good wine! Good wine! Just being able to drink like this here is more than enough for . Co then—both of you! Let show you just how much I've improved over the years."
As she spoke, she drew her giant salted-fish greatsword and pointed it toward them.
Seeing her ready to fight, Blade cracked a savage grin. "That thing? I've got one too!"
Blade pulled out his ladle. As he lovingly stroked the handle, he wore an equally feral grin.
Dan Heng, however, was more experienced. He rose from his seat with a faint smile, holding his Pink 'ow ow' Fluffy Bunny in his arms. With a few swings, the bunny let out adorable owing sound effects—and as it cut through the air, the bunny's head flew off dramatically.
Jingliu had originally assud Dan Heng's bunny weapon was the sa as hers, while Blade thought it only owed. But now that they witnessed it in action… they realized just how absurdly powerful Dan Heng's weapon was.
Which made sense: Dan Heng's weapon had three top-tier special effects, while both Jingliu and Blade were only using 'basic' purple-tier ones.
They didn't stand a chance.
What had started as a 2v1 with Dan Heng and Blade against Jingliu quickly flipped. The mont they saw Dan Heng's full arsenal, Blade and Jingliu silently stood shoulder to shoulder.
Off to the side, Jing Yuan sipped his drink with a smile. He had thought this reunion would be little more than a formality. He never expected it would turn into a real gathering of old comrades.
Even though everything had changed, just being able to drink and laugh again… that alone made it worthwhile. At the very least, this encounter wasn't one to bring emotional turmoil or hasten his Mara onset.
"Pei Guang… I owe you another one."
Looking at the three about to throw down, Jing Yuan couldn't help but think of Pei Guang. He knew full well that without Pei Guang's influence, none of this lightheartedness would have happened.
Just seeing Blade's weapon told him Pei Guang had ddled there. Jingliu's calm state—and those cute expressions—clearly Pei Guang's handiwork. Dan Heng? That one went without saying.
Even Bailu and Dan Heng's full awakening of their Vidyadhara powers had probably been helped along by Pei Guang's strange luck.
Sure, he wasn't directly involved in everything, but the changes he brought about made so many things better. The past was still a ss, but being able to share a drink over old friendship like this, anywhere in the galaxy, was a rare and precious thing.
Jing Yuan muttered, "Five companions… three paid the price… three, huh?"
But as he repeated the phrase, sothing felt off. Why was it that all three who had supposedly "paid a price" were now holding the most absurdly flashy weapons?
anwhile, he—who wasn't among those three—didn't even have a single weapon effect?
Still, thinking it over, maybe it was for the best. After all, he was a general. Charging into battle holding a giant salted fish, or a bright pink owing bunny, or a ladle… yeah, that didn't seem like the best idea.
And so, he picked up another cup of wine. But the mont the drink hit his tongue, he spat it out violently.
Jing Yuan: "Did I get up too fast!? Why is Jingliu so cute!? How can Jingliu be this cute!?"
During the sparring, Jingliu's blindfold had co off. And whether it was Jing Yuan or Blade, they were both completely stunned by the sight. Only Dan Heng continued his attack, perfectly unfazed.
Compared to Cute Jingliu, Dan Heng was far more curious about sothing else now—like what kind of expression Pei Guang would make if he wore that adorable-effect accessory.
Yes, Dan Heng had officially been corrupted by Pei Guang. Even the things he wanted to try now were… not quite what most people would consider "normal."
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