A/N: All rights to the original content are reserved by the respective copyright owner.

---

The hospital corridors, filled with the typical bustle of medical staff and patients, felt unusually silent to Y/N as he walked alongside Dan Feng. Officially discharged under Dan Feng's authority, Y/N couldn't shake off a pervasive sense of unease that had clung to him since the mission in the woods. His usual confident stride had been replaced with a slow, contemplative gait.

Dan Feng, observing Y/N closely, noted with concern the subtle changes in his friend. The warrior's once robust physique seemed diminished, his muscles less pronounced than before. It was a physical manifestation of the internal battle Y/N was evidently facing.

Breaking the silence, Dan Feng ventured cautiously, "Are you sure that you are okay?"

Y/N, his gaze fixed ahead, responded with a voice that barely rose above a whisper, "I am just trying to... regulate my emotions."

Dan Feng's concern deepened. He recalled a conversation with Baiheng, who despite her promise of secrecy, had revealed enough for Dan Feng to piece together the possible source of Y/N's distress. Guilt, a powerful and consuming emotion, seemed to be at the heart of Y/N's turmoil.

With a reassuring smile, Dan Feng offered his advice, "It seems that you are not fully appreciating the victory of your mission. I don't know the details, but perhaps meditation could help you."

"Meditation?" Y/N echoed, his eyes briefly closing as he considered the suggestion.

Dan Feng nodded affirmatively. "You could ask Jingliu to teach you. It's about relaxing your mind, reaching an empty state."

"Empty state?" Y/N's tone was one of curiosity mixed with skepticism.

"Yes," Dan Feng explained, "When you and Jingliu train together, your mind reaches a state of calm, of peace. You let go of your emotions, your past actions. It's a form of mental liberation."

"I see..." Y/N murmured, his voice trailing off as he pondered the idea.

Their conversation was suddenly interrupted by the sound of hurried footsteps echoing down the corridor, adorned with garden flowers and wooden pillars bearing dragon markings.

Jingliu appeared, her approach rapid yet graceful. Her eyes were closed, a sign of her brewing anger. "Dan Feng... why did you not inform me that you'll be discharging Y/N?" she asked, her tone sharp.

Caught off guard, Dan Feng fumbled for words, realizing he had forgotten to inform her.

Y/N intervened, sparing Dan Feng from further discomfort. "We were discussing the philosophy of inner peace. Nothing much," he said, his voice steady.

Jingliu's expression softened slightly. "Oh... are you still bothered by 'that'?" Her concern was evident.

Y/N nodded solemnly, unable to mask his troubled state.

Understanding the situation, Dan Feng decided it was time for him to exit. "I will take my leave. Jingliu, please take care of him."

Jingliu acknowledged with a nod, and Dan Feng departed, leaving the two alone in the corridor.

"Jingliu," Y/N called out softly.

Turning to face him, Jingliu offered a small but radiant smile. "Let's go home," she suggested.

"Mm," Y/N hummed in agreement, his mood slightly lifted by her presence.

---

In the ensuing months, life within Xianzhou flowed like a river, sometimes calm, sometimes turbulent, but always moving forward. Y/N's internal struggles, though still present, had become more manageable with the support of Jingliu and a select few. Dan Feng, with his unmatched medical expertise, had assumed the role of Y/N's personal doctor, diligently monitoring his friend's health.

Jing Yuan, now promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, found himself buried in the increased responsibilities that came with his new position. His playful nature was occasionally visible, but the weight of his duties often veiled it.

Baiheng, as spirited as ever, was frequently seen with her self-proclaimed little brother, Ying Xing. The latter was mostly engrossed in his work at the forge, crafting creations that were as much art as they were weapons.

On this particular day, Y/N and Jingliu found themselves in the Council chamber, a room recently renovated to accommodate more seats and adorned with exquisite artistry. They sat, often in silence, listening to the council members argue about power and the economy. It was a scene all too familiar, albeit a tiresome one.

Their monotony was abruptly disrupted by Ying Xing's unexpected entrance into the chamber, with Baiheng trailing behind him, gasping for breath. Her dramatics filled the room as she exclaimed, "Little bro! I know you're eager to show it off, BUT CONSIDER ME TOO!"

"That is your fault, then," Ying Xing retorted, unfazed by her theatrics.

One of the councilmen, a dignified man in his late 40s, addressed Ying Xing with a composed demeanor. "Why have you brought yourselves here, disciple of Huaiyan?"

Ying Xing, standing confidently in the center of the chamber, glanced around, his eyes briefly meeting Dan Feng's before smirking at something unspoken between them. His gaze then found Y/N and Jingliu, seated together, their interest piqued by his presence.

"Councilmen and Generals," Ying Xing began, his voice resonating in the chamber. "The seat of Sword Champion has remained vacant for centuries."

The council murmured at the mention of the long-forgotten title.

Y/N leaned towards Jingliu, whispering, "Didn't you say that you wanted to be a Champion of sort when we were still children?"

Jingliu's cheeks tinted with a faint blush. "Yes, I did. It's embarrassing that I've forgotten about the title. I have been too focused on polishing my sword."

Y/N smirked, his interest now fully captured. "Let's listen to what Ying Xing has to say. It looks like he's proposing something."

Jingliu nodded, turning her attention back to Ying Xing, who continued, "I have forged a weapon, one that will symbolize yourself as the Sword Champion, if one can carry it."

A councilwoman raised her hand, signaling a question. Ying Xing acknowledged her with a nod.

"You say that you've forged a weapon to recognize oneself as the Sword Champion. As far as we know by tradition, the title is reserved only for those unparalleled in the art of blades," she stated, her eyes glancing towards Y/N and Jingliu.

Ying Xing replied, "Quite true. Allow me to show you my masterpiece."

With a dramatic flourish, Ying Xing summoned the sword. The ebony blade, five feet in length, shimmered with a sanguine sheen, crafted from the glittering hearts of alien metals. It was unlike any traditional weaponry.

Then, to everyone's shock, Ying Xing dropped the sword. It sank deep into the ground, its weight cracking the floor around it, leaving only the hilt visible.

Y/N narrowed his eyes, understanding Ying Xing's intentions.

Dan Feng broke his silence, slightly provoked. "Your intentions are as obvious as they are childish, Ying Xing."

The Artisan scoffed, "Then, enlighten us, O'Elder."

"The theatrics are unnecessary. You wish to see a fight between our Generals, Y/N and Jingliu?" Dan Feng speculated, his eyes glowing with a mix of annoyance and curiosity.

The chamber buzzed with excitement at the prospect of such an event.

Ying Xing's grin widened. "Indeed. What do you think of this, Generals?" His gaze settled on Y/N and Jingliu, the former looking resigned, the latter intrigued.

Y/N covered his face with his hand, while Jingliu confidently declared, "Prepare the schedule. I - no, we wish to show our true strength to the whole of Xianzhou."

Y/N's muffled groan was audible, but Jingliu struggled to contain her giggles at his reaction, their camaraderie evident even in this moment of impending challenge.

---

As Y/N stepped out of the headquarters, a wave of petty anger washed over him. The fresh air did little to soothe his simmering emotions. "They're all in this together," he muttered under his breath, his sigh carrying a mix of resignation and irritation. "When I see Ying Xing next time, I'm going to punch him straight to oblivion." The words, spoken more to himself than anyone else, were tinged with a sense of vengeance, reflecting the downward spiral of his mood.

He clasped his hands together, trying to anchor himself in the moment. "Inner peace... all for Jingliu, she wants this after all," Y/N reminded himself, closing his eyes in an attempt to regain his composure.

Minutes passed in silence, with Y/N standing motionless, a statue of introspection amidst the bustling surroundings. Finally, a sigh of relief escaped his lips, signaling a temporary truce with his inner turmoil. "Phew! Now... what the hell do I do next?" he pondered, opening his eyes to face the uncertainty that lay ahead.

At that moment, Ying Xing emerged from the headquarters, a grin plastered on his face, oblivious to Y/N's presence. He carried the forged blade, now sheathed in a cloth, humming a tune that resonated with a craftsman's pride.

Catching sight of Y/N, Ying Xing's grin faltered. His eyes met the swordsman's, and in that brief moment, he realized his grave error. The expression on Y/N's face was one of barely contained fury.

"Oh shi-" Ying Xing's exclamation was cut short as Y/N's fist connected with his face. The force of the punch sent Ying Xing flying, a clear demonstration of Y/N's skill and strength, but also a momentary lapse in his quest for inner peace.

As Ying Xing tumbled through the air, Y/N couldn't help but feel a twinge of regret mixed with satisfaction. "So much for inner peace..." he muttered, watching Ying Xing crash land in the distance. The incident, while a setback in his emotional control, was a cathartic release of the frustration that had been building within him.

In the aftermath of the punch, Y/N stood there, his breathing gradually returning to normal, contemplating the consequences of his actions and the journey he still had ahead in mastering his emotions and finding true inner peace.

---

Y/N lay sprawled across the couch in his home, his face buried in the cushion as he repeated a mantra to himself. "Inner. Peace. Come. Here." His voice was muffled, a comical contrast to the serious task of meditation he was attempting.

The sound of the front door clicking open indicated Jingliu's arrival, though Y/N didn't need to see her to know who it was. Jingliu stepped into the living room and paused, observing Y/N's unusual position on the couch. The sight brought a faint smile to her lips, but she chose not to disturb his efforts.

"I will be upstairs," Jingliu announced gently. "Just come up to my room if you need anything."

Y/N's response was incoherent and deeply muffled by the cushion. Jingliu, interpreting it as an affirmation, proceeded upstairs, her footsteps fading into the distance.

For the next two hours, Y/N remained in his position, wrestling with his thoughts in an effort to find the elusive state of calm. Eventually, he sat up abruptly, deciding on a different approach. "Hmm... let's explore childhood memories, that should ease me up," he murmured to himself, closing his eyes and delving into the recesses of his past.

His mind drifted to his adoptive mother, a foxian who bore a resemblance in character to Baiheng but was more mature. Y/N recalled her fondly, her kindness and strength shaping much of his early life.

He then thought of his biological aunt, his second mother in many ways. Despite her academic shortcomings, she was brimming with wisdom. Y/N remembered how she inspired Jingliu to take up cooking, a memory that brought a soft smile to his face.

Flipping through the pages of his past, Y/N's thoughts landed on the bullies who used to bother him. A sense of satisfaction washed over him as he remembered their astonished faces when they saw his rank in the Cloud Knights as a teenager.

One memory stood out vividly: meeting Jingliu in the woods. He could still feel the electric connection when their eyes first met, a moment that marked the beginning of their inseparable bond.

Then came the recollection of his Wanderer master, the man who guided both Y/N and Jingliu on the path of blades. Without his tutelage, they would never have become the swordmasters they were today.

But as his mind wandered further, a dark memory surfaced. The destruction of his home by the Serpentine Leviathan and the Dragon embodying the Sun. Y/N's heart rate increased, his anger simmering beneath the surface.

Suddenly, a voice echoed in his mind, sending chills down his spine. It was a voice that oozed with greed, the sound of teeth clanking eerily. "Oh... oh! You seem to have wandered too far. Go back to whence you came," it hissed, as if saliva pooled in the speaker's mouth.

Y/N's eyes snapped open, pulling himself out of the memory with a start. He sat there, sweat beginning to bead on his forehead. "What was that?" he whispered to himself, a mixture of confusion and fear evident in his voice. The voice, so real and intrusive, left him questioning the safety of even his own thoughts.

---

Y/N ascended the stairs, his mind still reeling from the strange, foreign voice that had intruded upon his thoughts. With effort, he pushed the unnerving echo to the back of his mind and approached Jingliu's room. The door creaked open to reveal a sanctuary of knowledge, with libraries of scrolls arranged in neat order. Jingliu sat behind her majestic desk, immersed in her work, a sight that made Y/N grimace slightly.

"Hey..." Y/N began, his voice laced with a hint of discomfort.

Jingliu lifted her head, maintaining her usual composed posture. Her gaze, flat and unwavering, met his, and her lips pressed into a thin line. "Is something the matter?" she inquired.

Y/N's mind raced as he recalled the earlier events of the day. "So... about that debacle earlier," he ventured, broaching the subject he felt needed addressing.

Jingliu's eyebrow arched slightly. "You mean where you punched Ying Xing to a critical state?"

"That bad? But no, I'm talking about the Sword Champion challenge Ying Xing proposed," Y/N replied, his tone nonchalant, confidence in Dan Feng's healing abilities evident in his voice.

Jingliu nodded in understanding. "For the remainder of our time before the challenge starts, I believe it's best if we don't train together," she suggested, her voice betraying a hint of reluctance.

Y/N opened his mouth, then closed it, taking a moment to consider his response. "I... think that will suffice," he finally said, agreeing with her proposition.

She seemed pleased with his acquiescence. "Is there anything else you wish to add?"

Y/N paused, then remembered another matter. "None that I remembe- oh wait, I do recall something."

"Go on..."

"You mentioned something about creating a group of elite members?" Y/N asked, his recollection still uncertain.

"Yes, I still intend to do so," Jingliu confirmed, her commitment to her plan unwavering.

"Who would've thought that the silent swordswoman herself is forming a group of warriors," Y/N remarked jokingly.

Jingliu stood up and walked towards her library, searching for something. Over her shoulder, she replied, "I have opened up a lot, so it is inevitable that this happens."

Y/N's expression turned slightly downcast. While Jingliu was expanding her horizons, he felt a contrasting sense of withdrawal. Once, their roles were reversed, but now it seemed they were switching places.

"Y/N?" Jingliu called, returning to stand in front of him.

He snapped out of his reverie. "Ah? Did you say anything?"

Jingliu regarded him silently for a moment, then said firmly, "You look tired, go to sleep."

Not wanting to argue, Y/N simply patted her head gently, eliciting a blush from Jingliu. "I will," he assured her before exiting her room, leaving her to return to her duties. As he walked away, Y/N felt a mix of appreciation and nostalgia for the changing dynamics of their friendship.

---

In the quiet of her room, Jingliu stood motionless, her gaze lingering on the door through which Y/N had just left. A wave of concern washed over her, and she placed a hand over her heart. "I hope things get better for you," she whispered into the stillness.

Suddenly, a booming voice echoed in her mind, startling her. "It will not."

Her eyes snapped wide open, and she scanned the room with heightened alertness. Then, on her desk, she noticed a fiery speck shimmering with a blend of red and black, radiating an intense warmth.

Recognition dawned on her face. "You are the Flint Emperor... how are you here?" she asked, her voice a mix of surprise and curiosity.

The fiery speck morphed into a small, doll-sized black eastern dragon with glowing red eyes. It fluttered around the room before settling on her bed.

"Ever since Y/N unleashed his devastating power, I now have the ability to manifest in the physical realm, though only near his presence," the Heliobi explained, its voice deep and resonant.

"Power?" Jingliu inquired, focusing on that particular detail.

"You don't know... It is to be expected," the Heliobi responded cryptically, its fiery eyes holding her gaze.

"I don't understand," Jingliu admitted, her confusion evident.

The Heliobi examined her closely. "Take care of him well, friend of Y/N. He will need it. When the time comes, prepare yourself for the worst," it prophesied ominously.

"Mara...?" Jingliu's voice trembled slightly, the name evoking a sense of foreboding.

"I apologize for bringing upon hurtful knowledge," the Heliobi said genuinely, its tone softening.

Jingliu sank onto the bed, her thoughts swirling with dread. Her worst fears, though unspoken, seemed to be confirmed by the words of Xianzhou's formidable entity.

"I... heard of the challenge by Huaiyan's disciple," the Heliobi began awkwardly, trying to shift the conversation.

Jingliu turned her head towards the dragon, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears.

"I sense a great power within you, a cold feeling. Try projecting it," the dragon observed.

Jingliu closed her eyes, focusing inwardly. As she did, frost flakes began to form on the walls of her room.

When she opened her eyes, Jingliu was stunned to see the ice spreading rapidly. "When did I have this...?" she whispered in awe.

"It feels quite recent. Did you do something before this? Something of... knowledge bestowal towards your partner of affection?" the dragon inquired; its tone curious.

Jingliu's cheeks flushed at the mention, causing the ice to recede slightly.

The dragon looked at her with a deadpan expression, then flared its aura, warming the room and melting the ice away. "How about this: I will help train your power within your mind," it suggested.

"You're going to infiltrate my mind like you did with Y/N?" Jingliu asked, her reluctance clear at the thought of a male entity in her thoughts.

"It's only temporary, and I believe you'll catch up quickly. Have some faith," the dragon reassured her, hovering in the air.

"Faith..." Jingliu echoed softly, contemplating the dragon's words and the newfound power stirring within her. She looked at her hands, a symbol of her newfound strength and responsibility, as she prepared to embark on this uncharted journey.

---

In the ethereal expanse of the Abyss, Fuli, the Aeon of Remembrance, hovered in isolation, surrounded by a myriad of swirling memories. Its godly presence emanated a crystalline shimmer, reflecting the vast tapestry of intertwining memories of two distinct lives.

Sensing a disturbance in the fabric of the Abyss, Fuli's wariness heightened. Its voice, clear as a crystal bell, resonated through the void. "Oroboros, come forth."

From the celestial depths, a Leviathan of immense size and awe-inspiring beauty emerged. Oroboros, enshrouded in a celestial aura, displayed a glossy blue hue that mirrored the night sky adorned with countless stars.

With a voice that mixed hunger with a muddled quality, as if speaking through a mouthful of saliva, Oroboros responded playfully. "I was having fun, you know?"

"Silence, Voracity," Fuli's tone was sharp, its crystalline form vibrating with an implicit threat. "I do not wish to entertain you. Why have you forced yourself into their memories?"

Oroboros chuckled, a sound that echoed eerily in the Abyss. "Ooo, scary."

Suddenly, the atmosphere shifted. Both Aeons paused, Fuli radiating crystal clear power, while Oroboros appeared uneasy amidst the growing tension.

Around them, white ethereal bubbles materialized, each connected by ghostly cosmic black lines, resembling a network of memories.

Fuli approached one such bubble, peering into it to witness snippets of Y/N and Jingliu's intertwined memories. The Aeon's crystal form shimmered with intrigue. "Y/N... to think you would use the power to unknowingly record your memories. It appears your dream has materialized."

Oroboros, unable to contain its excitement, laughed with ghastly joy. "Things have become interesting! I can't wait to devour him!"

Fuli's glare towards Oroboros was filled with a cold, murderous intent. "Begone."

With a mere flick of its hand, Fuli expelled Oroboros from the domain, the Leviathan vanishing into the depths of the Abyss.

Alone once again, Fuli surveyed the growing number of memory orbs. Contemplating the unfolding events, it spoke to the void, its voice resonating with a clarity that transcended time and space. "The memories of the past are nearing completion. What path will you choose next, Y/N and Jingliu?"

The question lingered in the air, an open-ended prophecy hinting at the pivotal choices that lay ahead for the two central figures whose lives had become entwined with the will of the Aeons.

End of Chapter