Chapter 47

Chapter 47: Shouldered... the Pack

The next morning

Morning light crept through the curtain gaps, climbing across the blue-and-white gradient hair splayed on little Jingliu's pillow. Her small hand groped about half-consciously. Today she didn't linger in bed, nor did she lie staring at the ceiling waiting for drowsiness to fade.

"This is all little Wangshu's fault."

His fault for appearing. His fault for making this house feel alive. His fault for... now leaving, cutting this brief warmth short.

She lay woodenly in bed, the covers long since kicked aside. When she'd lived alone, all she'd had to worry about was not being late.

She lay there a few more seconds before finally rolling upright. Bare feet touched the cool floor. She searched for her sneakers — but putting them on was too much hassle. Even though she had school today, she couldn't muster a shred of motivation.

So she shuffled straight into her soft slippers and pattered toward the kitchen, her footsteps ringing crisp in the quiet morning.

"Breakfast will be a bit longer, little Jingliu. Anything special you want today?"

Before Wangshu could finish, his back was rammed by the little one. A pair of thin arms wrapped around him — insistent, a touch imperious, and unmistakably childlike.

Wangshu stiffened slightly. When had he ever been tested like this? His hands paused momentarily, but after a beat resumed their work.

He took a deep breath, forced himself to relax, and softened his voice further: "You must be starving. It's okay — just give me a moment. Breakfast will be ready soon, little Jingliu."

"Mm."

Jingliu gave a muffled nod. She didn't say anything else. Her arms didn't move.

Maybe five or six minutes passed — or maybe one or two. Wangshu's sense of time had melted into mush. Breakfast had been nearly done before; only the finishing touches remained.

He called out tentatively: "Little Jingliu?"

"...Let's eat."

Anyone could see that little Jingliu was unhappy today. Very, very unhappy.

The low pressure followed her all the way to the academy.

When she walked into the classroom, spine perfectly straight, the oppressive aura was palpable even to classmates who didn't know her well. Their cool classmate was in a terrible mood.

"Not keeping your petty, mean boyfriend company today?"

Someone muttered. Jingliu swept the room with a vicious glare. Her mood plummeted further. Adding insult to injury!

Her seat was in the very back, by the window. Not the second-to-last row — the last row. Not quite the protagonist's seat, but still strategically positioned: mountain at her back, water at her side, commanding a view of all under heaven... The Lurking Dragon position. All she needed was patience, waiting for the right moment.

Her mother had taught her that. As a former tactician, her mother had been quite the expert in these matters.

But right now, she just felt like a fish tossed onto hot sand to bake — too listless to even flop.

"Jingliu, are you okay?"

Someone poked little Jingliu. Ever since Jingliu's love life began, the academy exploration squad had failed multiple expeditions in a row. Please, Leader Jingliu — we can't do this without you!

Jingliu glanced sideways, tone flat: "Cangcheng has a new war. My boyfriend went to the battlefield... I'm not okay at all."

She slumped onto the desk, burying her entire small face in folded arms.

Huh?

"Cangcheng's conscription shouldn't affect your household, Jingliu..."

A classmate whispered: "Why not check again? I think families with only one male left can be exempted from priority conscription."

This unwritten rule dated back to the Harmonious Accord of Star Calendar Year 3300. After the Three Calamities, the old aristocracy had exited the historical stage entirely, and ordinary citizens gained various welfare protections and invisible safeguards.

Jingliu kept her head buried: "No need. He wanted to go."

Not forced. A voluntary choice.

But moments later she raised her head again. Her beautiful eyes carried a faint redness, like the lightest dusting of rouge.

She blinked hard, pushing the moisture back. Do your best, Jingliu! During her school years, she'd always been the biggest believer in mysticism.

So the promise had to work. If her grades were good, Wangshu would surely be fine.

Even though the two things had absolutely no objective connection.

......

Meanwhile, on the other side.

"Shoul... shoul... shouldered the pa— What did little Jingliu stuff in this bag? Rocks?"

Wangshu hoisted the backpack. The unexpected weight made his shoulders sag.

He didn't look inside — this was the Xianzhou, after all. Theoretically, he shouldn't need to bring much.

But little Jingliu had spent the early morning muttering to herself, hands never stopping, and he hadn't had the heart to refuse... Inside was probably everything Jingliu thought might come in handy at some random moment.

Following the general's previous directions, Wangshu arrived at Cangcheng's General's Manor — grand and ornate. In this commercially thriving nation, the manor naturally didn't aim for an approachable look. Maintaining its antique character while projecting imposing authority.

"Wonder which Cloud Knight division I'll end up in."

Each Cloud Knight division had its own martial lineage, and the traditions were diverse. The future Jingliu hadn't recognized Yanqing's lineage at first glance... though she might have, and simply wanted to ask. She was kind of scheming that way.

Walking through the General's Manor felt like a country bumpkin entering the big city. Carrying the general's token, he followed the Foxian strategist on a tour of the complex.

"Cangcheng maintains four standing divisions: the Kaiming Division, the Mengniao Division, the Wenyu Division, and the Ganqi Division."

Why not the Lizhu, Muhe, Baishu, or Ganshui Divisions?

A strange thought flickered through Wangshu's mind.

"Cangcheng has historically seen less combat, so we're somewhat outnumbered compared to other Xianzhou in terms of division count. But combat effectiveness is nothing to worry about — Cangcheng is still part of the Alliance, and whenever other Xianzhou face conflict, we're typically among the first to send reinforcements."

The Foxian strategist from before spoke warmly, as if chatting with a friend.

"But this time, the Abundance followers are massing. The Yaoqing, Luofu, and Zhuming are all engaged in their own conflicts. Yuque, Fanghu, and Xuleng are too distant for timely support. Cangcheng naturally can't stand by while the Abundance plot in secret."

"After contacting the other vessels via Jade Omen yesterday, Yuque, Fanghu, and Xuleng will first reinforce the Yaoqing, Luofu, and Zhuming, then arrive as a combined fleet by next February."

"Until then, the generals want Cangcheng to spare no cost in disrupting the Abundance followers' assembly on Rahu — disrupt their rhythm. Under no circumstances can they be allowed to establish a foothold or complete some kind of 'ritual' on that planet."

The Foxian strategist led Wangshu to a star chart on the corridor wall, pointing to the far edge of Cangcheng's current star system — a planet neither especially large nor small, utterly unremarkable on the chart.

"Rahu?"

Wangshu caught the keyword.

"Rahu. A rather massive planet, but barren and uninhabitable, so Cangcheng never developed it. We paid it very little attention."

"Never expected the Abundance followers to infiltrate right under our noses and use it as a staging ground."

He pointed to several blinking lights near Rahu on the star chart — their own scouting vessels:

"But according to the scouts' reports, the Abundance vanguard currently on Rahu isn't large. If the operation goes smoothly and tactics are sound — if we launch a surprise attack before their main force arrives..."

The Foxian strategist's voice took on a note of calculated optimism:

"Perhaps we won't need to wait until February for the six-vessel encirclement. Cangcheng's main force alone could crush their vanguard and eliminate the threat!"

Wangshu: ...

Cangcheng's full army bearing down?

And at this point in time, hadn't Rahu already been awakened?