Chapter 251: Dual Perspectives

Even though it was unintentional, Lin knew she should apologize for injuring her teammate and leaving him to clean up the mess.

Activating that state was always a last resort, and with good reason; it had landed her in hot water more times than she could count.

Though unconscious at the time, she had later pieced together what happened through the accounts of others and by witnessing the devastating aftermath firsthand. Given her reserved nature, this indirect way of gathering information was what she preferred.

Due to her subtle expressions and her indifferent and silent nature, she had always struggled with communication – specifically, with expressing herself. This, combined with her reluctance to initiate conversations, had gradually cemented her image as an ice queen: beautiful, but forever out of reach.

As she made her way to Ji Bai’s apartment, her chaotic mind raced to find the right words, only to discard them for being inappropriate, trapping her in an endless loop.

Lin reached the door, her mind still reeling from the effort of arranging her words in order. She took a deep breath and was about to knock when she noticed the door was slightly ajar.

After politely greeting Ke’er in the kitchen, who was wearing an apron like a young housewife, she pushed the bedroom door open.

There…

She was greeted by the sight of two grown men, limbs entangled, grappling for control while straddling one another; A sight so ‘beautiful’ and outside her realm of experience that it rendered her at a loss for words.

‘…Did I come at the wrong time??’

That conclusion dawned on Lin after a moment of deep contemplation.

For all his accomplishments, disciplined demeanor, and air of indifference he projected, he was still a human beneath that helmet, subject to the same desires and needs as any other.

She could not help but find herself pondering an old saying: The more righteous and disciplined a person appears, the wilder they indulge themselves in private. For some, it was in the dead of the night that their shameful and perverse desires would be laid bare. The stark contrast between one’s public and private persona filled her with a sense of melancholy at the duality of human nature.

‘Therefore, someone as rigid, stubborn and utterly inflexible as him… should have some outlet to relieve those pent-up urges in private, right?’

For example, he might be into things like lolis, or be attracted to crossdressing.

‘…What if… he’s actually gay…?’

Lin’s lips twitched. The image was so outlandish she did not dare continue that train of thought.

‘But then again… those interests really aren’t that unusual… I think?’

“Something the matter?” Ji Bai’s flat, unfeeling words rang out as always.

For reasons unknown to her, his words unexpectedly struck a nerve, sparking a flare of annoyance in her heart.

She had the urge to tear that ridiculous tin can off his head.

This fire, surging in her heart, instantly threw Lin’s carefully maintained composure and thoughts into disarray. With a veiled intent lurking beneath, each syllable of hers seemed to be coated in frost as she spoke.

“You’re a hard one to kill, aren’t you?”

‘Was there even a hint of gratitude in my words? Why did they come out as sarcasm instead??’

Lin regretted her words as soon as they left her mouth, but there was nothing she could do about it now.

“Hmm.” Ji Bai thought for a second. Realizing there was some merit to her words, he nodded firmly in agreement.

Despite his well intentions, his response had stopped the conversation in its tracks, leaving silence in its wake. It was, without a doubt, a talent of his.

A single sentence was all it took to render his conversational partner speechless, a feat that even someone with over ten years of experience in awkward conversations would find hard to pull off.

Yet, for all his talent in silencing others, Ji Bai seemed subtly ill at ease. A keen observer would be able to notice an evasiveness in his eyes whenever they landed on Lin.

As someone who held himself to a high standard, he felt guilty when he recalled what he had done to her when she was unconscious.

Judging from Lin’s reaction, she seemed to have no recollection of anything that had transpired, allowing Ji Bai to breathe a small sigh of relief.

“Look, I know this is tearing you up inside and you’re anxious to get to the bottom of this, but try to keep a cool head, Ji Bai. There’s only so much one man can do.” Gordon said, breaking the silence and patting Ji Bai’s shoulder.

“I’ve heard rumors about your past self, you know? The Knight King that mostly delegates command to his Deputy Commander, Enzo, and charges off into enemy lines alone. Seems like they haven’t exaggerated that one bit. To this day, you’re still clueless about teamwork. You have much to learn, Sir Knight.”

“You’re mistaken,” Ji Bai said, turning around. “I simply have no desire to take care of the injured. There’s no benefit for me that way, and it would only hinder me from acting.”

“Are you planning to go rogue again?” Lin asked, her brow furrowing slightly.

“It’s not about that, there’s something I must do there.”

“You’ve clearly lost the qualifications to be a knight. So why wade into this messy situation? As I thought – you still can’t let go of your glory days, can you?” Gordon was intrigued by Ji Bai’s actions.

“Perhaps.” Ji Bai was swift and decisive once he made up his mind. With his armor in place, he picked up his weapon and walked out.

“If I’m not mistaken, you’re headed for Silk Shuttle City, am I right?” Just as he was about to leave, Lin’s words stopped him in his tracks.

Silk Shuttle City, a vital city-state situated in the southwestern reaches of the Human Federation, was where the headquarters of the Chivalric Order of the Radiant Knights resided. At the same time, it held a different connection for Ji Bai — it was the place he had once called home.

“…”

“I’ll take your silence as confirmation then. You’re free to go wherever you please, but there’s something you should know before you leave.”

“Our next assignment is in that city… Given the alarming rate that missions have been coming in lately, I suspect the higher-ups must have gotten wind of something.”

——————————

“Interesting. I must say, I didn’t expect that. How fascinating.” A handsome man clad in a sash-tied formal attire said, his tone laced with intrigue as he tossed a thick dossier onto the table.

“They have sharp instincts, I’ll give them that. They’ve seized the initiative with such a bold move before we could even react.” The man mused, a self-deprecating smile playing on his lips.

“It was a truly brazen and rash move, yet it has left us utterly powerless, like a knife on our throat.”

“You seem troubled, milord. Perhaps your servant can resolve the matter for you?” His maid, who had been standing at his back, dutifully attending to him, inquired deferentially.

“There’s no need for that, my fair lady. We need to play the long game here. The more brazen and complacent our prey gets, the more we should let them think we’re none the wiser. Any sudden moves, and we lose it all. The Radiant Knights are but a nuisance compared to the cancer that plagues us; they are unworthy of our attention.” The handsome man dismissed his maid’s suggestion with a wave of his hand.

“But these mortals… their actions are growing more bold and insolent by the day. Are you sure it’s wise to leave them be?”

“Now, now, my lady. Did I say I’d do nothing at all? It would disappoint the audience if I just watched from the sidelines, wouldn’t it? The fates of these small fries are of little importance to me. If we spook the true prize lurking in the shadows and cause them to take precautions against us… Well, that would be troublesome.” His eyes narrowed.

“Speaking of small fry – The Radiant Knights, was it? I’ve to admit, faking the Knight King’s return was truly a stroke of genius. Not only did it silence the various dissenters within their ranks, it also allowed the mastermind to bypass the selection of a successor while consolidating their vast power within the Order.”

“On top of that, the Radiant Knight King enjoys immense support from the people. We can’t act against him out in the open. Besides, anyone who dares speak out at this time would just become a target of public condemnation. We must devise a more subtle way to discredit and remove him from power, don’t you agree?” The handsome man remarked, taking a sip of tea.

“What are your instructions, Milord?”

“Summon Lleya —no, the Immortal Knight— and bring ‘him’ to me.”

“Yes, milord. Are you going to entrust her with this matter?”

“Her? Oh no, I’m not going to task her with that. She’s just there to tie up the loose ends.” The man said, a cryptic smile playing across his lips.

“Let’s just say I’ve had the solution for a while now… and I know the right person for it. ”

——————————

“You rascal, what in God’s name did you use this sword on? It was pristine when you left, and now… it’s back in pristine PIECES!” Feeling a headache coming on, Lin Tuo pressed his hand to his forehead. With a pained expression, he gazed into a cloth bag, where only jagged shards of silver remained.

“You good-for-nothing wastrel! This was a fine sword, rumored to be made by none other than the Elves themselves! And it’s nothing but a pile of useless scrap now. As its owner, how can you not feel even a twinge of pain over that, huh?”

“But I clearly remember you saying that you forged this sword yourself.” Ji Bai spoke after a moment of silence, voicing the doubt in his heart.

“Ahem! …That’s beside the point, okay? But seriously, what on earth were you even trying to cut with this thing? Let me tell you, back in my day, this sword has seen…”

“Seen what, exactly?”

“You little rascal. How come you’re suddenly so sharp-witted, huh? You seem to know exactly what questions to ask…” Lin Tuo grumbled, the corners of his lips twitching slightly.

“So what in the world did you strike with this weapon? Mind you, this sword could cut through orc skin like butter. Even a [Primordial Vein] skill wouldn’t be enough to shatter it to this extent.” Lin Tuo lit his tobacco pipe. His gaze, filled with a complex mix of emotions, drifted through the smoke, only to rest on the broken sword fragments.

That look in his eyes was something Ji Bai found it hard to describe – It was like an aging father looking upon the cherished possessions of his long-departed son. The sight resonated within him, stirring up a well of emotions he could not understand.

“I’m sorry.” As if by reflex, an unprompted and unexpected apology tumbled out of Ji Bai’s mouth.

“Forget it. That sword’s yours now. Trash it, break it – Do with it what you will.” Lin Tuo said, taking a long drag from his pipe and blowing a smoke ring into the air.

“Any chance of fixing it?”

“Fix it?” Lin Tuo gave JI Bai a look. “You think that’s possible?”

“I don’t know.”

“Kid…” Lin Tuo sighed, a hint of exasperation in his voice.

“This sword’s so far gone, even a dwarven blacksmith wouldn’t touch it with a ten-foot hammer. And seriously though, why do you always carry this useless piece of metal around? You’d have better luck fighting with a carrot in your hand.” As he spoke, Lin Tuo pointed at the sword, Tranquility, hanging on Ji Bai’s waist.

“Forget it. I’m guessing all that poverty must have finally gone to your head.” Lin Tuo said, shaking his head. “You can go now. I’ll see what I can do, but I can’t guarantee anything… And no putting it on your tab this time. You’ll have to pay me upfront.”

Ji Bai gave a curt nod and turned to leave.

“A lost lamb, wandering astray… The path you must walk is not one paved by others, but discovered and forged by your own hand.” Lin Tuo softly muttered, his gaze following Ji Bai’s retreating figure. Clamping his pipe between his teeth, he picked up the shattered fragments and made his way into the backroom.

“Silk Shuttle City, huh…? Maybe that’s for the best.” Lin Tuo mused, as he set the cloth bag onto the table.

On the weathered concrete wall above the table, a medal awarded for the highest feats of knighthood shone brightly.

——————————

A thousand miles away, in the heart of Silk Shuttle City.

The grand hall of the Radiant Knights’ headquarters was teeming with a sea of faces.

A tall and sturdy knight clad in dark-silvery armor was standing on a podium, his presence demanding the respect of all who beheld him as he brought his speech to a close.

“We thank Your Highness for your inspiring words of encouragement to the recruits and the younger generation of knights in our order!”

As the hall erupted in cheers and applause, the knight in dark-silver armor slowly descended from the podium.

“His Highness’ gaze remains as sharp and perceptive as ever. Am I right, Squad Leader Landi?”

“Hmm…” A month after his exoneration and transfer back to headquarters, Landi now found himself standing in the hall with the crowd.@@novelbin@@

Unlike his comrades who erupted in cheers, he stood silent, gaze locked onto the figure he so admired, lost in thought.

Behind the stage, his speech concluded, the Knight King walked with measured steps, brushing shoulders with a black-haired girl in a short-skirted ceremonial robe.

The young girl stopped and turned, her eyes filled with an unknown emotion as she watched the dark-silver figure walk away.

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