"Why so gloomy, Junior Brother?"
"I'm not..."
"Oh?"
Fu Xuan grabbed Anming's wrist, pulling him close. Her crystal eyes seemed to pierce through all falsehoods.
Lying to a diviner was pointless.
Anming knew this, yet couldn't articulate his feelings. How could he explain: "Elder Sister, could you stop talking to that general? It bothers me."
Impossible. As future Grand Diviner, Fu Xuan would naturally interact with Luofu's leadership.
"Someone's jealous~"
"How adorable."
Fu Xuan's eyes sparkled with amusement. "If my junior brother dislikes it, this sister will ignore the general from now on."
"J-jealous?!" Anming's face burned crimson. He stepped back but dared not pull away forcefully.
"This feeling is called jealousy," Fu Xuan teased, though her own cheeks flushed sunset hues.
"Xuan-jie..." Anming mumbled, ears red.
"Silly."
Fu Xuan booped his forehead. "This sister belongs only to you."
"Really?"
"Have I ever lied to you?"
Only then did Fu Xuan realize Anming had grown taller. The boy chasing her with a rattle drum had become this handsome youth.
When had her junior brother matured so?
Recalling past interactions, Fu Xuan's face burned. Why hadn't she noticed before?
Even deep breaths couldn't calm her racing heart. She could no longer meet Anming's gaze.
"Xuan-jie?"
"It's late! Let's get you settled!"
Fu Xuan marched ahead, unaware of her awkward gait.
Anming glanced at the midday sun. Luofu natives sure sleep early.
That night, Fu Xuan tossed restlessly. Memories of Anming kept surfacing.
Opening her window for fresh air, she spotted him in the courtyard - still as moonlight, sword glinting with dew.
Of course he'd be practicing at this hour.
Outside - a youth with sword under moon.
Inside - a maiden watching by candlelight.
Training Grounds
Jing Yuan knew of Yaoguang's new disciple but hadn't expected such youth.
"Let me find you a proper blade," the general offered lazily, pushing open the armory's massive doors.
As a Cloud Knight armory, it housed countless weapons - even legendary artifacts.
Anming's wooden practice sword hung at his waist. Entering, he gaped at the arsenal stretching endlessly.
"Take what you like. We're comrades-in-arms."
"My thanks, General."
Anming's impression of Jing Yuan was favorable - far more approachable than the aloof Yaoguang.
He bypassed non-swords, then searched for the perfect blade among countless options.
The best wasn't always right. Weapons too required fate's alignment.
"General, is this... a sword?"
Jing Yuan's eyes opened fully, gaze deepening.
The blade in Anming's hands held special meaning - a relic of unforgettable history.
Jet-black with invisible edge, its hilt bore abyssal dragon motifs. Among firewood, it might pass as a poker.
"An unfinished sword," Jing Yuan's eyes grew distant. "Named Nightless."
"Nightless?"
"Perhaps because its hilt disappears in darkness."
The general clapped Anming's shoulder. "It's fated to you. Take it."
"I won't disappoint you, General!"
Anming cradled Nightless like a soulmate, resisting the urge to bind it with red string.
Within that glass-like sword heart, something mattered more than the blade itself.
"Since you're here..."
Jing Yuan's glaive traced golden arcs, radiating true Arbiter-General might.
Anming steadied his breath, raising Nightless solemnly.
"General, I request your guidance."
Later
"So you don't value your health?"
Fu Xuan applied medicinal paste to Anming's back. "That general went too far."
"It's fine. I'm used to it."
Anming winced. "With Xuan-jie here, I need no medicine."
"Oh?" Fu Xuan raised the paste. "Not painful enough then?"
SMACK
"AAAAH!"
Anming's pained howls echoed endlessly.
"Elder Sister, I was wrong."
"No matter. This sister enjoys hearing it."
Fu Xuan smiled impishly, ensuring full paste coverage before wiping her brow.