Paying respects to Mother.

Perhaps it was the endless, rambling chatter of a certain someone that truly worked wonders, for Huan Luo seemed to regain a sliver of lucidity, slowly moving the ancient sword away from that person's perilously exposed neck. The people around them hurried forward, gently lifting Andy from Huan Luo’s shoulder and carrying him away on a stretcher. That lucky fellow, who had been exposed by a single glance and was still barely breathing, was also promptly sent to the rear for treatment.

“So what is this? A perfectly happy ending?” Someone, still shaken, patted her chest in relief.

Liang Yin came running over from behind. She had just been promoted to a senior mage and immediately expended all her magical energy, heightened by the Eternal Staff she wielded. Her face was still pale and her head dizzy, yet in the carnage of this battlefield, she was in remarkably good shape. “Who would have thought, you were so brave! I’m seeing you in a whole new light~”

“Heh, right,” the other replied with a nervous laugh, scratching the back of her head, “If I ever find out who pushed me into danger, I swear I’ll wipe out his entire family!”

Liang Yin fell silent.

“You’re welcome to try, as long as you have the ability to dig up my long-dead parents, aunts, uncles, and revive them all,” Lance, silver-haired, had already returned to his usual smile.

“What kind of scheme are you up to?” She bit her handkerchief in frustration.

“My gut told me that shoving you forward would get the job done. Wasn’t I spot on?” Lance’s smile widened a notch.

“Spot on, my foot! I nearly died under Huan Luo’s sword, and all because some guy who thinks he knows me—when I don’t even know his name—decided to push me into the line of fire!” She protested loudly.

“I have no little sister, I don’t know you, and I don’t intend to tell you my name either.” Lance’s smile grew even broader.

“You’re such an eyesore—just go away…”

Watching the two bicker so happily, Liang Yin shrugged and silently trailed after them.

The great battle of Aikashia ended with General Huan Luo’s rampage. The bloody lesson was clear: never provoke a woman for no reason. No matter how gentle, shy, or composed they seem, every good girl has her breaking point. And the more restrained and courteous she appears in daily life, the more terrifying her outbreak will be.

Ahem, but I digress.

Postwar recovery proceeded in an orderly fashion. The industrious people of Aikashia swiftly re-erected the toppled defensive walls. As long as the walls stand, so does the city—that’s deterrence. And to prevent another breach by magical beasts, the White Tower Kingdom sent a shipment of Dragon’s Breath Powder to be buried beneath the earth. To be blunt, this powder was made from the ground fossils of ancient divine dragons.

In the world of magical beasts, the strong rule absolutely, and none are stronger than dragons. An adult dragon could annihilate an entire nation. Sadly, dragons reproduce with great difficulty, bear few offspring, and their numbers dwindled over time until they vanished without a trace. Now, no one has seen a dragon in living memory—all accounts remain the stuff of legend.

Yet, even a dead camel is bigger than a horse; the aura of extinct dragons is awe-inspiring. Their fossils, still imbued with dragon’s breath, can frighten nearly all magical beasts away. Dragon’s Breath Powder is a veritable holy grail for adventurers and explorers who live in the forests.

Unfortunately, with so few dragons to begin with, the powder is even scarcer—so much so that aside from the highest echelons of the state and the very top aristocratic families, almost no one can afford it. Clearly, the White Tower Kingdom truly spared no expense on border defense this time.

After listening to the soldiers’ animated explanation, the certain someone suddenly squatted down in regret, smacking her own head in distress: “Damn it all, I was a step away from becoming a millionaire and I didn’t seize it. Only after it’s gone do I realize what I’ve lost. If heaven would grant me one more chance, I’d crawl on the ground and gather up all the white powder. And if I had to set a time limit, I’d wish for ten thousand years!”

“What are you doing?” Liang Yin asked in confusion.

Clutching Liang Yin’s hand and whispering, she said, “Remember the white powder scattered outside Huan Luo’s cabin?”

“What?!” Liang Yin, shocked, followed suit and squatted down to smack her own head.

“Eh?” The soldiers, seeing the two envoys suddenly go mad, were left dumbfounded. After a few deep breaths, they recalled that during the envoys’ whispered conversation, their general’s name had come up. Hastily, they reported, “By the way, the king has arranged for the most powerful mage in the White Tower Kingdom—General Huan Luo’s mother, no less—to assist in constructing a magical shield underground. She’s in General Huan Luo’s room right now. The two of you may pay her a visit.”

Driven by intense curiosity about Huan Luo’s mother, the two hurried off to see her.

The people of Aikashia had always respected Huan Luo. Even when they didn’t much like her at first, they still cleaned a two-story stone house especially for her. After her courageous single-handed defeat of the magical beast army, the house was meticulously cleaned overnight, its stone walls gleaming in the sunshine, visible from afar. Volunteers—both women and men—lined up to care for her, but Huan Luo, ever self-reliant, declined them all.

The gatekeepers, spotting Liang Yin’s signature short skirt and her companion’s gray robe from a distance, hurried to let them in.

Sneaking upstairs, they peered through the window. There, beside Huan Luo’s bed, sat an older woman who bore a striking resemblance to her. Her long violet hair was elegantly coiled atop her head, soft side-swept bangs framing tranquil eyes like still water. A floor-length gown outlined her graceful form without revealing too much, exuding dignity and elegance.

“Huan Luo’s mother looks so much like her!” whispered one in awe.

“Wrong order—it’s Huan Luo who looks like her mother,” Liang Yin gently corrected.

“What’s the difference?” the other asked.

“It’s just a matter of who came into this world first, I suppose,” Liang Yin replied.

Before she could say more, a sudden gust of wind blew the window wide open with a creak, exposing their presence.

Huan Luo’s mother, as if she’d known they were there all along, looked at them kindly. “Are you here to see Xiao Luo? Come in and have a seat.” Huan Luo herself sat calmly at the bedside, her eyes lowered. Every wound was tightly bandaged and hidden beneath her clothes, and the warmth of the room had restored her color—she seemed to be recovering well.

Stardust Chronicles 034 – Homage to the Mother, completed!