Yun Che's name echoed through every corner of Blue Wind Imperial City. Not only was he the Blue Wind Ranking Tournament Champion—but now, also the city's Best Chef. A title no one expected to be worn by the same man.
The streets buzzed with excitement, and food stalls were packed with citizens trying to replicate the dishes they'd seen during the contest. Meanwhile, Yun Che casually strolled down the street, Retsu and Mio by his side, a satisfied smile on their faces from their recent meal.
They soon met Mai and Yuanba in front of Mai's noodle shop, where Mei immediately leapt down from Yun Che's arms.
"Thank you, big brother!" Mei grinned brightly. "Your cooking is soooo delicious!"
"Cooking?" Mai blinked. "What are you guys up to today?"
"Just joined a little cooking competition," Yun Che replied with a shrug, like it was no big deal.
Mei puffed out her chest proudly. "Big brother beat the lady who came to our shop a week ago!"
Mai's eyes widened. "Wait—Lady Qian Qian?! You beat her?"
Yun Che scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "Hey, she's the one who challenged me. All I wanted was that big fish."
Mai shook her head in disbelief. "And here I thought that woman left after tasting my soba…"
"She was impressed, but probably wanted to test the original source," Yun Che said with a wink.
"Big brother is the greatest chef in the Blue Wind Empire now!" Mei chimed in with stars in her eyes. "He won the whole competition!"
"Wow, Aniki," Yuanba said with a grin. "You're the strongest fighter and the best cook. Is there anything you can't do?"
"Laundry," Yun Che deadpanned, and they all burst into laughter.
Well, technically speaking, Yun Che did use the System to handle all the laundry… but only when no one was looking.
Moreover, most of his clothes are protected by the Clean Charm from the System so he doesn't need to wash them all the time.
Retsu, on the other hand, refused to rely on it unless she wanted to. She was adamant about learning everything herself—especially when it came to cooking and household chores. She often said with a warm smile, "A proper wife should master these herself." Naturally, the others followed her example, and before long, household duties became a shared activity between all of them—including Yun Che himself.
After dropping Mei off, Yun Che turned toward Mai with a casual grin. "Like I said... all I wanted was that fish."
They all watched as the massive fish—easily the size of an elephant—was stored into Yun Che's spatial ring.
Mai's jaw nearly dropped. A fish that big just disappeared like that? "How in the world did it fit inside your spatial ring?"
He smirked. If only she knew. That "ring" was actually his System Inventory, a dimension vast enough to store an entire dragon corpse without breaking a sweat.
Soon after, Mai offered them tea as they gathered inside her modest but warm shop. Retsu and the other girls moved naturally into the kitchen, preparing light snacks to accompany the tea—blending in as if they belonged here all along.
Mai sat across from Yun Che, curious. "So? What did you want to talk about?"
Yun Che placed his teacup down and looked at her with a seriousness that made her pause.
"I know Yuanba's just entered your life, and I'm glad for both of you," he began. "But… don't forget Mei. She's been with you longer than any of us. She might be smiling now, but she's upset."
Mai blinked. "She is…?"
Yun Che nodded. "She's still a kid. And kids don't always know how to explain how they feel. But if she thinks Yuanba is stealing her sister away… it'll build into resentment. Mei loves you, Mai. Don't let her feel like she has to compete for that love."
Mai turned her head slowly, eyes falling on Mei who sat in the corner nibbling on snacks with Kon, sneaking glances at her sister and Yuanba.
Yun Che's words hit like a soft hammer—gentle but impossible to ignore.
"…You're right," Mai whispered. "She's all I had… and I might've taken her for granted. I'll make it up to her."
Yun Che leaned back, satisfied. "That's all I wanted to hear."
In the kitchen, Retsu gave Yun Che a proud little smile over her shoulder. He could've ignored the issue… but he didn't.
He never does, she thought.
After Yuanba returned to his sect and Yun Che excused himself with a casual wave, the little shop settled into a quiet lull.
Mai turned her gaze toward Mei, who was busy stacking dishes with Retsu in the kitchen, her cheerful hum just a little too forced. Yun Che's words echoed in her heart.
She stepped forward, smiling gently. "Mei?"
Mei blinked, surprised. "Yes, big sis?"
"Want to go shopping with me?"
"Eh? Really?" Her eyes lit up like fireworks.
"Yes. Just the two of us." Mai chuckled softly. "Come on—let's get changed before someone else shows up and steals you away."
A bright grin spread across Mei's face as she ran over to hug her sister. "Thanks, big sis!"
Mai knelt down and hugged her back tightly. "No, thank you, Mei… for always being here."
As they stepped into the back to get ready, Mai felt a warmth growing in her heart. Yun Che was right.
Happiness doesn't just come from having people in your life—it comes from showing them they matter.
And today, she'd start doing just that.
=========================
"What the hell happened here?" Yun Che asked as he entered the grand throne room, Retsu, Mio, and Nemu walking at his sides. Kon was perched on his shoulder, muttering complaints about being used as a pack mule.
He had already stored the giant fish discreetly into his System Inventory away from curious eyes—no one needed to witness an elephant-sized fish vanish into thin air. At least he arrived at the palace before too many people noticed.
But the moment he stepped into the throne room, his steps froze.
"…The hell?" he blinked.
There, sprawled sideways on the imperial throne like a lazy cat, was none other than Shin Yue—feet dangling over the armrest, a manga in her hands, flipping pages with zero care for her royal image. Beside her, Mei Mei looked absolutely done, on the verge of tears.
"Yun Che! Thank god you're here!" Mei Mei cried, rushing to him like a drowning woman reaching for a raft. "I can't handle her anymore!"
"Handle what?" he asked, confused.
"Yo, Che'er," Shin Yue waved lazily without looking up from her manga. "This manga you gave me is good shit. Got any more?"
"Princess!" Mei Mei shouted, throwing her arms up. "She's rude, obnoxious, utterly shameless! No table manners, curses like a bandit, and lounges around like this is her private spa!"
"I am the princess," Shin Yue deadpanned, finally sitting upright and stretching. "Besides, I'm wearing clothes. It's not like I'm butt naked or anything." She glanced at Mei Mei. "Oi, I'm hungry. Let's f*ckin' eat already."
"See?!" Mei Mei screamed, her spirit visibly cracking.
Yun Che rubbed his forehead. "Yep. That's definitely Shin Yue. Same as ever."
Yun Che sighed, deciding not to deal with Shin Yue's chaos on an empty stomach. With a wave of his hand, he summoned the five signature dishes he had used in the competition, arranging them neatly on the long dining table.
The moment the aromas hit the air, Shin Yue practically dove for the food. "Finally!" she growled, grabbing her chopsticks like a bandit raiding a kitchen.
Mei Mei sat down beside her with a deep breath, already bracing herself for what was about to come.
"This is fckin' delicious!*" Shin Yue grinned wide, cheeks puffed with food.
"Princess!" Mei Mei sighed and glanced toward Yun Che, silently begging for help with her eyes.
Soon after, Xue Ling, Lin Yueru and Jin Mulan arrived, followed by Cang Wanhe himself. The moment they entered and saw Shin Yue shoveling food like a starved beast, they hesitated. The tension in the room spiked.
It wasn't that anyone dared to say anything—not to the Princess—but Yun Che could feel it. Everyone longed for the graceful and refined Imperial Princess Cang Yue… not this foul-mouthed whirlwind devouring a perfectly prepared divine meal.
"So," Yun Che asked casually, leaning back. "Mei Mei said something about… you picking a fight with the Heavenly Sword Villa?"
Everyone froze.
Shin Yue just kept chewing, then muttered through a mouthful, "Damn right. Those bastards tried building a compound in my palace grounds. My f*ckin' palace."
"…She what?" Yun Che blinked.
"She went straight to the Heavenly Sword Villa gates," Xue Ling chimed in with a grave expression. "Dismantled several of their battle arks… and tore down their protective formation."
"She didn't kill anyone, right?" Yun Che asked, eye twitching.
"No. Miraculously, she stopped there," Xue Ling confirmed. "But she beat the hell out of several of their elite disciples who tried to stop her. She fought Ling Tianni and she—"
"I dropkicked him into his own hall," Shin Yue said proudly, mouth full of potato roasted beef.
Cang Wanhe buried his face in his palm.
Yun Che stared at her like she was a loose cannon with legs. "…You really are a menace."
"Thanks, I enjoyed the rest of the day for once." She grinned, holding up a peace sign with greasy fingers.
Cang Wanhe looked at Yun Che. "Can I bribe you to tame her? Maybe feed her into submission?"
"Can't promise anything, old man," Yun Che said, deadpan. "She might eat me at this rate."
Retsu, Mio, and Nemu didn't flinch.
They sat calmly on the side, as if Shin Yue's hurricane of profanity and food spray was just background noise—like birds chirping or wind rustling through trees.
After all, they'd seen worse.
Retsu smiled softly, gracefully laying out a large glass bowl of freshly made fruit salad, each slice arranged with delicate precision. Beside it, Mio was already stacking warm chocolate chip cookies on a porcelain plate, their aroma dancing through the air.
Nemu, in her usual monotone, placed napkins and tea cups down with mechanical efficiency. "Yuu-sama. Nee-sama and I made some snacks for...."
"OHHHHHHH!" Shin Yue turned her head like a hungry beast. "COOKIES?!"
"Not for you," Mio said sweetly but firmly, blocking Shin Yue's outstretched chopsticks with her fam. "These are for desserts. You already had five dishes."
"Aw come on!" Shin Yue grinned like a kid caught stealing candy. "Just one!"
"You licked your chopsticks and used them to jab roast beef," Retsu replied politely, pouring tea. "Try to behave, and we'll consider sharing."
"Ret-chan, you're crueler than you look…" Mio mused.
Meanwhile, Kon was nowhere to be seen. Yun Che could sense him hiding inside the inner world, likely quivering inside a fruit crate or behind a giant fish, whispering "Not again… not the fluff punches…"
Cang Wanhe blinked as he watched the well-oiled machine of Yun Che's household handle Shin Yue like they've been doing this for years.
"Che'er… are they always this calm?" he asked.
"Pretty much," Yun Che shrugged. "You get used to Shin Yue after a while. She's like a storm—terrifying at first, but eventually you realize if you tie things down and don't take her too seriously, you'll survive."
"You say that like she's a natural disaster," Xue Ling muttered. Remembering her capabilities should someone managed to piss her off. She wiped out the Heavenly Sword Villa's palace compound and took down their top elders. Even Ling Kun have to be respectful towards her.
"She kinda is," Mei Mei added, nibbling a cookie Retsu passed her.
"Can I have one too?" Shin Yue asked again, putting on the puppy eyes technique she took from her nicer half. "Please? I'll be nice for like… five minutes!"
Retsu blinked, then held up a finger. "Five minutes. No swearing. No grabbing. No chopsticks flinging."
"...Deal." Shin Yue immediately snatched a cookie like her life depended on it.
"...She broke two of the three rules in under ten seconds," Nemu stated.
"I'm improving!" Shin Yue grinned with her mouth full.
Yun Che just laughed, sipping his tea. He looked at his odd, chaotic, and somehow balanced group of friends and allies. Despite everything—from cooking tournaments to sky-splitting battles—these peaceful moments were starting to feel like home.
==============
The moment Shin Yue finally fell dormant at the end of the day, silence returned to the palace like a blessed breeze after a wildfire. And with it...
Cang Yue's features returned as her hair is back to normal length and color. Her eyes transitioned back to its original look.
"Wonder why Shin Yue was grinning in the Moon World?" The serene atmosphere she left behind was nothing like the one she returned to.
"Mei Mei?" she blinked as the attendant sprinted into her arms and clung tightly, like a child reuniting with a long-lost sister.
"You're back!" Mei Mei sniffled. "Thank the heavens… You're you again!"
"…Did something happen?" Cang Yue asked, bewildered. "I've only been training since morning—"
Before she could finish, Xue Ling, Mei Mei, Lin Yueru and Jin Mulan began talking all at once, eyes wide, voices trembling with disbelief and anxiety.
As their words poured out, Cang Yue felt her blood slowly run cold.
"…She did what?"
"She stormed the Heavenly Sword Villa—"
"She shattered their defensive formation—"
"She beat the Grand Villa Master into the ground!"
"She cursed at the nobles and sat on the throne sideways while reading manga—!"
Cang Yue sighs, and she instinctively grabbed a nearby pillar to steady herself. Her vision swam with disbelief as the magnitude of what Shin Yue had done came crashing down like a tidal wave.
She left her for a whole day and she already causing more trouble than Yun Che ever could.
The worst part wasn't even the destruction—it was the shame.
The endless apologies she owed and the image of her royal self tainted by her other half's recklessness.
"She humiliated the Heavenly Sword Villa," Xue Ling said, arms crossed, trying to keep her voice level. "We were ready for war."
"But they retreated," Mei Mei added softly. "She was too powerful. Too… unhinged."
Cang Yue closed her eyes, gripping her robes tightly. "No wonder… everyone was looking at me differently on the way back."
There was silence.
Then her voice trembled. "I thought… I was gaining control. But she's still so strong."
"She's not just strong," Xue Ling replied gently. "She's terrifying. But… no one can deny she got results. The Villa is quiet now. We even received reparations."
"That doesn't make it right," Cang Yue whispered.
"No," Yun Che's voice came from behind as he entered the hall, "but it made them listen. You can't hold an unpredictable bomb like Shin Yue. She's a wild child. The more you hold her, the more outburst she becomes."
She turned to him, eyes searching.
"Yun Che… what should I do?"
He stepped closer, meeting her gaze with calm seriousness. "You do what you do best. Lead with grace. The best you can do is ask her to tone down the unethical part of her."
"I can't keep apologizing for her forever…"
"You won't have to. Not if you turn her destruction into your foundation."
Cang Yue looked down at her hands—soft, clean, refined. Not built to fight, not like Shin Yue's—but still capable of holding power.
----------------
"Yun Che… I'm so sorry," she bowed yet again, voice calm, poised—and exhausted. "For everything she said. For everything she did."
"You already apologized seven times," he replied dryly, waving a hand. "You're starting to sound like a broken sound stone."
"But I haven't apologized to the kitchen staff, the court officials, the guards, the maids, the musicians, the gardeners—"
"They're all used to it by now," Retsu added, sipping her tea elegantly.
"Especially the attendants. All of them just avoided her to avoid being torched alive," Mio quipped.
Still, Yun Che could see the fatigue behind Cang Yue's perfect posture. The composure of a ruler clashing with the chaos of a beast within.
Mei Mei, ever loyal, clung to her. "Welcome back, Yue'er. Please don't leave me alone with her again…"
Cang Yue gently stroked her hair, her regal smile softening. "Don't worry, Mei Mei. I'm here."
She wasn't just "here." She was taking over.
And when she did, things moved quickly.
Despite all the damage caused, something strange happened: no one blamed her.
The court was initially in chaos, but after the reports of Shin Yue wiping out several battle arks of the Heavenly Sword Villa, whispers began to circulate.
"That mad princess may be crazy, but she's strong."
"Did you see what she did to their defensive formation?"
"We… might actually be safer with her around."
The very nobles who scorned her before now lowered their heads.
The Heavenly Sword Villa, on the other hand, swallowed the bitterest pill of all. With their ego bruised and their elite warships reduced to rubble, they had no choice but to offer compensation—and publicly.
They issued an official statement:
"The Heavenly Sword Villa expresses regret over the incident involving our misunderstanding with Her Highness. In the spirit of peace and mutual respect, we will offer valuable resources as a gesture of reconciliation."
Yun Che almost spit out his tea when he read it.
"Valuable resources?" He laughed. "What a nice way of saying they were forced to pay up after getting slapped."
Mei Mei handed him a scroll.
"Here's the list. Spirit-grade ores, herbs, even a cultivation scripture."
"Well damn. Shin Yue's rampage paid off."
But perhaps the most shocking part?
Cang Yue didn't regret it.
Not one bit.
She was ashamed of her counterpart's behavior, but when it came to the results? She knew politics. She knew power.
And she understood now—Shin Yue's madness bought her credibility.
She would not waste it.
===================
The following day…
"May I ask what are you three doing here?" Yun Che asked, eyebrow raised as he saw the three women waiting in the courtyard, each with travel bags slung over their shoulders.
Xue Ling replied first, adjusting the sword strapped to her back. "Wherever Cang Yue goes, so will I. Someone has to make sure she doesn't get into another mess like the last one."
Lin Yueru crossed her arms. "And I go where Yue'er goes. She accepted me after all."
Jin Mulan stood a little off to the side, her usual poise regal yet humble. "I am the main envoy after all. I am more on escorting her back to the Jin Province. My presence there will ease the tensions with my family."
"No, I wasn't talking about you three," Yun Che said, narrowing his eyes. He turned slightly and jabbed a thumb over his shoulder. "I meant these three."
Standing just behind him were Chu Yueli, Little Fairy, and—most notably—Xia Qingyue. Each of them was already travel-ready, their expressions unreadable but their intent as clear as day.
"You told me to see the world," Qingyue said softly, her voice calm but firm. "So I will follow you."
Little Fairy crossed her arms with a faint huff. "I'm just here to escort her. Wherever she goes, I go." Then she glanced at Yun Che and sent a sound transmission straight into his mind, her voice warmer, more teasing.You're going on another adventure, aren't you? There's no way I'm letting you have all the fun without me this time.
Chu Yueli sighed in resignation. "These two are doing something reckless again... Don't worry. We've already arranged for our absence. Officially, we'll be in closed-door training. No one will notice we're gone for the next ten days."
Yun Che arched a brow. "Including you?"
"Yes," she replied with a quiet nod. "I'll go with them."
Before he could respond, Retsu and Mio appeared with Cang Yue following close behind. All three were dressed simply, their usual elegance toned down to avoid attention. Their luggage had already been stashed within their spatial inventories and Cang Yue's Moon World, the imperial princess now fully cloaked in the guise of an envoy.
"I thought I kept this whole trip under wraps," Yun Che muttered.
"Oh, actually…" Chu Yueli gestured with a subtle smirk. "She was the one who told us."
She pointed straight at Retsu, who instantly froze like a child caught red-handed. She twiddled her fingers shyly under Yun Che's gaze, avoiding eye contact.
"…Retsu." Yun Che sighed as he reached out and gave her cheek a gentle pinch. "What do you have to say for yourself?"
"I-I'm sowwy…" she pouted. "Sister Yuechan made me tell her…"
Yun Che ran a hand down his face with a sigh. "Well… the cat's out of the bag anyway."
Cang Yue walked up beside him, her gaze sweeping across the gathered group—some warriors, some family, all fiercely loyal. "This might not be the quiet trip we expected," she murmured.
Yun Che chuckled under his breath. "With this group? Quiet's a myth."
He looked out toward the horizon.
Yun Che sighed deeply, the kind of sigh that came not from frustration—but from the weight of inevitability. He scanned the growing number of women now accompanying him on what was supposed to be a quiet diplomatic trip. From deadly cultivators to stoic princesses, the entourage looked less like a political mission and more like a divine procession of unpredictable elements.
His gaze returned to Retsu, who was still twiddling her fingers with an apologetic pout on her face. "Sowwy," she repeated under her breath.
Chu Yueli folded her arms. "It's not like we would let them leave without supervision. Besides, given their connection to you, it's safer this way."
Little Fairy scoffed softly, arms crossed. "Safer for them or safer for you, dear sister?"
"Both," Chu Yueli replied flatly. "And don't think I missed that you're using this 'escort' thing as an excuse to tag along."
Little Fairy turned her face away, not denying it. Yun Che didn't push it either. Her transmission earlier still lingered in his mind—"I'm not laying low while you have fun someplace else." A part of him warmed at her words.
Then his eyes landed on Xia Qingyue.
She stood poised, serene, dressed for travel in soft, plum-colored robes that hinted more at royalty than a disciple. Her voice was calm but firm: "You told me to see the world, Yun Che. I intend to. I'll walk this road with you... as far as it leads."
That alone made him pause. She had changed.
No longer the ice-cold girl from Floating Cloud City. This Qingyue was showing something deeper—resolve, maybe even affection. A glimmer of regret, too, still hung behind her violet eyes. Perhaps she was still trying to make up for something only she remembered.
"Well," Yun Che muttered, brushing a hand through his hair. "Guess I'm not just escorting Cang Yue anymore. We might as well declare this a grand tour of the Profound Sky Continent while we're at it."
Behind him, Kon poked his lion head out from Yun Che's shoulder, eyeing the growing number of girls. "Oi, at this rate, you'll need a damn battle ark just to carry your harem."
Yun Che flicked him off his shoulder, and Kon landed face-down in the dirt. He glanced around. The open zone they were standing in was still charred and cracked from Shin Yue's temper tantrum the day before. Whatever she did, it looked like a bomb went off. He sighed internally. Please let this trip be less explosive.
They were all dressed for the road, though their light steps and confident auras didn't give away the political weight this journey carried. Jin Mulan's gaze lingered on Yun Che longer than the others'. She was smiling softly—an almost wistful smile.
He noticed. "Something on your mind?"
"I'm… glad you're coming with us," she said quietly. "This might be our chance."
Yun Che tilted his head. "Chance?"
She looked away, brushing a strand of silver hair from her face. "To help you remember."
He blinked but said nothing.
Yun Che sighs. The four Wisdom Cubes are now ready and he could summon another companion—but he'd wait. No need to bring an untrained soul into what might be a messy regional conflict.
Even among them, the chaos from yesterday still lingered in the air like ash.
Their trip to the Jin Province was expected to take no more than ten days—just enough time to deal with the Wu Clan's rebellion and return before the Heaven Basin Secret Realm opened. Cang Yue, now acting under royal envoy disguise, would be the face of diplomacy, and Jin Mulan would be the shield that made it stick.
Retsu came forward again, now more composed after her cheek-pinching. "So… are we still going to the Jin Province?"
"Yes," Cang Yue answered, stepping forward. She wore a travel cloak over her usual imperial garb, her eyes now sharper, more determined. "Let's end this quickly."
"Is Mei Mei still sulking?" Yun Che asked walked up next to her.
"Yes," Cang Yue sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly. "But… it's for her own good. I can't bring someone with low cultivation into a soon-to-be active warzone. No matter how much she begged."
"She'll understand eventually," Yun Che replied, his tone soft but firm. "Even if it hurts now, it's better than seeing her hurt later."
Cang Yue nodded, her gaze distant. "It took everything I had just to convince her to stay behind. She thinks I don't trust her... but it's not about that."
"It's about protecting her," he said, finishing her thought.
"She's like a little sister to me. If anything were to happen to her because I brought her into this..." Her voice trailed off as she clenched her fists in her lap. "I wouldn't forgive myself."
"You did the right thing." He looked her in the eyes. "The best leaders know when to shield those they care about—even if it means being the villain in their story for a little while."
Cang Yue gave a weak smile. "I just hope she'll forgive me when I return."
"She will," Yun Che said with quiet confidence. "Especially when she sees what you were willing to carry to keep her safe."
Yun Che exhaled sharply, rubbing the back of his neck.
"No wonder Little Fairy didn't show up last night… She was packing her stuff. Probably along with Qingyue."
Retsu tilted her head, glancing around. "Then… where's Nemu? She's been missing since breakfast."
"She's working on something I asked her to do," Yun Che replied. "We're waiting for her before we depart."
He turned to Jin Mulan, who stood beside him calmly.
"How far is the Jin Province?"
"If we take a carriage, six days," Jin Mulan answered promptly. "A flying ark would get us there in about four and a half. If we fly ourselves—nonstop, with brief camps—three days at best."
Yun Che frowned slightly. "Still too long."
The others looked at him curiously as he smirked. "Don't worry. We're still using an ark—but with a little twist, it'll take us two hours tops."
"Two hours?!" all the girls echoed in unison, shock washing across their faces. Even Retsu and Mio looked stunned.
"Is that even possible?" Lin Yueru asked, her brows furrowed. "What kind of ark can move that fast?"
Suddenly, a sharp screech tore across the skies—like metal parting the heavens.
The ground trembled slightly, and all eyes turned upward.
Descending through the clouds was a massive, sleek aircraft, unlike anything any of them had seen before. Its black and silver surface shimmered in the sun, rotating thrusters adjusting with mechanical precision. Instead of the curved elegance of traditional flying arks, this vessel was angular, powerful, and intimidatingly modern.
"What the hell is that?!" Kon shouted.
Yun Che raised his hand toward the sky, smirking proudly.
"Girls… that's not just any ark," he said as the wind howled around them. "That thing's called a VTOL aircraft—Vertical Take-Off and Landing. It's faster, stronger, and smarter than anything you've ever flown in."
----------------------------
[Ding... 'Baffled' Achievement achieved,]
[Make your followers baffled seeing modern technological wonders.]
[XP: 250,000]
[SP: 70,000]
[New Frame Unlocked]
The frame shows chibi version of Yun Che using shades as he drove past wuxia people in a car.
----------------------------
The aircraft began to descend, thrusters shifting for a smooth landing. Dust kicked up in spirals as it hovered just above the ground.
The aircraft hovered silently above the cleared compound, a black silhouette against the fading twilight. Its sleek, angular form sliced through the air with predatory grace, the fuselage lined with reinforced armor plates and etched with tactical markings—"01" boldly painted near the cockpit, as if daring anyone to challenge its dominance. The tinted canopy reflected the dying light, giving no hint of the pilot within, only the cold, unreadable expression of a machine bred for precision and power.
Twin wings extended outward from its core, each tipped with rotating engine nacelles that whirred softly, enabling it to transition seamlessly between hovering and high-speed flight. From the underside of those wings, weapon pods jutted out like the claws of a bird of prey—missiles, cannons, and modular attachments ready to rain destruction at a moment's notice. Every inch of the VTOL's body was purpose-built, from the sharp tail fins to the embedded sensor arrays, giving it the look of a raven forged in steel and shadows.
As it banked in a slow arc above the compound, the craft emitted no more than a low hum, its anti-gravity systems finely tuned to minimize noise. Below, the palace officials scattered for cover, some pointing skyward in awe or dread. To them, this wasn't just another aerial vehicle—it was a symbol. A specter of modern warfare, sent not merely to fight, but to dominate. And when it finally descended, landing gears unfolding like talons upon concrete, it did so with the authority of a god descending to earth.
It was not a vehicle—it was a message. A declaration that the future of combat belonged to the machines that flew without fear, struck without warning, and disappeared without trace.
-----------------
"VTOL?" Qingyue asked, her eyes fixed on the descending aircraft. Its sleek frame gleamed like polished obsidian under the morning sun, humming with energy foreign to this world. Compared to the floating arks they knew, this machine looked like it had descended from a realm beyond imagination.
"It stands for Vertical Take-Off and Landing," Yun Che explained, hands in his pockets as the thrusters flared beneath the ship. "It means it can take off or land just about anywhere—no launch pad, no runway. Just raw precision and power."
With a gentle hiss, the aircraft touched down, stabilizers kicking in. The mechanical whir quieted as the VTOL powered down, exuding a soft pulse of residual energy.
By now, a small crowd had gathered—palace officials, guards, soldiers, and curious maids drawn in by the strange, majestic machine. None of them had ever seen anything like it.
Even Cang Wanhe were flanked by his protectors upon seeing this metallic beast.
A light beep signaled the locking mechanism, and the rear bay door began to lower slowly, steam venting from the hydraulic locks.
From the soft mist inside, Nemu stepped out—calm, composed, and holding her ever-present clipboard. Her dress fluttered slightly from the air pressure as she descended the ramp.
"She was the one piloting it?" Lin Yueru blinked, surprised.
"Yep," Yun Che confirmed. "She handled the entire flight prep. Optimized the thrust patterns and customized the terrain mapping last night."
Nemu stopped at the base of the ramp, bowing slightly. "Yuu-sama, The VTOL fully landed. All systems stable. Pre-programmed return route ready on standby."
Even Qingyue's expression cracked, her eyes widening slightly. "Just how much more have you been hiding from us, Yun Che?"
He chuckled. "Let's just say… a lot. I can't reveal too much without frying your brain. Inside that VTOL has more things that can make you asked thousands and thousands of questions."
The group exchanged glances, excitement mixing with awe. Whatever awaited them in the Jin Province, they wouldn't be arriving like any other envoy.
They'd be arriving legendary.
"This," Yun Che began, nodding toward the gleaming craft behind him, "was the special request I asked Nemu to build. A Profound Engine powered VTOL-class aircraft, codenamed 'Sleek'."
The wind kicked gently around them as the engines finished venting residual energy, the sleek contours of the aircraft casting a shadow across the marble courtyard.
"It took her two weeks to construct using the materials we gathered in our spare time," he added casually. Of course, he didn't mention the 250,000 SP it cost, nor the ridiculous amount of raw materials required. Or the fact that he'd purchased the schematics using the System Interface and handed them over to Nemu, who tirelessly, happily scavenged, engineered, and built it—during the chaos of the ranking tournament, no less.
Nemu stood beside the ramp now, clipboard in hand, her expression blank as ever. But Yun Che knew better. Behind that calm face was a quiet pride.
The girls were still staring. Bewildered. Awestruck.
"This thing…" Lin Yueru muttered, "makes every Profound Ark I've ever seen look like a clunky barge."
"To think something can cross the distance to the Jin Province—four days by flight ark—in less than three hours..." Cang Yue added, her voice soft, stunned.
"To think something like this exists…" Cang Wanhe muttered, still in disbelief as his eyes followed the VTOL's seamless landing. "Compared to this, even his other innovations like modern toilets, fans, light switches, and air-conditioning systems feel like peasant tools." He turned to his daughter. "What kind of man are you engaged to, Yue'er?"
Cang Yue sighed softly, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "Honestly, Father… if you saw the things I've seen him do, even you wouldn't believe it. He once built something called Heavenly Star - Libra... and that was just the beginning."
Her voice trailed off as he once mentioned his Dead Spirit Realm—floating cities, mechanical beasts, and a battlefield lit with the glow of artificial stars. Of course something like this aircraft was possible to him.
Qingyue, mesmerized, ran her fingers along the smooth alloy surface. "How fast is this, really?" she whispered. "This isn't just speed. It's... a completely different world."
Yun Che chuckled, folding his arms confidently. "Let's just say this bird doesn't fly—it glides through the air like it owns the sky." His expression turned a little smug. "It's part of the 'Technology' I mentioned before—only, I made a few tweaks. Installed a profound core to bypass fuel usage."
"Yuu-kun…" Retsu clung gently to his arm, wide-eyed. "Are we really going to ride this?"
"We are," he grinned. "So grab a seat. We've got a province to reach—and a Wu Clan problem to fix."
Mio snapped her fan open with a coy smirk. "About time. Let's see if the Wu Clan is prepared to face a storm arriving on dragon wings."
Qingyue and Little Fairy exchanged a look—equal parts awe and excitement. Even Chu Yueli, always composed, was visibly stunned.
Xue Ling, Lin Yueru, and Jin Mulan didn't fare much better. All three stared at the aircraft like it had stepped straight out of a divine artifact treasury.
"Is this…" Lin Yueru breathed, "truly the technology from where you, Retsu, and Nemu came from?"
"A world beyond ours?" Jin Mulan added. "A realm of such… advancement?"
Yun Che simply stepped aboard, his back turned as the VTOL hummed to life.
"Let's just say," he called over his shoulder, "where we come from… impossible is just the start."
Yun Che stood at the edge of the ruined compound zone, hands in his pockets as he surveyed the devastation left behind by Shin Yue. Well… she really did them a favor. The area, once a heavily guarded sector of the palace, was now nothing more than scorched earth and fractured stone.
"Hmmm," he mused aloud. "I might just repurpose this place into a VTOL port. It's big enough to dock ten of them."
Nemu approached with her usual quiet grace, her voice soft but certain. "Yuu-sama, what about the other requests you asked for? I've completed them as well."
He raised an eyebrow, a sly grin tugging at his lips. "You did? Well, let's save the surprise for when we arrive. No point spoiling the fun early."
He turned to the group gathered behind him. "Shall we board, or do you girls need a few more minutes to admire the scenery?"
One by one, everyone climbed aboard the VTOL. The inside was sleek—like a cross between a high-tech war machine and a luxury private jet. Yun Che guided them to put their luggage for those who didn't possessed spatial worlds or rings. Padded seats lined both sides, soft lighting illuminated the interior, and the subtle hum of its core systems vibrated beneath their feet.
"This thing's entirely metal…" Xue Ling muttered, brushing her fingers over the cold surface of the door as it sealed behind them. "And yet it flies better than any profound ark I've ever seen."
"To think he knows about this." Jin Mulan wondered. A six day trip compressed into two hours was more than astonishing. Two hours was all it take to go back to her home providence.
Little Fairy narrowed her eyes, curious. "How did you even construct something like this in just two weeks?"
Nemu simply shrugged, her tone completely flat. "I just followed the plans he gave me."
Before Little Fairy could inquire further, Yun Che appeared beside her seat, crouching to demonstrate. "Mind fastening your seat belt?"
"Seat… belt?" she repeated, puzzled.
He reached over and pulled the belt across her lap, snapping it into place with a satisfying click. "Just in case we hit a bit of wind."
The others quickly caught on and fastened their own belts, mimicking his movements. Retsu and Mio had already buckled in with practiced ease.
"I think we're good to go," Yun Che said as he tapped the cockpit's panel, signaling Nemu. Seeing her giddily acting like a tech geek made him smile. He remembered how excited Nemu was when he gave her the task of creating the VTOL and piloting it.
Outside, Cang Wanhe stood waving. "Be careful, Yue'er!"
Cang Yue leaned toward the window and gave her father a reassuring nod. "I will, Father. I promise."
This wasn't just a journey.
It was a mission—her mission. To protect the empire, to restore balance, and maybe... to see just how far the future had come to meet their world.
The ramp retracted behind them with a soft hiss, sealing the passengers inside with a faint pneumatic whisper. Overhead, control panels blinked to life—each screen glowing with foreign symbols, data streams, and shifting schematics in a language no one but two people aboard could understand.
Nemu slid into the pilot's seat like a veteran, her petite fingers moving with practiced precision as she initiated the startup sequence. Beside her, Yun Che settled into the co-pilot's chair, his hands gliding over controls and toggles with the ease of long-ingrained muscle memory. He didn't hesitate—just reached, pressed, adjusted. As if he'd flown a hundred of these before.
The others watched in awe, their eyes still locked onto the glowing panels and sleek surfaces surrounding them. The more they saw, the more they realized—they had clearly underestimated Yun Che's knowledge… and the world he came from.
"Just how do you even know how to pilot this thing?" Qingyue finally asked, her gaze shifting from the controls to him.
Yun Che smirked, fingers resting casually on the throttle. "I told you before… the Dead Spirit Realm isn't just some wasteland filled with vengeful souls and cursed energy. It's a highly advanced realm—technologically, strategically, and militarily."
He gestured to the dashboard in front of him. "While you were learning to condense your profound energy into ice spikes, we were learning to pilot these beasts and wield weapons that could flatten cities."
Qingyue blinked. "So… this is normal in your world?"
He chuckled. "Normal enough that I could fly one of these half-asleep."
Little Fairy's brow furrowed in thought. "Then… does that mean Sister Retsu can pilot one too?"
Yun Che shook his head. "Nope. Retsu was part of the frontline assault divisions. She didn't train for logistics or piloting."
Retsu, seated calmly and enjoying the scenery projected on the artificial windows, nodded softly in agreement.
"Her training was pure combat," Yun Che continued. "These VTOLs would fly her into enemy territory, drop her into the middle of a warzone… and then, well—she'd start the massacre."
A small smile played across Retsu's lips as Mio giggled beside her, clearly unfazed by the terrifying image.
"…You make that sound way too casual," Lin Yueru muttered, glancing between the two.
"I am casual," Yun Che replied, his grin never fading. "Because Retsu's version of a warm-up is a hundred enemies, minimum."
The girls exchanged looks—equal parts awe and disbelief. Each new revelation about Yun Che's origins seemed to make their current reality feel smaller and smaller.
And the VTOL? Still slicing through the sky like a sovereign predator, untouched by the world below.
"What are all these symbols…?" Lin Yueru whispered, eyes flickering across the glowing panels.
"Not even close to any runes or inscription arrays I've ever seen," Chu Yueli murmured. "Is this truly… a machine?"
Yun Che remained silent, his focus locked as he powered the control core. He made sure to manually disable the weapons system—he didn't need any accidental combat protocols triggering today.
From outside, the VTOL hummed louder and louder—its deep, resonant growl unlike anything the bystanders had ever heard. Soldiers and servants instinctively backed away, shielding their eyes from the glowing propulsion units that began to flare underneath. Red and green lights underneath began flickering.
Then the lift systems engaged.
With an otherworldly whirr, the VTOL gently lifted off the ground, rising like a feather on unseen currents. Dust and leaves scattered in its wake. The onlookers stood in stunned silence as the aircraft tilted into flight posture—graceful, calculated, precise.
Inside, the girls grabbed their seats in astonishment, bracing as the VTOL locked onto its heading.
Yun Che and Nemu stabilized the VTOL as they retracted the landing pads below.
"This isn't flying…" Qingyue breathed, eyes wide. "This is gliding through space like a sovereign beast."
"There are no windows…" Little Fairy noted, eyes narrowing.
"No need," Yun Che replied without turning. "Visuals are projected using external cameras. Artificial windows. Full-spectrum vision. You'll see more from here than any porthole."
True to his words, the cabin walls shimmered, revealing seamless panoramic displays—showing the city shrinking below them, the skies stretching wide ahead, and the walls of the Imperial Capital vanishing into the distance behind them.
And then, without warning, thrust engaged.
The vertical propulsion shifted with a magnetic click, locking into horizontal drive mode. The VTOL burst forward like a shot, accelerating so smoothly it felt unreal. Not a jolt. Not a lurch.
Just speed—pure, breathtaking speed.
The skies parted around them as clouds zipped by, the Imperial City shrinking into the background like a child's toy set.
"W-We've already passed the main gates!" Xue Ling gasped, gripping her seat.
"And we've only just taken off," Mio said, grinning with anticipation.
Inside that sleek metal craft, silence gave way to wonder.
Yun Che allowed himself a smirk. "Ladies, this is your pilot speaking. Welcome aboard to Sleek. Next stop—Jin Providence. Arrival in under two hours. Please keep your seatbelts fastened."