As the master of the Chang’an Dojo, Yaze shared an unbreakable bond with his Xianling.
Ever since awakening her, he had grown used to a life accompanied by the terracotta soldier.
No matter what he did wrong, she was always there to clean up the mess.
No matter what danger he faced, she would protect him.
On the battlefield, they were comrades, fighting as one.
Off the battlefield, they were inseparable companions, supporting each other through everything.
So when she suddenly left a note and disappeared, Yaze felt like the sky had collapsed.
Panic and helplessness overwhelmed him.
He wasn’t used to this kind of life.
He’d prepare two breakfasts out of habit, only to realize she was no longer home.
He’d work late into the night, then notice the missing pot of warm tea by his side.
That tea wasn’t anything fancy, but on cold nights like these, it had become essential.
Without that tea, the nights were unbearably long.
Yaze had always known how important she was to his life.
But he never imagined that without her, life could become this miserable.
“But why did you leave…?”
Yaze didn’t understand.
He had always treated her with utmost respect, never once crossing the line.
Yet a few days ago, she suddenly became visibly withdrawn.
Her whole demeanor grew gloomy.
In the end, she left a note and vanished.
The note said: [I want to try a different kind of life. Please don’t summon me.]
A different kind of life?
—You could’ve just told me what kind! After seventeen years of friendship, do you really think I’d stand in your way if it’s something you wanted?
At first, Yaze was angry too.
To him, leaving without a word was a sign of distrust.
They could’ve faced the problem together—but instead, she chose this method…
Women are so troublesome! No—female terracotta soldiers are so troublesome!
But after a few days, his anger faded.
Now, he only wanted her to come back.
If she would come back, even if he had to break every bone in his body, it would be worth it.
[Jump.]
Urged by the fortune-telling girl, Yaze made up his mind.
He must be out of his mind—putting his life on the line just because of some random fortune-teller’s words.
Maybe he really had gone crazy.
But if she truly didn’t want to be his Xianling anymore, then jumping down and setting her free… wasn’t such a bad idea.
“Goodbye.”
Yaze climbed onto the windowsill and leapt out!
“Master!”
Just as he leapt, a startled cry rang out behind him.
Yaze turned back in surprise.
But his expression quickly fell.
It wasn’t her.
It was the newly hired maid.
Her wine-red hair matched the strands that used to spill from his Xianling’s helmet.
With life falling apart without her, he needed someone—anyone—to fill that gap.
That’s why he hired this girl.
She was diligent, gentle, and did a good job… but she was never her.
“Yaze! You idiot!”
The little maid was nearly in tears, shouting his name as she sprinted toward the window!
What was she doing?!
This wasn’t how things were supposed to end.
He was fine dying himself, but he didn’t want to drag someone else down with him!
“You… don’t!”
But the maid didn’t listen.
She knelt on one knee at the windowsill, leaned forward, pushed off with her heel, and hurled herself after him.
In the middle of her fall, she pushed off the window frame again, wind whipping past her as she accelerated like a starling, soaring toward Yaze!
“You…”
Yaze stared at the little maid in disbelief.
When had this gentle, frail maid become so agile?
In mid-air, sunlight coalesced around her joints, forming armor.
That blazing red hair was now tucked under a general’s war helmet, the pheasant plume fluttering in the wind, the fierce insignia gleaming on her shoulder.
She had overtaken him mid-fall, wrapped her arms around him, and pulled him into her embrace, shielding him with her armored body.
Bang!
She twisted her body to land in a kneeling position, holding Yaze securely as they touched down safely.
“You…” Tears streamed from Yaze’s eyes. “She was right… you were still here! You were right beside me this whole time—I was blind!”
The maid was the terracotta soldier.
“Are you stupid?” Now that her identity was exposed, she dropped the meek act entirely and punched Yaze in the nose in exasperation. “What kind of lunatic jumps off a building for no reason?!”
“I met this fortune teller,” Yaze said, still holding his phone, pointing at the screen. “She said if I jumped, I’d find you.”
“And you just believed her?! What if I really wasn’t there?!” the terracotta soldier shouted.
“I figured… if I couldn’t find you anymore, then jumping didn’t seem so bad…”
“You idiot! Why didn’t you just forcefully summon me?!”
“I was afraid I’d be disturbing your new life.”
“……”
Finally, the terracotta soldier blushed and snapped, “What new life? That’s bull! I just didn’t want you calling me a damn rock anymore!”
“Then what do you want me to call you?”
“…Idiot!”
“Alright, Idiot.”
“That’s not what I meant! I meant you’re an idiot!”
“Hahahaha—”
……
Yaze had been video calling me this whole time.
Now he was nestled in the terracotta soldier’s arms like a little bird, holding up his phone.
He quickly tapped the screen and showered me with a dazzling flood of gifts.
I didn’t count, so I’m not sure how much.
But my backend balance definitely just shot past five figures.
[Many thanks to this Daoist lady and Lord Baize. The gifts are just a small token of gratitude. If you ever come to Chang’an City, I’ll make sure to thank you properly!]
“Alright.”
I gave a calm nod in response.
With Yaze’s story and the surge of gifts, my livestream room’s popularity had now broken into six figures.
Thousands were waiting for the next fortune.
By all logic, I should’ve kept going to maximize the income.
But—
“I’m ending the stream now. See you all again, if fate allows.”
With a cool, ethereal voice, I delivered the cruel announcement and cut the stream without hesitation.
Secrets of fate shouldn’t be revealed too often—do it too much, and you’ll start having strange dreams.
Last night’s dream was weird enough. I’m not going any further than that…
……
When I got back to the dorm, Cluru was sitting on the bed.
She was slumped in a pile of tentacles, looking dazed and downcast, as if she’d just woken up and half her mind was still trapped in a dream.
She was mumbling softly:
“Gone…”
“She’s not here… not there either… she’s gone, really gone…”
“She disappeared.”
What’s gone?
Something was definitely off with Cluru again.
Yeah… I should probably avoid provoking this dangerous eldritch god.
Best not to draw her attention.
With that in mind, I tiptoed into the room.
I slipped out of my Qilin robe and gently closed the door.
Click.
Crap. Why the hell is that lock so loud? I swear I held the handle!
“So~ you’re~ right~ here~!”
That gloomy tone flipped to excitement in an instant.
“Got~ you~ now~!”