At the mention of his fate, Cannonball, the Enfield, perched on Chatty’s shoulder, quivered nervously. In an instant, he leapt to Ling Li’s shoulder, clinging to her as if she were a lifeline.
"Oh, Deity! My Beautiful Goddess! The Goddess of All Goddesses..." he began, his voice dripping with exaggerated reverence, his eyes wide and shining.
Ling Li blinked, taken aback and slightly amused, hovering on the edge of curiosity for where this would lead.
"The most generous Master and kind in the world," Cannonball continued, chest puffed out with pride. "You bestowed upon me, Young Master Murphy. I’m the one assisting him in cultivating! I channel spiritual essences to him — without me, knowing how foolish he is, he couldn’t wield a sword properly! He’s so weak!"
"Hey! Who are you calling foolish and weak?!" Chatty snapped, mistrust flashing across his features. "You just called me your Master, yet you’re talking badly about me!"
Cannonball flicked his tail dismissively, a smirk on his snout.
Ling Li narrowed her eyes, pondering the implications of his claims. "Is what you’re saying true?"
She had never deemed Chatty’s cultivation foundation to be lacking — yet now seeds of doubt began to take root in her mind.
"Of course it’s true," proclaimed Cannonball, standing tall. "Why not let him spar with Quan Ye?"
Ling Li nodded, exchanging a knowing glance with Fatty, who stepped forward, sword glinting in the sunlight. Chatty unsheathed his own weapon, adjusting his stance with renewed determination.
"Don’t hold back," Ling Li commanded sharply. "Give it your all. I’m here — I won’t let you get hurt. Begin!"
The clash of steel rang out like thunder, the two swords colliding with a fiery spark. In mere moments, Chatty’s blade clattered to the ground, leaving him staring in disbelief at his own hand as if it had betrayed him. His grip faltered, his control shattered.
Fatty blinked, confusion etched on his brow. "That... wasn’t normal."
He scratched his chin, contemplating the revelation. "So it’s true. The Enfield has been stabilizing his flow."
"I told you," Cannonball said proudly, puffing out his chest as if he had conquered a mountain.
He honestly couldn’t find a single word to say.
Ling Li fell silent, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts. Uncertainty danced in the air, thickening the atmosphere around them.
Rockie stepped forward, his voice gaining firmness. "Madam, Murphy won’t train for the next three days. Since he no longer needs Cannonball, he should cultivate with Bear. He definitely can’t remain with me."
Ling Li turned her gaze to the Enfield. "Cannonball. You’re at level four. Once you reach level five, you can transform into a human. So tell me — will you remain as you are and assist Murphy, or will you choose to become human and leave?"
Cannonball froze, his eyes locking with Chatty’s.
Silence enveloped the training ground, thick and tense.
Every beast dreamed of the day they could transform, yet it meant severing the bond they had forged. It meant choosing self over service.
"I..." he began, his voice trembling as uncertainty washed over him.
Sensing his inner turmoil, Ling Li interjected gently, "I’ll grant you three days to ponder this. Go and spend time at Bear’s camp. Return and give me your answer."
Cannonball bowed his head, gratitude shining in his eyes. "Thank you," his voice barely above a whisper, glancing back at Chatty one last time before leaping from Ling Li’s shoulder and vanishing into the dense embrace of the forest.
An eerie quiet settled over the training grounds.
Ling Li turned to Chatty. "Murphy, go. Spend time with Pharsa. I’ll devise a proper program to enhance your cultivation foundation." She deliberated about discussing this with Butler Oda later.
She pivoted toward Rockie. "Take him home."
With synchronized bows, the two disappeared, their footsteps echoing in the serene stillness left behind.
Ling Li turned back to the now-still field, commanding, "As you were."
And with that, training resumed, the air crackling with renewed energy.
A Moment Between Storms: Ling Li and Four Eyes
Four Eyes bowed slightly to Master Veyron, his presence still crackling with the remnants of shadow energy, like a fading spark in the twilight. The Shah of Dusk observed him depart in silence, the dark mist retreating like an ebbing tide under the weight of his gaze.
Ling Li stood at the perimeter of the training field, her hair swirling in the wind, resembling delicate petals drifting through the air. As she caught sight of him approaching, a warm and soothing smile bloomed on her lips — a gentle gesture capable of softening even the fight-hardened spirit of the most relentless warrior.
As Four Eyes crossed the distance to her, his breath labored and heavy from the morning’s exertion, he paused, uncertainty flickering across his face. With a hesitant movement, he offered her a half-hug, acutely aware of the damp sweat that clung to his skin from the rigorous training. However, Ling Li stepped into his embrace completely, her arms encircling him without a trace of hesitation, igniting a warmth in his chest that made his heart skip a beat.
"Do I smell bad?" he asked playfully, glancing down at the crown of her head nestled against his chest, the scent of sweat mingling oddly with the sweetness of her presence.
Ling Li tilted her head back, her eyes glimmering like distant stars scattered across a velvet night sky. "You always smell incredible," she declared, her voice layered with playful confidence and a teasing lilt that danced in the air.
Four Eyes let out a hearty laugh, the tension in his shoulders easing for a fleeting moment. "But your scent is so intoxicating it makes me want to devour you whole," he whispered, his tone mischievous, yet the smoldering intensity in his gaze betrayed a more profound longing.
"You!" Ling Li exclaimed, a mock indignation flashing across her features as she playfully attempted to shove him away. Yet, Four Eyes held her close, his grip firm but gentle, as if savoring the very air between them.
But as the laughter faded, a more serious note filled the air between them. "Why are you sending Pharsa to Beijing?" he asked in a low, concerned tone. "Is something wrong in the capital?"