Collapse Iron: The Five Heroes of the Clouds Won't Let Me Go

"General, I thought you were just joking."

"When did I say it was a joke?"

"General! You can't do this! If I were serious, I could actually defeat Yingxing, but this would make things difficult for both sides!"

Huaiyan was shocked: "You brat, so arrogant? You think you can win? Wait until I tell Yingxing that you're leaving, and then I'll say that if she wins, she can let you stay. Let's see if you still have a chance to defeat her then."

Cheng Xiao was furious: "You're cheating! You can't provide buffs from outside the game!"

"Heh, all's fair in war!"

Seeing Cheng Xiao deep in thought, Huai Yan laughed again:

"Hahaha, I'm just teasing you. If you don't want to stay, why would I force you? Go on, the battle at the front is the most important thing."

"Hoo, thank you, General."

After cleaning the house, Cheng Xiao went to Ying Xing's forging room.

......

"What did you say?"

"Well, I have to go to the front lines. You know, my training this time was only for half a month, and my time is up. I should head back now."

Ying Xing remained silent, then used the fire tongs to poke at the flint in the furnace a few times.

The room fell silent instantly, save for the crackling sound of burning.

After a long while, Cheng Xiao was getting impatient, and Ying Xing finally spoke.

"Half a month has already passed? Half a month... Time really flies."

"From the moment I met you, I remember every single day vividly. Time flies... and life is so fulfilling."

"Before, I could only keep company with the furnace, but now I have you. Everything is getting better and better. Half a month has passed, it's really too short."

Cheng Xiao listened quietly as Ying Xing slowly recounted every detail of the past half month, from sharing his forging experiences to the playful banter during meals.

Unbeknownst to her, Yingxing was already in tears.

Cheng Xiao felt a little sorry for him and took out a handkerchief to wipe his face, but Ying Xing stopped him.

"Yingxing, it's only a short separation. Our friendship won't grow cold because of this one parting."

"Stay."

"Huh? No, I really have to go to the front lines, I can't..."

"Stay here, and I will ask my master to transfer you away from the front lines."

"Yingxing, listen to me..."

"I'm good at making money; I can give you all my money and leave it to you."

"Yingxing..."

Cheng Xiao tried to get closer, but Ying Xing reached out to stop him.

"Yes, you have to go to the front lines. Yes, you need to eliminate the evil. I shouldn't have been so willful."

"A man's ambition lies in all directions, like a roc spreading its wings. Go to the front lines to make achievements, that's right, protect the celestial ship, that's right."

Yingxing took several deep breaths, seemingly finally calming down.

"Why are you so determined to leave? Wouldn't it be better to join me in the Imperial Workshop, forging weaponry for the Cloud Cavalry, and achieve great things?"

"I have a family and friends, and they are all fighting on the front lines."

"Oh, I see. You're married now. Oh, I see. So you and your spouse work together. I see..."

Ying Xing fell silent again, head bowed and speechless.

"Go ahead, don't worry your family."

Cheng Xiao nodded: "Ying Xing, my feelings for you remain the same. Although we've only spent less than half a month together, I'm very happy."

Me too.

As Cheng Xiao was about to leave, his hand was grabbed by Ying Xing.

"Wait a minute..."

"But do you want me to come with you? There's only one day left, I can go for a walk in the streets with you."

Ying Xing shook her head, tears welling in her eyes, but for the first time, she revealed a genuine smile:

"Two years later, the Ming Dynasty will launch the once-in-a-century 'Great Refinement of Metallurgy,' and the winner will be awarded the title of 'Master of Metallurgy,' and their name will be forever recorded in the history of the Ming Dynasty."

"You have to come then."

"Don't worry, I'll definitely come."

Yingxing's hand suddenly clenched, and Cheng Xiao realized that Yingxing's strength was indeed enormous!

"Absolutely, absolutely! Absolutely, absolutely not allowed to die on the front lines!"

Cheng Xiao suddenly realized what was happening and gave a light, toothy laugh.

"Don't worry, there's no one who can kill me yet."

On the fifteenth day, they departed lightly packed.

Yingxing and Huaiyan came to see them off. The master and disciple had said everything they needed to say, and parting was always inevitable.

Yingxing watched Cheng Xiao leave the Jade Realm Gate before turning his gaze away.

Huaiyan patted Yingxing's head: "What's wrong? Are you reluctant to part with him?"

"I'm reluctant to part, but I won't be discouraged. Every separation is only for a better reunion next time."

"Now that you have said that, I am relieved."

Both the master and apprentice had rumbling stomachs, but this time, no one was cooking.

"Let's go, let's go to the cafeteria to fill our stomachs."

"Hmm... Xiao should have made breakfast before leaving."

"Ah~ The thought of having to eat the pig swill from the Bureau of Works every day makes me sick."

"Master, only heavy oil and fat can provide energy for craftsmen."

"Tsk, how can that be the same? Heavy oil and fat don't have to go against deliciousness! Can you even stomach the food from the Factory Workshop?"

"Master, someone like you will behave after a few days of starvation."

"Hey! You little brat, how dare you tease your teacher?"

On the streets of Zhu Mingxianzhou, a big boy and a little girl walked side by side on their way back. The morning sun shone brightly, casting long shadows.

......

Cheng Xiao sat on the starship on the return journey, while Aha was making a ruckus in his mind.

"Cheng Xiao, look, look, this is what I wrote down~ Waaah, I have to part with you, how sad, you two are such a tragic couple~"

"Have you made enough of a scene?"

"Hahahaha! Benha's answer is: Not at all! How could I possibly get enough of such interesting days!"

"Chengxiao~ Chengxiao~ You're amazing~ I'm going to bless you~"

"don't want."

"No refusing! No refusing is allowed! You can't refuse!"

Cheng Xiao was a little nervous, wondering if he would really cause any trouble.

"Just kidding! Benha is just a mask you made up, he can't bless you at all~ Aha is really powerless, Aha is so useless~"

Cheng Xiao sighed: "You just stay put and behave yourself. I don't mind having you around all the time. I'm fine with being stuck with you like a leech."

"Hehehe~ Cheng Xiao can't do anything to us, Cheng Xiao is powerless against us, Aha defeated Cheng Xiao~"

"Tsk! It was clearly Cheng Xiao who beat Aha to a pulp!"

The Star Chariot was extremely fast, and with Cheng Xiao having informed Jing Liu in advance, it returned to the front-line military camp in just one day.

Looking down through the window, Bai Heng, bouncing and waving below, was incredibly conspicuous.

As soon as they stepped off the star raft, Bai Heng pounced on them like a missile: "Welcome home, my lord!"

Cheng Xiao, as always, slightly turned his body to the side, then stretched out his leg to trip Bai Heng, and then grabbed her collar before she fell.

"Honestly~ Why won't my benefactor give me a hug?"

"You'll get hit and killed by my fox-shaped chariot."

Jingliu and Jingyuan were still holding a military meeting in their tent, so Baiheng and Danfeng came to greet them.

"Speaking of which, where's Danfeng? Didn't she come too?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Danfeng, which had been covered by the dust kicked up by Bai Heng's charge, came into view.

Bai Heng: "Hahaha, sorry, sorry~"

Danfeng: "Sooner or later, I will definitely use your fox head as a sacrifice to the heavens..."

————Joyful Mini-Theater————

Once upon a time, when Yingxing was a young boy, Huaiyan was a tall, strong middle-aged man.

The master and apprentice walked side by side, one big and one small, sharing their insights and experiences in forging.

Now, Huaiyan has become an elderly man, while Yingxing is a tall and mature legendary blacksmith.

The master and apprentice walked side by side, one big and one small, reminiscing about the past and looking forward to the future.