Yue Lian glanced toward the window, where the afternoon sun was beginning its descent toward the horizon.
The golden light streaming through the glass painted soft patterns across the wooden floor, casting long shadows that stretched across the room. The day was moving forward, and with it, the urgent matters that demanded her attention as sect leader.
"I must leave now," she said, her voice carrying a note of genuine regret at having to depart. "The grand elder is waiting for my report on the Four Spirits Sect situation. We have traitors to identify within our ranks and counterasures to implent before they can cause further damage."
Her expression grew more serious as she ntioned the investigation. The betrayal ran deep, and every mont they delayed gave the enemy more ti to cover their tracks or strike again.
Yue Lian moved toward the door with graceful steps, then paused at the threshold and looked back at them. Her gaze settled on Yu’er first, warm but concerned. "Yu’er, rest for the next few days. Don’t push yourself to recover too quickly, no matter how restless you feel. Your body needs proper ti to heal from your injuries."
"Yes, Master," Yu’er said obediently, though a flicker of impatience crossed her face. She was clearly the type who hated being sidelined by recovery.
"And Xian Tiandi," Yue Lian added, turning her attention to him. Her eyes held a knowing glint, as if she could already predict how this would go. "Take care of her. She’ll try to pretend she’s fine even when she’s not. She’ll insist she can train or study when she should be resting. Make sure she actually follows my instructions and doesn’t overexert herself."
"I will," Xian Tiandi promised, understanding the assignnt perfectly. Yu’er was stubborn when it ca to her cultivation, and keeping her from pushing too hard would be a challenge.
Yue Lian’s smile widened slightly, genuine warmth radiating from her expression. "Good. I’m counting on you." She paused, her eyes studying Xian Tiandi for a mont longer. "I look forward to seeing you at the selection trials in two days. Sothing tells you’ll surprise everyone there. My instincts about people are rarely wrong."
*Whoosh!*
The sect leader’s presence vanished as she left the building. Her movent was so swift and smooth that it seed almost supernatural.
One mont she was standing there in the doorway, a figure of grace and power. The next she was simply gone, as if she’d never been there at all.
The spiritual pressure that had filled the room, subtle and gentle though it was, dissipated imdiately like morning mist under sunlight.
Yu’er let out a long, relieved breath. Her shoulders relaxed visibly, and she slumped back against her chair. "Master’s aura is intense even when she suppresses it completely. Every single ti I’m in her presence, I feel like I’m standing before sothing vast and ancient. Sothing that could crush without even trying if it wanted to."
"She’s Nascent Soul realm," Xian Tiandi said simply, his tone matter-of-fact. "That level of power naturally inspires awe in those of lower cultivation. It’s not sothing she can completely hide, no matter how much she suppresses her spiritual pressure."
"She’s also incredibly kind," Yu’er added, her voice softening with affection. "When I first joined the sect three years ago, I was absolutely terrified of her. The sect leader herself taking notice of a new disciple? I thought I would die of nervousness during our first eting. But she’s been nothing but patient and caring with ever since. More like a mother than a master sotis, honestly."
Xian Tiandi nodded slowly, filing away that observation carefully. In his past life, he’d heard similar stories about Yue Lian from others who had known her.
She’d been beloved by her disciples, who would have followed her into death itself. She’d been respected by her peers as a voice of reason and wisdom. And she’d been feared by her enemies for her overwhelming power and unwavering principles. A rare combination of qualities in the cultivation world.
’If the Four Spirits Sect makes their move in this tiline,’ he thought with cold determination, ’I’ll make sure she survives. I’ll make sure things turn out differently than they did before. This ti, I will be part of the Four Symbols Sect myself, so they are basically attacking my sect. My people. My allies. I can’t stand by and watch them fall like I did last ti when I was too weak and insignificant to matter.’
Before either of them could speak further on the subject, rapid footsteps echoed from the hallway outside the room. Soone was running toward them with clear urgency, their footfalls heavy and hurried against the polished wooden floor.
The door burst open with more force than necessary.
Xian Long stood there in the doorway, breathing hard from obvious exertion.
The young boy’s face was flushed red from running, and his eyes were puffy and bloodshot like he’d been crying recently.
He looked between his sister and Xian Tiandi with an expression that mixed relief, fear, and lingering worry in equal asure.
"Sister!" Xian Long shouted, rushing forward without any hesitation or concern for decorum.
He practically threw himself at Yu’er, wrapping his arms around her in a desperate, tight hug.
Yu’er winced noticeably from the impact on her still-healing injuries, her body stiffening slightly from the jolt of pain. But despite the discomfort, she didn’t push him away or complain.
"Careful, Long," she said gently, her voice warm despite the pain. She patted his back soothingly. "I’m still a bit sore from everything that happened."
"I’m sorry, I just..." Xian Long’s voice was muffled against her shoulder, thick with emotion. "I just heard what happened to you. They said there was an ambush at the ruins. That other disciples died in the attack. That you almost... that you nearly..."
He couldn’t finish the sentence, the words choking in his throat.
"But I didn’t," Yu’er interrupted softly, her tone reassuring. "I’m here right now. I’m safe and recovering. Thanks to Big Brother Tiandi arriving when he did."
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