Softly, he whispered the formal words of regret, and his attention shifted back to Princess Cheng. A sense of curiosity stirred within him as he delicately used the back of his sword to lift the strands of hair that concealed her face. With this gentle gesture, an inch of her fair skin was revealed to him. His intention was clear as he moved the sword even closer, seeking to unveil more of her features...
However, before he could grasp the situation, Xuan Cheng seized the blade of his sword, disregarding the cut and the blood that dripped from her palm. With surprising strength, she twirled him through the air. Though she expected him to falter, he skillfully defended against her attack and landed firmly on his feet.
Xuan Cheng's eyes expanded in surprise as she gracefully flicked her loosely tied hair back and regained her composure. She pondered to herself, "He is no ordinary human; there's an unmistakable aura of cultivation about him." Her gaze fixated on him.
