The veiled girl lingered on the rooftop, her gaze fixed intently on Xue Taiyang through the softly glowing window.
Occasionally, a tender smile would bloom across her lips, as if she were savoring a precious secret only she knew.
Her long, icy-blue eyelashes fluttered subtly, framing eyes that sparkled like frosted gemstones under the moonlight.
Her delicate eyebrows, the same ethereal hue, added to her captivating beauty, lending her an almost divine aura.
Her jade-like skin seemed to glow with a gentle luminescence, as if kissed by moonlight, smooth and flawless in its heavenly radiance. Every aspect of her presence was enchanting, exuding the quiet, serene grace of a winter fairy.
"Just hold on a little longer, Senpai," she thought, her heart brimming with determination.
Her thoughts carried a promise as unwavering as the glint in her luminous eyes. "I'll protect you, no matter what. No one will ever harm you again."
Her soft smile deepening as her mind drifted, weaving dreams of their shared future, and she whispered to herself. "Once I become a Core Sect Disciple, everything will change. I'll make you my butler, and we'll always be together. No one in this world will ever tear us apart. You'll be mine… and mine alone," she vowed silently, her gentle gaze lingering on him.
"Young Miss, if you are finished, please come with me. It is time for your cultivation session," a maid in a flowing dress appeared behind her like a ghost, speaking with quiet grace and politeness.
Startled, the veiled girl quickly turned toward the voice, her breath catching in her throat as she stammered, "M-M-Mei Shin, w-what are you doing here?"
How could I not sense her presence just now? The veiled girl's mind raced. Was I distracted, or does she possess some advanced stealth technique? Perhaps both...
"N-Never mind," The veiled girl murmured softly, her voice barely audible, as a faint flush rose to her cheeks. She quickly glanced away, her embarrassment evident. "D-Did you hear what I was whispering?"
Mei Shin, unfazed, replied with an expression of complete confusion, "What do you mean, Young Miss? Were you whispering something?"
"N-Nothing... nothing at all," the veiled girl murmured, a wave of relief washing over her. I guess she didn't hear anything, she thought.
Curiosity flickered in her eyes as she turned to Mei Shin. "By the way, how did you know I came here?"
Mei Shin's gaze remained steady, her tone calm yet knowing. "Young Miss, did you think I wouldn't notice? You visit him every night since his demotion to the outer sect. I just didn't mention it, as you always return early. I assumed he wasn't in the outer sect, which is why you came back so soon."
The veiled girl, caught off guard, quietly admitted, "I suppose I've been found out."
Mei Shin's expression shifted to one of seriousness as she spoke with quiet indifference, "Young Miss, you're the Top Disciple of the Inner Sect, and an Heiress to the Mu family. You shouldn't waste your time with Such Insignificant people from the Outer Sect."
A sudden chill seemed to settle over the air as the veiled girl's voice turned icy, her words imbued with an undeniable authority, as if she had become an entirely different person. "Mei Shin, Be Mindful of Your Words."
With that, an overwhelmingly chilling pressure emanated from the veiled girl, as if the air itself had frozen in an instant. It was as if winter had descended upon the Outer Sect without warning. The very air of the entire Outer Sect seemed to freeze under her gaze.
"I-I am sorry, Young Miss. Please forgive me," Mei Shin stammered, unable to withstand the weight of the pressure.
The veiled girl slowly retracted her aura, allowing the oppressive atmosphere to dissipate, leaving behind only the faintest traces of the chill that had once gripped the air.
"Let's return," the veiled girl said softly, turning to leave. "And keep my visits to the Outer Sect a secret from that man."
Mei Shin, still in awe of her Young Miss's strength, hesitated for a moment before asking, "That man? Do you mean your father, Young Miss?"
The veiled girl's sharp gaze met Mei Shin's, her voice dropping to a near whisper, cold and commanding. "You know exactly who I mean. Don't ask unnecessary questions."
Mei Shin gave a half-hearted bow of her head. "Understood, Young Miss."
As they made their way toward the inner sect, Mei Shin handed the veiled girl a letter with a slight bow. "There's a message from the lord in this recent letter he sent."
The veiled girl didn't even glance at the letter. "I have no interest in whatever he says. I severed ties with that family long ago."
Mei Shin pressed on. "Don't you find it interesting, Young Miss, the recent turmoil surrounding the greatest phenomena of two physique and constitution awakenings, as well as the awakening of two sword auras?
He suggests you befriend the individuals responsible, especially the one who seems to have awakened both the Peerless Sword Body and the Golden Sword Aura."
The veiled girl's expression hardened. "I have no interest in such matters or those individuals," she replied, her tone quiet but resolute.
"I must focus on my own cultivation."
Humph, Mei Shin scoffed inwardly. How did this weak and untalented bitch suddenly become so strong? She could barely hold a sword as a child—timid, frail, and utterly unremarkable. And now, she's been offered the position of a direct disciple to a great elder?
How did she change so much in just a few years? Master sent me to keep an eye on her, to ensure she doesn't become a thorn in his side.
But the veiled girl, lost in her thoughts, remained steadfast.
If I cultivate diligently, one day, I'll become strong enough to shield you from everything, Senpai. I must protect you—always, no matter the cost.
Her heart clenched with determination, as her resolve solidified.
After all, you are the most important and precious person to me in Both of my Lives.