Yu Xuan and Ming Tiani sat beneath a towering tree, a little ways off from the bustling main peak. The place was quiet, untouched, the stillness broken only by the faint rustling of leaves in the night breeze.
Yu Xuan’s spirit sense had already swept the area. Satisfied that no one lingered nearby, he retrieved an Isolation Talisman from his space ring. A faint glow spread outward, forming an invisible barrier that sealed their voices away from the world.
Only the moon above bore silent witness.
"You know," Yu Xuan began, leaning back against the trunk and gazing at the sky, "I’ve carried many questions about you. Even when we were children, I kept quiet. Sohow, I was sure that even if I asked... you wouldn’t answer."
Ming Tiani didn’t interrupt. She simply sat beside him, her posture elegant yet relaxed, waiting for him to finish.
Yu Xuan tilted his head, studying the symtry of the broad leaves overhead before finally shifting his eyes back to her.
"Looking back now," he said slowly,
"I’m certain of it the sword technique you used back then was the sa one I’m training in now. The [Magic Swordsmanship of the Avalon Imperial Family]."
His voice deepened. "So tell , did I teach you that? I was barely proficient in that technique at that ti and no one other than knew it, but how did you know it?"
He paused, his gaze sharp and unwavering, the depth of his black eyes resembling a bottomless abyss.
Across from him, Ming Tiani t his stare without a single flinch. Her eyes, also dark, were different, they appeared noble and ancient like the weight of secrets unspoken.
Yu Xuan’s tone was a bit harsh for the first ti, as he spoke her na fully, solemnly:
"Ming Tiani... answer truthfully. Who are you to ? You are definitely not an enemy, but then who are you?"
The night seed to still. Even the leaves swayed slower, as if the world itself leaned closer to hear her reply.
"I.."
***
anwhile, Lingluo was wandering the streets listlessly, still unable to locate either Yu Xuan or Ming Tiani. The shopkeeper swore the bangles had a tracking function, so why was she running in circles?!
What Lingluo didn’t know was that Ming Tiani had tampered with the cause and effect of her bangles. So instead of tracking the other bangles, Lingluo’s was now tuned to... good food.
And Lingluo being Lingluo, every ti the bangle tugged her toward so stall, she was instantly tempted.
A skewer here, a bun there, so spicy noodles after that — before she knew it, she was snacking her way across half the peak, her bottomless cultivator stomach making the problem worse.
"Where are they both!" she finally cried, stomping her foot. The onlookers gave her strange glances, finally frustrated beyond reason, she brought out her ultimate trump card.
A glowing crest lit up on her wrist. Strange runes, like a language from another world spiraled outward, forming a shining magic circle.
Lightning crackled theatrically in the background, fog mysteriously rolled in from nowhere, and a low ominous DUN DUNNNN sound effect thundered through the air.
Then — PUUUSSSHHHHHH!
From the circle popped... a tiny purple sli.
It bounced once. Blinked at her with round, watery eyes. And jiggled cutely in her palm.
Lingluo clasped her hands around it, her eyes sparkling with seriousness.
"Tririri, find Yu Xuan."
The sli, Tririri — let out a cheerful squeak, leapt from her hand, and plopped onto her head like a crown. From its new throne, it puffed up and gave its first command.
"Let’s go, prukk~! He’s in that direction!"
And so, with a slightly protruding belly from all the snacking, Lingluo marched forth with a sli perched majestically on her head, as their glorious quest began: Find Yu Xuan and Ming Tiani.
***
"I want you to trust , Xuan." Ming Tiani’s voice was soft, but every word carried weight.
"I know you have many questions," she continued, her eyes sparkled slightly, "but so do I. And if I speak recklessly, if I reveal things beforehand... I fear too much will change. I don’t know if it would be for the better or worse."
Yu Xuan listened intently. There was no falsehood in her tone, he could feel that. And more importantly, he was sure she ant sothing to him, sothing significant. But what exactly, he still couldn’t grasp. Like how she trusted him telling about her cultivation technique, he too trusted her.
Still, he wouldn’t back down.
"Things are already changing, and you know that too." His gaze sharpened.
"Whatever you’re hiding is already affecting the present. You can’t deny it."
Ming Tiani lowered her eyes for a mont, then looked back at him with quiet determination.
"I will not go away. Just... let make a proper judgnt. I’m still unsure of many things. So please, can you give more ti?"
Yu Xuan thought about it. He had waited all these years. What was a little longer? And considering their relationship he can at least give her so ti.
Finally, he sighed in resignation.
"Fine. But you know I’m impatient sotis, right?"
"Yes. I know." Her lips curved into the faintest smile.
’So she does know I’m impatient,’ Yu Xuan thought, exasperated yet oddly comforted. Whatever the secret was, he had the feeling it wasn’t far from being revealed.
He then said with a playful grin, "So, Lady Ming, shall we head back?"
He extended a hand toward her.
"This conversation was short, but it was enough, for now. The rest... I’ll wait to hear from you in the future."
"Butler Yu," she replied, acting perfectly, "it’s improper for a butler to ask for his lady’s hand."
Yu Xuan’s eyebrows twitched. He was just about to shoot back a witty retort when—
A streak of purple light ripped through the air, barreling toward them with terrifying speed. The ground quivered under the sheer force.
Yu Xuan didn’t even need to look twice. There was only one person it could be.
Lingluo.
With a thunderous dash, she appeared before them, tearing through the Isolation Talisman as if it were thin paper. Her eyes glead like blades.
"Yes... here you are." Her tone was dangerously calm, her illusory round belly fading into nothingness the mont she stopped.
She had followed them here thanks to Tririri’s guidance. Truthfully, she hadn’t even known where she was running, but when her sli pointed in this direction, she dashed without question.
And now, she had finally found the culprits.
"How—how dare you leave alone?!" Lingluo’s voice cracked with wounded fury.
Yu Xuan winced. He could already tell this wasn’t going to end well.
To make matters worse, from her angle it looked like Yu Xuan was presenting sothing to Ming Tiani, his hand outstretched politely toward her like so gallant suitor.
Lingluo’s eyes imdiately darkened.
"You you you...!" She jabbed a finger at him, trembling with rage.
"How dare you!"
Before Yu Xuan could even raise his defense, her hand chopped the top of his head with the precision of a seasoned executioner.
"Wait! Sister — it’s not what it looks like, it’s a misunderstanding!"
Yu Xuan quickly raised his arms in a defensive posture.
"Then let misunderstand more!"
Lingluo snapped, whacking him several more tis until her fury subsided.
Only then did she turn her burning gaze toward Ming Tiani.
"You—!"
"Luo, this was—" Ming Tiani began, her voice calm, but Lingluo cut her off.
"Don’t call that. You’re not my best friend anymore." She huffed, crossing her arms.
Ming Tiani paused, then gave a knowing, mysterious smile.
"You’ll understand in two days."
Her aura suddenly grew unfathomably mysterious.
Lingluo faltered.
That mysterious tone... that aura of inevitability... Maybe they really were plotting sothing!
Groaning in frustration, she muttered, "Both of you are no good. Just scheming behind my back..."
Finally, she waved her hand and said, "Let’s go. I still haven’t eaten dinner, and I used all my energy just to chase you here."
Yu Xuan raised a brow. Sohow, he doubted the "used all her energy" part. Still, he didn’t dare argue.
"What will we eat?" he asked cautiously.
Lingluo turned her head with a haughty snort.
"You will starve. Only Tiani, Tririri, and I will eat."
Yu Xuan sighed and glanced at the purple sli perched proudly on her head.
The little creature wobbled, blinked its round eyes, and chirped cheerfully,
"Prukk~ hello, Xuan."
Yu Xuan could only wave back at it weakly.
The four of them, made their way back toward the main peak. Soon after, Lingluo happily led them into the sa famous restaurant they had visited earlier in the day.
A hush fell over the room when they entered. Three dazzling cultivators together was already eye-catching enough, but this ti there was... an extra.
The waiter blinked repeatedly as he guided them to their table. When the chairs adjusted themselves according to each guest’s presence, even the sli received its own tiny seat. It proudly hopped onto it, jiggling regally, as though this were only natural.
Yu Xuan sat opposite them, his face darkening with every passing second.
Lingluo, Ming Tiani, and even Tririri all began to eat with frightening enthusiasm, devouring one dish after another. The sli made soft prukk-prukk noises as it slurped soup straight from the bowl without sha.
anwhile, Yu Xuan sat there, stomach growling, chopsticks idle in his hand. He finally muttered through clenched teeth,
"...Why am I the only one not getting food?"
No one bothered answering. The sound of content chewing and cheerful sli noises was his only reply.
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