The night deepened.
Clear light like frost spread over the winding stone paths of Sword Sect, casting two elongated shadows—one ahead, one behind—overlapping and separating.
Ye Chen’s steps were neither hurried nor slow, precise and steady.
He walked in front, his figure under the moonlight appearing somewhat lonely.
Xiaoxiao followed behind, her steps slightly chaotic.
The annoyance from earlier in the quiet room was quickly replaced by joy.
She gazed at the back ahead—not broad, yet enough to support her whole world—and the gloom in her heart quietly melted away.
Cultivation was dull: endless cycles of breathing, sword practice, repetition without end.
But as long as she could stay by Young Master’s side, even walking in silence like this, listening to their footsteps echo in the quiet night, the very air seemed sweet.
She couldn’t help but quicken her pace by half a step, walking side by side with him, chatting idly about amusing things on Heavenly Sword Peak.
Her words were soft, like a feather brushing over water—not expecting any enthusiastic response, just enjoying the freedom to speak.
Ye Chen would occasionally reply with a simple “Mm,” or a word or two.
Few disciples walked at night, but now and then, a figure or two would pass by.
Some were inner sect disciples finishing arduous cultivation, weary, others fellow disciples sparring under the moon.
Their gazes, without exception, would pause briefly when they saw Xiaoxiao.
Tonight, Xiaoxiao was different from before.
The light purple dress made her look graceful; moonlight cast a soft halo over her delicate face.
Facing Ye Chen, the unique charm of a young girl was fully revealed.
Within those gazes were astonishment and curiosity—but as their eyes shifted from Xiaoxiao to Ye Chen at her side, they all became complex envy and even hidden jealousy.
“Look, isn’t that Senior Brother Ye Chen?”
“The one who had ten straight victories in the assessment?”
“Who’s the girl next to him? So beautiful… I don’t think I’ve seen her in the inner sect.”
“Shh…quiet. To walk at night alongside such a person isn’t ordinary.”
Whispers scattered by the night wind still clearly reached Xiaoxiao’s ears.
Her lips unconsciously curled upward, a sweet pride filling her heart.
See, this is my Young Master.
At that moment, hurried footsteps came from behind.
“T-this…Junior Sister, please wait! C-can we get to know each other?”
A young man in inner sect disciple robes, summoning his courage, ran over and blocked their path.
He looked about twenty, handsome enough, but his cheeks were flushed with tension.
His eyes were fixed only on Xiaoxiao, admiration and infatuation almost overflowing, so much that he completely ignored Ye Chen’s restrained presence and indifferent expression.
Ye Chen and Xiaoxiao stopped.
Xiaoxiao looked at the sudden male disciple before her, and deep inside, a faint displeasure quietly rose.
But then, her gaze shifted, and a thought flashed in her mind.
Senior Sister Yue Qi said that men only feel possessive when they sense a threat.
Proper stimulation is the best catalyst.
So, she pressed down her displeasure.
She wasn’t angry, nor shy, nor did she even glance at the obstructing male disciple.
She simply turned to the side, her clear, water-like eyes gazing completely at Ye Chen.
She said nothing.
But her gaze spoke: questioning, dependence, and even a hint of…provocation and mischief.
—Look, someone’s trying to pursue me.
Now, what will you do?
The atmosphere grew awkward.
The male disciple was bewildered by Xiaoxiao’s actions.
Following her gaze, he finally noticed Ye Chen’s existence.
The instant he saw Ye Chen’s face, his pupils shrank, color draining from his face.
Ye…Ye Chen?!
How could he not recognize him! In today’s assessment, he was the monster who defeated all the inner sect geniuses with mere guidance, even making Chen San Senior Brother submit!
Cold sweat instantly broke out on his forehead.
He’d been so focused on that beautiful figure, he hadn’t seen the great deity standing beside her.
If he’d known it was Ye Chen, even with a hundred times the courage, he wouldn’t have dared to approach…
He froze in place, unable to go or stay, so awkward he wanted to disappear.
Ye Chen simply watched everything calmly.
He clearly sensed the male disciple’s embarrassment, and understood the “test” in Xiaoxiao’s eyes.
The essence was simple: an independent individual faced a social request from another.
The decision belonged entirely to the person involved.
So, meeting Xiaoxiao’s expectant, playful gaze, the corners of his mouth even lifted slightly, as if amused by her expression.
Then, he returned the question to her as it was.
“Someone’s here, Xiaoxiao.”
The voice was soft, tone flat, without the slightest emotional fluctuation.
So calm…Xiaoxiao felt a trace of disappointment.
Expectation, trial, the little atmosphere she’d created—all shattered by these words.
She’d imagined countless reactions.
He might frown, showing displeasure.
He might step forward, quietly shielding her.
He might even refuse on her behalf with a cold, unquestionable tone.
Senior Sister Yue Qi said these were all signs of “caring.”
But she never expected this answer.
Up to you.
It felt like a complete rejection—declaring, “This has nothing to do with me.”
Disappointment washed over her heart like a cold tide.
The mischievous light in her eyes dimmed, the playful smile at her lips vanishing without a trace.
She suddenly turned away, not even glancing at the male disciple.
Her words were brief and sharp:
“Not interested.”
With that, she no longer lingered.
She grabbed Ye Chen’s arm, almost dragging him away.
She gripped so tightly her nails dug into his sleeve.
The rejected male disciple stood frozen, watching their receding backs, his face full of bitterness.
The surrounding disciples who’d been watching also quietly dispersed.
Such scenes were common within the sect.
Admiration and rejection were everyday occurrences on the path of cultivation—they’d long grown used to it.
After walking a long way, silence returned.
Xiaoxiao finally slowed her pace, but still didn’t release Ye Chen’s arm.
Ye Chen’s gaze swept over her tense profile, recalling the male disciple from before.
His thoughts naturally turned to a question.
“Xiaoxiao,” he asked, “do you have friends on Heavenly Sword Peak?”
The question was like a needle, lightly piercing the hard shell of disappointment in Xiaoxiao’s heart.
She stopped, lifting her head, a trace of grievance still lingering in her eyes.
But hearing the word “friends,” Senior Sister Yue Qi’s other teachings flashed through her mind.
—Never let him think you’re lonely and can’t live without him.
Show your value, make him understand you’re not dependent.
So, she took a deep breath, steadied her emotions, nodded, and even gave a deliberate little snort, trying to seem proud.
“Yes, Young Master.”
She did her best to imitate the slightly smug tone Yue Qi had taught her.
“Humph, I, Xiaoxiao, am very popular. Not just on Heavenly Sword Peak, but even Senior and Junior Brothers from other main peaks pursue me.”
She spoke hopefully, waiting for Ye Chen’s reaction.
Perhaps he’d ask more? Or show even the tiniest hint of care?
Yet Ye Chen only nodded calmly.
“Mm.”
His expression even softened, as if relieved.
“That’s very good.”
Good?
Xiaoxiao was completely stunned.
What she didn’t know was that, in Ye Chen’s logic, her words meant something else entirely.
—“I’m very popular,” “others are pursuing me”—these statements were processed, analyzed, and led to a different conclusion.
Xiaoxiao’s social status was improving; she was gaining her own circle, no longer focused solely on him.
A positive, healthy trend.
He’d always worried she was too fixated and withdrawn, but now things were getting better.
No need to rush.
It must be a slow process.
Ye Chen concluded in his heart.
So, he didn’t continue the topic.
Silence fell again between them.
The night wind brought the scent of mountain spirit herbs.
Xiaoxiao clung to Ye Chen’s arm, head lowered, saying nothing.
Inside, her heart was a chaotic mess.
She felt like a scholar who’d prepared a masterpiece for an important exam, brimming with confidence—
But upon sitting for the test, the examiner only asked, “Have you eaten today?” before taking away her brush and paper and ending the exam.
Everything she’d learned from Senior Sister Yue Qi—the tactics, the scripts designed to probe and influence—were all stuck in her throat, unable to come out.
Because the person opposite wasn’t even in the exam room.
He didn’t even know an exam was happening.
A helplessness like never before, mixed with grievance and frustration, fermented in her chest.
The moonlit road stretched on, yet Xiaoxiao felt lost on this path toward his heart, unable to find the right direction.