the battle against the bandits had left xingtian bloodied though victorious, his injuries were severe. lian yue, noticing his condition, Wasted no time in helping him back to her sect.
"Hold on", she had said, her voice calm but urgent as She Supported his weight. The Journey back was quiet, Save for the occasional grunt of pain from xingtian.
when they arrived at the eternal lotus Sect, the guest quaters Were unexpectedly under renovation without hesitation lian yue decided to bring him to her own quaters.
"forgive the Inconvenience" she said as she openend the door.Her Room was modest but meticulously arranged. A Single Lotus painting adorned the wall, and the faint Scent of Sandadvend lingered in the air.
Xingtian, leaning heavily on her, gave her a weak Smile.
"For a sect disciple, your living space Is... Refined."
"it's nothing special," the Replied, guiding him to the bed.
"Sit. Rest. I'll prepare Some medicine."
For the next few days, xingtian stayed in her quanters Though they interated only briefly - during meals or when lian yue Came to change his bandages- the atmosphere was not uncomfortable. Sge Remaind polite and composed while he obsewed her quietly, a faint smirk often playing on his lips.
One morning, as lian yue stepped out to fetch his lunch. Xingtian Summoned his shadow guard, zhao xi, who entered the Room with a Silent bow.
"your majesty." zhao xì Said, keeping his voice low "How long are We staying here?"
xingtian, leaning against the bedpost, shot him a sharp glance, "Stay as long as needed. Do not question me again."
Zhao xi nodded quickly.
"Understood." He slipped out of the room just as silently as he had entered.
The next morning, as xingtian and zhao xi prepared to leave, They overheard a conversation, lian yue was speaking with her brother, Sect leader lian yu, about a ghost infestation at mount qingya,
"I'll handle it." lian yue said firmly, " I'll take foew disciples with me and purge the mountain."
Xingtian Stepped forward, his voice cutting through the Conversation. "Let me accompany you."
Lian yu frowned. "you are our guest how can we let you Risk yourself?"
"your guest I may be." Xingtian said with a wry smile," but I know Mount Qingya better than most and I've dealt with ghosts before blet me Assist."
Lian yue hesitated. "You're still Recovering–"
"I insist," xingtian interuppted his tone leaving no Room for argument."
Reluctantly, lian yue agreed.
Two days later, their group stood at the base of Mount Qingya. The air was thick with an eerie silence and faint stench of decay lingered.
As they climbed, they encountered a powerful barrier. The disciples murmurred among themselves. Wary of It's strength.
"It's so strong. it could take hours to breath." One of them Said xingtian Stepped forward, his expression calm. "Let me."
Before anyone could stop him, he Raised his hand. A flicken of energy crackled around his fingers as the stuck the barrier with casual precision. It shattered Instantly, dissolving into nothingness
the disciples stared in shock, but Xingtian's face betrayed he emotion. He stepped forward, brushing dust from his sleeve "Shall we?"
Lian yue narrowed her eyes but said nothing. When they Reached the Submmit, the air was thick with demonic energy Ghostly figures emerged, their distorted forms wailing in furry. The disciples drew their weapons, and battle began.
Xingtian fought with Startling agility, his injuries Seemingly forgotten. His blade cut through the ghostly forms with ease, Qi energy pulsing with every strike.
lian yue, observing him thinking Something. She pushed the thought aside, focusing on the task at hand.
After the battle, the group traveled to a nearby inn to Rest. Unfortunately, there weren't enough Rooms for everyone so they had to share.
The disciples murmured uneasily. "There's Something unsettling about that man." One whispered.
"I don't trust him."
In the end, lian yue decided to share a room with Xingtian, brushing off the disciples concerns.
The innkeeper led them to a spacious room. It was Simple but clean, with Single bed and a low table for Tea.
"you take the bed," lian yue said, sitting cross-legged on the floor, she closed her eyes, begin to meditate xingtian lay on the bed, his gaze fixed on her.
Memories Surfaced–Of a cold winter's day long ago. When a young girl had stopped to help him, a barefoot orphan shivering in the Snow. She had pleaded with her master to save him, her eyes filled with determination.
He Smiled faintly, his expression unreadable.