The morning sun had just risen, its light spilling gently over the tiled rooftops of the Bai Clan estate. Bai Tianlong stretched lazily as he prepared to head toward the Scripture Pavilion. Today, he had decided, he would finally choose an Imperial Beast Star Transformation Technique.
But just as he slid open the courtyard door, his steps halted.
Standing outside, framed by the soft light of dawn, was a girl he hadn't seen for a long time. Her posture was upright, her long robes flowing like the sea breeze, and her eyes carried both calm and strength.
Bai Yin.
For a brief second, Tianlong was stunned.
Memories flickered in his mind — of the days when she was assigned to him as a personal maid, always quiet, always diligent, always watching. Back then, he had been a child mocked as rootless, while she, even at that young age, shone like a rising star.
And now, as he looked at her again after so long, her aura nearly pressed against him like the crashing of waves.
Peak Qi Condensation? No… stronger.
The faint ripple of her qi was something he had never felt before — dense, restrained, yet sharp. She had stepped into one of the forbidden layers of Qi Condensation, realms beyond what ordinary cultivators could even hope to touch.
Tianlong's expression remained calm, but his heart trembled slightly.
She had always been different. Adopted into the clan, not born into the Bai bloodline, yet nurtured with more resources than most core children. Not because of favoritism — but because of her terrifyingly rare top-grade spiritual root.
It had been decided long ago that she would serve as his maid, but as he grew older he noticed the truth. She was not just a maid. She was a genius who could ascend far higher than most of the Bai Clan.
Suppressing the past envious thoughts in his heart, Tianlong said with a small smile.
"It's been a long time, Bai Yin."
Her eyes softened slightly as she looked at him, and for the first time in years, the two stood face to face once more.
Bai Yin gave a light bow, her voice respectful yet carrying warmth.
"Greetings, young master. Congratulations… on finally becoming both a cultivator and an Imperial Beast Tamer."
Her words were simple, but Tianlong could hear the sincerity in them.
He chuckled lightly. "It seems even you heard of it already. News spreads too fast in this clan."
Bai Yin smiled faintly, then steadied her tone. "The elders have assigned me a task. Since I've broken through to the tenth layer of Qi Condensation's forbidden stage, I am to leave soon for the Outer Sea, to help manage the White Treasure Pavilion the clan has recently established."
Tianlong was silent for a moment, his gaze flicking toward the horizon. He understood. The issue wasn't that the Bai Clan lacked strength in terms of cultivation levels—there were still many capable disciples—but their population had fallen, and their manpower was low.
Because of this, disciples with great potential, who ideally should focus solely on cultivation, were instead forced to go out and manage clan properties. Even geniuses like Bai Yin could not escape this responsibility.
Tianlong exhaled slowly and gave a small nod. "I see. That's the state of things… even our most promising disciples must bear burdens outside cultivation."
His eyes met hers, his voice firm but softened at the end.
"Then go, Bai Yin. Do what you must, but take care of yourself as well."
Bai Yin's lips curved into the faintest of smiles. She bowed once more.
"Yes, young master."
Her gaze lingered on him for a heartbeat longer than necessary before she stepped back.
For the first time in years, the two who had walked different paths exchanged words not merely as maid and young master, but as cultivators of the same generation.
As Bai Tianlong's figure slowly disappeared down the stone path, Bai Yin lingered in the courtyard, her eyes fixed on his back until he finally vanished behind the turn of the winding walkway.
Her fingers curled slightly at her side, her lips parting as a soft whisper escaped.
"Now that young master has also become a cultivator… I no longer need to worry about his lifespan being too short. I too must work harder in cultivation."
Her gaze firmed, determination flickering like a quiet flame.
"I need to grow stronger. I must be able to protect young master… and stand by his side when the time comes."
But as her thoughts shifted from duty to her long-held role, her chest fluttered strangely.
Serve young master…
Her mind wandered for just a moment, drifting toward a different kind of "service." The thought made her heart skip, and her cheeks instantly flushed a delicate red.
She pressed her lips together, shaking her head as if to drive the image away, but the warmth lingering on her face betrayed her.
Standing there beneath the morning light, Bai Yin looked less like the clan's brilliant young genius and more like a maiden quietly realizing emotions she could no longer ignore.
---
Unaware of Bai Yin's blushing face or the strange, fluttering thoughts filling her head, Bai Tianlong had already stepped into the solemn halls of the scripture pavilion. The scent of ink and bamboo slips filled the air, the atmosphere heavy with ancient wisdom and secrets of the Bai Clan.
He walked forward with calm, determined steps, focused entirely on cultivation and the path ahead.
Even if he had known about Bai Yin's ridiculous thoughts, Bai Tianlong would have only sighed, reached out, and tapped her lightly on the forehead, scolding with a helpless smile:
"Don't think nonsense. Before eighteen, I definitely won't be asking for that kind of service. At eighteen… I'll meet the right girl."
To him, there was no room for such distractions. For now, his life was cultivation, training, and the future of the Bai Clan.
With that, Bai Tianlong's figure vanished deeper into the pavilion, leaving behind only the lingering echo of his steady footsteps.