[Yuexi's POV]
I froze halfway through my bedroom window.
Someone was in my room.
A shadow moved in the corner where no shadow should be. My heart stopped. Had they seen me climb in? Did they know I'd been gone all night?
"Finally back from your little adventure?" a voice drawled from the darkness.
I recognized that voice. Qingwan.
My stepsister stepped into the moonlight streaming through the window, her arms crossed and a nasty smile on her perfect face. She was fully dressed despite the early hour, like she'd been waiting for me.
"I—I couldn't sleep," I stammered, climbing the rest of the way inside. "I went for a walk—"
"A walk." Qingwan laughed coldly. "Is that what you're calling it? Tell me, dear sister, do you always take walks covered in blood?"
My stomach dropped. I looked down and saw what she meant—dark stains on my borrowed shirt from the demon fight. I'd been too distracted by the seal revelation to clean myself properly.
"It's not—"
"Save it." Qingwan moved closer, and I smelled the expensive perfume she wore. "I don't actually care where you go or what you do. But if you embarrass this family today at the tournament, if you make Father look bad in front of the Heavenly Sword Sect..." Her hand shot out and grabbed my injured shoulder, right where the demon had clawed me.
I bit back a scream as pain exploded through the barely-healed wounds.
"I'll make you wish you'd never been born," she whispered, her fingernails digging in. "Understand?"
I nodded frantically. She released me and walked to the door.
"Clean yourself up. You look pathetic. We leave in two hours." She paused at the doorway. "Oh, and Yuexi? Whatever secret you're keeping, remember—I'm watching now. One mistake, and I'll destroy you."
The door clicked shut behind her.
I collapsed against the wall, clutching my re-opened shoulder wound. Blood seeped between my fingers. The pain was nothing compared to the fear racing through my mind.
Did she see me fight the demon? Does she know about my cultivation?
No. If she knew I had power, she'd tell Father immediately. He'd strengthen the seal or worse. She was just suspicious, trying to scare me into submission like always.
But now I'd have to be even more careful.
I spent the next hour cleaning up and changing into the plain gray servant's dress Father required me to wear. The tournament started at noon. I'd be carrying Qingwan's bags, staying invisible in the background while she showed off.
But I'd also be watching the cultivators. Learning. Finding answers about my seal.
Just get through today, I told myself. Don't draw attention. Don't make mistakes.
The tournament arena was packed with thousands of people.
I stood in the servant's area behind the competitor's platform, holding Qingwan's spare robes and water flask. My shoulder throbbed despite the bandages I'd wrapped around it. Qingwan had squeezed it again in the carriage "by accident," making sure I knew she was in control.
"Look at all these powerful cultivators," she said, adjusting her hair. "Soon I'll be one of them. Can you imagine? Me, joining the Heavenly Sword Sect, marrying Shen Tianzhao..." She sighed dramatically. "Everything I've ever wanted."
Everything I'd never have, she meant.
I said nothing, scanning the crowd for sect members. There—a group of cultivators in white robes with blue trim sat in the honored section. The Heavenly Sword Sect. Even from here, I could feel the power radiating off them.
Then HE walked onto the arena floor.
Shen Tianzhao.
Time seemed to slow down. He was even more handsome than yesterday—tall and powerful, with sharp features and dark eyes that missed nothing. His black hair was tied back, and his sword hung at his side like it was part of him.
But it was his presence that stole my breath. Authority. Strength. Danger.
Every girl in the arena sighed. Qingwan clutched her chest dramatically.
"He's perfect," she breathed. "Absolutely perfect. And he's going to be mine."
Tianzhao moved to the center of the arena. A demonstration, I realized. He was going to show his technique before the tournament matches began.
He drew his sword in one smooth motion.
What happened next took three seconds but felt like a lifetime.
His blade moved so fast it looked like five swords instead of one. Wind exploded outward, creating a barrier of slicing air that carved patterns into the stone floor. The crowd gasped and cheered.
But I wasn't watching the technique. I was watching his face.
And for one impossible moment, his eyes locked directly on mine.
Everything inside me went still. Those dark eyes seemed to see straight through me, past the servant's clothes and invisible status, right into the secret I was keeping.
Then someone in the crowd shifted, and the moment broke. Tianzhao looked away, bowing to the cheering audience.
That didn't happen, I told myself firmly. He doesn't even know you exist.
But my hands were shaking as I gripped Qingwan's things.
"Did you see that?" Qingwan squealed. "Such power! Such control! Oh, I can't wait to marry him. Father promised the engagement announcement is today, after I win my match."
She bounced excitedly while my heart sank. So it was official. The marriage was really happening.
Why do you even care? I scolded myself. He's not for you. He'll never be for you.
The tournament matches began. Qingwan fought first, facing a boy from a minor merchant family. She won easily—her sword technique was actually quite good, enhanced by her Earth-grade spiritual roots.
The crowd applauded politely. Qingwan bowed gracefully, soaking up the attention.
Then came the announcement everyone was waiting for.
Sect Master Shen stood up, his voice magically amplified to reach the whole arena. "I am pleased to announce the engagement between my nephew, Shen Tianzhao, and Miss Lin Qingwan. May their union bring prosperity to both families."
The crowd erupted in congratulations. Qingwan's smile could have lit up the whole city.
And I felt something crack inside my chest. Not my heart breaking—I'd never really believed I had a chance with someone like him. But watching him stand there, bowing formally to accept the engagement, seeing Qingwan rush forward to clasp his hand...
It hurt more than any demon's claws.
This is your life, I reminded myself bitterly. Watching other people get everything while you scrub floors and hide your power.
I turned away, not wanting to see any more.
That's when I heard the screaming.
It started at the far end of the arena—people shouting in panic, scrambling over each other to get away from something.
Black smoke was pouring through the main entrance.
And in that smoke, red eyes glowed.
Not just one demon. Not two.
Dozens.
A full demon swarm was attacking the tournament.
The cultivators jumped into action immediately, drawing swords and forming defensive positions. But there were too many demons and too many helpless normal people in the crowd.
"Everyone evacuate!" Sect Master Shen's voice boomed. "Cultivators, protect the civilians!"
Chaos exploded. People ran in every direction, trampling each other. Demons pounced on anyone too slow, their claws ripping through flesh.
A demon burst through the servant's area where I stood.
It locked its red eyes on me and smiled with too many teeth.
Not again, I thought desperately.
I couldn't use my power here. Too many witnesses. If Father saw, if the sect saw—
The demon lunged.
I dove sideways, but something caught my foot. I crashed to the ground hard. The demon's claw came down toward my head.
Then a sword flashed between us.
The demon's head fell off, its body dissolving into black smoke.
I looked up into dark eyes that had haunted my thoughts all morning.
Shen Tianzhao stood over me, his sword still raised, blood spattering his perfect robes.
"Are you hurt?" he asked.
His voice was deeper than I'd imagined. Rough with concern.
I couldn't speak. Couldn't breathe. Couldn't do anything but stare up at him like an idiot.
"Answer me," he commanded, but his free hand reached down to help me up. "Can you walk?"
I nodded, not trusting my voice, and took his hand.
The moment our skin touched, something impossible happened.
Energy jolted between us like lightning. His eyes went wide with shock. I felt it too—his cultivation base recognizing something in mine, calling to the sealed power inside me.
For three seconds, we both froze, staring at each other.
Then another demon shrieked nearby, and he pulled me to my feet.
"Get somewhere safe," he ordered. "Run. Now."
He turned back to the fight, his sword already moving to save someone else.
But I saw him glance back once, confusion clear on his face.
He felt it, I realized with growing horror. He felt my power through the seal.
Which meant I wasn't invisible anymore.
And that was very, very dangerous.