The next day, I was assigned a solo mission to gather rare herbs on the cliffs above the floating mountains. Easy enough, or so I thought.
I moved carefully, channeling my spiritual energy to stabilize my steps on the precarious rocks. I was almost enjoying myself—almost—when a sudden surge of wind knocked me off balance.
"Ah—!" I stumbled forward… and crashed right into him.
Li Tianlong.
My chest pressed against his, and his arms immediately caught me, steady as stone. My heart thundered—not from fear, but from being this close. His cold, untouchable presence radiated warmth against my skin, a contrast that left me dizzy.
"You're reckless," he said softly, his sharp eyes locked on mine. Not angry… just… piercing.
"I—I didn't mean to!" I stammered, fumbling to step back, but his grip held me in place—not harshly, just enough that I couldn't move.
"You need to control your balance… and your energy," he murmured. "Or you'll keep falling into trouble. And into me."
My cheeks burned hotter than ever. Did he just… tease me?
He finally released me, but only a little, just enough that I could stumble back while still feeling the faint warmth of his touch lingering on my arms.
I tried to focus on the mission. Focus on gathering herbs. Focus on anything—but my chest still raced, and my hands trembled.
Li Tianlong, cold and untouchable as ever, had no idea how much effect he had on me. And I… didn't care.
Because for the first time, I realized something terrifying and thrilling: I wanted to be near him. I wanted him to notice me.
And I was willing to risk falling… again and again. Kinda of stupid, hehe.
---
Sisters' Interference
I was carefully making my way through the cliffs, gathering rare herbs for the day's mission. The mist curled around me, the wind teasing my robes, and I was finally focused… when I heard voices.
"Han Qingyu! Wait up!"
I groaned. Of course. My sisters. I should have known they wouldn't let me have a quiet moment.
"Slow down, dummy! You're going too fast!" My parallel-world little sister squealed. "You're going to fall off the cliff again!"
"Don't forget your big brother!" Another sister chimed in, bounding ahead like it was a race.
I sighed, turning around. "I don't need help!" I shouted, but it was too late. My balance shifted, and I slipped slightly—straight toward…
Li Tianlong.
I crashed into him. My chest pressed against his again, and my arms instinctively grabbed onto his robe. He caught me immediately, as always, like a solid wall of ice. My heart hammered—my sisters were shouting behind me, completely oblivious to the awkward scene I'd created.
"Han Qingyu! Are you okay?!" one yelled.
"I told you to be careful!" another added.
Li Tianlong didn't flinch at the chaos around us. He just stood there, holding me steady, his piercing gaze on mine. "Your sisters are dangerous," he said calmly, his tone deadly serious.
I blinked. "Uh… yeah. Thanks… for saving me again."
He stepped back, releasing me—but my chest still ached from the closeness. His eyes softened ever so slightly, though he quickly masked it again.
My sisters finally reached us, oblivious to the tension lingering in the air.
"Whoa! You guys are so close!" one teased, nudging me with her elbow.
I groaned. "Shut up! It's nothing like that!"
Li Tianlong's sharp gaze flicked toward them, a faint edge of… amusement? irritation? I couldn't tell. Then, just as quickly, it was gone. Cold, untouchable, untouchable as ever.
My sisters finally noticed the herbs I'd gathered. "Wow! You actually did it!" one exclaimed.
I muttered, cheeks burning, "Yeah, yeah. Can we go now?"
As we walked back, I stole a glance at Li Tianlong. His expression was unreadable—but I knew something had shifted. Something tiny. He was noticing me. And maybe, just maybe… he would continue to notice me more.
And I knew… with my sisters around, there would be plenty of chaotic, embarrassing moments to force us into accidental closeness again. Slow burn, indeed, hehe.
---
Shadows of the Past
The next day, the training grounds were bustling with cultivators. I was trying my best to keep up, practicing my energy control, when I noticed someone new.
Tall, confident, and impossibly graceful. His hair shone like polished obsidian, and his eyes… his eyes were sharp, warm, and familiar to Li Tianlong in a way I hadn't seen before.
He's… someone Li Tianlong notices.
I watched silently as Li Tianlong walked past me, expression as cold and untouchable as ever—but his eyes lingered on the newcomer for a moment longer than necessary. A faint shift in his stance, a subtle narrowing of his eyes.
The newcomer's name was Xu Yichen, a senior disciple from another sect who had apparently transferred here. I caught glimpses of their interaction: a tilt of the head, a flicker of a smile from Li Tianlong, subtle but undeniably different from how he treated anyone else—including me.
My chest tightened. So this is who he had eyes for before… me?
I tried to focus on my training, but I couldn't stop sneaking glances. The way Li Tianlong moved around Xu Yichen—so attentive, so cautious—made my stomach twist. And yet… I noticed something. When Li Tianlong's eyes occasionally flicked back to me, there was a difference this time. A flash of something he hadn't shown anyone else: curiosity.
"Han Qingyu," my sister's voice yanked me out of my thoughts. "Stop spacing out!"
I glanced up, flustered. "I… I'm fine!"
But deep down, I realized this would complicate things. Li Tianlong wasn't just the cold, untouchable cultivator anymore—he had history, attachments, someone he had noticed before me.
And that… made my heart ache. But it also lit a fire inside me.
I'm not just here to survive. I'm here to be noticed. To be remembered. To matter.
And somehow, I knew the slow burn between us had just gained a new layer of tension.