My reaction is normal, Die Yi thought. Being caught by him like this is just my body's natural stress response, a self-protective measure!
Feeling Su Bei's large hand seemingly rub and pinch subconsciously, Die Yi stiffened completely.
"Um, why aren't you moving?"
Hearing Su Bei's puzzled words, Die Yi let out a small 'hmph' but still mechanically allowed him to pull her by the arm into the restaurant.
Su Bei, however, had forgotten something. This was their first meeting, yet he had already made physical contact with a woman. In this conservative world, such an act was a significant transgression.
The setting sun stretched Su Bei's shadow long.
As he walked into the restaurant, Su Bei saw Sword Maiden sitting quietly by herself. For some reason, he had a feeling she seemed even more distracted than before...
"What's wrong, Sword Maiden?"
Su Bei looked at her with some confusion, then reached out and gently touched her forehead. There seemed to be no change.
Sword Maiden forced a smile at Su Bei.
Out of the corner of his eye, Su Bei thoughtfully watched Sword Maiden's small hand under the table, clutching the token tightly.
After introducing Die Yi, the three of them simply had some tea.
Seeing it was getting late, Su Bei stood up and bid farewell to Die Yi. He stuffed everything from the table into his storage ring, then took Sword Maiden's small hand and headed towards the Sword Sect's residence.
Die Yi watched their receding figures, her mind a whirl of unspoken thoughts.
...
In a private room of the restaurant, the refined gentleman stood with his hands clasped behind his back. His gaze was complex as he watched Sword Maiden recede further into the distance, murmuring to himself,
"Why must it be you?"
He turned to the slender man beside him and said calmly, "I don't want her to get hurt."
The man paused, stunned for a moment, before nodding. Then, his figure slowly vanished.
The refined gentleman lifted his head, gazing at the sunset's afterglow and feeling the evening breeze. He murmured to himself, "Eastern Emperor, don't blame me."
"Life is like a play, and the stage is grand."
"This is destined... you and I are merely players upon this stage."
The gentleman picked up the teacup from the low table and took a sip of the still-steaming clear tea.
Then, he delicately formed an orchid hand gesture and began to sing softly, his voice climbing like one ascending a sheer, thousand-fathom cliff:
"Long I've lingered, asking of peach blossoms from bygone journeys; this river town, this year, lacks its former gentleness."
"..."
...
Su Bei held Sword Maiden's small hand, gazing at the distant, setting sun.
"We're going home now."
Sword Maiden cupped her hands around her cherry lips as if forming a megaphone. She seemed to be shouting, but no sound emerged.
Then, she gave Su Bei a bashful smile, as if apologizing for her somewhat silly action.
She's hiding so much, Su Bei sensed. Perhaps it was one thing before, but when I returned to the restaurant and saw her again, it had increased to two.
What exactly happened while I was away?
However, seeing her cautious demeanor, Su Bei sighed deeply and said, "As this master's disciple, you must be more domineering in the future!"
"Domineering! Understand? Just like you were on the high platform! Make your gaze more ferocious."
Sword Maiden looked a little bewildered. Domineering?
Su Bei thought for a moment, then mimicked a hungry tiger pouncing on its prey. His lips curled into a snarl, and he looked at her with a ferocious gaze, saying, "Candied haws! If they don't let you pay, this master will just snatch them and eat!"
"If someone bumps into you and doesn't apologize, just draw your sword and strike!"
Seeing Su Bei trying so hard to act fierce, Sword Maiden pursed her vermilion lips and finally couldn't help but let out a silent laugh.
Mimicking Su Bei's posture, she walked proudly towards their courtyard, head held high, chest out.
Su Bei continued, "A domineering person should swing their arms with force!"
"A domineering person should take strides as if each step covers the ground of two!"
"A domineering person should..."
—she ended up staggering like a large gorilla.
The setting sun slanted down, casting long shadows of the two silly figures.
Su Bei laughed as he watched Sword Maiden. Now that she's my disciple, she should enjoy my care and all the happiness she can possibly experience!
Fate may have been cruel to her, but fortunately, she met me!
She was like a drifting snowflake, scattering in the silence, or like the last rose of spring, quietly blooming only to wither.
The orange-red light danced on her delicate cheeks, her face alight with joyous laughter. Her already flushed cheeks became even rosier, and a warmth spread through her heart.
...
News of the events in the Sacred Land spread swiftly in all directions.
What was already a captivatingly grand event became even more shocking with the meteoric emergence of the Su Bei-led Sword Sect!
The Sword Sect—dismissed by countless people, a sect in which no one had ever placed any hope—had truly astonished the world this time.
Eight hundred Sword Immortals, eight hundred Sword Tombs, the Underworld Sword Sect!
Each event was astounding, things that previously only existed in legends. One after another, legendary Immortal Swords shattered. It seemed the Sword Sect was using this occasion to declare to the world once again: the Sword Sect of old was returning!
Furthermore, on the high platform, in full public view, Su Bei had accepted the mute girl as his Disciple and issued a challenge to Wuhua Palace for the grand tournament six months later!
Any single piece of this news would have been enough to astound people and fuel discussions for weeks. Now, with everything erupting at once, it was almost too much for anyone to process.
Some scoffed, believing the Sword Sect was merely thrashing about in its death throes.