"G—great demon?" Yue Chan stammered.
Elder Yun Ji replied with a quiet nod.
"Are you saying the catastrophe that happened a thousand years ago was real?" she pressed, searching his face for any hint of doubt.
Once more, Elder Yun Ji nodded solemnly.
Noticing her master's quiet response, Yue Chan leaned in and bumped his side playfully.
"Master, you lied to me!"
"What are you talking about?" Elder Yun Ji replied, feigning offense. "How old are you now? This isn't the time for childish accusations. I haven't lied to you—not then, not now."
Yue Chan eyed him suspiciously, absentmindedly rubbing her ear.
"I was just curious, so I wanted to clarify if it's true. I nearly died because of that nether abyssal vine. What's wrong with wanting to know the truth?"
"I've already said what I need to say. I'm old now, don't pressure me," Elder Yun Ji grumbled. "And another thing—you've been infected by Li Haoran's behavior. You only spent half a day with him, and now you've become quite talkative."
"Stop bringing Li Haoran into this. He's not involved here," Yue Chan hissed.
"Oh? How protective you are," Elder Yun Ji teased.
"Master," Yue Chan said, her tone a warning.
"I'm quiet, I'm quiet," Elder Yun Ji relented, raising both hands in mock surrender, the corners of his mouth twitching with reluctant amusement.
Silence.
"Anyway, why do those vines harm me? I didn't do anything to them," Yue Chan asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.
"Those vines are connected to their master's primordial spirit," Elder Yun Ji explained, his voice low and grave.
"How did you know?"
"With my existence, there are some matters I am privy to," Elder Yun Ji replied, his gaze distant. "But not everything is within my grasp."
"You said the nether abyssal vines have appeared again, and that means the great demon has returned. Does that mean the great demon and the nether abyssal vines are connected? In other words, is the great demon their master?"
Elder Yun Ji glanced at her with a satisfied smile and nodded.
"Smart as ever, Chan'er. You hit the mark."
"So, what's the possible solution to avoid them?" Yue Chan pressed, anxiety flickering in her eyes.
"The nether abyssal vines act according to their master's will. They won't attack without reason."
"What do you mean by that?" she asked, searching his face for answers.
Elder Yun Ji only offered a faint, enigmatic smile, leaving her with more questions than answers.
Yue Chan tilted her head, silently piecing together the events of the past two days.
She and Li Haoran had dueled in the lake—right above where the nether abyssal vines lurked.
If the great demon controlled the vines, then it must have been present at that very moment.
But why had the vines attacked her?
Turning the situation over in her mind, Yue Chan considered the possibility that their battle had disturbed the area, provoking the vines to defend their master's domain.
But what did the great demon look like?
What kind of being could have caused such catastrophe a thousand years ago?
Yue Chan's mind raced with questions.
Was the havoc of the past truly the work of this demon?
Did both the demon and the catastrophe leave nothing but destruction in their wake?
Her lips formed a slight pout as she slipped deeper into thought.
"Still can't move on from overthinking?" Elder Yun Ji teased gently. "Don't stress yourself."
"If you'd just answer my questions, I wouldn't have to overthink like this," she shot back, frustration evident in her voice.
"History is written by the victors. But written history is never set in stone. We can't be certain if the stories in those books reflect what truly happened, or if they've been twisted to hide the truth."
"Books?" Yue Chan paused, a spark of realization in her eyes. "That's right—it might be written in some old records. Master, do you think the book still exists?"
"Why are you so suddenly interested in these matters?" Elder Yun Ji sighed softly. "You should be focusing on your recovery instead. After what happened earlier, my advice is to reflect carefully—you may have played a part in this tragedy yourself."
"Played a part in this tragedy?" Yue Chan murmured, repeating the words under her breath.
Her master smiled gently and patted her shoulder.
"Be good and focus on healing. As for the future—good luck!"
Elder Yun Ji stood up and left the room without looking back, his figure soon disappearing beyond the doorway.
"Play the part?" Yue Chan whispered to herself, confusion swirling in her eyes. "What does Master mean by that?"
The room felt emptier now, with no companions left to share the silence.
Yue Chan let out a quiet sigh, settled herself on the mat, and closed her eyes, allowing herself to drift into much-needed rest.
The next day.
Yue Chan returned to her secluded sanctuary, immersing herself in meditation and the slow work of internal healing.
The peak was high, so high that the crisp mountain air seemed to hush every living thing into silence.
"MASTER!"
Yue Chan's eyes snapped open at the sound of a familiar voice echoing from below.
Looking down, she spotted Li Haoran, grinning up at her and waving enthusiastically, a basket brimming with all sorts of fresh fruit balanced on his arm.
Here comes the catastrophe again, she thought, her brows knitting in exasperation.
She watched as Li Haoran ascended the stone steps, humming a carefree tune that echoed faintly through the morning air.
When he finally reached the summit, he set his basket down beside the stone table and hurried over, dropping to his knees before Yue Chan with exaggerated reverence.
"Greetings to my venerable and most beautiful master!"
Yue Chan regarded him with a furrowed brow and a look of clear contempt.
Noticing Yue Chan's displeasure, Li Haoran quickly scrambled to his feet, a nervous smile plastered on his face.
"Aren't you happy to see me?"
Yue Chan narrowed her eyes.
"How bold of you, invading my territory."
Li Haoran's eyes widened as he searched his mind for an excuse, falling silent for a moment.
After clearing his throat and steadying himself, he finally offered, "It was… Elder Yun who let me in."
At his explanation, Yue Chan unfolded her arms, her lips parting in disbelief.
She lowered her gaze, a murderous silence settling over her features.
Why do I feel like there's some secret collaboration between Master and this troublemaker? The two of them must be conspiring against me.
"Young Master?" Li Haoran ventured, peering at her expectantly.
Yue Chan slowly lifted her head, acting as if she hadn't heard him.
When she finally looked at him, she was greeted by Li Haoran's delighted grin.
"Why are you staring at me like that?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
"So… beautiful!" he breathed.
Yue Chan's eyes widened in surprise, her hand instinctively flying to her face.
It was only then she remembered—she hadn't worn her mask since arriving here.
In truth, she never bothered with a mask inside her secluded sanctuary; the hidden barriers were protection enough, and only her master, Yun Ji, ever intruded.
She had never expected Li Haoran to appear without her permission.
Flushed with embarrassment, Yue Chan quickly blocked her face with her hands and turned away from him.
Li Haoran seemed to understand her reaction, but he didn't miss the chance to ask what was on his mind.
"I know it's hard for you to face someone without hiding behind a mask," he said gently. "But tell me—why do you do this to yourself? You're beautiful, more than capable of facing anyone in open confrontation. I'll admit, I'm curious too."
"You have no right to ask me something like that," Yue Chan replied coldly.
Li Haoran shrugged, undeterred.
"It doesn't matter. Honestly, the first time I saw you underwater, I was… momentarily astonished. I almost forgot that I'd come to save you."
"That incident underwater… just consider it an accident," Yue Chan replied, her voice flat.
"But for me, it was unforgettable," Li Haoran said softly.
A sudden silence enveloped the peak, broken only by the faint whisper of the wind.
After a moment, Yue Chan turned to him, arms folded across her chest, her gaze settling on the basket overflowing with fruit.
She shot him with a dramatic look.
"Did you bring these for me?"
"Uh… yes." Li Haoran responded with a quick nod.
"How thoughtful of you," she remarked, moving toward the basket.
She slid the lid aside, curiosity flickering in her eyes as she checked what was inside.
She plucked a cluster of green grapes from the basket, brought it to her nose to inhale its fresh scent, then popped one into her mouth.
Li Haoran watched her in silence, so captivated that he barely dared to blink.
His gaze traced the delicate sweep of her lashes, lingered on the graceful line of her nose, then drifted down to her soft, beautiful lips and the gentle curve of her chin and jaw.
In that moment, he could only marvel at how perfect her features were.
Suddenly, Yue Chan spoke up.
"Weren't you hungry?"
Li Haoran snapped out of his reverie, startled to find Yue Chan watching him with a puzzled expression.
For a moment, he was speechless.
Then, with a sheepish smile, he managed a small nod.
Yue Chan regarded him with a warm smirk, shaking her head slightly as she let out a soft, exasperated hiss.
"M—master, how long will you stay here to recuperate?" Li Haoran asked tentatively.
"It depends on my will," Yue Chan replied coolly.
"In that case," Li Haoran grinned, "I suppose I'll just have to visit you every day."
"Anything else?" Yue Chan asked.
Li Haoran hesitated.
"If you want to visit, then so be it."
Li Haoran's face lit up.
"Really?"
"But one more thing—don't disturb me during my practice. Do you understand?"
"Fine. No problem," he agreed readily.
"Good," Yue Chan said flatly, turning away and making her way toward her meditation stone.
Li Haoran watched her with quiet satisfaction as she settled into her usual spot.
Her expression grew serious as she closed her eyes, refocusing her mind and channeling her internal force.
Beside the stone table, Li Haoran sat silently, content just to watch her.
Resting his cheek on his wrist, a gentle smile curved his lips as he took in the tranquil scene before him.
The reason he made such a suggestion was simple—ever since their encounter a few days ago, Li Haoran found himself wanting to see her more and more, wishing he could spend every day by her side.
In the end, it was simply the close bond between master and disciple—nothing more, nothing less.