A long sword flew out of a hand and shot high into the air, reflecting silver light.

It depicted a beautiful, lonely line, and finally fell on the ground.

“Junior Disciple Sister Shui…”

A sword tip stopped before of Shui Yuner’s neck and pricked her skin.

Due to the sword momentum, a few strands of hair fluttered gently.

“You lose.”

The sword wielder announced.

She is a rather young outer temple female disciple. She is in her early twenties. Her name is Huang Shanshan.

Her cultivation base is probably at the Human Realm – this is Shui Yuner’s assessment. She didn’t ask the other party.

“Thank you for your guidance, Senior Disciple Sister Huang.”

After pacifying her breathing a little, Shui Yuner clasped her hands and expressed her gratitude.

“You’re welcome. Junior Disciple Sister Shui, your swordsmanship is pretty good.”

Shui Yuner smiled in response, and then picked up the practice sword that fell not far away.

“Senior Disciple Sister Huang, shall we have another go?”

Shui Yuner turned towards Huang Shanshan again and proposed in a slightly mischievous tone.

“It is already the third round. Shouldn’t you take a break? Junior Disciple Sister Shui, you should have consumed your physical strength by now…”

Huang Shanshan revealed a slightly perplexed expression.

Just as Huang Shanshan said, Shui Yuner has consumed a greater part of her physical strength after the two rounds.

“Not to mention, there seems to be someone waiting for you over there.”

“Waiting for me?”

Shui Yuner turned her head unconsciously and looked in the direction Huang Shanshan is pointing.

She saw Xue Jiujiu standing there. No, perhaps it’s Xue Qilin, the Young Ancestor of the Merak Temple.

Seeing Shui Yuner looking at her, Xue Qilin waved and called loudly: “Little Yun!”

How does she know that I’m here? Did Mingming tell her? Shui Yuner couldn’t help crease her eyebrows.

Truth be told, Shui Yuner doesn’t know how to face her.

She isn’t clear about her feelings towards the lass.

She feels both affection and hatred.

Whether it is before or after she met Xue Qilin, Shui Yuner has a good opinion of her, an inexplicable sense of intimacy.

There is no reason behind this. It’s just a feeling, that’s all.

However, after she heard those words – no, perhaps it was after she learned her true identity, a thorn lodged deeply in the girl’s heart.

Was it deception? Maybe not, but Shui Yuner still feels uncomfortable.

This isn’t surprising.

She clearly has a good impression of her, but the other party concealed a certain thing from her.

Although Shui Yuner understands that everyone may have their secrets, but when she learned that the other party has concealed this fact, even though she can understand it rationally, she still feels uncomfortable.

What’s more, Shui Yuner is very sensitive to and disgusted with such concealment and deceptions.

However, Shui Yuner doesn’t dislike Xue Qilin for this.

She can’t dislike her.

She just doesn’t understand how to handle, vent, and face the complex emotions and the sense of estrangement that derived from them in her heart when she sees the other party.

After all, she is only 15 years old.

This problem is too difficult for her.

“Little Yun, I have something to talk to you. Are you free?”

While she was in a trance, the petite Xue Qilin arrived right before her eyes.

Shui Yuner stared blankly at the bright yellow eyes.

“Little Yun?”

Seeing Shui Yuner staring dully at her, Xue Qilin waved her hands in front of the other party’s eyes.

“Ah… what…”

Shui Yuner finally came back to her senses.

“Sorry, I spaced out.”

“It’s okay… Right, I have something to talk to you. Are you free?”

Xue Qilin asked a second time, a sincere smile plastered on her face.

“I …” Shui Yuner hesitated, “I have to speak with Senior Disciple Sister Huang…”

Hearing Shui Yuner’s words, a flash of surprise appeared on Huang Shanshan’s face.

I lied… I clearly hate being deceived by other… Shui Yuner evaded the other party’s gaze.

“Really?”

Xue Qilin’s eyes are incredibly bright.

“You have no time at all? There’s something very important I want to talk about.”

Shui Yuner understands that she should agree to the lass’s request.

However, after a long time, she still didn’t agree, as if to declare something.

Finally, Shui Yuner shook her head.

“I’ll find you in the evening… little Senior Disciple Sister, okay?”

Shui Yuner almost called the other party “Young Ancestor”.

How embarrassing. The girl scolded herself in her heart.

However…

“No, I will say it now.”

Unexpectedly stubborn, Xue Qilin grabbed Shui Yuner by the forearm.

“It can’t wait.”

An irresistible force transmitted from her arm, and Shui Yuner staggered a few steps.

“Wait…!”

Xue Qilin didn’t listen, and dragged Shui Yuner a few steps away.

… Something in her mind must have snapped.

“Now, let go of me.”

Shui Yuner’s voice was low, but the force with which she pulled is astonishing. She pried her arm away from Xue Qilin’s grip.

Xue Qilin’s face portrayed surprise.

“Sorry, I…”

Xue Qilin opened her eyes wide and apologized blankly.

“Why are you apologizing?”

Shui Yuner’s voice was weak, but unexpectedly clear.

“Little Yun, are you alright?”

Xue Qilin asked, hesitant. There is concern in her eyes.

Shui Yuner suddenly saw…

The lass’s beautiful and clear eyes reflect a pretty face, Shui Yuner’s face.

The eyes are unfocused.

But the corners of the mouth are bent into beautiful arcs.

Shui Yuner froze.

Is this me? There must be something wrong with me. Did something break inside me? This thought roused Shui Yuner.

She took a few steps back, held her forehead, and gasped for breath.

This must not be me! Definitely not!

“I’m fine…”

Shui Yuner forced a smile.

Xue Qilin hesitated to speak several times, and then finally fell silent.

After a while, she asked: “… You heard us yesterday, didn’t you?”

“…”

If someone not in the know heard this, they may feel confused.

But Shui Yuner understood.

She understood because she was the one who eavesdropped yesterday.

“I was a bit impulsive at that time. That’s not how I feel.”

Xue Qilin regarded Shui Yuner’s silence as a tacit admission.

“… Then how do you feel?”

Shui Yun’er finally asked.

“I will teach you ‘magic’ and accept you as a disciple – that’s how I feel.”

“When will you teach me?”

Shui Yuner’s sounded a little excited.

“I need an opportune moment. I can prove everything on a full moon night.”

Snow Qilin spoke decisively.

Shui Yuner lowered her gaze and went silent for a good while.

“Okay, I believe you.”

That was a lie.

However, Xue Qilin didn’t find out.

The lass just…

Just showed a pure smile.

It’s no use, Xue Qilin.

I can’t believe the future you promised anymore.

… Mhm, I can’t believe it anymore.

Even if I knew for a fact that you didn’t deceive me.

Shui Yuner didn’t convey her thoughts.

She hid them deep in her heart.