The closer Jia Wei Xin and Liu Mo Fei approached the gathering ground, the heavier the air became — thick with anticipation, as if the very mountains were holding their breath.
Below them, the massive ceremonial terraces stretched across the mountainside — carved platforms layered like steps into the cliffs, each one packed with disciples in white and blue robes.
Over six thousand had gathered. A living sea of bodies, arranged in perfect order, buzzing with excitement.
Banners embroidered with the sect's sacred symbols fluttered in the breeze. Glowing spiritual orbs hovered high above, casting shifting light across the open air. From the main stage below, the deep, steady rhythm of ceremonial drums echoed through the valley — drawing every ear and heart into focus.
At the foot of the stage, junior disciples performed sword dances in flawless unison. Their blades flashed under the sunlight. Musicians with flutes and guqin added a haunting melody to the background — solemn, grand, and a little too dramatic.
This wasn't a simple sect gathering with boring speeches and dusty scrolls. This was theater. This was grandeur. This was branding.
The banners, the dancers, the synchronized drama — it all screamed wealth, power, and the kind of prestige that only the top sect in the entire cultivation world could afford to flaunt.
And yet, all of it was just the warm-up.
The real show was about to begin.
Because the one everyone had been waiting for — the man whose mere entrance had to be announced like a divine revelation — was finally arriving.
So rich. So high-class, Jia Wei Xin muttered to herself, eyes flicking to Liu Mo Fei, who walked calmly a few steps ahead of her, the picture of composure and confidence as they made their way toward the main stage.
---
As the two of them came into view, the crowd reacted instantly.
Disciples and elders who were still adjusting stage positions or fiddling with final scroll placements froze mid-task.In one smooth wave, they turned and bowed.
"Greetings, Sect Leader Liu!"
Their voices rang out in perfect formality — but Jia Wei Xin could feel it.
More and more of those supposedly respectful gazes were sliding past Liu Mo Fei… and landing squarely on her.
She kept her back straight, her chin lifted, her expression calm — even though she could practically feel the whispers crawling across her skin like invisible ants.
Ahead, the grand stage stood like the spine of the mountain itself — carved from dark stone, framed by soaring banners, and flanked by towering pillars etched with the sect's most sacred symbols.
Seats were arranged in ceremonial tiers: the Sect Leader's throne centered at the highest point, flanked by Vice Leaders and Elders in descending order of seniority.
Directly behind each master's seat, slightly lowered, were rows for private disciples — a position of honor and close service, allowing masters to summon or instruct them at any time. And today, probably also the best seats in the house for maximum drama — sifu and disciple edition.
---
As they reached the bottom steps, one of the coordinators approached with a rushed smile and a low bow.
"Sect Leader Liu, it's good you're here. We were just about to announce your entrance."
Around them, the buzz of conversation was already picking up.
"The Sect Leader is coming!" "They say he's bringing someone with him today…""Is it true? She's his new disciple? A private disciple?"
Then, as if on cue, the performers moved aside with the elegance of a practiced illusion.The music softened to a low, expectant hum.
And as though drawn by an invisible string, the entire crowd — all six thousand — fell silent.A single breath, held by thousands of lungs.
They had arrived.
---
As they ascended the wide, carved steps, Liu Mo Fei turned slightly. His voice, as always, was relaxed — but never careless.
"Stay close," he said.
Jia Wei Xin nodded, silent, following a half-step behind.
By now, every available seat had been filled, every head turned, every breath measured.The mountain itself seemed covered in snow — if snow came with sharp eyes, fast mouths, and a deeply unhealthy obsession with their Sect Leader.
---
As Liu Mo Fei stepped onto the stage, a wave of excitement rippled through the crowd.
Girls gasped loudly — overwhelmed by his beauty and powerful presence.Some even wobbled, too excited to stand properly.Boys stared with admiration, burning with dreams of becoming just like him.
Jia Wei Xin looked around and thought, If they were allowed to hold banners, blow whistles, and scream like idol fans, they'd definitely do it.Honestly, Liu Mo Fei looked more like a pop idol than a Sect Leader.
If my college headmaster looked like this, I wouldn't have studied a single day.
Liu Mo Fei — the most famous, most powerful, and most ridiculously good-looking cultivator anyone could imagine.
The crowd stared, hypnotized.
---
Then they noticed her.
Walking just a few steps behind him.
Just when Jia Wei Xin thought the attention would remain glued to Liu Mo Fei, the atmosphere shifted so fast it might've cracked the sky.
Boys gasped louder. Girls glared with full-blown laser eyes. The energy doubled — and it wasn't all good.
Jia Wei Xin frowned. Why the sudden switch? How can these so-called loyal Liu Mo Fei fans change direction so fast?
But of course. This was the first time in sect history anyone had seen Liu Mo Fei walk this closely with someone — and not just anyone, but a completely unknown girl.
---
The boys:
"Is she the new private disciple? I thought that was just a rumor!"
"She's so pretty!"
"It'd be great if she became my junior… or my wife…"
"She's not taken, right?"
"But didn't someone say the Sect Leader already fell for her?"
The girls:
"She's just pretty. So what!"
"How did she get picked as private disciple when no one else could?!"
"Maybe she used some weird trick!"
"There's no way the Sect Leader fell for her. I refuse to believe it!"
The whisper storm intensified.
From the corner of her eye, Jia Wei Xin spotted that annoyingly sexy elder she had met a few days ago, Elder Hua Lian — now joining the killer glare contest, looking even more emotionally unstable than before. She is thinking, Why is everyone staring at her instead of me?!
Jia Wei Xin ignored it.Mostly. She could still hear the whispers from the front rows, and that was already too much.
Why is the stage so damn big? Why does it feel like she's walking a kilometer under laser fire?
She finally reached her seat behind Liu Mo Fei, sat down neatly, folded her hands in her lap, and lifted her chin with quiet defiance.
Back straight. Eyes forward. Not one ripple in her expression.
If anyone thought she'd be rattled — they didn't know her very well.
Not even six thousand eyeballs could shake her spine of steel.
---
Liu Mo Fei heard everything too.
His cultivation senses picked up every whispered comment. Every not-so-subtle glance. Every single dirty thought floating through the brains of the male disciples.
As for the girls — the jealous ones, the potentially murderous ones?
He ignored them completely!
His entire focus was locked on the boys. Especially the ones staring at Jia Wei Xin like they were lining up to apply as her future husband.
Sifu Rage Level: 99%. Critical.
He smiled — the slow, dangerous kind of smile that made people think twice about making eye contact.
If any of those flies dared to flutter too close, he'd crush them.No effort required.
---
What surprised him was their boldness.
The rumors were already spreading — that he, Liu Mo Fei, had fallen for his private disciple.
And he hadn't exactly denied it.
He hadn't hidden it either.Not from the crowd.Not even from the elders.
In fact, he welcomed the gossip.Let them talk. Let them guess. Let them know:
This disciple was taken!
Let's see who was foolish enough to challenge him.
Apparently, several were.
He had clearly underestimated the sheer shamelessness of young men — able to make imaginary claims with just a hungry stare.
Ridiculous.
Though, if he were being honest…
Wasn't he just as bad?
Much like a kettle calling another kettle black, this shameless sifu didn't seem to realize how thirsty he looked every time he was within three feet of Jia Wei Xin.
---
If Jia Wei Xin knew this was what her sifu's brain was focused on right now, she'd probably cough up blood.
Wasn't he supposed to be protecting her?
The girls were clearly the bigger threat —the type to spike her tea, stab her in the back, push her off a cliff, or worse… accuse her of cheating on her own sifu.
And what would happen then?
She'd die miserably.And Liu Mo Fei wouldn't even know why.Or worse — he'd believe the rumors and treat her like a shameless flirt.
But alas...
This sifu's brain was wired to swat flies.
The dragons breathing fire right next to him?
Totally ignored.