Tian Lei forced himself to look away, fingers tightening faintly on his sheath. He had seen countless beauties in his journey, yet none had shaken his heart like this. Dangerous. That was the only word he could ascribe to Yue Xin.
The City Lord's voice cut through the silence, though even she seemed slightly uneasy under the weight of the moment."Senior Tian Lei… my daughter is not ordinary. Her mask was not vanity, but necessity. She carries a physique that invites both reverence and ruin. Already, rumors have spread—whispers of her face, and the powers that covet it. That is why I entrust this sword to you. Take it, not as a weapon for slaughter, but as a bond between us. A plea… that you might protect her, if fate wills it."
Her words lingered in the air, heavy as stone.
