The girl sat upright on the bed, her long black hair cascading down her shoulders, her expression guarded yet composed. Her silver-white aura still faintly shimmered around her, like moonlight reflecting off still water. When her eyes lifted to meet his, they held the calm intensity of someone used to command.
"You're awake," Tian Lei said simply, closing the door behind him.
The girl's gaze flicked toward him, assessing—measuring. "You saved me." Her tone was even, but there was a trace of disbelief under the composure. "Why?"
Tian Lei shrugged lightly, walking over to the small table and setting down the pouch of coins. "You were about to die. I dislike watching capable people die for nothing."
That earned him a faint, dry chuckle. "A pragmatic hero, then."
"Not heroic—now pay up," Tian Lei said flatly, standing with his hands crossed.
The girl blinked at him in confusion. "What?" she asked, staring at him oddly.
