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"Even the brightest stars are ignored when they rise too close to the sun."
The sun had just begun to rise over the Azure Heaven Sect, painting the sky with soft orange and pink light.
Inside a quiet courtyard filled with blooming moonflowers, a young girl stood alone, her sword pointed at the sky. Her long white hair shimmered like snow under the sun, and her bright red eyes focused sharply ahead.
It was Shen Yue — the younger sister of Shen Tian.
She moved with precision, copying the sword techniques from a scroll placed nearby. Her breathing was steady. Her movements were clean. But her steps still lacked something — strength? Spirit? Or perhaps... recognition?
As she finished the last stance, she paused, panting softly.
"…Again."
She began once more.
And again.
And again.
But no matter how many times she practiced, her results didn't change.
---
Just beyond the courtyard wall, Shen Tian stood silently, arms crossed, watching her through the open gate. His sharp eyes observed every swing.
"…Clumsy," he muttered to himself, turning around.
Later that day, Shen Yue nervously approached him, hoping for praise or even a small compliment.
"Brother… I've been practicing the Azure Flow Sword like you told me. Would you… like to see it?"
Shen Tian didn't even look up from his cultivation manual.
"Your movements are too soft. Swordsmanship requires strength and control, not just effort. Keep training."
The words were cold.
To Shen Yue, they felt like ice stabbing into her chest.
Her lips trembled.
"But— I— I just wanted to…"
"Don't bother me unless you improve. Mediocrity wastes my time."
And with that, he walked away.
---
That evening, Shen Yue sat alone in her room. The moonlight spilled through the window, lighting up her pale face.
She curled into a small ball on her bed, hugging her knees, her sword lying beside her.
"I try so hard… but he never sees me," she whispered, eyes growing damp.
A soft knock came at her door.
It opened gently, revealing a tall, graceful girl with long black hair tied in a silk ribbon and dressed in elegant blue robes.
Li Yueru — the Holy Daughter of the Sect.
She stepped in quietly, a warm expression softening her usual cold face.
"Shen Yue," she said softly, "I saw what happened today."
Shen Yue sniffled and looked down. "I'm not strong enough… am I? That's why he doesn't care…"
Li Yueru sat beside her on the bed and gently brushed Shen Yue's hair away from her face.
"No," she said, "You're just trying to reach someone who never learned how to look back."
Shen Yue looked up, confused.
Li Yueru smiled faintly. "Shen Tian… he's strong, but he doesn't understand people. He chases strength and destiny, but forgets the warmth in between."
"But I'm his sister…" Shen Yue murmured.
"Yes," Li Yueru said. "But he's too proud. He sees you as someone weak, not someone he should protect. That's his flaw, not yours."
There was silence for a while.
Then Li Yueru continued, her voice gentler now.
"You know, when I was first called the 'fated partner' of Shen Tian, I believed it was the heavens guiding me."
Shen Yue looked up.
"But over time, I started to question it," Li Yueru said quietly. "What if fate is wrong? What if… I don't want a future with someone who doesn't understand people?"
Shen Yue blinked in surprise.
"Elder Sister… you really think that?"
Li Yueru nodded slowly. "Yes. We are not just tools of destiny. We can choose."
She looked out the window at the glowing moon.
"There's a festival in the Mortal World in six months. A grand celebration that gathers travelers, merchants, and cultivators alike. I was thinking… maybe we could go together."
"To the mortal world?" Shen Yue whispered.
Li Yueru nodded. "Yes. We'll go as simple girls — no titles, no sect pressure. Just a little break from all this."
Shen Yue's eyes slowly lit up.
"Do you think… Brother will mind?"
"He doesn't have to know," Li Yueru said with a soft smirk. "It'll just be our little escape."
For the first time in days, Shen Yue laughed. It was light and gentle, like a bell on a wind chime.
"I'd like that."
---
Far away, across the sect grounds, Lin Xian sat beneath a quiet willow tree, cross-legged in meditation.
He didn't know what the two girls were planning just yet.
But soon, very soon… their path would cross his.
And destiny?
It would tremble.
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