Leon's obsidian eyes narrowed as he absorbed her words. So that's why the speed felt limited…
Veile crossed her arms, smirking with childlike arrogance. "Fix that, and even your shadow will struggle to keep up with you, stupid master."
Leon's obsidian eyes narrowed as he absorbed her words. So that's why the speed felt limited…
He inhaled slowly, centering his focus on his dantian as Veile had instructed. Instead of coiling his shoulders and legs like before, he pushed outward from his core. His energy rippled through his frame, snapping into his limbs like lightning running through copper.
The ground beneath his feet cracked faintly as his figure blurred.
In the next instant, Leon was gone.
He reappeared ten meters away, the leaves around him scattering from the sudden displacement. Again he stepped, this time sideways, his body flickering like a shadow darting between trees. His movements were sharper, cleaner, and far more explosive. Each step was a ghost, no pre-motion, no warning.
If any normal cultivator had faced him in that moment, they would have been cut down without ever tracing his movement.
Leon came to a stop, chest rising steadily, obsidian eyes gleaming with exhilaration. A laugh escaped him.
"Fuck yeah! I'm at least three times faster now!"
He turned toward Veile, excitement lighting his features. Without thinking, he scooped her up in his arms, lifting her high the way a father might pick up a child.
"Come here, Veile!"
"Y-You idiot master! Put me down! Put me down this instant!" Veile squirmed wildly, her small arms flailing, crimson eyes wide as her cheeks puffed in outrage.
Leon spun her once in his hands before finally setting her back on the ground. Veile crossed her arms with a sharp "Hmph!", her little foot stomping as her face turned bright red. Her anger made her look like a doll brought to life — all pout and puff.
Leon's lips curved as he watched her glare at him. ' She really is such a cute little tsundere girl.'
The thought made his smile deepen, even as Veile turned away with her nose up, muttering under her breath about having such a "stupid master."
Leon glanced at the sinking sun, the forest's shadows stretching long behind him. "Let's go, Veile. Sun's almost down — if we're late, Mother will bury me under a mountain of questions."
"Hmph." Veile crossed her tiny arms with one last pout before her body flickered into black-and-red light. In an instant, she reverted back into the sword, sliding neatly into its sheath at his waist.
Leon exhaled, collecting the beast cores he had hunted. He tied the pouch tight across his back, then bent his knees. His figure blurred — and with a whisper of air, he launched toward Stoneford.
The Lightning Shadow Step carried him like a phantom across the landscape. Every dozen strides he would pause to steady his breath, the faint glow of dusk shimmering against his black robe. After forty minutes of relentless speed, the village walls finally came into sight, bathed in the deep orange glow of the setting sun.
By the time his feet crossed Stoneford's gate, Leon slowed his pace. He walked steadily, the calm aura around him far different from the wild energy he carried in the forest. The evening wind brushed his obsidian-black hair across his face, dust rising in soft spirals at his feet. The dying sunlight set his obsidian eyes aglow, sharpening the edges of his handsome face until he looked almost unreal.
Villagers turned as he passed, many women pausing in their steps, their eyes lingering too long. Some widened in shock, whispering as though trying to remember who this impossibly handsome young man was. Others simply looked on with enchanted stares, unable to believe this was Leon — the boy they once remembered as frail and sickly.
Leon's lips curved faintly, but he said nothing. He continued his walk, each step measured, his figure framed by the burning horizon.
Then, two blocks from his home, he froze.
A figure approached from the opposite side of the street.
She was striking. A mature woman, beautiful in the way that only time and experience could sculpt. Her curves were full, her body voluptuous, the lines of her figure accentuated by the fitted brown gown she wore. The fabric clung close, pressing against her generous breasts, the low neckline revealing a teasing depth of cleavage. Each subtle movement made her chest shift with a soft, mesmerizing weight.
Her hips swayed naturally, the gown hugging her round, plump ass that rippled with the faintest jiggle as she walked. Even her long legs, shaped with natural maturity, carried a grace that demanded attention.
A cascade of dark hair fell around her shoulders, framing a face both kind and alluring. Her eyes were warm, yet held a sultry glow when they lingered too long. Her full lips curved into a gentle smile that could melt even the coldest heart.
Aunty Bella.
The perfect image of a beautiful widow in her prime — sensual, mature, radiating allure. The kind of woman that turned heads wherever she walked.
Her husband had once been a proud guard of the village, until tragedy claimed him two years ago. Since then, Bella had carried herself with strength, kindness, and grace. She was well-loved in Stoneford, admired not only for her beauty but for her warm nature.
And for Leon, she was more than just a neighbor. She had always been friendly with his family, often helping Emma, while Leon himself had helped Bella with countless errands and chores. She treated him kindly, her gentle warmth often filling the void left by his hardships.
"Aunt Bella," Leon called softly, stepping toward her.
When she heard a familiar voice .
She turned, her eyes widening in disbelief. For a long moment, she simply stared.
"Leon… dear? Is that really you?" Her voice trembled with surprise. "What happened to you?She was stunned." Yesterday you were just—just a boy, and now…"
Her gaze swept over him, from his tall frame to his sharp, handsome features. Her breath caught faintly in her throat. By the heavens… she thought. He's… he's grown into a man overnight.
Leon scratched the back of his head, a little sheepish. "It's… complicated, Aunt. Honestly, I shouldn't be saying this to anyone yet. But since it's you, I'll tell you…" His obsidian eyes softened. "I actually awakened naturally yesterday."
Bella's lips parted slightly. "Awakened… naturally?"
He nodded, serious. "Yes. I didn't even use a stone. It just… happened."
Though Amelia had warned him to keep it secret, Leon trusted Bella. She had always been kind to his family, and part of him wanted to share his joy with her — to see her smile.
Bella placed a delicate hand over her mouth, still stunned. "Oh dear… is that what caused such a change?" Her gentle voice flowed like honey, soft and alluring, carrying both shock and admiration.
As a cultivator herself, she knew it was possible. Rare, but possible. And she wasn't from Stoneford — she had grown up in Elyaryn, the capital of Tranqueasia. She had seen prodigies before. But even so… Leon's transformation was extraordinary.
"You've… you've grown so tall. And you look so—" she hesitated, her cheeks faintly coloring, "—so handsome now."
A soft giggle slipped past her lips as her hand touched her cheek, a gesture as natural as it was enchanting. Her eyes lingered on his face, drinking in his changed features.
Leon smiled faintly, his voice warm. "I've only grown a little, Aunt Bella."
She gave him a playful look, her eyes narrowing gently. "A little? You were barely up to my shoulders before. Now look at you. Taller than me, broader too." Her gaze flickered briefly over his chest and arms before she caught herself, quickly looking back to his eyes. "You've become the very picture of a young cultivator."
Leon chuckled softly, scratching the back of his head again. "Well… I'll take that as a compliment."
Bella tilted her head, her long dark hair brushing against her shoulders. "You should. Trust me, Leon, if the girls of this village saw you now, they'd all be chasing after you."
Leon smirked faintly, teasing. "Are you included in that 'all,' Aunt Bella?"
Her cheeks flushed a deeper shade, and she gave his arm a playful swat. "Oh, you cheeky boy…!" But her voice carried warmth, and perhaps the faintest hint of something else, buried beneath her smile.
For a moment, silence stretched between them, broken only by the distant sounds of the village preparing for nightfall.
Bella sighed softly, her tone gentler now. "Leon… I'm glad. Truly glad. After everything, to see you like this… strong, confident… it makes me happy."
Leon looked at her, his obsidian eyes calm and steady. "Thank you, Aunt Bella. That means more than you know."
As Leon and Bella chatted, her soft laughter still lingering in the air, a sharp voice cut across the street.
"Leon! Your mother is looking for you!"
He turned his head, instantly recognizing the voice. Amelia.
She stood a short distance away, near his house. Her figure was framed in the dim glow of the setting sun, her long black hair glinting with streaks of gold. But her eyes—her eyes were fixed on him, wide and unreadable as they took in the sight of him speaking fondly with Aunt Bella.
Leon blinked, caught off guard. "Amelia…"
A/N:
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