Chapter Twenty-Two: Gu Yue
The years flowed swiftly, and Su Ling Tian had reached the age of five, while Su Mi was now three.
At that tender age, the two began their first lessons — learning the basics of reading and writing, along with simple physical training meant to strengthen their small, growing bodies.
One day, a young woman of noble grace and quiet beauty stood in the Su Family's training courtyard.
She wore a robe that was simple yet refined, its elegance reflecting her status as an elder of the Argonian Turtle Clan.
Her long hair, dark as midnight, cascaded down her back, and her eyes — shimmering with calm wisdom — watched over the courtyard with serene authority.
With a composed and confident tone, she spoke,Alright, little ones. From this day onward, I will be your teacher. My name is Ling Xuan, and you may call me Teacher Xuan."
Su Mi took a few small, eager steps forward, her black eyes sparkling with innocent curiosity.
In a sweet, childlike voice, she asked,Teacher Xuan! Will you teach us how to become strong?
Ling Xuan's lips curved into a gentle smile, her expression soft and warm.
All things come in their time, little one. Strength is not born from haste, but from understanding first.
You must learn to read and write before anything else — for knowledge is the root upon which true strength takes form.
As days turned into weeks, during their lessons, Teacher Xuan found herself unable to ignore a strange, quiet stirring within her heart whenever her gaze met Su Ling Tian's.
From the very first moment their eyes met, something deep within her resonated — a pull she could neither name nor resist.
He was just a child… and yet, there was something in his presence that awakened a mysterious warmth inside her chest.
Sometimes she would catch herself watching him for too long, her heart tightening with a feeling she didn't fully understand — a powerful, protective impulse that made her want to shield him, to hold him close.
It made no sense.And yet, deep down, Ling Xuan knew with unshakable certainty — that what she felt was real… completely, undeniably real.
On the other hand, the servants of the Su Family treated Su Ling Tian in a special way, unlike any other child.
Despite his young age, they were gentler with him, smiling for no reason and hurrying to fulfill his requests with unusual enthusiasm.
This did not escape the sharp eyes of little Su Mi, who would pout in childish annoyance whenever she noticed it.
"Hmph! Why does everyone treat Su Ling Tian like that?! He's just stupid Su Ling Tian!" she huffed, crossing her arms.
Teacher Xuan chuckled softly, yet even she could not deny that Su Ling Tian was no ordinary child…
And so, the days passed. Over time, the influence of his "unique aura of attraction" began to manifest more clearly — a strange charm that subtly drew people toward him, especially girls, without him even realizing why.
As the years went by, both Su Ling Tian and Su Mi grew older — yet her attachment to him did not fade.
In fact, it deepened… and became even more peculiar.
Since childhood, she had always relied on him, but as she grew, he started to notice something unusual — the older she became, the closer she wanted to be to him, in ways that defied explanation.
She followed him everywhere he went, holding his hand all the time, refusing to let go even for a moment.
When he sat, she sat beside him.
When he slept, she would sneak into his bed in the middle of the night,hugging him tightly as if he were her warm pillow.
At first, he thought it was just childish clinginess, but later he realized — she didn't do that with anyone else. Only with him.
One day, as they sat together in the family courtyard bathed in sunlight, Su Mi gently leaned her head against his shoulder.
In a soft, innocent voice tinged with hidden confusion, she whispered,
Su Ling Tian… why do I feel like I never want to be apart from you?"
Her dark eyes shimmered with emotions she couldn't yet understand — a child unaware of the meaning behind her feelings, yet certain they were real.
As for Su Ling Tian, he remained silent.
He felt confused, unable to find an answer.
He didn't understand why… and yet, he didn't resist her closeness — instead, he found a strange peace in her warmth, a tranquility he couldn't put into words.
As for the maids, they behaved in a similar manner — but with an entirely different tone.
Ever since Su Ling Tian grew a little older, they had begun treating him in ways that were… difficult to explain.
They always smiled at him with excessive gentleness, rushing to attend to his needs — even when he hadn't asked for anything at all.
If he needed something, a maid would suddenly appear before him, offering it even before he could speak.
If the weather turned cold, another would hurry over with a warm blanket, wrapping him up tenderly.
Even during training, when sweat ran down his face, there was always a maid who would appear out of nowhere to gently wipe his brow — as though she were caring for the most precious treasure in the world.
Everyone treated him as if he were someone special… even though he hadn't done anything to deserve it.
Teacher Xuan noticed this as well, but she couldn't find an explanation.
Each time she looked at him, she felt that same strange, unexplainable pull.
After all, he was just a child… wasn't he?
And yet, she couldn't stop herself from treating him with an unusual tenderness.
She would teach him his lessons with uncommon patience, carefully guiding his every move during training — and even when he made mistakes that warranted punishment, she hesitated, as though her heart refused to see him hurt.
Su Mi, however, was the one most affected by that mysterious aura — the "aura of attraction toward the opposite sex," though she herself was unaware of it.
As the youngest granddaughter of the Grand Elder, she was constantly by Su Ling Tian's side, which made the aura's effect on her far stronger than on anyone else.
She felt completely at ease when she was near him, as though his presence granted her a sense of peace she could find nowhere else.
But whenever he was away — even for a short while — she grew anxious and uneasy, as if something vital had been taken from within her.
Sometimes, she would stare at him for long moments in silent wonder, not knowing why, only that there was a strange delight in simply looking at him — a quiet joy she couldn't resist.
And when he spoke to her, her dark eyes would shimmer with a hidden happiness, as if his voice carried a subtle magic that she could never break free from.
No one realized that all these emotions were forming completely naturally — the direct result of the aura's silent influence, which worked unseen, unnoticed by anyone…Not even by Su Ling Tian himself.
When Su Ling Tian turned eight years old, he received news he had never expected.
One day, his father, Su Yitan, summoned him to the family's main hall of assembly.
When he entered, he found several important figures seated there — men with stern expressions and an unmistakable aura of authority.
But what caught his attention the most was the man sitting at the head of the hall — a figure of imposing presence — and beside him, a young girl with silver hair as pure as snow, and eyes as blue and cold as ice.
That man was the head of the Gu Family, one of the ancient and powerful clans that had shared a long-standing alliance with the Su Family for generations.
His father spoke in a calm yet formal tone,Su Ling Tian, come here.
He stepped forward with small, careful steps until he stood before everyone.
He glanced briefly at the girl sitting beside the Gu Family Head — and for a fleeting moment, their eyes met.
Her gaze was steady and unnervingly calm, her expression completely devoid of emotion — like an unmelted shard of ice.
Then his father announced in a solemn voice,Today, we officially declare your engagement to Gu Yue, the eldest daughter of the Gu Family."
Su Ling Tian froze where he stood, his face filled with pure shock.
As for the silver-haired girl, she remained the same — silent, motionless, showing neither surprise nor resistance.
My fiancée?
He hadn't expected this at all.
Just then, a furious voice echoed from one corner of the hall.
Su Mi trembled in place, her black eyes wide with disbelief as she cried out,Father! Why is Su Ling Tian getting engaged to some strange girl?! That's not fair!"
Her father chuckled lightly, but didn't answer right away.
Meanwhile,the Gu Family Head let out a calm sigh before saying,This marriage was arranged years ago — since the day both children were born. It is an alliance between our two families, ensuring the continuation of our strength for generations to come.
Gu Yue remained silent, her expression unchanged.
Yet her gaze stayed fixed on Su Ling Tian, sharp and unblinking — as though she were peering into his very soul, analyzing the depths of his being.
In that instant, a chill ran through Su Ling Tian's chest — a strange,foreboding sensation.
Somehow, he knew… that this meeting — simple as it seemed — would change the fate of this world forever.
After the formal meeting ended, Su Ling Tian decided to speak with Gu Yue in private.
He made his way to one of the palace's back gardens, where a calm stillness filled the air, and the gentle breeze rustled through the leaves of ancient trees.
There, the two of them sat together on a stone bench beneath the shade of an old tree.
Su Ling Tian spoke quietly, his gaze steady and searching.
So… you're my fiancée?
Gu Yue lifted her eyes toward him for a brief moment, then gave a small nod.
"That's what my father said," she replied in a cold, emotionless voice.
She was calm — unnervingly so — as cold as the heart of winter.
And yet… there was something mysterious in her eyes.
A look that carried neither full rejection nor complete acceptance — something in between, impossible to define.
After a short silence, Su Ling Tian asked,Are you okay with this marriage?
Gu Yue fell silent for a moment, as if giving the question genuine thought.
Then, in a soft but steady tone, she answered,It doesn't matter much to me… however — since we'll be bound in the future, I'll be watching you.
She raised her gaze again, her tone still cold but filled with confidence.
I want to see whether you're truly worthy of me.
Su Ling Tian froze for a second, then lifted an eyebrow slightly — a small, involuntary smile forming on his lips.
(What an arrogant girl…) he thought to himself, exhaling silently as he looked at the silver-haired girl sitting before him — the girl who, unknowingly, would one day become the spark that changed the fate of this world forever.
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