Night had fallen again, the floating mountains bathed in silver moonlight. I had sneaked out once more to practice alone, determined not to fall behind.
The energy inside me was chaotic, flickering like a storm. My hands shook, sweat dripping down my forehead. I gritted my teeth. If I'm going to survive here… if I'm going to face him again… I have to be stronger.
I didn't notice the faint shadow approaching until I felt it.
"Persistent," Li Tianlong's voice was low, almost a whisper, but it made the hairs on my neck stand up.
I jumped and turned. "I—I'm just… practicing!"
He didn't move closer, but he didn't step away either. He simply stood there, calm and still, watching every flicker of energy in my hands. I couldn't meet his eyes for long—they were piercing, as always—but I could feel him seeing more than I wanted him to.
"You've improved," he said finally, voice smooth and cold, but there was a subtle note I hadn't heard before. Approval? Curiosity? I couldn't tell.
"Y-You… noticed?" My heart skipped.
His lips twitched just slightly. Not a smile. Not warm. But enough to make my chest tighten.
"Keep it up," he said simply, turning to leave. But then he paused, just for a moment. "Don't overdo it. I don't want to have to rescue you again."
I froze. Rescue me… again? My cheeks burned hotter than ever. Did he just… care?
He vanished into the mist before I could think too much about it, leaving me alone with the energy crackling in my hands—and the lingering awareness that he had noticed me.
And for the record, I realized: I wanted him to notice me again.
---
Sparks in the Mist
I had found a secluded courtyard tonight, hidden behind thick mist and towering cliffs. Perfect for trying the advanced energy manipulation technique Li Tianlong had demonstrated yesterday. I had to try it alone—no distractions, no witnesses.
I closed my eyes and focused. The spiritual energy inside me pulsed, flickering like a restless flame. My hands glowed faintly as I attempted to channel it.
And then—crack!
A stray burst of energy shot out, ricocheting off a nearby stone. I stumbled backward, heart hammering. "Ah! No, no, no—"
A familiar voice cut through the air, smooth, cold, teasing: "Careful, Han Qingyu. Or you'll destroy the entire courtyard."
I froze. Li Tianlong. He was standing there, arms crossed, just far enough away that I couldn't escape his gaze—but close enough that I felt the weight of him pressing against me, like gravity itself.
"I—I'm fine!" I stammered, trying not to blush. "Just… practicing!"
His eyes narrowed. "Practicing?" He stepped forward a fraction, just enough that I could feel the faint brush of his presence. "You call almost burning yourself alive practicing?"
I opened my mouth to answer, but he didn't give me the chance. Instead, he moved closer, his gaze sharp, assessing every twitch of my hands. "Here," he said, reaching out with a single finger to redirect the flickering energy. His touch didn't actually touch me… but it was close enough that the warmth of him made my chest tighten.
I swallowed hard. "T-Thanks…" My voice was embarrassingly soft.
He stepped back, expression unreadable again. "Don't let your focus slip. Or… I'll have to do it myself next time."
I nodded, hands trembling—not from the energy, but from the way he had been near me.
And then, just like that, he was gone. His presence lingered, though, like a shadow over my chest.
I sank to the ground, staring at my glowing hands. I want to get stronger… not just to survive. I want to be worthy of him. I want him to notice me… for real this time.
And in that quiet misty courtyard, I realized something terrifying—and exhilarating.
I'm not just following him. I'm… falling for him.
---
Teasing Shadows
I had been training for hours, completely absorbed, when I felt it—the faintest shift of energy behind me.
I froze. Of course, it was him. Li Tianlong.
"You're still here?" His voice was calm, almost amused, but sharp as a blade.
"I… I needed to practice more!" I said quickly, trying to sound confident, though my face was burning. "I… I want to get stronger!"
He stepped closer, silent, just observing me. His eyes were sharp, cold, and… terrifyingly intent.
"You're pushing yourself too hard," he said softly, almost a warning. Then, almost playfully, he added, "Not that I expected anything less from someone trying to catch up to me."
My stomach dropped. Did he just… tease me?
I tried to focus on my energy, but his presence was distracting. The way he stood so close, the way the moonlight caught his hair, the faint warmth from his body… it was impossible to concentrate.
Finally, I shouted, "I can do this!" and flung my hands forward, channeling all my energy into a single, controlled burst.
A surge of light exploded from my hands, spinning into a small but perfect sphere of spiritual energy. My chest heaved as I stared at it, amazed I had actually done it.
Li Tianlong didn't speak. He just tilted his head slightly, watching, and for the first time, I saw it—approval. Just a flicker, a subtle shift in his gaze.
"You're… improving," he said, almost quietly. Not a smile. Not warmth. Just… recognition.
I blinked. My heart hammered. "I… really did it?"
"Barely," he said, stepping just a fraction closer, so close I could feel the faint brush of his robe against mine. "But it's a start."
I froze, breath catching. His cold, untouchable presence felt impossibly close, and for the first time, I realized how much I wanted him to notice me like this. And maybe… just maybe, he had.