Ye Lingling clenched the fabric of her skirt.
Slowly, she put her clothes back on.
Her movements were gentle, yet carried a certain stubbornness.
Yu Xiaolong heard the rustling of fabric stop.
Only then did he turn around.
Ye Lingling stood beneath the candlelight.
Her dress was neat once more.
But her eyes were red.
Her cool, clear eyes shimmered with unshed tears.
"Sit down."
Yu Xiaolong pointed to the chair.
Ye Lingling hesitated, then sat down as he asked.
Yu Xiaolong sat across from her.
"I understand what your grandfather means."
His voice was calm.
"But you're a person, not a bargaining chip."
Ye Lingling's eyelashes trembled.
She raised her head and looked at Yu Xiaolong.
Her eyes held surprise and confusion.
And a hint of gratitude, difficult to discern.
Yu Xiaolong looked at her.
This girl seemed as cold as ice on the outside.
But he could see the fire burning within her.
"You have your own thoughts."
"Don't you?"
Yu Xiaolong looked her straight in the eyes.
Ye Lingling was silent for a long time.
Then she nodded gently.
"I don't like being told what to do."
Her voice was quiet, but unusually firm.
Yu Xiaolong smiled.
"Then live as you choose."
"No one in this world can force you to do something you don't want to do."
Ye Lingling looked at his smile.
Moonlight streamed in through the window.
Something shifted in the girl's gaze.
She stood and bowed deeply to Yu Xiaolong.
Then she turned and left.
Her steps were still light, but now carried more resolve.
Yu Xiaolong watched her retreating figure.
Her purple skirt vanished into the night.
He closed the door and sat back down on the bed.
Outside the window, the begonias swayed gently in the moonlight.
Yu Xiaolong closed his eyes.
He needed to properly digest what he had gained today.
Not just the increase in Soul Power.
But also his growing understanding of this world.
Ye Lingling walked back to her room.
She stood by the window, gazing at the night sky.
The moonlight was bright tonight.
She pressed her fingers against her chest.
Her heart was beating fast.
What was this feeling?
She couldn't say.
But it seemed something had changed.
The girl's lips curved ever so slightly.
Was that a smile?
Even she wasn't sure.
The night wind swept through the manor.
Begonia petals drifted gently to the ground.
That night, some were destined to lie awake.
Yu Xiaolong stood rooted to the spot.
He stared at Ye Lingling's bare shoulder.
Beneath the candlelight, the girl's skin was dazzlingly pale.
Her delicate collarbones were like the wings of a butterfly.
Her chest rose and fell slightly, its shape faintly visible beneath her clothes.
Below her purple skirt, her legs were long and straight.
Her hips were rounded, giving the skirt its curve.
Yu Xiaolong abruptly came to his senses.
He hurried forward and snatched up the outer robe that had slipped down.
His movements were swift, tinged with panic.
Yu Xiaolong draped the garment over her shoulders again.
His fingers accidentally brushed her skin.
Cool and smooth, like the finest silk.
Yu Xiaolong's heart missed a beat.
He forced himself to steady his breathing and grasped the edges of her robe.
He drew them together.
Covering her bare shoulders and collarbones completely.
Ye Lingling froze.
She looked up, eyes full of confusion.
Her cool, clear eyes seemed veiled in mist.
"What are you doing?"
Yu Xiaolong's voice was low, edged with irritation.
Ye Lingling's eyelashes trembled slightly.
Her lips parted, but no sound came out.
Yu Xiaolong let go and stepped back.
He took a deep breath and turned away.
"Get dressed."
His tone brooked no argument.
Ye Lingling's hand froze in midair.
She lowered her head and slowly tied her sash.
Her movements were light and slow.
As if she were trying to hide something.
With his back to her, Yu Xiaolong listened to the soft rustling of fabric.
The room was utterly silent.
Only the candle occasionally crackled.
"Benefactor..."
Ye Lingling's voice rang out.
It was still cool and clear, but now carried a slight tremor.
"Do you... despise me?"
Yu Xiaolong turned around.
He saw Ye Lingling with her head lowered.
The girl's fingers clutched the hem of her skirt tightly.
Her fingertips had gone pale from the force.
"I know I'm cold-tempered."
Ye Lingling's voice was soft.
"I'm not likable."
"I don't smile or know what to say."
"I'm like a block of wood."
She raised her head and looked at Yu Xiaolong.
Her eyes were red, but no tears fell.
"Grandfather told me to serve you."
"I thought... at least I could do something."
"To repay you for saving my life."
"But..."
Her voice grew softer and softer.
"You despise me too."
Yu Xiaolong looked at her.
The girl stood there like a begonia bent by the wind.
Cool and lonely.
Yet stubbornly refusing to fall.
He suddenly felt a pang of sympathy for her.
Yu Xiaolong sighed.
He walked up to Ye Lingling and looked at her.
"I don't despise you."
His voice was earnest.
Ye Lingling lifted her head, doubt still in her eyes.
Yu Xiaolong gave a wry smile.
"Miss Ye, how old are you?"
"Sixteen? Seventeen?"
"If I took advantage of you in your time of need, what kind of man would that make me?"
Ye Lingling pressed her lips together.
"I accept your kind intentions."
"But they aren't worth repaying me this way."
Yu Xiaolong looked at her.
"If you truly want to show your gratitude..."
He paused.
"Then become my disciple."
Ye Lingling froze.
Her eyes widened slightly.
Those words were the last thing she had expected.
Become his disciple?
She had imagined countless possibilities.
This one had never occurred to her.
"Become your disciple?"
Ye Lingling repeated softly.
Her voice was full of confusion.
Yu Xiaolong nodded.
"That's right. Become my disciple."
Ye Lingling fell silent for a moment.
Her gaze grew complicated.
"Does my benefactor know why my grandfather sent me here?"
Yu Xiaolong didn't answer.
Ye Lingling took a deep breath.
"Because my marriage has already been arranged."
Her voice was calm as still water.
"The imperial family wants to marry me off to the Fourth Prince."
"That... good-for-nothing."
Only when she spoke those last two words did her voice finally waver.
Disgust, resentment, and deep helplessness.
"I've never met him."
"But the entire Heaven Dou Imperial City knows."
"Xue Beng, the Fourth Prince, is a good-for-nothing who never applies himself."
"He spends all day chasing women and throwing his weight around, bullying men and women alike."
Ye Lingling clenched her fingers again.
"I don't want to marry him."
"That's why my grandfather sent me to find you."
"If... if I became yours..."
"Perhaps this marriage could be called off."
She looked at Yu Xiaolong, her eyes full of self-mockery.
"This is my fate."
"A chess piece, at the mercy of others."
"My benefactor wants me to become his disciple..."
"What can becoming a disciple change?"
After listening, Yu Xiaolong didn't answer right away.
He looked at Ye Lingling.
The girl stood in the candlelight, stubborn yet helpless.
"You're wrong."
Yu Xiaolong spoke slowly.
Ye Lingling raised her head.
"Your Martial Soul is the Seven Heart Begonia."
"A pure support-type Martial Soul."
"You think all you can do is be protected."
"Be controlled."
"But what if I had a way"
"To make you more than just support."
"To give you the power to fight."
"Would you want it?"
Before you continue