Ark Simulator, Don't I Have No Physical Form?

Looking at Enya Su Rui this, the immense shame he felt from "crouching down with his head in his hands" seemed to fade considerably. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but in the end, he only nodded, his voice somewhat muffled, and replied:

"... Okay, I understand."

Enya looked at him, still somewhat awkward but at least no longer clutching his head, and the smile in her eyes deepened. She withdrew her hand, turned, and walked towards the interior of the temple, leaving behind only a slightly weary but still gentle sentence that drifted into the cold air:

"Go change your clothes and warm up. I'll go prepare something hot."

Su Rui stood there, watching Enya's thin saintly robes, her figure appearing somewhat frail in the dim light, gradually disappear into the shadows deep within the temple. The heavy weight that had been hanging over her heart because of her not returning home all night and the "thrilling" meeting just now finally settled completely.

He raised his hand and touched the top of his head where Enya had just rubbed it; the cool, gentle touch still seemed to linger there. Then, he remembered his utterly embarrassing "head-covering, crouching defensively" posture from just moments before...

Su Rui's ears turned red again, uncontrollably.

He shook his head, forcibly suppressing the shame, and started walking towards his room. His steps, however, seemed much lighter than when he had rushed back.

Outside the temple, under the leaden sky, tiny snowflakes began to fall, swirling and enveloping the snow-capped mountain and the temple in a tranquil, pure white.

The living quarters deep within the temple were slightly warmer than the entrance. The fireplace had been relit sometime earlier, the dry pine wood crackling and emitting a warm, bright light and a pleasant aroma of pine resin, dispelling the winter chill and illuminating the small space with a cozy glow.

Su Rui changed out of his snow- and cement-stained coat and into clean, comfortable casual clothes. He sat on a low stool by the fireplace, holding a steaming cup of herbal tea that Enya had just handed him. The warm, slightly bitter liquid slid down his throat, bringing a sense of warmth and seemingly dispelling the last trace of chill he had brought back from outside, as well as the lingering tension from the "thrilling" experience at the door.

Enya sat on a cushion a little further away from him, holding a cup of the same herbal tea in her hands. She didn't look at him, but instead lowered her eyes slightly, watching the rising steam from the cup, seemingly lost in thought. The flickering firelight cast a warm, golden-red glow on her silver-white hair and long eyelashes, making her delicate profile appear even softer in the light and shadow, yet also carrying an indescribable tranquility, as if she were deep in thought.

The temple was quiet, save for the crackling of the burning wood in the fireplace and the occasional soft sips of tea from the two people. The air was filled with the scents of pine, herbs, and a faint, uniquely Enya fragrance, blending together to create a comforting, homey aroma.

Su Rui sipped her tea slowly, but her gaze involuntarily drifted towards Enya across from her.

Enya seemed to have completely calmed down. The coldness and anger she had shown at the door were gone from her face, replaced by her usual gentle calmness, which even appeared exceptionally soft and beautiful in the firelight. But Su Rui felt that Enya didn't seem to have completely "forgiven" him. Or rather, she seemed to be thinking about something else.

Was it because he didn't come home last night? But Yela clearly told him, and he explained everything clearly. Was it because he was getting too close to Ensia Silverash? But she's her sister; wasn't it what she wanted to see him taking care of Ensia Silverash and comforting her?

Su Rui felt uncertain. He recalled Enya's reaction at the door earlier—her cold, oppressive gaze, her tightly pursed lips, her approaching aura... It wasn't just about her concern for his safety if he didn't come home that night. There seemed to be other, more complex emotions mixed in, which he couldn't fully understand at the moment.

Just as Su Rui was secretly pondering, hesitating whether to say or do something else to completely "appease" Enya --

Enya suddenly and gently put down her teacup. The white porcelain cup touched the low wooden table, making a soft, crisp sound that was particularly clear in the quiet room.

Su Rui's heart skipped a beat at the sound. He instinctively straightened his back and looked at Enya.

Enya raised her eyes, her brown eyes, like the warm winter sun, now reflecting the flickering firelight, appearing exceptionally deep. Her gaze calmly fell on Su Rui's face, and after looking at him for a moment, she slowly spoke. Her voice was as gentle as ever, but Su Rui keenly sensed that beneath that gentleness, there seemed to be a barely perceptible, indescribable... bitterness, or rather, some kind of... unease.

Volume 18, Chapter 1227: Territorial Consciousness

"Ensia ..." Enya paused, seemingly choosing her words carefully, "She seems to be very close to you."

This statement is less of a statement and more of a... tentative confirmation, or the beginning of a certain emotion.

Su Rui paused for a moment, then nodded and answered honestly, "Yes. She's very lively, and also... dependent on you. She was very happy to receive your postcard." He paused, then added, "She's very sensible, but... misses you a lot."

When her sister was mentioned, a hint of tenderness and heartache flashed in Enya's eyes, but that tenderness was quickly replaced by a more complex emotion. Her gaze remained fixed on Su Rui's face, as if carefully observing every subtle expression on his face when he mentioned Ensia Silverash.

"I know she misses me." Enya's voice lowered almost imperceptibly. "I...miss her too."

She lowered her eyes slightly, her long eyelashes casting a small shadow beneath her eyelids, concealing the turbulent emotions surging within them. After a moment, she raised her eyes again, looking at Su Rui, her tone becoming clearer, and more... direct, carrying an unquestionable, elder sisterly authority, and a hint of... barely concealed concern:

"But, Su Rui."

She called his name, her voice soft, yet it inexplicably made Su Rui's heart tighten.

"Ensia ...she's not a clueless child anymore," Enya said slowly, her gaze calm yet seemingly piercing. "She...should have already guessed."

Guessed it? Guessed what?

After an initial moment of confusion, Su Rui's mind quickly processed what was happening. Enya was referring to... the relationship between him and Enya that went beyond the ordinary "saint" and "guardian" (or "cohabitant"), a relationship that was more intimate and more difficult to describe...

Su Rui's ears burned uncontrollably once again. He recalled the night before, when Ensia Silverash had asked him with a mischievous smile in the greenhouse, "Does Su Rui like Sister?" That quirky girl... had indeed... likely already sensed something. The way she looked at him, with its inquisitive, knowing, and teasing gaze, was definitely not the look one would give to an ordinary "messenger" or "Sister's friend."

"She..." Su Rui opened her mouth, wanting to explain, but didn't know how. To say that Ensia Silverash hadn't guessed? That would obviously be self-deception. To say that Ensia Silverash had guessed but didn't care? That didn't seem to be... what Enya wanted to hear either.

"I know, Ensia is smart and sensitive." Enya picked up where Su Rui left off, her voice still calm, but Su Rui detected a barely perceptible tension. "But that's precisely why I feel...not quite right."

"Not good?" Su Rui repeated subconsciously, looking at Enya with some confusion.

Enya looked into Su Rui's questioning black eyes, and the complex emotions in her heart rippled like a stone thrown into a lake. Something wasn't right... what wasn't right? Was it the feeling that if Ensia knew, it would make her, as the older sister, uncomfortable? Or was it the feeling that... Su Rui and Ensia were too close, making her feel... uneasy?

Enya herself couldn't explain it. She just felt that when she heard Su Rui speak in such a calm tone about how close and dependent Ensia was on him (although it stemmed from his longing for her), and even how he stayed out all night to be with Ensia, that subtle, territorial feeling that had been temporarily suppressed due to worry quietly resurfaced in her heart.

Ensia is her younger sister, the person she loves most. Su Rui... is a special person in her heart. She hopes they can both be well, but... she doesn't want to see them "too good," especially since Ensia has likely already guessed her relationship with Su Rui. That would make her feel... a little awkward, a little... an indescribable concern.

"She's still young." Enya finally offered a somewhat far-fetched reason, one that even she herself couldn't convince, but her tone carried an undeniable insistence. "Some things are inappropriate to be exposed to too early. Besides... I am a saintess, and she is a young lady of the SilverAsh Family. Some boundaries need to be clearly defined."

Looking at Enya's calm demeanor, yet with a barely perceptible hint of bitterness and determination in her eyes, Su Rui seemed to vaguely understand something. What Enya cared about was perhaps not just that Ensia Silverash had "guessed" it, but more so the overly natural, even dependent, intimacy between Ensia Silverash and "him" that had crossed a certain... implicit boundary in her heart.

She was jealous. Not the intense, possessive kind of jealousy, but a more subtle kind, carrying the authority of an older sister and a delicate maintenance of a certain "exclusive" relationship... a concern.

This realization stirred a strange emotion in Su Rui's heart, a mixture of helplessness, amusement, and a hint of... a secret sweetness he himself hadn't even noticed. It turned out that even someone as calm and gentle as Enya could have such a "calculating" side.

"I understand." Su Rui nodded, his voice softening slightly, carrying a reassuring tone. "I'll be more careful in the future." He didn't explain or argue; he simply and almost obediently gave his promise. He knew that explaining or arguing at this moment would only intensify the subtle emotions in Enya's heart. It was better to go along with her wishes and put her at ease.

Hearing Su Rui's almost submissive promise, the stubbornness and bitterness in Enya's eyes seemed to dissipate somewhat. But the lingering unease in her heart hadn't completely disappeared. She knew Su Rui hadn't done anything wrong, and had even done a good job, taking care of and comforting her sister. But she still... wanted to see Ensia with her own eyes, wanted to confirm some things personally, wanted... to make Ensia understand certain boundaries in a more "formal" way.

But... she was a saintess, the saintess of the Manjushri Monastery, and her movements were subject to many restrictions. She could not leave the Holy Mountain at will, much less go down the mountain to the Silverash Manor to see her sister. This was a hidden pain in her heart all along.

A sense of powerlessness and a faint melancholy welled up in Enya's heart. She lowered her eyes slightly, looking at the tea in the cup that had stopped steaming, her fingertips unconsciously stroking the warm cup.

"I want to... see Ensia in person." Enya's voice was soft, carrying a hint of bittersweet longing and the helplessness of her saintly status. "But... I can't go down the mountain."

She spoke these words very softly, as if she were talking to herself. But the longing and helplessness contained within them were clearly conveyed.

Volume 18, Chapter 1228: Finding a way to lure people up the mountain

Looking at Su Rui 'Enya lowered profile, in the firelight, the shadows cast by her long eyelashes beneath her eyelids seemed to carry a hint of melancholy. His heart felt a slight pang, as if something had gently pierced it.

He wanted to say something to comfort Enya, to say that he could go to the SilverAsh Family again, to deliver a message, to... but he also knew that none of these could replace the sisters seeing each other. What Enya wanted to see was her sister in person, not processed words and emotions conveyed through him as a "messenger."

Just as Su Rui was pondering how to comfort Enya, who was clearly in low spirits, a clear, calm voice, seemingly devoid of any emotion, suddenly rang out at the doorway:

"Why won't you let her come up the mountain to see you?"

The sound appeared without warning, as if it had appeared out of thin air, breaking the somewhat dull silence in the room.

Su Rui and Enya were both startled and turned their heads sharply to look at the doorway.

Suddenly, a figure appeared silently at the entrance to the temple's living quarters.

Kjeragandr, or rather, the enigmatic being possessing Kjeragandr's appearance and power, stood there silently. She still wore that simple, ancient white robe that seemed to blend into the snow-capped mountains, her long silver hair flowing like moonlight down her back. She was barefoot, her feet treading on the cold, smooth stone surface, yet she seemed to feel no chill whatsoever. Her exquisite face was expressionless, her golden eyes calm and still, like ancient, unchanging snow-capped peaks, silently watching the two people in the room.

When did she arrive? How long have she been standing there? Su Rui and Enya were completely unaware!

A fleeting unease crossed Enya's face, as if her hidden thoughts had been exposed. But she quickly regained her composure, though a lingering melancholy remained in her eyes. She looked at Yela, gently shaking her head, her voice tinged with helplessness. "Lady Yela, Ensia is a young lady of the SilverAsh Family. The Manjushri Monastery... will not allow her to freely ascend the Holy Mountain, much less allow her to come to the temple to see me."

These are the rules, the constraints, and the helplessness she felt as a saintess.

Yela's golden eyes calmly fell on Enya's face, seemingly seeing through the helplessness and longing beneath her composed surface. She paused for a moment, then, in her usual calm and even tone, uttered words that stunned both Su Rui and Enya:

"Rules are chains that bind the living and the believers." Yela's voice was like a cold wind blowing across a snow-capped mountain peak. "Perhaps it is so for you, for me, and for Manjushri Monastery."

Her gaze shifted slightly, landing on Su Rui, who was somewhat stunned by her sudden appearance and her astonishing words.

"But for him," Yela's tone was flat, as if she were simply stating a fact, "That's not the case."

Su Rui: "...?"

Enya was also taken aback for a moment, then seemed to understand something, a glint of light flashing in her eyes, but it was quickly replaced by doubt. "Su Rui... he is indeed not bound by the rules of the Manjushri Monastery. But, Lady Yela, do you mean... to let Su Rui take Ensia up the mountain? This... is too dangerous. The Holy Mountain is treacherous, and the night is even more dangerous. Moreover, how can we avoid the Manjushri Monastery's eyes and ears?"

Yela looked at Enya, a barely perceptible hint of understanding, like "You knew you'd ask that," flashing in her golden eyes. Her gaze then turned to Su Rui, her calm and unwavering eyes sending a strange sense of pressure through Su Rui.

"Danger is the norm for him, not an obstacle," Yela's voice remained calm. "As for the Manjushri Monastery's spies..."

She paused slightly, as if thinking, or perhaps sensing something. Then, she raised one hand, palm up. A faint, almost invisible icy blue light gathered in her palm, swirled, and then rapidly expanded, transforming into a faint, almost transparent icy blue halo that enveloped her, Su Rui, and Enya.

Su Rui immediately sensed a subtle change in the flow of the surrounding air. An indescribable, almost isolating, tranquility enveloped the area where they were. He could even feel the vast and cold aura emanating from Yela, the aura of an ancient deity. Though only a trace, it was enough to make any perceptive being subconsciously ignore this area.

"I can temporarily conceal the presence and movement of this area." Yela withdrew her hand, and the icy blue aura dissipated as if it had never existed. Her voice remained calm and even, as if she had only done something insignificant. "As long as he acts quickly and discreetly enough, bringing the person up the mountain and here before dawn, the people of Manjushri Monastery will not notice."

Su Rui and Enya were both briefly rendered speechless by Yela's seemingly casual yet almost miraculous method.

Under Yela's "cover," let Su Rui sneak into the Silverash Manor, bring Ensia Silverash to the Holy Mountain, avoid the eyes and ears of Manjushri Monastery, and deliver her to the temple to meet Enya?

This proposal sounds absolutely insane, fraught with uncertainty and risk. But... it was Kjeragandr who made it, the guardian deity of this land, who was (and perhaps still is). Her saying so implies she has considerable confidence.

Enya's heart pounded at Yela's suggestion. To see Ensia in person! Not in a dream, not in a memory, not through letters or others' accounts, but truly, vividly, seeing her living, breathing, laughing and playing sister! The temptation was too great for her.

But reason told her it was too risky. For Su Rui, sneaking into the SilverAsh Family in the dead of night, taking Ensia Silverash away, then leading her up the treacherous Holy Mountain while avoiding potential patrols and dangers... the risks were self-evident. And what if they were discovered by the SilverAsh Family, or by Manjushri Monastery...?

Enya looked at Su Rui, her eyes filled with struggle. She longed to see her sister, but she was absolutely unwilling to put Su Rui in danger.

Su Rui looked at Enya and saw the longing, struggle, and worry in her eyes. He then looked at Yela, Yela golden eyes were calm and still, as if she were simply waiting for an answer.

Sneaking into the SilverAsh Family in the dead of night, taking Ensia Silverash away, and then taking her to the Holy Mountain... it certainly sounds crazy and dangerous. But... Su Rui remembered the barely perceptible loneliness and longing in Enya's eyes when she mentioned her sister. She remembered Ensia Silverash's innocent look as she hugged her sister's postcard, laughing and crying at the same time. She remembered the deep affection between the sisters, so strong yet separated by their social status and rules.

Volume 18, Chapter 1229: Risk? Just a minor accident.

Risk? Hasn't he experienced enough? Besides, with Yela's "cover"... perhaps it really is worth a try?

Su Rui took a deep breath, and under Enya's struggling and worried gaze, and under Yela's calm and unwavering stare, she slowly spoke, her voice not loud, but exceptionally clear:

"I... can give it a try."

Night had fallen. The winter night sky over Kjerag was as black as ink, devoid of moonlight, with only a few sparse, cold stars stubbornly twinkling faintly through the gaps in the thick clouds. The cold wind howled, swirling up the snow on the ground, making a mournful sound as it danced along the deserted streets and the cobblestone paths of the manor.

Silverash Manor, a building that appears austere and imposing even by day, lies silently at the foot of the mountain like a slumbering beast in the deep darkness of night. Inside the manor, apart from a few dim wall lamps for essential lighting, most areas are shrouded in a slumbering darkness and silence. The patrolling guards, wrapped tightly in thick coats, trudge along their designated routes, their heavy, rhythmic footsteps echoing through the snow, their shadows stretched long in the dim lamplight.

A shadow, deeper and more agile than the night itself, emerged silently from the shadows on the outskirts of the manor, like a ghost blending into the darkness. It evaded the sight of the patrolling guards and the manor's overt and covert surveillance, deftly vaulting over the cold iron fence and landing on the soft snow inside the manor without making a sound.

After landing, Su Rui (in snow leopard form) immediately crouched low, his silvery-white fur almost blending into the surrounding snow. Only his black eyes, sharp as stars even in the darkness, warily scanned his surroundings. Based on his memories from the day, he quickly located the annex where Ensia Silverash's bedroom was. Then, like a true snow leopard, he moved silently and swiftly towards his target, using the shadows of the building and the carefully trimmed bushes in the courtyard as cover.

The night breeze carried the crisp scent of pine needles and snow, as well as the faint, damp earthy aroma of greenhouse plants from the depths of the manor. Su Rui's senses were heightened to their peak in the darkness; he could hear not only the rhythmic footsteps of the guards in the distance, but also his own steady, soft breathing and the firm, powerful beating of his heart in his chest.

The manor, seemingly beautiful and peaceful by day, sheds its glamorous exterior at night, revealing its formidable defenses. But for Su Rui, who had survived in far more dangerous and complex environments, these defenses were not foolproof. Like a predator in the darkness, he precisely located the gaps in the guards' patrols and the blind spots in the surveillance, quickly approaching the annex along the trail of shadows.

Ensia Silverash's bedroom was on the second floor of the annex, with a small balcony facing the courtyard. When he left during the day, Su Rui had noticed the layout there. Now, that small balcony became the best route for him to sneak in.

Like a silent silver lightning bolt, he swiftly climbed the exquisite reliefs and decorative lines on the annex wall, his movements light and agile, without alerting any alarm system. In a few leaps, he landed silently on the small balcony covered with a thin layer of snow.

The balcony's floor-to-ceiling windows were tightly closed, with heavy velvet curtains drawn from the inside, covering everything completely. Only a tiny, extremely faint glow, seemingly from a bedside nightlight, peeked through the gaps.

Su Rui transformed back into human form, held her breath, and pressed her ear against the cold glass, listening intently. The room was filled with even, shallow breathing; someone was clearly asleep. Apart from that, all was silent.

He cautiously tried pushing the French windows. They weren't locked. This was probably a sign that Ensia Silverash, as a well-protected young lady, lacked sufficient vigilance at home, or perhaps... it was her subconscious expectation of some "unexpected visitor"? Su Rui didn't think too much about it, but simply breathed a slight sigh of relief.

He checked again to make sure there was nothing unusual around him, then, extremely slowly and silently, he pushed the French window open just enough for one person to pass through. A cold wind immediately rushed in through the gap, carrying the chill of the outside. Su Rui sidestepped and nimbly slipped inside, then immediately turned back and closed the French window again, blocking the cold wind from outside.

The room was much warmer than outside, filled with a sweet, cozy scent of flowers and fruits—the kind of aroma typical of a young girl's bedroom. By the soft, dim light of the cute little nightlight by the bedside, Su Rui could make out the room's layout.

Just as he had left during the day, the room was spacious, luxurious, and filled with soft fabrics and exquisite furnishings. A small arched shape marked the enormous princess bed. Ensia Silverash lay on her side, curled up in the soft down comforter, only half her fair face and a few strands of golden hair scattered on the pillow visible. She seemed to be fast asleep, completely unaware of the unexpected guest in the room.

Su Rui tiptoed silently to the bedside. He looked at Ensia Silverash's unguarded sleeping face and felt a pang of guilt. Disturbing a young girl's sleep was always impolite. But thinking of Enya's brown eyes filled with longing and expectation, he took a deep breath, bent down, reached out, and gently patted Ensia Silverash's shoulder that was exposed outside the blanket.

"Ensia Silverash... wake up." Su Rui's voice was very low, almost breathy, as if afraid of disturbing the tranquility of the night.

In her sleep, Ensia Silverash seemed to feel a touch on her shoulder. She groaned unconsciously, turned over, buried her face deeper into the pillow, and did not wake up.

Su Rui had no choice but to increase the pressure slightly and pat her shoulder again, while raising her voice a little, but still keeping it within the room's range. "Ensia Silverash, wake up, it's me, Su Rui."

This time, Ensia Silverash seemed to hear. Her long eyelashes fluttered a few times, and her brows furrowed slightly, as if she was unhappy to be woken from a sweet dream. Then, slowly, still heavy with sleep, she opened her blue eyes, which were as if they were covered with mist.

At first, her eyes were blank and unfocused, clearly still immersed in sleep. But as her blurry vision gradually focused, and she saw the figure leaning closer to her bedside—a figure that appeared somewhat indistinct in the dim light but whose outline was familiar—her brain seemed to freeze instantly.

Su Rui? Why would Su Rui appear by her bedside in the middle of the night?! Was it a dream? No, the touch on her shoulder was real! The presence of another person in the room was real too!

Volume 18, Chapter 1230: Don't Be Afraid

A wave of shock and confusion washed over Ensia Silverash like a bucket of cold water, instantly dispelling all her sleepiness. Her eyes snapped open, pupils contracting in shock. The next second, a short, horrified gasp escaped her throat, and her mouth opened uncontrollably, about to unleash a scream that would shatter the roof—

Just as the scream was about to escape her lips, Su Rui reacted swiftly, reaching out to cover Ensia Silverash's mouth!

"Ugh--!" Ensia Silverash's scream was choked in her throat, turning into a muffled groan. Her eyes widened, filled with terror, confusion, and deep bewilderment, and her body instinctively tried to struggle.

"Shh--! It's me, Su Rui! Don't be afraid!" Su Rui whispered rapidly in Ensia Silverash's ear, his voice low and his tone quick. At the same time, he gently pressed down on her struggling shoulder with his other hand, trying to calm her down. He could feel Ensia Silverash's soft, warm lips beneath his palm, but they were trembling slightly with shock and fear. Her blue eyes, wide open in the dim light, were like those of a frightened fawn.

Su Rui kept her hand over her mouth, her gaze fixed on her eyes, and in as calm and reassuring a tone as possible, whispered again, "It's me, Su Rui. Don't be afraid, I won't hurt you. Look closely, it's me."

Perhaps it was Su Rui's voice that had an effect, or perhaps Ensia Silverash finally recovered from her initial shock and recognized that the person in front of her was indeed Su Rui. The fear in her eyes receded quickly like a tide, replaced by deep confusion and bewilderment. She stopped struggling, simply staring unblinkingly at Su Rui with her large, still questioning eyes, as if asking with her gaze, "Su Rui? Is it really you? How did you get here? And... and you covered my mouth?"

Seeing that she seemed to have calmed down, Su Rui slowly released her hand from her mouth, but remained leaning close, and quickly explained in a low voice, "I'm sorry for waking you up this way. I scared you."

Ensia Silverash took a few deep breaths, trying to calm her heart, which was pounding wildly from the shock. She looked at Su Rui, then at the closed door and curtains, and finally her gaze settled on Su Rui's face. In a voice equally low, filled with lingering fear and unease, she whispered, "Brother Su... Su Rui? Is it really you? You... why are you in my room in the middle of the night? Is... is something wrong? My sister...?"

Upon hearing the word "older sister," Ensia Silverash's voice instantly tightened, and worry filled her eyes.