Cui Ciyou and the Water God faced each other in silence.
An almost frozen, suffocating silence settled over the reception room.
Meanwhile, Isolte watched with her clear eyes, as blue as sapphires.
Curiously and intently, she studied the Black-Haired Youth, who remained perfectly calm beneath her grandmother's unfathomable presence.
Blessed Child, Sword King, black hair... but with that black hair, was he an immortal? Or was he a relative of North God Kalman?
All kinds of guesses about Cui Ciyou's identity kept surfacing in the gifted young swordswoman's mind.
A long, long time passed.
A sharp glint flashed through Water God Reida Reia's clouded eyes, which seemed to have seen through all the vicissitudes of life.
She spoke slowly again, her voice carrying a curious, distinctive weight that seemed to have settled into it over long years:
"In my lifetime, this old woman has traveled too many roads, met too many people, and heard too many lies and empty claims."
"But..."
"A swordsman's intuition tells me quite clearly."
"You, Cui Ciyou, are not lying."
The Water God paused, undisguised admiration flashing through her clouded eyes:
"A swordsman, especially one who has reached your level, possesses a resolve far beyond that of ordinary people."
"Lies may deceive another person's ears, but they can never deceive one's own 'Sword Heart.'"
"The determination and sense of responsibility in your eyes are no act."
A swordsman's intuition?
As he listened to the Water God's decidedly mystical judgment, the corner of Cui Ciyou's mouth gave an almost imperceptible twitch.
His thoughts began wandering uncontrollably.
Why does that explanation sound so much like Ghislaine and Alice?
Isn't the Water God Style supposed to be the rational school that places the greatest emphasis on 'principle,' countering movement with stillness and striking only after the opponent moves?
*Since