"You need... time?"
Lin Ye nodded. "Yes. So while I'm away, there's something I need you to do for me."
Liya looked up blankly. "What... do you need me to do?"
Lin Ye said gently, "I want you to stay with your people, in your warm, safe home, and cultivate diligently. Work hard to improve yourself."
"I hope that when I come back for you, you'll have become stronger-even broken through to the hundred-thousand-year realm!"
"All right?"
As Liya listened to Lin Ye, that sense of loss still weighed heavily on her heart.
But...
At least he hadn't rejected her outright!
He had said he would come back for her and give her an answer!
He had said he didn't want to let her down.
A faint spark of hope quietly kindled in her heart.
Perhaps, just perhaps...
There was still a chance?
The wait might be long, but it was better than an outright verdict that left her in despair.
"Wait until I come back..."
At last, Liya nodded firmly. "Yes! I... I understand!"
"I'll stay here. I'll work hard at cultivating, I promise. I'll become very, very strong, and I'll... wait for you to come back!"
Seeing that she was finally no longer so upset, Lin Ye let out a small breath of relief.
"Good. As long as you promise."
Yet at the thought of Lin Ye leaving tomorrow, a fierce reluctance to part surged through Liya's heart.
Those emotions crashed over her like waves.
She nodded firmly once more, a reckless courage shining in her eyes.
"Yes! I promise! I'll do it!"
Almost as soon as the words left her mouth.
Just as Lin Ye nodded in satisfaction and let his guard down.
Liya seemed to gather every last ounce of courage and abruptly stepped forward.
Catching