At the moment I found the array’s core and was preparing to test what the academy instructor had taught us in practice, a fierce demonic wind suddenly blew in. I resisted for only a moment before being swept into the air entirely. Just as I was about to be carried off by the gale, a force wrapped firmly around my waist.
Looking down, I saw my master—who had been “lounging” on the wooden board—standing up. With his spiritual energy, he pulled me to his side.
Although my feet touched the ground again, my heart remained unsteady. The strength of the demonic wind made it clear that a formidable demon was about to appear. It was my first time encountering such a creature, and I couldn’t help feeling afraid.
The wind whipped so fiercely I couldn’t keep my eyes open, and I instinctively sought something to hold onto for support. But aside from Xiao Yi Han, there was nothing nearby to rely on—and I had never considered relying on him.
So, I hugged my own shoulders, trembling.
At that moment, the notoriously unreliable Xiao Yi Han unexpectedly stepped in front of me, casually blocking the direction of the wind. The fierce gusts immediately weakened.
When I opened my eyes, I saw his upright back. To my young self, he was like an immovable barrier, shielding me from the lashing winds and pounding rain.
“Useless,” Xiao Yi Han said, standing in front of me. “Afraid of what? Your master isn’t dead yet.”
I had grown up an orphan, begging for food and living day to day with no guarantee of survival. Even after Xiao Yi Han brought me to Xian Ling Mountain, the constant fear of “not surviving” never left me. That’s why I never argued with Xiao Yi Han, no matter how far he strayed from what a master should be. I diligently studied spells, hoping to have something to talk about with my peers. I was a punctual student, afraid of being scolded by the instructors. Everything I did stemmed from an inner sense of unease, a deep insecurity about my surroundings.
Back then, I didn’t know how to calm my fears or give myself a sense of safety. So, I tried to please everyone around me, hoping it would bring me the security I craved.
But safety had always been a scarce thing in my life…
Until that moment.
Until Xiao Yi Han stood in front of me and told me not to be afraid—he was there.
For the first time, I felt I had someone to rely on, a safe harbor.
I couldn’t find the words to respond, but quietly, I reached out from behind him and clung to the hem of his robe.
Xiao Yi Han didn’t look back at me. His gaze remained fixed ahead as he spoke, “Hey, you’ve scared my disciple.”
With that, a frosty longsword materialized in his hand. With a casual slash through the air, a gleaming arc of icy light cut through the wind, colliding with an unseen force in the woods ahead.
The impact was so great that the surrounding grass and trees were uprooted. For a brief moment, the demonic wind subsided. Amid the swirling dust, a seductive woman stepped out. Dressed in garments of three vibrant colors, her demeanor was both enchanting and dangerous. “What a fine sword technique, Daoist,” she purred, her voice so alluring that even I, hiding behind Xiao Yi Han, felt my heart soften, nearly losing my senses.
I peeked out from behind him, and she tilted her head to look at me. “Oh my, what an adorable little girl. Would you like to come back to my lair? I have plenty of delicious treats there.”
I shrank back behind Xiao Yi Han, clutching his robe even tighter.
“It wasn’t easy raising this disciple of mine. You want to take her?” Xiao Yi Han flicked his sword in annoyance. “Come on, let’s see if you can survive first.”
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