I secretly fumed at him but didn’t dare show it. Instead, I reached out to grab the second senior brother’s hand and tugged on it gently. With tears welling up in my eyes, I whimpered, “Second Senior Brother… you’re so kind…”
“Master!” The second senior brother pulled his hand back and shot me a cold look. “This child is so annoying.”
Hearing him dismiss me like that, I gasped and stared at him, clutching his sleeve even tighter. With an exaggerated expression of fear, I cried, “Big Brother! Big Brother, save me!” My tears seemed to come naturally as I whimpered and wiped my face on his sleeve. The second senior brother was startled and quickly stood up, patting the back of his robe in annoyance before taking a step back.
I wasn’t paying attention to him anymore. My gaze was fixed on another figure who had just walked into the room.
Dressed in flowing white robes, he exuded an ethereal aura. His demeanor was calm and composed, but there was an indescribable majesty in his every move. His gaze swept across the room, landing on me for a fleeting moment before moving on. His eyes were as tranquil as the morning sky, carrying an innate sense of detachment and purity.
I looked at him, and he looked back. Though his gaze didn’t linger on me, I felt as if it pierced right through me, leaving no room for secrets. Then, as if in slow motion, a faint, almost imperceptible smile graced his lips. It wasn’t warm, but it wasn’t unkind either—it carried an air of restrained amusement, as though he had seen through my entire being yet found it vaguely entertaining.
At the same time, the first senior brother bowed deeply at the doorway and respectfully addressed him: “Master.” The little boy standing beside him followed suit, bowing and saying in a childish voice, “Master,” while the second senior brother clasped his hands together in silent acknowledgment.
This man—their master—nodded slightly in response. He gave no verbal reply, but his presence alone commanded reverence. As he approached, I caught a faint scent, one that reminded me of dew on lotus leaves—light, pure, and otherworldly.
I stared at him, holding my breath as his gaze finally settled on me. His eyes, which were as calm as an ancient well, seemed to study me for a moment. He then said softly, “Take her and let her stay here for a while. Teach her some basic rules. She’s just a child.”
His voice was gentle, yet his tone carried a note of finality that left no room for argument. He turned to the first senior brother and added, “The mountain is vast, and no one should trouble her.”
I nearly burst into tears out of relief. The first senior brother immediately nodded in understanding, his face brightening with joy as though he had received the greatest honor. His excitement seemed out of place compared to the master’s calm demeanor, but I didn’t have the energy to analyze it.
The master glanced at me again, and though his expression didn’t change, there was something unreadable in his gaze. It was the kind of look that made me instinctively lower my head, feeling both exposed and comforted.
Finally, he raised his hand slightly, gesturing toward my shabby clothes. “Her appearance is unkempt. Give her clean clothes, and teach her proper manners.”
With that, he turned and left, his white robes trailing behind him like a misty cloud.
His words weren’t harsh, but they left a profound impression on me. I realized that this man, with his ethereal presence, was no ordinary mortal. Everything about him seemed to belong to a realm far above mine.
Even his name, which I overheard shortly after, was one I knew I’d never forget.
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