Lin Tian stood in the middle of his courtyard, hands loosely at his sides. He had tried to focus on cultivation, but the moment he closed his eyes, the System's message from last night came back in a cold rush.
'Partner's Yin qi fluctuation… instability…'
His qi moved easily, his body felt strong, but nothing inside him settled. Every breath reminded him of Bai Xueya's pale cheeks, the faint tremble in her fingers, and the way she forced herself to walk without leaning on the railing.
He exhaled quietly, unable to stay still.
Without thinking, he stepped toward the courtyard gate. He didn't know what he intended to say to her. All he knew was that something inside her was wrong, and pretending it wasn't would not make it go away.
Just as he reached the gate, someone appeared on the other side.
Bai Xueya.
She paused for a moment, surprised to find him coming toward her. Then she offered a small smile—soft, gentle, familiar, yet strained around the edges.
"You look like someone who barely rested," she said.
Lin Tian held her gaze. "I'm fine."
She tilted her head slightly. "That didn't sound convincing."
He opened his mouth to respond, but her expression shifted. She straightened her robe, hiding a brief unsteady breath behind a composed posture.
"I wanted to visit you," she said. "Let's go for a walk"
She didn't wait for permission, turning toward the stone path. He followed quietly.
Something about the way she moved felt off.
Her steps were steady, but her shoulders were too tense. Her breathing was too controlled, almost measured.
He didn't comment about it.
They reached the training field. Bai Xueya stepped forward and unsheathed her sword. The blade glinted with a clean, cold shine. She held it with practiced ease, then began her routine.
Her movements were as elegant as ever—smooth transitions, precise footwork—but Lin Tian saw every flaw.
A slight tremor when she shifted her wrist. Her breath that caught halfway through a swing. And the step that landed a little too lightly, as if she were masking weakness.
Bai sensed his stare.
"…Don't," she said softly.
He walked closer anyway. "Xueya, stop."
She lowered her sword and sheathed it. Her jaw tightened as she tried to mask the tiny shake in her hand.
"I'm just a little stiff," she said. "Yesterday was a lot."
Lin Tian didn't believe it. She knew he didn't, but she refused to look away.
They walked back toward the courtyard. Bai kept her pace steady, though every few steps her fingers twitched at her side. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear—one of her nervous habits—but the motion hid a quick, sharp breath she couldn't hold down.
"Your qi felt uneven yesterday," Lin Tian said quietly. "And today too."
Xueya's steps slowed. She didn't stop walking.
"I know," she admitted. "My Yin qi isn't flowing smoothly. It's been… slower."
"For how long?"
She gave a vague, almost careless answer. "For a few days."
He watched her face closely. Her eyes didn't match her words.
"You didn't mention it," he said.
"It didn't seem important." She forced a smile. "I've had this happened before and it passes naturally."
"But now it isn't," Lin Tian replied. "You're trembling."
She looked away. "It's nothing serious, Tian."
He reached out instinctively, but she stepped a little to the side, almost without thinking, as if afraid physical contact might reveal more than words.
They reached the courtyard entrance.
Xueya suddenly stopped.
Her body tightened—subtle, but sharp. She placed a hand on the railing, fingers gripping it harder than necessary. Her breath hitched, barely audible, but enough for Lin Tian to freeze.
"Xueya—"
She held up her other hand, cutting him off. She steadied her breathing with effort, her chest rising unevenly. After a moment, she straightened.
"It will passes quickly," she said, voice thinner than before. "Don't make it bigger than it is."
Lin Tian stepped closer anyway. "But you're hurting."
"It's just fluctuation," she insisted. "I've had them before."
Her tone seems tired. Tired of pretending, tired of trying to hide what her body was doing. She pressed her fingers lightly to her temple, rubbing the spot as if soothing a headache.
He lowered his voice. "Let me check your pulse."
She hesitated for one long moment, then shook her head.
"No… not right now." She looked at him with a soft expression. "I know you're worried. I'm grateful. But I need to settle my qi. Elder Mei will scold me if she sees me like this."
Lin Tian frowned. "Then I'll walk you to the sect residence."
She shook her head again, more firmly this time.
"You should focus on your cultivation. You've only just awakened. Don't follow me around like I'll break."
He opened his mouth to argue, but she lifted a hand to stop him.
"Please," she said. "Just for today."
She bowed slightly and turned away. Her steps were careful—too careful. He watched her walk down the path, her back straight, her robe swaying lightly. But halfway down, when she thought she was out of his sight, she pressed a hand to her chest and leaned into the railing for support.
Lin Tian's chest tightened.
'She's not fine… She's worse than she wants to admit.'
He stayed at the courtyard gate long after she disappeared from view.
Later, Lin Tian sat in his room trying to cultivate again, but nothing settled inside him. His qi flowed perfectly through his channels. His condition had never been better.
But his thoughts kept circling around Bai Xueya's pale face and the trembling in her hands.
He replayed the way she forced herself to walk normally.
He drew a long breath, then another, but his mind refused to quiet.
"What did the System mean by instability?" he whispered. "Why her? Why now?"
He tried again to meditate.
The lantern on the table flickered softly as the room filled with the sound of his steady breathing. For a moment, it almost felt calm.
Then everything inside him jolted.
The System flashed in his mind.
[ Partner's Yin qi fluctuation rising ]
[ Severity: Moderate ]
[ Risk of collapse increasing ]
Lin Tian's eyes flew open.
He pushed himself to his feet, heart pounding. His hands trembled as he grabbed the door.
"Xueya…"
His voice cracked with a fear he didn't bother hiding.
He stepped into the night air.
'Something is breaking inside her.'
And he was already too late.
End of Chapter 12