The next morning, I found myself in the training courtyard again. My muscles ached from yesterday, but I told myself: today will be better. You can do this. Of course, I was lying.
As I struggled to control the basic spiritual energy swirling in my hands, a shadow fell over me.
"Han Qingyu," Li Tianlong's voice was as smooth and icy as ever. "You're practicing… again?"
I jumped. "Uh… yeah! I mean, of course! Just… training!" My hands fumbled, and a spark of energy shot out, narrowly missing a rock.
He didn't flinch. Didn't scold. He just stepped closer, slow, deliberate. His presence made the air feel heavy, almost impossible to breathe.
"Control," he said softly, his eyes narrowing. "Not force. Feel it. Let it flow through you."
I nodded, trying not to stare at the way his hair glinted in the sunlight. Too late. My heart was already racing.
"Closer," he instructed, moving right behind me to adjust my stance. I froze. His hand hovered near mine—not touching, just… there.
I swallowed hard. "Uh… okay," I managed, trying not to think about how close he was. Too close. Way too close.
He didn't move away. His cold gaze fixed on the energy I was trying to control, but his proximity made it impossible to focus. My hands shook. My chest burned.
Finally, he pulled back, just a fraction. "Better."
"Better?" I whispered. My voice sounded like a squeak even to me.
"Better than yesterday," he said, turning away. Just like that, he was gone—leaving only the faint echo of his presence, like a cold wind brushing my skin.
I sank to the ground, hands trembling. Why is he… like this?
I didn't know yet. But I felt it. That slow, dangerous pull toward him—the untouchable cultivator who somehow made me want to reach for him, even if he would never notice… at least, not yet.
---
Shadowing the Cold Dragon
After training, I couldn't get him out of my head. The way he moved. The way he breathed. The way that cold, untouchable aura wrapped around him like he owned the world… and yet, somehow, it made me want to be closer.
So, stupidly, I followed him.
He didn't seem to notice at first—Li Tianlong always moved like a shadow, silent and precise. He climbed the cliffs, crossed floating bridges, and vanished into the mist as if the mountains themselves bowed to him.
I kept my distance, hiding behind a boulder. My heart was pounding, and I couldn't stop staring. Every movement of his was effortless, almost cruel in how perfect it looked.
And then… he stopped.
He turned slowly, as if sensing my presence. My stomach dropped. Did he see me?
For a moment, I thought he would scold me. Or worse, completely ignore me and vanish again.
But he didn't. His sharp, piercing gaze cut through the mist and… lingered on me. Not harshly. Not kindly. Just… there.
I froze. My hands clenched into fists. My cheeks burned.
"You're curious," he said softly, almost like a statement, not a question.
I… stammered. "I—uh—I mean… I'm just… making sure you're okay?" Stupid excuse. I knew it.
Li Tianlong didn't smile. He didn't even blink. But his eyes softened, just a fraction—so slight I could've imagined it. "Curiosity can be dangerous," he said. "Be careful not to get burned."
I swallowed, heart hammering. "I—I'll be careful."
And just like that, he moved again, disappearing into the mist.
But I couldn't stop thinking about him. That cold, untouchable cultivator… the one I should probably fear. The one I wanted to see again.
Somehow, I knew this was just the beginning.
---
Accidentally Close
The next day, the training grounds were shrouded in mist, the floating mountains looming like silent giants. I was supposed to be practicing alone, but of course… I wasn't alone.
Li Tianlong was here. Of course he was.
I tried to stay out of his way, keeping to the edges, pretending to focus. But fate—or maybe some cruel twist of destiny—had other plans.
A sudden surge of spiritual energy from a nearby training dummy went out of control. I stumbled, tripped, and tumbled forward… straight into Li Tianlong.
Our bodies collided.
I froze. My face was barely a hand's breadth from his chest. His arms were… steady, like solid steel, holding me up effortlessly. My heart was hammering. Why is he so close? Why is it so… warm under all that cold?
He didn't speak. Just looked down at me with those piercing eyes, cold as always—but something in them made me shiver. Not fear. Not exactly desire… something in between.
"Are you trying to get yourself killed?" His voice was low, smooth, and impossible to ignore.
"I—I didn't mean—uh—" I stammered, fumbling to pull away, but his grip was gentle. Too gentle. And somehow… it made me want to stay.
He sighed softly, a sound so quiet it almost sounded like wind. "Control your energy. Or you'll hurt yourself—and others."
I nodded frantically, cheeks burning. "Y-Yes! Got it! Sorry!"
Finally, he released me. I stumbled back, heart racing, trying not to imagine what it felt like to be in his arms.
He didn't wait for me to recover. As always, he turned and walked away, leaving only a faint trail of spiritual energy behind… and the memory of his cold, untouchable presence lingering against my skin.
I sank to the ground, hands trembling. Why does he affect me like this?
I had no answers. But one thing was certain: the slow burn had begun… and it was only going to get hotter.