Eight years had slipped by like drifting mist.
The Flying Sword Sect never stopped searching for Selene, while her enemies quietly celebrated, hoping the untouchable legend had finally fallen.
There lived a young woman in plain, practical clothing in a small town of the East. Her humble dress was inexpensive, reflecting a life far from luxury. Her long hair was tied low at her back. Its pale, muted color suggested that its once-pristine luster had long been dulled by dust, wind, and relentless sunlight.
A few uneven strands fell along her face, partly concealing features far too delicate and refined for an ordinary village woman.
Her face was soft and serene, her beauty understated. Pleasant to behold, yet not striking enough to draw a second glance.
Her pale blue eyes were often lowered. They held a quiet, passive calm, as if she had long grown used to standing a step behind the rest of the world.
"Lina! Lina!"
She turned when a middle-aged fruit vendor called out to her with a warm, familiar smile. "Good morning, Madam," Lina greeted politely. "Your fruit looks especially fresh today."
"Of course it is. Take some for yourself—and for little Claude."
When Lina politely declined, the woman merely chuckled. "Consider it repayment for taking care of my grandson when he had that terrible fever."
The same thing happened at the meat stall and again at the clothing stall—each time, a small kindness from the past repaid with gratitude. Before she knew it, Lina was carrying apples, oranges, fresh meat, and even a new garment.
"Claude will be happy," she murmured softly, a faint smile touching her lips.
Upon returning home, she rinsed the produce, prepared her son's favorite minced meat, scrubbed the laundry, and swept the house until sweat soaked her collar.
When the sun dipped past its peak, she set out to pick up her child from school.
A few young men glanced at her with mild interest, but none approached. Lina's modest beauty drew little attention, and the fact that she had a child without a husband was enough to deter any curiosity.
She joined the other parents waiting in the schoolyard. Among them stood Bess, the mother of Elsie, Claude's classmate.
"Lina, have you heard?" Bess whispered eagerly, lowering her voice in excitement. "They say the mysterious VIP guest at the auction was Lady Lunar Frost Sovereign!"
Lina frowned slightly. She had little interest in gossip—especially Bess's exaggerations—but knew rumors often held a trace of truth.
"Oh?" she replied calmly. "And where did you hear that?"
"My husband told me," Bess said proudly. "He works at the auction house. There was a fierce bidding war over a thousand-year-old herb. The VIP refused to lose—she released her aura, and the entire hall went cold in an instant."
Lina's thoughts drifted unwillingly back to that night several days earlier. She had needed a thousand-year King Ginseng root for Claude. Until that moment, no one had dared compete with her price, as she had been bidding far higher than anyone else.
For some reason, someone that evening had stubbornly driven the bid to unreasonable levels, testing her patience. Irritated and unwilling to lose the herb her son needed, she released a trace of cold killing intent to intimidate them.
"Lady Lunar Frost isn't the only person with a cold aura, is she?" Lina asked evenly. "Surely there are high mages who possess cold attributes as well."
"That's true," Bess admitted, nodding thoughtfully, "but no one else is that wealthy. They say even the royal family is far inferior to Lady Lunar in terms of fortune."
Lina slowly pressed her fingers to her temples. When she was much younger, she discovered a hidden cave filled with ancient relics and chests of gold. The journey nearly cost her life, but she reached it alone and stored all the treasures in her spatial storage.
Though she occasionally used the gold coins, she never dared to sell the relics. She knew it would attract unwanted attention.
As the Lunar Frost Sovereign, she had made many enemies. If her wealth were known, both villains and the greedy—even within her own sect—would pursue it.
In the past, she would not have feared such dangers. Back then, she had no weakness. But now.
"Mama!"
A bright, cheerful voice cut through her thoughts.
Lina's expression softened instantly as she saw a small child running toward her with unrestrained joy. His steps were light and slightly clumsy, driven more by enthusiasm than balance.
The boy's cheeks were round and rosy, glowing with warmth. His platinum-gold hair shimmered softly in the sunlight, its purity untouched by the world, while a few messy strands across his forehead added to his innocent charm.
His golden eyes were clear and bright, free of fear or guile. They held natural kindness and warmth, as if he wished to share simple happiness rather than suspicion.
He was not loud or demanding, nor was he a troublesome child. Instead, he was the type who inspired others to protect him instinctively—even before he asked for help.
Lina crouched and opened her arms. "My dear Claude."
The boy leapt into her embrace. "I missed you, Mama."
"I missed you too," she replied softly, pressing light kisses against his small cheeks until laughter spilled freely from his lips.
Ignoring Bess—who was similarly doting on her own daughter—Lina lifted Claude into her arms and began walking home.
"How was your day, my little prince?"
"It was a good day," Claude answered brightly. "The teacher praised me in history class."
"Of course she did," Lina said with pride. "My son is truly wonderful."
As she spoke, she noticed the faint crease forming between his brows. "But… why are you sad?" she asked gently.
Claude lowered his gaze for a brief moment before looking up at her with hesitant uncertainty.
"Mama… who is my father?"
Lina's steps came to an abrupt halt.
For the first time in eight long years, it felt as though the world around her was collapsing in silence.
She had always known that this question would eventually come.
She just… had not expected it to come so soon.