When Liu Xia set the buckets down, his hands felt numb.
Not from exhaustion.
That dull ache from pulling the rope too long.
He shook out his hands and got ready to turn in the task.
He had just taken two steps—
When someone blocked him.
This time, not an outer disciple.
Better dressed.
Heavier presence.
A steward.
Liu Xia glanced at him.
"Another confirmation?" he said.
His tone carried a bit of resignation.
The steward didn't smile.
"Come with me."
he said.
Liu Xia stood still for a moment.
"Where?"
"The inner sect."
Liu Xia frowned.
"Not going."
he said.
Direct.
The people around them paused.
The air tightened.
The steward's expression darkened.
"That's an order."
he said.
Liu Xia looked at him.
Thought for a moment.
"I need to turn in the water first," he said.
"Wait until I'm done."
—
The steward didn't move.
He stood there.
Like a wall.
"Now."
he said.
—
The air sank slightly.
Not power.
The atmosphere changed.
The people around started backing away.
No one spoke.
—
Liu Xia was getting annoyed.
He didn't like being forced.
He looked at the man.
His voice lowered slightly.
"I said—"
"I'll go after I turn it in."
—
The moment those words fell—
No ripple.
No light.
—
The steward's body paused slightly.
Like something had "jammed."
He wanted to speak.
But the words didn't come out.
Not that he couldn't speak—
It was that the intent—
"To take him away now"—
Had been suppressed.
Replaced with:
"Wait until he finishes."
—
He frowned.
Tried again.
But found he couldn't say it.
Not a problem with his throat.
His intention—
Had been altered.
—
Liu Xia had already walked past him.
Heading forward.
"Wait."
The steward finally spoke.
His voice lower now.
"I'll wait for you."
he said.
After saying it, even he froze.
—
Liu Xia glanced back.
"See? That works."
he said.
Then walked off.
—
After handing in the water—
He came back out.
The steward was still there.
Standing in place.
Not moving.
As if "fulfilling a condition."
Liu Xia walked over.
"Let's go."
he said.
Casual.
—
The steward felt a lightness.
Like some restraint had been lifted.
He looked at Liu Xia.
His gaze had changed.
Not disdain.
Caution.
"What did you do just now?"
he asked.
Liu Xia thought for a moment.
"Talked," he said.
—
They walked toward the inner sect together.
No one spoke along the way.
But people all around were watching.
They looked—
Then lowered their heads.
No one dared look twice.
—
The inner sect was quieter.
Fewer people.
Cleaner paths.
The presence more stable.
Liu Xia looked around—it was his first time here.
"Not bad," he said.
The steward didn't respond.
—
They stopped in front of a side hall.
The door was open.
There were people inside.
Not many.
Three.
One sitting.
Two standing.
All with strong presence.
The moment Liu Xia stepped in, he felt it.
Not pressure.
Presence.
Very strong.
—
The one sitting looked up.
At him.
Expressionless.
"Liu Xia," he said.
Liu Xia nodded.
"Yeah."
—
The man looked at him for a while.
"Yesterday. Mountain gate."
"Today. Mining area."
"And just now."
Each sentence was short.
Direct.
"Explain."
—
Liu Xia stood there.
Thought for a moment.
"They had their own problems," he said.
Same answer.
Same tone.
—
The two standing shifted slightly.
Clearly dissatisfied.
The one sitting did not.
He kept looking at Liu Xia.
"What you say," he said.
"It happens."
Not a question.
A judgment.
—
Liu Xia looked at him.
"It doesn't," he said.
—
Silence.
The man stared at him.
Like he was looking at an object.
Not a person.
—
"Say it again," he said.
—
Liu Xia was getting annoyed.
"It doesn't," he repeated.
Flatter.
More casual.
—
The words fell.
Nothing happened.
—
The man looked at him.
Paused for a second.
Then nodded.
"Fine."
he said.
As if accepting the result.
—
But the two beside him exchanged a glance.
Didn't speak.
—
The man stood up.
Walked closer.
Stopped in front of Liu Xia.
Not far.
He looked at him closely.
Like confirming something.
—
"You don't want to say," he said.
"Then forget it."
—
He turned away.
"Let him go."
—
The steward froze.
"That's it?" he asked.
The man didn't turn back.
"Observe first," he said.
—
Liu Xia was already walking out.
"Then I'm leaving," he said.
No one stopped him.
—
He stepped out of the side hall.
The air felt lighter.
He stretched.
"Troublesome," he said.
—
In the distance—
Jesse stood in the shadows.
She had been there the whole time.
From the moment he entered.
Until now.
She watched him walk out.
Didn't approach.
Just watched.
—
She knew—
From now on—
Things had changed.
—
The inner sect had noticed him.
—
And in a higher place—
A voice sounded softly.
"They've started touching him."
No one responded.
After a moment—
Another voice said calmly:
"Not enough."
The air fell silent again.
As if waiting for something.