I alone am the Honoured One!

The tea in Ji Shuang's cup had gone cold, but neither she nor her guest had touched their drinks in some time.

The sunlight filtered in through the paper windows, casting a soft golden hue over the quiet room.

Ji Shuang leaned back slightly, as her gaze settled on the young woman sitting across from her "So, on your way to another star… you lost your family because of the Rupture?"

Rei Wuyin nodded slowly, her fingers tightening slightly around the cup she hadn't yet lifted "Mm.Everything happened so fast. My mother tried to protect me…"

Her words trailed off before she gave a faint breath. "Kind Zhao Tian and his master Yan Zijin found me in the Rupture. Without them, I wouldn't have made it."

Her gaze dropped to her lap, her lashes casting shadows on her cheeks "Now, I just want to start over. They said… the Jade Eclipse Sect would be willing to take me in. And when I heard the Sect Master herself was here… I thought I should ask directly."

Ji Shuang looked at her for a long moment.

Rei Wuyin's composure was admirable, but there is something carefully guarded in her posture as if she is trying to hide something but still, Ji Shuang offered a gentle smile.

"You can join. Our sect is always open to those who've endured loss and seek growth. You can decide the shape of your future after you've regained your footing."

A wave of visible relief passed through Rei Wuyin's shoulders and she lowered her head in gratitude "Thank you, Sect Master."

As she bowed, the front of her robe shifted and something glinted beneath the folds.

A smooth, silver-blue pendant slipped partially into view.

Ji Shuang's eyes narrowed faintly as she looked at the pendant "That's… no ordinary trinket. It seems like a powerful artifact."

Huh? Rei Wuyin panicked in her heart, but she didn't show it outside and calmly slid the pendant back into her robes "I'm not sure. My mother gave me this. Maybe… it's what protected me."

Ji Shuang didn't speak for a moment and her eyes lingered a second longer before her gaze softened again, as she could sense that even if there was more to the pendant, it held emotional significance for Rei Wuyin.

"I see,. Surviving a Rupture collapse is no small feat. Perhaps that pendant truly did play a part. Artifacts tied to love… often do."

Rei Wuyin bowed her head again, quietly "I will cherish it."

Ji Shuang gave a slight nod, but inwardly, her thoughts lingered.

That artifact… it wasn't just rare.

She would need to speak to Zhao Tian about it later.

But for now, she let the matter rest.

...

The heavy wooden door creaked softly as Zhao Tian pushed it open, stepping into the warmly lit room.

Seeing that she is not there, he smiled and walked toward the bathroom.

Through the fogged glass, he could make out the outline of a woman, her long white hair clinging to her back as she stood under the shower.

He walked to the shower before opening the door and looked at her sexy back and her plump ass cheeks.

He leaned against the door frame looking at her "Master..."

Yan Zijin reached out and stopped the shower before turning to him "You are still on it, perverted disciple? Again trying to sneak while your Master is bathing."

Zhao Tian just smiled shamelessly and stepped in "Don't worry about me, Master... you continue... I will just observe like a proper disciple."

As he spoke, his gaze dropped to her breasts, and she raised her hand, hiding them.

Yan Zijin frowned slightly "You want your master only to peek at her body. But you hid important secrets from me."

Hearing this, Zhao Tian smiled dryly "Master, you know I can't just casually say that I am the Honoured One. Its complicated."

Yan Zijin's gaze lowered faintly and she murmured "You also hid from me that you can use all elementals and only revealed that when we are trapped in rupture."

"Even Sect Master knows that you are the Honoured One, but not me?"

Zhao Tian just stayed silent, and she let out a deep breath before turning on the shower.

Raising her hands, she gathered her wet hair, rinsing it under the stream.

The motion lifted her chest slightly, and Zhao Tian's eyes flicked downward, drawn to the way the water traced paths over her breasts, glistening in the soft light.

"Did you come here to watch me bathe?"

Zhao Tian glanced at the water cascading down her breasts and replied "Not really. I came to ask if you'd play a game of Weiqi with me..."

Yan Zijin paused, her hands stilling in her hair as she glanced at him over her shoulder.

She rubbed her neck, her fingers lingering on the tense muscles there, and muttered, "And here I thought it might be something serious."

With a fluid motion, she turned off the shower again and faced away from him, presenting her back.

Her white hair clung to her skin, the wet strands fanning out across her shoulders "If you're going to stand there, make yourself useful. Clean my back, like you did that day."

"But if you dare to touch my breasts, I will kill you."

Zhao Tian stepped forward, rolling up his sleeves with a smile as he reached for a soft sponge resting on a nearby ledge "Yes, Master."

He began at her shoulders as the sponge glided over her skin in slow circles.

Yan Zijin's posture softened slightly, her head tilting forward as the tension in her muscles melted under his careful ministrations.

The sponge traced the line of her spine, following the gentle dip of her lower back.

He kept his touch respectful, mindful of her warning.

As he finished cleaning her back, he paused, the sponge hovering for a moment as he considered his next move.

With a subtle shift, he stepped closer as his warm breath hit the damp strands of her hair "Mind if I get the front, Master?"

Yan Zijin's shoulders stiffened slightly, and she turned her head just enough to shoot him a sidelong glance, her eyes narrowing. "Stay below the waist, disciple,"

Zhao Tian chuckled softly and he moved the sponge to her abdomen as he began to clean the taut plane of her stomach.

His fingers, guiding the sponge, brushed against the smooth expanse of her abs.

He lingered there savoring the warmth of her body beneath the sponge.

"As expected of a master who excels in physical strength, you have a great body."

Yan Zijin nodded slowly "Hmm... you should also keep your body in the perfect condition."

"Now that I think of it, it is because of your Honoured One physique; you had a perfect body shape?"

He nodded faintly "Maybe..."

Yan Zijin looked down at his fingers gliding over her abdomen "Mhm, for people who cultivate their body, Honoured One physique is the best I guess."

"And as someone who uses body cultivation, I feel kinda proud that the Honoured One is my disciple."

Turning her head, she looked at him "You have a lot of potential, don't let it go to waste."

Looking into her eyes, he nodded his head "Yes, Master."

Her gaze lowered slightly "Also... how sure are you that you can kill that Paragon?"

Upon hearing this, he let out a sigh and replied "Honestly, I am not sure... I will give it my best."

Yan Zijin forced a smile "I will also be there and will help you."

He let out a chuckle and asked "If I defeated the Paragon, can I grope your breasts again, Master?"

Yan Zijin's eyebrows twitched in annoyance but then a laugh broke out, and she swatted his hand "First defeat it, then we can talk."