The morning air in the Eastern Cloud Sect was crisp, carrying the faint scent of blooming spirit orchids. Li Tian sat cross-legged beneath the old maple tree near the back courtyard, eyes closed, his breathing steady. From the outside, it looked like he was meditating with deep focus. In reality, his mind wandered freely—thinking about breakfast, the warmth of the sun, and the comfortable sway of the branches above him.
His peace didn't last long. The sharp clang of wooden swords clashing echoed through the air. Curious, Li Tian opened one eye and spotted Mei Lin across the training yard. She was sparring with Zhou Kai.
They moved with practiced precision—Mei Lin's strikes were quick and fluid, while Zhou Kai's counters were strong and unyielding. It was easy to see why the entire sect had been buzzing since Zhou Kai's arrival. He wasn't just skilled; he made it look effortless.
Li Tian sighed, leaning back against the tree. So that's how it's going to be now, he thought, watching the two exchange a brief laugh between strikes.
After a few minutes, Mei Lin landed a clean hit on Zhou Kai's shoulder, earning a respectful nod from him. They both set their swords down, breathing lightly. As they walked off the training grounds together, Zhou Kai said something that made Mei Lin laugh—her genuine, eyes-crinkling kind of laugh.
Li Tian looked away.
A shadow fell over him. "Skipping practice again?" Master Zhao's voice was calm but held an edge.
Li Tian gave a lazy smile. "Master, I'm practicing… patience."
Master Zhao raised a brow. "Patience won't save you in a duel."
"Maybe not," Li Tian replied, "but it saves energy."
The older man sighed, shaking his head. "I sometimes wonder how you've managed to stay in this sect." With that, Master Zhao walked away, muttering something about wasted talent.
Once he was gone, Li Tian lay back fully, staring at the clouds drifting across the blue sky. A faint rustle nearby caught his attention—Mei Lin approaching, a bamboo water flask in hand.
"You didn't train today," she said, sitting down beside him.
"I was meditating."
She smirked. "You mean napping."
"Tomato, tomahto," he replied.
For a moment, they sat quietly, watching the clouds. Mei Lin took a sip from her flask before speaking again. "Zhou Kai invited me to join him on a mission tomorrow."
Li Tian's brow furrowed. "A mission?"
She nodded. "An escort job for one of the outer villages. It's supposed to be straightforward, but it's still good field experience."
"Hmm." Li Tian kept his voice neutral. "Sounds… productive."
Mei Lin studied him. "You don't mind, do you?"
"Why would I mind?" he replied lightly, forcing a small smile. "You're free to go on missions."
Still, Mei Lin looked uncertain. "You've always been there for me, Li Tian. Even if you don't say much, I know you care. I just hope this doesn't… change things."
Li Tian shrugged. "Things change all the time, Mei Lin. It's normal."
Before she could respond, Zhou Kai appeared at the far end of the courtyard, calling her name. Mei Lin stood, giving Li Tian one last look before heading over. The two began discussing something—probably mission details—while Li Tian remained beneath the maple tree, arms folded behind his head.
The next day, the courtyard buzzed with activity as Mei Lin prepared to leave. She was dressed in light armor, her sword strapped securely at her side. Zhou Kai was already mounted on a sturdy spirit horse, looking every bit the confident cultivator.
Li Tian stood off to the side, watching. Mei Lin noticed him and walked over. "We'll be gone for a few days. Try not to sleep through all your training."
"No promises," he said, though his tone was softer than usual.
She smiled and, without warning, pressed a small packet of dried sweet lotus seeds into his hand. "For when you get bored."
Before Li Tian could respond, she turned and mounted her horse, joining Zhou Kai. Moments later, they rode off, disappearing down the stone path.
The courtyard felt strangely empty without her.
Over the next few days, Li Tian kept to his usual routine—or lack thereof. He lounged beneath trees, wandered the library halls without actually reading, and occasionally watched other disciples train. But there was a restlessness beneath it all, a quiet tug in his chest he couldn't ignore.
On the third day, just as the sun began to dip, the sound of galloping hooves echoed from the distance. Li Tian straightened, spotting two figures riding hard toward the gates—Mei Lin and Zhou Kai.
Mei Lin looked exhausted, dust covering her armor, but she was smiling. Zhou Kai dismounted first, helping her down from her horse. Li Tian's eyes caught a faint cut along her cheek, but she seemed unfazed.
"That was… intense," Mei Lin said, catching her breath.
Li Tian approached. "You're hurt."
"It's nothing," she said quickly. "A rogue beast attacked the caravan, but we handled it."
Zhou Kai added, "Mei Lin fought bravely. Without her, the caravan would've suffered heavy losses."
Li Tian gave a curt nod. "Glad you made it back."
As the two began recounting the mission details to a group of curious disciples, Li Tian quietly stepped away. For some reason, hearing Mei Lin speak so warmly about Zhou Kai left a bitter taste in his mouth.
Later that night, sitting alone in his small room, Li Tian stared at the packet of lotus seeds on his desk. He picked one up, rolling it between his fingers before popping it into his mouth. The sweetness lingered, but so did an unfamiliar ache.
For the first time in a long while, Li Tian wondered if doing nothing would be enough to keep the things—or the people—he cared about.