The palace held another council.
Lin Yue entered the hall with more confidence than she felt. Xuan Mo walked beside her, silent but alert.
Today, sect representatives gathered to "evaluate her stability." Translation:
Judge her without actually helping.
A young disciple from the Azure Sky Sect stepped forward, bowing to her.
"Miss Lin… if you would allow me, I can help regulate your qi. My sect specializes in harmony techniques—"
Before her brain could even process the offer—
Xuan Mo shattered a marble pillar with aura alone.
Every elder jumped like startled chickens.
Lin Yue hissed, "WHAT are you doing?!"
He looked at her calmly. Too calmly.
"He touched his forehead to your hand."
"That is literally the bowing gesture!"
"It was too close."
"It is CULTURAL ETIQUETTE—"
"Not for you."
The hall froze.
Lin Yue glared. "Are you JEALOUS?"
"I do not experience jealousy."
"YOU JUST BROKE ARCHITECTURE BECAUSE SOMEONE MADE EYE CONTACT WITH ME."
Xuan Mo closed his eyes.Inhaled deeply.Said nothing.
Which, of course, made his jealousy worse.
The Azure disciple fled the hall.
The elders bowed low to avoid being hit by stray emotions.
Lin Yue whispered, "You need therapy."
He whispered back, "I need you to stop attracting people."
She covered her face. "This is not sustainable."
"No," he agreed softly."It is inevitable."
She wanted to kick him.
She wanted to kiss him.
Both seemed like bad life choices.