Legend of The Young Master

Chapter 109: First Kiss

Transforming into a shadow, Wuyi effortlessly glided through the door and into the Sleeping Quarters of the female disciples and elders. Inside, female elders and disciples of the pavilion, both young and old, were engrossed in various tasks, illuminated by the soft light filtering through the windows.

Moving with the grace of a shadow, Wuyi ascended the stairs, his black cloak barely stirring the air. One elder briefly looked up from her embroidery, her eyes meeting the stairwell before returning to her work with a confused look on her face. A soft murmur followed him.

"They're not entirely deceived," he mused. "Who exactly are these women?"

The staircase spiraled upwards, designed to hinder any hidden attacker—a fact not lost on Wuyi. The gallery above was awash with light, even on this overcast day. Three disciples in grey robes leaned against the window casements, giggling as they observed the men in the courtyard below.

Sensing their Qi, Wuyi was astonished to find that these young disciples were already at the Qi initiate level eight at such a young age. He dispelled the shadow Qi that concealed him.

The three disciples turned sharply. Two fled, but the third hesitated, her eyes locking onto his.

Seizing the moment, Wuyi moved; he was in front of her within seconds, and he grasped her hand. "Liwei?" he questioned, peering into her eyes. It was the same girl who had served him earlier. He had sensed an unusual energy within her, something that stirred him in a secret chamber.

He uttered her name once more, gazing deeply into her eyes. Holding her hands, he experienced the sensation of a meteorite descending once again, although the descent was remarkably slow. Seeking assistance to speed up the descent, he turned to his statues.

In that moment, both Harmony and the Statue of Knowledge took control of the situation. The Statue of Harmony acted first; Liwei was enchanted, while the Statue of Knowledge drew Wuyi closer to her. Before either of them knew what was happening, they were sealing their lips together.

He weaved his leg amidst hers, ensnaring her beneath his control, and flipped her over his knee with ease. She allowed it, and she found herself enveloped in his embrace. Leaning against the enclosure's edge, he cradled her with a mix of tenderness and assurance.

She squirmed slightly, her sleeve catching on his elbow, yet her gaze remained intensely fixed on his, eyes wide and expressive. As her lips parted, it was clear her reaction stemmed from more than just fear or resistance. He gently explored her mouth with his, tracing her chin with a finger.

Their mouths melded together in a kiss that was mutual, lasting longer than a fleeting moment. She surrendered to his embrace, a comforting warmth spreading between them, even through his extraordinary cloak designed to repel any weapon or adversary, the warmth seeped in.

Eventually, the kiss concluded. The meteorite had fallen.

"Don't take the vows of celibacy in the pavilion," he advised, his voice tinged with unintentional derision. "You don't belong here."

He straightened up and gently placed her back on her feet, to show that he was no pervert. Her face flushed crimson, from her chin to her forehead. Even her hands turned red. She averted her gaze, shifting her weight subtly—a movement Wuyi didn't miss. She leaned forward and, with surprising speed, aimed a palm strike at his ear. And slammed a hand into his right ear.

Wuyi let her.

After she was done venting, Wuyi retreated a few steps. He thought she would run away now, but she held her ground, her eyes ablaze. "Who are you to judge me?" she retorted.

Wuyi touched his ear, still feeling her anger. "You misunderstand. I wasn't passing judgment. I felt an enchantment I couldn't help."

Her lips tightened, a subtle curve forming at the corner of her mouth. "Each of us grapples with sin, Young Master. I battle with my body's mortal needs too. That doesn't give you the right to intrude." A subtle smile played at the edge of her lips—truly, it was hardly a smile, but rather an expression of something indescribable.

With that, she turned and walked away, leaving Wuyi alone in the gallery. Descending the stairs, rubbing his right ear, he pondered how much of the encounter his men had witnessed. Reputations were fragile, built over time but easily shattered. He hoped the grey sky and the angle of the gallery windows had shielded him from prying eyes.

"That was quick," Jia remarked as Wuyi returned. Wuyi gave him a measured smile.

"It took as long as it needed to," Wuyi replied.

Just then, the heavy door creaked open, and an elder of the pavilion gestured for him to come.

"The heavens must be watching over you," Tao muttered under his breath. The moment Wuyi arrived, the lady called him—it was too coincidental.

Wuyi shook his head. "The Heavens are indifferent," he said, moving to meet with Lady Xueyan.

The moment the elder came to call Wuyi, he knew Lady Xueyan had decided to hire him. He knew that even with all her members, she couldn't defeat his small but skilled group. The guards in this stronghold were not worth mentioning. That's why she had called for them in the first place.

Geometry, he thought. It's all about angles. Why can't others see it? The moment he arrived, he knew they were hired. Maybe he could think of all this because of the Statue of Knowledge—he doubted that statue of knowledge was the wisest of all beings in this world, but in the mortal world, for now, that statue gave him a great edge.

He rubbed his ear once more and bowed deeply to Lady Xueyan, mustering a smile. She nodded in acknowledgment. "I have no choice but to accept you as you are," she said. "So, what are your terms?"

Wuyi nodded. "May I sit?" he inquired. When she gestured with a modicum of grace, he picked up the tea that had been prepared for him. "To your beauty, Pavilion Mistress," he said, raising the cup.

She met his eyes and offered a subtle smile. "You're quite the charmer."

"Indeed," he responded, sipping his tea and maintaining eye contact, as if he were a seasoned diplomat. "But I speak only the truth."

"Beauty has long since faded with my years," she remarked.