He must have been deceived.

Perched on the peak of the mountain, a soft breeze rustled the pink curtains around the room, carrying with it the faint fragrance of blossoms. Inside, a woman reclined lazily on a chaise lounge, her delicate features half-veiled by the flowing fabric.

"Come in, Longju," came her soft yet commanding voice.

Diao Longju pushed open the door and stepped into the room, bowing slightly as he entered. Despite his casual demeanor, his heart raced. His master, Hua Xiangxi, was the epitome of elegance and beauty—a fact he couldn't ignore, especially now. Her silhouette behind the curtains exuded a quiet allure, her form accentuated by the soft, flowing fabric of her robe.

Longju settled on a cushion before her, trying to push inappropriate thoughts from his mind. Focus, he reminded himself. She's my master, not some common disciple.

Hua Xiangxi's voice broke the silence. "Longju, what's this I hear about you and an outer sect disciple?"

Her tone was even, but Longju detected a hint of disappointment. He swallowed hard, his mind racing. She knew. Somehow, she had found out about his encounter with Bi Huajin.

"Master, it's not what you think," he said cautiously, carefully choosing his words. "Bi Huajin is merely—"

"A pawn in your schemes?" Hua Xiangxi interrupted, raising an elegant brow. "Or something more?"

Longju hesitated. He couldn't reveal the truth about the system or his mission to collect the allegiance of these so-called "daughters of fate." Not to Hua Xiangxi. She would never understand. Worse, she might turn against him.

"She's… someone I've taken under my wing," he said finally, keeping his tone neutral.

Hua Xiangxi's laugh was light but tinged with disbelief. "Under your wing? Longju, don't insult my intelligence. You're playing with fire. And if Liyin finds out…"

The mention of Liu Liyin—the current sect leader and Hua Xiangxi's favored student—made Longju wince. He had no illusions about how his junior sister would react to his… extracurricular activities.

"Liyin is in the secret realm," he said quickly. "She doesn't need to concern herself with these trivial matters."

Hua Xiangxi's eyes narrowed. "So it's true, then. You've taken advantage of that girl."

"No!" Longju protested, a little too forcefully. "It wasn't like that. She… agreed willingly."

Hua Xiangxi studied him for a long moment, her expression unreadable. Behind her composed exterior, Longju could sense a storm brewing. He felt a bead of sweat trickle down his temple.

"You've disappointed me, Longju," she said finally, her voice low but sharp. "I thought better of you."

The words stung more than he cared to admit. Longju clenched his fists, his mind spinning. He couldn't let this escalate. Not with Hua Xiangxi. Not with her.

"Master," he said, lowering his gaze. "I'm sorry if I've let you down. I… only want what's best for the sect."

Hua Xiangxi's expression softened slightly, though the sharpness in her eyes remained. "If that's true, then prove it," she said. "Stay away from that girl. Focus on your cultivation. And stop chasing shortcuts."

Longju hesitated. Could he give up on Bi Huajin? On the system's promise of power?

"I'll consider it," he said finally, his voice tight.

Hua Xiangxi sighed, leaning back against the chaise. "You'd better. And Longju… remember who you represent. If you bring shame to this sect, I'll deal with you myself."

Her words hung in the air as Longju bowed his head and left the room.

As he stepped back into the sunlight, Longju's thoughts churned. Hua Xiangxi was right about one thing—he was playing with fire. But he wasn't about to abandon his ambitions. Not now. Not ever.

Still, he couldn't shake the unease in his chest. The system's notification from earlier echoed in his mind:

[Detected: Fate's Daughter - Hua Xiangxi]

[Constitution: Jade Vase Devourer]

[Potential: Unlimited]

Winning over Bi Huajin was one thing. But Hua Xiangxi? She was on a completely different level.