Yue Mei's Guilt

Across the table, Yue Mei stiffened, her posture turning subtly rigid.

She turned toward Su Ting, crimson eyes flickering with something Su Kang hadn't seen before—unguarded disbelief.

She opened her mouth as if to speak, but no words came.

She simply stared at Su Ting, at the quiet acceptance on his face. He had chosen to accept the punishment. For a cultivator, a damaged body was not a small matter. It could cripple one's future.

Su Kang watched it unfold, noting every flicker of emotion, every unspoken word.

He studied Yue Mei's expression with care, looking for even the smallest change in her demeanor.

Yue Mei's POV

The soft morning light filtering through the garden's foliage felt almost cruel in its warmth. It clashed with the storm rising within her.

She forced herself to take another bite of the tender meat. The flavors should have been exquisite, but they were utterly lost on her tongue.

Each chew felt dull, like a puppet mimicking routine. A poor attempt at normalcy, even as her thoughts churned restlessly.

Su Kang's arrival had shifted everything. His presence, though outwardly calm and playful, carried an undercurrent of knowledge and intent that made her uneasy.

When he had jokingly suggested sending Su Ting with her, panic surged through her.

It was a crude, veiled jab—a reminder of her cursed physique. A fate that had led her here, to this foreign land, to this family... and to the young man who might be her only chance.

She kept her expression neutral. A habit born from necessity. Long ago, she had learned that showing weakness brought pain.

When Su Kang questioned her reason for coming to Jiang State, she gave her usual excuse about medicinal herbs.

But Su Kang didn't believe it. She had seen it in his eyes, in that faint smile that never quite reached them.

Then came the words that shattered her calm.

He spoke of punishment. Su Ting losing a limb because of her.

Her breath caught.

Lose a limb?

The words echoed in her mind, loud and slow, like war drums pounding through fog. Everything else in the conversation became a distant blur.

She turned to look at Su Ting.

His usual cheerful face had turned pale and expressionless. There was no resistance, no anger—only quiet acceptance, as if this pain was something he had already resigned himself to bear.

A wave of nausea surged.

Why wasn't he objecting?

He had been deceived. He had done nothing wrong. He should have spoken up, should have refused.

Her hands, hidden beneath the table, clenched tightly until her nails dug painfully into her palms.

On the surface, she remained still. Her expression showed nothing. She buried the storm within her, refusing to let it show.

She was Yue Mei, a cultivator from the Xuantian Empire. She came from power and shadows. People like her were not supposed to feel these things.

That was how she had survived. If she chose to act, it should have been to create an advantage. She could have used this moment to step in and earn Su Ting's gratitude. That would have been the rational move.

But as her gaze fell on Su Ting again, the simple, kind man who might hold the key to her freedom, a new question surfaced.

Could she truly promise that her presence would not harm him?

He was nothing like the elites she had known. Those people only acted for personal gain. They would not even allow mortals to approach them. And yet Su Ting laughed with mortal children, played with them just to make them smile.

She had watched him check a child's spiritual roots because their parents had humbly requested it. He shared meals with them without a trace of arrogance. She had never seen anyone like him before.

And now, he was going to be punished because of her.

Was she truly nothing more than a bearer of misfortune? Did she bring disaster to anyone who came too close?

Was this truly the fate of a cursed child?

As the questions swirled, one decision rose clearly in her heart.

I will not let him suffer because of me.

.....

A heavy silence hung in the air, thick with unspoken emotions. Su Kang's gaze remained fixed on Yue Mei, studying her with quiet intensity.

He noticed a slight shift in her posture and the way her red eyes lingered on Su Ting. It was brief, almost imperceptible but it was enough. A glimpse into her inner conflict, a hint of her feelings.

He didn't know her entire story. He didn't know what had drawn her to his brother. But one thing was clear: she cared for Su Ting.

"Brother, let's go," Su Kang said softly, rising from his seat. "You need some fresh air."

Su Ting nodded without a word, his usual light-heartedness dulled by confusion and sadness. He didn't look at Yue Mei.

He simply left.

As they walked through the corridor and away from the garden, Su Kang felt the weight of guilt settle on his shoulders. Yet, he believed it was necessary for their family and Su Ting.

Once they were away from her, Su Kang slowed his steps, walking beside Su Ting.

"Fate, do you think the obstacles in her destiny might be connected to my brother?" Su Kang asked in his mind.

Fate's voice responded coolly, echoing within him.

"Her cultivation realm is high, and both of them carry abnormal fate. I cannot give you a definite answer. But... there might be a faint connection. I can faintly sense something."

Su Kang fell into thought. She had divination technique. That alone meant she wouldn't have come here without a purpose.

And he couldn't ignore the possibility that her purpose involved his brother.

Su Kang took his brother towards his own residence, the silence between them heavy with unspoken questions.

Once inside, Su Kang turned to face him. His voice was steady, but his gaze was sharp.

"Brother, tell me honestly. What do you feel about her?"

Su Ting hesitated. His brows furrowed slightly, uncertainty clouding his expression.

"I... I don't think she's a bad person," he said quietly, avoiding Su Kang's eyes. "It's strange. When I'm near her, I feel at peace. Like... like I've known her."

He paused, then added more softly, "Maybe it's the contrast. She's cold to everyone else, but with me… she's not the same. I'm drawn to her unseen warmth."

Su Kang sighed inwardly. It was just as he had suspected. His brother had feelings for her. He placed a hand on Su Ting's shoulder.

"If you truly care for her, then be cautious. Miss Yue is not simple. And we still don't know her real reason for being here."

Su Ting's face darkened. He understood. His feelings couldn't come at the cost of the family's safety.

"Mother's going to be so disappointed in me," he thought bitterly.

"I understand, brother." he said, then quietly walked away.

Su Kang sighed, watching Su Ting walk away.

I just hope he doesn't become like he used to be, he thought. 

I can't let him go back to being that dull, expressionless boy.

Su Kang had been hoping that she would make a move sooner.

Meanwhile, back in her guest quarters, Yue Mei's carefully maintained composure finally shattered. She pulled the hairpin from her bun, her fingers trembling as she activated the communication array.

"Aunt… it's going wrong," she whispered, her voice tight with desperation. "Su Kang knows something. He was testing me."

Her aunt's voice came through the array, calm but laced with concern.

"Yue Mei, calm yourself. Tell me everything. What happened?"

Yue Mei recounted the events of the morning—the unexpected punishment, the silent pain in Su Ting's eyes, and the chilling sharpness in Su Kang's gaze.

"He's suspicious, Aunt. He's creating distance between me and Su Ting, using this."

Her voice broke as guilt swelled within her.

Su Ting will lose a limb because of me. He will blame me.

Silence lingered on the other end of the array before her aunt finally spoke, her tone grave.

"So they've informed the family about you. That's troubling."

There was a pause, then a more pointed observation.

"Su Kang saw through your cultivation? You said his fortune is above average, but not remarkable. He shouldn't be capable of that."

Yue Mei nodded, voice quiet. "If he could see through my hidden realm… he's not normal."

There was a long pause, heavy with implication.

"Aunt… I think I should apologize and leave," Yue Mei said finally. "I don't want Su Ting to suffer because of me."

She had lived her life buried in secrecy, wrapped in omens and whispers. Her presence brought misfortune. She couldn't bear to drag Su Ting or his family with her.

Her aunt exhaled softly. "Yue Mei, you understand what's at stake. Your physique—if others discover its true nature, not even I can protect you."

Her voice lowered with quiet resolve.

"I made a promise to your mother. I've done many things to get us this far, and this is the only solid lead we've had. You can't walk away now."

There was a pause, then her aunt spoke.

"Didn't you say you felt some strange connection with Su Ting?"