10- Promise

"Wh-what?! Are you serious?" I exclaimed mentally, my blood running cold. "That's why Senior Yun has been acting so strangely! She doesn't want to kill me!"

A wave of tension washed over me. Knowing this completely changed the dynamic between us. I spotted a clothing shop and hurried inside, my mind racing.

"Hello," I said to the shopkeeper, a middle-aged man with a friendly smile. "Do you have any black robes?"

"Yes, I do," he replied, turning to a rack behind him. He retrieved a simple but well-made black robe and presented it to me.

"How much is this?" I asked.

"This will be twenty mid-grade spirit stones," he said.

"Okay," I agreed. "And could you show me some other clothes as well?"

The shopkeeper displayed a few more garments. After a brief look, I selected a few basic sets of travel clothes. "Ah, I'll take this black robe and these other clothes."

"Alright," the shopkeeper said, tallying the items. "The total will be forty-seven mid-grade spirit stones."

I paid him the amount, collected my purchases, and stored them in my system inventory before heading back to the agreed meeting spot.

After a few minutes, Yun Sha returned, her expression still a little subdued.

"Senior, I'm here," I said, holding up the wrapped bundle of clothes.

"Did you buy what you needed?" she asked, her gaze flickering towards the package.

"Yes," I replied.

"Okay then," she said. "Let's go to a hotel for the night."

"Okay," I agreed, the weight of the system's revelation pressing down on me.

We checked into a small inn, taking separate rooms. Once inside my own room, I couldn't shake off the information about Yun Sha's family rule. The implications were staggering.

Driven by a sudden impulse, I walked to Yun Sha's door and knocked softly.

"Senior? Can I come in?" I asked.

"Ah... okay, come in," she replied, her voice sounding slightly hesitant.

I stepped inside to find her sitting on the edge of her bed, her expression a mixture of sadness and apprehension.

"Senior," I began, my heart pounding in my chest. "I... I need to talk to you about something."

"About what?" she asked, her eyes wary.

"I... I heard about your family rule," I blurted out, deciding to be direct.

"Wh-what are you talking about?" she stammered, her face paling.

"Senior, please be honest with me," I pleaded. "Is there a rule in your family that if a male sees you... sees a female member of your family naked, then..."

Yun Sha's eyes welled up with tears. "Yes," she whispered, her voice choked with emotion. "There is. And... I don't want to kill you. That's why I've been..."

Without thinking, I stepped forward and gently pulled her into a hug. "Senior, don't worry," I murmured, holding her close. "I'll become powerful. I promise. And one day, I'll come to your family... for you."

She began to cry, her tears soaking my shoulder. "Really?" she sobbed, her voice filled with a mixture of disbelief and hope.

Lost in the moment, caught up in the intensity of the situation and the unexpected connection I felt, I gently tilted her chin up and kissed her softly.

The chaste kiss hung between us, a silent vow of comfort and shared burden, opening a future I hadn't foreseen. Yun Sha's flushed cheeks and fixed gaze held a nascent spark.

"Junior Zhen…" she breathed, trembling.

"Yun Sha," I echoed, my hand still on her cheek. The silence held a new awareness, a fragile connection born from danger.

"You… you would really do that?" she whispered, searching my eyes for falsehood.

"I promise," I said, my gaze unwavering. The words were true, forged in her distress and the shocking revelation of her family's law. The thought of her choice was unbearable.

A hesitant smile touched her lips, the first genuine one I'd seen. Fragile, yet promising.

"Thank you, Junior Zhen," she said, her voice thick with emotion. "Thank you."

We remained embraced, acknowledging the changed journey. The side mission flickered, now tied to Yun Sha's fate.

Yun Sha pulled back, wiping tears. "We should rest."

"Yes," I agreed, fatigue washing over me.

As I turned to leave, her soft voice called, "Junior Zhen… please call me Yun'er."

Warmth bloomed in my chest. "Alright, Yun'er," I replied, smiling.

Back in my room, my mind raced. Flowers Valley Sect had taken an unexpected turn, binding my fate to Sha's. Carefree exploration was replaced by a weighty promise, made in a moment of intense feeling. And thinking about that I slept.