The next day, the cold, pristine morning light of the Shen Clan Domain broke over the floating jade terraces, casting long, sharp shadows across the stone pathways.
Ning Xueli stood near the grand archway leading to the southern staging grounds, her arms crossed over her chest.
Her bright, purple eyes were narrowed into a sharp, piercing squint as she stared intently at Ling Luochen, who was walking toward her with a slight, almost imperceptible hesitation in her step.
"W-What is it?" Asked Ling Luochen, her voice catching slightly in her throat as she instinctively clutched the collar of her light blue silk dress, trying to maintain her usual aloof, frozen composure.
"You look.... remarkably mature," Ning Xueli stated, her voice flat and laced with a deep, analytical suspicion.
She took a step closer, her eyes tracking the subtle, fluid rhythm of Luochen's posture and the faint, glowing radiance beneath her skin, a visual phenomenon that had nothing to do with standard qi.
