As Zhiwei waved goodbye and jogged off to join his master, Ji'an let out a breath, her shoulders dropping slightly.
She had run the gauntlet, the Protagonists had issued their challenges, and she had survived without accidentally triggering any immediate death flags.
"You handled them well."
The voice was soft, calm, and incredibly close.
Ji'an turned. Xie Wangchen had approached silently, his Wind-Step technique flawless.
He stood a respectful distance away, his pristine white Ice-Silk robes immaculate, his dark hair catching the mountain breeze.
There was no murderous aura. There was no suffocating jealousy regarding her interaction with Gu Zhiwei or Yan Lie.
Wangchen looked at her with an expression of profound, quiet serenity. His dark eyes were clear, focused, and entirely supportive.
He was playing the role of the perfect, understanding sworn brother with terrifying, sociopathic perfection.
