I reign supreme in the Western fantasy world for eternity.

When Ji Tian said "yes," his gaze fell on her face, observing her expression, wanting to see if she would obey directly or ask why first.

Lilith instinctively shrank back, her voice lowering, "Master, that's a hero... I was almost scared to death by the holy light last time, can I not go?"

"Can."

"Huh?" Lilith was taken aback, not expecting her master to agree so readily, not following the expected pattern.

She looked up at Ji Tian's face, trying to find some clue in that expressionless face—but found nothing.

"Then I won't go?"

"it is good."

Lilith stood there for a while, and then realized that her master really had no further plans.

She couldn't help but ask, "Master, you told me to go and say hello, but you promised me I wouldn't... what exactly are you trying to do?"

Ji Tian glanced down at her, then adopted the air of a wise and enlightened master and said:

There are two reasons.

"First, the reason you're afraid to go is most likely because you're not confident in my abilities. You don't know if I can protect you if something happens. That's my problem—I didn't make you understand just how strong your master really is."

Lilith found it hard to believe that her master was actually reflecting on himself? This was completely different from what she had imagined a master would give a lecture.

Shouldn't it all start with "I'm very disappointed in you"?

"Secondly, I hope you have your own opinions. If you do whatever I say without asking any questions, that's recklessness, not obedience. Those who cultivate the Tao fear 'blind obedience' the most. Those who blindly follow will never cultivate their own path."

He looked into Lilith's eyes.

"You asked, you thought about it, and then you decided not to go. That decision was the right one."

Lilith opened her mouth as if to say something, but then closed it again.

Her nose felt a little sore, but she held it in and blinked hard to force the heat back.

A night breeze blew by, causing the hems of their clothes to flutter gently. In the distance, at the entrance of the "Golden Acorn," the hero team had already pushed open the door and gone inside.

Lilith lowered her head, pretending to tie the sash of her cloak, and after a while whispered, "Master, could you... let me know a little more in the future? Just a little bit, so I have some idea. That way I can make more accurate decisions."

"it is good."

"...Master, you are such a bad person."

"Um."

Lilith lowered her head, her fingers fidgeting with the sash of her cloak, and said in a muffled voice, "Then let's go to another restaurant to eat."

"There's no need for that." Ji Tian turned around, his gaze falling on the closed restaurant door. "This is the one."

"But the heroes—"

"A hero? I'll avoid his sharp edge?!"

Lilith paused for a moment.

She looked at her master's expressionless face, trying to find a trace of "I was joking".

Having found nothing, he gritted his teeth and said:

"Master, you heartless scoundrel who deceives our feelings!"

Ji Tian glanced at her sideways, somewhat puzzled. "Lie? Where did I lie? Whether in this life or the last, my personality has always been this way."

Ji Tian withdrew his gaze and walked towards the restaurant entrance. "Anxin, your current identity is my newly accepted apprentice. Silver hair, purple eyes, loves sweets, talkative, timid, but quite ruthless when fighting spiders."

Lilith stood there, watching the white figure grow smaller and smaller in the twilight. Her mouth opened and closed repeatedly before she finally jogged after it.

"Master, wait for me—"

"Could we order two servings of grilled lamb chops? I'm afraid I'll eat too fast in my rush and one serving won't be enough."

"it is good."

Lilith took a deep breath, straightened her back, and strode towards the restaurant entrance.

He took two steps, then retreated.

"Master, you go first. I'll follow behind you."

Ji Tian didn't say anything, but reached out and pushed open the door.

The door hinges clicked softly, and warm yellow light spilled out from the crack, mingling with the aroma of roast meat and creamy mushroom soup, like an invisible hand pulling one's stomach away.

Lilith followed behind Ji Tian, ​​head down, counting the wood grain on the floor.

One, two, three...

A waiter's voice came from the front, perfectly warm, "Welcome to 'Golden Acorn'!"

Ji Tian walked to the front desk, his gaze sweeping across the lobby.

The hero team sat by the window. Alex had his back to the door, while Mason faced him, resting his chin on his hand and idly twirling his fingers.

Her gaze swept over Ji Tian, ​​lingered for a moment, and then moved away.

They didn't recognize Lilith, or rather, they didn't even notice her.

Lilith's heart pounded in her chest, but her steps were steady.

She followed behind Ji Tian, ​​like a chick hiding behind a hen's wings, and slowly moved to the most inconspicuous table in the corner.

Ji Tian sat down, and Lilith quickly sat down opposite him, turning her back to the direction of the hero team, her hood still on.

The waiter handed over the menu, which Ji Tian took and casually flipped through a couple of pages.

"Two orders of roasted lamb chops, one order of roasted chicken wings, two bowls of cream of mushroom soup, and plus—"

He glanced at Lilith.

Lilith peeked out from behind the menu and whispered, "Small cakes..."

"One small cake." Ji Tian closed the menu and handed it to the waiter.

"Okay, please wait a moment."

After the waiter left, Lilith lay on the table, burying her face in her arms, leaving only her purple eyes peeking out, which darted around.

"Master."

"Um?"

"Are they watching me?"

"no."

"Really not?"

"The redhead is looking at her own fingers, the dwarf is looking at the menu, the priest is reading a book, and the blond is looking out the window."

Lilith slowly exhaled, her tense shoulders relaxing a little.

"Where is that elf?"

"Not here."

Lilith lifted her head from her arms. "Oh right, you said you were one short. Where did he go?"

"have no idea."

"What if he suddenly comes back?"

Ji Tian picked up the water glass on the table and took a sip.

"Come back then."

"Master, can you please not be so calm?"

"able."

"...Then why are you so calm?"

"I'm used to it."

Lilith took a deep breath and gulped down half a cup.

The cool water went down my throat, and my heartbeat finally slowed down.

"Master."

"Um."

"You just said, 'I'll avoid his sharp edge?' — Are you genuinely unafraid of a brave person, or are you just pretending?"

Ji Tian put down his water glass and looked at her face.

"The Holy Sword is indeed special, but that doesn't mean it's invincible. A hero may have talent, but talent doesn't equal strength. I've seen too many talented people die along the way."

Although I read it online.

He paused.

"So remember, before you truly grow up, you must learn to endure."

Lilith blinked. "So you're not afraid of him because you think he hasn't matured yet?"

"No, it's simply because I know how strong I am."

Lilith opened her mouth as if to say something, but then closed it again.

She recalled the image of her master catching stars with his bare hands, the image of the red dragon being stomped into the mountain wall by him, and the confident tone in his voice when he said, "His sword may not be faster than mine."

She suddenly realized that her master wasn't bragging.

"Croak! We, master and disciple, are truly invincible!"

"Master."

"What's wrong?"

"Could you teach me that 'space jump' too?"

"Okay, you can learn it after you've mastered the Concealing Breath Technique to level three and reached Foundation Establishment."

"Foundation Building? What's that?"

"You haven't even touched the threshold yet. Even if I explained it to you, you wouldn't understand, and even if you did understand, you wouldn't have the ability to unleash your potential."

Lilith pouted, about to retort, when the waiter came over with a tray.

The aroma of roasted lamb chops wafts through the air, their golden-brown, crispy skin sprinkled with rosemary and black pepper, accompanied by soft, roasted baby potatoes and vibrant green asparagus.

Lilith's eyes lit up immediately.

She picked up her knife and fork, cut off a piece of lamb chop, put it in her mouth, chewed it twice, then closed her eyes and let out a satisfied sigh.

"Master, this is so delicious..."

"Um."

"Would you like to try a piece?"

"Need not."

"Just try one, it'll be just one piece—"

Ji Tian stared at the glistening lamb chop on her fork, remained silent for a few seconds, and then opened his mouth to eat it.

Lilith paused for a moment.

No, you really ate it!

She hadn't seen her master eat since they met, and she assumed he wouldn't eat this time either, but unexpectedly—

She looked at Ji Tian's expressionless face as he chewed, and suddenly laughed:

"Master, your expression is finally not as cold as ice when you eat."

Ji Tian did not respond.

He picked up his water glass, his gaze sweeping over Lilith's shoulder and landing on the table by the window.

Alex was cutting his steak, slowly and intently. Mason was drinking soup, Bruno was gnawing on a bone bigger than his face, and Anna was stirring her cup of hot milk with a small spoon.

everything is normal.

Ji Tian looked away, picked up his water glass, and took another sip.

"Eat faster."

"Why?" Lilith asked, her mouth full of mutton, her words muffled.

"It's nothing, I was just worried that if you ate too slowly, the small cake would melt."

Lilith looked down at the untouched cake plate; the cream was indeed slowly collapsing.

She immediately sped up, devouring the lamb chops, chicken wings, mushroom soup, and small cakes in a flash.

After finishing the last bite, she leaned back in her chair, clutched her stomach, and let out a satisfied sigh.

"Master, I'm full."