I reign supreme in the Western fantasy world for eternity.

The setting sun slanted in through the window, bathing the bookshelves and furniture in the study in a warm orange hue.

Elena sat in her study writing a reply. Sunlight streamed in through the window, casting a soft golden outline on her profile. Her pen moved slowly and gracefully across the paper.

After writing the last word, Elena folded the letter, put it in the envelope, sealed it with wax, pressed her finger on the seal for a moment to make sure it was sealed tightly, and then put it aside.

She got up and walked to the window, pushing the half-open window open even wider. The evening breeze, carrying the fragrance of flowers, rushed in and dispersed the lingering tea smoke in the room.

What would you like to eat for dinner?

"casual."

Elena turned around, leaned against the window frame, crossed her arms, and smiled helplessly in her gray-blue eyes. "You always say 'whatever.' Last time you were at the manor, I said we should have fish, and you said 'whatever,' but when the chef cooked it, you didn't touch a single piece. That's when I realized you don't like fish."

Ji Tian was silent for a moment, "...That time was during the first attempt at fasting."

Elena raised an eyebrow. "Fasting? You mean that 'no-food' cultivation you mentioned? Are you fasting now?"

She actually wanted to ask, "Why didn't you say so back then?", but then she thought that given his personality, he would definitely reply with something like, "You didn't ask either."

"It is not necessary to establish it."

"So you can eat normally?"

"able."

"What would you like to eat?"

Ji Tian thought for a moment, "Either is fine."

Elena glared at him, then turned and walked towards the door. "I'm going to the kitchen to give some instructions. You... never mind, do whatever you want, just don't mess up my study."

"Um."

The sound of footsteps gradually faded away in the corridor.

Ji Tian stood still and looked around the study. There were several more rows of books on the bookshelves than when he last came, mostly books on magic theory, general history of the continent, and introductory Elvish.

The asparagus fern on the windowsill has grown quite a bit, its delicate leaves swaying gently in the evening breeze.

The desk drawer was half-open, revealing a corner of a letter—Elena's unfinished reply.

He walked over and gently closed the drawer to prevent the envelope from being blown away by the wind. He inadvertently glanced at a piece of parchment pressed under the corner of the table. It was covered with writing, written in delicate handwriting, which was Elena's handwriting.

He shouldn't have looked, but his gaze was already fixed on the first few words:

"Introduction Guide to the Wind Spirit Moon Shadow Sect (Draft)"

The content is quite long and categorized.

From how to get to the sect and what items to prepare, to the sect's rules, daily routines, and training course arrangements... even details such as "whether the food in the dining hall suits your taste" and "whether you need to bring your own bedding" are written down.

The handwriting showed signs of alteration, with some paragraphs crossed out and rewritten, and small arrows drawn in some places, marked "to be verified".

Ji Tian gently placed the parchment back in its original place, his face expressionless, but his fingers lingered on the edge of the table for a moment.

When did she write it? And if she did, why did she keep declining my invitations?

He recalled how Elena had always refused him in various ways when he was teaching her cultivation.

Now it seems that she was afraid of implicating him, afraid that his sect hidden in the mountains would be targeted by other forces.

Of course, Elena didn't know her own strength at that time.

He turned and walked out of the study.

The kitchen was on the first floor of the main building. As Ji Tian walked through the corridor, he encountered a maid carrying a stack of clean napkins.

The maid bowed her head in greeting, and he nodded slightly before continuing to walk forward.

As I approached the kitchen door, I heard the sounds of a knife cutting on a cutting board and the slight clinking of a spatula as it was being turned over.

He didn't go inside, but his divine sense detected that the other person was personally cooking:

The oil in the pan sizzled as it hit the food; Elena muttered to herself, "Too much salt"; the clinking of bowls and plates...

About half an hour later, Elena came out carrying a tray with two bowls of rice, a plate of stir-fried vegetables, a bowl of mushroom soup, and a plate of braised pork that didn't look very appetizing.

She saw Ji Tian standing at the door and paused for a moment.

"How long have you been standing here?"

"Just arrived."

"You're lying." Elena walked past him. "Let's go to a restaurant. It's too smoky here. Try my cooking."

For some reason, she wanted to cook a meal for Ji Tian herself, perhaps to prove that she was no longer the bookish young lady she once was.

The restaurant was small, with a square table and two chairs. The two people sat facing each other, and the light made the dishes on the table look warm and inviting.

Elena picked up a piece of braised pork and put it into Ji Tian's bowl. "Try it. I made it the way it's written in the book, but it might not taste right."

Ji Tian picked up a piece of meat, put it in his mouth, and chewed it a couple of times.

"How is it?"

"It's too salty."

As expected, he lived up to his reputation.

Elena sighed. "...Can't you say something nicer?"

"tasty."

She picked up her bowl, covering the smile that she couldn't help but let out.

After dinner, it was completely dark. Ji Tian helped clean up the dishes and was then chased out of the kitchen by Elena.

"You're a guest, so you can leave these things to someone else."

Ji Tian wanted to say "I'm not a guest," but then felt something was off and didn't say it.

After dinner, the two strolled along the path behind the manor to digest their food.

Under the bright moonlight, the crooked old oak tree looked like a giant umbrella spread out in the night, its newly sprouted branches swaying gently in the evening breeze.

Elena asked, "What are your plans for tomorrow?"

"no."

"Then will you help me prepare some things we'll need for the journey to the capital?"

"it is good."

"Then..." she paused, "I want to visit your sect."

Ji Tian turned his head to look at her.

Elena didn't avoid his gaze. Her eyes shone brightly in the moonlight, like two pools of autumn water rippling in the wind. "You've taken on several disciples. I have to go and see what kind of people they are. What if you make a mess of the sect? I..."

She turned her face away. "I was the first person to teach you to read, so I have a responsibility to supervise you."

Ji Tian looked at her for a few seconds and then hummed in agreement.

They stood under the old oak tree for a while, and no one spoke.

The night breeze blew in from the fields, carrying the scent of earth and grass.

"Elena".

"Um?"

"Would you like to... visit the village where I grew up?"

Elena paused for a moment, "That village?"

"Hmm." Ji Tian gazed at the dark fields in the distance. "Although there's not much to see, I can take you if you want to."

Elena didn't answer immediately. She lowered her head and gently stroked the edge of her skirt with her fingers. After a while, she spoke, her voice very soft, as if afraid of disturbing the chirping of insects in the night wind.

"Okay, lead the way... no, let's do it tomorrow, I need to prepare."

Ji Tian nodded and turned to walk back.

Elena followed behind him, walking a beat slower than him, always keeping a distance that was neither too close nor too far.

The moonlight cast their shadows on the ground, so close together that it was almost impossible to tell who was who.