Ark Simulator, don't I have no physical form?

Looking at Enya like this, the immense shame he felt from "crouching down with his head in his hands" seemed to fade considerably. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but in the end, he only nodded, his voice somewhat muffled, and replied:

"...Okay. Got it."

Enya looked at him, still somewhat awkward but finally no longer burying his face in his hands, and the smile in her eyes deepened. She withdrew her hand, turned, and walked towards the interior of the temple, leaving behind only a slightly weary but still gentle sentence that drifted into the cold air:

"Go change your clothes and warm up. I'll go prepare something hot."

Su Rui stood there, watching Enya's thin saintly robes, which looked somewhat frail in the dim light, gradually disappear into the shadows deep within the temple. The heavy weight that had been hanging over her heart because of her not returning home all night and the "thrilling" meeting just now finally fell to the ground.

He raised his hand and touched the top of his head where Enya had just rubbed it; the cool, gentle touch seemed to linger there. Then, he remembered his utterly embarrassing "head-covering, crouching defensively" posture from just moments before…

Su Rui's ears turned red again, uncontrollably.

He shook his head, forcibly suppressing the shame, and started walking towards his room. His steps, however, seemed much lighter than when he had rushed back.

Outside the temple, under the leaden sky, tiny snowflakes began to fall, swirling and enveloping the snow-capped mountain and the temple in a tranquil, pure white.

The living quarters deep within the temple were slightly warmer than the entrance. The fireplace, rekindled sometime earlier, crackled with dry pine wood, emitting a warm, bright glow and a pleasant aroma of resin that dispelled the winter chill and bathed the small space in a cozy glow.

Suri changed out of his snow- and cement-stained coat and into clean, comfortable casual clothes. He sat on a low stool by the fireplace, holding a steaming cup of herbal tea that Enya had just handed him. The warm, slightly bitter liquid slid down his throat, bringing a wave of warmth and seemingly dispelling the last trace of chill he had brought in from outside, as well as the lingering tension from the "thrilling" experience at the door.

Enya sat on a cushion a little further away from him, holding a cup of the same herbal tea in her hands. She didn't look at him, but instead lowered her eyes slightly, watching the rising steam from the cup, seemingly lost in thought. The flickering firelight cast a warm, golden-red glow on her silver-white hair and long eyelashes, making her delicate profile appear even softer in the light and shadow, yet also carrying an indescribable, quiet serenity, as if she were deep in thought.

The temple was quiet, save for the crackling of the burning wood in the fireplace and the occasional soft sips of tea from the two people. The air was filled with the scents of pine, herbs, and a faint, uniquely Enya-esque coolness, blending into a comforting, homely aroma.

Suri sipped her tea slowly, but her gaze involuntarily drifted towards Enya across from her.

Enya seemed to have completely calmed down. The coldness and anger she had shown at the door were gone from her face, replaced by her usual gentle calmness, even appearing exceptionally soft and beautiful in the firelight. But Suri felt that Enya didn't seem to have completely "forgiven" him. Or rather, she seemed to be thinking about something else.

Was it because he didn't come home at night? But Yera had already relayed the message, and he had explained it clearly. Was it because he was getting too close to Encia? But she was her sister; wasn't it what she wanted to see him taking care of Encia and comforting her?

Su Rui felt uncertain. He recalled Enya's reaction at the door earlier—that cold, oppressive gaze, those tightly pursed lips, that approaching aura... It wasn't just about worrying about his safety if he didn't come home that night. There seemed to be other, more complex emotions mixed in, which he couldn't fully understand at the moment.

Just as Suri was pondering to herself, hesitating whether to say or do something else to completely "appease" Enya—

Enya suddenly put down her teacup. The white porcelain cup touched the low wooden table, making a soft, crisp sound that was particularly clear in the quiet room.

Su Rui's heart skipped a beat at the sound. He instinctively straightened his back and looked at Enya.

Enya raised her eyes, her brown eyes, like the warm winter sun, now reflecting the flickering firelight, appearing exceptionally deep. Her gaze calmly fell on Su Rui's face, and after a moment, she spoke slowly. Her voice was as gentle as ever, but Su Rui keenly sensed a barely perceptible, indescribable... bitterness, or rather, some kind of... unease, hidden beneath that gentleness.

Volume 18, Chapter 1227: Territorial Consciousness

“Sia, she…” Enya paused, as if choosing her words carefully, “She seems to be very close to you.”

This statement is less of a statement and more of a confirmation with a hint of probing, or the beginning of a certain emotion.

Suri paused for a moment, then nodded and answered honestly, "Yes. She's very lively, and also... dependent on you. She was very happy to receive your postcard." He paused, then added, "She's very sensible, but... misses you a lot."

When her sister was mentioned, a flicker of tenderness and heartache crossed Enya's eyes, but that tenderness was quickly replaced by a more complex emotion. Her gaze remained fixed on Su Rui's face, as if carefully observing every subtle expression on his face when he mentioned Enya.

“I know she misses me.” Enya’s voice lowered almost imperceptibly. “I…miss her too.”

She lowered her gaze slightly, her long eyelashes casting a small shadow beneath her eyelids, concealing the turbulent emotions surging within her eyes. After a moment, she raised her eyes again, looking at Su Rui, her tone becoming clearer, and more…direct, carrying an unquestionable, elder sisterly authority, and a hint of…undisguised concern:

“But, Suri.”

She called his name, her voice soft, yet it inexplicably made Su Rui's heart tighten.

“Sia…she’s not a clueless child anymore,” Enya said slowly, her gaze calm yet seemingly piercing. “She…should have already guessed.”

Guessed it? Guessed what?

After an initial moment of confusion, Suri's mind quickly processed what was going on. Enya was referring to... the relationship between him and Enya that went beyond that of a typical "saint" and "guardian" (or "cohabitant"), a relationship that was more intimate and more difficult to describe...

Suri's ears burned uncontrollably once again. He recalled the night before, when Enxia had asked him with a mischievous smile in the greenhouse, "Does Brother Suri like Sister?" That quirky girl... had indeed... likely already sensed something. The way she looked at him, with its inquisitive, knowing, and teasing gaze, was definitely not the look one would give to an ordinary "messenger" or "Sister's friend."

“She…” Suri opened her mouth, wanting to explain, but didn’t know how. To say that Encia hadn’t guessed? That would be self-deception. To say that Encia had guessed but didn’t care? That didn’t seem… what Encia wanted to hear either.

“I know, Sia is smart and sensitive.” Enya picked up where Suri left off. Her voice remained calm, but Suri could detect a barely perceptible tension. “But that’s why I feel…not quite right.”

"Not good?" Suri repeated subconsciously, looking at Enya with some confusion.

Enya looked into Suri's questioning black eyes, and the complex emotions in her heart rippled like a stone thrown into a lake. Something wasn't right… something wasn't right? Was it the feeling that if Siya knew, it would make her, as the older sister, uncomfortable? Or was it the feeling that… Suri and Siya were too close, making her feel… uneasy?

Enya herself couldn't explain it. She just felt that when she heard Suri speak in such a calm tone about how close and dependent Sia was on him (although it stemmed from his longing for her), and even how he stayed out all night to be with Sia, that subtle, territorial feeling that had been temporarily suppressed due to worry quietly resurfaced in her heart.

Sia was her younger sister, the person she loved most. Suri… was someone special to her. She hoped they could both be well, but… she didn't want to see them "too close," especially since Sia likely already suspected her relationship with Suri. That would make her feel… a little awkward, a little… an indescribable unease.

“She’s still young.” Enya finally gave a somewhat far-fetched reason that even she herself couldn’t convince, but her tone carried an undeniable insistence. “Some things are not appropriate to be exposed to too early. Besides… I am a saintess, and she is a young lady of the Shivaesh family. Some boundaries need to be clearly defined.”

Looking at Enya's calm demeanor, yet with a barely perceptible hint of bitterness and determination in her eyes, Su Rui seemed to vaguely understand something. What Enya cared about was perhaps not just that Enxia had "guessed" it, but more so the overly natural, even dependent, intimacy between Enxia and "him" that had crossed a certain... implicit boundary in her heart.

She was jealous. Not the intense, possessive kind of jealousy, but a more subtle kind, carrying the authority of an older sister and a delicate maintenance of a certain "exclusive" relationship... a concern.

This realization stirred a strange emotion within Su Rui, a mixture of helplessness, amusement, and a hint of... a secret sweetness he himself hadn't even noticed. It turned out that even someone as calm and gentle as Enya could have such a "calculating" side.

“I understand.” Suri nodded, his voice softening slightly, carrying a reassuring tone. “I’ll be more careful in the future.” He didn’t explain or argue; he simply and almost obediently gave his promise. He knew that explaining or arguing at this moment would only intensify the subtle emotions in Enya’s heart. It was better to go along with her wishes and put her at ease.

Hearing Suri's almost submissive promise, the stubbornness and bitterness in Enya's eyes seemed to dissipate somewhat. But the lingering unease in her heart hadn't completely disappeared. She knew Suri hadn't done anything wrong, in fact, she had done a very good job, taking care of and comforting her sister. But she still... wanted to see Siya with her own eyes, wanted to confirm some things personally, wanted... to make Siya understand certain boundaries in a more "formal" way.

But… she was a saintess. As a saintess of the Manju Academy, her movements were subject to many restrictions; she couldn't leave the sacred mountain at will, much less descend to the Shivaish Manor to see her sister. This was a long-standing, hidden pain in her heart.

A sense of powerlessness and a faint melancholy welled up in Enya's heart. She lowered her eyes slightly, looking at the tea in the cup that had stopped steaming, her fingertips unconsciously stroking the warm cup.

“I want to... see Sia in person.” Enya’s voice was soft, carrying a hint of bittersweet longing and the helplessness of her status as a saintess. “But... I can’t go down the mountain.”

She spoke these words very softly, as if she were talking to herself. But the longing and helplessness contained within them were clearly conveyed.

Volume 18, Chapter 1228: Finding a way to lure people up the mountain

Looking at Enya's lowered profile, in the firelight, the shadows cast by her long eyelashes beneath her eyelids seemed to carry a hint of melancholy. His heart ached slightly, as if pricked by something.

He wanted to say something to comfort Enya, to say that he could go to Shivaesh's house again, to deliver a message, to... but he also knew that none of these could replace the sisters seeing each other. What Enya wanted to see was her sister in person, not processed words and emotions conveyed through him as a "messenger."

Just as Su Rui was pondering how to comfort Enya, who was clearly in low spirits, a cool, calm voice, seemingly devoid of any emotion, suddenly rang out at the doorway:

"Why won't you let her come up the mountain to see you?"

The sound appeared without warning, as if it had appeared out of thin air, breaking the slightly dull silence in the room.

Suri and Enya were both startled and turned their heads sharply to look at the doorway.

Suddenly, a figure appeared silently at the entrance to the temple's living quarters.

Yeragand, or rather, the enigmatic being possessing Yeragand's appearance and power, stood there silently. She still wore that simple, ancient white robe that seemed to blend seamlessly with the snow-capped mountains, her long silver hair flowing like moonlight down her back. She was barefoot, her feet treading on the cold, smooth stone surface, yet she seemed to feel no chill. Her exquisite face was expressionless, her golden eyes calm and still, like ancient, unchanging snow-capped peaks, silently watching the two people in the room.

When did she arrive? How long has she been standing there? Suri and Enya were completely unaware!

A fleeting unease crossed Enya's face, as if her hidden thoughts had been exposed. But she quickly regained her composure, though a lingering melancholy remained in her eyes. She looked at Yera, gently shook her head, and said with a hint of helplessness, "Lady Yera, Shia is a young lady of the Shivaesh family. The Manju Academy... will not allow her to freely ascend the Holy Mountain, much less allow her to come to the temple to see me."

These are the rules, the constraints, and the helplessness she felt as a saintess.

Yera's golden eyes calmly fell on Enya's face, seemingly seeing through the helplessness and longing beneath her composed surface. She paused for a moment, then, in her usual calm and even tone, uttered words that stunned both Suri and Enya:

“Rules are chains that bind the living and believers.” Yera’s voice was like a cold wind blowing across a snow-capped mountain. “Perhaps it is so for you, for me, and for Manju Academy.”

Her gaze shifted slightly, landing on Su Rui, who was somewhat stunned by her sudden appearance and her astonishing words.

“But for him,” Yera said, her tone flat and even, as if stating a simple fact, “that is not the case.”

Suri: "...?"

Enya was also taken aback for a moment, then seemed to understand something, a glint of light flashing in her eyes, but it was quickly replaced by doubt: "Suri... he is indeed not bound by the rules of the Manju Academy. But, Lady Yela, do you mean... to let Suri take Sia up the mountain? This... is too dangerous. The Holy Mountain is treacherous, and the night is even more dangerous. Moreover, how can we avoid the Manju Academy's eyes and ears?"

Yera looked at Enya, a barely perceptible hint of knowing, like "You knew you'd ask that," flashing in her golden eyes. Her gaze then turned to Suri, her calm, unwavering eyes sending a strange sense of pressure through Suri.

“Danger is the norm for him, not an obstacle,” Yela’s voice remained calm. “As for the Manju Academy’s spies…”

She paused slightly, as if pondering or sensing something. Then, she raised one hand, palm up. A faint, almost invisible icy blue light gathered in her palm, swirled, and then rapidly expanded, transforming into a soft, almost transparent icy blue halo that enveloped her, Suri, and Enya.

Suri immediately sensed a subtle shift in the flow of the surrounding air, an indescribable stillness, as if isolated from the outside world, enveloping the area they were in. He could even feel the vast and icy aura emanating from Yera, the aura of an ancient deity, though only a trace, enough to make any perceptive being subconsciously ignore this area.

“I can temporarily conceal the presence and movement of this area.” Yera withdrew her hand, and the icy blue aura dissipated as if it had never existed. Her voice remained calm and even, as if she had only done something insignificant. “As long as he acts quickly and discreetly enough, bringing the person up the mountain and here before dawn, the people of Manju Academy will not notice.”

Suri and Enya were both briefly rendered speechless by Yella's seemingly casual yet almost miraculous method.

Let Suri, under Yera's "cover," sneak into Shivaish Manor, bring Enshia up the Holy Mountain, avoid the eyes and ears of Manju Academy, and send her to the temple to meet Enshia.

This proposal sounds absolutely insane, fraught with uncertainty and risk. But... it was Yeragand who made it. She was (and perhaps still is) the guardian deity of this land. Her saying so implies she has considerable confidence.

Enya's heart pounded wildly at Yera's suggestion. To see Sia in person! Not in a dream, not in a memory, not through letters or others' accounts, but truly, vividly, seeing her living, breathing, laughing and playing sister! The temptation was too great for her.

But reason told her it was too risky. For Suri, sneaking into Shiva's house in the dead of night, taking Ensia away, then leading her up the treacherous sacred mountain while avoiding potential patrols and dangers... the risks were self-evident. And what if they were discovered by Shiva's family, or by Manjusaka...?

Enya looked at Suri, her eyes filled with struggle. She longed to see her sister, but she was absolutely unwilling to put Suri in danger.

Suri looked at Enya and saw the longing, struggle, and worry in her eyes. He then looked at Yera, whose golden eyes were calm and still, as if she were simply waiting for an answer.

Sneaking into Shiva's house in the dead of night, taking Encia away, and then taking her to the Holy Mountain… it certainly sounds crazy and dangerous. But… Suri remembered the barely perceptible loneliness and longing in Encia's eyes when she mentioned her sister. She remembered Encia's innocent face, clutching her sister's postcard, laughing and crying at the same time. She remembered the deep affection between the sisters, so strong yet so weak, separated by their social status and social rules.

Volume 18, Chapter 1229: Risk? Just a minor accident.

Risk? Hasn't he experienced enough? Besides, with Yera's "cover"... perhaps it really is worth a try?

Suri took a deep breath, and under Enya's struggling and worried gaze, and under Yera's calm and unwavering stare, she slowly spoke, her voice not loud, but exceptionally clear:

"I...can give it a try."

Night had fallen. The winter sky over Kjerag was as black as ink, devoid of moonlight, save for a few sparse, cold stars that stubbornly shone faintly through the gaps in the thick clouds. The wind howled, whipping up the snow that swirled and whirled along the deserted streets and the cobblestone paths of the manor, making a mournful sound.

Shivaish Manor, a building that appears austere and imposing even by day, lies silently at the foot of the mountain like a slumbering beast in the deep darkness of night. Inside, apart from a few dim wall lamps for essential lighting, most areas are shrouded in a slumbering darkness and silence. The patrolling guards, wrapped tightly in thick coats, trudge along their designated routes, their heavy, rhythmic footsteps echoing through the snow, their shadows stretched long in the dim lamplight.

A shadow, deeper and more agile than the night, emerged silently from the shadows on the outskirts of the manor, like a ghost blending into the darkness. It evaded the sight of the patrolling guards and the manor's overt and covert surveillance, deftly vaulting over the cold iron fence and landing on the soft snow inside the manor without making a sound.

Upon landing, Suri (in snow leopard form) immediately crouched low, his silvery-white fur almost blending into the surrounding snow. Only his black eyes, sharp as stars even in the darkness, warily scanned his surroundings. Based on his memories from the day, he quickly located the annex where Enshia's bedroom was situated. Then, like a true snow leopard, he moved silently and swiftly towards his target, using the shadows of the building and the carefully trimmed bushes in the courtyard as cover.

The night breeze carried the crisp scent of pine needles and snow, as well as the faint, damp earthy aroma of greenhouse plants from the depths of the manor. Suri's senses were heightened in the darkness; he could hear not only the rhythmic footsteps of the guards in the distance, but also his own steady, soft breathing and the firm, powerful beating of his heart in his chest.

The manor, seemingly beautiful and peaceful by day, sheds its glamorous exterior at night, revealing its formidable defenses. But for Su Rui, who had survived in far more dangerous and complex environments, these defenses were not foolproof. Like a predator in the darkness, he precisely located the gaps in the guards' patrols and the blind spots in the surveillance, swiftly approaching the annex along the trail of shadows.

Enshia's bedroom was on the second floor of the annex, with a small balcony facing the courtyard. Suri had noticed the layout there when he left during the day. Now, that small balcony became the perfect route for his infiltration.

Like a silent silver lightning bolt, he swiftly climbed the exquisite reliefs and decorative lines on the annex wall, his movements light and agile, without alerting any alarm system. In a few leaps, he landed silently on the small balcony covered with a thin layer of snow.

The balcony's floor-to-ceiling windows were tightly closed, with heavy velvet curtains drawn from the inside, covering everything completely. Only a tiny, extremely faint glow, seemingly from a bedside nightlight, peeked through the gaps.

Su Rui transformed back into human form, held her breath, and pressed her ear against the cold glass, listening intently. Inside the room, there was only the sound of even, shallow breathing; someone was clearly asleep. Otherwise, all was silent.

He cautiously tried pushing the French windows. They weren't locked. This was probably a sign that Encia, as a well-protected young lady, lacked sufficient vigilance at home, or perhaps... a subconscious expectation of some "unexpected visitor"? Suri didn't think too much about it, but simply breathed a slight sigh of relief.

He checked again to make sure there was nothing unusual around him, then, extremely slowly and silently, he pushed the French windows open just enough for one person to pass through. A cold wind immediately rushed in through the crack, carrying the chill of the outside. Su Rui sidestepped nimbly and slipped inside, then immediately turned back and closed the French windows again, blocking the cold wind from entering.

The room was much warmer than outside, filled with a sweet, cozy scent of flowers and fruits—the kind of aroma typical of a young girl's bedroom. By the soft, dim light of the cute little nightlight by the bedside, Su Rui could make out the room's layout.

Just as he had left during the day, the room was spacious, luxurious, and filled with soft fabrics and exquisite furnishings. A small arched shape adorned the enormous princess bed. Encia lay on her side, curled up in the soft down comforter, only half her fair face and a few strands of golden hair visible on the pillow. She seemed to be fast asleep, completely unaware of the unexpected guest in the room.

Suri tiptoed silently to the bedside. Looking at Enxia's unguarded sleeping face, a pang of guilt swept through him. Disturbing a young girl's sleep was always impolite. But thinking of Enxia's brown eyes, brimming with longing and expectation, he took a deep breath, bent down, and gently patted Enxia's shoulder, which was exposed outside the blanket.

"Ensia... wake up." Su Rui's voice was very low, almost breathy, as if afraid of disturbing the tranquility of the night.

In her sleep, Enxia seemed to feel a touch on her shoulder. She groaned unconsciously, turned over, buried her face deeper into the pillow, and did not wake up.

Suri had no choice but to increase the pressure slightly and pat her shoulder again, while raising her voice a little, but still keeping it within the range that wouldn't carry out of the room: "Ensia, wake up, it's me, Suri."

This time, Encia seemed to hear. Her long eyelashes fluttered a few times, and her brows furrowed slightly, as if she was unhappy to be awakened from a sweet dream. Then, slowly, still heavy with sleep, she opened her blue eyes, which were as if they were veiled by mist.

At first, her eyes were blank and unfocused, clearly still immersed in sleep. But as her blurry vision gradually focused, and she saw the figure leaning closer to her bedside—a figure that appeared somewhat indistinct in the dim light but whose outline was familiar—her brain seemed to freeze instantly.

Brother Suri? Why would Brother Suri appear by her bedside in the middle of the night?! Was it a dream? No, the touch on her shoulder was real! The presence of another person in the room was real too!

Volume 18, Chapter 1230: Don't Be Afraid

A wave of shock and confusion washed over Encia like a bucket of cold water, instantly dispelling all her sleepiness. Her eyes snapped open, pupils contracting in shock. The next second, a short, horrified gasp escaped her throat, and her mouth opened uncontrollably, about to unleash a scream that would shatter the roof—

Just as the scream was about to escape her lips, Su Rui reacted swiftly, reaching out to cover Enxia's mouth!

"Ugh—!" Encia's scream was choked in her throat, turning into a muffled groan. Her eyes widened, filled with terror, confusion, and deep bewilderment, and her body instinctively tried to struggle.

"Shh—! It's me, Suri! Don't be afraid!" Suri whispered rapidly in Encia's ear, his voice low and urgent, while gently pressing down on her struggling shoulder with his other hand, trying to calm her down. He could feel Encia's soft, warm lips beneath his palm, but they were trembling slightly with shock and fear. Her blue eyes, wide open in the dim light, were like those of a frightened fawn.

Suri kept her hand over her mouth, her gaze fixed on her eyes, and in as calm and reassuring a tone as possible, whispered again, "It's me, Suri. Don't be afraid, I won't hurt you. Look closely, it's me."

Perhaps it was Su Rui's voice that had an effect, or perhaps Enxia finally recovered from her initial shock and recognized that the person in front of her was indeed Su Rui. The fear in her eyes receded quickly like a tide, replaced by deep confusion and bewilderment. She stopped struggling, simply staring unblinkingly at Su Rui with her large, still questioning eyes, as if asking with her gaze: Brother Su Rui? Is it really you? How did you get here? And...and covered my mouth?

Seeing that she seemed to have calmed down, Su Rui slowly released her hand from her mouth, but still kept leaning close, and quickly explained in a low voice, "I'm sorry for waking you up this way. I scared you."

Enxia took a few deep breaths, trying to calm her heart, which was pounding wildly from the shock. She looked at Su Rui, then at the closed door and curtains, and finally her gaze settled on Su Rui's face. In a voice equally low, filled with lingering fear and unease, she whispered, "Brother Su... Su Rui? Is it really you? You... why are you in my room in the middle of the night? Is... is something wrong? My sister...?"

When "older sister" was mentioned, Eunsia's voice immediately became tense, and her eyes were filled with worry.