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

“Enya is fine.” Suri immediately shook her head and reassured her, “She wanted to see you.”

"Sister wants to see me?" Enxia was taken aback, then her eyes flashed with an astonishing light, but it was quickly replaced by confusion. "But...sister is a saintess, she can't come down the mountain, can she? And it's so late now..."

“So, I’m here to take you up.” Suri said succinctly, looking calmly at Ensia. “Now, immediately, secretly. Lady Yela will help cover our tracks, but we must be quick, and bring you back before dawn.”

Encia's mind went blank again after Suri's information-packed words. Her sister wanted to see her; her brother Suri had sneaked into her room in the middle of the night to take her to the Holy Mountain to see her sister; Lady Yela had helped, and they would be brought back before dawn…

In just a few seconds, Encia quickly processed this information and understood its meaning and... its unparalleled allure! To see her sister! Immediately! Right now! Not through letters, not through someone else's relay, but by truly seeing her living, breathing sister!

A tremendous surprise exploded in her heart like fireworks, instantly dispelling all confusion, fear, and lingering sleepiness. A radiant smile, almost illuminating the entire dimly lit room, bloomed on her face, her blue eyes sparkling with excitement, exhilaration, and eager anticipation.

"Really?! Brother Su Rui! We can go see Sister?! Right now?!" Enxia's voice rose slightly with excitement, but she immediately realized she couldn't be loud, so she quickly covered her mouth, leaving only her incredibly bright eyes staring intently at Su Rui, eagerly awaiting confirmation.

“Yes, now.” Suri nodded, watching her transform from a frightened deer to an excited and joyful girl, a barely perceptible smile flickering in her eyes. “But we must leave immediately, and we must be extremely careful not to alert anyone. Can you… manage?”

"Yes! Of course!" Enxia nodded without hesitation, deftly throwing off the covers and leaping off the bed. She didn't even bother to put on shoes, her bare feet landing on the soft carpet. She was only wearing a thin nightgown, and her long, golden hair was slightly disheveled over her shoulders from her excitement and movement, but she didn't care. She just looked anxiously at Su Rui: "Brother Su Rui, which way do we go? What should I bring? Change my clothes? Bring a gift for my sister?"

Seeing her eagerness to rush out the door, Su Rui felt a little helpless, but mostly understanding. He pressed down on Enxia's shoulders, who was so excited she was almost flustered, and whispered, "Don't bring anything. Put on your thickest coat and boots, move quietly, and come with me."

Encia nodded vigorously, then rushed to the dressing room and, as quickly as possible, put on her thickest down jacket, thermal pants, and snow boots. She even grabbed a thick wool scarf and haphazardly wrapped it around her neck. Throughout the entire process, she made almost no sound, her movements so swift that she was completely unlike a pampered young lady.

Once ready, Ensia returned to Suri with bright, sparkling eyes, like a little warrior preparing for battle, silently signaling with her gaze: I'm ready!

Looking at her fully armed appearance, with only half of her excited face showing, Su Rui nodded. He checked the commotion outside again, then gestured for Enxia to follow, and led the way to the French windows on the balcony.

The two left the bedroom silently and returned to the cold balcony. A gust of cold wind immediately hit their faces, and Enxia couldn't help but shiver slightly, but the excitement in her eyes did not diminish in the slightest.

"Hold me tight," Su Rui whispered, transforming into her agile snow leopard form before Enshia could react. Her silvery-white fur gleamed in the darkness, and her sleek body exuded power.

Enshia looked at the magnificent snow leopard before her, a hint of amazement flashing in her eyes, but even more so, trust. Without the slightest hesitation, she stepped forward, stretched out her arms, and tightly embraced the snow leopard's neck, burying her face in its thick, warm fur.

Volume 18, Chapter 1231: Disregarding martial ethics, launching a sneak attack.

Suri felt Encia's embrace and no longer hesitated. He leaped from the balcony like a silver lightning bolt, landing lightly on the soft snow of the courtyard below, making almost no sound. Then, using the shadows and terrain as cover, he swiftly and stealthily made his way towards the outskirts of the manor, following the route he had taken.

Enshia clung tightly to Suri's neck, pressing her body against his warm back. She could feel the undulations of the snow leopard's muscles as it ran beneath her, hear the wind whistling past her ears, and see the scenery rushing past on either side. Tension, excitement, and an indescribable thrill—a feeling of being on a grand adventure—filled her chest, almost making her gasp. But remembering Suri's warning, she bit her lip hard, suppressing all her excitement.

Everything was going smoothly. Like a ghost in the night, Suri perfectly evaded the patrolling guards and possible surveillance, and was about to reach the iron fence surrounding the manor. Once she climbed over, the area outside would be relatively safe.

Just then, something unexpected happened!

Just before Suri was about to leap onto the fence, a sharp whooshing sound suddenly shot out from the dark bushes on the side! The target was Suri's (snow leopard form) forelimbs!

That wasn't an arrow, but a small, yet incredibly powerful, diamond-shaped dart! In the dim light, it gleamed with a cold, metallic gleam, moving with lightning speed and striking a cunning and ruthless angle!

Su Rui's pupils suddenly contracted! A sense of crisis surged through his body like an electric current! In the nick of time, he displayed astonishing reaction speed and body coordination. His forward momentum abruptly stopped, his waist twisted to the side at an incredible angle, and at the same time, he used his hind legs to propel his entire body half a foot to the side!

"laugh--!"

The sharp dart grazed the fur on Su Rui's forelegs, catching a few strands of severed silver-white hair, before embedding itself deeply into the trunk of a large pine tree behind him with a "thud," its tail still trembling slightly and emitting a low hum.

That was close! If Su Rui hadn't reacted so quickly, that dart would have rendered him incapacitated instantly!

The attack missed, and from the dark thicket came a barely audible "Eh?" tinged with surprise. Then, a tall, agile figure, exuding power and a dangerous aura, emerged slowly from the shadows like a ghost.

The moonlight (though faint) just happened to pierce through the clouds at that moment, casting a few rays of light that illuminated the face and figure of the person who came.

A dark, form-fitting outfit accentuated her sleek, explosive physique. Her short, neat hair fluttered slightly in the night breeze. Her cold, handsome face was sharply defined, as if sculpted by a knife. Her piercing eyes, like those of a predator on its hunt, were fixed on Su Rui and Enxia, ​​who was clinging to his back. In her hand, two equally gleaming, diamond-shaped darts had appeared, twirling nimbly between her fingers with a nonchalant yet deadly beauty.

It is the mace. The chief guard of the Shivaesh family, one of SilverAsh's most trusted right-hand men, and also a well-known strongman in Kjerag.

Su Rui's heart sank. He hadn't expected to encounter Jian here. Moreover, judging from Jian's appearance, he had clearly already discovered their presence and was deliberately waiting here, or rather... intercepting them.

Enxia saw Jian too. Her arms, which were wrapped around Su Rui's neck, tightened instantly, and her body stiffened. She recognized Jian; she knew she was one of her brother's most capable and stern men. Now, being stopped by Jian, especially while "sneaking away," immense tension and fear gripped her instantly.

Jian's gaze first swept sharply over Su Rui (in his snow leopard form), especially lingering for a moment on the petite figure on his back, whose outline was still vaguely discernible despite being wrapped up tightly. Then, her gaze fell upon Su Rui's black eyes, which remained calm and sharp even in his beast form.

She seemed to recognize Su Rui. The sharpness and murderous intent in her eyes receded quickly like a tide, but what replaced it was not relaxation, but a deeper, more scrutinizing, and playful coldness. She stopped playing with the dart in her hand; the diamond-shaped dart remained still at her fingertips, its cold light gleaming.

“It’s you.” Jian’s voice was low and calm, revealing no emotion, but in the silent, cold night, it carried an invisible sense of oppression. “Snow Leopard… or rather, Su Rui.”

She didn't address him as "Mr. Su Rui" or any other honorific title; she simply called him by his name calmly, with an air of treating him as an equal, and even a hint of scrutiny.

Suri remained in snow leopard form, not immediately reverting to human. He slowly turned around, facing Jian directly, and tightened his grip on Enshia on his back. He lowered his body slightly, letting out a low, warning growl from his throat. His black beastly eyes gleamed with a wary and cold light in the darkness, meeting Jian's gaze without fear.

The air seemed to freeze at that moment. A cold wind howled past, stirring up snowflakes that lashed at the two men (a leopard and a human), but neither moved. The tense atmosphere was like a taut bowstring, ready to snap at any moment.

Enxia clung to Suri's back, holding her breath in nervousness. She could feel the tension in Suri's muscles and the powerful, icy aura emanating from him, a aura that seemed to freeze one's blood. She didn't know what to do, so she could only hold Suri tightly, burying her face in his thick fur, her heart filled with fear of the unknown and worry about whether she would ever see her sister again.

Jian's gaze swept back and forth between Su Rui's wary beastly eyes and Enshia, whom he was protecting behind him, several times. Her brows furrowed almost imperceptibly, as if she were pondering something. In the dead of night, Su Rui, in his snow leopard form, was attempting to leave the manor with Enshia, who had clearly sneaked out... This was by no means a normal situation.

“I need an explanation.” Jian spoke again, her voice still calm, but the invisible pressure was even heavier. She didn’t act immediately, seemingly giving Suri a chance. Or rather, she recognized Suri and, based on some judgment (perhaps Suri’s special relationship with SilverAsh and Enya, or perhaps her assessment of Suri’s strength), didn’t immediately consider him a threat that had to be eliminated. But as the head of the Shiva Ash family’s guards, her duty prevented her from simply letting them leave.

Volume 18, Chapters 1232: Behold my control skills!

An explanation? Suri's mind raced. Tell the truth? Tell Jian that Enya wanted to see her sister, so she sent him to "steal" her? That sounded absurd and could get Enya into trouble. Make up a reason? What reason could possibly justify him secretly taking Enya away from the manor in the middle of the night?

Time was of the essence; every second of delay increased the risk of discovery. Yera's concealment was not foolproof, and dawn was fast approaching.

Su Rui's gaze met Jian's cold, scrutinizing eyes, eyes that seemed to see through everything. He saw the calmness and sharpness in Jian's eyes, and also the unwavering determination of a strong person. Force his way in? He wasn't confident he could subdue Jian quickly without alerting anyone else, especially with Enshia in tow. Persuade him? There didn't seem to be a suitable reason.

In the midst of this tense standoff, a thought flashed through Su Rui's mind like lightning. He recalled his few previous encounters with Jian. This woman was powerful, calm, almost ruthless, absolutely loyal to SilverAsh, but in some matters, she didn't seem entirely without exceptions? For example, when they ate at Horn's place, although she remained silent, she didn't show any obvious aversion. And for another example…

A barely perceptible, almost desperate, resolve flashed in Su Rui's beastly eyes. He slowly relaxed his tense muscles, and the warning growling in his throat ceased. Then, under Jian's somewhat astonished gaze, and Enshia's tense and confused stare—

Su Rui (in snow leopard form) suddenly took two steps forward, closing the distance between himself and Jian. Then, he lowered his head and gently, with a hint of probing, rubbed his furry head against Jian's hand, which was hanging by his side and holding a dart.

His movements were gentle, carrying an almost… coquettish intimacy and fawning quality. Combined with his majestic yet slightly fluffy and adorable appearance in his snow leopard form, and his black eyes that had lost their sharpness and instead appeared somewhat “innocent,” this sudden action was full of a huge contrast and… eerily cute charm.

Mace: "...?"

Even with his composure and extensive experience, Yi Jian was momentarily stunned by Su Rui's sudden action, which was completely out of character for him (whether in human or beast form). Her fingers, gripping the dart, stiffened almost imperceptibly for a second, and for the first time, a clear look of astonishment appeared in her sharp eyes. She even subconsciously glanced down at her hand that had been brushed against, as if to confirm whether the furry touch had been an illusion.

It's now!

Taking advantage of Jian's brief moment of stunned surprise, a glint flashed in Su Rui's eyes! He suddenly straightened up, no longer rubbing against Jian with a fawning glint, but with an almost "cheating" and self-righteous look (if snow leopards had such looks), glanced at Jian, and then, without hesitation, turned around, exerted force with all four limbs, and charged towards the nearby iron fence like an arrow released from a bow!

This time, he no longer concealed his movements, increasing his speed to the extreme, his silver-white figure leaving a blurry streak in the darkness!

Encia felt a tremendous force coming from below her, followed by a strong push and the whooshing sound of wind! She instinctively hugged Suri's neck tightly, closed her eyes, and buried her face deep in his warm fur.

The moment Su Rui turned and rushed out, Jian snapped back to reality. She watched the figure leap towards the fence like a silver lightning bolt, a flicker of annoyance in her eyes, but more so, a mixture of helplessness and amusement. This guy… actually used such “methods”?!

She could react almost immediately, intercepting with darts or giving chase. Given her skills, Suri, with one person, might not be able to easily shake her off.

but……

Jian watched as Suri rushed towards the fence without hesitation, then looked down at the back of her hand where she had been brushed. There, a faint, warm, furry touch seemed to linger. She remembered Suri's "innocent" yet slightly "cheeky" gaze (even in his beast form), his complex and special relationships with SilverAsh and Enya, his previously displayed strength, and...something "special."

Most importantly, she saw Encia on Suri's back, clinging tightly to him, fearful yet still choosing to trust him. The young lady was acting voluntarily. And Suri's destination seemed to be in the direction of the Holy Mountain…

In a flash, countless thoughts raced through Jian's mind. In the end, she merely let out a barely perceptible, almost silent hum from her nose. The sound was so soft that it was almost inaudible in the howling wind.

Then, she put away the darts at her fingertips. There was no pursuit, no obstruction; she simply stood quietly, watching the silver-white figure leap up with a fearless and audacious air, easily clearing the high wrought-iron fence, and disappearing into the darkness and snow outside the manor in a few bounds.

A cold wind blew, stirring up snowflakes that lashed against Jian's cold, stern face. She stood in the darkness, gazing in the direction where Su Rui and Enxia had disappeared. After a long while, she shook her head almost imperceptibly, a tiny, almost invisible smile curving her lips upwards.

"Tsk." A soft, ambiguous tsk disappeared into the cold wind.

Then, she turned around and, like a shadow blending into the night, silently disappeared into the shadows of the bushes she had come from, as if she had never been there. Only the diamond-shaped dart, deeply embedded in the tree trunk, gleamed coldly in the dim light, proving that the brief and strange exchange just now was not an illusion.

Climbing over the manor wall was only the first step. The real challenge was to silently ascend the heavily guarded, snow-covered sacred mountain with Ensia in the darkest, coldest hour before dawn.

Su Rui (in snow leopard form) dared not pause for a moment. He knew that although Jian had let them go for some reason, time was still of the essence. Yera's cover was not foolproof; the longer they delayed, the greater the chance of being discovered by the guards of Manju Academy. He had to get Enshia safely to the temple before dawn.

The biting wind howled in his ears, whipping up the snow and stinging his face, its chill penetrating. In the darkness, the sacred mountain stood silently like a slumbering, snow-covered ancient beast, exuding a cold and majestic aura. The road to the temple was already buried under thick snow, making it nearly impossible for ordinary people to traverse. But for Su Rui, this was not an insurmountable barrier.

Volume 18, Chapter 1233: Quietly Infiltrating

He was like a true spirit atop the snow-capped mountains, nimbly traversing and leaping among steep cliffs, jagged rocks, and narrow, snow-covered paths. His silvery-white figure, shrouded in darkness and snow, almost blended into his surroundings, with only his sharp black eyes, like the brightest stars, guiding him through the shadows.

Enshia clung tightly to Suri's neck, pressing her entire body against his warm, broad back. She could feel every powerful contraction of Suri's muscles, every light and precise landing. The wind, mixed with snowflakes, stung her face like knives; even wrapped in a thick scarf, she found it difficult to breathe, and her exposed skin ached from the cold. But her heart was filled with another, much hotter emotion—excitement, anticipation, and an almost reverent longing to see her sister again.

She raised her head, gazing at the approaching mountain peak. At that highest point, shrouded in leaden clouds and snow, a faint but constant light, like a beacon guiding a lost traveler, pierced the darkness and came into her view. It was the light of the Manju Temple, the place where her sister resided.

"Sister...I'm here." Enxia called silently in her heart, tightening her grip on Suri's arm. The cold and the jolting seemed insignificant at this moment.

Suri's senses were fully activated, his mind highly focused. He not only had to choose the most concealed and safest path, but also constantly sense the presence of any guards around him. The "concealment" provided by Yella was like an invisible film enveloping them, but Suri still dared not let his guard down. He could vaguely sense the faint, cold presence of the Manju Academy's guards from certain high vantage points with open views. Like the most cunning snow fox, he skillfully avoided these possible sightlines, using the shadows of the mountains and the howling of the wind and snow as cover, carving out a secret passage between the cliffs and precipices, a passage that belonged only to this moment.

Several times, they nearly brushed past the patrolling guards. Suri could even hear the crunch of their footsteps on the snow and the fragmented, whispered conversations carried by the wind. Each time, Suri held his breath, pressing himself and Enshia close to the cold rock wall or hiding in the deep snow, until the guards' footsteps and breaths had completely faded away before moving again.

Encia heard the sounds too. Her heart pounded with tension, and she buried her face in Suri's thick fur, breathing barely. She could feel the tension in Suri's body and the intense vigilance he exuded. This silent understanding and reliance lessened her fear, replaced by a strange, thrilling feeling, as if they were experiencing a great adventure together.

Time slipped away, bit by bit, amidst the arduous climb and tense stealth. A faint, almost imperceptible glimmer of dawn appeared on the eastern horizon, only to be quickly swallowed by thick clouds. The night remained deep, but the darkest hour was slowly passing.

Finally, after an arduous journey of unknown duration, Su Rui, with Enshia in tow, bypassed the last sentry post and stepped onto the relatively flat platform covered with thick snow atop the Holy Mountain, outside the Manju Temple.

The temple's majestic, white silhouette, like a lurking beast in the darkness, was close at hand. The doors were tightly shut, only a faint, warm light filtering through the cracks and windows, casting blurry halos on the cold snow. This was the heart of the sacred mountain, the most heavily guarded place in the Manju Academy. But perhaps because of Yera's power, or perhaps because the pre-dawn hour is when people are most drowsy, the area around the temple was unusually quiet, save for the howling wind.

Suri didn't linger, nor did he even revert to human form. Like a silent silver lightning bolt, he swiftly and precisely moved along the shadows of the temple's side towards the inconspicuous side door that belonged to Enya's sleeping quarters, a door he remembered. When he left during the day, Yera had "casually" mentioned this door to him, and how to avoid the simple restrictions on it.

He arrived at the heavy wooden door, carved with simple vine patterns. Sure enough, the door was covered with a faint, imperceptible energy fluctuation—a warning barrier commonly used by the Manju Academy. But this was no challenge for Suri, who had been "instructed" beforehand by Yera. He extended his paw (still agile in his snow leopard form) and, following a specific trajectory, gently brushed across several inconspicuous protrusions on the door panel.

The faint energy fluctuation rippled like water for a moment, then quietly dissipated. The door clicked open slightly, opening a crack.

Without hesitation, Suri gently pushed the door open with her body, slipped inside with Ensia on her back, and immediately closed the door again with her tail. The whole process was as fast as lightning, without making a single extra sound.

Inside the door was a relatively narrow but unusually warm corridor. Soft white light emanated from the walls, and the air was filled with a familiar scent—a blend of herbs, incense, and a hint of snow. This was the depths of the temple, the saintess's private quarters, off-limits to ordinary guards.

Suri stopped and gently put Enshia down from his back. He transformed back into human form, his breathing slightly rapid from the long climb and intense tension, and tiny ice crystals had formed on his silver-white hair and eyelashes. Without bothering to tidy himself up, he immediately looked at Enshia.

Encia's feet touched solid (though stone) ground again. Her legs, weakened from holding one position for so long and from the tension, almost made her lose her balance. Suri reached out and steadied her. Encia steadied herself, removed her scarf, which was almost completely covered by her breath and snowflakes, revealing a small face slightly red from the cold, but with remarkably bright eyes. She breathed in the warm, familiar air, her eyes filled with excitement and disbelief—she had really made it! With Suri's help, she had truly reached the sacred mountain, and was back by her sister's side!

“Brother Su Rui, we…” Enxia’s voice trembled slightly from excitement and cold, but it was full of excitement.

"Shh." Su Rui put a finger to his lips, signaling her to be quiet. Although they had entered a relatively safe area, caution was still necessary. He lowered his voice, speaking in a whisper that only the two of them could hear, "Come with me, and don't make a sound."

Enxia immediately covered her mouth tightly with both hands and nodded vigorously to show that she understood. But the light flashing in her blue eyes betrayed her barely suppressed excitement.

Volume 18, Chapters 1234: Deep Sisterly Affection

Suri said no more, took Enshia's cold little hand (her hand was red from being exposed while hugging him), and walked quickly forward along the warm corridor. He was quite familiar with the layout of the place, and soon arrived at the outer room of Enshia's bedroom.

The door to the sleeping quarters was ajar, and warm, bright light shone through the crack, along with a subtle... barely perceptible atmosphere of tension and anticipation.

For some reason, Su Rui's heart skipped a beat. He took a deep breath to calm his racing heart, which had been pounding from the rapid climb and tense stealth, then gently pushed open the slightly ajar door—

"Squeak..."

The wooden door made a slight sound as it opened inward.

The first thing that catches the eye is the warm and bright scene inside the bedchamber. The fire in the fireplace is burning brightly, and the leaping flames illuminate the entire room with warmth, dispelling all the chill from outside. The air is filled with the familiar scent of herbs, and a hint of... Enya's reassuring aura.

Then, Suri and Eunsia saw Eunsia standing in the center of the room, facing the doorway.

She seemed to have been standing there waiting. She wore only a thin, simple saintly robe, her long, silvery-white hair flowing smoothly down her back, shimmering like moonlight in the firelight. Her hands were clasped tightly in front of her, her fingertips slightly white from the force. Her beautiful face, always gentle and serene, was now pale with tension, anticipation, and some indescribable excitement, her lips slightly pursed. Only her brown eyes, like the warm winter sun, suddenly blazed with an intense, fiery light the moment the door opened, locking onto the doorway and onto the petite figure standing behind Su Rui, hand in hand with him.

Time seemed to freeze at that moment.

Enya's gaze passed over Suri and landed directly on Enshia's face. She seemed unable to believe her eyes; her pupils dilated slightly, and she held her breath for a moment. Then, the light in her bright eyes was quickly shrouded in a thin layer of moisture, like the mist that permeates the forest in the early morning and is about to condense into dewdrops.

For Enxia, ​​the instant the door opened and she saw that familiar figure standing in the warm light, all the tension, coldness, and exhaustion melted away like snow under the sun. An immense, indescribable joy overwhelmed her like a tsunami. She abruptly released her hand from her mouth, broke free from Su Rui's grasp, and even forgot Su Rui's warning to "be quiet." With all her might, she let out a cry, choked with sobs, yet filled with boundless joy and longing:

"elder sister--!"

Her voice trembled with excitement, even cracking slightly, but in the silent bedchamber, it was like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, instantly breaking the stillness.

At that call, the moisture in Enya's eyes finally condensed into glistening tears, silently sliding down her pale cheeks. But on her face, a smile bloomed—a smile Su Rui had never seen before, as radiant and warm as the first rays of sunshine breaking through the snow. That smile dispelled all the tension and paleness on her face, leaving only pure, overwhelming joy and boundless tenderness, like something lost and found.

The next second, Enya moved. She no longer stood still and waited, but instead took steps and walked quickly toward the door, toward Enya. Her steps were a little stiff at first, but quickly became urgent, and finally she almost ran as she rushed over.

"Sia!" Enya's voice was also trembling with sobs, but even more so, it was filled with an overwhelming longing and joy.

Then, before Suri could react in any way—

Enya had already passed him, like a weary bird that had finally found its way home, and opened its arms to embrace Enshia, who was also rushing towards it, tightly, tightly.

"Sister! Sister! It really is you! I missed you so much! I missed you so much!" Enxia buried her face deep in Enxia's neck, her arms tightly wrapped around Enxia's waist, as if she used all her strength, afraid that if she let go, her sister would disappear like in her dream. Her voice was muffled, with a heavy nasal tone and suppressed sobs, and tears fell like broken beads, instantly soaking the fabric of Enxia's clothes.

"Xia... my Xia..." Enya hugged her sister tightly in return, her arms drawn together as if trying to reunite a long-lost treasure with her very being. Her cheek pressed against Enxia's soft hair, tears streaming silently down her face, dripping onto Enxia's golden hair. She whispered her sister's name again and again, her voice choked with emotion, trembling with the joy of finding her again and with boundless love.

The two sisters embraced tightly, as if trying to convey all the longing, worry, and concern they had felt during their years of separation through this all-out hug. Their bodies trembled slightly, and it was impossible to tell whose tears flowed more freely or whose sobs were deeper. The warm glow of the fireplace enveloped them, casting their intertwined silhouettes on the smooth ground behind them, a silhouette that seemed forever intertwined.

The air was thick with a mixture of warmth and sorrow, an atmosphere that seemed to linger. It was the bond of blood ties, the longing that transcended the barriers of time and space, finally finding its most direct and fervent expression at this moment.

Standing in the doorway, watching this deeply moving scene, Su Rui felt a surge of warm yet bittersweet emotions welling up inside him. He instinctively took a half-step back, wanting to leave the space entirely to the two sisters reunited after so long. His gaze involuntarily fell on Enya's face, watching her tear-streaked face radiate an unprecedentedly bright smile, seeing the overflowing tenderness and joy in her eyes. A soft spot in his heart was gently touched.

Just then—

"cough."