270: How Does That Feel? (Bai Ye's Memory)

How Does That Feel? (Bai Ye's Memory)

He stared at her with wide eyes. She just said he was … someone special to her? Did she know what that meant?2

"You said I need to choose someone I know and trust," she continued. "Who else can I trust if not you? Ever since I woke up from Twin Stars, you've been the only one looking after me and helping me in every way possible. I always feel safe when I'm with you. And when I'm not …" she lowered her gaze a little, "I'd feel uneasy. I could barely sleep the past week, not knowing why you suddenly didn't want to see me anymore …"

It was the first time Bai Ye heard her talk like this, the usual confidence and lightheartedness replaced by so much uncertainty and fear. He couldn't stop cursing himself for making her feel this way. "I'm sorry …" was the only thing he could think of to say, and he hoped she would believe how much he meant it.

The girl shook her head slightly though. "They say people always overthink things when it comes to someone they care about. So this means I care about you, doesn't it? Because I haven't ever given nearly as much thought to what anyone else does or says to me. But with you, it's different. Although I don't know exactly what that deep connection you talked about should feel like, I know I do feel a special tie to you. I want to be around you, and I want to be close to you. I—"

"W-Wait." Bai Ye had to stop her. He had never imagined hearing such words, nor the effect they would have on him. This girl … Did she know what she was saying? Did she know what she could do to a man with words like this?

He took a deep breath, willing his blood to stop boiling and forcing some clarity back into his head. No, he had to keep himself in check. She was too inexperienced in the way of the world, and he couldn't take advantage of it. As much as what she said made his heart race, he couldn't abuse her trust in him, and he couldn't let her mistake simple fondness for something else.

"It's natural for you to feel that way because I'm your master," he made himself say. "It is my responsibility to watch out for you and keep you safe. I would've done nothing less if any of my other swords had a spirit inside them."

That wasn't entirely true. Just true enough to get his point across.

The sword spirit pondered his reply. Then she tilted her head again. "But since you are my master, shouldn't it also be natural that you use me for the power of Twin Stars? I have my responsibility too, which is to help you advance your cultivation progress. So why are you trying so hard to talk me out of this?"

"…"

Because the truth was, she was much more than just a sword to him. She wasn't just his belonging, or a means to an end. Not anymore, and that was precisely why he didn't want anything to change between them for the wrong reasons. But what was she to him exactly? How could he explain to her such a complicated idea that he could barely grasp himself?

The girl chuckled softly at his lack of response. "It's because you care about me too," she declared. "You are hesitating because you want to protect me, and you're still worried that I'll regret my decision. But I assure you I will not. It's not like I don't have my own understanding of this world at all, or that I've never met other people to realize what's out there. I know what I'm doing."

She took a step forward. The distance between them became so small that Bai Ye could almost feel the warmth of her breath. "Unless—" she added, her gaze lowering and sweeping over herself. "Unless I don't meet the standard of being your cultivation partner? Unless you're really that opposed to it?"

"…"

Still wordless, Bai Ye could do nothing but swallow hard. He might not be as easily carried away by a woman's look as some men, but he knew what he saw. No one could deny this girl's beauty, the perfect features of her face and the soft contours of her body. How was he supposed to respond to a question like this? How was he even supposed to think?

He had been trying to control himself because he didn't want to come across as seducing an innocent girl. But now, he felt like he was the one being seduced instead.

His seducer blinked, the flutter of her thick lashes sending a tickle straight through his core. "You don't have to answer me directly." She kept talking, utterly unaware of the turmoil she was putting him through. "You can just tell me how much you dislike it if I do this—"

Without further warning, she reached for him on her tiptoe. Looping her arms behind his neck, she touched her lips to his.

It was a mere peck. A bare brush of skin that didn't last more than a fraction of a second, but that was enough. Enough for Bai Ye to feel the gentle embrace of her arms, the softness of her lips, the warmth of her body. Enough to break his last defense. Enough for him to realize that, despite how much he tried to suppress those lingering thoughts in his mind, they were still there, and they were finally coming to the surface.

If she really meant what she said … then there was no more need for him to hold back.

His whole body was burning when she pulled away, locking eyes with him again with a slight hint of uncertainty in her gaze. "How does that fe—"

Bai Ye didn't let her finish the rest of that sentence. He pulled her into his arms, and he crushed his lips onto hers.

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