“Say,” Li Chyou turned around and looked at the boy’s neck. “Why do you have that mark on your neck?”

“I do not know,” the boy shook his head. “It’s been with me ever since I woke up.”

“Since you woke up?” she frowned.

The boy only smiled and said nothing.

“Since you don’t want to tell me, I won’t force you!” she turned around and kept walking.

“If Young Miss really wants to know, then you can always ask Master.”

“Maybe I will,” she smirked. The boy couldn’t help but sigh.

“We’ll go to father’s courtyard to train,” she declared. Li Chyou then looked at her butler, “I trust that you know what to do?”

The boy nodded, “Aunt Qian has briefed me on my duties. Young Miss will train while I cater to her needs.”

“Hmm…” Li Chyou stroked her chin, “‘Cater to my needs’? That doesn’t sound good.” She looked at the boy, “You’ll help me while I train, understood?”

“Understood. I’ll try to ‘help’ you the best I can.” The boy smiled.

“Good!” Li Chyou nodded in satisfaction and then continued to walk towards her father’s courtyard.

The Li Clan Mansion has three courtyards- the Outer, Inner, and the Clan Head’s personal courtyard. The disciples from the branch families and the ordinary members of the main family train in the outer courtyard. The talented members of the clan and elders train in the inner courtyard. The Clan Head and his family use the personal courtyard. Li Chyou was heading towards the latter.

They walked towards the Clan Head’s personal courtyard, bypassing many of the clan’s buildings and disciples. The disciples would bow and make way for her when they saw Li Chyou. Some of the male disciples would sneak glances at her, clearly infatuated by her looks.

Seeing the hearts in their eyes, Li Chyou knew she was still beautiful. But glancing at the boy following behind her, she couldn’t help but pout. His eyes were as clear as water. He really didn’t have any thoughts towards her. Was she not beautiful enough? How infuriating!

She bit her lips. Where did dad get this stinky boy!?

It didn’t help that after looking at her; both male and female disciples would stare at him, looking starstruck. She snorted and kept walking, not paying any heed to the disciples anymore.

Soon they reached the Clan Head’s personal courtyard. It was a bit smaller in size compared to the other two courtyards. But that was to be expected. Both the inner and outer courtyards were made to house hundreds of disciples whereas this one is only for the Clan Head and his family’s use.

Looking around, the boy’s eyes shone. There are many things installed in the courtyards used for training. Wooden dummies, bullseyes, a shed full of weapons; there was something for every need.

Looking at the boy acting like a country bumpkin, Li Chyou chuckled contemptuously.

“Go stand there, I’ll be over here practicing with my halberd!” she ordered the boy and pointed to a side. There were tumbonas[1] there.

“Very well,” the boy nodded and stood where she pointed. He saw Li Chyou tap a ring on her finger and a long halberd appeared. It had a white blade with a yellow cloth tied to it.

The boy’s eyes bulged out. D-Did that just appear out of t-thin air…?

When Li Chyou saw the boy’s astonished face, she laughed and started explaining, “This is a space ring.” She touched the ring on her index finger which had a milky white gem on top emanating an iridescent glow.

The boy stared at the gem with burning questions. What’s that gem? Is that where the halberd was stored? Since it’s called the ‘Space Ring’, does that mean it has something to do with space? Does the gem control space?

He had many questions but no one to answer them. He could only sigh and give up. Soon, he averted his gaze from her ring and stood there stoically. Li Chyou kept swinging her halberd around. He saw her performing a set of moves and the halberd was coated in a red sheen.

The boy narrowed his eyes. Is that…Qi? He left his place and went to get some towels and a bowl of water.

“Hah!” Li Chyou let out a cry and thrust out with her halberd. The air in front rippled. She stopped her movements and exhaled deeply; sweat covering her skin as it glistened under the sun. She had been practicing for almost two and a half hours.

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She looked around and saw her butler standing where she ordered. There were towels and a bowl of water next to the tumbona as well as a jug and a porcelain cup. Seeing those, the events of the morning resurfaced and her cheeks reddened.

“Would Young Miss like to take a break now?” she saw him smiling as he asked.

“Yes!” she looked away. That bastard was the source of all her embarrassment. She walked to where she was and laid down on the tumbona.

The boy walked towards her. “Would you like to be wiped down?” he asked while taking off the boots from her feet.

“Just dry me. Don’t use water,” she ordered as she wiggled her toes.

“As you wish,” he grabbed a towel and lifted one of her arms before wiping her sweat.

As he was wiping her, she looked at him and asked, “Don’t you want to cultivate?”

“I do,” he replied concisely.

“Then, I’ll give you a Cultivation Art!” she smiled mischievously.

The boy smiled and shook his head, “Young Miss, even if I do want to cultivate, I can’t do it now!”

“Why not?” she frowned in incomprehension though she had an idea in her heart.

“I’ve yet to fully earn the trust of your father and my master. A strong but untrustworthy person will be nothing but a threat.”

“But won’t you be able to protect me if you get stronger?” she couldn’t help but ask.

“I will eventually cultivate if the need arises. As for now-” The boy pointed towards the mango tree near the courtyard, “-Butler Yu who is currently hiding there is enough for your protection, Young Miss.”

“You-!” Li Chyou was surprised and snapped her head towards the tree he was pointing at. The tree rustled and Butler Yu jumped down.

With a hearty laugh, he said, “I apologize for spying on you, Young Miss.”

“Are you going to keep an eye on me all day?” Li Chyou asked with an exasperated look.

“I have no choice but to do so,” Butler Yu had an apologetic look.

“Then…” Li Chyou’s blushed, “This morning, did you-”

“That’s no matter, Young Miss. After all, I’ve been with you since you were wearing diapers,” Butler Yu replied with a chuckle.

The boy frowned. Is that supposed to be an excuse?

Li Chyou blushed up to her ears before stomping and turning her back to Butler Yu. She slept on her chest on the tumbona.

“It seems you’ve angered her, Butler Yu,” the boy remarked.

“Isn’t that your fault?” Butler Yu smiled.

“I’m not the one who spied on her,” the boy shook his head.

“Haha!” Butler Yu laughed. “I have to say, you chose a mighty fine way to tend to the Young Miss!”

“It was the only way!” the boy rolled his eyes.

“Hmph!” with a snort Li Chyou got up and started doing more halberd moves.

“Then keep up the good work, I’ll see you later,” Butler Yu waved as he started walking away.

The boy shook his head. ‘Later’? You’re just changing places. You’ll still be spying on me!

He stopped thinking about it and looked at Li Chyou who seemed to be performing a new set of moves.

“Big Sis!” a childlike voice came from behind. Both Li Chyou and the boy turned around to see a small girl who had her hair in buns running towards them. The girl rushed past him and jumped into the embrace of Li Chyou.

“Big Sis, hehe!” the little girl giggled and rubbed her face on Li Chyou’s stomach.

“Li Daoyun!” Li Chyou said sternly, “How many times did I tell you not to hug me when I have a weapon in my hand?”

“Hehe, sorry!” the girl stuck her tongue out.

“I-I’m sorry, First Miss!” behind the boy, a woman in her late 20s apologized as she gasped for air. “I couldn’t catch up to her!”

“It’s fine, Ju Xi!” Li Chyou waved her hand dismissively. After the little girl, Li Daoyun had stopped hugging her sister, she turned around to look at the boy and her eyes widened.

She let go of Li Chyou and rushed towards the boy, “So pretty!”

“How do you do, Second Miss?” the boy bowed.

“Who are you?” Li Daoyun continued to look at him with stars in her eyes.

“My name is-” but before he could introduce himself, Li Chyou snorted and said, “He’s my butler!”

“You’re big sis’ butler?” Li Daoyun asked.

“Yes,” the boy smiled. Something about Li Daoyun made the boy nostalgic as well as a bit melancholic. He looked at the little girl who hopped around with complicated emotions in his eyes.

Li Daoyun suddenly grabbed his hands and looked at him with a pleading look, “Can you be Daoyun’s butler as well?”

“I-” the boy was dumbfounded. He looked at Ju Xi who smiled bitterly and then at Li Chyou who didn’t seem to care about her sister’s antics.

Catching his gaze, Li Chyou shook her head dismissively, “She just thinks of you as a toy. Something to want.”

“…I see,” the boy frowned. Can’t you word that better? You’re making it seem as though she is a heartless girl who views living things as nothing but toys!

He then looked at Li Daoyun, “Sorry, Second Miss. I can’t be your butler. First Miss wants me all to herself.”

“You-” Li Chyou was about to explode as she tried to hide her red face.

“Hehe, big sis likes you!” Li Daoyun ‘teased’ him with a giggle.

“You should ask First Miss that,” the boy passed the ball to Li Chyou with a smile.

“I will, but first play with Daoyun!” she kept her hold on his hand and jumped up and down.

“I can’t play with Second Miss without First Miss’ permission,” the boy shook his head.

“Big Sis, let him play!” Li Daoyun looked at Li Chyou with a pleading look.

Li Chyou thought about it for a while before looking at her butler, “I’ll be practicing so you can play with her. But don’t neglect your duties.”

“Understood!” the boy nodded and then slightly relaxed.

“Yay!” Li Daoyun cheered and then thanked her older sister.

Li Chyou shook her head and continued her halberd exercises.

“What can you do?” Li Daoyun asked the good-looking boy in front of her. He looked pleasing.

“I’m well versed in calligraphy, flutes and can do a little bit of cooking!”

“Huh?” Li Chyou stopped and looked at the boy, “Why do I not know of this?”

“I was under the impression that Master told you about it,” the boy admitted. “You can ask Master about me. He’ll tell you everything.”

“I see,” Li Chyou narrowed her eyes and went back to her practices.

“Xi Xi, bring my flute!” Li Daoyun ordered Ju Xi so that she can ask the boy to play something for her.

“Understood, Second Miss!” Ju Xi nodded and was about to leave when the boy stopped her, “Miss Ju Xi!”

“Yes?” she turned around and looked at the handsome and pleasing boy in front of her.

“I’d rather you bring an unused flute. It wouldn’t be too appropriate for me to use the Second Miss’ flute.”

“That’s a good idea,” Ju Xi’s eyes lit up and she ran off, presumably to bring a flute.

“Play Daoyun a song!” Li Daoyun ordered with a cutesy look on her face.

“Very well, Second Miss,” the boy agreed with a smile.