The soft rustle of curtains stirred faintly as a gentle breeze drifted into the room, carrying the faint scent of herbs and incense.
Zhao Tianās eyelids fluttered slightly, his consciousness teetering between sleep and wakefulness as he slowly woke up.
The first thing he registered was the warmth... the soft, calming warmth enveloping him.
His body felt heavy, but the softness of the mattress beneath him provided a strange comfort.
His fingers twitched, brushing against silk sheets, and the steady sound of breathing near him stirred his awareness further.
His eyes finally opened, heavy-lidded and slightly blurry, and the ceiling above was unfamiliar.
It took a moment for his vision to focus fully, and as he turned his head to the side, he froze.
Li Jia was lying beside him, her head resting on the edge of the bed, her long black hair cascading over the sheets like a waterfall.
Her expression was peaceful, her features softened by sleep, but the faint streaks of dried tears on her cheeks told a different story.
Zhao Tian let out a soft sigh as he took in her disheveled state.
Her robe was slightly crumpled, and her hand rested lightly on his arm, as though she had been holding onto him even in her dreams.
"Jiaā¦" he murmured, his voice hoarse and barely audible.
The sound stirred her, her eyelashes fluttering before her eyes slowly opened.
For a moment, she seemed disoriented, her gaze searching until it landed on him.
"Tian!" she exclaimed softly, her voice trembling with relief as she sat up abruptly.
Her hands flew to his face, cupping his cheeks and tears welled in her eyes once more, threatening to spill over. "Youāre awakeā¦ Youāre really awake,"
Zhao Tian managed a weak smile, though his voice was still raspy. "Yeahā¦"
Before he could say more, Li Jia threw her arms around him, pulling him into a tight embrace.
Her face buried in the crook of his neck as she held onto him as though sheād never let go.
Her shoulders trembled, and he felt the warm, wet trail of her tears against his skin.
"You damnā¦ fucker," she choked out, her voice muffled against him. "I hate you so much."
A soft sigh escaped Zhao Tian as he returned her hug, his arms wrapping around her with care. "Forgive me for making you wor-"
"Shut up, bastard," she interrupted, her voice trembling with both anger and relief.
"Just shut upā¦ I fucking hate you. Donāt talk to me."
He fell silent, his throat tightening as he felt her trembling arms tighten around his neck.
For a long moment, they simply held each other, the room filled with the sound of her muffled sobs and the steady rhythm of his breathing.
He didnāt try to defend himself, nor did he attempt to calm her.
After what felt like an eternity, her sobs quieted, leaving only the occasional hiccup as she tried to steady herself.
She pulled back slightly, her face still flushed with emotion, but she refused to meet his gaze.
"I thought I had lost you," she muttered, her fingers clutching the fabric of his shirt tightly.
"You were reckless, Tian. So reckless."
"I know," he replied softly, his voice filled with guilt.
"I will be more careful. I promise."
She finally looked up, her tear-streaked face glaring at him. "You better be. If you pull something like that again, I swear Iāll kill you myself."
Zhao Tian reached up, brushing a stray tear from her cheek, his touch gentle.
"Iām sorry," he said again, his tone earnest.
Li Jia huffed, crossing her arms but not moving away. "Youāre an idiot. A stupid, reckless idiot."
Zhao Tianās gaze softened looking at her, and he glanced down to see that he was wearing a different set of robes.
His eyes squinted in thought and turned his gaze to Li Jia "Jia, how long was I unconscious?"
With a faint nod, she replied "For a day."
"I see..."
Zhao Tian closed his eyes to recollect his thoughts...
Raising his hands, he brushed his hair back, the strands falling loosely around his face and with a practiced motion, he tied it into a neat man bun.
"Where are we right now?"
"In Sect Masterās private quarters..."
Hm? Hearing this, Zhao Tian raised an eyebrow and asked "Jia, tell me what happened after the tribulation."
With a nod, Li Jia filled him with the details of how he crossed the 9th tribulation and fell unconscious.
Later was brought here by Yao Jing and Ji Shuang.
Huh?
Zhao Tian was quite confused āI am sure I crossed 10 degrees, but they only saw until 9th? They failed to count or something else happened?ā
Li Jia placed a hand above his "You must be exhuated. You havenāt eaten anything in a day. Letās go and get some food. You need to regain your strength."
"Alright..."
He swung his legs over the side of the bed, as he tested his strength and his body felt lighter than he expected.
Before he could rise fully, the door creaked open, and Yao Jing stepped into the room.
She was carrying a tray with a basin of water covered by a pristine white cloth, clearly intending to tend to him.
H-Huh?
However, seeing Zhao Tian sitting upright, the tray wobbled in her hands for a moment before she quickly placed it on the nearby table and rushed to him.
"Tianāer."
With a big smile on her face, she jumped to his lap and hugged him tightly in her arms "Haa.. Tianāer."
Zhao Tian couldnāt help but chuckle softly, his arms coming up to hold her waist. "You idiotā¦" he murmured.
"You scared me, Tianāer..."
Zhao Tian rested his chin lightly on her head, his hand gently stroking her back in soothing circles. "Well, Iām alright nowā¦"
Pulling back the hug, she reached out and pinched his cheek "Donāt ever pull stunts like that.."
Zhao Tian chuckled softly, rubbing his cheek where she had pinched him. "Iāll keep that in mind."
Li Jia who has been sitting there awkwardly, finally chimed in "U-Uhm.. Elder Yao Jing, Tian just woke up... so please donāt stress him and get down from his lap."
Oh? Yao Jing turned her head toward Li Jia, an amused smile curling her lips, and she remained perched comfortably on Zhao Tianās lap, showing no sign of moving.
"Oh? Arenāt you adorable, little Jia, worrying so much for your lover, are you?" she teased, her voice carrying a playful lilt.
Li Jiaās cheeks flushed immediately at Yao Jingās words. "H-Heās not my-" she began, but Yao Jing cut her off with a laugh.
"Tianāer, you donāt know, but little Jia has been crying since yesterday and constantly asking me when Tian will wake up."
"She was always beside you, taking care of you."
Zhao Tian raised an eyebrow, glancing at Li Jia with a faint smile. "Really?"
Hearing this Li Jiaās face turned an even deeper shade of red and she fumbled for words, her voice rising slightly in defense. "L-Look whoās talking! You were just as desperate. You were crying too, Elder Yao Jing."
Huh? Explore new worlds at empire
Yao Jing froze for a moment, her teasing smile faltering as a faint blush crept onto her cheeks. "H-Huh? I wasnāt crying." she retorted quickly, her voice a little higher than usual.
"I had complete confidence in my disciple! I knew he would win!"
Li Jia crossed her arms, her embarrassment momentarily forgotten as she shot Yao Jing a knowing look. "Oh, really? Then what about when you grabbed his hand and kept muttering, āTianāer, donāt leave me,ā over and over?"
"I-I was simplyā¦ encouraging him." Yao Jing stammered, turning her head away as if that would hide her flushed face.
Zhao Tain shook his head helplessly, though a small smile appeared on his lips.
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I hope you guys liked this chapter!