The work in the mining area went on until noon.
Liu Xia dumped his third basket of ore. His shoulders felt a little numb.
Not exactly exhausted—just uncomfortable from the pressure.
He shook out his hands.
"Not bad," he said.
No one responded.
But something was different.
When he walked past, people would instinctively step aside a little.
Not obvious.
But it was there.
Liu Xia glanced at them.
"Convenient."
He didn't think much of it.
—
In the afternoon, the task changed.
Warehouse duty.
On the way, people were whispering.
"Did you hear about Zhao Heng?"
"Yeah."
"They said his legs gave out?"
"You believe that?"
"…No."
"Someone reported it."
"To who?"
"The inner sect."
The voices dropped lower.
"I heard someone's already come down."
Liu Xia walked past them, not joining in.
He caught part of the conversation.
Thought about it.
"Reporting weak legs?"
He found it a bit ridiculous.
Then he stopped caring.
—
The warehouse was at the back.
Not many people there.
An old man sat at the entrance, keeping records.
Liu Xia handed over his tag.
The old man took it, glanced at it.
Then looked at Liu Xia again.
Paused.
"You're Liu Xia?"
"Yeah."
The old man didn't say anything more. He handed the tag back.
"Zone Three."
"Got it."
Liu Xia walked in.
The warehouse was large.
Stuff was piled everywhere.
He found Zone Three, bent down, and prepared to lift.
Footsteps came from the entrance.
Not loud.
But clear.
As if they stepped directly on everyone's ears.
Someone in the warehouse paused.
Then lowered their head and continued working.
No one looked.
But the atmosphere changed.
Liu Xia glanced back.
A person stood at the entrance.
Not a laborer.
Not an ordinary outer disciple either.
Her clothes were clean, simple in design, but completely out of place here.
She stood there.
Not moving.
Like she was searching for something.
Liu Xia took one look, then looked away.
Not his business.
He bent down, lifted a crate.
Turned around.
And ran into her.
They were close.
Two or three steps apart.
Her gaze rested on him.
No avoidance.
No expression.
Like she was confirming something.
Liu Xia didn't think much.
"Move," he said.
She didn't move.
Liu Xia frowned slightly.
"You're in the way."
His tone was a bit heavier than before.
Only then did she step aside.
Liu Xia walked past her.
The moment they brushed shoulders—
Her breathing paused for half a beat.
Not because of him.
But because—
"Quantity."
What she saw… was wrong.
Not one.
Stacked.
Overlapping shadows.
Six.
Attached to him.
Some were quiet.
Some restless.
One of them—
Was looking at her.
Her fingers tightened slightly.
She didn't turn back.
Liu Xia had already walked away.
Like nothing had happened.
—
She stood where she was.
Didn't move.
Her mind replayed that moment.
Six.
Not an illusion.
She had seen it before.
Many years ago.
Once was enough.
She had almost died.
So she knew—
This wasn't something you could mistake.
—
Liu Xia placed the crate down.
Turned around.
Noticed she was still standing there.
"You're not leaving?" he asked.
She looked at him.
Calm.
"What's your name."
Liu Xia paused for a moment.
"Liu Xia."
She nodded.
Didn't ask anything more.
Turned to leave.
After two steps—
She stopped.
As if confirming something.
Then continued walking.
—
Outside the warehouse—
She stepped into the shadows.
Stopped.
Didn't leave immediately.
That image was still in her mind.
Six.
Not surrounding.
Bound.
Like they were locked together.
She raised her head and glanced toward the warehouse.
"Not a formation," she said softly.
"Not a technique."
"Not aura."
She paused.
Her gaze slowly turned cold.
"It's… existence itself."
She had seen it once.
Failed once.
So she knew better than anyone—
Something like this shouldn't appear at the same time.
And definitely shouldn't appear on one person.
—
She was silent for a while.
Then turned around.
Didn't go far.
Just changed position.
A spot where she could see the warehouse exit.
"Confirm first," she said.
Her tone was light.
But the decision was made.
—
And in a place she couldn't see—
Space trembled slightly.
A voice lowered.
"She's not ordinary."
No one responded.
After a moment—
Another voice said calmly:
"Watch her."
The air returned to silence.
As if nothing had happened.