"Mhm." Cartethyia nodded emphatically. "The belief in protecting others is the source of a knight's power."
Her icy blue eyes shone with a resolute light.
However, what she didn't say was that, unlike Jinhsi—who shouldered the responsibility for the tens of thousands of lights in Jinzhou—she, as a knight, had already shed the heavy burdens of her past. For the rest of her life, she intended to protect only one person.
With the conversation opened, the two girls chatted about their respective duties, the challenges they faced, and eventually, the things they liked. The atmosphere gradually warmed, and the two young women grew increasingly familiar with one another.
Without realizing it, the topic quietly shifted to the person who had brought them together.
"...So, when Rover was in Rinascita, was he like that too?" Jinhsi asked, seemingly casually, as her fingers gently twirled a strand of silver-white hair. "Always looking like he's not afraid of anything, and capable of solving any problem."
Cartethyia thought for a moment, an unconscious smile blooming on her face. "The Righteous One... is incredibly strong, yet also incredibly gentle. During my most lost and helpless moments, he was the one who gave me direction and strength."
Her words were brimming with pure, unadulterated trust and admiration.
Jinhsi listened quietly, her gaze drifting slightly, as if recalling certain memories of her own. "Yes... that is exactly the kind of person he is. Even when you don't ask for his help, he always extends a hand at the most critical moment. He is always someone you can rely on."
Her voice was soft, seemingly reminiscing about the past they had shared on the very land they currently stood upon.
The two girls exchanged a glance, seemingly recognizing the identical ripples in each other's eyes—ripples born from the exact same person.
A silent resonance quietly took root between them. Some beautiful emotions didn't need to be spoken aloud; people who shared similar experiences could simply understand each other's hearts.
Meanwhile, the mountain path Changli led Rover up grew increasingly steep and secluded. The surrounding mist thickened until it felt as though they were walking through the clouds themselves.
Finally, passing through a veil of dense, misty clouds, the view suddenly opened up.
It was a hidden plateau located at the mountain's peak. On one side was a bottomless cliff, with a sea of clouds churning violently below.
In the center of the plateau sat an antique, elegantly styled cabin. And remarkably, just beneath the eaves of the cabin lay a natural hot spring.
The hot spring radiated steam, standing out starkly against a world blanketed in white snow. The surface of the water reflected the light of the sky and the shifting clouds. Several ancient pine trees with breathtakingly unique postures grew along the edge of the pool. It was so peaceful that the only sounds were the howling wind and the occasional cry of a passing bird.
"So this is where the node is located?" Rover felt the peaceful flow of energy in the surroundings, failing to detect any obvious anomalies.
Changli turned to face him. The gentle, professional smile of a Counselor faded from her face, replaced by an expression that was far more languid, laced with a hint of slyness.
She raised a hand and pointed toward the hot spring, a deeply meaningful smile playing at the corners of her lips.
"Indeed. Just look at this spring." Her voice was even softer than usual, gently tangling around the listener's heart like the mountain mist. "It is a natural masterpiece nurtured by heaven and earth. The spring water remains warm and soothing throughout all four seasons. For ordinary people, it washes away fatigue and relaxes the muscles... but for Resonators, it possesses the miraculous effect of nourishing one's Forte."
As she spoke, her gaze flowed like water. Her orange eyes looked at him with clear intent, her tone carrying an unusual, airy lightness. "Especially in this realm surrounded by snow and clouds, immersing oneself within it and feeling the clash between the hot spring and the cold mist creates an entirely unique atmosphere. I usually come here to meditate, and occasionally, I utilize this spring to wash away the dust of worldly cares and relax my body and mind."
She paused slightly, her gaze sweeping lightly over his body, adding seemingly casually, "It's just a pity that such enjoyment is often experienced alone. It can't help but feel... somewhat lonely."
Understanding dawned on Rover instantly. Whatever minor doubts he had vanished, replaced by the thrilling realization of a silent, sultry invitation.
He looked at Changli. She had turned slightly sideways to gaze at the hot spring. The elegant curve of her profile and her slender, graceful neck, set against the backdrop of the rising steam, possessed a breathtakingly devastating beauty.
He smiled, seamlessly taking the "bait" she had tossed his way.
"I see." He took a few steps forward, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with her as he also gazed at the hot spring. His tone dropped lower, growing rich and magnetic. "Hearing Changli describe it like that truly makes one yearn to experience it. If such a spiritual spring were only enjoyed alone, it would indeed be a reckless waste of a heavenly gift."
"But speaking of which... so this hot spring is the node... but it doesn't seem to have any anomalies, does it?" He turned his head, his gaze burning as he looked at her.
"There is nothing wrong with the node here," she smiled beautifully, radiant light shimmering in her orange eyes. "I simply wanted to find a quiet place to have a proper, private conversation. We can't let Jinhsi and the others hear absolutely everything, can we?"
Rover chuckled helplessly. "I understand. I appreciate Counselor Changli's thoughtfulness."
"Just Changli will do," she corrected, her voice gentle yet carrying a sliver of undeniable authority. "This is the place I occasionally come to for solitude, meditation, and relaxation. What do you think of it?"
"The scenery is absolutely stunning, and the spiritual energy is abundant. It's a perfect place to clear one's mind," Rover praised sincerely, looking around.
The two stood side-by-side by the edge of the pool, watching the churning sea of clouds beneath their feet. For a moment, neither spoke, but the silence wasn't awkward. Instead, a delicate, subtle emotion quietly began to spread between them.
After a while, Changli suddenly spoke up. Her tone seemed casual, yet it carried a probing edge. "Having you back this time... it feels like you've changed quite a bit. It seems things have gotten much livelier around you."
"You met quite a few new friends in Laguna, didn't you? That Miss Cartethyia... the way she looks at you is certainly far from ordinary."
She tilted her head, her bright eyes gazing at him with a mix of curiosity, teasing, and a deeply buried trace of genuine concern.
Rover didn't answer immediately. He turned his head, meeting her gaze head-on.
The swirling mist made her flawlessly beautiful face appear somewhat hazy, yet it only added to her allure.
He knew Changli wasn't just gossiping for the sake of it.
This classically reserved, elegant Huanglong beauty was using her own unique method to establish boundaries and test his true feelings.
He gave a slight smile. Instead of avoiding the question, he took a step forward, closing the distance between them until he could clearly feel the warmth of her breath.
"Yes. I met a lot of people and experienced a lot of things," he said, staring directly into those eyes that seemed capable of seeing right through a person's soul. His voice was deep and crystal clear. "They are all wonderful. They are all special. And they have all become... very difficult for me to part with."
His words were so honest they bordered on audacious, causing Changli's eyelashes to flutter slightly.
Then, his tone shifted slightly. His gaze grew incredibly intense, as if trying to draw her entirely into his soul. "However, Changli..."
He reached out his hand, but didn't actually touch her skin. He merely brushed aside a strand of crimson and white hair that the wind had blown across her cheek.
"There are some landscapes that are entirely unique and irreplaceable. Just like the sea of clouds before us right now... and you, standing right in front of me."
His words were like a stone dropped into a perfectly still lake, striking directly and flawlessly into Changli's heart.
The languid smile on her face froze slightly. Her cheeks—already naturally flushed due to the high-temperature constitution caused by her Resonance—burned an even deeper shade of red.
A faint crimson blush quietly crept up the tips of her ears as well.
A familiar situation, encountering each other once again.
But she hadn't expected him to be so direct. So... proactive.
The air seemed to completely freeze in that moment, leaving only the silent, scorching, and intensely ambiguous tension flowing between the two of them.
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