The scent of roasted spirit herbs drifted through the morning breeze as Li Tian and Lin Hua stepped deeper into Violet Luminous City's eastern market district. The streets buzzed with activity. Cultivators in flowing robes moved among mortals with carts of trinkets, spirit beasts dozed beside stalls, and formations glimmered subtly beneath the cobblestone.
Lin Hua's eyes moved sharply across the vendors. "Their formations are good… but nothing above Grade-4. Mostly just alarm or concealment types," she said softly.
"Still impressive for a city in the mortal realm," Li Tian replied, his voice neutral but not disinterested. His fingers brushed against hers as they walked, and to his quiet surprise, she laced them together without hesitation.
In the past, he would have pulled away. That thought lingered. A time when even standing this close would have been rare.
"I used to think this kind of thing was unnecessary," he admitted aloud, voice low. "Wandering through a city… walking side by side like this."
Lin Hua tilted her head, studying him. "And now?"
He looked at her. "Now I think I was the unnecessary one. Or at least… that part of me."
She chuckled, a quiet, knowing sound. "You were always focused. That wasn't wrong. But you were also blind."
Li Tian didn't argue. He took her words the way she intended them—without bitterness.
A group of young cultivators passed them. One of the younger men glanced at Lin Hua, slowed his step for a moment, then noticed the man beside her. The arrogant tilt of his chin faded instantly. He lowered his gaze and moved on.
"Another one frightened off," Lin Hua murmured, amused.
"They're not frightened," Li Tian said with a faint smirk. "They're just… alive. And smart enough to stay that way."
Lin Hua gave him a sidelong look. "You do enjoy flexing that presence of yours."
"I don't. But if it saves me from having to listen to someone trying to impress you, I'll make the effort."
Her lips curled. "Jealous?"
"No," Li Tian said, then after a moment added, "Maybe."
She laughed again, clearly enjoying herself. Her hand squeezed his just slightly.
They stopped at a stall where an elderly cultivator sold delicately folded talismans etched with silver ink.
"These are spirit gathering seals," Lin Hua noted, picking one up with a finger. "Middle-grade Earth level at best."
The old vendor smiled. "Ah, young lady, you have a keen eye. You must be a master arrayist."
"I just have good taste," she replied, glancing at Li Tian.
"She's being modest," Li Tian said, paying for a few talismans with a casual flick of his finger. "She could redraw your entire stock with one hand and still lecture a sect about stabilization points."
The vendor blinked. "Is that so? Might you be—?"
"No names," Li Tian said quietly. "We're here as travelers."
Lin Hua gave him a dry look as they walked on. "You do realize you're terrible at staying low profile?"
"I didn't say we were good travelers."
They continued through the market, exchanging brief conversations with a few curious shopkeepers. Lin Hua's voice was gentle but clear; she didn't flirt, didn't act coy, didn't pretend. Her knowledge was vast, her opinions sharp when needed.
And yet, when they passed a food stall selling sweet lotus cakes, she tugged his sleeve.
"I want those," she said simply.
Li Tian raised a brow. "You eat sweets now?"
"I've always eaten sweets," she said. "You just never noticed."
"…Ah."
He bought the cakes without another word. She took one, bit into it, and let out a quiet hum of satisfaction.
Watching her like that—so content over something so simple—he felt a warmth stir in his chest.
She's so easily pleased. That's… kind of nice. She hasn't seen much of the world, has she?
Then again, neither had he.
They walked to a quiet corner where a shallow stream ran beside the street. A formation ensured clean, flowing water at all times. There were fewer people here.
Lin Hua sat down on the edge of a stone ledge and motioned for him to join her. He sat beside her without a word.
She watched the water, her expression unreadable for a moment.
"When you touched my hand earlier," she said, "it felt… new. Not the gesture. But the meaning behind it."
"I used to think you'd find it meaningless," Li Tian admitted.
"You used to think you were above needing things like this."
Silence stretched between them.
"I'm not," he said eventually. "Not anymore."
She looked at him. "And what are you now?"
"…Still figuring that out."
Lin Hua nodded as if that answer satisfied her. She leaned against his shoulder, letting her body press lightly against his side.
Li Tian turned to face her, his hand moving to her cheek. Her skin was cool against his fingers, smooth and familiar.
He leaned in and kissed her—softly, without urgency. It wasn't a kiss of lust, but of remembrance. An apology. A promise.
When he pulled back, she opened her eyes slowly, lips curved in the faintest smile.
"You're getting better at that."
His brow twitched. "I've had very little practice."
"I noticed," she teased, and nestled closer again.
He stared ahead, his thoughts calmer than they had been in centuries.
Even now, a part of him still found it surreal. That this woman, whom he'd kept at arm's length for a thousand years, now leaned so comfortably against him. That she allowed it, after everything. That she smiled at him without resentment.
She should hate me. And yet, she's still here. Still willing to be close.
"Lin Hua," he said, voice barely above a whisper.
"Mm?"
"…Thank you."
She didn't respond at first. Then she turned slightly and rested her head on his shoulder.
"You're welcome," she whispered back.
And they sat there, beside the quiet stream, the clamor of the city fading into the background—just for a while.