The early morning sun painted the courtyard with its gentle golden light, illuminating the petals of the flowers blooming in Ji Shuang’s private garden.


    A cool breeze carried the sweet scent of jasmine, mingling with the soft rustling of leaves.


    *tap* *tap* Zhao Tian and Ji Shuang made their way to the courtyard.


    Walking to the small garden with the courtyard, Ji Shuang let out a soft sigh, enjoying the fresh air.


    Zhao Tian glanced at her from the corner of his eye but said nothing.


    The two walked further into the garden, their steps echoing faintly on the stone pathway.


    After a few minutes, Ji Shuang broke the silence, turning her head slightly to look at him. "Zhao Tian, do you remember that I asked you to accept me as your master?"


    Zhao Tian nodded his head "Yes, Sect master..."


    Ji Shuang stopped walking, her gaze lingering on a patch of delicate white orchids. "And what do you think?"


    With a faint nod he replied "I already asked Jing about it and since she said its okay... I am willing to accept you as my Master."


    Ji Shuang turned to glance at him "I heard from Jing’er that you don’t like being pressured with things like ’Train every day,’ ’Do this,’ ’Do that,’" she said, her lips curving into a slight smile.


    Zhao Tian smiled dryly upon hearing, as he really doesn’t like to be constrained like that.


    Ji Shuang continued, "I understand that you value your freedom, and I agree with you. I won’t try to change that. But you must remember that the reputation of the sect now partly lies in your hands."


    "I accepted you mainly because you might raise conflicts among the wing masters who are trying to accept you as your disciple."


    She continued, her tone softening "More importantly, I believe I can guide you in mastering elemental energies. You have many affinities, Zhao Tian, and it would be a waste not to nurture them properly."


    They reached a stone bench nestled beneath a sprawling cherry blossom tree.


    Ji Shuang gently sat on the bench, tapping the empty space beside her. "Sit,"


    Zhao Tian sat beside her with a respectable amount of distance between them.


    Ji Shuang raised her hand, her fingers tracing an intricate pattern in the air as a faint shimmer enveloped them, and Zhao Tian felt the atmosphere shift subtly.


    He glanced around, realizing what had just happened. "A noise barrier?" he muttered under his breath.


    "My time is divided between managing the sect, negotiating with external factions, and maintaining peace among the wing masters. Taking you under me was a decision born out of necessity, but now I see that it might not be enough."


    "So with me... you can’t progress any further."


    Zhao Tian just stayed silent listening to her, and with a deep sigh, he replied "Do what you think is the best."


    Ji Shuang’s gaze softened and with a nod, she muttered "And forgive me for making an arranged marriage for you."


    "When news of your tribulation began to spread, it wasn’t just admiration that followed. The wing masters, the noble clans, and even factions outside the sect began to take notice."


    "For people like them, a genius is a resource... a weapon to be controlled or a threat to be eliminated."


    "You know how power hungry are these bastards. So when a genius like you appears, they will find ways to tie you to their family..."


    "If I outright refused them, they would have likely resorted to underhanded tactics. You’re strong, but you’re also still young and relatively new to the intricacies of sect politics. They could have orchestrated attacks, framed you for crimes, or even poisoned public opinion against you. I couldn’t risk that."


    Zhao Tian nodded his head "I can understand, but I am still angry over that."


    Ji Shuang gently lowered her head into a bow "I know I’ve placed you in a difficult position, Zhao Tian. So, please forgive me."


    Looking at her like this, Zhao Tian’s gaze squinted but he didn’t say anything and stayed silent.


    One of the things he hates is the royal family’s politics and political marriage stuff.


    He exhaled slowly, a flicker of irritation flashing in his eyes. "I never wanted to be involved in this kind of mess," he muttered, half to himself.


    Ji Shuang straightened slightly, "I understand, Zhao Tian. But the moment you demonstrated your potential, the world began to take notice."


    "Geniuses like you don’t get to live in peace. You’ve stepped into the light, and now everyone wants to claim a piece of your brilliance."


    Zhao Tian could only sigh "All because of that stupid tribulation..."


    His voice trailed off, a wave of frustration washing over him ’I just wanted to gain the Wing Masters’ attention during the tournament. That’s all. Prove my worth, show my talent... simple goals.’


    How frustrating...


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    I hope you guys liked this chapter!