"Hey, ice princess, why always in the pool?"
Lan Yueru turned slightly, lips curving as her gaze slid toward him.
"Because the lake is quiet, unlike some people."
Tian Shen grinned and strolled closer, his steps slow, his aura pulled in tight.
"I thought ice princesses liked silence. Am I ruining your training?"
She turned fully, her posture tall, chin lifted.
"You're not that disruptive. Just… mildly irritating."
"Only mildly?"
He mock-gasped.
"I'm losing my touch."
Lan Yueru's smirk softened.
"You've changed."
Tian Shen stepped onto the stone beside hers. The glassy lake stretched before them, mirroring sky and clouds, red willow leaves fluttering over the water like soft crimson snow.
"Change is good," he said after a moment.
She studied his profile—the new sword spirit humming faintly on his back, the calm in his eyes that hadn't been there before. Less boy, more edge.
"I heard about the Heart Chamber," she said, voice barely above the breeze.
