Goldy Ascendance: Limitless Celestial!-Chapter 40: Elder Yue Linxi

"Get some rest, sister," I said aloud, pulling her out of her thoughts. "You’ve had a rough night. We’ll talk more later."

With that, I turned to leave the room, leaving her to her questions—and the unspoken tension between us. The kiss, the darkness, the mystery of the man who saved her... it all remained unspoken.

But for me, that was precisely how I liked it.

As the door closed behind me, I smirked once more. "Let’s see how long it takes for her to put the pieces together."

As the door clicked shut, I leaned against the wall outside the room, a satisfied grin still playing on my lips.

The interplay of confusion and intrigue swirling around my sister was almost intoxicating. Yue Linxi... her name itself was a melody, but today, it was wrapped in an air of mystery and tension that made her even more captivating.

Inside, I could only imagine the thoughts racing through her mind.

Her beautiful, wide eyes, filled with the remnants of shock and curiosity, replaying the events of the previous night. I could practically hear her inner monologue-the clash of feelings about the kiss, the bewilderment over her savior, and that slight, unsettling attraction she seemed to feel towards me.

I chuckled silently at the irony, knowing she would likely never connect the dots back to me. No, she was too entrenched in her own perceptions, her own reality, to see beyond the surface.

I glanced back at the closed door, feeling a twinge of protectiveness mixed with playful mischief. Yue Linxi was a vision, a stunning embodiment of grace. Even in her vulnerable state, she possessed a raw beauty that transcended mere physical attributes

As I turned my thoughts back to the greater picture, the thrill of my recent power use surged within me. Limitless was no mere technique; it was an extension of myself, a grasp at the very fabric of existence.

The ease with which I had navigated through danger, rescuing her from the darkness that sought to claim her, left me buzzing with adrenaline. But I couldn’t let that power consume me, nor could I allow it to overshadow my responsibility towards my sister and our family.

But there was something larger at play, something looming in the shadows, teasing me with its presence.

I could sense it in the air, a heavy weight that hinted at greater threats to come.

The dark figures that had pursued my sister were still out there, and their connection to whatever darkness I had encountered was unclear. For now, I had a reprieve, but that wouldn’t last long.

I pushed myself away from the wall and started down the corridor, my footsteps light and purposeful.

ChiChu’s voice echoed in my mind, a reminder of the importance of keeping my sister safe, of maintaining the delicate balance between secrecy and protection.

’Master, do you think those figures will return? ChiChu inquired, her tone a mix of mischief and concern.

’They will try,’ I replied, a hint of seriousness creeping into my otherwise playful demeanor. ’But I won’t let them touch her again. Not while I draw breath."

’Good! You’ve done well to protect her, but what about the kiss?" 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

I could almost hear the cheeky grin in her voice. ’Let her stew on it. It adds to the intrigue. Besides, if she thinks it was someone else, it keeps the tension alive. A little mystery goes a long way."

’You really are a schemer, Master,’ ChiChu teased, but I could sense the underlying approval in her tone.

"And you know how to mind your master’s bussineses rather than yours, ChiChu!"

_____

Morning, the air around the inn was filled with the sounds of laughter. It wasn’t the eerie silence of danger but warmness.

As I stepped into the eating room, the sight of the Heaven Secret Sect disciples, Shi Wenyan, and Chu Fengxian lounging around the long table, stuffing themselves with hot breakfast, greeted me. There was meat, steamed buns, and even more delicacies piled up before them like they were preparing for a grand feast rather than an exploration into an unknown and possibly deadly mission.

I smirked, unable to hold back the tease. "You sure are enjoying the mission. Say, is this a vacation?"

Long Zhen, ever the joker, was the first to respond, his mouth half-full of roasted duck. "You say ’vacation,’ I say ’strategic relaxation.’ Don’t judge us just because you like to skip the fun part."

The rest of them burst out in laughter, and I fought against the urge to sit down, but the friendly atmosphere was so inviting I found myself settling into the chair.

"Strategic relaxation? Is that what they call stuffing your face now?" I countered, reaching for a steamed bun.

Shi Wenyan pointed at me with her chopsticks, eyes squinted in mock-seriousness. "Yue Phaelo, you should know by now that morale is the foundation of any successful mission. And right now, our morale is at an all-time high."

"I can see that," I snorted, taking a bite of the bun, so Shi Wenyan was just holding back, she actually knew go to jest "Danger ahead? Nah, let’s make sure we’re well-fed first."

"Exactly!" Long Zhen chimed in again, leaning back in his chair with a satisfied sigh. "If we’re going to fight, we should at least die on full stomachs."

The group roared with laughter once more, and even I couldn’t help but chuckle. The light-heartedness, though completely opposite of the task at hand, was oddly comforting.

Just as we were digging into the meal, a hush fell over the room. I didn’t need to look to know why. Yue Linxi had arrived.

My sister descended the stairs, her graceful figure catching the attention of every soul in the inn.

The laughter died down as they held their breath, eyes locked on her.

Her spiritual aura flared gently, like soft ripples in the air, making her appear almost ethereal, like a goddess stepping down from the heavens. She moved with an elegance that was nearly unreal, her long black hair flowing like a shimmering waterfall down her back.

Her robes were simple yet majestic, fluttering around her like they had a life of their own. For a moment, I think everyone forgot she were a mortal like them

But then, the weight of her dangerous presence hit them—the dense aura of a peak Heavenly Realm cultivator.

It was like standing too close to a wildfire.

They may have admired her beauty, but they feared her power more. Thoughts of admiration quickly vanished as her aura cowed them, pushing their desires back into the recesses of their minds.

"Elder Yue Linxi," someone murmured, and the others quickly followed suit.

They all stood, bowing deeply in her presence, as though her aura demanded nothing less. Even the women held their breaths, completely entranced.

I shot her a playful smile as she joined us, sitting down beside me.

She looked calm, but I could tell by the faint pink in her cheeks that she was blushing—trying, and failing, to hide it from me.

Ling Xueying, as usual, couldn’t resist a joke, her voice cutting through the reverence in the room. "No wonder Yue Phaelo isn’t interested in the rest of us. Who could look at me when thier sister looks like that?"

A ripple of laughter followed, and I raised an eyebrow at Ling, smirking. "Careful now, Ling, or I might start thinking you’re jealous."

Ling raised her hands in mock surrender, laughing. "Who, me? Never! I’m just stating facts."

Chu Fengxian, on the other hand, remained silent, quietly observing everything.

To anyone else, he might’ve seemed calm, detached even. But I knew better.

He and Yue Linxi had history—a complicated one. They were from the same generation and were good friends once. That was until my grandparents and his father, the emperor, tried to marry them off to secure a connection between the three families.

Chaos had erupted, of course.

Our older sister, Yue Lanwei, had told me the whole story. Linxi didn’t like Chu Fengxian at all—never had.

She kept him around out of formality, nothing more. And though Chu Fengxian was once enamored by her beauty, he knew her temper well enough to stay in his lane. Still, he’d agreed to the proposal because it was an order from his father.

But his heart never belonged to Yue Linxi. No, his heart had always been with Yue Liqin. Poor guy. I’d taken his lover, and now it looked like my sister would be next on his list of unrequited loves.

"Elder Yue Linxi!" The other disciples stood, bowing once more as my sister gave them a small nod of acknowledgement.

The only ones who remained seated were Shi Wenyan and Chu Fengxian, their heads merely dipping in her direction. They were from the same generation, after all, and their cultivation bases weren’t far off from hers.

I leaned back, watching as Yue Linxi settled in her seat beside me.

Her expression was unreadable, but I didn’t miss the way her blush deepened when our eyes met. She didn’t say a word, simply allowing the rest of us to continue talking and joking while she sat quietly, observing.

Ling Xueying’s eyes flickered between us, clearly sensing something. I could see the wheels turning in her head, but to her credit, she didn’t say anything more.

By the time we finished eating, Linxi finally broke her silence, standing up with a regal air.

"We depart now," she declared, her voice firm, leaving no room for argument.