It was a quiet morning. The air was cold. Sunlight entered the courtyard, making the polished wooden surfaces shine. Su Kang sat at a table, a pot of hot tea placed before him. Its fragrant aroma mingled with the clean scent of spiritual lotus. He had not gone to the training grounds. Su Jiao's injuries still needed time to heal.

After a while, the soft steps on the pebble path signaled someone’s approach. Su Hua stepped into the courtyard, dressed in a modest yet graceful brown robe, her long hair neatly braided down her back.

"Sister Hua," Su Kang greeted her warmly, rising from his seat.

"Good morning, Su Kang," she greeted in return, her own smile easy and genuine.

"Good morning, Sister Hua. I believe you rested well," he said casually.

He led her into the hall where they settled at a low, polished table. Su Kang poured her a cup of tea, its pale green liquid steaming gently. They chatted for a while, discussing her travels in the Barren Lands and the recent happenings within the clan. The conversation was simple and light.

Su Kang set his cup down after some time, his expression turning thoughtful.

"Sister," he began, his voice slightly different, "I want you to meet someone."

Su Hua's eyebrows raised curiously. "Oh? Who is it?"

Su Kang gave a slight nod to a maid who left immediately. A moment later, a woman entered.

She moved with a quiet, refined grace. Her blue robe was adorned with subtle cloud patterns. Her posture was poised, her expression calm. But as she drew closer, Su Hua’s sharp eyes noticed the faint stiffness in her shoulders and the trace of anxiety that lingered deep within her stunning emerald eyes. The woman was beautiful, but she was also clearly nervous.

"Sister Hua, this is Bai Yunxi," Su Kang said, his voice soft with an hint of unmistakable affection as he looked at her. "She is a very important guest of mine. I was hoping you could help her get to know the other family members."

An important guest?

Su Hua’s gaze flickered between Su Kang’s soft expression and Bai Yunxi’s nervous composure. She thought about her cousin’s sudden invitation to morning breakfast. A meaningful look entered her own eyes. This was clearly more than a simple breakfast.

Bai Yunxi stepped forward and offered a graceful bow. "It is an honor to meet Lady Su Hua."

“The pleasure is mine, Lady Bai,” Su Hua returned the gesture with a polite nod. It's the first time he brought a woman into the family like this, she thought, the implication of the introduction clear. “I must say, you are truly beautiful. Perhaps that is why you have become such an important person to my cousin.”

"But the main question is, just how important are you to him?" Su Hua asked, her gaze turning directly to her brother. A faint, knowing smile played on her lips. "Don't tell me you're only ‘her good friend’ or something else?”

A soft laugh escaped Su Kang. He didn’t seem surprised by her directness. "Sister Hua, I don't want to hide things from you, so I will admit it." He turned, his gaze softening as he looked at Bai Yunxi, a gentle warmth filling his eyes.

"What you are thinking is correct. She is my woman." He paused, his hand finding Bai Yunxi's and giving it a reassuring squeeze. "I am planning to introduce her to the family slowly. But she wished to know our members on her own terms first."

"I see. She is quite thoughtful. You got a wonderful woman." Su Hua nodded, her knowing smile widening.

She saw the clear affection on her cousin's face, an expression she had never seen before for a woman. Her gaze then shifted to Bai Yunxi, who now looked even more shy, her cheeks tinged with a delicate blush. "Lady Bai, come here and take a seat as well."

Bai Yunxi moved to the table and sat, her posture still poised despite her nervousness. Su Hua studied her for a long moment. Bai Yunxi's cultivation was low, only at the Qi Refining realm, but Su Hua felt no objection to it. There was something unique about her aura that cultivation level alone could not grant.

"So," Su Hua began, her tone friendly and inquisitive, "Lady Bai, if you don't mind, can you tell me how you two met?”

The questions were simple, but they were first step. Taking a deep breath Bai Yunxi started to tell about the prepared story of their first meeting—him rescuing her in a small town. Su Kang would occasionally add a small detail to help their story.

Their conversation stretched on. The morning light grew warmer withe the time. Things were going smoothly, and a quiet sense of relief settled over Bai Yunxi.

“I am certain Grandfather will be delighted to know about this,” Su Hua said, a genuine smile gracing her lips. The smile then softened, turning into one of self-deprecation. “It has been a long time since you two have spoken. Perhaps this news of Lady Bai will finally melt the ice between you.”

“No,” Su Kang said, his own smile light but firm. “Do not speak of her to Grandfather Li. He has chosen to ignore me for a long time. It is only reasonable that he will be among the last to find out about this.”

Grandpa Li was his grandfather’s younger brother. With his own grandparents long since passed, Grandpa Li had filled that venerated role. Their relationship had once been warm. But a frost had settled between them when Su Kang, in his absence, was given the Core Formation Pill meant for Su Hua. Grandpa Li ceased speaking to him, though he still treated Su Ting with the warmth of an elder. His anger was reserved for Su Kang alone.

“Su Kang, you must listen to me—” Su Hua began, her tone pleading.

“No, Sister,” Su Kang interrupted, shaking his head. A light, confident smile remained on his face, yet his eyes held a deep resolve. “I have apologized enough for that. If his anger must last until the day you step into the Core Formation realm, then so be it. We will speak again when you have truly achieved your breakthrough.”

Su Hua could only let out a soft sigh, the situation like a tangled knot. She was still unaware of the clan's great harvest of spiritual herbs, so she could not take his confident words with the weight they deserved.

Su Kang saw the disbelief in her expression. He understood. He raised his teacup, taking a slow, deliberate sip. A mischievous glint sparked in his eyes. “Sister Hua, there are many things you do not yet know. You should pay a visit to the uncles. In fact,” he paused, setting his cup down with a soft click, “I think you should visit Grandpa Li right now. You might just find him smiling from ear to ear.”

He leaned forward slightly, his voice carrying a trace of amusement in them. “He would absolutely enjoy being the one to deliver such good news himself, so my lips are sealed.” Su Kang laughed, the sound light but filled with hidden meaning. “You should probably go soon. Otherwise, knowing his temperament, he might just come here himself at this rate.”

Su Hua’s brows furrowed, a little trace of confusion appeared on her face. "Su Kang, what are you hiding?" she asked.

"I am hiding nothing," Su Kang replied, his smile unwavering. "As I said yesterday, I have a surprise prepared for you. It is you who chooses not to believe in my words." He gestured gently towards the courtyard exit. "Go now. The news you receive will bring you relief and happiness for sure."

Su Hua studied his confident expression for a moment longer, then let out a soft sigh, a reluctant smile touching her lips. "Very well." She turned her gaze to Bai Yunxi, her expression softening into one of genuine warmth. "Lady Bai, I shall visit you again later. I believe there will be many in our family who will be pleased to make your acquaintance." Follow current novels on novel✶fire.net

"Thank you, Lady Su Hua," Bai Yunxi replied with a respectful nod.

"Please," Su Hua said, her smile widening. "You should just call me Elder Sister Hua."

Bai Yunxi’s eyes widened slightly at the close way of address, a clear sign of acceptance. A delicate smile bloomed on her face. "Umm… Elder Sister Hua. Thank you," she said, her voice soft as she inclined her head once more.

Su Hua returned the nod and then departed, her mind filled with a new confusion, leaving the couple alone in the hall.

Su Kang moved closer to her. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her gently against his side. "With this, you don't have to worry. Sister Hua will help you."

He felt a sense of relief settle in his own heart. Once Bai Yunxi had some acquaintances within the family, he would feel more at ease leaving her within the manor. Right now, she was alone in this vast city. The only people she spoke to occasionally were Su Ting and Yue Mei.

"I'm glad it turned out so well," she whispered. A smile touched her lips as she leaned into him, resting her head against his shoulder. "She didn't ask about things she might have thought were uncomfortable. Sister Hua is really just as you described her."