The day ended with Jade lost in thought, her mind tangled in a storm of questions and unresolved emotions.
It had been hours since Bianca had left her room, but the conversation lingered like a shadow, refusing to be brushed away.
No matter how many times she tried to distract herself—by sorting scrolls, adjusting her cultivation posture, or pacing around her quarters—her thoughts inevitably returned to one thing: Riley.
Specifically, how Riley was drawn to beautiful women.
Jade had never thought much about it before. She'd always assumed strength, reputation, or cultivation prowess would be what mattered most to a man like him.
But now, Bianca's offhanded remarks echoed in her ears with unsettling clarity. The realization gnawed at her—how much of Riley's interest in Bianca stemmed not from her talent, but from her beauty?
Without even realizing it, Jade found herself in her private chambers, her hands untying the familiar folds of her sect uniform.
