Walker Of The Worlds

2758  A Stolen Heart From A Single Gaze

As Lin Muʼs eyes wandered around the tea house, he spotted the detached building behind the circular lake. Towering ten stories high, it had several large balconies opening toward the lake, offering a breathtaking view of the serene waters below. The architecture was elegant, with intricate carvings adorning the pillars and a roof shaped like a phoenix in flight.

Not only did the balconies provide a splendid vantage point of the lake, but they also faced the ocean, allowing for an unparalleled view of the sunset. This was a remarkable sight, considering that the Jui World did not revolve from east to west like many others. Instead, it rotated in the opposite direction, causing the sun to set on the eastern horizon. It was an unusual celestial phenomenon, but it did not significantly affect daily life. The people of the Jui World had long grown accustomed to it, accepting it as natural. In the vast expanse of the immortal world, countless other worlds exhibited even stranger rotations, some revolving around not just one, but two suns. The ever-changing celestial mechanics resulted in unpredictable days and nights, making the Jui World seem almost mundane in comparison.

As Lin Mu observed the elegant balconies, he was unaware that he himself had become the subject of observation. From one of the balconies, a group of noblewomen was engaged in idle chatter, their attention now captured by his presence.

”Oh my, who is that handsome man?” A woman dressed in light green robes asked, fanning herself as she leaned forward slightly. Her eyes glowed with curiosity as she examined Lin Mu from afar.

Seated with her were several other women, each of them adorned in luxurious garments, their every movement attended to by a retinue of maids and servants. Among them, one woman stood out above all.

She was draped in a deep blue robe embroidered with shimmering threads, forming intricate depictions of lakes, rivers, and swimming fish. Her raven-black hair was styled into an elaborate arrangement of braids and buns, secured by an array of jeweled pins and golden ornaments, each one an immortal tool in its own right. A triangular sapphire gemstone rested elegantly on her forehead, enhancing the mature and sophisticated beauty she effortlessly exuded.

Her skin was smooth, unblemished, and fair as moonlight. Her long, dark lashes framed eyes that held a quiet depth, concealing a world of untold secrets. The curve of her lips remained poised, betraying nothing of her thoughts.

Draped over her shoulders, the folds of her robe subtly parted, revealing glimpses of pale, sculpted legs, while the neckline of her attire hinted at the gentle swell of her bosom. She was, without question, the most mesmerizing woman in the room.

And yet, unlike the other ladies who engaged in excited conversation, Lady Yeon remained reserved, her eyes closed as if lost in her own world.

”Who are you talking about?” Another woman, dressed in golden yellow, asked curiously.

”Down there. Look.” The woman in green gestured with her fan. ”The man sitting alone.”

The woman in yellow followed her gaze, her expression shifting the moment she laid eyes on Lin Mu. ”Heavens be blessed... he is truly striking.”

”I donʼt recall ever seeing a man like that in the city before.” Another noblewoman mused, frowning slightly in thought.

”What noble clan is he from? I canʼt tell.”

”His robes are of high quality, but they bear no crest.” The green-robed woman noted, her eyes scanning Lin Mu intently.

”Perhaps he is from another city?” someone speculated.

”Or maybe a cultivation sect?” another voice chimed in.

”Oh! Letʼs turn this into a game!” the woman in green proposed, a mischievous glint in her eye.

At that moment, Lady Yeon, who had remained silent, finally opened her eyes. ”A game?” she murmured, her voice like a delicate chime in the wind.

The other women exchanged glances, their expressions tinged with surprise.

”Even Lady Yeon is interested? Has the sun truly risen from the east today?” one of them joked.

”It is not often you all become so excited over a single man,” Lady Yeon remarked, sitting up straighter. ”Let me take a look.”

As she leaned forward and set her gaze upon Lin Mu, the moment seemed to stretch into eternity.

A jolt ran through her as her eyes met his.

For an instant, the world around her blurred. The lively chatter of the tea house faded into silence, the light breeze that caressed her skin was forgotten. It was as if she had been pulled into an entirely different realm.

A battlefield.

The sky was thick with the scent of blood, and a crimson river snaked its way through an endless field of corpses. Beasts and warriors lay strewn across the land, their bodies twisted in the throes of death. Amidst the carnage, a lone man stood tall, swords in both hands, his body drenched in the lifeblood of his enemies. His aura of slaughter was overwhelming, yet there was something about him—a raw, untamed power that beckoned to her, that pulled her in like a moth to a raging inferno.

It was him.

The same man who sat calmly in the tea house below, unaware that he had just shattered her world with a single gaze.

Reality snapped back into place, and Lady Yeon felt her breath hitch. A faint flush colored her usually composed face, her heart pounding within her chest.

The other women noticed the rare change in her demeanor and gasped in shock.

”Lady Yeon... you...!” They had never seen her so visibly affected before.

She was a woman of great pride, one who had dismissed suitors of the highest status, including several Imperial Princes. She had always remained indifferent to the admiration of men, unyielding and untouchable.

And yet today, she was completely captivated.

”He is... perfect.” Lady Yeon whispered, her voice barely above a breath.

Her words sent another wave of disbelief through the group.

”The heavens must be in chaos!”

”Lady Yeon, the same Lady Yeon who rejected royalty, is interested in this man?”