Chapter 2

Gordon claimed the demonic cultivator messed up his soul, leaving him plagued by nightmares and inner demons.

None of those soul-calming pills or spirit-clearing arrays did a thing for him. Every night, the only way he could get any sleep was if I was right there beside him.

His master could only go along with it, having no other solution.

At first, Gordon refused to accept that I had no talent for cultivation.

He'd take my hand and guide me through drawing spiritual energy into my body, over and over again.

I was so anxious that sweat streamed down my face, but I couldn't grasp even the basics, no matter how hard I tried.

He'd wipe my forehead, encouraging me again and again, teaching me hand-in-hand without ever losing patience.

Meanwhile, our master would stroke his beard, watch us with a grin and joke that we were childhood sweethearts.

I pushed myself to train as hard as I could, all so he wouldn't have to feel ashamed of me.

But between mortals and cultivators, there was a wall no one could ever climb.

Six months passed with me stuck in the same place, and after so many times I messed up, Gordon's patience finally ran out.

He frowned and pulled his hand away when I tried to hold it.

Gordon snapped, "Samantha Randall, even three-year-olds in the outer sect can remember this simple mantra. Why can't you get it right?

"Are you even trying? Or do you think I'm not dedicated enough to teach you?"

With Gordon grilling me like that, my face flushed red, and I stammered, unable to say a word.

I did try, I swear I did. But my mind was like a block of stone. No matter how hard I knocked on it, nothing ever got through.

The master noticed how uncomfortable I was and pulled Gordon aside for a quiet word.

He said, "Gordon, Samantha doesn't have any spiritual roots, so don't force her. Our sect has plenty of beauty pills and longevity elixirs. If you care about her, keep her youthful appearance for her lifetime and grant her peace and comfort through every passing year. That's more than enough."

I was hiding behind the screen, so happy I almost jumped for joy.

I never wanted to become immortal. I wanted to stay with him a little longer.

But then, his next words crushed all my dreams.

"Master, those pills are rare and valuable. She's a mortal. Life and death are part of her fate. Using spirit medicine to force her to live longer is against the natural order, and it's... a waste of those pills," Gordon said.

From that day on, Gordon stopped teaching me altogether.

Later, the sect leader brought back a new junior disciple, Cosima Hopkins.

She was drop-dead gorgeous. To Gordon, she was definitely not someone he'd ever call stupid.

For a complicated sword technique, Gordon only had to show her once, and Cosima could already pull off those beautiful sword moves like she'd been practicing for ages.

Gordon watched Cosima with pure admiration and amazement, while I looked at him and felt crushed inside.

Refusing to give up, I hid in the bamboo grove behind the mountain, clutching a bamboo stick and mimicking sword moves again and again. But I was so clumsy, I tripped and face-planted right into the dirt.

Just my luck. Gordon and Cosima came back from sword practice and caught me sprawled out on the ground.

Upon seeing me in such a mess, Cosima almost laughed herself to tears. "Gordon, look at Samantha. She's practicing swordplay, but it looks like she's digging for scraps in the dirt."

Gordon frowned.

He said, "Samantha, you don't have any spiritual roots. Don't waste your effort.

"Looking like that, you're humiliating me."

I stood frozen, my cheeks burning.

In that moment, I swore I'd never like Gordon again. So when he snatched away my mother's emerald pendant, I stood up against him for the very first time.

"Why?" I shout.

"Because you're a mere mortal. Having something precious only brings you trouble. Better hand it over before it causes you any harm," Gordon replied.

I shouted, "Gordon, I hate you!

"I'm not marrying you."

Gordon paused mid-step, then turned and stared right at me.

He said, "Oh.

"So why are you still sticking around on this mountain?"

Before I left, I went to say goodbye to the master.

His master let out a sigh.

"Samantha, are you really going to leave?" he asked.

I nodded.

"If you leave... what about Gordon?" he added.

His words made my chest tighten with a bittersweet ache.

But on second thought, if I left, Gordon wouldn't have to deal with me, his clueless, embarrassing fiancée, who would drag him down. He'd still be the genius sword cultivator everyone admired.

Honestly, he'd probably be glad to see me go.

"*****

At the Kaelth Sword Tournament, Gordon took first place as expected.

"

While the sect elders beamed with pride and Cosima was practically bouncing with excitement, Gordon was oddly calm, almost bored, even a little annoyed.

At the celebration dinner, the air was thick with laughter and the clinking of glasses.

After a few rounds of drinks, a group of loose cultivators, emboldened by the alcohol, stumbled over to Gordon, who was sitting alone in the corner, drinking by himself. They stammered out their admiration, a bit tipsy.

Gordon gave them a reserved nod, his expression cool and distant.

A few Kaelth inner sect disciples, usually crushed by Gordon's presence, finally got bold after a few drinks and started tossing out snarky comments, thanks to the booze.

"Well, well, even the mighty Gordon has his down-and-out moments."

"I heard he's going to marry a dim-witted mortal to repay a debt of gratitude. Isn't that ridiculous?"

"Seriously, it's such a shame he's going to marry someone unworthy."

A clear dragon's roar rang out, and the raucous laughter in the hall was cut off instantly.