Chapter 3

Carter's voice sounded above me, still gentle, but now there was a heaviness in it I couldn't quite understand. I didn't dare look up, just murmured, "Carter."

His gaze landed on my bare neck, then swept over my deliberately distant posture. His fingers twitched slightly.

He said, "The sealed realm is dangerous, and you tend to overlook traps. We..."

"There's no need for you to worry, Carter," I cut him off, my words rushing out. "I've already teamed up with some other disciples. I'll take care of myself, so you don't need to concern yourself."

As soon as I finished speaking, I saw his hand at his side tighten abruptly, his knuckles turning white.

"Other disciples?" Carter sounded hesitant, almost like he couldn't believe what he'd just heard.

And right on cue, the screen comments popped up again, as usual, totally ruining the mood.

[Michelle's at it again, pretending she doesn't care. She can't let go of Carter, but she's still acting all aloof.]

[LOL, does she really think she can get away? Carter's meant for Reeva, period.]

[Move aside already. Just wait till Reeva shows up. Michelle's gonna be so awkward.]

[Seriously, is nobody else seeing the way Carter's looking at Michelle? The chemistry is off the charts.]

[Seriously, you need your eyes checked. Where's the chemistry? That's just straight-up disgust, not chemistry.]

My chest tightened. Before Carter could get another word out, the sealed realm erupted in a flash of blinding white light.

I gathered every bit of spirit power I had and threw myself in the opposite direction from Carter, pushing myself to the limit as I fled.

Only one thought echoed in my mind—run. Run as far as possible, get out of his world, break away from the path the story had set for me.

By the time I came to my senses, I was already inside the sealed realm.

Ancient trees towered overhead, the air thick with poisonous miasma. Sticking to my plan, I dove straight into the most barren, rocky valley I could find.

There were barely any resources here, so almost no disciples ever bothered to come. That was perfect for me.

For the next few days, I kept a low profile, only cultivating in empty corners where no one ever went. If I bumped into any other disciples, I'd quietly slip away.

And the moment I heard Carter or Reeva's names, I'd make myself scarce right away.

Every now and then, the screen would float by with comments, saying the plot was drifting. Carter wasn't looking out for Reeva, wasn't picking rare herbs for her, and wasn't taking down beasts for her.

I just ignored them, letting it all go in one ear and out the other.

Since the story was already shifting, as long as I didn't run into them or get involved with them, I might just make it out alive.

Of course, things never go as planned. On the evening of the fifth day, I was huddled in a cave, making a fire to treat my injuries. Earlier, I'd taken down a third-rank beast, but its claws had left a burning gash on my arm.

Head bowed as I applied ointment, I suddenly caught the faintest sound of footsteps at the cave entrance.

It wasn't a beast. This was the presence of a cultivator.

My heart tightened. I grabbed my sword, ready to hide, but that familiar silhouette in white was already standing at the entrance.

The setting sun behind him stretched his shadow out, and it fell across me, covering me completely.

Carter stood there, staring at me, his eyes full of emotions I'd never seen before—confusion, a touch of resentment, questions he'd kept inside for ages, and just the faintest trace of hurt.

He didn't say anything, his eyes zeroing in on the wound on my arm. His brows furrowed, and he walked over quickly.

"How did you get hurt?" Carter asked.

He reached for my arm, unable to hide the urgency in his voice.

I jerked back, my shoulders hitting the stone wall as I tried to put space between us.

He stopped mid-motion, caught off guard by my reaction.

The cave was dead silent, except for the crackling of the fire.

His hand, still hanging in midair, slowly dropped, knuckles turning white. After a long moment, he finally spoke, his voice hoarse and sounding wounded. "Michelle, what are you avoiding?

"I can't even remember when it started, but you've been keeping your distance from me for so long.

"You won't take anything I give you. You won't walk with me, you won't reply to my messages, and you don't even wear the pendant I gave you anymore..."

He stepped closer, his eyes fixed on me, his gaze stubborn and earnest. "Tell me, what happened?"

As I stared at his face, so close I could almost feel his breath, my defenses faltered for a second.

But right then, the screen exploded. Every comment was a dagger to my soul.

[Seriously, why is Carter still paying attention to Michelle? She's just here to prop up Reeva. How much longer is he going to keep getting tangled up with her?]

[Ugh, Michelle's just playing the victim again, getting hurt so Carter will feel sorry for her. Chill, he'll be back with Reeva in no time.]

[Anyone else think Carter's about to totally lose it? Michelle's ignoring him and he's falling apart.]

[Are you guys really shipping this? Michelle, just leave already. You're such a third wheel. I just want to see Carter and Reeva's pure romance.]

Those screen comments snapped me right back to reality, icy and unforgiving.

I couldn't let myself go soft. I couldn't look back.

I lifted my head, forcing a smile, and made myself speak, each word steady and clear. "Carter, I'm not avoiding you.

"It's just... I've grown up now, and I can't always lean on you like before. There's someone else who's more important to me these days, so I hope you'll understand."

"Someone more important?" Carter was taken aback, his expression clouding over. "Who is it?"

I didn't reply. Instead, I looked away, watching the twilight deepen outside the cave.

Carter stared at me, his eyes turning icy, and the atmosphere around him felt frozen.

I'd never seen Carter act this way.

He felt like a stranger—aloof, cold, and there was a hint of possessiveness in his gaze.

I gripped the hem of my robe so tightly my knuckles turned white, repeating to myself over and over that just let it be this way.

Stay away from him, don't fall for him. Don't get close, and don't become that poor girl he destroyed with a single strike to her inner core.

'I just want to survive.'