Shaking off the thought, Su Xiaobai trudged forward, muttering under his breath. "I've had worse days. Haven't I?"
_____
Elsewhere in the Sect
In her chambers, Bai Yujian stood by the window, her cold gaze fixed on the ruined training grounds. The crater left behind by Su Xiaobai's summoning attempt still shimmered faintly under the moonlight, a quiet reminder of the mess that seemed to follow him like a shadow.
Her lips curved into the faintest smile, though it did not reach her eyes. "What an odd man," she murmured, her voice flat, devoid of warmth or disdain.
The silence in her chambers stretched, broken only by the faint rustle of her robes as she shifted her stance.
'This new disciple of mine… he's either a genius or an idiot.'
For some reason, she couldn't quite decide which.
She had expected him to return to her chambers by now, perhaps to grovel or offer some half-hearted excuse for slapping her hand away earlier.