Twilight stretched across the Nuoding skyline like a watercolor spilling across the world. The academy grounds were quiet, save for the rhythmic cadence of hammers and breath echoing from the secluded training field. Tang Yan and Tang San were in the midst of their advanced hammer drills, sweat glistening under their armor's golden trim.
But this chapter wasn't about them.
It was about the one who watched.
1. Bi Ji's Silent Struggle
Behind the clearing, beneath the branches of a swaying tree, Bi Ji sat on a large stone—knees drawn close, arms hugging herself. Her usually bright expression was dimmed, her eyes reflecting a storm she couldn't speak.
"Maiden of Life," some called her. "Beast Sovereign Healer," others said.
Yet now, she felt powerless.
She had watched Tang Yan grow from a smiling infant into a force of chaos and light. He laughed too loudly, trained too recklessly, and joked without restraint. But he also protected fiercely, cared deeply, and remembered every gesture of kindness.
He never called her "Aunt Bi Ji" again.
No.
Now it was:
"My maid."
And for some reason… it stuck.
"Stupid brat…" she muttered under her breath.
System:"Host's maid detected sulking. Threat level: emotional."
Tianmeng Bug:"I told you this kid's mouth was a weapon."
2. The Turning Point – Flames in the Dark
That night, while the others slept, Bi Ji patrolled the outskirts of the academy's barrier forest. The plants whispered warnings, and the Life attribute pulsing in the air felt disturbed.
Suddenly, a violent tremor.
She rushed forward—only to find Tang Yan shielding two unconscious students, his trident buried in the back of a collapsing Elemental Beastling—a chaotic fusion of corrupted fire and wood essence. The creature emitted poisonous flames that corroded spiritual sense.
Tang Yan stood in front of the students, body smoking, face twisted with effort.
"Bi Ji!" he called. "A little help here?!"
She rushed in, unleashed a field of purifying green light, and neutralized the burning element.
"You idiot!" she shouted. "You should've called sooner!"
Tang Yan, collapsing into a seated sprawl, smiled through the smoke.
"You're my maid. Who else would I call?"
Tianmeng Bug:"Maid loyalty level up. Mission: Protect Fool Achieved."
3. The Confession
Later, beneath the stars, Bi Ji knelt beside Tang Yan, healing his blistered arms.
"You push yourself too far," she murmured.
"I push because others can't afford to," he replied simply. "You've seen it too. The weak students. The ignored kids. Even Xiao Wu's pride hides her fear."
Bi Ji paused.
He looked up at her and grinned. "Isn't it my job to shield the swan from the storm?"
Her eyes widened.
He meant her. The Swan. Not a metaphor.
"You—"
"I don't need another protector," he continued, his voice gentler now. "I need someone to stand with me when it hurts."
Silence.
Bi Ji looked away, biting her lip, but her cheeks were warm.
"…Idiot."
4. The Adults' Discussion
The next day, Gu Yuena and Ah Yin noticed Bi Ji's oddly silent demeanor. She was rarely ever this… shy.
"He called her his maid again, didn't he?" Gu Yuena asked with a smile.
Ah Yin nodded, sipping tea. "And she didn't even argue."
Gu Yuena closed her fan. "One day, she'll realize he doesn't see her as a servant. He sees her as family."
System:"Emotional connection achieved. Upgrade: Maid → Guardian Swan pending."
End of Chapter 74