Number One Under Heaven

A note from BaiSiwa

If you missed the update in the previous chapter about my absence, then make sure to check the lastest update for new notes if there has been no chapters for 3+ days.

After he finished showing Han Yixue around the first floor by telling her where certain useful scrolls are at, he took her to the stair that would lead them to the second floor.

Han Yixue looked at the ‘stairs’ in front of her with a weird face. Everything was fine--- at least that was what she wanted to believe.

“Master… This is…” she could not help be ask him about the ‘stairs’ in front of her, “Why is there a wooden boat here? And is this water that is colored black? The glittering things underneath this black sea also look like stars in a midnight sky…”

Tian Yi chuckled when he saw her reaction, “This water is called ‘Stellar Water’, and this ocean is called the ‘Celestial Ocean’. You are right when you said the glittering things look like stars--- because they are real stars!”

“What?!” she cried out.

“This ocean literally holds an entire galaxy inside, so if you accidentally fall inside, you’ll be lost in the starry sky forever… your Soul, that is...”

“....”

Han Yixue swallowed her saliva with force when she heard that while looking at the boat. ‘Don’t tell me we have to cross this in that wooden boat?’ she asked herself.

“Do not worry, we will be fine as long as we travel to the next floor with the wooden boat,” he said, making her thoughts come true.

Tian Yi did not say anything else and jumped into the boat, making it sway.

“Master!” Han Yixue cried out with a nervous tone.

“Relax, I will not fall.”

The boat swayed left and right looking like it could flip over any second, yet it didn't happen even after a whole minute of swaying.

“See?” said Tian Yi as he waved his hand, “come join me.”

“....”

Han Yixue swallowed another mouthful of saliva forcefully. And closing her eyes, she jumped.

“!!!”

Tian Yi was shocked when she jumped with her eyes closed. What if she jumped into the water instead?! Hell, it even looked like she will miss the boat and jump into the water!

With a swift movement, he stood up and went to catch the jumping Han Yixue who was still in midair. Hooking his right arm around her waist, Tian Yi safely catches her and returns to the wooden boat.

Han Yixue decided to jump with her eyes closed because she did not want to see the water that made her reluctant to jump. And she had trust in her Master that nothing would go wrong. So with that in her mind, she jumped with her eyes closed. However, not even a second later, she could feel something wrap around her waist.

When she opened her eyes due to surprise, she could see herself on the boat with Tian Yi’s arm hugging her waist, and a drop of sweat could even be seen on his forehead. “M-Master?!” she called out in surprise.

“Y-You had to jump with your eyes closed? You were not even close to reaching the boat!” he said.

“Ahh… sorry…” she apologized after realizing the situation.

Tian Yi sighed, and said, “You do not have to apologize for every mistake you make. If you make a mistake and somebody fixes it for you, say ‘thank you’ instead of ‘sorry’.”

“Yes, Master, thank you,” she said.

Tian Yi smiled while nodding, then he retrieved his hand from her slim waist and sat down on the two seaters wooden boat.

Han Yixue followed him, and afraid to accidentally make the boat sway, she sat down in a careful manner.

The two of them faced each other as the boat began to drift into the distance surrounded by darkness that was slightly brightened due to the glittering stars beneath them.

“....”

“.......”

Han Yixue was starting to blush because Tian Yi has been facing her with a calm face for the past few minutes. She tried holding it in, but that was simply impossible when the only people around were the two of them. They were even close enough to see every detail of the face from opposite side!

“U-Um, Master…?” she started a conversation trying to ignore her blushing!

“Yes?” Tian Yi answered, paying even more attention to her because she was about to speak.

“....”

Such actions only made her face even redder. Luckily they were in a dark place so it was not easy to see the redness on her face.

“W-Why did you accept me as your disciple?” she asked the question that was hidden deep within her heart. The more she learns about her Master, the more she felt that she was not worthy of someone like him. She was afraid to ask such a question because of all the girls that have been following him before her. But now that they are alone, she was somehow able to ask this question. Maybe it was because of the things that had just happen which also made her feel closer to him.

“Because I like you,” said Tian Yi without a pause. His face was still as calm as before even after saying such things.

“?!?!?!”

Han Yixue did not know how to reply and the blood in her face began boiling, making her face as red as a tomato!

However, Tian Yi was not finished speaking, so he continued, “It was not obvious at first, but as I meet more people, I would have this feeling that would creep up on me. And whenever I feel such feelings, I know that I will enjoy being with such a person and wouldn’t mind spending all my time with them. It has always ended up that way, so I know it is not something imaginary.”

“A weird feeling?” Han Yixue resisted her embarrassment and asked.

“Un. It’s hard to explain it, but I guess you can call it an instinct.”

“Is that what you also felt when meeting with the other girls?” she could not help but ask.

“I guess you can say that,” he said.

‘Then this means that the way he feels towards me is the same as the girls?’ she thought, and such a thought made her smile knowingly. Although it has only been a week since she joined them, she has always felt inferior to the other girls because they have been with him longer. But now that she knows his feelings, she could tell that her shadow is not as far behind as what she had thought.

“You find it funny too, huh?” said Tian Yi.

“Huh?” Han Yixue was confused at first, but then she realized that she was actually smiling!

“Ah! No, Master, I definitely do not find it funny! As a matter of fact, I actually find it kind of romantic---”

‘Ah…’ she instantly regretted saying that.

“Romantic, huh?” Tian Yi suddenly closed his eyes to think.

“....”

Han Yixue did not want to bother him while he was in his thoughts, so she stayed quiet and silently watched his face. She was finally able to look at his face without blushing, so why wouldn’t she take advantage of such times?

Tian Yi finally opened back his eyes, and he said, “Yixue… What does it mean to be romantic? What is love?”

“Umm….” she did not expect such an embarrassing question to come out of his mouth, and she did not know how to properly answer such a question.

“Master, to tell you the truth, I also do not know what it means to be in love. I have never really thought about it until recently----” she paused, not daring to continue her sentence.

And after a moment of pause, she finally continues speaking, “Although I do not know what it means to be in love, I do remember my mother saying something like love is a feeling that you feel towards someone you want to be with... forever…?” she had a slight pause before saying the word ‘forever’ with a question mark at the end.

“Someone I want to be with forever?” Tian Yi closes his eyes to think again.

Seeing the opportunity, Han Yixue grasps the advantage once again and stares at his normal face.

‘Master has such a normal looking face, yet when I compare him to those who had a handsome face back there, none of them could give me the same feeling I get when I look at his face… the feeling of secureness and warmth...’

‘Love… someone who you want to be with forever… Is this love…?” she asked herself as she looked at Tian Yi.

‘No, we are in two different worlds. Even if what I feel is really love, there is no way we can be together…’ a bitter smile appeared on her face as she had such thoughts.

It took Tian Yi longer than before, but he eventually reopen his eyes, and when he did gentle smile appeared on his once. Although he has made many gentle smiles before, this one was different. It had a different type of warmth and aura to it.

Attracted by this awfully mesmerizing smile, Han Yixue could not help but call for him, “Master…?”

“Love is a feeling one has towards someone they want to be with forever… I guess you are right, Yixue. I really enjoy my time so far, and I would love to have all of us to continue such times forever… I guess this means that I love all of you girls…” he said with an innocent and pure tone.

“.....”

Han Yixue sucked in a deep breath, and she covered her mouth with her hands.

“Yixue...? Why are you crying?”

Tian Yi was bewildered at her reaction. Her eyes had just turned watery and the tears were already on the verge of falling.

“Y-Yixue…?” Tian Yi moved closer to her, and he held out his hand to wipe the tears from her eyes with his robe.

After being touched by his soft robes, Han Yixue finally snaps awake, “I-It’s nothing, Master. Sorry---” she paused to remove her hand that blocked her blushing face, “Thank you, Master!” A bright smile appeared on her face. This one was also different from the ones she made before. It was much more sincere and full of happiness.

Tian Yi was able to see that, and he smiled, “This is the most beautiful smile I have seen from you... yet.”

Han Yixue’s smile became even more beautiful after hearing that, and she said, “Master, that’s not fair, you are really not being fair…”

“What? How am I not being fair?” he asked.

“Everything Master does is not fair…”

“....”

He turned silent, and so did Han Yixue.

“Master…” she called for him.

“Yes?”

“I really love you,” she said, her face red.

Tian Yi smiled, and said, “Me too.”

Although Han Yixue knew that he did not really mean it that way, it still made her extremely happy. The things that has happened on this day has been the happiest moments of her life and will forever remain in her heart.

After that, neither of them talked and they silently looked at each other as they arrive at the exit shortly after.