Grand Return System

Chapter 306: Words That Stirred the Heart

Words That Stirred the Heart

For quite some time, Anna said nothing at all.

Her eyes dropped, sorting through a storm of ideas spinning inside. A few slow breaths passed until the right words came, slipping out like pebbles from closed fingers.

A shadow of letdown brushed her lovely features, yet her gaze stayed steady.

"I’m sorry... but I can’t accept it."

For a moment she stopped, then went on. Her words came out steady, quiet but firm.

"I dislike owing people more than anything. We’re neither Pathbound Companions nor teacher and student. I don’t think it’s right for me to keep accepting gifts from you."

A hush dropped over the two. Stillness held its breath where words had been.

A soft wind moved across the open space, bringing along the scent of fresh blossoms. Up in the branches, foliage whispered now and then, layering the stillness with calm sound.

He watched her, silent. Stillness held his eyes fixed on Anna.

Over again, he turned her voice around inside his head. The way she spoke stayed with him, repeating without effort.

Her saying no had nothing to do with wanting more. Not a hint of fake humility showed up. Politeness just to look good? That wasn’t what moved her.

Her stance stayed firm, never bending what she believed. She would not trade integrity for ease.

A small grin pulled one side of Leon’s mouth upward.

"So... that’s what was bothering you."

Surprise crept in before he could stop it.

Out of everything, those little thunderflower pins barely registered. Respect for Anna? That came long before any gift, built on truth and the way she spoke without hiding. Offering things to someone so clear in who they are - never once sat heavy. She made giving feel ordinary.

A finger touched his jaw, stillness settling in while thoughts moved behind his eyes.

Out of nowhere, a spark lit up his gaze - like something just clicked.

Out of nowhere, a grin began to grow on his lips. Then came the quiet joy lighting up his eyes. That moment shifted everything - soft, unforced, full of mischief.

Her gaze steady, he met Anna’s eyes without blinking, his voice carrying a hint of playfulness. A quiet amusement lingered behind each word. Not sharp, but soft - like wind brushing glass. He held the moment just long enough to notice her breath slow. Words slipped out, smooth yet edged with something unspoken. Stillness followed, then a half-smile from her. The air between them shifted, lighter now, less guarded.

"A Pathbound Companion...?"

A pause held the air just long enough. Then his smile stretched, slow and quiet.

"Well... we could become one."

Out of nowhere, silence swallowed everything the moment he spoke.

Her eyes jerked open. A noise pulled her attention upward.

A sudden stillness took her when his calm look touched her face. Crimson-tinged eyes grew wide under that quiet warmth.

Her surroundings blurred, slipping away like smoke on a breeze.

The whispering wind.

The rustling leaves.

Even the distant sounds of the courtyard disappeared.

All she could hear...

was the frantic rhythm of her own heart.

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

Each beat echoed inside her chest, louder than the last.

For one fleeting moment, she was convinced Leon could hear it too.

Warmth rushed across her cheeks.

Her breathing became uneven.

Is...

Is he confessing to me?

The thought exploded inside her mind like a bolt of lightning.

Does he... really like me?

She felt as though an invisible current had run through her entire body.

Her legs suddenly felt weak.

Her fingertips trembled ever so slightly.

Her heart, which had remained calm for so many years, now seemed ready to melt.

What’s happening to me...?

Why do I feel so happy after hearing those words?

She couldn’t understand herself.

She had spent most of her life immersed in cultivation. Matters of love had always seemed distant, almost irrelevant.

Yet now...

Just one sentence from Leon had completely thrown her emotions into chaos.

She couldn’t help asking herself.

Could it be...

Do I really like him?

Almost immediately, she shook her head inside.

No.

Impossible.

We’ve only just met.

How could I fall for someone so quickly?

Then another thought quietly surfaced.

Could this really be... the legendary love at first sight?

Anna denied it again.

She simply couldn’t accept such an unbelievable conclusion.

Anyone who believed in love after a single meeting was being far too impulsive...

At least, that was what she had always thought.

Yet no matter how many excuses she found, her racing heart refused to calm down.

She clenched her hands tightly inside her sleeves.

Damn it...

I want to refuse...

So why can’t I say the words?

It was as if another voice deep inside her heart kept whispering to her.

Don’t reject him.

Listen to him.

Stay beside him.

The two voices constantly pulled at one another, leaving her completely at a loss.

Anna felt as though she was about to cry.

She had never experienced such inner conflict before.

After struggling with herself for what felt like an eternity, she finally looked back up at Leon.

He still stood there patiently, waiting for her answer without the slightest intention of pressuring her.

Seeing that calm expression somehow made her even more flustered.

After a long silence, she finally gathered enough courage to speak.

"This... isn’t good. We’ve only just met."

She paused briefly before continuing with complete seriousness.

"I heard from Senior Brother Headmaster Orion that all Pathbound Companions in the world have a process of getting to know each other, interacting with each other, and a sweet love process. After experiencing these processes, we can officially confirm our relationship, cultivate together, and advance and retreat together."

Every word she spoke was earnest.

There wasn’t the slightest trace of embarrassment in her explanation.

To her, this wasn’t common knowledge gained through personal experience.

It was simply what she had been taught.

Headmaster Orion had once patiently explained these matters to her, and since she knew almost nothing about relationships herself, she had accepted every word as the truth.

After all...

Why would her Senior Brother ever deceive her?

Leon listened quietly.

As the explanation ended, the corners of his lips lifted into an amused smile.

He couldn’t help laughing inwardly.

This girl really doesn’t know anything about relationships.

Her innocence was so genuine that it almost worried him.

Someone with such a pure heart could easily become the target of a manipulative person.

The thought made his smile gradually soften.

Someone this trusting...

If she ever met someone with ill intentions, she’d be deceived before she even realized it.

I don’t want anyone taking advantage of her innocence.

If someone is going to protect that innocence... then I’d rather it be me.

Keeping those thoughts hidden, Leon maintained a thoughtful expression as if he were seriously considering her words.

After a moment, he nodded.

"Yes, what you said makes sense. It’s indeed a little inappropriate to decide so rashly."