The Unwavering Gaze

Bathing.

Using the latrine.

Sleeping.

Mu Qingli’s presence never seemed to vanish.

Her golden eyes, as if they would never extinguish, perpetually lingered around Lin Mo, her gaze always fixed upon him.

Books and television shows often discussed how one might discern if a boy harbored affection for a girl.

The most direct method, they claimed, was to observe the way a boy looked at her.

A gaze, it seemed, served as a window into the deepest recesses of the heart, through which many unspoken secrets could be glimpsed.

When affection resided in one’s heart, their gaze, as if drawn by a magnet, would invariably and unconsciously settle upon the object of their devotion.

Amidst a bustling crowd, their eyes would precisely pierce through countless obstacles, locking onto that singular, special person.

That gaze might be fervent, like a burning flame, brimming with endless passion and yearning.

When their eyes met, it was as if a thousand words were conveyed, all suppressed emotions pouring forth in that single instant.

Or perhaps it was tender, akin to a spring breeze, softly caressing the other’s face, imbued with delicate care and doting affection.

In the quiet classroom, sunlight streamed through the window onto the desks.

He would steal glances at her, his eyes brimming with youthful shyness and adoration.

His gaze would gently trace the curve of her hair, the lines of her brows and eyes, her lips, as if admiring a rare treasure, unwilling to miss a single, minute detail.

Then, at a lively banquet, his eyes would search through the throng for her figure; once found, an undeniable flicker of delight would cross his face, and his gaze would become irrevocably fixed, closely following her every movement, as if the entire world had narrowed to encompass only her.

To comprehend someone’s gaze was akin to deciphering a silent love poem, with affection hidden between every unspoken line.

‘Could it be, then, that Mu Qingli’s ever-present, unwavering gaze signaled that she had fallen in love with him?’

Had he just arrived in this world, Lin Mo would have readily believed it.

He had, after all, consumed countless television shows and books on the subtle art of conveying hidden affection, and a lingering gaze was always presented as the paramount method.

Yet now, he understood that constantly observing someone’s every move didn’t necessarily stem from profound love; it could, instead, be a desire to expose a conspiracy, to uncover a lie, or to tear down a facade!

‘Mu Qingli’s incessant scrutiny of him surely meant he had exposed something.’

Indeed, Mu Qingli’s chilling gaze, like a biting winter wind, radiated an icy coldness.

Her narrowed eyes weren’t an attempt to obscure her vision, but rather to sharpen her focus on Lin Mo, allowing her to scrutinize every minute detail.

Her eyes, slightly squinted, resembled two narrow slits, yet this did nothing to diminish the penetrating intensity of her stare.

She was, quite simply, observing her prey!

Every subtle movement, every fleeting change in expression, escaped her not.

Her gaze enveloped Lin Mo like an invisible net, holding him captive.

Under her relentless scrutiny, Lin Mo felt like a small insect exposed beneath the harsh sun, with nowhere to hide.

Mu Qingli’s gaze began at the crown of his head, slowly descending, sweeping over his forehead, eyebrows, and eyes, as if she were appraising a work of art, unwilling to overlook a single flaw.

‘She… she must have noticed, she definitely sensed his attempts to escape!’

At that very moment, Lin Mo, who was busy constructing a makeshift stove within the Sect Master’s residence in preparation for cooking, felt cold sweat trickling down his back.

He couldn’t fathom where he had given himself away.

‘Was it in the minor details? The expression on his face? Or had he accidentally let something slip?’

‘Where exactly had he erred? Could it be that Mu Qingli possessed telepathy? Had she read his thoughts?!’

‘No, that couldn’t be right.’

‘If she truly possessed mind-reading abilities, the sheer volume of his thoughts alone would condemn him to death multiple times over.’

‘Leaving aside his escape plans, even his wild fantasies would be enough to kill him several times.’

‘What had gone wrong, then, to cause Mu Qingli to suddenly fix her unwavering gaze upon him, unwilling to let him out of her sight for even a moment?’

Lin Mo’s hands trembled slightly, but he exerted immense effort to suppress it, knowing that even a flicker of panic would likely only confirm Mu Qingli’s suspicions.

Suddenly, a thought surged through his mind, coursing through his entire body like an electric current.

‘Could it be possible… that he had never truly dispelled Mu Qingli’s suspicions? That he had never, in fact, earned her trust?’

‘Perhaps his “love magic” had never worked at all!’

Lin Mo’s breathing grew heavy.

‘What made him believe it would work on Mu Qingli? A few simple words?’

It had worked on Qiu Yue, but then again, Qiu Yue was an innocent young lady, unfamiliar with the ways of the world; his sweet nothings had likely been quite effective on her.

Moreover, Qiu Yue already harbored a fondness for him—a simple affection, akin to a child’s love for a toy—and this, perhaps, was why his “love magic” had proven effective.

His current opponent, however, was Mu Qingli, the Sect Master herself, an ancient being who had lived for an unknown span of time.

Having been sidelined, ostracized, and left alone to guard a dilapidated Sect Master’s residence, a person who could endure such circumstances for so long must have witnessed the full spectrum of human nature, from warmth to coldness, and had likely grown accustomed to countless sweet lies.

‘Did he truly think he could dismiss such a person with a few mere words?’

‘He… he had been far too naive.’

‘Why had Mu Qingli seemed so amenable?’

‘She simply didn’t believe a word he said, merely humoring him!’

‘Oh heavens… he had almost courted eternal damnation!’

Lin Mo swallowed hard, realizing he needed a long-term strategy.

Lin Mo furtively glanced behind him; Mu Qingli’s eyes were indeed watching him.

“What is it?” Mu Qingli, noticing Lin Mo’s gaze, immediately inquired.

‘!’

‘How remarkably sharp; she was indeed monitoring his every move.’

“I… I was just worried if Master would be tired? After all, you—”

“No,” she replied.

“Oh… then this disciple will continue with his work.”

“I need to finish building this stove quickly; cooking will be much simpler afterward.”

“Mm.”

Mu Qingli responded succinctly.

She continued to watch Lin Mo, her eyes fixed upon him.

Her gaze felt almost tangible, clinging tightly to Lin Mo, making him feel as though he stood under a harsh spotlight, every action and every expression magnified infinitely.

Lin Mo’s declaration, “I need you,” was like an indelible mark, etched deeply into Mu Qingli’s mind.

Each of those simple three words seemed to hold boundless power, like a stone cast into a tranquil lake, sending ripples across the mirrored surface of her usually placid heart.

Every time she recalled them, a faint tremor ran through her heartstrings.

It was a subtle sensation, like a spring breeze brushing over a newly thawed stream, the water beneath the ice beginning to flow gently, carrying a hint of warmth.

Though Lin Mo was a man, he seemed different from others.

He wasn’t as detestable, nor was he prone to endless lies and boastful pronouncements.

In this cruel world, to survive, men seemed capable of any sordid act, like beasts driven by primal instinct.

Betrayal, for them, ought to be commonplace; they could readily abandon their vows and forsake their dignity, all for the slightest chance at survival.

Yet Lin Mo had not done so, a fact that Mu Qingli found utterly astonishing.

Even facing imminent death, he had still refused to depart with Zhao Qiubai.

‘But why?’

‘He must have fallen in love with her at first sight.’