She always appeared at the opportune moment when she was needed, and she always wore that deliberately irritating smile and spoke in a soft, gentle voice. She never seemed fully sincere, but that didn’t mean she felt entirely false. 

Frankly, it was as though a thin sheet of paper always separated her from everyone else, leaving her both close and distant at once. As she grew older, she lost some of her old slyness, but became even more practiced at putting on this act. It was deeply unpleasant.

Ye Xian made no attempt to hide her sarcasm. “As timely as ever. You always make your entrance once all the difficult work has already been handled. Very much your style.”

Lü Yingyue remained entirely unbothered. With a flick of her hands, she shook the blood, splintered bone, and scraps of flesh from the two broken blades. Her smile never wavered.

“Knowing...