Sovereign of the Primordial Beasts Cultivator

Gaining trust

The smell of medicine and herbs filled the air. The cold and tiny pricks from the needles on his skin and the hushed mutterings from the healers standing over him were barely noticeable to the weakened Adrian.

His breath was ragged as he struggled on the bed, panting unconsciously as he was being observed. The endless dreams were taking a toll on him and draining him off his energy.

His veins glowed with a golden hue making it even more difficult for the healers. The Supreme Beast Sovereign Physique was trying to heal him, but it was a slow process, a tormenting one.

The endless scribbles of pens on notes from the healers filled the air and disturbed the silence of the room.

The door flung open all of sudden and Elder White walked in, her face grim.

“What's the progress report now?” She asked, her voice stern and her brows raised.

One of them handed a note to her and took a bow with a low whisper.

“Your Grace.”

She ran her eyes through it, and nodded softly, her eyes narrowed at the chief healer.

He stepped forward immediately.

"It’s stabilizing at sixty percent... If we harvest now, the core might collapse. We must let the Sovereign root ground itself in his flesh first,” he explained.

She sighed softly.

“Time is not on our side,” she scoffed and shut the door.

Elder White's calculated footsteps filled the air as she headed back to the small council meeting.

“So?” One of them asked as she walked in.

“The time's not right,” she replied flatly and turned around, slamming the door shut behind her.

Three days had passed and Adrian was still drifting in and out of his dreams, struggling with the healing process. His body was a mess, merely surviving from the failed extraction, Thomas' attack and his self healing process.

But on day four, things took a turn.

His eyes flipped open and he gasped for air, almost running off the bed, but Elder White was sitting right by his side and held him quickly, patting his shoulder softly.

“It's alright, child. You're okay.”

But Adrian's eyes were filled with skepticism. He protested, trying to break free from her grip, but he couldn't.

“Let me go!” He cried. “Where am I? Why are you doing this?!”

She smiled softly, trying to caress his scattered hair but he yanked her away from him.

“You're far away from Thomas now, you're in the Azure Sky Sect and you're safe here, I swear with my life,” she assured.

Adrian paused for a while, his heart still racing as he tried to make sense of what was happening.

“I…I don't understand…”

She leaned right away, patting him on his chest softly.

“I know you're scared, but you're here, you're safe now. The sect will protect you from your family and you'll have enough time to heal before we can make any decisions about your future,” she calmly explained.

Adrian sighed softly and leaned back to the pillow, his racing heart slowly calming.

“What's your name, child?” Elder White asked.

He stared at her for a while before muttering the words.

“Adrian Kane.”

She nodded softly with a warm smile on her face.

“I'm Elder Sarah White, protector of the Nascent Soul realm,” she responded with a warm look.

“Perhaps, you could tell me your story, Adrian. Tell me how you ended up with Thomas, we'll help you get justice.” Her brows furrowed as she stared at him with narrowed eyes, her face full of sympathy.

Adrian paused for a while. He had learned his lesson last time about not listening to his guts, and this time, though he didn't completely feel safe here, there was this unnerving feeling in him that he could trust Elder White.

He took a deep breath and narrated everything to her, excluding no single detail from his narration.

“Did Lord Thomas really do all of these to you, even murdered your parents and still tried to kill you?” She raised her brows, her eyes peeking with curiosity and her face swollen with pity.

Adrian nodded gently, his face pale. He tried to get up, but the pain shot through him, forcing him down.

“Don't worry, you need to rest well. Remember, you can trust me, and you're safe here, okay?”

He nodded in affirmation with a soft smile.

“That will be all for now, child. I'll take up your matter to the council and make sure you get justice,” she stated with a firm look and headed out.

“Did you get everything?” Elder White asked the frail attendant at the other side of the ward.

He nodded slowly.

“Good, send the recording to every member of the council. We have a lot of digging to do,” she stated and headed back to her chambers.

Adrian was well treated and fed as the days went on, aiding his speedy recovery.

“It's been a week now and you've been responding well to treatments,” Elder White complimented as they walked down the hallway, alongside other nurses.

“Where are we going?” Adrian's deep voice echoed across the corners.

She scoffed softly, and didn't turn to him.

“You'll see.”

After walking for a while, they had left the hospital grounds and were now at a small house outside the sect’s outer grounds.

“Here's your new room,” she pointed and opened the door for him. “This,” she showed him all around the place. “This is your recovery residence. You'll be here for now until you're at your full strength,” she said calmly, patting his shoulder.

He smiled softly at her, nodding at intervals as he was shown around. His heart swelled with joy, as once again, he felt loved, but this time, his instincts and guts trusted her, everything about her, the way she carried herself, her aura. He just knew she was the one he could trust.

“If you need anything, you can always come to me,” she reminded, just before she stepped out.

He stared at the whole place in awe, the feeling of home engulfed him and he didn't know when the word slipped from his lips.

“Elder White,” he called.

She turned right back at him with furrowed brows. He stared at her, confused, not knowing what to say. After staring for a few seconds, he finally found the word.

“Thank you,” he said gracefully with a bow.

She chuckled.

“You don't have to thank me, at least not yet, I'm just doing my job.”

With that, she left the room.

Day in day out, he was fed, well taken care of and Elder White never missed a day to check on him. To Adrian, they really cared, but the real truth said otherwise.

“Keep track of his progress, we need him as soon as possible,” Elder White whispered to the nurse as she headed back to her chambers with a grin on her face.

A week later, Adrian was flaming with cultivation energy, burning the traps he had set in his training chambers when soft footsteps approached the door. He paused immediately, his eyes narrowed at the door.

“Elder White?” He called, but the door creaked open and left him aghast.

Her eyes were like sapphires and her footsteps were graceful, leaving Adrian stunned. He quickly took a breath and stood properly, staring at her with curiosity.

“And you are?” He tried to feign a stern look, but the smile still forced its way out. They chuckled softly at each other and she stared at him calmly.

“Young Master, I am Mei Lin,” her soft angelic voice greeted. “I'm a fellow outer sect disciple,” Mei Lin smiled softly, her glowing eyes fixed on him. “Elder White assigned me to help you in your training and adjustments.”

Adrian's heart fluttered as Mei Lin got closer to him, his breath hitching in his throat as she moved her fingers on his sweaty chest softly.

“Don't be scared, no one will hurt you while you're here,” she assured.

He nodded softly, and pulled away from her. But deep inside him, a war was going on. A battle of affection he had deeply sought since Isabella and the fear of being betrayed again.

Mei Lin leaned in, patting his chest softly.

“Perhaps you could take a break, and tell me about you,” she raised an eyebrow, her face warm and charming.

Adrian wanted to shrug her off, but she held him back and dragged him closer to her.

“It is disrespectful to refuse a lady, young master,” her eyes peeked into his eyes with a charming little smile.

He sighed deeply and finally they sat by the corner of the chambers. She went on and on, asking about him, extracting every single detail she could get from him and understanding his weaknesses.

“I can't believe she did that to you,” Mei Lin's voice was shaky as she consoled him, leaning on his shoulder.

Adrian's face was heavy with perplexity. They had only just met a few moments ago and somehow, he was already falling for her and had already told her everything about himself, and now, she was leaning on his shoulder.

“Uhm, Lady Mei Lin, perhaps I should get back to training. Elder White needs me at full recovery as soon as possible,” he begged, trying to get her off his body, but she was reluctant and held him back, staring at him with puppy eyes.

“But Elder White’s not here now, or is she?” She raised an eyebrow, staring around the whole place for a while. “I can't find her here,” she snickered. “Stay with me, I brought you food too.”

He scoffed softly and leaned back on her, ditching training for the rest of day and just leaning on her, craving genuine connection.

“My Young Master, I will come visit you tomorrow. But we'll be training,” she raised an eyebrow with a soft chuckle.

Adrian watched her exit gracefully and found himself smiling unnaturally at her beauty.