Chapter 155: Azure, Add It To The Collection
The Ancestor and Sect Master led me through the Three-Leaf Clover Sect's grounds with all the nervous energy of two children showing their strict grandfather around their messy room. Every few steps, one of them would gesture at something they clearly hoped would impress me – ancient buildings, training grounds, meditation gardens – while shooting quick glances to gauge my reaction.
I maintained my mysteriously intimidating demeanor, floating along behind them with just enough height to make it clear I could see over their heads. The red glow from my eyes (courtesy of the Shroud rune) cast interesting shadows across their faces whenever they turned to look at me.
"And this," the Ancestor said, gesturing grandly at what appeared to be a perfectly ordinary courtyard, "is where our disciples practice the Sacred Leaf Dance technique. The formations embedded in the stone help channel—"
A young disciple chose that moment to dart across the courtyard, probably on some urgent errand. The poor boy made it exactly three steps before noticing our little procession. His eyes went wide as saucers as they tracked from the Ancestor to the Sect Master and finally to me – the cloaked figure with glowing red eyes casually hovering a few feet off the ground.
I watched with mild amusement as the boy's brain visibly struggled to process what he was seeing. His mouth opened and closed several times, reminding me of a fish suddenly finding itself on dry land. Finally, his survival instincts kicked in. He dropped into such a deep bow that his forehead actually hit the stone tiles.
"Seeing your elders, yet not properly greeting them?" The Sect Master's voice carried just the right mix of stern authority and barely concealed panic. "Where are your manners?"
The boy somehow managed to bow even deeper. "This junior greets the Ancestor, Sect Master, and... and..." His voice trailed off as he clearly struggled with how to address the mysterious floating person.
"And honored guest," the Ancestor supplied quickly, shooting me another nervous glance.
I said nothing, maintaining my ominous silence. Sometimes the best way to be intimidating is to let people's imaginations do all the work.