What happened at the mountain gate spread quickly.
Not openly.
No one dared say it openly.
But everyone knew.
—
"Don't stand."
And then—kneeling.
—
One sentence.
No spiritual energy.
No fluctuation.
But it happened.
—
Liu Xia didn't know any of this.
After finishing sweeping, he was assigned to fetch water.
The buckets were heavy.
He didn't walk fast.
But he didn't stop either.
Along the way, people looked at him.
Then looked away.
No one came looking for trouble anymore.
He felt it was pretty good.
"Finally normal," he said.
—
The well was on a side peak.
Few people.
Stronger wind.
Liu Xia set the bucket down and prepared to draw water.
Just as he bent down—
He paused.
That feeling again.
Being watched.
He raised his head.
This time, he didn't look around.
He just said:
"Come out."
—
The shadows shifted slightly.
Someone stepped out.
Jesse.
She didn't hide anymore.
She stood not far away.
Watching him.
Liu Xia glanced at her.
"You really have a problem," he said.
Jesse didn't respond.
She walked two steps closer.
Stopped at a safe distance.
"I need to confirm something," she said.
More direct than yesterday.
Liu Xia sighed.
"You've confirmed plenty already," he said.
"Not enough," she replied.
—
Liu Xia didn't want to talk.
He lowered his head and drew water.
The bucket dropped.
Thunk.
The water surface rippled.
He pulled the rope.
The bucket rose slowly.
Jesse watched him.
Didn't speak.
But her attention was entirely on him.
Not his movements.
The "change."
—
Liu Xia pulled the water up.
Set it down.
Turned.
"What do you want to confirm?" he asked.
Jesse looked at him.
Seriously.
"At the mountain gate just now."
"Mm."
"That sentence."
"Which one."
"'Don't stand.'"
Liu Xia thought for a moment.
"Oh."
he said.
"You said it."
"Yeah."
"And then he knelt."
Liu Xia looked at her.
"You all saw that?" he asked.
Jesse nodded.
"Then figure it out yourselves," he said.
"What's that got to do with me?"
—
Jesse didn't argue.
She changed her approach.
"Then say something now," she said.
Liu Xia frowned.
"Say what."
"Anything."
she said.
"As long as it's a command."
The air went quiet.
Liu Xia looked at her.
Annoyed.
"What exactly do you want to see?"
he asked.
Jesse didn't step back.
"I want to confirm whether it's you," she said.
Direct.
No detours.
—
Liu Xia was silent for a second.
He didn't like this feeling.
Being watched.
Analyzed.
He glanced at the bucket beside him.
Thought for a moment.
"Then stand properly," he said.
Casual.
Like he was just saying it.
—
Nothing happened.
—
Jesse stood there.
Didn't move.
The air didn't change.
The wind still blew.
The water still rippled.
—
Liu Xia looked at her.
"Happy now?" he said.
Jesse didn't reply.
She just looked at him.
Her gaze didn't change.
Just grew deeper.
—
She knew why.
That sentence just now—
Didn't "hold."
Because—
There was no "necessity."
—
She changed her question.
"Then what if you mean it," she said.
"What would happen?"
Liu Xia frowned.
"What are you trying to do?" he asked.
Jesse didn't step back.
She looked at him.
Word by word:
"Say something seriously."
"Make me move."
The air stilled.
—
Liu Xia stared at her.
Annoyed.
"You can't move on your own?" he said.
Jesse didn't smile.
"You say it," she said.
—
Liu Xia was silent for a second.
He didn't really want to cooperate.
But she kept staring.
Annoying.
He looked at her.
His tone grew slightly heavier.
"Then move."
he said.
—
The wind stopped for a moment.
—
Jesse's body shifted slightly.
Not by her own will.
She was—
"Moved."
One step.
Light.
But real.
—
Her pupils shrank.
Her heartbeat skipped.
—
It worked.
—
Liu Xia froze for a moment too.
Just now…
He hadn't intended that.
"You just moved on your own?" he asked.
Jesse didn't answer.
She looked at him.
For the first time, her gaze changed.
Not cold.
Certain.
—
She spoke slowly.
"Not me," she said.
"It was you."
—
The air fell silent again.
—
Liu Xia looked at her.
Silent for two seconds.
Then he said:
"Don't talk nonsense."
His tone was flat.
But clearly didn't want to continue the topic.
—
He picked up the bucket.
Turned and left.
Didn't want to talk anymore.
—
Jesse stood where she was.
Didn't follow.
She had confirmed it.
No need to test further.
She murmured:
"Not power."
"It's a command."
She watched Liu Xia's back.
It looked ordinary.
But she knew—
If others found out about this—
Something would happen.
Something big.
—
She was silent for a moment.
Then said:
"Should I report this…"
—
The moment those words left her mouth—
The air sank slightly.
As if something was listening.
—
The next second—
A voice sounded in her mind.
Soft.
Clear.
"Don't."
—
Jesse froze.
Her breath halted for a moment.
This wasn't her thought.
Not a sound from outside.
It appeared—
Directly in her consciousness.
—
She suddenly looked up.
Scanning her surroundings.
Nothing.
—
She stood there.
For a long time.
Didn't move.
—
Then, slowly, she spoke:
"…Alright."
Her voice was soft.
Like she was responding.
—
Far away—
Liu Xia had already walked off.
Carrying the buckets.
Muttering as he went:
"Everyone's weird today."
He didn't look back.
And didn't know—
What had just happened.