How Old Are You Really

Jun Lionhead walked toward Grace, step by step.

Grace hurried to meet him.

But suddenly, something unexpected happened.

Out of nowhere, Nina Sanders unleashed a blazing True Inferno, aiming straight for Jun Lionhead's back.

"Master!" Without thinking, Grace darted forward, grabbed Jun Lionhead, spun him around, and used her own back to shield him from the flames.

In that instant, all she could see was blood-red.

She thought she saw a flash of blue light burst out from her master, knocking everyone present to the ground.

She thought she heard her master's voice, calling her name: Grace...

......

Wham! A heavy blow landed.

Nina Sanders was sent flying by Jun Lionhead.

"Divine Lord!" Nina Sanders scrambled to her feet, staring in disbelief at Jun Lionhead, who was always so calm and unreadable.

"Why did you attack me?"

"I just wanted you to fake your death!" Nina Sanders said. "If Jun Lionhead gets burned to ashes, you can slip away without anyone suspecting a thing!"

"Get lost!" Jun Lionhead snapped. "Don't let me see you again!"

"Big brother!"

"Are you still here?!"

Nina Sanders shot a furious look at Grace, who was burned beyond recognition on the bed, then angrily tossed the Ten Wilds Herbal Codex to Jun Lionhead and vanished.

Jun Lionhead flipped open the book and glanced at a page, then placed it by Grace's pillow.

Then, sitting cross-legged, a dazzling Soul Core slowly rose from the top of his head and sank into Grace's head.

Her burned organs and flesh slowly healed, her skin returned to its former smoothness, and even her hair was completely untouched.

The Soul Core flew out from her head and returned to Jun Lionhead.

He sat by Grace's bedside, gazing at her face.

After a long while, he reached out and gently touched her forehead, his movements incredibly soft.

Grace opened her eyes and saw her master's face.

It was flawless, gentle as jade, bright as the moon.

"Master!" Grace called out in a daze. "Am I dead?"

Jun Lionhead smiled, "You're not dead. You're alive."

"Really?" Grace nervously reached out a finger and poked his hand.

She could feel his warmth—it was real and alive.

Jun Lionhead watched her cautious little finger, but didn't move.

"I'm really alive? I'm not dreaming?" She looked at her own hand—it felt so real.

"You're really alive," Jun Lionhead replied.

"Master!" Grace suddenly sat up. "I feel sore all over! Did I get disfigured?"

"Nope."

"Can I have a mirror?"

Jun Lionhead handed her the mirror from beside the bed.

Grace looked in the mirror—she was still the same as always...

"Phew! Thank goodness! Not disfigured! And I’m totally fine? I thought that True Inferno would burn me to a crisp!"

As she spoke, she felt something was off: "But Master, that fire was so fierce—why am I not dead? And not even burned?"

"Actually, my cultivation is about the same as Nina Sanders's. I just got caught off guard for a moment," Jun Lionhead said.

"Really? He said he's seen the original Ten Wilds Herbal Codex, so he must be at least five hundred years old! He must be a Spirit Lord. Master, are you one too?" Grace asked.

Jun Lionhead nodded.

"R-really?" Grace stared at him in disbelief. "Then how old are you, exactly?"

Over ten thousand years...

Jun Lionhead didn't answer. Instead, he picked up the original Ten Wilds Herbal Codex from beside her pillow and said, "Look. I already killed him and got the book back for you."