My Xianxia Harem Life

"I'm glad you remember. Is it okay to talk to you like this, or do I have to call you 'Senior' from now on?" Ava joked lightly, though the faint tremor in her hands betrayed her nerves.

Standing this close to a true Golden Core Realm expert was utterly daunting, more so for someone as talented as she was. Ava could clearly sense the overwhelming spiritual essence radiating from Riley.

His presence was akin to a tightly coiled storm of power, his every motion exuding the potential to alter the ground he was standing on.

All of this energy was compressed within his dantian, a glowing core of unimaginable might.

Yet, despite her fear, Ava stood her ground. This was an opportunity far too significant to let slip away.

"Of course. Please, take a seat, Ava. And just call me Riley. I'm still the same Riley you know," Riley said his lies, his brow furrowing as he sifted through the original owner's memories of this woman.

Ava Thornwick. She was from the same city as him, and they had joined the sect together. In those early days, Riley—naive and smitten—had fallen head over heels for her.

He had vowed to protect her, pouring all his energy into helping her succeed in the sect. But when his limitations became apparent, everything changed.

Failing to secure a spot in the Inner Court left him behind while Ava soared ahead, eventually becoming a Core Disciple.

The gap between them grew insurmountable. Ava stopped acknowledging him entirely, and Riley's attempts to rekindle their friendship went unanswered.

Not once had she granted him an audience, her life intertwined with the elite while he languished among the Outer Court's youngest and least experienced disciples as young as 15 like he was in the past.

Yet here she was now.

Riley didn't need the memories to understand her intentions; even a fool could see the purpose behind her sudden appearance.

And Riley, as he was now, was no fool. He had over a century's worth of wisdom and experience guiding his thoughts.

"So… how are you?" Riley asked, keeping his tone neutral, though his eyes scanned her with faint curiosity. Ava stood before him, her presence impossible to ignore.

Her blue colored Core Disciple uniform clung to her figure like a second skin, emphasizing her flawless physique.

Ava was a vision of perfection—long black hair cascading like silk, almond-shaped eyes shimmering with subtle emotion, and lips that seemed perpetually on the brink of a radiant smile.

She stood tall at 5 foot 7 inches, her body radiating confidence and allure. It wasn't just her beauty, though. Ava had a magnetic charm, a presence that seemed to draw all eyes to her effortlessly.

She was a woman who had been given everything by fate, and Riley couldn't help but acknowledge the disparity between her blessings and those of others.

But Riley wasn't the same person who once admired her from afar. He had changed—his mind, his soul, and even his very essence were no longer tied to the man she once knew.

"I'm good," Ava said, her voice carrying a subtle tremor. "About before… I tried to reconnect with you, but my senior brothers and sisters wouldn't let me. They said it would only hurt you more to see the difference between us. I should have pushed harder. I'm sorry, Riley."

Her voice wavered as she spoke, and Riley noticed the faint glisten of unshed tears in her eyes. She seemed genuine—or at least she was doing a good job of pretending to be.

But Riley wasn't the gullible fool he once was.

"It's the past. It's gone now, and nothing can be done about it. I've already moved on… from that." Riley offered a polite smile, his tone deliberately dismissive.

He didn't want to dwell on old memories that weren't even his. The original Riley's feelings were irrelevant to him, and he refused to be burdened by them.

"I see." Ava nodded slowly, her lips pressing together.

"I apologize still. Can we at least be friends again, like we were before?" Her voice softened, and her smile widened, a mixture of hope and vulnerability.

"Sure," Riley said with a nod. "I'd love to have friends. The more, the merrier."

Ava visibly relaxed at his response, her shoulders easing and her confidence returning. She moved closer, her nervous energy giving way to a more familiar liveliness.

Her eyes sparkled as she began asking questions—how he had managed to reach the Golden Core Realm so quickly, what had changed, and what plans he had for the future.

Riley answered her questions with measured vagueness, attributing his success to the sect master's guidance and resources. He didn't feel the need to divulge the truth, especially not to Ava.

As they talked, Ava became more animated.

Her words tumbled out in an excited stream as she recounted stories, shared gossip about the sect, and expressed her admiration for Riley's accomplishments.

Despite himself, Riley found her energy infectious. Though he maintained a reserved demeanor, he couldn't deny that her presence was… refreshing.

It had been a long time since a beautiful woman had spoken to him with such enthusiasm.

Hours passed without either of them realizing. The sunlight streaming through the windows shifted, signaling that the morning had given way to noon.

"Do you want to eat something, Riley? I could cook something for you back at my house," Ava offered, her eyes shining with excitement.

"No, it's okay. I don't want to trouble you. I'd rather stay here for now and continue reading. There's so much I haven't explored in this place. I only just got access to the Scripture Pavilion after being stuck at the 5th Stage Body Refinement Realm until yesterday. There is much to learn." Riley's words were earnest. His thirst for knowledge outweighed any physical hunger he might have felt.

"Okay," Ava said with a grin, though her enthusiasm remained undeterred.

"Then I'll cook something and bring it here for you."

"Ava, you don't need to do that. I'm fine," Riley called after her as she stood up and began walking away. She waved dismissively, clearly ignoring his protests.

The second floor of the Scripture Pavilion, though quiet, was teeming with covert interest. Disciples who were ostensibly focused on their reading were clearly eavesdropping on the conversation.

Riley could feel their gazes, their curiosity palpable, their fear and respect most obvious even to a blind man. Most of them, he knew, would relay whatever they overheard to their seniors or masters.

"Sigh… Living a popular life is certainly not easy," Riley muttered under his breath. But deep down, he couldn't suppress the faint sense of satisfaction.

Being ignored and dismissed in his past life had left a lingering bitterness, and this newfound attention was a welcome, albeit unexpected, change.

Riley smiled and read some more.