Chapter 498: The Girl Who Chose the Sunflower Path

The Girl Who Chose the Sunflower Path

Shasa asked, "Can I really be invincible among my peers if I acknowledge him as my Teacher?"

That was the question that truly moved her.

Not the promise of learning powerful techniques.

Not the mysterious sword energy Leon had displayed.

Not even the prospect of joining the cultivators of the vast Fallen Leaf Domain.

It was those simple words—

Invincible among her peers.

The moment Shasa heard them, her deep blue eyes seemed to shine brighter.

How could she possibly remain calm after hearing something like that?

For someone like her, who had spent so much of her life surviving alone, being stronger than everyone around her carried a strange and irresistible appeal. She had never cared much about reputation before. She had simply wanted food, shelter, and somewhere warm to sleep.

But now, someone had told her that she could stand at the top among people her own age.

That thought immediately captured her imagination.

Rias smiled patiently.

She could already see the excitement burning in Shasa’s eyes.

"Of course," Rias said.

Her voice was gentle, almost like she was explaining something obvious to a younger sister.

"The town you’re in now is only the tip of the iceberg of the vast Fallen Leaf Domain. How many powerful people can there be here?"

She glanced toward the damaged streets surrounding them.

Greyhaven City had suffered enough hardship already. Broken walls stood beneath the afternoon sky, wooden structures had collapsed along the roadside, and refugees moved through the streets carrying whatever belongings they had managed to save.

Compared with the vast world beyond this place, this city was nothing more than a tiny corner.

Rias continued, "As long as you follow us up the mountain, you will be able to meet many people of the same age as you, and all of them are powerful. Only by defeating them will you be qualified to be invincible among your peers."

Shasa blinked.

She tilted her head slightly.

Her blonde hair slipped over one shoulder, catching the sunlight in soft golden strands. Her yellow robe, decorated with simple blue embroidery, fluttered gently in the breeze.

She stared at Rias.

Then she looked at Leon.

Then back at Rias.

Her expression became unusually serious.

It was as though she had encountered an extremely difficult question.

Shasa slowly raised one finger and touched her chin.

"Only by defeating them will I have the right to call myself invincible among my peers?"

She muttered the words under her breath.

Her eyebrows drew together.

For a moment, she genuinely looked as though she were trying to solve some profound Principle.

Leon watched her from the side.

He couldn’t help but find the sight amusing.

This girl was clearly not foolish.

Quite the opposite.

There was something extraordinarily sharp hidden beneath her innocent and playful manner.

It was simply that her way of thinking was different from ordinary cultivators.

After a few moments, Shasa’s eyes suddenly lit up.

It was as though the final piece of a puzzle had fallen into place.

She turned toward Leon.

Her deep blue eyes were clear and bright, carrying a strange mixture of determination and excitement.

She seemed to have made up her mind.

"Alright, I’ll follow you."

Leon raised an eyebrow.

That was surprisingly straightforward.

But before he could say anything, Shasa seemed to remember something important.

Her expression immediately became serious again.

"Do you have delicious sunflowers on your mountain?"

Leon froze.

Rias blinked.

Selena’s lips twitched.

For a moment, none of them knew how to respond.

Shasa, however, seemed completely serious.

At the mention of sunflowers, she swallowed unconsciously and licked her lips.

Her eyes became almost dreamy.

Sunflowers were more than just food to her.

They were connected to the few warm memories she had managed to hold onto from her past. Their bright golden petals reminded her of better days, of the old man who had once taken care of her, and of the strange little happiness she had found despite having so little.

That was why she had eventually chosen the name Sunflower for herself.

She liked the flowers.

She liked the warmth they represented.

And, perhaps most importantly, she liked how they always seemed to turn toward the light.

Leon looked at her for a moment.

He couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.

Of all the things she could have asked...

Food was apparently the first thing on her mind.

Selena stepped forward.

Her long silver-white hair moved softly in the breeze as she looked down at Shasa.

There was a faint warmth in her blue eyes.

Despite Shasa being nearly the same age as her and Rias, the girl’s innocent way of speaking made her seem strangely younger in moments like this.

Selena gently stroked Shasa’s blonde head.

"Don’t worry. When we get up the mountain, I’ll cook delicious food for you every day."

Shasa’s eyes widened.

The next instant, her entire face brightened.

"Really?"

Her voice carried unmistakable happiness.

She immediately wrapped both arms around Selena’s leg.

"Pretty Sister, you’re so nice..."

Selena’s expression softened.

She glanced down at the girl clinging to her and couldn’t help but smile.

Rias covered her lips with one hand, quietly laughing.

Leon watched the scene from nearby.

For some reason, the atmosphere suddenly felt completely different from the tense situation they had encountered when entering Greyhaven City.

Shasa had been living alone for so long that simple kindness seemed precious to her.

A promise of food.

A gentle touch.

Someone willing to take her with them.

Perhaps those small things were enough to make her trust someone.

Shasa released Selena’s leg after a moment.

Then she walked toward Leon.

Her steps were unusually firm.

There was no hesitation left in her expression.

"I’ve thought it through."

She looked up at Leon.

"I want to become your student. I want to learn Pretty Sister’s red flames."

Leon nearly stumbled.

He stared at her.

For several seconds, he didn’t say anything.