Audaciously shameless silver-masked man

The night went on in full swing as families mingled with each other. Everyone had already moved to the Grand Hall room of the Qi mansion for the rest of the party with a wider audience. This particular hall room was just as its name, truly grand with extravagant silver chandeliers and fine artwork. The canopy-style room that could easily hold a thousand guests was placed in the middle of a greenhouse garden that only had blooming magnolias and tall decorative trees. The layout gave guests the option to either mingle under a roof or enjoy strolling the outdoor part of the garden.

Many guests approached Ming Yue to congratulate her and socialise. While some congratulated her due to her debut, others due to her successful ascension. Only the ones related to the ancient bloodlines knew that the success of the ceremony was a huge and crucial part. Since ancient times, children born in the four bloodlines, all inherited the powers that came with it. Some less, some more and no one person was similar to the other. The type of power differed from person to person and on top of that, whether the ancient beasts acknowledged the potential of the child as an heir or heiress was not in the child's hands.

When the descendants of the four families, realised this, they formulated a new way of balance. The acknowledged ones were the ones mainly involved in the supernatural world (a world that went beyond the existence of just the four beasts.) while the ones with fewer powers or spiritual properties in their blood were mainly involved in the secular world affairs. This strategy made the four families have the strongest hold in the entire continent.

Ming Yue slipped out to a seating arrangement near the indoor pond. She slumped on the sofa away from any prying eyes. Her lips slowly tilted the crystal glass as the Sakura cocktail filled her mouth, filling it with sweetness. Ming Yue licked her lips enjoying her favourite drink alone, away from the buzzing crowd. Her creamy white cheeks turned a shade of rosy, pink due to the alcohol as she let out a tired sigh. Letting her guard down, she looked up at the stars visible through the glass ceiling and was lost in her thoughts; unaware that a particular pair of onyx eyes had been on her since the minute she had stepped out.

*Flash Back*

"Child, do you know why Lord Qi's family is feared and respected?" Elder Wang asked, propping up his glasses from the bridge of his nose with his aged fingers.

"Is it because the spiritual property in the blood is stronger, elder?" Ming Yue said looking up at the aged face of her teacher who had identical facial structures to his son Wang Li.

"Sweet child, that is correct. You are learning fast. Just like your father," Elder Wang gave a hearty laugh as he took out an old scroll. "This here child is your family lineage. Lord Qi's family has come from a direct line of acknowledged heirs and heiresses. Additionally, the married partners of each of those heirs and heiresses were strong supernatural lineages. This is why currently, you and your brother are the strongest powerholders. There is one more family like us but we will discuss them later".

"Remember child, with strong power, comes even a greater sense of responsibility, but fear not, your entire clan and especially your family is always with you. You are the most cherished, loved, and precious being that we have found from being lost. With that, it is our responsibility to equip you with everything required for you to fight your own battles and stand confidently on your own feet. So, for now, you should learn, relax and laugh heartily our little moon and grow stronger day by day as we water your roots."

*End of Flash Back*

…

Ming Yue smiled at the memory. Perhaps today she was finally acknowledged by the ancient beast, which is why she recalled that memory. Still, now everything seemed like a dream, the happiness she felt in her heart was too unreal. It was as if, she would wake up and she would be back to that awful place that she once called home. Or worse, she would come to realize that all these were just a mirage and she had been dead all along, floating endlessly in the dark void. The thought made her shudder and she wrapped herself in her arms trying to ease the slight tremble. She has now tasted what love felt like, to be protected and cherished by a family and loved ones. She can't, she won't go back to what she was before this. She needs them in her life and without them, she'd rather die.

"Penny for your thoughts?", a pleasant, voice brings her out of her trance as a white fur shawl was softly placed on her shoulders. Looking towards the person to say thank you, Ming Yue soon found herself speechless gazing at a pair of onyx eyes covered by a silver dragon mask. His chiselled jaws and sleek jet-black hair combed backwards into a small manly hairband while a couple of strands loosely rested on the sides of his face were bewitching. While his firm strong and tall build gave him an alluring and dominating aura. Ming-Yue didn't need to be told that she was gaping at the man with her eyes slightly widened. Despite not being able to see his full face, she could tell that he was very attractive and the type that gave a sense of security and composure.

She cleared her throat to compose herself, but no words came out. Soon a hoarse chuckle filled the awkward atmosphere. The handsome man was amused and sweetly pleased with her reaction. His eyes rested on the lower part of her face which was not covered by the mask. Her beautifully sculptured jaws, skin that looked like it would be milky soft if touched, those plump luscious lips, the tip of her cute nose, and then finally his eyes landed on the light blue eyes that sparkled like gems through the intricate rose gold mask.

Feeling his intense gaze on her, Ming Yue felt a little bashful, foreign to this feeling, she puffed up her cheeks and changed that feeling into one of irritation.

'Hmph, what a shameless guy!' she thought looking away and completely forgetting that she herself was gawking at him a minute ago.

Another amused chuckle left the handsome man's mouth upon seeing her cute puffed-up cheeks. like a hamster hiding its food in its mouth.

"I'm sorry little one, excuse my behaviour, it's just that your beauty has completely blown away my manners," he said while holding his chin with his long fingers, as if he was casually stating, 'It's fine weather isn't it?'

Ming-Yue could not help but gape at this guy. Such shamelessness, he definitely was a player!

"You! Who are you? Which family are you from?" She retorted while crossing her arms under her chest.

This little action of hers immediately perked up his ears as he raised an eyebrow under his mask. In one swift movement, he held her by her waist, taking her by surprise, and leaned closer, his lips touching her delicate earlobe.

"Do not do that in front of anyone else, little one, or else…," he softly placed a kiss on her earlobe on top of the dangling earring.

As if having a mind of its own, her body, though still frozen in surprise, reacted to his words and she sucked in her breath and closed her eyes while feeling the slight touch of his lips on her ear.

He pulled away a little bit and smirked observing her reaction.

'Soon, little one, soon.' He thought in his head and reluctantly pulled away completely while grazing his fingertips on her hips as if trying to play his last signature tune that sent shivers down her spine.

Just before he walked away and Ming-Yue finally opened her eyes and came back to her senses, she heard his voice linger around on the empty veranda.

"We will meet again, little one."

Ming-Yue stood there, completely dumbfounded. She had no clue what just happened. She had trained for a long time and was very proficient in martial arts. It was natural for her to beat the other party to a complete pulp if they did that to her, and she had done it several times ever since she returned to the Qi family. So then why? Why did her body did not retort back, why did she not push him away, and most scaringly, why did her body react that way?

Why did she feel that his touch gave her a sense of familiarity?

Just who was that audaciously shameless and rude silver-masked man?