Chapter 68

In the study, the door was slightly ajar.

The bright sunlight outside illuminated the dust swirling in the air.

Yun Shuchen stood at the threshold, her hand unconsciously resting on the doorframe. Qing Zhouxue was still frozen in the pose of trying to close the wall, but she took a step back.

Qing Zhouxue felt that the air had become somewhat stagnant. After all, it was so quiet that she could hear the other's breathing, and even a bird's call outside seemed jarring.

"...I accidentally touched it, Master."

"Mm."

Yun Shuchen withdrew her gaze calmly.

She walked over slowly, closed the wall, and glanced at her disciple. "Young people should read less of this kind of thing. Focus on cultivation."

"Yes." Qing Zhouxue snapped back to reality, feeling that staying would only make things more awkward. She paused, then said softly, "I... I'll go practice my sword now."

Yun Shuchen watched her figure disappear through the doorway, her steps a little hurried. As she turned, her sleeve nearly caught on the corner of the desk.

With her departure, the stagnant air in the room finally began to move. Yun Shuchen stood quietly, watching until she was far away, then waved her hand, and the door closed shut.

She walked to the desk and sat in the chair Qing Zhouxue had been using. The warmth was still there, and the calm on her face finally cracked a little.

Yun Shuchen propped her forehead with her hand on the desk, doing nothing, a faint blush creeping up to her ears.

It wasn't that she could remain completely unfazed, but she had lived for so many years and seen many storms, so it wasn't as serious as her disciple might have imagined—at most, it was a little embarrassing. She would have been a little embarrassed if anyone had seen it.

But this embarrassment was deeper because it was in front of Qing Zhouxue.

What her disciple was thinking now, she had no way of knowing. But judging by the way she hurried away, perhaps... she found it a bit hard to accept?

Thinking this, Yun Shuchen sighed slightly, pondered for a moment, and then pushed the door open again, going out. She didn't see the figure practicing sword; Qing Zhouxue had probably just used that as an excuse to avoid staying with her.

At least she was considerate enough to leave her some dignity.

Indeed, Qing Zhouxue had not gone to practice sword.

She left the courtyard in a distracted state, then rode her flying sword, circling in the sky a few times. Eventually, uncertain whether her master still wanted to see her, and carrying some worries, she decided not to return to Heyi Peak but instead flew toward Ruan Mingzhu's mountain, a rare choice.

A bright red figure was huddled with a few senior sisters, drinking and playing finger-guessing games, a lively scene that seemed to be the norm.

Ruan Mingzhu looked up, saw a shadow flying in the sky, and thought it was her own eagle returning from hunting. She stretched out her arm, but then suddenly remembered that her golden eagle was not white.

Qing Zhouxue descended her sword, landed, and sheathed it.

Ruan Mingzhu, arms crossed, stared at her as if seeing a ghost, eyes wide. "What auspicious day is this? You actually deigned to come find me?"

"There's something on my mind." She frowned slightly and glanced at the other senior sisters who were gathering to watch. "Can I ask you something in private?"

Ruan Mingzhu set down the wine jar and climbed onto the flying sword with her. "Since you came all this way, it must be urgent. Let's hurry and find a secluded spot to talk."

No secluded spot was found, so Qing Zhouxue took her directly into the high sky.

After a moment of silence, Qing Zhouxue finally spoke. "If someone also reads those storybooks, does that mean they wouldn't dislike such things?"

Ruan Mingzhu took a moment to realize she was referring to the romance novels she had given her. She asked, puzzled, "Dislike what?"

"Girls loving each other, and then... touching and being close sometimes."

"Of course," Ruan Mingzhu affirmed. "Why else would they read it? If they didn't like it, they wouldn't."

"Really?"

"Mm!"

Ruan Mingzhu said, "Before you, I passed those books around the peak. Not many were interested. But if someone is truly into it, even if they don't like it, they wouldn't dislike it."

This book distribution task was not just for fun—she remembered Elder Yue's advice: just give these books to a few people, ask them how they like it after reading, and she would get the latest novel copies for free each month.

Hearing her guess confirmed, the last stone in Qing Zhouxue's heart finally settled. It had been hanging by a thin string, swaying with her master's hot-and-cold attitude, and now it was finally anchored.

She gave a light smile and said sincerely, "Mm."

Nothing is more relieving than having something lost and found again, or having a tangled misunderstanding suddenly unraveled.

*

Night had fallen deeply, and her disciple had not yet returned.

Just now, Yun Shuchen had calculated her position roughly using a wisp of divine sense attached to the red string on her wrist.

She had gone to see that Ruan junior sister.

Again.

She always got entangled with her.

She would rather face her junior sister than talk more with her master.

A helpless bitterness rose in her heart first, then it turned cold, and after countless restraint and suppression, it finally fermented into a bit of resentment.

Though she didn't want to admit it, that was indeed the most accurate way to describe it.

Yun Shuchen did not light the lamp; she let the room fall into darkness. She turned her head to watch the moonlight outside crawl inch by inch, from bright silver to cold and desolate.

In the dead silence, the rustle of fabric was unusually clear.

Yun Shuchen got out of bed barefoot, stepped onto the cold wooden floor, and walked slowly toward the door.

It was winter, and very cold outside. Suppressing the chill toxin lurking deep in her bones, she opened the door a crack.

Cold wind rushed in, making her shiver all over, yet her brows remained calm. She slowly pulled her belt loose, letting her outer heavy robe fall to her legs.

This was Heyi Peak, protected by a formation, and one could sense any incoming visitors. So Yun Shuchen didn't worry about being seen.

She stepped out, her ankles sinking into the cold white snow, grinding out a soft crunch, her skin turning red from the chill.

By now, she had almost lost feeling in the cold. Enduring the unbearable frost, she took another step out.

It was snowing heavily, feathers of snow flying wildly, landing on her black hair, her lashes, and her shoulders. She stretched out her stiff hands, lowered her head, and slowly pushed aside her hair, letting the cold wind and snow numb the back of her neck.

Oddly, at this moment when her whole body was so cold it hurt, she felt a trace of relief.

Yun Shuchen stood quietly like this for a while, then finally let out a white breath and walked back inside without hesitation.

Stepping back into the room, the floor felt burning hot. She didn't bother to pick up her robe, but went to the inner bath, heated the water until it was scalding, sat on the edge for a while, and once her skin was no longer too cold, she sank her body into the water.

*

Qing Zhouxue had considered returning, but Ruan Mingzhu said that since she rarely came, she might as well have fun with her and the other senior sisters.

Qing Zhouxue then remembered a previous time when she had returned early and she was still worried her master might feel uncomfortable. Maybe waiting a bit longer would be better?

As it turned out, she was dragged into conversation and games by some of the senior sisters who were just as boisterous as Ruan Mingzhu, and couldn't extricate herself. Qing Zhouxue remembered the time her master usually rested, and when there were still three incense sticks left, she insisted on leaving.

Ruan Mingzhu also held back the hospitable but drunk senior sisters. "Don't pester her. She has to return for important matters."

After a struggle, she was finally let go.

Qing Zhouxue flew back to Heyi Peak at top speed, her clothes flapping noisily in the wind.

Seeing darkness inside the house, she paused her hurried steps, then walked faster.

She pushed the door open bit by bit, silently, and once her whole body was inside, she quickly closed the door, afraid to let any cold air in.

Why did her master rest so early today?

She hoped her master wouldn't harbor any resentment over the day's incident. Qing Zhouxue silently drafted her apology in her mind.

If she bathed again today, the noise would be too much, inevitably waking her. Qing Zhouxue recalled a small spell taught in the inner sect, cast it on herself, and instantly felt refreshed.

It was actually quite useful, but she wasn't used to it, preferring the feeling of being washed by water. Otherwise, she felt like she hadn't bathed at all.

She took off her outer robe very gently, climbed onto the bed, slipped under the covers, and hugged Yun Shuchen—only to be startled by the scorching heat of her body.

Fever.

Forgetting about waking her, Qing Zhouxue pressed her hand to her forehead; it was hot everywhere. Yun Shuchen caught a familiar scent mixed with the cold wind and snow of the outdoors, and opened her eyes, a bit dazed.

In recent years, with Qing Zhouxue's careful attention, always asking about warmth and cold, Yun Shuchen rarely fell ill.

Why... why did she relapse into her old habits today?

Qing Zhouxue was utterly baffled.

"Cold." Her master let out a very soft gasp, her body trembling faintly. Qing Zhouxue remembered that once she had a high fever, her body burning hot, but she felt icy cold.

Yun Shuchen slowly turned around, trying to pull her into a firm embrace. But Qing Zhouxue quickly got out of bed, went out the door, and called, "A Jin?"

A pair of small green lanterns lit up on the wall, looking at her with some confusion.

"Please brew a decoction for fever and cold. It might need to be quick."

Seeing the cat jump down the wall and disappear, Qing Zhouxue opened the door again, entered, and firmly closed it.

"Besides feeling cold, is there any other discomfort?" Her fingers were cool as she touched Yun Shuchen's forehead, trying to bring down the temperature a little.

Yun Shuchen half-opened her eyes in the darkness, turning to Qing Zhouxue. With a few strands of cold moonlight, her gaze was languid, and there was a hint of moisture in it.

She was feverish, and her voice came out soft and languid, as if soaked in warm water. "My disciple wasn't here just now."

"...Why weren't you here?"

Her master's voice was gentle and pleasant, but usually held a certain distance. Qing Zhouxue had never heard her speak like this, with a hint of reproach in her tone.

She was startled at first, then a sense of guilt welled up in her heart. She leaned in and said, "I had a matter I couldn't be sure of, so I went to ask Junior Sister Ruan, and then I delayed on the way back."

What matter couldn't be certain?

Yun Shuchen's mind was indeed a bit hazy, but a thread of clarity remained. Just as she was about to ask further, the door creaked open. A Jin stood at the entrance, having transformed into human form, holding a medicine bowl.