Journey North

Early morning, before dawn fully broke.

Bai Qingxue pushed open her courtyard gate, and the morning mist, thick with chill, seeped in. Dewdrops clung to the withered branches lining the bluestone steps; as her robe brushed past, a few drops rustled down, chilling her hand for a moment before dissipating.

Bai Qingxue wore frost-white martial attire, her Frost Condensation Sword hung at her waist, and her silver-white hair was swept up with a white jade hairpin. The ice-blue pendant around her neck slipped out from her collar, emitting a faint, cold glow in the mist.

Her travel pack was already stowed in her storage bag.

Traveling light, just as she had seven years ago when she went to Nanhuai.

The difference was, this time she wasn't alone.

Outside the mountain gate, a figure stood in the morning mist.

Wearing pale white martial attire, a sword at her waist, her hair neatly tied back.

She carried a greenish-gray travel pack, its edges worn pale. Bai Qingxue recognized it; it was the same one Lu Xueqing had carried on their first trip to the Luoyun Mountain Range.

Lu Xueqing stood there, her back ramrod straight, her shoulders already damp from the mist, clearly having waited for some time.

Bai Qingxue walked up to her and stopped.

The two stood side by side, neither speaking.

The morning mist flowed between them, cool and crisp, carrying the scent of grass and dew.

“Let’s go,” Bai Qingxue said.

Lu Xueqing nodded. Her fingers lightly tightened around the strap of her travel pack, then loosened.

The flying boat ascended, pierced through the morning mist, and flew north.

Lu Xueqing stood by the porthole, watching Xueji Peak shrink into the distance.

That perpetually snow-covered expanse gradually blurred in the morning mist, finally swallowed by the clouds.

The flying boat passed through the clouds, and outside the porthole, the sky suddenly brightened.

Lu Xueqing turned around. Bai Qingxue was already seated at the low table, a beast-skin map spread before her, its corners held down by a green jade paperweight.

Lu Xueqing walked over and sat opposite her.

Bai Qingxue looked up at her.

Then Bai Qingxue lowered her gaze again, pushing the map slightly toward the center.

Seeing this, Lu Xueqing leaned closer to examine the map.

As she did, Lu Xueqing’s shoulder brushed against Bai Qingxue’s arm, the faint rustle of fabric remarkably clear in the quiet cabin.

Yet, Lu Xueqing showed no intention of pulling back.

At this moment, their body temperatures met gently through two layers of clothing—one cool, one warm.

Bai Qingxue’s finger traced a line on the map, stretching north from Xueji Peak.

She said, “The flying boat will reach north of Tianshu City in three days. After resupplying, we’ll continue north. In seven days, we’ll enter the Northern Region border.”

Her fingertip then paused on a small town named Frostfall. “This is the final resupply point.”

Lu Xueqing nodded.

However, her gaze didn't follow Bai Qingxue’s fingertip; instead, it lingered on that slender finger, its nail neatly trimmed, a faint coolness still emanating from its tip.

Lu Xueqing looked at that hand, and a thought suddenly surfaced in her mind.

Lu Xueqing took a deep breath, admonishing herself not to overthink. Then, she traced a line on the map with her finger, heading north from Frostfall Town into the ice field.

“I haven’t been to the Northern Region Ice Field, but I’ve read about it in ancient texts. The cold there is not something ordinary cultivators can withstand.”

Lu Xueqing paused, then looked up at Bai Qingxue’s face.

Morning light streamed in from the porthole, falling on Bai Qingxue’s profile, making her light-colored pupils appear almost transparent.

Tiny frost pearls still clung to Bai Qingxue’s eyelashes. As Lu Xueqing looked at them, a soft feeling welled up in her heart.

“Junior Sister Bai. Is your body… still alright now?”

Bai Qingxue looked at Lu Xueqing and said calmly:

“I’m fine.”

Having said that, Bai Qingxue didn’t avert her gaze either.

Lu Xueqing felt a little uncomfortable under Bai Qingxue’s stare, her ears involuntarily growing slightly warm.

But she didn’t want to look away.

She wanted to remain in that gaze, like standing in the first ray of morning sunlight, knowing she would be illuminated, yet unwilling to step away.

Lu Xueqing lowered her head, continuing to look at the map.

Bai Qingxue remained silent as well.

On the low table, both their fingers still rested on the edge of the map, separated by a small distance.

The distance was neither far nor close, but Lu Xueqing felt that if she wanted to, she could move her hand over at any moment and touch Bai Qingxue’s fingertips.

However, she didn’t.

She didn’t want to rush.

She had waited seven years; an inch more wouldn’t make a difference now.

The flying boat passed through the second layer of clouds.

Outside the porthole, day had broken. Clouds spread out beneath them like a white wilderness. The sky was a deep, almost black, blue.

Lu Xueqing looked up, gazing out the porthole.

She saw the morning light fall upon Bai Qingxue’s shoulder, making her frost-white martial attire shine.

Bai Qingxue was also looking out the window, the lines of her profile appearing particularly serene in the light, yet no longer as distant as before.

Lu Xueqing withdrew her gaze, looking down at her own finger resting on the map.

She subtly moved her hand a little closer to Bai Qingxue’s fingertips.

They didn’t touch, but just getting closer should be fine, right?

At this moment, their distance was close enough that Bai Qingxue would notice if she glanced down.

But fortunately, Bai Qingxue didn’t look down.

She was still looking out the window.

The flying boat continued its journey north.

The cabin grew quiet, with only the low hum of the formation array and the steady breathing of the two women.