Three days before the competition, Ye Qingyao arrived at Xueji Peak.
Ye Qingyao was currently walking up the stone steps, her steps much slower than usual.
Her visit this time wasn't just because the competition was approaching; more than anything, she wanted to say thank you.
Thank you for saving her from the wind wolf’s jaws in the Luoyun Mountain Range that day.
Thank you for the medicine, and for the gentle, careful movements while bandaging her wound.
These expressions of gratitude had been stored in her heart for a long time. Not knowing how to voice them, Ye Qingyao had woven a peace knot to give to Bai Qingxue.
When she reached the gate of Bai Qingxue’s courtyard, Ye Qingyao stopped and took a deep breath.
The courtyard walls were low, and the withered branches of the old plum tree reached over the top. The buds had already cracked open, revealing the tender green tips within.
Spring was coming, but the mountain wind was still chilly, making her ears feel cold.
Ye Qingyao raised her hand, about to knock.
The courtyard gate opened from the inside.
Bai Qingxue stood within. She had just returned from the cold pond, and her hair was still wet. One hand was gathering her hair while the other was about to push the gate open. Seeing Ye Qingyao, her movements paused for a moment.
Water droplets dripped from the ends of Bai Qingxue’s hair, landing on the robes at her shoulders and soaking in to form a small dark patch.
Perhaps because she had just come from the cold pond, Bai Qingxue’s complexion looked several shades paler than usual.
Tiny frost beads clung to Bai Qingxue’s eyelashes, trembling slightly as she blinked. Her lip color was so faint it almost blended with her skin, making her fair face look even more cold and ethereal.
“Sister Bai,” Ye Qingyao called out, her voice softer than usual, as if afraid of startling something.
Bai Qingxue nodded, released her hand from the gate, and stepped aside to let her in.
Ye Qingyao walked into the courtyard. The shadow of the old plum tree fell across the bluestone slabs in a mottled pattern, and when the wind blew, the shadows swayed gently along with it.
Ye Qingyao came to a stop by the stone table, her gaze unconsciously falling on Bai Qingxue’s hair.
Bai Qingxue gathered her wet hair to one side. Water was still dripping from the ends, and a few stray strands clung to her temples and the side of her ear.
Just as Ye Qingyao was about to say something, Bai Qingxue turned around, took a white jade hairpin from her sleeve, and pinned her hair up.
At the moment she raised her hand to fix her hair, silver-white strands leaked through her fingers.
It wasn't just those few strands at her temples. It was large, shocking patches of silver-white that spread from the roots to the tips, as if they had been dyed through from the inside out by something.
Those silver-white strands mixed with the black hair, stark and distinct, shimmering with a cold light in the morning light.
Ye Qingyao was stunned.
She had seen Bai Qingxue’s white hair before. During their first meeting, there were only a few strands at the temples, hidden within the black hair so that one wouldn't notice without looking closely.
But every time they met afterward, there seemed to be a few more.
During the time Ye Qingyao stood there in a daze, Bai Qingxue had already finished pinning her hair into a bun.
As the hairpin slid through the hair, those silver-white strands were once again hidden beneath the black.
If one didn't look carefully, it was very difficult to tell.
“Sister Bai, your hair...” Ye Qingyao’s voice was a little shaky, as if someone were squeezing her throat, or as if something were blocking her chest that she couldn't swallow no matter what.
Bai Qingxue glanced at her, her expression as calm as ever. “It’s nothing.”
Just two short words, spoken with complete nonchalance.
Ye Qingyao opened her mouth, wanting to ask something but not knowing what to ask. She stared at Bai Qingxue’s hair bun, where the white jade hairpin was inserted, firmly pressing down those silver-white strands.
Ye Qingyao wanted to ask if her hair would continue to turn white, if it was harming her body, and if there was any way to ease the condition.
But she knew these questions were meaningless.
Because Bai Qingxue wouldn't answer, or if she did, she would only say something like “It doesn't affect my cultivation, it’s no matter.”
Ye Qingyao suddenly remembered the strength Bai Qingxue had shown when facing that Ice Crystal Python alone in the Luoyun Mountain Range.
That level six monster beast hadn't even had a chance to fight back in front of Bai Qingxue.
At the time, she only thought Bai Qingxue was very strong—strong enough to make her envious, and strong enough to make her feel a bit inferior.
But now, a question suddenly occurred to her.
What was the price for Bai Qingxue becoming so strong? Was it those white hairs? Or was it something even heavier than that?
Looking at those silver-white strands pressed down by the hairpin, a wave of indescribable bitterness welled up in her heart.
Ye Qingyao clenched her hands tighter.
“Sister Bai.” Ye Qingyao’s voice was very low, as if she were trying hard to control something, or perhaps giving herself courage. “This... is for you.”
She held out her hand, a peace knot lying in her palm.
It was a peace knot woven from red thread, the weave very tight and the shape regular, with every corner neatly tucked away.
Bai Qingxue looked down at the peace knot but didn't take it immediately.
“I wove it myself,” Ye Qingyao said quickly, as if explaining, or perhaps trying to hide something. “For last time in the Luoyun Mountain Range... thank you for saving me. I never had the chance to say it. This isn't anything valuable, it’s just... something to carry during the competition to keep you safe. It’s also a small token of my feelings.”
Ye Qingyao’s ears turned red. It wasn't because she had said something she shouldn't have, but because she was afraid Bai Qingxue wouldn't accept it.
She had prepared in her heart for a long time and had actually thought of many things to say, but at this moment, she couldn't voice any of them.
Ye Qingyao simply pushed the peace knot forward a little further, her fingertips trembling slightly.
Bai Qingxue reached out and took the peace knot.
Her fingertips brushed Ye Qingyao’s palm, feeling slightly cool.
That coolness spread along the lines of her palm, very light, like a winter wind brushing against the skin, leaving a moment of coldness for Ye Qingyao.
“Thank you.”
Bai Qingxue spoke flatly.
Hearing this, Ye Qingyao was stunned for a moment, then she lowered her head and stared at Bai Qingxue’s hand as she withdrew it.
She opened her mouth, wanting to say “You’re welcome” or “Just make sure you carry it,” but her throat felt blocked, and she couldn't utter a single word.
Ye Qingyao simply nodded, took a step back, and said:
“Sister Bai, I’ll be heading back now. For the competition... good luck.”
She paused, then added another sentence: “Sister Bai, I’ve signed up too. Although I probably won't win many matches... I want to stand in the same place as you.”
Having said that, Ye Qingyao didn't wait for Bai Qingxue to respond. She turned and walked quickly out of the courtyard.
The moment she stepped out of the courtyard, those white hairs were still spinning in Ye Qingyao’s mind.
Those large patches of silver-white hair, spreading from the roots to the tips, shimmered with a cold light in the twilight.
It wasn't that Ye Qingyao had no questions she wanted to ask.
She wanted to ask if Sister Bai’s hair would continue to turn white. She wanted to ask if Sister Bai was taking proper care of herself. She wanted to ask if Sister Bai ever thought about their past days in Yunzhou.
Every question was stuck in Ye Qingyao’s throat, but she didn't ask a single one.
She didn't dare...
Ye Qingyao thought of the past.
Back when Sister Bai had become increasingly distant and solitary, she herself had done nothing.
She hadn't chased after her to ask “What’s wrong?” or grabbed Sister Bai’s sleeve to stay by her side.
Like everyone else, she had simply watched from a distance, slowly watching the Sister Bai who had always looked after her walk further and further away.
So what right did she have to ask these things now? What right did she have to pretend to be so concerned and ask Sister Bai “Are you okay?”
She hadn't asked back then, so what right did she have to ask now?
Ye Qingyao clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms.
She thought that was it.
She had said what she needed to say and given what she needed to give. She would turn and leave, and everything would be as usual. But just as she took a step, that voice came from behind her.
“Ye Qingyao.”
Ye Qingyao stopped, but she didn't look back. Her shoulders were pulled tight, like a string drawn to its limit that would snap at the slightest touch.
“You too.”
Just those two words.
Ye Qingyao couldn't hold back her tears; a single drop fell. She quickly wiped it away with the back of her hand, nodded forcefully, and then walked quickly out of the courtyard.
She was afraid that if she stayed any longer, her crying would look even uglier.
The courtyard gate closed behind her.
Bai Qingxue looked down at the peace knot in her palm. After watching it for a while, she put it into her storage bag, placing it together with the Cold Iron Stone.
The Cold Iron Stone was something Ye Qingyao had given her last time; keeping it by her knees helped calm her mind and spirit. In the storage bag, there was also the food box Ye Qingyao had left before, which contained a few cakes. After she had finished the tea last time, she had placed it in a corner and hadn't touched it since. Now, there was one more peace knot.
Bai Qingxue stood under the old plum tree, her fingers unconsciously rubbing the opening of the storage bag.
She suddenly realized that Ye Qingyao seemed to be constantly giving her things.
From cakes to the Cold Iron Stone, and now this peace knot. Although none of them were particularly valuable, each gift was given with great sincerity.
Bai Qingxue didn't like owing favors.
Spirit stones could be repaid with spirit stones, pills with pills, and spirit tools with spirit tools.
But for these things, Bai Qingxue didn't know how to repay them for a moment.
Repay with what? A more expensive Cold Iron Stone? A box of more exquisite cakes? A prettier peace knot? None of it felt right.
Bai Qingxue withdrew her hand.
Since she couldn't figure it out, she would simply stop thinking about it.
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