A few days later, in the main hall of Xueji Peak.
The sandalwood incense was half-burned, thin blue smoke rising from the burner and dispersing into faint wisps in the afternoon light.
The hall was very quiet, so quiet that one could hear the soft sound of ash falling to the bottom of the burner.
When Bai Qingxue pushed open the door and entered, Liu Ningshuang was sitting at her desk.
A beast-skin map was spread across the desk, its corners held down by two green jade paperweights. Several vermilion marks were annotated on the map.
“Disciple Bai Qingxue greets the Elder.”
Liu Ningshuang looked up, her gaze lingering on Bai Qingxue for a moment. Without any small talk, she spoke directly.
“The sect has been secretly investigating the Soul Control Formation you encountered in the Luoyun Mountain Range six months ago.”
Bai Qingxue paused slightly but did not respond.
Liu Ningshuang pointed to the chair across from her, gesturing for her to sit. Then she turned the map on the desk toward Bai Qingxue.
The vermilion marks were located deep in the northern section of the mountain range, extending from the periphery toward the center like arrows pointing to the same location.
“Recently, there have been unusual movements of monster beasts deep in the northern section of the mountain range, and the scope of the impact is wider than last time.” Liu Ningshuang’s fingertip tapped an unmarked area on the map.
“The formation core you destroyed last time was only on the periphery. This time, the sect needs someone to go inside to find out exactly who is controlling the monster beasts and what they are looking for.”
Bai Qingxue looked at the blank area on the map and did not immediately answer.
Liu Ningshuang withdrew her finger and leaned back against her chair, looking at her calmly.
“This matter should not be publicized. The sect doesn't need many people, and I have recommended you to the sect.”
Bai Qingxue looked up. “Disciple alone?”
“Lu Xueqing will go with you.” Liu Ningshuang’s tone was as indifferent as usual. “Just like last time, she will lead the team, and you will follow. Her practical experience is more extensive than yours, so you won't be left without support in case of an emergency.”
Bai Qingxue did not hesitate and nodded. “Disciple accepts the command.”
Liu Ningshuang glanced at her, her gaze moving from her face to her waist.
“The Moonfrost Silk I gave you last time—are you still wearing it?” Liu Ningshuang asked.
Bai Qingxue was slightly taken-for-back, then she nodded. “Yes. I have been wearing it at all times.”
As she said this, her fingertips subconsciously touched the silver-white trace at her waist.
From the day she received the Moonfrost Silk, Bai Qingxue had almost never taken it off.
Hearing this, Liu Ningshuang withdrew her gaze, her tone still flat. “That is enough. The monster beasts in the northern section of the Luoyun Mountain Range are at most at the peak of Qi Refining. The Moonfrost Silk can withstand a full-strength strike from a Foundation Establishment cultivator. With it, you don't need to prepare any other defensive items.”
“Yes.”
Bai Qingxue performed a salutation and withdrew from the main hall.
The hall door closed behind her. Then, she walked down the stone steps.
The steps were long. The wind poured down from the peak, making Bai Qingxue’s clothes rustle. The Moonfrost Silk tied close to her body brushed against her waist as her robes fluttered. The warm and cool texture of the ice silkworm silk gave Bai Qingxue an indescribable sense of security.
It was as if someone had held an umbrella for her in a place she didn't know.
Halfway down the mountain, Bai Qingxue encountered a familiar figure.
It was Lu Xueqing.
At this moment, Lu Xueqing was walking up the stone steps, her pace faster than usual, her robes stirring a slight breeze.
Seeing Bai Qingxue, she was clearly stunned, her pace faltering for half a beat before she returned to normal and stopped on the steps.
There were four or five steps between them, and neither spoke first.
The mountain wind passed between them, causing the stray hairs at Lu Xueqing’s temples to flutter slightly and exposing the faint, barely perceptible blush on her ears to the afternoon light.
Ever since she said “Please forgive me” at the courtyard gate that day, she had not sought out Bai Qingxue again.
Lu Xueqing was somewhat afraid.
Afraid of the awkwardness of meeting, afraid that Bai Qingxue would mention what happened that day, and even more afraid that Bai Qingxue would mention nothing at all, as if those four words were just a monologue she had performed alone.
She didn't know what Bai Qingxue thought, or rather, she didn't dare to know.
“Junior Sister Bai.” In the end, it was Lu Xueqing who spoke first, her tone softer than usual, as if afraid of startling something. “Did the Elder send for you?”
Bai Qingxue nodded. “About the Soul Control Formation. You too?”
Lu Xueqing gave an “Mm.”
She didn't explain further. Her gaze moved from Bai Qingxue’s face to the barely visible Moonfrost Silk at her waist before quickly withdrawing.
She had wanted to ask, “Have you been well these past few days?” but the words felt too forced as they reached her lips, so she swallowed them back.
After all, what was there for her to ask? She had hugged the girl that day, said “Please forgive me” for no apparent reason, and then hidden for several days.
Standing here now, she couldn't even bring herself to say “Long time no see.”
The two stood on the stone steps for a moment, neither moving.
Sunlight leaked through the leaves and fell on their shoulders, casting their shadows on the bluestone steps—one to the left, one to the right, with a gap in between.
The gap wasn't wide, yet Lu Xueqing felt she could never cross it.
“We set out in three days.” Lu Xueqing finally spoke first, trying to make her tone sound normal. “At dawn, I will wait for you at the mountain gate.”
Lu Xueqing was unwilling to say more because she feared that saying one more word would make Bai Qingxue remember what happened that day, which would make the air between them even thinner.
Bai Qingxue nodded upon hearing this.
“Don't bring too much. Rations, pills, and a change of clothes—just enough will do. The path deep inside is difficult, and too many things will be a burden.” When Lu Xueqing said this, her gaze didn't look at Bai Qingxue but fell on the storage bag at her waist.
But what she truly wanted to look at were Bai Qingxue’s eyes.
She wanted to find a hint of an answer in those light-colored pupils: Was Bai Qingxue angry? Did she take that embrace as an offense? Or had she already been sentenced in her heart?
But Lu Xueqing didn't dare look.
“Okay,” Bai Qingxue responded.
Lu Xueqing stole a quick glance at her, just one, before looking away again.
“Then I’ll go up first.” Lu Xueqing stepped aside, yielding half the stone steps. “The Elder is still waiting.”
Bai Qingxue nodded and walked past her. As they brushed shoulders, the wind brought the scent of frost and snow from Bai Qingxue’s robes—faint, just like usual.
Lu Xueqing smelled it and suddenly felt her nose tingle. Yes, Junior Sister Bai didn't avoid her, didn't give her a cold face, but she also didn't give her a second look.
Just like before.
Just like every time they passed each other.
It was as if that day's embrace had never happened.
This thought made her heart sink.
She would rather Bai Qingxue push her away, rather she be angry, than have her act as if nothing had happened.
Because if nothing had happened, it meant that the embrace was simply not worth mentioning in Bai Qingxue’s heart.
Lu Xueqing did not look back and continued walking upward.
After taking several steps, Bai Qingxue’s voice came from behind her.
“Senior Sister.”
Lu Xueqing’s pace faltered, and she stopped, clutching her sleeves tightly.
She didn't look back, afraid that if she did, her expression would betray all her anxiety.
“...No need to apologize.”
Bai Qingxue’s tone was as indifferent as usual.
Lu Xueqing was stunned for a moment, and her fingers clutching her sleeves slowly relaxed. She still didn't turn around, but simply responded softly, just as Bai Qingxue usually did:
“Mm.”
That “Mm” was very soft, as if afraid of startling the dewdrops off the branches.
Hearing this, Bai Qingxue said nothing more, and the sound of her footsteps gradually receded down the mountain.
Lu Xueqing continued walking up the mountain.
This time she walked a long way before she couldn't help but stop and look back.
The corner of the stone steps was already empty, with only the gray twilight spread across it.
Lu Xueqing suddenly remembered a few days ago under the old plum tree, when she stood at the courtyard gate with the tray, her back to Bai Qingxue, saying “Please forgive me.”
At that time, she had fled as soon as she finished speaking.
She didn't dare to wait, didn't dare to wait for Bai Qingxue’s response, didn't even dare to hear Bai Qingxue say a single word.
But what had made her flee was actually never Junior Sister Bai, but herself.
She didn't dare to face all the possibilities following that “Please forgive me.”
No matter what Junior Sister Bai said, she wouldn't know how to respond.
So she chose the easiest way: to flee.
Standing there now, looking at the empty corner of the stone steps, Lu Xueqing suddenly felt she was a bit ridiculous.
...
Walking down the stone steps, a thought flashed through Bai Qingxue’s mind.
She couldn't quite understand why Lu Xueqing had to apologize.
Having been a man for so many years in her previous life, she had seen far too much intimacy between girls. For instance, college roommates would walk to the cafeteria arm-in-arm, best friends would hug when they met, and even female colleagues with good relationships at work would occasionally walk with their arms around each other's shoulders while chatting.
Bai Qingxue never felt there was anything special about it and never cared.
In his view, a hug between women was no different from a pat on the shoulder between men.
When Lu Xueqing hugged her, Bai Qingxue was just not used to being touched; her body had simply stiffened before her consciousness could react.
That was merely a perfectly normal embrace from a senior sister after a junior sister had won a competition.
It was no different from Shen Yao jumping up and shouting “Junior Sister Bai,” and no different from other disciples handing her a cup of water.
Only the method was different.
Lu Xueqing probably thought she was angry.
But Bai Qingxue wasn't.
After a moment, Bai Qingxue shook her head, tossed the thought aside, and continued walking down the mountain.
...
Lu Xueqing withdrew her gaze and quickened her pace toward the main hall.
As she pushed open the door, the last bit of sandalwood incense remained in the hall, thin smoke drifting upward.
Standing inside the threshold, she suddenly felt the words “Senior Sister” still hanging by her ears—not heavy, but refusing to fall away.
Perhaps it wasn't that they wouldn't fall; it was that she couldn't bear to let them.
She knew Bai Qingxue didn't care about these things at all.
But she cared.
She cared far too much.
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