Three days later, at dawn.
Bai Qingxue changed into a clean frost-white Daoist robe, the Frost Condensation Sword hanging at her waist and her long hair pinned up with a white jade hairpin.
She tied the Moonfrost Silk close to her body, hung the Jade Radiance Pendant from her waist, and packed several Recovery Pills and some dry rations into her storage bag before pushing open her door and leaving the courtyard.
The morning mist had not yet dispersed. Dewdrops clung to the withered branches on both sides of the stone steps, occasionally brushed by her robes and falling in a few cool drops.
Bai Qingxue walked down the stone steps and passed through the mountain gate, immediately spotting Lu Xueqing waiting there.
Lu Xueqing stood under an old locust tree outside the mountain gate, dressed in frost-white martial attire with a sword at her waist and her hair tied back neatly.
She had clearly been there for a while, as a thin layer of morning dew dampened the shoulders of her clothes.
Seeing Bai Qingxue approach, she subconsciously clutched her sleeve before letting go.
“Let’s go,” Lu Xueqing said. Her tone was the same as usual, devoid of unnecessary words.
Bai Qingxue nodded, and the two stepped side-by-side into the periphery of the Luoyun Mountain Range. The mountain path was long, and the sound of their footsteps was exceptionally clear in the quiet woods.
Lu Xueqing walked beside Bai Qingxue, half a step ahead. She remained silent, her gaze fixed on the mountain path ahead, appearing no different than usual.
However, Lu Xueqing’s hand remained pressed against her sword hilt, seemingly revealing the turbulence in her heart.
Since their encounter on the stone steps that day, many words had circled in Lu Xueqing’s mind, but as they reached her lips, each felt as heavy as a lead weight, impossible to speak.
Because it felt as if saying anything would remind Bai Qingxue: something happened between us, and that something made me very uncomfortable.
Lu Xueqing didn't want Bai Qingxue to notice.
But Bai Qingxue would not be the one to speak first; Lu Xueqing knew that.
From the first day they met, Bai Qingxue had never been one to initiate conversation.
In the past, she had found this good—no need to deal with pleasantries or search for things to say.
Now, she also found it good, because since Bai Qingxue didn't speak, she didn't have to either.
She could use the silence to hide herself.
The silence lasted a long time.
The light in the forest gradually brightened, and the morning mist mostly dispersed, revealing the outline of the distant mountain ridge.
Lu Xueqing stole a glance at Bai Qingxue.
Bai Qingxue walked beside her with steady steps and a normal expression, her gaze fixed forward as if nothing in this world was worth a second look.
Lu Xueqing withdrew her gaze, and a thought suddenly surfaced in her mind: What is Junior Sister Bai thinking?
This path was no different from how it had been six months ago.
The stone steps were the same, and the withered trees on either side were the same.
Only she had changed.
Six months ago, walking this path, her thought was “take care of my junior sister.”
Now, walking this path, her thought was still “take care of my junior sister.”
But these two versions of “taking care” no longer meant the same thing.
Lu Xueqing didn't say the words out loud; she simply looked back out of habit.
Bai Qingxue followed two steps behind her, her pace steady and her expression calm. Just like six months ago.
Lu Xueqing withdrew her gaze and continued forward.
She did not slow down, nor did she speed up.
Six months ago, she would have deliberately slowed down to wait for Bai Qingxue to catch up, because back then, Bai Qingxue’s cultivation was only at the fourth level of Qi Refining.
Now, she didn't need to, because she knew that Junior Sister Bai was now like her—a cultivator in the late stage of Qi Refining.
Yet Lu Xueqing still looked back.
It seemed that ever since she met Bai Qingxue, she was always doing unnecessary things.
The mountain path grew narrower, the trees on both sides became denser, and the light dimmed.
“The deep northern section is just ahead.” Lu Xueqing’s voice lowered slightly, the ease in her tone completely gone, replaced by the focus required for a mission.
Bai Qingxue nodded, her hand moving to the hilt of the Frost Condensation Sword.
They continued forward, and before they had gone far, Bai Qingxue stopped.
“It’s too quiet,” Bai Qingxue said.
Lu Xueqing stopped as well. She listened for a moment—no birdsong, no insect chirps. Even the sound of the wind had grown faint.
The forest was unnaturally quiet, like a tomb without living things.
“The traces of monster beasts are sparse as well.” Lu Xueqing knelt and pushed aside a cluster of shrubs. There were several claw marks on the ground, shallow and beginning to weather at the edges, left several days ago. She stood up, her brow furrowing slightly. “This area shouldn't be so empty.”
The two shared a look but said nothing, continuing forward.
Lu Xueqing led the way, her pace faster than before but her footsteps lighter.
Her spiritual sense spread out, joining with Bai Qingxue’s to form an invisible net covering a range of dozens of yards.
She could feel Bai Qingxue’s spiritual sense nearby, maintaining a distance that was neither too far nor too close.
It was a strange feeling, as if they were looking out for each other.
She didn't need to look back to know Bai Qingxue was there.
This thought made Lu Xueqing’s heart feel more settled.
After passing through a patch of low shrubs, they encountered their first monster beast.
A grey-maned boar, not very large, barely at the third level of Qi Refining.
It stood beside a withered ancient tree, its head lowered and its snout twitching incessantly.
Hearing the footsteps, it suddenly looked up, its eyes glowing with an abnormal dark red light as it stared intently in their direction, a low whimpering sound coming from its throat.
Lu Xueqing’s hand moved to her sword hilt, but she did not draw it. She looked into the boar’s eyes, her brow furrowing slightly.
“It’s the same as last time.” Her voice was very low, audible only to the two of them. “The influence of Soul Control Incense again.”
Bai Qingxue glanced at her but did not speak.
The two continued forward, their pace faster than before, but their footsteps even lighter.
Lu Xueqing walked in front, her gaze scanning the dense forest on both sides, not missing any suspicious corner.
Her finger remained pressed against her sword hilt, never letting go.
After walking a dozen steps, Lu Xueqing wanted to look back again.
But this time, she restrained herself.
At this moment, the thoughts that had been churning in Lu Xueqing’s mind were temporarily suppressed.
Lu Xueqing thought, she would wait until the mission was over. When they returned, she would slowly think about those things.
She then fixed her gaze forward, keeping Bai Qingxue’s presence at the edge of her spiritual sense.
She did not look back again.
Rate on N.U.
